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It was another eventful week in last night’s Strictly Come Dancing as the celebrities and their professional dance partners took to the dance floor for the fourth time
Tonight, the Strictly Come Dancing dancers and celebrities took to the dancefloor for the fourth time, in hopes they don’t become the third casualty of the ballroom.
Tensions and pressure are rising this week, as last week saw Lorraine star Ross King and his partner Jowita Przystał were the second couple to be eliminated from the show after Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden were the first to be eliminated from the show.
Ross’ eviction didn’t come as a surprise to most viewers – but what did leave them in shock was EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal and her partner Julian Caillon finding out they were in the bottom two. This week, fans were left in shock when Shirley Ballas gave La Voix and Aljaž a 2 for their Cha Cha Cha to “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”
However, later on in the show, Shirley did a complete 180 as she awarded her first 10 of the series to Alex Kingston, who made show history by being the first to ever receive a 10 for the Rumba in Week 4.
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer – 6 7 6 7 = 26
Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova – 4 6 7 7 = 24
La Voix and Aljaz Skorjanec – 3 4 2 5 = 14
It was an emotional show tonight, with Alex’s Rumba leaving Shirley in tears, as she got up onto the dance floor to give her a kiss – something Tess said has never been done in the show’s history.
It wasn’t the only historical moment, however, as she also became the first ever contestant to receive a 10 for the Rumba in Week 4.
Now, the celebrities will have to wait as the public votes come in, and this week it’s Craig Revel Horwood who has the power of the deciding vote should it be a tie.
PARIS Fury has predicted her hubby Tyson will burst into tears when he walks their daughter Venezuela down the aisle.
The wife of ex-world heavyweight champion Tyson, 37, has opened up about the surprise family engagement, and revealed that 16-year-old Venezuela’s fiance boxer boyfriend Noah Price asked Gypsy King Tyson’s permission before popping the question.
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Paris Fury has revealed boxer Tyson will burst into tears when he walks their daughter down the aisleCredit: GettyVenezuela got engaged at her 16th birthday partyCredit: InstagramVenezuela with now fiance Noah Price at Ascot last yearCredit: InstagramThe family at Venezuala’s birthdayCredit: TikTok/@parisvenezuela
Paris said: “I think Tyson will get teary and emotional giving Venezuela away. He might be strong, but underneath he is softer than I am.
“If he is feeling the love that day, he will be balling. She’s our daughter.”
She added: “Hopefully it’s not too close in the future though, we hope Venezuela has time to embrace her engagement.
Recalling the proposal, which saw Noah get down on one knee in front of Venezuela’s family and friends last month, she said: “Noah asked for Tyson’s permission to propose to her at her 16th birthday shortly before he proposed.
“I didn’t get involved, but I had an inkling it might happen.
“It’s an old fashioned tradition, Tyson asked my dad for his permission to propose to me, we believe in that.”
She added: “But when it happened I was so nervous and my hands were shaking.”
Speaking at the launch of her new Eternal Collagen, held at the Grosvenor House Suites in London on Thursday (MUST REF) mum-of-seven Paris hopes her business venture inspires Venezuela to continue working as an influencer once she is married.
She said: “I want to inspire my kids, you can be a mum, and a wife and have it all.
“I know Venezuela is only 16, but she’s happy, we support her. I know in my heart this is the right thing for her.
“In the traveller, gypsy community, traditionally we get married young, I was 17, but 50 years ago everyone in England got married young.
“I’ve given Venezuela every option in life and this is what she has chosen, she has an independent woman and makes decisions for herself.”
Speaking about the secret to her long-lasting relationship with Tyson Paris said: “You can’t delude yourself that relationships are hard, there will always be ups and downs.
“But Tyson and I have just renewed our wedding vows and we are cringingly still in love, even after all these years.
“We’re still madly in love.
“As long as the good times outweigh the bad times. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I look at Tyson and think, ‘you’re a pain in my the arse’ but most of the time I love him.
“You have to put the time in, especially when you’re juggling family and work. We’re being negligent at the minute, as we love to do date night, and we have had it enough.
How Venezuela Fury ‘could be a millionaire by age 16’ with her own modelling career
WITH a heavyweight boxing champ for a dad and a bestselling author mum, it’s likely that Venezuela Fury has a bright future ahead of her.
And the 15-year-old is already shaping up to be one of the most popular teenagers on the internet, racking up 70,000 followers on Instagram and more than 200,000 followers on TikTok.
The star has already caught the attention of modelling agencies, who have claimed that her unique style could make her a “millionaire by the time she’s 16.”
Gemma Howorth, Founder of Body London Model Management is convinced that Venezuela’s “gorgeous” looks and “strong social presence”, could make her a lot of money from modelling – before she even turns 16.
“Venezuela is very young but if correctly managed could really do well with a strong fashion-focused brand like Boohoo and then go on to develop an exciting modelling career,” she said.
According to Carol Needham, who runs Needham’s Models, Venezuela could even follow in the footsteps of Katie Price’s daughter, 17-year-old Princess Andre, and sign a deal with PrettyLittleThing.
“Seeing someone like Venezuela Fury is truly unique,” Carol said.
“She’s almost 6ft tall at 15 years old and has her own signature style in modelling, especially with her teapot pose.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if PrettyLittleThing wanted to snap her up!”
Princess signed a four-figure deal with the fast-fashion brand back in January, and some experts predict the move could see her become a millionaire by the time she’s 18.
“We love to have a date night at the movies with popcorn or go 10 pin bowling, just as long as we are together and having fun.
“It’s about getting glammed up and flirting, you’ve got to flirt and date each other. It helps keep the love alive, I love it when Tyson has had a shave.”
Paris has partnered with Eternal Collagen, which she calls the perfect solution for busy women looking to take care of themselves.
Unlike other products on the market, Eternal Collagen delivers a strong 15,000 milligrams per shot of super strength hydrolysed marine collagen and is packed with essential vitamins, including vitamin D, vitamin C, and vitamin B12.
Speaking about her collaboration with Eternal Collagen, Paris said: “It’s got all the vitamins that you need to make you healthy and glow.
“Since I’ve started taking it I’ve noticed so many changes, I never used to be able to grow my nails, but now I can.
“My skin is glowing and clear, my hair is growing fast and I keep having to go to the hairdressers. I also feel really great, all my kids got ill recently, but I didn’t get it, that’s because it’s so good for your immune system.”
She added: “I would only endorse a product I believe in.”
Venezuela is set to have a ‘knees-up with as much glitz and glamour as possible’Credit: instagramNoah Price popped the question at Venezuela’s sweet 16th birthday partyCredit: instagram
It’s easy to miss the confidence of Billy Wilder or Frank Capra whenever some brave soul tries to make a comedy that takes America’s temperature by straddling cynicism and optimism. Those Hollywood masters could handily juggle the sweet, sour and satirical and, in Wilder’s case, even leave you believing in a happy ending.
With his writing-directing feature debut, “Good Fortune,” however, Aziz Ansari, who stars alongside Seth Rogen and Keanu Reeves (as an angel named Gabriel), swings big, hoping to capture that jokey truth-telling vibe about the State of Things. His subject is a fertile one too: the gig economy fostering our crushing inequity, but also the desperation of the have-nots and how oblivious the wealthy are about those who made them rich. So let’s stick it to the billionaires! Let Keanu help the downtrodden!
Ansari’s high-low morality tale, set in our fair (and unfair) Los Angeles, is a friendly melding of celestially tinged stories (“Heaven Can Wait,” “Wings of Desire”) and body-swap comedies (“Trading Places”). But as agreeable as it is, it can’t square its jabs with its sentimentality. It’s got heart, kind eyes, a wry smile and some funny lines, but no teeth when you really need things bitten into, chewed up and spit out.
Ansari plays Arj, living a serious disconnection between his professional identity — wannabe Hollywood film editor — and how he actually exists: task-gigging for scraps and living in his car. When a garage-reorganizing job for Jeff (Rogen), a Bel-Air venture capitalist, turns into an assistant position, Arj feels secure enough to use the company card for a fancy dinner with occasional colleague and romantic interest Elena (an underused Keke Palmer). Jeff clocks the charge the next day, though (a realistic detail about the rich watching every penny), and immediately fires Arj.
All along, Arj’s sad situation has touched Reeves’ long-haired, khaki-suited angel, whose life-saving purview (he specializes in jostling distracted drivers) is low in the hierarchy overseen by boss guardian Martha (Sandra Oh). Gabriel wants a big healing job to show Arj, with a little role-reversal magic, that being Jeff isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Except, of course, it is. (David Mamet’s line “Everybody needs money — that’s why they call it money” comes to mind.) The newly luxe-and-loving-it Arj shows no signs of wanting to switch back (which is apparently his call to make in the rules of this scenario), leaving out-of-his-depth Gabriel in the position of convincing a sudden billionaire why he should go back to being poor.
Which is where “Good Fortune,” for all its grasp of how Depression-era screwball comedies made the filthy rich mockable, struggles to match its issue-driven humor with its fix-it heart. While it’s funny to watch Rogen’s freshly desperate character suffer food-delivery humiliation, buying the script’s changes of heart — and the film’s naïve idea of where everyone should be at the end — is another matter. That’s why screwball comedies didn’t try to upend capitalism, just have some clever fun with it and let a simple love story stick the landing. Ansari’s ambition is admirable but he’s better at diagnoses than solutions.
His gold-touch move is giving the hilariously deadpan Reeves one of his best roles in years: a goofy meme brought to disarming life and the movie’s beating heart. Doing good can be hard work; understanding humans is harder. Plus, Reeves makes eating a burger for the first time a sublimely funny reaffirmation that sometimes, indeed, it is a wonderful life.
Victoria Beckham is set to reunite with her former Spice Girls bandmates for a new animated project on the band, marking their first professional collaboration in a decade
Daniel Bird Assistant Celebrity and Entertainment Editor
18:34, 18 Oct 2025Updated 18:48, 18 Oct 2025
Lady Beckham is set to join her Spice Girls bandmates for an exciting project(Image: BANG Showbiz)
Victoria Beckham is gearing up to join forces with her old Spice Girls pals for a huge new project. The animated venture, simply named The Spice Girls, will be their first professional reunion since they rocked the stage at the 2012 Olympic Games closing ceremony.
According to the official IMDb listing, The Spice Girls is currently in the early stages of production and will star all five original members: Geri Horner, Melanie Brown MBE, Melanie Chisholm, Emma Bunton, and Lady Victoria, lending their voices.
The brief description reveals: “An animated project featuring the music group The Spice Girls as superheroes.” Details regarding the storyline, format, and release date are still hush-hush, with IMDb only revealing that the project will see the girls reprising their pop star alter egos, including Posh, Ginger, Scary, Sporty, and Baby Spice.
This exciting news broke as Victoria, 51, graced the premiere of her three-part Netflix docu-series Victoria Beckham at The Curzon Mayfair in London on 8 October. The fashion mogul and former pop sensation was accompanied by her husband, Sir David Beckham, 50, and their children, except for eldest son Brooklyn Beckham, who is reportedly caught up in a family dispute.
Her ex-bandmates Emma, Geri and Melanie Chisholm also showed up at the premiere to lend their support, striking a pose together on the red carpet. Melanie Brown, better known as Mel B, was the only member not present but sent Victoria a lovely bouquet of flowers ahead of the event.
Melanie had previous work commitments in the United States. Victoria hasn’t performed with the Spice Girls since their iconic Olympic appearance in London 12 years ago, despite the other four members reuniting for a UK and Ireland stadium tour in 2019.
Although Victoria opted out of that tour, she publicly expressed her support and has continued to honour the group’s legacy. The IMDb listing is the first official hint that the full lineup could once again collaborate on a professional project.
It remains unclear whether the animated production will be a feature film or a series. The Spice Girls became a worldwide sensation in the mid-1990s following the release of their debut single Wannabe in 1996. They went on to sell over 100 million records globally before Geri exited the band in 1998, leading to an official hiatus.
The band also reunited for a world tour in 2007 and again for their Olympic performance in 2012, which was widely hailed as one of the highlights of the Games. Since then, each member has embarked on individual ventures in music, television, fashion and business while maintaining a close personal bond.
But it seems that this isn’t the only Spice Girls project that Posh has in mind. During an interview with Andy Cohen, she admitted that she has been having several ideas about the chart-topping band, which will next year celebrate three decades of their debut single, “Wannabe.”
After saying she loved the idea of the band performing at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Victoria said: “It would be tempting. But could I take on a world tour? No, I can’t. I have a job… How good would the Spice Girls be at the Sphere! I love the idea of it. I mean, I don’t know if I could even still sing, I mean, I was never that great!” Host Andy soon interrupted saying: “You can sing, babe.”
The Mirror has approached Victoria’s spokesperson for comment.
TOMMY Fury parked his G Wagon in a disabled bay while on a day out with partner Molly-Mae Hague.
The boxer and TV personality, 26, headed on a family trip in Manchester with Molly-Mae and their two-year-old daughter Bambi.
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Tommy Fury parked up his car in a disabled bayCredit: mancpicss66The professional boxer enjoyed a day out with partner Molly-Mae HagueCredit: mancpicss66The pair were also joined by their young daughter BambiCredit: mancpicss66
Love Island alums Tommy and Molly-Mae looked relaxed as the trio arrived at a park.
Molly-Mae wore a pair of black trousers, which were accompanied by an oversized grey jumper.
As for Tommy, he opted for tracksuit bottoms, a long-sleeved black top along with a black gilet.
He could be seen playfully holding Bambi and also carrying her, as she looked into the distance.
The KnuckleHeadz may just be the thing to save America’s youth. They’re categorized too neatly as a punk band from Whittier, but they’re actually a movement: Southern California’s most raucous self-help program and hardcore band. The members are built like dockworkers and dressed like a deleted scene from “The Warriors”: black-and-green leather vests with a spiky-haired skull back patch. They are also the driving force behind the Punk Rock Fight Club, a Southern California-based organization dedicated to improving young men’s lives through fitness and structure. The rules are as strict as they are simple, and in this topsy-turvy world, truly radical: no hard drugs, no crime, no racists, no abusers. Respect yourself, your brothers and your community.
The KnuckleHeadz achieved a moment of internet fame after hosting a completely unsanctioned show in an unsuspecting McDonald’s for a hundred people. The viral clip of the show is the convenient entry point, but it sells short what the gentlemen have built. Onstage, the KnuckleHeadz are all sweat and spectacle: profanity-laced breakdowns, fans crowd surfing on boogie boards riding a human tide, and the green-and-black army in the pit pulling strangers upright. The absurdity of a fast-food slam pit, bodies and burgers briefly airborne — suggests anarchy. Look closer and you see choreography: Men catching falls, clearing space and enforcing a code. Punk has always promised salvation by noise. The KnuckleHeadz add a footnote: Salvation requires reps, rules and someone mean enough to care. Offstage, they run an infrastructure for staying alive.
The KnuckleHeadz in Whittier
(Dick Slaughter)
Founded in June 2021 by frontman Thomas Telles of Whittier, better known as Knucklehead Tom, and with the help of guitarist and tattooer Steven Arceo, aka Saus, of El Monte, the Punk Rock Fight Club (PRFC) has grown in a few years to six chapters and more than 200 members across Southern California. What started as a tight circle around a band hardened into a movement: discipline for kids who never got it, structure for men who need it, and a community without substance abuse . Prospects earn their way through mornings, sweat and commitment before they’re trusted with the skull back patch. The rules read like a brick wall and function like a doorway.
“I started the club because I wanted to do good in the scene,” Knucklehead Tom said “I wanted to create a tribe where we all supported each other, a family for people from all walks of life, especially those who came from broken homes. I wanted people to know they have somewhere to go and a family they can count on.”
Knucklehead Tom of The KnuckleHeadz puts his mic in to the crowd while performing with the band from Whittier.
(Dick Slaughter)
I first ran into the KnuckleHeadz and a few club members by accident three years ago in a London train station en route to the Rebellion Punk Rock Music Festival in Blackpool, a yearly event featuring more than 300 veteran and emerging bands. They were impossible to miss — part wolf pack, part brotherhood, pure energy. That year the KnuckleHeadz struck a chord with me, not just through their all-in, no-holds-barred performances, but also through their message, their obvious love for one another and their mission to better their community. Since then, I have taken a hard look inside both the band and the club; I visited their gym and attended many of their shows. I have met and talked with families and those the KnuckleHeadz and the club have helped. They have indeed, in many cases, worked miracles. But the guys don’t call them miracles. They call it Tuesday.
“Since we founded Punk Rock Fight Club, we paved way for what we knew was the movement and lifestyle many people in our scene needed,” Arceo said. “We’ve changed so many lives and with that our lives changed as well. We made a family built on brotherhood, loyalty with the camaraderie that can only be achieved through martial arts and punk rock. That’s something many of us grew up without. So to be able to bring this into the world is worth every sacrifice. We’re going on five years strong and will keep going till the day we die.”
The band’s ascent mirrors the spread of the club: a steady climb from underground slots to punk’s biggest stages. They earned a place on the final NOFX show and graduated from Rebellion’s side stage to the festival’s main stage. They’ve organized benefits for causes that don’t trend and for people who can’t afford to be causes. The Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas recently added a piece of PRFC memorabilia, one of the club’s cuts — a leather vest with the skull back patch — to its collection, a true museum piece that still smells faintly of sweat. Next, KnuckleHeadz prepare for a U.S. run with punk legends GBH, the sort of tour that turns rumor into résumé.
Saus, co-founder of the KnuckleHeadz, wearing the band’s signature vest.
The Whittier dojo, KnuckleHead Martial Arts, is where the KnuckleHeadz code gets practical. It’s where guys run martial arts drills and where the mats serve double duty as community center flooring. During the band’s “F Cancer” benefit for 17-year-old Cesar “Little Cesar” Lopez II, the driveway became an impromptu slam pit. Inside, kids tumbled on the mats while guitars shook the walls. Families brought food, local businesses donated services, and more than $6,000 went toward treatments. In the carnival-like atmosphere outside, Little Cesar grinned and hyped the pit from the sideline, proving that joy, like violence, can be contagious.
One member, Bernard Schindler, 55, of La Mirada, came in after a life of ricochets: rehab, prison, relapse, repeat. The club gave him a schedule first and a future second, and now with the support of the club, he’s been clean and sober for more than two years.
Saus performing with the KnuckleHeadz during a Punk Rock Fight Club benefit show outside the KnuckleHeadz gym in Whittier.
(Dick Slaughter)
“Tom and the Punk Rock Fight Club completely turned my life around,” Schindler said. “It gave me purpose, discipline and a new family of brothers that push me to be better. I went from being a broken down drug addict to the healthiest I’ve ever been mentally, physically and emotionally in the 55 years I’ve been alive.”
Since getting involved with the KnuckleHeadz nearly three years ago, Schindler says he’s gotten closer to his family, including his three sons and his girlfriend, in addition to staying sober. “I can honestly say that I couldn’t have done it without Tom and our God-given club, the Punk Rock Fight Club,” he said.
The bassist known as Knucklehead Randy performs while riding on the shoulders of a fellow club member at a benefit show in Whittier.
(Dick Slaughter)
The PRFC trophy case is full of medals and awards, sure, but the real accomplishments are much quieter and miraculous. There are pay stubs where rap sheets used to be, text threads that start with the question “You good?” at 3:17 a.m., and apartment keys handed over when a kid can’t go home.
Hip-hop synth-punk artist N8NOFACE, now a fixture on lineups from the annual L.A. festival Cruel World tours with Limp Bizkit and Corey Feldman, calls Tom “my brother” and credits that code with keeping him aligned. “I was getting clean, and I’ve always believed that if you follow the right people, it helps you stay on your path,” N8 says. “Tom was about health, about not getting all messed up, about being a fighter and a warrior and taking care of your body first. To find that in punk was very different.”
When asked about his hopes for the future of the band, Tom says, “I just want to keep having fun. We love doing it and are grateful for all the love and support.“ The band is currently playing shows across SoCal with gutter punk legends GBH, including a show Friday at the Ventura Music Hall.
“With the club, I want to keep changing lives. It makes me happy to know that my son Nieko has an army of goodhearted uncles if anything were to happen to me. The righteous men in this club make me so proud.”
That’s the trick. That’s the point. In the noise between those truths, a lot of young men hear something they’ve never believed before: a future they’re allowed to keep.
Slaughter is a photographer and writer who has covered music and culture for countless outlets, including the OC Weekly and L.A. Times. He is a founding member of In Spite Magazine.
Vicky Pattison left fans in stitches after her Strictly partner Kai Widdrington exposed how she acts during rehearsals on the Get A Grip podcast
Strictly Come Dancing star Vicky Pattison’s partner Kai Widdrington has revealed a hilarious behind-the-scenes habit.
Appearing together on the Get A Grip podcast hosted by Angela Scanlon, 41, and the TV star, 30, Kai teased that his celebrity partner pulls funny facial expressions during training. “We discovered this week the ‘Stank face’,” the 30-year-old joked. “When she’s really trying she’ll (acts it out).”
To which Vicky replied: “It’s like a toddler doing a poo. It’s awful. And I am not proud of it. I’m really upset.” Angela chimed in, “It is like an upside-down puppy,” while Vicky agreed, laughing, “Yeah… it’s like an old man.” This week, Vicky has been candid about the pressures of the competition. In a recent interview with Women’s Health UK, the 37-year-old admitted training has felt like “a baptism of fire.”
“All the pros are carved like angels, and I’m there sweating away in my gym gear,” she said.
“It’s both intimidating and overwhelming. But as you get older, you don’t often get the opportunity to get out of your comfort zone. I like to prove I’m capable.”
While she’s built physical strength through weight training, Pilates, and charity treks, Vicky fears it’s the cardio that might hold her back. “Everyone is so fit,” she added.
Reflecting on her earlier reality TV days, Vicky said she felt less pressure entering the I’m A Celebrity… jungle in 2015, saying, “When you went into the jungle, everyone thought you were an arsehole, but you knew you could go in and change people’s perceptions,” a friend once told her.
“Now I’ve spent 10 years working to show people that I was young, making mistakes, and I wasn’t the best version of myself… I’m scared that under this spotlight, I’ll mess up.”
The Heart radio presenter also revealed she’s returned to therapy. “Maybe it’s working-class feelings of being undeserving. Maybe it’s deep-rooted self-doubt. I don’t know what it is, but it’s all come back,” she said.
Last week on Strictly Come Dancing, the Geordie Shore star and her partner performed a Gatsby‑themed Charleston and earned a total of 25 points from the judges, despite receiving mixed feedback from the judges.
BROOKLYN Beckham snubbed a question about his mum Victoria Beckham’s Netflix documentary, amid the family feud.
Her eldest child with husband David is believed to have “quit” the family after he renewed his wedding vows with Nicola Peltz without them.
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Brooklyn Beckham snubbed a question about his mum Victoria Beckham’s Netflix documentary, amid the family feudCredit: EPAHer eldest child with husband David is believed to have “quit” the familyCredit: Getty
Brooklyn was notably missing from mum Victoria’s Paris Fashion Week event, where she was supported by her three other children.
He was asked by a Daily Mail reporter how his career as a chef was going, to which he replied: “Good. I’m building Cloud 23, I love it,” referring to his hot sauce brand.
He was then asked: “And what do you think of your mum’s documentary?” but Brooklyn was quick to turn away and walk off at that moment.
Brooklyn didn’t answer the question, and was instead ushered through the crowd at the cooking event.
The Beckham clan looked amazing last week, as they stepped out on the red carpet for Victoria’s new Netflix documentary.
It follows Victoria Beckham, 51, as she navigates her life, running her fashion and beauty empire in the global spotlight.
The global streamer promised exclusive access to her life, her family, and those closest to her.
Victoria dressed for the special occasion in a stunning white ensemble.
She was joined by husband David, sons Romeo and Cruz, daughter Harper and Cruz’s girlfriend Jackie Apostel.
However, Victoria’s eldest son Brooklyn was absent from the red carpet.
Despite this, the former Spice Girls singer reportedly put the family feud to one side to make sure Brooklyn, 26, appeared in the doc.
Sources close to the project revealed that Brooklyn featured in a scene where he helps clear the catwalk after the heavens opened and it poured with rain.
Inside a historic aircraft hangar in Playa Vista, crowds of people gathered on Thursday to browse the latest fashions from handbags to clothing and shoes as they prepared for the holiday shopping season.
These weren’t shoppers or retailer buyers browsing for the latest products. Instead, they were YouTube video creators who were being courted by brands from Lowe’s to Shark Beauty to encourage online audiences to buy their products.
Aaron Ramirez, a 22-year-old influencer who focuses on men’s fashion and lifestyle, stood in front of racks of carefully curated shelves of backpacks as he decided which items he would endorse for his 234,000 YouTube subscribers.
“I can make a video about anything that improves my quality of life and add a link to it,” said Ramirez. “I only recommend products that I really use and really like.”
The San Diego resident was among about 300 creators participating in YouTube’s annual benefit for creators dubbed “Holiday House” that helps internet personalities get ready to sell goods during the busy holiday shopping season.
The event — held at the cavernous converted Google offices that once housed Howard Hughes’ famous Spruce Goose plane — underscores YouTube’s desire to be a bigger player in online shopping by leveraging its relationship with creators to promote products in much the same way that rival TikTok does.
In August, YouTube introduced new tools to help its creators better promote products they plug in their videos. One feature uses AI to identify the optimal place on the screen to put a shopping link when an influencer mentions a product. If a customer clicks on that link and makes a purchase, the creator gets a commission.
Brands that were once skeptical about influencers have embraced them over time as sales-tracking tools have improved and the fan base of video creators has mushroomed.
“It’s like the people that you saw on television and before that the people that you listened to on radio who became the trusted personalities in your life,” Earnest Pettie, a trends insight lead at YouTube, said in an interview. “Oprah’s Favorite Things was a phenomenon because of how trusted Oprah was, so it really is that same phenomenon, just diffused across the creator ecosystem.”
Despite economic uncertainty and tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, shoppers in the U.S. are expected to spend $253.4 billion online this holiday season, up 5.3% from a year ago, according to data firm Adobe Analytics.
Social media platforms have helped drive some of that growth. The market share of online revenue in purchases guided by social media affiliates and partners, including influencers, is expected to grow 14%, according to Adobe Analytics.
Cost-conscious consumers are doing more research on how they spend their money, including watching influencer recommendations. In fact, nearly 60% of 14- to 24-year-olds who go online say their personal style have been influenced by content they’ve seen on the internet, according to YouTube.
“It’s more about discovery, understanding where the best deals are, where the best options are,” said Vivek Pandya, director at Adobe Digital Insights. “Many of these users are getting that guidance from their influencers.”
YouTube is one of the top streaming platforms, harnessing 13.1% of viewing time in August on U.S. TV sets, more than rivals Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, according to Nielsen. And shopping-related videos are especially popular among its viewers, with more than 35 billion hours watched each year, according to YouTube.
With YouTube’s shopping feature, viewers can see products, add them to a cart and make purchases directly from the video they’re watching.
Promoting and enabling one-click e-commerce from video has been huge in China, triggering a wave across Asia and the world of livestreaming and recorded shopping videos. Live commerce, also known as live shopping or livestreaming e-commerce, is a potent mix of streaming, chatting and shopping.
The temptation to shop is turbocharged with algorithms like that of TikTok Shop, enticing people to try more channels and products.
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1.YouTube content creators Diana Extein, left, and Candice Waltrip, right, film clothing try-ons during YouTube’s Holiday House shopping event at Google Spruce Goose on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 in Playa Vista, CA.2.YouTube content creator Peja Anne, 15, makes a video with beauty products as her mom Kristin Roeder films during YouTube’s Holiday House shopping event at Google Spruce Goose on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 in Playa Vista, CA.
A YouTube content creator who declined to give her name browses YouTube’s Holiday House shopping event at Google Spruce Goose on Thursday in Playa Vista, Calif.
YouTube content creator Cheraye Lewis’ channel focuses on lifestyle and fragrance, and a brand deal with Fenty Beauty helped launch her content to larger audiences.
More than 500,000 video creators as of July have signed up to be a part of YouTube Shopping, the company said.
Creators who promote products can make money through ads and brand deals, as well as commissions.
YouTube already shares advertising and subscription revenue with its creators and currently does not take a cut from its shopping tools, said Travis Katz, YouTube Shopping vice president.
“For us, it’s really about connecting the dots,” Katz said. “At YouTube we are first and foremost very focused on, how do we make sure that our creators are successful? This gives a new way for creators to monetize.”
Companies like Austin-based BK Beauty, which was founded by YouTube creator Lisa J, said YouTubers have helped drive sales for their products.
“They’ve built these long-term audiences,” said Sophia Monetti, BK Beauty’s senior manager of social commerce and influencer marketing. “A lot of these creators have established channels. They’ve been around for a decade and have just a really engaged community.”
To be sure, YouTube faces a formidable rival in TikTok, which is a leader in the live shopping space (its parent company, Byte Dance, is being sold to an American investor group so that the hugely popular app can keep operating in the U.S.).
Two years ago, the social video company launched TikTok Shop, working with creators and brands on live shopping shows that encourage viewers to buy products. TikTok had 8 million hours of live shopping sessions in 2024.
YouTube says its size and technology create advantages, along with the loyalty its creators build with fans when it comes to product recommendations.
Bridget Dolan, a director of YouTube Shopping Partnerships, said “shopping has been in YouTube’s DNA from Day One” and that the company has been integrating shopping features into its viewing experience.
YouTube content creators peruse products and film content during YouTube’s Holiday House shopping event at Google Spruce Goose on Thursday in Playa Vista, Calif.
Santa Clarita-based YouTube creator Cheraye Lewis said that YouTube Shopping helped her gain traction and earn a trusting audience through quality recommendations. Lewis, who has 109,000 subscribers on YouTube, makes videos about items such as fragrances and skincare products.
Lewis has been a video creator for eight years and has worked with such companies as Rihanna’s beauty brand Fenty.
“I try to inspire women and men to feel bold and confident through the fragrances that they’re wearing,” Lewis said at the event Thursday. “I give my audience real talk, real authenticity.”
“I was just matching the tops. Do you know what I mean?” Galton attempted to clarify, to which James retorted: “Well, it’s going well so far.”
“Shut up. Let me concentrate,” Galton told him, continuing to spoon out the mixture.
Both James and Galton chuckled at their banter as they completed the dish, featuring golden pastry, succulent scallops, butter sauce and crispy lardons.
After finishing the dish, Galton confessed: “I’m delighted, that’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”
Their friendly ribbing continued throughout the programme, with Galton later quipping: “I was going to say you lost a bit of weight and then you turned to the side.”
James responded with a cheeky quip: “This is the last time we’re seeing Galton, but anyway.”
He proceeded to wrap up the programme, telling audiences: “That’s all we’ve got time for today before I go to the gym.” He added: “I can breathe out now.”
The programme welcomed guests including seasoned broadcaster Mariella Frostrup and culinary experts Jonathan Phang and Galton.
Mariella discussed her illustrious broadcasting journey, which included reporting on Live Aid, and reminisced about first hearing the iconic 1984 charity anthem Do They Know It’s Christmas?
Speaking about the tune, she revealed: “There was something about that record. Hearing Bono’s voice. It still gives me goosebumps. It just felt like an incredible song.”
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Mariella elaborated on how the track represented “something much bigger than ourselves” and noted: “We were sure we were going to change everything.”
She acknowledged it stood in sharp contrast to today’s climate where people feel helpless to create meaningful change amid current political circumstances.
The broadcaster has expanded into the food industry alongside Mary Berry’s chef daughter Belles Berry, with the duo co-writing the cookbook Menolicious which explores nutrition during the menopause.
Meanwhile, Jonathan revealed details about his former role representing top models during the 1980s, including legendary figures like Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks.
When questioned about whether he longed for the glamorous fashion industry, Jonathan candidly informed James: “No. I’m glad it’s over.”
He has since established himself as an accomplished food author and chef, demonstrating his comforting chicken broth recipe.
James Martin’s Saturday Morning is broadcast on ITV, every Saturday at 9.30am
KEVIN Federline has continued his string of shock allegations against ex wife Britney Spears – with the dancer now claiming she punched their son in the face.
The couple’s war of words and bad blood has come to the fore with the release of teasers for his new book You Thought You Knew, set for general sale on October 21.
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Britney Spears’ ex husband Kevin Federline has continued his steady stream of jaw-dropping allegations against the starCredit: GettyIn a teaser for his new book, he has suggested the Lucky hitmaker ‘punched’ their youngest sonCredit: Getty – ContributorThe pair share two sons, Sean Preston and Jayden JamesCredit: Instagram / britneyspearsBritney hit back at her ex’s ‘gaslighting’ behaviour this weekCredit: instagram
He has already teased many shock revelations about his relationship with the Toxic singer and life raising their sons, Sean Preston, now 20, and Jayden James, 19.
The former professional dancer, 47, has used his tome to open up about his struggles co-parenting with Britney, 43, throughout her downward spiral from pop princess to troubled artist.
He has now suggested the mum of two “punched” their youngest “in the face”, according to Variety.
Kevin also wrote how she allegedly bleached their scalps without his consent and asked eldest Preston to “bathe with her.”
He suggested the kids had filmed some incidents on their mobile phones.
In another shock allegation, which followed Preston’s holiday with his girlfriend, he claimed she replied with the words: “Her response was chilling: she told him she wished he, his brother, and me were all dead.”
The Sun has gone to Britney’s reps for comment.
CLAP BACK
Earlier this week, Britney clapped back at what she dubbed “exhausting” claims from her former partner.
Kevin and Britney got married on September 18, 2004, just five months after they met but they split in 2006.
In a text post written in black font on a white background, she wrote: “The constant gaslighting from my ex husband is extremely hurtful and exhausting.
“Relationships with teenage boys is complex. I have felt demoralized by this situation and have always asked and almost begged for them to be a part of my life.
“Sadly, they have always witnessed the lack of respect shown by own father for me.
“They need to take responsibility for themselves.
With one son only seeing me for 45 min in the past 5 years and the other with only 4 visits in the past 5 years. I have pride too.
“From now on I will let them know when I am available.
“Trust me, those white lies in that book, they are going straight to the bank and I am the only one who genuinely gets hurt here.”
The US chart star then wrapped her emotive message with the words: “I will always love them [her boys] and if you really know me, you won’t pay attention to the tabloids of my mental health and drinking.
“I am actually a pretty intelligent woman who has been trying to live a sacred and private life the past 5 years.
“I speak on this because I have had enough and any real woman would do the same.”
MARRIAGE BREAKDOWN
In an interview with The New York Times, Kevin previously revealed he has kept his distance from his ex-wife and they “haven’t spoken in years,” following their divorce nearly two decades ago.
However, in his book, the DJ also revealed some of Britney’s alarming behaviour, which he learned mainly from their kids.
“They would awaken sometimes at night to find her standing silently in the doorway, watching them sleep — ‘Oh, you’re awake?’ — with a knife in her hand,” Kevin wrote.
“Then she’d turn around and pad off without explanation.”
Meanwhile, the Lucky songstress’ backing dancer has broken her silence on his allegations the pair enjoyed a steamy snog.
In a statement provided to Us Weekly, Britney’s representative said, ‘Once again [Federline] and others are profiting off her, and sadly it comes after child support has ended with Kevin.
‘All she cares about are her kids, Sean Preston and Jayden James, and their well-being during this sensationalism,’ they added.
In 2023, Jayden and Sean moved to Hawaii with their dad and his new wife, Victoria Prince, and the their two half-sisters.
There were rife reports of a rift between the two sons and their famous mother, which was sparked after her conservatorship was terminated in November 2021.
Previously, the bubblegum pop queen apologized for “not being perfect.”
The pair were married for two yearsCredit: GettyKevin’s tome also alleges Britney held a knife while watching her sons sleep as well as suggesting she snogged a backing dancerCredit: GettyBritney meanwhile has been slowly rebuilding a relationship with her two sonsCredit: Instagram / britneyspears
Comedians Kumail Nanjiani and Ilana Glazer dropped out of performing at Salesforce’s annual tech conference this week after the company’s chief executive Marc Benioff made controversial remarks that showed his support for President Trump.
Last week, Benioff told the New York Times he thought Trump should deploy the National Guard to reduce crime in San Francisco, comments that sparked backlash from Silicon Valley philanthropists and Democrats.
On Friday, Benioff completely walked back his remarks and apologized.
“I do not believe the National Guard is needed to address safety in San Francisco,” he wrote on social media site X. “My earlier comment came from an abundance of caution around the event, and I sincerely apologize for the concern it caused.”
Salesforce, a software company based in San Francisco, provides a platform that businesses use to manage customer data and track sales. The company confirmed the comedians dropped out but the entertainers haven’t said publicly what prompted the last-minute cancellation. A source close to the company told the San Francisco Chronicle that Nanjiani became ill and that led to his scheduled opener Glazer to cancel as well.
Nanjiani and Glazer haven’t publicly spoken out about Benioff’s remarks about the National Guard.
Both comedians, though, have been critical of Trump in the past and his anti-immigrant rhetoric. Earlier this year, Glazer spoke at a “No Kings” protest, which organizers say is to meant fight back against authoritarian policies pushed by Trump and his administration. This week, she promoted the next series of demonstrations, scheduled to take place on Oct. 18, stating it wasn’t a partisan issue on Instagram.
Benioff has grappled with a growing backlash since he made comments about Trump and the National Guard. The controversy overshadowed Dreamforce, a conference in San Francisco that featured well-known speakers including tech executives, government officials and entertainers.
Nanjiani played Dinesh in the HBO series “Silicon Valley” and co-wrote and starred in the Oscar-nominated 2017 film “The Big Sick.” Glazer co-created and starred in the Comedy Central series “Broad City” and the 2024 comedy film “Babes.”
In their absence, comedian David Spade performed at Dreamforce on Thursday afternoon, closing out the conference.
Ahead of the event, which ended on Thursday, Benioff appeared to dial back his remarks.
On social media site X, he said he was trying to make a point about making the conference as safe as possible.
“Keeping San Francisco safe is, first and foremost, the responsibility of our city and state leaders,” he wrote on X. Benioff also said he’s donating an extra $1 million to fund larger hiring bonuses for new police officers.
Benioff, who has previously said he’s an independent and was once a Republican, has backed Democrats and supported liberal causes such as a business tax for homeless services. But he’s also been critical of public safety in San Francisco and has threatened to move Dreamforce from San Francisco to Las Vegas.
The conference brings nearly 50,000 people to the city, generates $130 million in revenue for San Francisco and creates 35,000 local jobs, according to Salesforce. The company announced earlier this week it was investing $15 billion in San Francisco over five years to advance artificial intelligence.
On Thursday, prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalist and Democratic donor Ron Conway resigned from the Salesforce Foundation board. In an email first viewed by the New York Times, Conway told Benioff that he “now barely recognize the person I have so long admired.”
“Your obsession with and constant annual threats to move Dreamforce to Las Vegas is ironic, since it is a fact that Las Vegas has a higher rate of violent crime than San Francisco,” Conway wrote in the email. “San Francisco does not need a federal invasion because you don’t like paying for extra security for Dreamforce.”
Conway, founder and managing partner of SV Angel, is widely regarded as the “Godfather of Silicon Valley” because of his early investments in major tech companies such as Google, Facebook and PayPal. SV Angel didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
A Salesforce spokesperson said in a statement they have “deep gratitude for Ron Conway and his incredible contributions to the Salesforce Foundation Board for over a decade.”
On Friday, entrepreneur and philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs published an essay in the Wall Street Journal citing some of Benioff’s earlier remarks and claims that no one has given more to San Francisco. The widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs also founded and heads the philanthropic organization, Emerson Collective.
“The message beneath that comment was unmistakable: In his eyes, generosity is an auction—and policy is the prize awarded to the highest bidder,” she wrote. “But giving that expects control is anything but generous.”
Chris McCausland won the 2024 series of Strictly Come Dancing with professional partner Dianne Buswell, but the pair faced a number of challenges during their time on the show
Comedian Chris McCausland‘s triumph on last year’s Strictly Come Dancing came despite numerous obstacles – but not all of them were related to the Liverpool-born comedian’s retinitis pigmentosa, which robbed him of his sight almost entirely in his early twenties.
Indeed, he reveals, even if he’d retained his vision, he might have lost it regardless during rehearsal sessions for the programme.
While Chris and professional dance partner Dianne Buswell were rehearsing their Samba for Halloween Week, the Australian professional dancer, who is expecting her first child with boyfriend Joe Sugg, kicked backwards a touch too vigorously.
Chris remembers that the dancer “caught me so hard in the face that I almost threw up and had to lie down for twenty minutes to recover”.
In his new autobiography, Keep Laughing, he continues: “I took the entire impact of her flying foot right on one eyeball. It’s honestly a good job they didn’t work already or I would have been doing that dance half blind anyway and Strictly would have had an insurance payout like no other.”
But the biggest challenge to the dancing pair wasn’t Chris’ condition, but Dianne’s.
Their apparently effortless Week Eight Couple’s Choice routine to John Lennon’s 1970 classic Instant Karma masked a hidden crisis.
The dramatic performance featured a sudden blackout which, Chris reveals, was intended to transport the studio audience and BBC viewers into his world of darkness. It was an extraordinary television moment, and both the programme’s judges and fans had an enormous emotional reaction.
However, what nobody else realised was that Dianne had been genuinely struggling in the lead-up to the live programme.
Chris revealed: “The only downside to this dance for us was that Dianne had been really ill all day, so we hadn’t been able to enjoy it as much as we would have liked.”
Dianna had been battling a stomach bug, and Chris quipped that the daring moment when the stage lights returned after the blackout to show him spinning rapidly with Dianne draped across his shoulders could have had some very nasty outcomes.
He penned: “She had been unable to keep anything down and had spent a lot of that day in or near a toilet, so we were just grateful that it was only the pyrotechnics that went off, or that fast spin out of the darkness could have been a very different surprise!”.
The routine earned thunderous applause from the crowd and a score of 33 out of a potential 40 points from the judging panel – Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke.
Craig declared the “poignant blackout moment” was “absolutely spectacular” whilst head judge Shirley became tearful and, as she composed herself, told Chris: “You come out every week with your heart on your sleeve, and you give us 100%.”
He revealed that if medical science were to find a cure for his blindness one day, he would first look up some video clips from his time on Strictly: “I’ll certainly have to sit down with Dianne, to watch our dances and actually see what we were able to accomplish each week.”
X FACTOR winner Joe McElderry says he’ll be ‘eternally single’ while opening up on his dating life.
The talented 34-year-old became a household name after he won the show in 2009, as a fresh-faced 18-year-old with Cheryl as his mentor.
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X FACTOR winner Joe McElderry says he’ll be ‘eternally single’ while opening up on his dating lifeCredit: SuppliedJoe won the X Factor in 2009Credit: Rex FeaturesHe has spoken to The Sun about his new tourCredit: Channel 4
But where his career has thrived, Joe’s not had the same success when it comes to dating.
Joe referred to himself as “eternally single” in a chat with The Sun, while adding: “I’ve been single for a very, very long time.
“And I mean I listen, I’m open to meeting somebody and I’d love to meet somebody, but I think dating is so hard now.
“Online dating is a minefield, and I don’t think people meet people unless it’s on dating apps now, which is crazy. It’s kind of sad in a way.”
And if he is to meet someone, they’d have to get the green light from his grandma Hilda.
Joe continued: “She’s a very good judge of character. You’ll know if she doesn’t trust somebody or she doesn’t like somebody.
“In our industry, you can come across some dodgy people, but she can call it out in seconds of somebody walking in a room and I’m like, that’s a wise woman.”
Joe shares a very close bond with his grandma Hilda, with the pair set to do a live recording of their popular podcast That’s Ridiculous, on October 23rd.
The booked and busy star is also delighting audiences across the North East with his autumn tour, culminating in his one-night-only Festive Party at Newcastle’s O2 City Hall on 1st December.
Sharing more about tour life, the Climb singer told us: “It’s a very short tour in comparison to what I normally do, but I’ve been on the road with Joseph the musical since January.
“We finished that in August, and the original plan was to kind of just have October off, and chill out, and then I got halfway through the year and I was like, I feel like I’m gonna miss touring.
“So we managed to kind of shoehorn in about 10 shows, it’s been great. We’ve done three of them already and it’s been lovely and it’s my favourite thing to do, just to be in the room with people that support me and know my music.”
The star shared his pre-show ritual which he has stuck by for years – but admits it’s “not for everyone.”
Joe continued: “The weirdest thing I do is I gargle bicarbonate of soda.
Joe’s tour dates
Fans still have the chance to catch Joe live throughout October, with highlights including his special That’s Ridiculous live podcast with Grandma Hilda at The Customs House in South Shields.
23 October* – Customs House, South Shields
24 October – Customs House, South Shields
25 October – Customs House, South Shields
26 October – Playhouse, Whitley Bay
“Years ago, a wonderful supporter of mine sent a letter in and he was saying how it’s like an remedy, and so I read this letter and I thought that sounds a bit strange, but I’m going to give it a go and honestly, I mean I’m not a doctor, so if anybody reads this as advice, do it at your own risk, but it’s like a miracle cure for the voice, it’s like a natural antiseptic.
“You don’t swallow it or anything, it’s just a gargle on your voice. But I swear by it. I have it half an hour before the show. I sometimes have it in the interval of a show. And I even have it in a quick change if I’m struggling on a show day.”
The 34-year-old admits huge singers have taken his advice in the past after asking what could work to help their vocal chords.
“It does taste disgusting, but honestly not one person has ever come back and gone, #that didn’t work,’” Joe added.
Tickets for both the tour and the festive show at O2 City Hall are available via Joe’s official website and venue box offices – www.joemcelderryofficial.com.
X factor winner Joe with his grandma, Hilda, during his X Factor heydayCredit: AlamyWhere his career has thrived, Joe hasn’t had the same success when it comes to datingCredit: SuppliedThe star is currently doing an autumn tourCredit: SuppliedJoe became a household name after winning Britain’s biggest singing contestCredit: Pixel
The Pentagon issued a statement blasting the streamer’s programming and leadership Friday following an inquiry about the new series “Boots” from Entertainment Weekly. While the response from Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson did not directly address the gay coming-of-age military show, it did slam Netflix for following an “ideological agenda” that “feeds woke garbage to their audience and children.”
“Under President Trump and Secretary [Pete] Hegseth, the U.S. military is getting back to restoring the warrior ethos,” Wilson’s statement said. “Our standards across the board are elite, uniform, and sex neutral because the weight of a rucksack or a human being doesn’t care if you’re a man, a woman, gay, or straight. We will not compromise our standards to satisfy an ideological agenda, unlike Netflix whose leadership consistently produces and feeds woke garbage to their audience and children.”
Based on Greg Cope White’s 2016 memoir “The Pink Marine,” “Boots” follows Cam Cope (Miles Heizer), a gay teenager who enlists in the Marines at a time when being gay in the military was still a crime. Noting the show’s timely themes, Times television critic Robert Lloyd called it a “perfectly decent, good-hearted, unsurprisingly sentimental miniseries” in his review.
The show’s creatives also worked closely with several advisors with past military experience to authentically portray the Marines and military life in the 1990s.
The Pentagon’s criticism against Netflix follows the recent campaign led by billionaire Elon Musk calling for people to cancel their subscriptions to the streamer. The on-again/off-again Trump ally railed against Netflix on X earlier this month after clips of “Dead End: Paranormal Park,” an animated Netflix series featuring a trans character, was making the rounds on the social media platform. The show was canceled after its second season was released in 2022.
Despite being the target of right-wing ire, Netflix also has a history of being called out for its anti-trans programming. In 2021, transphobic remarks made by comedian Dave Chappelle in his special “The Closer” led to protests, walkouts and even a resignation of a trans employee. The streamer followed that in 2022 by releasing a comedy special from Ricky Gervais that also featured transphobic material.
Vanessa Feltz, who was sometimes seen on This Morning on ITV, engaged to musician Ben Ofoedu in 2006 but, despite planning to tie the knot in the years since, never got married
03:33, 18 Oct 2025Updated 05:35, 18 Oct 2025
Vanessa Feltz says she feels ‘unattractive’ when relationship don’t work out(Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)
Vanessa Feltz has admitted she feels “demoralised and unattractive” when potential relationships don’t work out.
The broadcaster has been introduced to men following her split with musician Ben Ofoedu, 53, earlier this year, but despite the rendezvous, nothing significant has stuck, it is thought. Vanessa, 63, became tearful when she confirmed she and Ben ended things in 2023, having been together for nearly 20 years.
Speaking this week, the unlucky-in-love presenter said she doesn’t use dating websites and prefers friends to introduce her to potential partners. However, she added: “It’s hard. I’m too famous to be on websites. I would like to be introduced by a friend, but when it doesn’t work it is hard not to feel demoralised and unattractive.”
Vanessa, originally from north London, was married to Michael Kurer, a surgeon, for 15 years until their divorce in 2000. She shares two children and four grandchildren with Michael. Recalling her split with Michael, Vanessa said in a previous interview she “was too open” with her daughters “about information and how I was feeling”.
But Vanessa began dating Ben as her children grew older, and enjoyed a long relationship with the singer. They became engaged in 2006 but, despite planning to tie the knot in the years since, never got married and parted ways in 2023. Speaking about the split, Vanessa previously said: “It’s clear that it’s over and I really do feel that once the trust in a relationship is gone then you can’t really get it back and that’s what I would tell anyone else to do.
“And so I just wanted to say that obviously I feel incredibly sad and I am pretty disappointed and shocked and all those horrible things but also full of resolve. I am not going to let this defeat me.”
Her followers on Instagram showed huge support for the star, who was on Celebrity Big Brother in 2001, around one year after her divorce.
The latest heartbreaking admission, said to a Daily Mail reporter at an event this week, comes as Vanessa continues to present her self-titled TV show on Channel 5. Devised as a chat show to rival Loose Women in the lunchtime slot, the programme sees Vanessa discuss topical issues and debates with a panel of guests, often including model Nicola McLean, presenter Sarah Cawood and journalist Afua Hagan.
The programme has been renewed for a second series, and TV sources say Vanessa is tipped to take some of the Loose Women audience when the ITV show goes down from 52 weeks to 30 next year.
Hard-of-hearing BBC viewers were baffled as Pulp belted out Spike IslandCredit: InstagramThe song was wrongly subtitled with lines from Agatha Christie’s Miss MarpleCredit: Alamy
Hard-of-hearing viewers were baffled as the frontman belted out Spike Island at the Mercury Prize awards ceremony on Thursday night.
Subtitles as he prowled the stage included, “Oooh then… Then the secretary girl came up with Heather Babcock”.
He also appeared to sing, “Dr Haydock, I would be very distressed if I thought you believed”, as well as “On and on she went” and “Honestly, she did go on so!”
Jarvis, 62, later posted snaps online, and wrote: “It appears our performance was accompanied by…… the subtitles to an episode of Miss Marple!”
Subtitles as he prowled the stage included, ‘Oooh then… Then the secretary girl came up with Heather Babcock’Credit: InstagramSinger Jarvis Cocker also appeared to sing, ‘Dr Haydock, I would be very distressed if I thought you believed’Credit: InstagramFans lapped it up, with some saying they could be real Pulp lyricsCredit: Instagram
There you are, sitting in traffic in your car, listening to Taylor Swift on Spotify because it’s easier than subjecting yourself to a new, more challenging artist. An ad pops up in your stream. It’s serious stuff, evidenced by the dystopian tone of the narrator: “Join the mission to protect America,” the serious man’s voice commands, “with bonuses up to $50,000 and generous benefits. Apply now … and fulfill your mission.”
It’s an Immigration and Customs Enforcement recruitment ad, part of the Trump administration’s investment of $30 billion to add more than 10,000 deportation officers to its ranks by the end of the year. You would have been spared the outrage if only you had paid for Spotify’s ad-free tier of service, but there’s no way the audio streamer is getting your money now. You’ll be switching to, say, Apple Music. Maybe Tidal?
The experience of being subjected to recruitment ads for a domestic military force, assembled by a power-hungry president, has generated intense backlash that’s culminated this week in calls for boycotts of streaming services and platforms that have featured ICE spots. They include Pandora, ESPN, YouTube, Hulu and Fubo TV. Multiple HBO Max subscribers bemoaned on X that they were subjected to ICE recruitment videos while watching All Elite Wrestling: “Time to be force-fed ICE commercials against my will for two hours again #WWENXT,” @YKWrestling wrote.
Recruitment ads — Uncle Sam’s “I Want You” poster comes to mind — are an American staple, especially in times of war. But the current recruitment effort is aimed at sending forces into American cities, predicated on exaggerated claims that U.S. metro areas are under siege and in peril due to dangerous illegal immigrants, leftist protesters and out-of-control crime rates. The data, however, does not support those claims. The American Immigration Council found that from 1980 to 2022, while the immigrant share of the U.S. population more than doubled (from 6.2% to 13.9%), the total crime rate declined by over 60%.
Yet there’s a far scarier doomscape on the horizon if ICE’s recruitment efforts are successful: a mercenary army loyal only to Trump, weaponized to keep him on the throne. If that sounds more dystopian than the aforementioned Spotify ad, consider that the administration has spent more than $6.5 million over the past month on a slew of 30-second commercials aimed at luring in police officers.
The ads aired on TVs in more than a dozen cities including Chicago, Seattle and Atlanta and opened with images of each specific metro area’s skyline. Then came the commanding narration: “Attention, Miami law enforcement!” It’s followed by the same messaging that is used in ICE ads across the country: “You took an oath to protect and serve, to keep your family, your city, safe. But in sanctuary cities you’re ordered to stand down while dangerous illegals walk free — Join ICE and help us catch the worst of the worst. Drug traffickers. Gang members. Predators.”
But are the ads working? It’s hard to say since transparency isn’t a hallmark of the MAGA White House. For what it’s worth, a Sept. 16 press release from the DHS claimed that it had received more than 150,000 applications in response to its campaign and had extended 18,000 tentative job offers.
As for the power of consumer-led boycotts, there’s hope. More than 1.7 million Disney, Hulu and ESPN subscriptions were reportedly canceled between Sept. 17 and Sept. 23 during Jimmy Kimmel’s temporary suspension by ABC (Disney is ABC’s parent company). The network pulled the show after the host’s comments related to Charlie Kirk’s assassination angered MAGA supporters and the Trump-appointed FCC chair appeared to threaten the network. But after a week with a significant increase in cancellations — a 436% jump compared to a normal week — Kimmel was back on the air.
As of today, Spotify appears unmoved by the pressure to pull those intrusive ICE ads. “This advertisement is part of a broad campaign the US government is running across television, streaming, and online channels,” a Spotify spokesperson said in a statement this week. “The content does not violate our advertising policies. However, users can mark any ad with a thumbs up or thumbs down to help manage their ads preferences.”
Thumbs down. Frowny emoji. Cue the dystopian narrator for a counter ad: “Join the mission to protect America: Cancel Spotify.”
Coronation Street Becky Swain works on getting close again with her ex Lisa Swain next week, amid her plan to ‘oust’ Carla Connor out of the family on the ITV soap
00:00, 18 Oct 2025Updated 00:09, 18 Oct 2025
Becky Swain gets to work on winning over her ex Lisa Swain on Coronation Street next week.
A new preview reveals the moment the pair grow closer again, as they reminisce about the past and discuss the moment that tore them apart. Becky faked her death four years ago and fled to Spain, with it revealed someone was after her.
DI Costello helped cover it all up and now it’s been teased the pair are hiding much more, and that Becky is “a villain”. Corrie boss Kate Brooks has revealed that we’re yet to see just what Becky is fully capable of, but she’s out to “oust” Carla Connor from the family.
Lisa was ‘widowed’ after Becky’s fake demise four years ago, and in the past year she’s grown close to new partner Carla. Just months ago the pair got engaged, only for Becky to rock up – and now it’s clear she’s out to ruin it all.
While it’s not known what she has up her sleeve, we do know she’s desperate to have her wife and their daughter Betsy Swain back. She wants the family back together again, and Carla is stopping that.
Carla’s existence alone proves difficult for Becky’s agenda, never mind the fact Carla is clearly suspicious of her ‘rival’. So perhaps with Carla in Ireland, we’re about to see Becky make her first move.
In a new preview clip, Becky spends some time alone with Lisa amid trouble with Betsy after her arrest. The pair are on the sofa having enjoyed a curry and a glass of wine.
Lisa is a little tipsy, and the pair are debating whether or not to watch Game of Thrones “like they used to”. Becky very quickly reminds Lisa of the life they once had, and how they’d spent nights often at home with a takeaway and watching the telly.
Lisa is thoughtful as she remembers this well, but she quickly points out the reason it all stopped was because Becky died, or at last she thought. Becky guilt trips Lisa with a comment about it not being fun and games for her, having to hide out from criminals.
As she tells Becky how hard it was without her, Becky tells her she wishes she could turn the clocks back to a time that they were together as a family, wishing she could have stopped everything that led to her fleeing. Caught up in the emotions, Lisa agrees with her that she too wishes they could go back.
As Lisa appears emotional, Becky strokes her hair, leading to Lisa grabbing her hand and placing it against her face. This, and the fact that Lisa misses the way things were, leaves Becky smiling, no doubt believing she may have a chance of winning Lisa back.
But what will Lisa do, and is the moment on the sofa not what it seems? After all, Corrie boss Kate hinted Swarla, Carla and Lisa, could survive the drama with Becky, with twists ahead for the newcomer – but how far will Becky go to get what she wants?
A BBC star’s nepo daughter has revealed her addiction battle on her new single.
The singer has opened up for the first time about struggling with addiction, ADHD andsubstance abuse.
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A BBC star’s nepo daughter has revealed he addiction battle on a new singleCredit: instagramLine of Duty star Adrian Dunbar’s daughter, Madeleine Dunbar, 37, whose artist’s name is Minx has explored her past in her new music video.Credit: instagram
Line of Duty starAdrian Dunbar‘s daughter, Madeleine Dunbar, 37, whose artist’s name is Minx has explored her past in her new music video.
The artist took to Instagram with an image of herself spread across a lime satin bedspread with beer cans rolled into her hair as curlers
In the image she is surrounded by lines of fake white powder, pill packets and bottles.
The artist said: “My name is Madeline Dunbar, My artist name is Minx.
“Messy, Messy ADHD Queen and I am writing songs about it.
The camera then flips to Madeline’s cat and she jokes: “Oh that’s my cat Tony. I think he thinks I’m relapsing.
“Don’t worry baby boy we are not going back there. That is just my ADHD medication crushed up on a golden plate.”
Madeline then bursts into laughter and adds: “Anyways if any of this stuff resonates with you in the right place.
“I’m about to release a track called Dopamine on the 1st November.
“I think you’re gonna f**k with it.”
The singer describes her music as “high-energy pop rap with hip hop, house and Latin influences”, drawing inspiration from Madonna, Lady Gaga, Janelle Monae and Rosalia.
Lyrics from the song include: “And every time I think that I’m in control / You serve another cocktail of chemicals / And it’s nice, but I wonder”
In an earlier post the singer wrote: “Fully clean and sober writing songs about addiction is cathartic but sitting in front of my favourite vices (albeit fake substitutes) was a bit triggering.
“It also made me feel a great sadness for the person I once was and the people still suffering.
“This track is a foray into the desperation felt by anyone suffering with adhd or addiction or like me, both!
“The frenzied need to feel better to feel different to feel normal.
“The futile necessity of instant gratification because that low dopamine is REAL and makes you feel so f***ing empty and unenthused.
“If you or a loved one are struggling speak out and seek help. It can be done, we do recover.”
Adrian is wed to his Australian actress wife Anna Nygh, after they got married in 1986 – as well as Madeline he also has a stepson with Anna.
Madeline has said her music is influenced by Madonna and Lady GagaCredit: instagramThe singer has opened up for the first time about her addictions and ADHDCredit: instagramHer father is best known for his role as Superintendent Ted Hastings, the head of an anti-corruption squad in Line of DutyCredit: PA