SHOW BIZ

ZOE Ball has lifted the lid on the mystery man she recently moved into her home and candidly revealed what she finds “sexy” about her partner.

The TV and radio legend, 55, shared intimate details about how smell plays a key role in her relationships.

During a conversation on her Dig It podcast with co-host Jo Whiley, Zoe admitted: “Sniffing pits is sexy though.

“I’ve often had this thing, when I’ve been sort of dating someone, I love smelling their armpits.”

Acknowledging that her view may divide opinion, she went on to explain: “I know it sounds weird.

“But if you love someone, you’ve got to love all their smells, not necessarily their bathroom smells. 

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“I draw a line at that. 

“But there’s something about armpit smells that I think are really sexy!”

Zoe – who has been tipped to take over as the host of Strictly – described how she reacts when reunited with her partner after time apart.

She added: “My favourite thing to often do is sometimes, especially if I’ve not seen my lover for a while, is when they’ve got their arms around you, I’m like sniffing in the armpits, and I get a right odd look. 

“I’m like, ‘I like that smell!’ It’s a good smell.”

Zoe also revealed a bed washing habit she sticks to when her partner is away, admitting: “I have a thing that if my partner goes away, I don’t like to wash the bed until they get back. 

“A, because I’m worried they might not come back, and B, I love the smell. I love the smell of them on the pillows.”

Zoe also said she knows when her attraction fades, adding: “If you go off someone, you know you’ve gone off them if they suddenly, the smells you used to love about them starts to smell a bit funky. You’re like, nah, it’s gone.

“It’s gone because you got to love all their smells.”

The comments divided some listeners who watched a clip of the conversation on Instagram.

One said: “Depends how long since the last wash!”

Another simply penned: “Nope.”

However, a third said: “Hahaha, Jo’s face!! She wants to agree, but she’s not quite sure.”

And another confessed:  “I do that lol! I know exactly where you are coming from. so good to know I’m not the only armpit sniffer.”

It comes just weeks after Zoe confirmed she has changed her living arrangements and moved a man she previously referred to as “The Lodger” into her home. 

Zoe’s last public relationship was with construction worker Michael Reed, which ended in 2023.

The Sun also revealed in June that Zoe had found love again.

She was spotted holding hands with her mystery man at Glastonbury.

“Oooh, look at this trash!”

Alicia Piller was giddily flitting around her Inglewood live-work studio holding up resin-coated balls of detritus, showing off tiny fossil fragments, and pulling out plastic trays filled with random thingamajigs that had been organized by color.

The assortment is all part of her eclectic jewelry-making arsenal. She clusters recycled textiles, found items, donated castoffs and gemstones to create handmade wearable art that she describes as “science bohemian.”

In this series, we highlight independent makers and artists, from glassblowers to fiber artists, who are creating original products in and around Los Angeles.

Piller juxtaposes opals, garnets and pearls with less conventional materials such as tile fragments, snakeskin, bits of lava from a trip to Iceland, and bullet casings, all bound together with strips of leather or vinyl. Lately, she’s been working with 3-D printed waste that her friends, a pair of costume-based performance artists, started delivering to her in giant garbage bags.

“I am always thinking about some aspect of recycling,” she said, “seeing the value in these things that we deem ‘trash.’”

One wall of her studio is lined with metal racks stacked with bins and boxes labeled “clay,” “metal” and “scraps.” The room is cluttered, yet curated.

“There’s a little bit of hoarding mentality,” Piller laughed, “but I use it!”

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1. Necklaces featuring seashells, gemstones and recycled printed plastic. 2. Alicia Piller displays her handmade ring. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)

From her “controlled chaos” come intricate, ornate, one-of-a-kind necklaces, earrings, brooches and rings. While Etsy is her main retail hub, she previously sold her wearables at L.A.’s Craft Contemporary museum and the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. She’s also provided flair for the likes of Phylicia Rashad, Jill Scott and Ciara.

Her creations give nods to nature, at times skew extraterrestrial, and have Afro-futuristic undertones. One pendant evokes the sea with its swirl of mother-of-pearl, spiral seashells and rivulets of pale gray leather arranged above a piece of bleached coral. A crystal-festooned collar necklace calls to mind a pair of Blue Morpho butterfly wings. And a jasper-studded pin resembles a Ghanaian mask at first glance.

The undulating layers and microcosms that make up her jewelry’s signature “biomorphic” look extend into her fine art practice, as well.

Piller received an MFA from Cal Arts and now teaches sculpture as an adjunct professor at UCLA and UC Irvine. Her maximalist mixed-media artwork has shown at Track 16 (the L.A. gallery that represents her), as well as institutions across Southern California, including the Brick and the Orange County Museum of Art. Both the Hammer Museum and the California African American Museum have her pieces in their permanent collections. Next summer, she’ll unveil a new monument as part of West Hollywood’s Art on the Outside public art program.

In her studio, multiple towering sculptures are ensconced in cardboard and bubble wrap, while others — works in progress — sit on plinths, lean against walls, or hang from the ceiling. There’s a stark contrast between these 9-foot-tall pieces and her smallest makes, a pair of one-inch post earrings. But toggling from the massive to the minute comes naturally to her.

Alicia Piller stands for a portrait in her studio.

(Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)

“It’s about the microscopic and the macro,” she explained. “I like being able to see the tiniest detail, then letting it expand out into the cosmos. I’m thinking about those two scales constantly and about where we fit between those scales.”

While she addresses such weighty topics as police brutality and climate disasters in her large-scale works, making wearables provides comfort.

“The jewelry is much more free-form and fun versus the more serious stuff that feels heavy to me,” she said. “It’s not always full of activism and all these ideas about humanity and the world. It’s more of a joyous, less stressful task.”

She added, “I also just love to adorn myself in the things that I make.”

This has been true since childhood.

During the studio tour, the artist pulled out a piece of brass wire bent to spell out her name, a keepsake from when she was 12. She’s kept all manner of adolescent mementos, such as beads she fashioned out of tightly-rolled magazine pages or colorful pieces of clay. Her future as an artisan was a foregone conclusion.

Photos of Piller’s maternal ancestors line the edges of this textural necklace, which features a pair of beetles at its center.

(Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)

Growing up in Chicago, Piller and her mother performed as clowns at birthdays and company picnics. From ages 7 to 14, it was her job to create balloon figures for partygoers — sculpting skills that would come in handy. She gained an appreciation for nature and anthropology from mother-daughter fishing excursions and regular visits to the Field Museum, which focuses on natural history. Her affinity for biology comes from her father, who attended medical school when she was young.

“I had all these books around me that had the insides of bodies,” she recalled, “so there was a fascination with the inside.”

Piller went on to study anthropology and painting at Rutgers University, making jewelry in her spare time. During breaks, she’d work at a Chicago bead store, where she learned about global jewelry-making practices. After graduating in 2004, she moved to Manhattan, spending weekends hawking accessories and hand-painted clothing from a sidewalk table. She later relocated to Santa Fe, N.M., where she worked at a store selling fossils, minerals and semi-precious stones.

“That’s when I really understood that in all these materials there’s a spiritual side, an energy,” she said. “There’s a beauty in the fusion of all of these materials together.”

Piller moved to Inglewood in 2019. Asked if L.A. has impacted her work the way previous cities had, she said, “[My] storytelling, narrative side has come to the forefront. There’s definitely been a shift, in terms of thinking about how an object can tell a story.”

For example, enamored of Pasadena-born author Octavia Butler, she began referencing the sci-fi legend’s writing and using her likeness, both in sculptural form (as with her 2024 piece “Mission Control. Earthseed.”) and in her jewelry. She also started incorporating images of other inspiring women, including her maternal forebears and the Cuban American sculptor Ana Mendieta.

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1. Earrings featuring science fiction author Octavia Butler, one of Piller’s many inspirations. 2. A necklace made from a crinoid fossil stem. 3. Cuban American artist Ana Mendieta sits at the center of these necklaces. (Juliana Yamada/Los Angeles Times)

L.A. has shaped her aesthetic in more literal ways, too.

“A big part of what I do is walking and doing urban hikes,” she said, noting that she’s trekked through nearly 20 countries. She’s walked from her studio to Watts Towers or westward to Torrance, collecting things she finds on the ground along the way and eventually transforming them. For instance, a pair of jewel-toned beetles she picked up made an ideal centerpiece for a regal bib necklace.

“There’s that side of me that really gets excited about looking at those objects, then creating my own sort of cosmology, my own artifacts, if you will,” she said. “I’m using ‘high’ gemstones to ‘low’ plastic and elevating all of them, fusing them into one work that then creates this energy, this power.”

THE brutal way Adam Peaty uninvited his great aunt and uncle from his wedding to Holly Ramsay just four days before the ceremony has been revealed.

The Olympic swimmer tied the knot with Gordon Ramsay‘s daughter on Saturday in a festive ceremony at Bath Abbey.

However, the lead up to their nuptials was fraught with drama, after Adam, 31, uninvited his mum Caroline when a feud erupted over her failing to be invited to Holly’s hen do.

It was then revealed that Adam had said his dad Mark could attend the wedding – but he would have to sit at the back of the church.

Unsurprisingly, Mark chose not to attend, as did Adam’s brothers James and Richard, meaning his sister Beth was the only family member at the ceremony, where she was a maid of honour.

Now, The Sun can reveal that his great aunt Janet, 73, and uncle Eddie were uninvited in a very brutal way just four days before the ceremony.

that’s rich

Adam Peaty’s ex slams name change as ‘hypocritical’ after Holly Ramsay wedding

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A source said: “They got an automated message basically saying they were off the guest list and to respect Adam and Holly’s decision.

“It was so impersonal, and just four days before the big day.”

The brutal text came despite the fact the couple had already shelled out hundreds of pounds on accommodation, outfits and gifts.

In response to the bitter fall out, Adam’s aunt Louise sent a text of her own just hours before he walked down the aisle.

Her text allegedly read: “I hope you never suffer the depth of pain you have put your mother through and despite it all she loves you still. Shame on you both. Shame.

“Remember on this, your happiest day, and on each anniversary of your happiest day, that you hurt your mum so deeply her soul screams.”

However, Adam didn’t receive the text as he had blocked family messages.

Following the wedding ceremony, a reception was held at Kin House in Kington Langley, Wilts.

It saw Holly’s dad Gordon deliver a fiery speech where he made a dig at Adam’s absent parents.

The 59-year-old chef said his wife Tana “will be a good mum to them both”.

Gordon gushed at how beautiful Holly looked and told Adam he was a “lucky man”, adding: “Look at Tana and that’s what you have to look forward to.” 

And in a sly dig at Adam’s parents he told Holly, 25: “Shame you don’t have the same.” 

His words left Caroline “outraged and hurt” with an insider telling the Daily Mail: “Caroline can’t believe Gordon brought their family troubles up his speech. It is outrageous and very hurtful.

“By him saying Tana will be a good mum to them both makes Caroline sound like a bad mum. It was a cruel dig at her.

“She has always done her best for all her children. She is a very good mum.”

However, the newlyweds brushed off any further drama as they were pictured leaving Gordon’s London home on Monday to jet off on honeymoon.

Their trip comes after Adam changed his name on social media to Adam Ramsay Peaty, a move that was quickly criticised by his ex-girlfriend.

Eiri Munroe – who shares five-year-old son George with Adam – told friends she thought it was “hypocritical”.

A friend of his artist ex – who he split from in 2021 – says she wanted George to take her surname plus Adam’s, but claims he refused.

Eiri’s pal told The Sun: “It feels a bit rich to Eiri that Adam has been quick to change his name but didn’t allow her the same right for their son.”

The Sun has reached out to reps for Adam and Holly for comment.

Stranger Things fans got a hint about the finale in a cryptic social media post

Netflix’s gargantuan hit Stranger Things is on the home run now with only one episode left to drop. The epic sci-fi fantasy series is promising a cinematic-scale series finale, with a feature-length runtime to match the story. Many have been theorising about how the show will end, who will die and the real villains.

However, Stranger Things die-hards have now been sent into overdrive after the official Instagram account for the Netflix drama dropped a cryptic post ahead of the finale. The account shared an embroidered number from Henry Creel’s (played by Jamie Campbell Bower) Hawkins Lab uniform, which read: “1106” and captioned the post: “did you notice….henry creel’s badge number [sic].”

Many correctly pointed out that this was also 6th November when Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) first disappeared and is essentially Stranger Things day. One person posted under the comment: “It’s the day Will goes missing – November 6th !”, with the Stranger Things account responding with a looking eyes emoji. As a second fan simply said: “Lucas’ theory” and got a response from the official account: “idk about you but I don’t believe in coincidences [sic].”

READ MORE: Did Jonathan and Nancy break up in Stranger Things?READ MORE: Who is Meg in Stranger Things?

Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin) predicted that everything had to happen on this date as it connected everything. A third person commented: “The day Henry was transported in the cave, the day of Joyce’s play in the 50s, the day Will Byers vanished, Stranger Things Day.” Their thoughts were echoed by another fan: “All. Connected. Will. Henry. The Play.”

Although this is a key date in Stranger Things and vital to the plot, there was another chilling connection that some might have missed after one Stranger Things fan noted: “1 + 1 + 0 + 6 = 008.” However, someone else said: “it is the date will is capture, it’s probably just a coincidence but kali / 008 has been acting really suspicious lately.”

Yet another fan made an astute observation: “wait but remember when Dustin says, I don’t know about u, but I don’t believe in coincidences. He says this in the episode of them in d&d club with Eddie and they r fighting vecna.. js saying. Maybe not a coincidence? [sic].” While another fan said: “Kali is def betraying el [sic].”

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There’s already been plenty of speculation that Kali Prasad (Linnea Berthelsen) is actually an evil character after she told Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) that they needed to sacrifice themselves to break the evil cycle to stop creating more monsters. Eleven was hoping to flee with Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard) from Hawkins and start over, but Kali warned her that they would be found and her powers exploited.

On Reddit, some fans speculated about Kali’s true motives as fan suggested she was the Mindflayer because she shares her name with the Hindu goddess of destruction and rebirth. Moreover, they drew another connection between Vecna, Kali and the Mindflayer: “Additionally, 008, or Eight, matches the motif of Spiders that fascinated Henry.”

However, another fan debunked this theory and said: “In Hindu culture, Kali is the goddess of destruction/ time and rebirth and she is famously depicted slaying monsters. Kali is motivated to put an end to all of this. She is going to kill the Mindflayer. Maybe because of the hive mind, all Mindflayer particle becomes kaput once you kill him. As a result El may live.”

The user went on to explain their theory: “This may cause a “Snape” moment with the audience, flipping her perception and making her bad***. I also think somebody will be left behind in the Abyss at the end of finale , and I think it will be Kali, to shape the Abyss.”

While someone else commented: “This is too complex for the Duffers to have planned. So it will definitely not happen. It’s too good.” A third person noted Kali’s neck tattoo: “It looks like two dice with a rolled one. Which would be called snake eyes. The duffer brothers said the word traitor summorizes the series, so I think Kali is the snake [sic].”

For now, it looks like the jury is out about whether Kali will be a force for good or evil at the end. However, there’s not much longer to wait for the Stranger Things finale to land and everything to be revealed once and for all, including which beloved characters will meet their maker.

Stranger Things season 5, volume 3 is released on Netflix UK & Ireland on New Year’s Day at 1am

It was abundantly clear to actor-director Bradley Cooper that if “Is This Thing On?,” his comedy-drama set in New York’s stand-up scene, lacked authenticity, the film would fail. With the iconic Comedy Cellar at its heart, he found the key to unlocking that — by casting several of the real-life comedians who regularly take the stage there. Among them were two women at the top of their game right now with sold-out shows and substantial social media followings: Chloe Radcliffe and Jordan Jensen.

“Bradley fell in love with the Comedy Cellar and the relationships that go on there,” Jensen recalls.

“Is This Thing On?” is based on an anecdote from the life of British comedian John Bishop, whose career started when he stumbled into an open-mic night in Manchester, England, while temporarily separated from his wife. In the film, Will Arnett plays a fictionalized version of Bishop, Alex Novak, a finance guy, and the narrative shifts to New York.

“The idea was, ‘If we use people who aren’t comics to play comics, there’s not going to be a juxtaposition between Arnett and this super-tight group of people,’” Jensen says. “His character is this stuffy, bored guy, and he enters into this world of people who have day jobs just like him, but they step into this room, and it’s all dirty humor and busting each other’s balls.”

Radcliffe realized early on that Cooper, who also produced and co-wrote the film, understood the level of commitment required to portray the stand-up world realistically. She saw the first signs of him getting it when he screened 10 minutes of test footage for the comedians at his home, just a few blocks from the Greenwich Village club.

Comedian Chloe Radcliffe on stage as her character, Nina, in “Is This Thing On?”

(Jason McDonald / Searchlight Pictures)

“The second the test footage started, I immediately felt so confident that we are in the right hands,” she recalls. “Any lingering doubt or trepidation was totally washed away immediately, because Bradley just has such clarity of vision and taste. It was clear that he and Will had both embedded themselves deeply in the world of stand-up. Bradley wanted to capture what is real, and he was like, ‘If that means going off script, do it. If that means going to a weird place, do it.’”

Jensen adds, “I don’t think I said one actual line from the script. I would improvise something, and along the way, as I got the point across, it was OK. He might occasionally tell us to say a line, but it was in between 100% moments of improvisation, and he would be rolling camera.

“When I saw the movie, it was really moving. The way he showed it reintroduced me to it and made me be like, ‘Oh yeah, this place is f— magical.’”

Cooper wanted to capture what goes on offstage as well as on, and a significant part of that happened around a particular table at the Olive Tree Cafe, which sits above the underground comedy club. It’s where the acts gather before, after and in between their sets.

“We shot a scene around the comics’ table on the very first day,” Radcliffe says. “About a week or 10 days later, Bradley wanted to reshoot it because he looked at the footage and realized that it looked like a movie. He wanted to make something that looked like the real environment. I admire that so much. Not only is he willing to ask us for our input, but he’s also willing to go back and make new decisions based on new information.”

According to Jensen, in another scene in the cafe, the filmmaker asked whether the comedian’s coats, which PAs had removed from the shot, would be there, and when he was told they would, ordered them to be put back. The level of detail even extended to whether the comics would share fries from a single plate or have their own. It all mattered.

Comedian Jordan Jensen was used to riffing through her scenes on camera while playing her character, Jill, in “Is This Thing On?”

(Jason McDonald / Searchlight Pictures)

Radcliffe describes Cooper’s reverence for the Comedy Cellar and the comics as an appreciated display of “humility and willing” that extended to both the filmmaker and Arnett, asking for their input on techniques that would improve Novak’s set.

“We wound up chatting about things like where the funny idea is in a punch line, so you might rearrange the sentence so that the most surprising part of it comes at the end. That’s an unnatural way of delivering that sentence,” she reveals. “I would see Will running the set at the Cellar before the shoot, and he is so naturally funny that even if he went off script and started riffing, he instinctively hits punch lines. He has this natural sense of rhythm.”

However, neither the actor nor the director, who also plays Novak’s best friend, Balls, rested on their laurels. To gauge real audiences’ reactions to the material, they ran it multiple times in rooms for months before filming started. It’s something Jensen calls “the ballsiest thing I’ve ever seen a person do.”

“I would be on a show months before the movie was happening,” she says. “They’d be like, ‘Here’s Alex Novak,’ and I was like, ‘Who is that?’ I would see that it was Will Arnett and then I’d be like, ‘F—, he’s bombing. Oh, this is the movie.’”

However, the bombing was intentional, and things would change as the set progressed. She continues, “What I realized is they had written it so that the first chunk in the movie, he doesn’t do so great, the second chunk he does a little better, and the last chunk he does the best, which is how comedy works. I can’t imagine in a million years doing that and not breaking at some point, and being like, ‘Hey, by the way, I’m actually doing this for a movie.’”

While Arnett was on stage, Cooper would stand in the back of the room, taking notes, making changes and doing research. However, Jensen says watching Arnett tank, even on purpose, was “brutal.”

Will Arnett with director Bradley Cooper on the set of “Is This Thing On?”

(Jason McDonald / Searchlight Pictures)

“These were not open mic nights; they were real shows. It was Will Arnett’s reputation, and he was bombing on purpose, but it totally worked out in the long run. He was operating like a real comic up there.”

There were also little things that Arnett did, sometimes by accident, that made his delivery next-level. One example is when he breathes into the microphone.

“It was totally an improvised thing,” Jensen enthuses. “It was this moment of awkwardness that is so authentic that it makes you immediately empathize with him. You’re like, ‘Oh, man, I know that feeling of the air leaving your mouth, hitting the mic, and now everybody has heard that you’ve let out a sigh of grief.’”

Radcliffe, who plays Nina, and Jensen, who plays Jill, are close friends in real life and read for each other’s roles. Aside from being able to take Cooper and Arnett behind the curtain of the comedy scene, their relationship added an extra level of authenticity to the film and to each other’s performances.

“We’ve been really close since pre-pandemic, and she and I have a lot of similar energies,” Radcliffe muses. “We can both be trashy little gremlins. She has a level of aggression that I don’t quite step into, and I think I have a level of exasperation that she doesn’t quite step into. We play off each other really well. She’s so subversive and transgressive, and she’s got such a magnetism in where she is willing to go on stage that I think is unmatched in a lot of other comics working right now.”

Jensen, who is a big fan of Cooper’s work, recalls being starstruck when he first opened the door to his home when the cast came over to read the script for the film. “He opened the door and said, ‘Hi, I’m Bradley.’ I just looked at Chloe over his shoulder, beelined right to her, and snuggled up next to her on the couch, because I was so intimidated,” she said. “It would have still been great if she weren’t there, but having her there was the best. It’s one of those things where when I’m really old, I’ll tell people, and they won’t believe me.”

Los Tigres del Norte have gone gold and platinum many times, but on Sunday the acclaimed group went yellow for the first time.

The Grammy-winning band appeared in animated form on the latest episode of “The Simpsons,” which aired Sunday, and performed an original corrido about the escapades of Homer Simpson and Pedro Chespirito (also known as the Bumblebee Man).

The unexpected collaboration came with some anticipation as the long-running show promoted the group’s appearance Friday on social media.

“A legendary band. An original song. A very Simpson twist. @lostigresdelnorte perform “El Corrido de Pedro y Homero” this Sunday on FOX,” the program’s official Instagram page wrote in a post alongside a pair of stills from the episode.

The “Jaula de Oro” artists appear only in the end credits and their tune recaps the zany adventures of Homer and Pedro within the episode. In the Simpsons-verse, Pedro Chespirito plays a beloved character on the slapstick comedy Spanish-language show “Channel Ocho.” The character is an homage to Mexican television icon Roberto Gómez Bolaños, better known as “Chespirito.” Bumblebee Man is a nod to “El Chapulín Colorado,” and “Channel Ocho” is a reference to to Gómez Bolaño’s best known character, El Chavo del Ocho.

“We are deeply grateful and very happy for this special moment in our history, being part of the universe of The Simpsons,” Los Tigres Del Norte told Rolling Stone. “For us, it’s an honor that our stories continue to cross borders, cultures, and generations. “When music tells stories, it can reach anywhere… even Springfield.”

The episode’s head writer Cesar Mazariegos told Rolling Stone the band’s inclusion was a “tip of the hat” to the show’s sizable Latin American fandom, specifically its Mexican and Mexican American fans.

“They are absolute, worldwide legends. I mean, they were on tour when we reached out to ask them for a song. I assumed they wouldn’t have time,” Mazariegos said. “When we heard back that they were game, I couldn’t have been more thrilled.”

Mexican director and Oscar winner Alejandro González Iñárritu was also portrayed and voiced himself in Sunday’s episode.

Los Tigres del Norte’s guest spot is only the most recent in a long line of musical legends featured on “The Simpsons.” U2, Paul McCartney, Green Day, Ringo Starr, Sting and Dolly Parton have made an appearance on the show.

Other Latinx artists have popped up in Springfield as well, including Tito Puente, Linda Ronstadt and Los Lobos. In 2021, Bad Bunny made a special appearance in “The Simpsons” universe when he released an animated music video for his 2020 ballad “Te Deseo Lo Mejor” — which sees him drawn into the same universe as “The Simpsons.”

FROM music legends like Ozzy to literary icons such as Jilly Cooper, 2025 saw the loss of many beloved celebrities.

Here The Sun remembers the stars we lost in 2025.

JANUARY

Wayne Osmond, 73, January 1

TALENTED member of Mormon boy band The Osmonds.

Played eight instruments including the saxophone and guitar, sang and also arranged the group’s harmonies.

Wrote worldwide hit Crazy Horses. Died from a stroke.

The Vivienne, 32, January 3

FIRST winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019.

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Tess & Claudia plot boozy Strictly party to celebrate send off from show

GIRL PO-WAR

Dani Dyer left with bleeding nose after being punched by MAFS star on Celeb SAS

Born James Lee Williams, their stage name was inspired by a love of designer Vivienne Westwood.

Had a cardiac arrest after taking ketamine.

Found at home two days later.

Jean-Marie Le Pen, 96, January 7

WIDELY regarded as a racist, he made five failed bids for the French presidency.

Founded the National Front party in 1972 but was expelled in 2015 after a row with party leader Marine – his daughter.

Died in a care home.

Peter Yarrow, 86, January 7

FOLK singer who formed Peter, Paul and Mary.

Their version of Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ In The Wind became a US civil rights anthem.

Also had hits with If I Had A Hammer and Leaving On A Jet Plane.

Died from bladder cancer.

Tony Book, 90, January 13

MAN CITY legend captained the side in the late 60s and early 70s, winning four trophies in three years after being signed by Malcolm Allison at the age of 31.

Also managed City to ’76 League Cup win.

Died peacefully.

Tony Slattery, 65, January 14

STANDOUT star of Channel 4’s Whose Line Is It Anyway?

His manic humour masked the pain of depression and addiction.

At the age of 36 suffered a drink and cocaine-induced breakdown.

Died from a heart attack.

Linda Nolan, 65, January 15

THE wildest of the Nolan Sisters singing group dubbed herself the “naughty Nolan”.

Appeared with sister Anne on The Nolans Go Cruising and Coleen on Loose Women.

Died from pneumonia while living with incurable cancer.

Paul Danan, 46, January 15

TROUBLED former Hollyoaks star who played Sol Patrick in the Channel 4 soap.

Had battled with addiction since his early twenties.

His death was ruled as “misadventure” after he took a combination of drugs including heroin.

Dame Joan Plowright, 95, January 16

STAGE and screen star whose career spanned more than six decades.

Married to Laurence Olivier, who she met when playing his daughter in play The Entertainer in 1957.

Won two Golden Globes and an Olivier Award.

David Lynch, 78, January 16

US-born director responsible for cult films Dune, Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive, and Nineties TV hit Twin Peaks.

Nominated three times for the best director Oscar.

Died from emphysema after a lifetime of smoking.

Denis Law, 84, January 17

ONE the all-time Great strikers, scoring memorable goals for Manchester United and Scotland.

Spent 11 years at Old Trafford, netting 237 times.

“The King” was part of the famous “Holy Trinity” alongside George Best and Bobby Charlton.

Broke into the First Division after signing for Manchester City from Huddersfield Town, but after one season joined Torino in Italy, before going to United.

Subsequently rejoined City and scored the goal he believed had relegated his former club, but other results that day meant United would have been relegated in any event.

Law was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia in 2021.

Marianne Faithfull, 78, January 30

SIXTIES pin-up singer and actress who was Rolling Stone Mick Jagger’s lover for four years.

Rose to fame in 1964 with single As Tears Go By.

Starred in 1968 erotic movie The Girl On A Motorcycle, the first film to get an X certificate in the US.

Convent-educated, she recovered from heroin addiction, anorexia and home-lessness in the 1970s to produce critically acclaimed music, starting with her 1979 album Broken English.

She also overcame breast cancer.

Appeared on stage and TV, including Absolutely Fabulous in 2001.

In 1999, she ranked 25th on VH1’s 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll.

FEBRUARY

Tony Martin, 80, February 2

FARMER who was jailed after shooting and killing a 16-year-old burglar on his property in 1999.

Sentenced to life for murder but released after three years when his conviction was reduced to manslaughter.

Died from a stroke.

Brian Murphy, 92, February 2

BELOVED for his role as hen-pecked husband George Roper in Seventies sitcom Man About the House, opposite Yootha Joyce as ­Mildred.

He also appeared in Last Of the Summer Wine and Benidorm.

Died from cancer.

Aga Khan IV, February 4

SPIRITUAL leader of Ismaili Muslims, billionaire and philanthropist.

Gave his friend the late Queen Elizabeth II a horse that went on to win the Ascot Gold Cup in 2013.

Died peacefully in Lisbon, surrounded by family.

Rick Buckler, 69, February 17

DRUMMER with The Jam who played on hits including Going Underground and In The City.

Was with the trio from their formation in 1972 until they split in 1982 and featured on all their top 40 UK singles.

Died after a short illness.

Gene Hackman, 95 February 17

ONE of the greatest actors of his generation who featured in major movies including The French Connection – as drug cop Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle – which won him the first of his two Oscars.

His other Academy Award came for Unforgiven.

Also featured in Mississippi Burning and Superman.

His cinematic career only began when he was in his 40s.

Found dead, with second wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, at their Hollywood mansion.

Died from heart disease.

Roberta Flack, 88, February 24

SOUL legend who had mega-hits with Killing Me Softly and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, making her the first artist to win two consecutive Grammy Awards for Record of the Year.

Was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2022.

Henry Kelly, 78, February 25

IRISH journalist turned presenter who hosted game shows Going For Gold and Game For A Laugh in the 1980s and 1990s.

Later became a mainstay on Classic FM and LBC.

Died peacefully after a period of ill health.

Boris Spassky, 88, February 27

RUSSIAN world chess champion whose reign was ended by America’s Bobby Fischer in 1972, in the game’s most famous en-counter dubbed the Cold War Clash.

Major stroke in 2010 left him partially ­paralysed.

MARCH

Brian James, 74, March 6

GUITARIST of trailblazing Brit punk band The Damned who penned the first-ever UK punk single New Rose, released in 1976.

Worked with Iggy Pop and formed Brit-US supergroup The Lords Of The New Church.

John “Paddy” Hemingway, 105, March 17

SOLE surviving fighter pilot from the Battle of Britain who was shot down four times and survived two crash landings.

The Dublin-born Group Captain said he had the “luck of the Irish”.

Died in a care home.

Eddie Jordan, 76, March 20

FORMER Irish street trader turned Formula One owner who introduced grid girls and gave Michael Schumacher his debut.

Numerous business interests meant he left a multi-million pound fortune.

Died of prostate cancer.

George Foreman, 86, March 21

TWO-TIME world heavyweight boxing champ who was known as Big George.

Won Olympic gold in 1968 and a year later took the pro crown with a second-round knockout of the then-undefeated Joe Frazier.

Lost his title in the Rumble In The Jungle against Muhammad Ali in 1974 before retiring in 1977.

Became an ordained minister before coming back to regain the title in 1994 at the age of 45 – the oldest champion in the sport’s history.

His business exploits, including the George Foreman Grill, earned him far more than his boxing.

Colin Hart, 89, March 22

LEGENDARY boxing correspondent with The Sun who befriended and wrote about some of the greats of the sport, including Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, and Brits including Frank Bruno.

Died of cancer.

Andy Peebles, 76, March 22

RADIO 1 DJ who interviewed John Lennon two days before he was shot dead in New York in 1980.

Started out as a nightclub DJ and joined Radio 1 in 1978.

Hosted Top Of The Pops and Live Aid. Died in his sleep.

Richard Chamberlain 90, March 29

DR KILDARE heart-throb who shot to fame in the title role of the Sixties US TV drama.

Had a successful film career featuring in The Three Musketeers and The Towering Inferno.

Died following complications from a stroke.

APRIL

Val Kilmer, 65, April 1

MOVIE great who became one of Hollywood’s biggest heart-throbs as Tom Cruise’s rival Iceman in the first Top Gun film.

Also starred in Batman Forever and as Jim Morrison in The Doors.

Married to actress Joanne Whalley for eight years.

Later dated Daryl Hannah, Angelina Jolie, Cindy Crawford and Cher.

Died of pneumonia.

Jean Marsh, 90, April 13

UPSTAIRS Downstairs actress who co-created show and starred as Rose in the 1970s period drama.

Had three roles in Doctor Who and was wed to co-star Jon Pertwee from 1955-60.

Died of complications with dementia.

Clodagh Rodgers, 78, April 18

NORTHERN Irish singer who represented the UK in the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest with Jack In The Box, finishing fourth and reaching No4 in the charts.

Other hits include Goodnight Midnight.

Died after a three-year illness.

Pope Francis, 88, April 21

THE former nightclub bouncer once joked that whisky was “the real holy water” and later became one of the most approachable popes in history.

Elected in 2013 aged 76, having already lodged paperwork for his ­retirement.

On his appointment, he said: “May God forgive you for what you have done!”

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, he was a fan of local football club San ­Lorenzo de Almagro.

As Pope he shunned luxury, choosing to live in a simple hotel as opposed to the Papal apartments favoured by his predecessors.

Died from heart failure on Easter Monday.

Virginia Giuffre, 41, April 25

SEXUAL abuse survivor who spoke out against child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who was jailed for 20 years for sex trafficking.

Claimed she had slept with the then-Prince Andrew, eventually settling a civil suit against him for an estimated £12m, although he made no admission of liability.

The allegations rocked the monarchy and led to the royal’s “car-crash” BBC interview.

Giuffre took her own life at home in Neergabby, Western Australia.

MAY

Sir Tom Farmer, 84, May 9

KWIK-Fit boss who turned a tyre-fitting firm into a household name with the catchphrase, “You can’t get quicker than a Kwik-Fit fitter”.

The firm was the third the Scots entrepreneur founded, having become a millionaire at the age of 27.

Alan Yentob, 78, May 24

TV exec who rose from a BBC trainee to become controller of BBC One.

Interviewed dozens of stars including Mel Brooks and Jay-Z and comic Billy Connolly.

Gave the green light to Ab Fab, Strictly and The Office.

Loretta Swit, 87, May 30

PLAYED Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan in Korean war comedy-drama MAS*H.

A ten-time Emmy nominee, she won the award twice during her 11-year stint on the show.

Died at home in New York of natural causes.

JUNE

Uriah Rennie, 65, June 7

THE first black referee to officiate in the Premier League, in 1997.

Born in Jamaica but raised in Sheffield, he took charge of 175 games in the elite division.

Had been battling a rare neurological condition as well as cancer.

Sly Stone, 82, June 9

MUSIC legend who was frontman for Sly And The Family Stone, which featured his sisters and a brother.

The band had huge hits with Family Affair and Dance To The Music.

Died from lung disease COPD and other issues.

Frederick Forsyth, 86, June 9

FORMER MI6 agent who used his years with the secret service to pen 25 books, selling 75million copies in a 50-year career.

His best-known novel, The Day Of The Jackal, was turned into a hit 1974 movie starring Edward Fox.

Brian Wilson, 82, June 11

AS singer and songwriter of The Beach Boys, he was the man behind hits God Only Knows, Good Vibrations, Surfin’ USA, I Get Around and Wouldn’t It Be Nice.

Considered a genius by stars including Paul McCartney, Elton John and Bob Dylan, he suffered mental health issues throughout his life.

A nervous breakdown in 1964 saw him withdraw from regular touring to focus on composition.

Went on to receive huge acclaim as a solo artist, including for 2004 album Brian Wilson Presents Smile.

Died from undisclosed causes.

Kim Woodburn, 83, June 16

QUEEN of Clean with a caustic wit who ventured into some of Britain’s most dirty homes to make them sparkle, along with Aggie MacKenzie, in Channel 4’s How Clean Is Your House?

The show ran for six series. Kim died after a short illness.

David ‘Syd’ Lawrence, 61, June 21

CRICKET star and first British-born black player to represent England.

Awarded an MBE for tackling racism in sport as well as fundraising for motor neurone disease, which he was diagnosed with a year before his death.

JULY

Michael Madsen, 67, July 3

RESERVOIR Dogs star who played Mr Blonde in Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 movie.

He was the director’s go-to actor, featuring in his two Kill Bill films, The Hateful Eight, and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.

Died from a heart attack.

Diogo Jota, 28, July 3

LIVERPOOL striker who won the Premier League with the Anfield club last season.

The Portuguese father-of-three died in a car accident just three weeks after he wed childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso.

Kop boss Arne Slot vowed the player would never be forgotten as he led a host of tributes including from Prince William and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The player died with his brother Andre Silva, 25, also a footballer, when their Lamborghini crashed in north west Spain.

Jota was on his way to England for the title-winners’ ­pre-season games.

Lord Tebbit, 94, July 7

TORY working-class hero who was one of Margaret Thatcher’s most fervent supporters during his eight years as a government minister.

In 1981, Tebbit made his famous “get on your bike” speech to the Conservative Party ­Conference, criticising riots caused by unemployment.

He was considered Thatcher’s “enforcer” and a natural ­successor.

The 1984 IRA bombing of Brighton’s Grand Hotel, which nearly killed Thatcher and left Tebbit severely injured and his wife Margaret paralysed for life, put paid to that.

He left ­government in 1987 to care for his wife.

Ian Blair, 72 July 11

MET Police commissioner who led the force during the July 7 London bombings in 2005 and the subsequent police shooting of innocent man Jean Charles de Menezes.

Resigned in 2008 saying he had lost the mayor’s backing.

Connie Francis, 87, July 16

BIGGEST-selling pop artist of her time.

Rarely out of the charts in the 1950s and 1960s with hits such as Who’s Sorry Now?

Her 1962 record Pretty Little Baby went viral on TikTok earlier this year.

Died from ­pneumonia.

Ozzy Osbourne, 76, July 22

HELL-RAISING bat-eating singer with Black Sabbath who later became an unlikely reality TV sensation alongside his wife Sharon in the highly successful The Osbournes.

Black Sabbath’s big breakthrough came with the album Paranoid, which topped the British charts.

After falling out with his fellow band members he went on to achieve solo success which far outstripped the group’s achievements.

His catalogue of addictions included alcohol, heroin, cocaine, barbiturates, amphetamines, cough mixture and prescription drugs.

Died in hospital from a heart attack just 17 days after his farewell concert and was buried under a crab apple tree on the family’s Buckinghamshire estate as per his wishes.

Suffered from Parkinson’s disease since 2020.

On his death certificate he was described as a “songwriter, performer and rock legend”.

Joey Jones, 70 July 22

WELSH footballer who won two European Cups as a full-back with Liverpool.

Also represented Wrexham across three spells with the club, before taking up coaching positions there, earning him the nickname “Mr Wrexham”.

Dame Cleo Laine, 97, July 24

BRITISH jazz legend who performed with Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles as well as in the West End and on Broadway.

Counted the late Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret as friends.

Died peacefully at home in Buckinghamshire.

Hulk Hogan, 71, July 24

THE 21-stone giant was the man behind Hulkamania as TV wrestling boomed in the 1980s.

Born Terry Bollea, he bulked up with steroids when the drugs were still legal in the US.

Won six World Wrestling Federation titles. Died of cardiac arrest.

AUGUST

Stella Rimington, 90, August 3

TRAILBLAZING MI5 chief, the first woman to lead our security service, modernising its dated practises.

Her autobiography, Open Secrets, then took two years to be security-cleared before its publication in 2001.

Made a Dame in 1996.

James Whale, 74, August 4

ACCLAIMED broadcaster who was never afraid to be controversial and out- spoken.

For 13 years he hosted a popular night-time radio show on TalkSport and later worked on TalkRadio.

Died after a long battle with ­kidney cancer.

Jim Lovell, 97, August 7

COMMANDER of Apollo 13 who kept his cool and guided the craft back to Earth in 1970 after an on-board explosion in space.

He uttered the immortal words, “Houston, we’ve had a problem”.

Also in first crew to orbit the moon on Apollo 8.

Biddy Baxter, 92, August 10

FORMIDABLE Blue Peter editor from 1965 until 1988, who turned the children’s show into a national institution and introduced its famous badge.

Awarded an MBE in 1981.

Died after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

Terence Stamp, 87, August 17

THE Cockney legend starred in hit Sixties films including Billy Budd and Far From The Madding Crowd.

He was said to have inspired The Kinks’ song Waterloo Sunset, featuring a couple named Terry and Julie (Julie Christie his then-girlfriend).

Dame Patricia Routledge, 96, August 29

PORTRAYED suburban snob Hyacinth Bucket (she pronounced it “Bouquet”) in the hit BBC One sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, alongside Clive Swift, who played her downtrodden husband.

The show aired for five years and attracted up to 13million viewers, with the Queen Mother reportedly a big fan.

Also starred on Broadway and the West End and in a vast number of TV and radio productions in a career spanning more than seven decades.

Particularly remembered for her roles in BBC TV’s A Woman Of No Importance (1982) and Talking Heads in 1988, also on the Beeb, both of which were written by Alan Bennett.

SEPTEMBER

Joe Bugner, 75, September 1

BOXER twice went the distance with Muhammad Ali, although he lost both fights on points.

The public never forgave the heavyweight for beating the much-loved Henry Cooper in 1971 – a decision he said should have gone to “Our ’Enry”.

Duchess of Kent, 92, September 4

TIRELESS charity worker put away her tiaras and titles in the 1990s to teach at a Hull primary school for 13 years.

Returned to the classroom in West London in 2017 to help kids who had lost homes and loved ones in the Grenfell Tower fire.

Giorgio Armani, 91, September 4

FASHION giant who invented “power dressing” for women.

The Italian was a favourite of a host of famous faces including Princess Diana, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Cate Blanchett and Victoria Beckham.

Died at home due to an age-related illness.

Rick Davies, 81, September 6

SINGER who co-founded Supertramp in 1970 with Roger Hodgson.

As part of the band, Davies had hits including The Logical Song, Goodbye Stranger and Breakfast In America.

He died after a decade-long battle with cancer.

Charlie Kirk, 31, September 10

CONTROVERSIAL conservative activist who founded Turning Point USA, which focuses on young voters.

A close ally of President Trump, he championed free speech and fierce patriotism.

Was shot dead during a rally at Utah University.

Ricky Hatton, 46, September 12

WORLD boxing champ dubbed “The Hitman”, who was backed by his fanatical fans throughout his career.

An avowed Manchester City fan – Hatton was on their books as a schoolboy – he always entered the ring to the strains of City’s Blue Moon anthem.

He won the world crown at light-welterweight and welterweight, but his life went downhill after he was defeated by US great Floyd Mayweather and he turned to drugs.

He was found dead, having taken his own life, at his home in Hyde by his long-time manager and friend Paul Speak.

Thousands lined the streets before his funeral service at Manchester Cathedral.

Robert Redford, 89, September 16

SCREEN heart-throb who starred in iconic movies including Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, The Sting, All The President’s Men, The Natural and Out Of Africa.

Playing the role of the Sundance Kid, and insisting on doing all his own stunts, he began a lifelong friendship with co-star Paul Newman.

Redford later became a highly successful director, winning an Oscar for his first film, Ordinary People.

Launched the Sundance Film Festival backing independent filmmaking and was also an environmental activist.

Died peacefully in his sleep in his home in Utah.

John Stapleton, 79, September 21

TELLY presenter who interviewed every Prime Minister from Callaghan to Cameron.

His long career saw him working on Panorama, TV-am, GMTV, Good Morning Britain and Watchdog.

Died after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

Dickie Bird, 92, September 22

MUCH-loved cricket umpire known for his eccentric gestures to dismiss batsmen.

Son of a miner, he played cricket for Barnsley with boyhood pals Michael ­Parkinson and Geoffrey Boycott before representing his county.

OCTOBER

Dame Jane Goodall, 91, October 1

CHIMPS’ champion whose conservation studies in Africa found the animals experienced social behaviours such as love and grief just like humans.

The London-born veteran primatologist died of natural causes while on US speaking tour.

Patrick Murray, 68, October 2

AFTER previous film roles, played dim- witted trilby-wearing wide-boy Mickey Pearce in Only Fools And Horses, appearing in 20 episodes from 1983 to 2003.

After leaving the industry, he worked as a taxi driver. Died from lung cancer.

Dame Jilly Cooper, 88, October 5

BONKBUSTER novelist whose 1985 book Riders about the sex lives of the upper class launched a lucrative career.

Followed up with a series of best-sellers with titles like Rivals, Rutshire Chronicles, Class and How To Stay Married.

Sold more than 11million copies of her 18 novels and at one point was reputedly earning £500,000 a year.

Started out in the 1950s as a journalist for the Middlesex Independent and later produced candid columns for the Sunday Times and the Mail on Sunday.

Awarded an OBE, CBE and DBE for contributions to literature.

Died after falling down stairs at her Gloucestershire home.

Diane Keaton, 79, October 11

OSCAR-winning actress best known for her role in Woody Allen’s classic Annie Hall and who also starred in other hit movies including The God- father trilogy, The First Wives Club and Father Of The Bride.

Died from pneumonia.

Ace Frehley, 74, October 16

KISS guitarist who in 1973 co-founded the band, whose song I Was Made For Lovin’ You is still a concert staple.

His guitar was adapted to emit smoke and fire.

Alice Cooper was among those who paid tribute to Frehley, who died following a fall.

Lady Annabel Goldsmith, 91, October 18

SOCIALITE, author and political activist who inspired the Mayfair nightclub – set up by her first husband – that carries her name today.

Was a close friend of Princess Diana.

Mother to six including ex-Tory MP Zac.

Dave Ball, 66, October 22

PLAYED with Marc Almond in Soft Cell, the synth-pop duo famous for Tainted Love.

Broke his back after falling down the stairs in 2022 and was in a wheelchair when the group played at Henley-on-Thames in August.

Died in his sleep.

Prunella Scales, 93, October 27

FAWLTY TOWERS star who played Sybil Fawlty, domineering wife of John Cleese’s Basil in the classic BBC TV sitcom.

Her acting career lasted almost seven decades.

Married to fellow actor Timothy West for 61 years.

He passed away in November last year.

Scales, who had vascular dementia, died peacefully at home, a day after watching an episode of Fawlty Towers.

NOVEMBER

Dick Cheney, 84, November 3

FORMER US vice- president was a leading advocate of the Iraq invasion in 2003.

Shaped foreign policy after 9/11 for the eight years he served under George W Bush.

Survived five heart attacks.

Died after a long history of heart issues.

Pauline Collins, 85, November 6

BROUGHT the role of Liverpool housewife Shirley Valentine from the West End to the big screen and earned an Oscar nomination.

Her big break came as a maid in Upstairs, Downstairs.

Died after suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

James Watson, 97, November 6

GENIUS Cambridge scientist was 25 when he co-discovered the structure of DNA with Francis Crick.

The pair are said to have interrupted drinkers in a pub to tell them they’d cracked “the secret of life”.

The Nobel laureate died after a brief illness.

Quentin Willson, 68, November 8

FORMER Top Gear presenter co-hosted the BBC show with Jeremy Clarkson from 1991, appearing as an expert on used cars for ten years.

Was a campaigner for a fairer deal for motorists.

Died after a short battle with lung cancer.

Baroness Helen Newlove, 63, November 11

CAMPAIGNER dedicated her life combating youth violence following the death of her husband Garry, who was murdered in 2007 after confronting a teen gang.

Victims Commissioner for eight years.

Died after a short illness.

Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, 63, November 20

BASSIST joined The Stone Roses in 1987 and two years later featured on their self-titled debut album, considered one of the greatest of all time.

Later became a member of Primal Scream.

Died from respiratory issues.

Jimmy Cliff, 81, November 24

THE sweet-voiced Jamaican’s reggae anthems included I Can See Clearly Now and You Can Get It If You Really Want.

Also had a major hit with The Harder They Come and starred in the film of the same name.

Died from pneumonia.

Billy Bonds, 79, November 30

WEST HAM legend captained the side to two FA Cup Final wins and had club record of 799 appearances over 21 seasons.

Later managed the Hammers, taking them into the top flight at start of the Premier League era.

Died after a long illness.

Sir Tom Stoppard, 88, November 29

PLAYWRIGHT won an Oscar for his screenplay of the film Shakespeare In Love and a host of Tony and Olivier Awards over a six-decade career.

The titan of modern theatre was married three times including to TV’s Dr Miriam Stoppard.

DECEMBER

Robin Smith, 62, December 1

CRICKET legend who played 62 Tests for England and was always willing to take on fast bowling.

Born in South Africa, “The Judge” struggled with alcoholism and mental health after retirement.

Died at his home in Perth, Australia.

Martin Parr, 73, December 6

PHOTOGRAPHER whose camera captured the humour – and often banalities – of British life over a 50-year career.

The world-renowned snapper shot to fame with The Last Resort, a study of New Brighton in Merseyside, in the mid-1980s.

Sophie Kinsella, 55, December 10

BEST known for her chic-lit novels, two of which were turned into the 2009 film Confessions Of A Shopaholic, starring Isla Fisher and Hugh Dancy.

Sold more than 50million books in 60 countries.

Died after suffering brain cancer.

Joanna Trollope, 82, December 11

ROMANTIC novelist won several awards and whose father came from the family of Victorian writer Anthony Trollope.

Known as the Queen of the Aga Saga, her best-known works included Marrying The Mistress and A ­Village Affair.

Stanley Baxter, 99, December 11

BAFTA-winning Scottish comic and 1960s film star who later gained fame with The ­Stanley Baxter Show, a huge early hit on BBC TV.

Moved to London Weekend Television in the 1970s for The Stanley Baxter ­Picture Show.

He declined an OBE.

Rob Reiner, 78, December 14

THE director of Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally and A Few Good Men also acted in The Wolf Of Wall Street and Sleepless In Seattle.

Found fatally stabbed along with his wife at their LA home.

Their son Nick has been charged with murder.

Chris Rea, 74, December 22

BEST known for festive hit Driving Home For Christmas, the Middlesbrough-born singer started out working in his Italian dad’s ice cream business.

Diagnosed with pancreatic ­cancer at 33, he had several health ­battles during his life.

John Robertson, 72, December 25

FOOTBALLER called “the Picasso of our game” by his Nottingham Forest boss Brian Clough.

The Scots international made Trevor Francis’ winner in the 1979 European Cup Final vs Malmo and scored in 1980 win vs Hamburg.

Had Parkinson’s.

Brigitte Bardot, 91, December 28

BLONDE bombshell who symbolised a new age of sexual liberation in the cinema in the 1950s.

The Paris-born former ballet dancer won international acclaim in the 1956 movie And God Created Woman.

Abandoned her fame in the 70s to devote herself to animal rights activism.

Died at her home in southern France.

EastEnders newcomer Ronni Ancona famously impersonated characters on the BBC soap years before the news she would join the cast as Linda Carter’s old classmate Bea

Comedian and actress Ronni Ancona has revealed all about joining the EastEnders cast, teasing twists and turns ahead.

The star, who famously performed impressions of the soap’s characters and cast in the Big Impression show, will take on the role of Linda Carter’s old schoolfriend Bea. Viewers will see her debut at a school reunion where she and Linda come face-to-face for the first time in years.

We’re set to find out more about Linda’s time at school, as Bea is left gutted by their different perspectives. Teasing the scenes, Ronni shared: “Bea was in a more senior year at school than Linda, but that didn’t stop her being intimidated by her. They have both got very different perspectives on what happened at school, and initially she is very upset and slighted by that.

“There are lots of twists and turns and lots of unexpected developments. She’s a mercurial character who is witty, and charismatic, yet vulnerable as well.” Teasing what fans can expect from her character, Ronni shared: “Ben [Wadey, Executive Producer] loves comedy and wanted to bring in a character who was both tragic and funny.

READ MORE: EastEnders legend Pam St Clement admits struggle with emotional returnREAD MORE: Coronation Street stars tease Becky’s downfall as they share Corriedale spoiler

“Bea is misunderstood, and there’s a touch of desperation about her. When she feels cornered, she can become rather dangerous. Deep down, she just wants to be loved and to fit in. She’s the sort of person who ‘window-shops’ other people’s lives, trying to reshape herself into whoever she thinks others want her to be.

“In her mind, that’s the only way to earn love and attention – which is, unfortunately, quite misguided. Bea is intelligent, but she’s never achieved what she hoped for, so there’s an underlying frustration that her life hasn’t lived up to her potential.

“She has shades of a Walter Mitty–type character; you’re never entirely sure how much of what she says is real. She’s complex, nuanced, and unusual – someone who has become convinced by her own narrative.” Ronni confessed it was “bizarre” to step onto the soap after years of impersonating its legendary characters. She revealed: “It all felt rather bizarre and completely surreal.

“We always made those sketches with real respect and affection for the show and its cast, so stepping onto the actual set for the first time was an especially strange experience. Although thinking about it I think they let us film our ‘EastEnders the Musical’ on the outside lot, which would have been the old set.

“My first scene was on the bench in the middle of Albert Square – exactly where Alastair [McGowan] and I had once filmed our sketch ‘The Bench of Tears.’ That moment was so surreal I immediately phoned him to say, ‘I’ve just done a scene on the bench of tears,’ and he practically shouted, ‘NO WAY!’

“To add to the oddness, several members of the crew had worked with me years ago on Big Impression and The Sketch Show with Lee Mack, so it felt like past and present were colliding. Filming in the Vic for the first time was unexpectedly emotional. I couldn’t help remembering my impression of Peggy Mitchell, played by the much-missed Barbara Windsor.

“I adored her, and I know she enjoyed the impression, so walking into her domain properly was a real moment. I’ll admit I was a bit nervous about meeting some of the cast I’d impersonated, but they all have a brilliant sense of humour.

“Jessie Wallace even did my impression of her back at me, which was hysterical. I may now have to do my impression of her impression, it could become an endless loop.”

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

KYM Marsh teases a return to pop isn’t just Hear’Say as she approaches 25 years in showbiz.

The actress and presenter, 49, posed in a burgundy dress for the February 2026 issue of Prima, which is on sale now, and told the magazine the group could put on a surprise performance.

She said: “I always laugh and say ‘never say never’ about a Hear’Say reunion.

“We might pop up somewhere, just for a one-off performance down the line, to surprise everyone.

“But I think we are all just doing our own thing. We all still chat, which is nice.”

The group, also featuring Myleene Klass, 47, Danny Foster, 46, Suzanne Shaw, 44, and Noel Sullivan, 45, were put together on the talent show Popstars and in March 2001, their single Pure And Simple became, at the time, the fastest-selling debut single in the UK.

BEST GIFT

Kym Marsh’s daughter gives birth as ex-Corrie star becomes a four-time grandma

NO ROVERS RETURN

Real reason Kym Marsh QUIT Corrie job – & now earns DOUBLE her soap salary

On appearing on the ITV show, she said: “It’s the reason I’m sitting here today, so I’m very fortunate to have had that experience.

“There were so many things that happened at that time that you’d never get away with today. There’s that famous scene where Nigel Lythgoe called me fat.

“I’ve never been anywhere near massively overweight, but even if I was, how dare you? It really upset me. I felt humiliated and ashamed, and insecure about myself.”

Kym announced that her daughter Emilie Cunliffe gave birth to her second child on Christmas Day.

The star took to Instagram to share the amazing news that made her a grandmother for the fourth time.

Penned under a snap of Emilie’s son Teddy, 6, and Emilie’s husband’s daughter Polly, 9, Kym said: “Well what a wonderful Christmas gift this is!!

“Welcome to the world Bobby Saint Mykola Hoszowskyj!!! He’s so beautiful!”

Kym then took a moment to gush about her daughter’s strength, and wish fans and followers alike the best for the holidays.

“So so proud of my girl @listentoemilie she is a warrior!!”

Alan Carr, who won The Celebrity Traitors in November, was earlier this month as narrow as 3/1 to become a new face of Strictly Come Dancing following the exits of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman

Comedian Alan Carr is said to be out of the running to become the new Strictly Come Dancing host.

The presenter, who won The Celebrity Traitors last month, is understood to be on tour when Strictly airs in 2027. He had been tipped to replace either Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, whose last programme was last week’s Christmas special.

Broadcasters are reportedly “gutted” they have been unable to sign Carr, 49, whose popularity has soared since his The Celebrity Traitors win. However, it is understood the comedian cannot rearrange his 2027 tour, many dates of which have already been sold out.

A BBC source said: “Alan is out of the Golden Ten possible hosts and won’t be taking part in the tests the BBC are gutted. He was their favourite to take on one of the positions but he’s spoken with the BBC and basically he cannot move his tour. The dates which are scheduled for 2027 are not able to be rearranged and Alan has had to choose. The BBC understand his position but they are hugely disappointed.”

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The BBC is now believed to be interested in luring 37-year-old Rylan Clark, who used to present sister programme It Takes Two on BBC Two. Clark, a regular face on This Morning, is now 5/2 with some bookmakers to replace either Daly or Winkleman.

The source told The Sun: “They thought Alan would be such a great choice for the job. Rylan has now replaced Alan as one of their top choices, it will come down to how Rylan gets on in the chemistry tests.”

Alan, whose comedy chat show Alan Carr: Chatty Man ended in 2016 after seven years, has 90 dates scheduled for his UK and Ireland tour in 2027, including gigs in London, Cardiff, Belfast and Edinburgh. However, the second leg of the tour begins in September and runs right the way through to November, which clashes with Strictly.

At 3/1 last week, Alan was one of three names who were the frontrunners, with Bradley Walsh and Alex Jones also favourites. According to reports, contenders will be put through a series of partner-swap chemistry tests, with BBC executives keen to find the perfect on-screen pairing.

Speaking previously, an insider told The Sun: “Replacing Claudia and Tess is a mammoth task but the BBC have whittled down the talent to ten people.

“As well as Bradley, Alex and Alan, Rylan Clark, Rob Rinder, Zoe Ball, and Holly Willoughby will be at the chemistry day. Amanda Holden, Alison Hammond, and Angela Scanlon have made the cut too.”

George Clooney, wife Amal Clooney and their 8-year-old twins are officially citizens of France, as of the day after Christmas.

The news was reported by multiple French outlets as well as the Guardian, all citing an announcement published in a French government journal.

The Clooneys bought property in France — a farm, he recently told Esquire — in August 2021, when their twins were 4. He said it was a “much better life” there for Ella and Alexander.

“Yeah, we’re very lucky. … A good portion of my life growing up was on a farm, and as a kid I hated the whole idea of it. But now, for them, it’s like — they’re not on their iPads, you know?” he said in the interview, published in the magazine’s October/November issue.

“I was worried about raising our kids in L. A., in the culture of Hollywood. I felt like they were never going to get a fair shake at life. France — they kind of don’t give a s— about fame. I don’t want them to be walking around worried about paparazzi. I don’t want them being compared to somebody else’s famous kids.”

George Clooney married Amal Alamuddin in September 2014 in Venice, Italy.

Domaine Le Canadel in France is, according to Hello, “an enchanting and sprawling 425-acre Provence wine estate” that cost the Clooneys a reported $8.3 million. It has a pool, tennis court, gardens, a lake, an olive grove and a 25-acre vineyard, the outlet said. But, you know, it’s just a farm.

Other celebrity couples have put down roots in the area, of course, with less than charmed results over time. Then again, those folks weren’t French citizens, for the most part.

Clooney’s remarks about the French attitude toward fame echoed previous comments made by Johnny Depp, who years ago found refuge in France for himself and his children, Jack and Lily-Rose, until he split in 2012 from longtime partner Vanessa Paradis, a French singer, model and actor.

The country “afforded [Depp] the possibility of living a normal life. Really a simple life,” the “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor told SFGate in 2001.

In 2010, Depp told People, “With Vanessa and the kids, we live in a sort of little village in the south and I have the impression of being in paradise … and you know what I do there? Absolutely nothing.”

Depp, who started dating his “The Rum Diary” co-star Amber Heard the year he broke up with Paradis, listed his Provence property for sale for almost $26 million in June 2015, then reportedly put it on the market again in the years that followed for more than twice the price. However, despite containing an entire village in its 37 acres, the property appears not to have sold.

Heard and Depp married in 2015 but divorced two years later amid allegations of abuse. Of course, dueling defamation lawsuits followed. It got ugly.

Meanwhile, Clooney’s buddy Brad Pitt and Pitt’s ex, Angelina Jolie, have been battling in court for years over the 2021 sale of her half of their Provence wine estate, Chateau Miraval, which actually produces wine. The former couple signed a long-term lease on the property in 2008 and later bought a controlling interest in the company that owned it.

Pitt and Jolie married at Chateau Miraval in 2014 after meeting in 2004 on the set of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” when he was still married to Jennifer Aniston. (They went official as a couple the following July after Aniston filed for divorce in March 2005.) Jolie and Pitt had kids and adopted kids together over the decade leading up to the wedding, but Jolie filed for divorce after only two years as husband and wife following a fight on a private plane. That also got ugly.

The story of the Pitt-Jolie court battle over the chateau and its winery is long and complicated, but it began with Pitt alleging that he and his ex had an agreement that if either wanted to sell their half of the place, the other would have to consent. Jolie, who sold her shares to Stoli’s wine division, Tenute del Mondo, said they had no such agreement in place.

Although the winery lawsuit remains active, Pitt and Jolie finally reached a divorce settlement in December 2024.

Corriedale is just around the corner as the worlds of Coronation Street and Emmerdale collide in a devastating crash, and new spoilers and pictures have teased what happens

Corriedale has finally arrived, with new teasers for Emmerdale and Coronation Street promising death and destruction.

According to new spoilers, there’s drama and twists and turns, while things may never be the same again. New teasers reveal what leads into the big crossover for both soaps, and it seems it could be anyone who perishes or is injured.

While details remain under wraps, it has been revealed that Weatherfield residents will grieve a loss. So who dies, and is it more than one fatality? Does anyone die in Emmerdale?

At the moment it is confirmed there’s a body, but it’s hinted this happens before Corriedale. It’s also not confirmed if the body is dead, as it just says lifeless, while we also don’t know who it is, and who is shown dragging them along.

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What is revealed is that there’s life-changing repercussions when the soaps collide, as “a series of dramatic incidents lead to a multi-vehicle pile-up on a dark and stormy road between Hotten and Weatherfield”. Both soaps will air a 30-minute episode leading them into the hour-long crossover episode that same day.

A gun-wielding John Sugden is preparing for revenge, as Aaron Dingle attempts to save Robert Sugden’s life by agreeing to leave the village with his killer husband John. As Aaron faces grave danger, Robert and Joe speed off after them.

Then there’s Cain and Moira Dingle, who are driving Jacob Gallagher and Sarah Sudden to the airport. They’re soon blinded by Mack flashing his headlights in a car behind them with his wife Charity in the passenger seat.

As Cain brakes, Mack smashes through a fence and into a field. As for Weatherfield residents, Carla Connor and Kit Green are in pursuit of Becky Swain, while Kit also soon ends up in pursuit of killer John. On the scene, it’s a race against time to save those trapped after the crash.

As traffic behind the crash site halts, we see a small van pull up with a driver glancing at a terrified woman in the back, who is tied up. Also caught up in the accident in some way are Debbie and Ronnie’s wedding guests in the minibus. Guests include Billy, David, Shona, Steve, and Tracy.

Debbie herself could be in danger as she and Carl are in a car, with a drunken Carl losing control. In terms of what leads to the crash, one spoiler teases: “Becky, fleeing her past with Lisa and Betsy, loses control of her vehicle, triggering a multi-car pile-up on a stormy road between Hotten and Weatherfield.”

It seems the aftermath of the crash will be just as eventful. The injured are taken to hospital and life “will never be the same”. A body is left lying in a van at the depot, while there could be mortal danger after the crash for some.

As the details about what has happened and why come to light, a confession is shared. Just as someone believes they are in the clear, someone is watching and videoing their every move. All is not what it seems for some, while some people are keeping secrets.

Elsewhere, one couple face a life or death situation and the police investigation continues, with one resident finding themself under arrest and facing charges. Families are at war and there’s surprises from the past, with shockwaves sent around the cobbles.

It’s safe to say it’s an unmissable week of episodes, as the new pictures alone prove, never mind the teasers. But who will survive, and who will make it out unscathed?

From January 6 2026, Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays. Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITV X.

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An actor who appeared in Tyler Perry’s “Boo! A Madea Halloween” allegedly confided in the media mogul about health concerns and financial woes months before filing a $77-million sexual assault lawsuit against the billionaire actor-director last week.

The actor, identified in court documents as Mario Rodriguez, sued Perry on Thursday for sexual assault and sexual battery in connection to multiple alleged encounters from 2015 and 2019. The 23-page civil complaint, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claims that Rodriguez cut off contact with Perry in 2019 and that through 2024 the director “would randomly reach out to Mr. Rodriguez.”

Screenshots of text messages, obtained by several outlets including the Associated Press, seem to show otherwise.

Rodriguez initiated text conversations with Perry as recently as August of this year. In a statement Monday, Rodriguez said “people are pointing to messages where I was polite, grateful, or vulnerable — and trying to use that to discredit me.”

“Survivors often stay cordial. They often ask for help when they feel desperate,” he added. “That does not mean abuse didn’t happen. Those text messages were sent to Perry at a time when I was especially vulnerable as can be seen from the context.”

The Associated Press reported Monday that Rodriguez expressed gratitude to Perry in a message sent during Thanksgiving 2024. “Just know that I love you and I thank you for everything, I appreciate you to the moon,” Rodriguez said in one message, according to screenshots published Monday by TMZ.

In a separate string of texts sent Aug. 31, Rodriguez informed Perry of his ongoing health issues, adding that he did not have health insurance. “I know I promised you I would never ask you for anything, but if it is what I think it is, I don’t think I could do it on my own because I barely pay my bills,” Rodriguez said in one message, according to TMZ.

“I just can’t go to the doctor because I can’t even afford it,” Rodriguez said in another August text message. “I don’t want anything. I just wanna be OK. Scared brother.”

Perry attorney Alex Spiro said Monday in a statement: “I said it before and I’ll say it again. This is nothing but a 77 million dollar money grab scam.”

The Rodriguez suit comes after “The Oval” actor Derek Dixon sued Perry in June, alleging quid pro quo sexual harassment, sexual battery, retaliation and more. Dixon is seeking $260 million in damages.

Rodriguez alleges in his lawsuit that Perry, 56, leveraged his Hollywood stature “to abuse and sexually assault people who hope to secure roles in his movies,” echoing claims Dixon made in his June filing. Rodriguez also alleges that Perry did not rehire him for further projects because he rejected the director’s sexual advances. Rodriguez and Dixon are both represented by attorney Jonathan J. Delshad.

According to the new lawsuit, Rodriguez started out as a model before a trainer approached him at a luxury gym in 2015 and put him in contact with Perry for a potential role in “Boo! A Madea Halloween.” Before Rodriguez auditioned and secured the minor role, Perry allegedly informed him, “I’m not a bad person to know and have in your corner” and touted the idea of more roles in the future.

The lawsuit alleges the mogul first sexually assaulted Rodriguez in Perry’s Los Angeles home in 2015. The two began drinking together before Perry invited the actor-model to his home theater to watch a movie, the document says. Perry, who instructed Rodriguez to leave his phone in the kitchen, allegedly asked the actor about his personal life and proceeded to hug him and compliment his appearance. He allegedly began rubbing Rodriguez’s shoulders and chest while making sexual noises, the lawsuit said. After Rodriguez attempted to distance himself, Perry allegedly continued touching the actor, “rubbing his inner thigh right next to his penis,” the complaint says.

The filmmaker’s sexual assaults persisted, the lawsuit alleges, in the years after he and Rodriguez wrapped the “Madea” film in 2016. Rodriguez returned to L.A. and stayed in contact with Perry, who invited Rodriguez to visit his home again to discuss future projects, the filing says.

“After a couple of visits, Mr. Perry then again began to make more sexual comments to Mr. Rodriguez” about his appearance, “and to ask him graphic sexual questions” including whether he had ever had sex with another man, the lawsuit says. Perry allegedly grabbed Rodriguez’s leg near his genitals again, the complaint says.

In November 2018, Rodriguez accepted another invitation from Perry to discuss a potential role in the TV series “The Oval.” They met for dinner in Beverly Hills, where Perry allegedly asked “So what are we? What are we doing?” before the director instructed Rodriguez to meet him at his Los Angeles home later that evening.

Conversations about potential collaborations took a sexual turn, the lawsuit says, when Perry asked Rodriguez whether he liked oral sex and if he had given oral sex to a man. Perry allegedly tightly hugged Rodriguez, tried to unbuckle the actor’s pants, reached into his underwear and grabbed his penis, according to the complaint. Before Rodriguez left Perry’s home in a rideshare, the filmmaker placed $5,000 in his pocket, the suit says.

Perry continued to invite Rodriguez to his Los Angeles home under the guise of work and sexually assaulted the actor over the following months, the lawsuit says. After another incident in April 2019, the suit says, Rodriguez stopped communicating with Perry.

Perry allegedly became infuriated by Rodriguez’s efforts to keep his distance and sent the actor expletive-filled texts. The lawsuit includes screenshots of the alleged exchanges, including one in which Rodriguez apologizes for not staying in touch with the director due to personal matters.

“I deserve a text at [least] once a month,” Perry texted Rodriguez, according to the lawsuit. He also asked the actor about his physical training and requested to see pictures, the complaint said.

Regarding his surfaced texts to Perry, Rodriguez added in his statement that “continued financial support and access are not inconsistent with abuse — they are often part of the power dynamics that follow it.”

He added: “The existence of financial assistance does not disprove harm. It is entirely consistent with the complex realities survivors face after abuse.”

Rodriguez also sued Perry for intentional infliction of emotional distress and sued “Boo! A Madea Halloween” distributor Lionsgate for negligent retention.

ACTRESS Keira Knightley says she almost ditched now-husband James Righton because he ate only cheese on toast.

The Love Actually star had to give the Klaxons singer, 42, an ultimatum.

Keira, 40, said: “He just couldn’t cook — all he ate was cheese on toast.

“I was like, ‘This is not going to work’. He wouldn’t even go out for dinner. He didn’t understand going to restaurants. He was bizarre.”

Keira said she managed to persuade him to test dishes with his eyes shut.

She added: “My oldest friend is a proper old-school bon viveur, we basically trained him.

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“We took him out to restaurants and he wouldn’t try anything. He was like a child. He used to shut his eyes, and we’d be like, ‘Try it, try it!’.”

Keira, who wed James in 2013, told the Dish podcast: “He’d be like ‘OK, it’s nice, it’s nice!’.”

Knightley revealed earlier this month that she has only watched her Christmas classic film Love Actually once — and has forgotten all her lines, she says.

The Brit says she is unable to recall them when asked by fans of the hit 2003 romcom because she has a “delete button” in her head.

She was only 17 when she starred as newlywed Juliet who discovers her husband’s best pal Mark, played by Andrew Lincoln, is secretly in love with her.

The story revolves around his crush and in one scene he confesses his feelings using cue cards on her doorstep.

Ultimately, she stays with her new husband Peter, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Strictly’s head judge Shirley Ballas admits it will be ‘sad’ to film the BBC dance programme without Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as the hosts after their unexpected exit

Shirley Ballas has revealed her true thoughts on Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman quitting Strictly Come Dancing. The presenting duo announced in October that they would be departing the series this year after over two decades on the programme.

While they didn’t give any indication as to why they made the decision to step back, the pair simply told fans they were passing over the “baton” to new presenters. But for head judge Shirley, 65, she admits that it will be “sad” to return to the dance studio without the bubbly pair.

In a new interview, Wallasey-born Shirley has revealed she was “surprised” when she heard that they were stepping down after 11 years fronting the BBC show. Winkleman, 53, and Daly, 56, had fronted the series together since 2014, and their last appearance presenting the show together was during its pre-recorded festive episode, which aired on Christmas Day.

“Everyone was surprised,” Ballas said. She went on to tell Saga Magazine, for their January issue: “I share the changing room next to them, and they are full of giggles and laughter.

“They also showed me the way from when I joined until now, so it will be a sad day when they go.” Shirley, who admits she had no TV experience when she joined the show, made her debut as head judge in September 2017. But while Shirley has appeared on nine seasons of the show, she almost quit the year after she joined.

“I didn’t know if I wanted the job back because of the intrusion, people selling stories, the constant criticism,” she explained. But it was her son, fellow dancer Mark, who encouraged Shirley to stay on the show. He told his mother that the programme would give her a platform to shout about causes she’s passionate about.

But while Shirley was shocked about Tess and Claudia’s decision to exit, the stars of this years series found out when the pair made a public announcement. “We’d just finished on Lorraine, and we just looked at our phones and we saw it on social media,” actor Lewis Cope said.

He added: “We were so shocked. And then we were told later, it had to be that way, and they couldn’t really give anyone a heads up.” This, however, hasn’t stopped several celebs being linked to the job. These include Zoe Ball, who previously hosted It Takes Two, former professional dancer Janette Manrara and Roman Kemp.

However, Chief Content Officer for the BBC, Kate Phillips, has been sifting through dozens of names. She said on the Rest Is Entertainment podcast that her emails had been “inundated” with people sharing their interest.

“We have had so many people who are keen to be considered, which is great,” she said. This year, it wasn’t just Tess and Claudia’s unexpected exit which saw a major change to Strictly, the casting vote in the dance off also rotated between Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton du Beke.

“They called me about the idea and I loved it,” she said of the new decision. Shirley added: “It’s onerous; quite often there’s just a hair’s breadth in it, so it makes sense to share it. And when I spoke to Craig [Revel Horwood], he said, ‘Darling I’ve been waiting 21 years to send somebody home.’ It made his day.”

The full interview is available in Saga Magazine’s January issue.

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Thomas Frake beat an array of talent, including Natalie Coleman and Brin Pirathapan, to the title of Champion of Champions 2025 in the programme’s Christmas edition

Chef Thomas Frake was last night crowned MasterChef’s Champion of Champions 2025 in its festive special.

Frake, who won MasterChef in 2020, took home the winning title after outcooking three former champions – 2013’s Natalie Coleman, 2023’s Chariya Khattiyot and 2024 winner Brin Pirathapan – on the BBC One cooking competition special, MasterChef Festive Extravaganza: Champion of Champions.

The chef, who runs a village pub called The Silks in Marlborough, Wiltshire, said: “This feels amazing. I’m grateful more than anything.

“MasterChef is what got me onto this journey in the first place. To come along five years later and be validated that my food was worthy again of another trophy is incredibly special. The first trophy will stay at home, this trophy is going straight to my pub.”

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Taking on two demanding challenges, the returning champions had to first deliver an end of the year showstopper for the judges and critic Tom Parker Bowles.

Next they had to prove just how far they have come since they first appeared on MasterChef as amateur chefs, tasked with creating two of the best courses they have ever cooked.

Frake’s final winning menu consisted of a main course inspired by a dish he cooked for Dent in 2020, a roast venison marinated in treacle, served with a venison and pear barley stew, wild garlic puree, charred shallot, bubble and squeak, and a venison and port sauce.

For dessert he made a brioche bread and butter pudding, coated in panko breadcrumbs, topped with butterscotch raisins, in a Pedro Ximenez sherry sauce, served with a brown butter ice cream.

During the judges’ deliberations over all their cooking that day, John Torode, who was a judge on the festive special alongside Grace Dent, said: “I need to be truthful, that was probably the best food I’ve ever eaten in the history of MasterChef. That was extraordinary.”

He later added: “Thomas’ love of great British food and what he likes to call pub grub is so infectious that it’s only when you eat his food that you understand what sort of cook he’s become since he’s left the competition.”

Meanwhile, Dent described Frake as a “fascinating chef”. She added: “He cooks crowd-pleasers absolutely beautifully with loads of finesse and that’s why Thomas is our champion of champions.”

Torode’s appearance, which was filmed earlier this year before he was sacked, marked his final time on MasterChef. The presenter’s contract was not renewed following an allegation of using racist language which was upheld as part of a report into claims of misconduct on the show.

The Australian chef will be replaced by Irish chef Anna Haugh from the show’s next series, MasterChef: The Professionals. MasterChef Festive Extravaganza: Champion of Champions is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

For “Malcolm in the Middle” fans and the Walt Disney Co., 151 episodes weren’t enough.

The beloved sitcom, which ran seven seasons on Fox in the early aughts, is returning for a four-episode arc on Hulu April 10. The reunion brings back such viewer favorites as Bryan Cranston as Hal, Frankie Muniz as Malcolm, Jane Kaczmarek as Lois, and a couple of Malcolm’s TV siblings.

The limited series — “Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair” — is set nearly 20 years after the original went off the air. Muniz’s character, Malcolm, is beckoned back to his dysfunctional family to help celebrate Hal and Lois’ 40th wedding anniversary.

Disney teased the trailer Monday.

Disney acquired the rights to 20th Century Fox studio programs after buying much of Rupert Murdoch’s entertainment assets in 2019. The deal gave Disney such blockbusters as “The Simpsons” and “Avatar.” Recently, the Burbank entertainment giant has dipped into the Fox vault to mine the trend of comfort food TV for millennials, boomers and Gen Z. Executives have watched nostalgic programming take off on streaming services, including Disney+ and Hulu.

The return of “Malcolm in the Middle” should draw viewers who have followed Cranston’s career even before his standout performance in AMC’s crime drama, “Breaking Bad.” Muniz also has remained popular in pop culture; he’s also a race car driver affiliated with Ford.

Jane Kaczmarek as Lois, Bryan Cranston as Hal, and Erik Per Sullivan who played Dewey in the original “Malcolm in the Middle” on Fox.

(FOX)

A recent study from National Research Group found that about 60% of all TV consumed is library content.

The NRG study found that, among Gen Z, 40% of respondents said they gravitated to older shows because they are comforting and nostalgic. Disney’s own research has shown that a quarter of the shows young people list as their favorites were produced before 2010.

Disney’s ABC is also bringing back the quirky hospital sitcom, “Scrubs,” on Feb. 25. That comedy, set in the fictional Sacred Heart Hospital, will reprise the bromance between Zach Braff and Donald Faison’s characters, which the pair have recreated recently in T-Mobile TV commercials.

The show, which ran from October 2001 to March 2010, was also produced by 20th Television along with Bill Lawrence’s Doozer Productions.

Sarah Chalke will return, and John C. McGinley will guest star. The show will run on ABC, and a day later on Disney’s Hulu.

Most of the original “Malcolm” cast returns for the limited series except notably Erik Per Sullivan, who played Dewey. He’s no longer an actor so the part now is played by Caleb Ellsworth-Clark.

In the show, Malcolm has a daughter, played by Keeley Karsten, and a girlfriend, played by Kiana Madeira.

The Wilkerson’s classic mid-century house in Studio City, which served as an exterior for the show, reportedly was renovated years ago.

The original series ran on Fox from January 2000 to May 2006. Those episodes stream on Hulu.

Los Angeles Times’ former television critic, Howard Rosenberg, in 2000 called “Malcolm in the Middle” the “smartest, sharpest-written, most original comedy of the season.”

The reboot is produced by Disney Television Studios and New Regency. Linwood Boomer, who created the original series, also returned as writer and executive producer. Ken Kwapis directs the four episodes and also serves as an executive producer.

Beyond reviving the shows, Disney has also collaborated with advertisers to make throwback commercials to run in classic films on its streaming platforms and TV networks.

Staff writer Stephen Battaglio contributed to this report.

HELEN Flanagan has opened up on a “difficult” fallout from her split with her ex that impacts her relationship with her daughter Matilda.

The former Coronation Street actress, 35, took to her Instagram page to give an insight into her state of mind after her children returned from their Christmas stay with Scott Sinclair.

In her frank video Helen, who starred as the Wicked Queen in Liverpool’s Snow White panto through the festive season, began by stating that she now had her kids back.

Her three children Matilda, 10, Delilah, seven, and Charlie, four had all been spending Christmas with their father Scott, 36.

Helen said: “What I find probably the most difficult is probably with Maltida because I feel like she’s the eldest.

“Me and her Dad broke up when she was seven.

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“I feel like Delilah is just so oblivious she doesn’t care, Charlie doesn’t care he was one.

“But Matilda is sensitive and she takes everything very much in and every single time that I get her back, she’s in a mood with me.

“She’s really moody, she’s got attitude, she’s really sassy and it’s just expected because I know it’s what it’s like.

“And I think it’s almost like she feels like I’m kind of disowning her in a way when I’ve not got her and it’s not.

“Regardless of mine and her Dad’s relationship I always want her to have a relationship with her father because I think that’s good for her.

“And regardless of everything that goes on, I always tell her that her Dad loves her and that she must love her Dad.

“It’s totally separate.”

This comes weeks after Helen publicly slated her ex Scott Sinclair for skipping their son’s Christmas nativity.

The mum-of-three lashed out online at the Bristol Rovers footballer after he posted about spending a weekend in Abu Dhabi at the Grand Prix instead.

Scott had posted snaps from his weekend in the United Arab Emirates where he watched Lando Norris secure his maiden Drivers’ Championship title.

“What a weekend-Abu Dhabi F1,” Scott wrote.

He added: “Happy Days, blurry nights..”

“You really are a piece of s***,” Helen raged, as she shared Scott’s Instagram post.

“How dare you not turn up to Charlie’s nativity.”

Meanwhile Helen posted a snap of her cuddling their son, writing: “Loved Charlie’s nativity. My star, my heartbeat.”

The Coronation Street star split from her ex-fiancé Scott in 2022 after 13 years together.

She recently hinted at trouble “co-parenting” with Scott, telling The Sun: “He lives like Somerset and I live in Lancashire. So we live so far away from each other, which is really difficult when you’ve got three young children.

“I hate calling it co-parenting because I don’t really feel like a co-parent to be honest with you anyway.”

She recently took to her social media pages to praise her mum for her support in raising their brood.

“My mum’s incredible,” Helen said.

“She really helps me bring up my children really. I’m very lucky to have that support.”

Jazz Jennings has turned heads for a number of recent accomplishments.

After her last semester at Harvard, where she not only aced her classes but also tossed her graduation cap into the air, the star is now flaunting the results of her hard-earned 100-pound weight loss.

And, boy, does she look fabulous.

Jazz shared a jaw-dropping photo of herself in a plunging orange striped halter swimsuit, on which fans flocked to comment.

The reality TV star has lost over 100 pounds, and the snap serves as a reminder that hard work and dedication can truly pay off.

Rising to fame as one of the stars of the groundbreaking reality show I Am Jazz, she introduced viewers to her life as a transgender girl navigating adolescence.

The show not only chronicled her personal experiences but also brought awareness to the issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community.

Now, with a degree from Harvard under her belt, Jazz is proving that she is more than just a reality star.

Her recent photos — like the stunning one where she’s rocking that sizzling orange swimsuit — showcase her journey to confidence.

She also posted a family video showing the changes they all made between 2020 and 2025.

Jazz has always been unapologetically herself.

At just six years old, Jennings and her family began sharing their experiences on television, shedding light on the unique challenges of growing up transgender.

Her inspiring journey was highlighted on national programs like 20/20 and The Rosie Show, where she made a memorable appearance alongside Chaz Bono.

In 2011, the Oprah Winfrey Network debuted a documentary titled “I Am Jazz: A Family in Transition,” which focuses on her life and family.

Jazz was assigned male at birth in West Palm Beach, Florida, but at the age of four, she was diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

She publicly identified as transgender in a 2007 interview with Barbara Walters, which contributed to discussions about authenticity and gender identity.

JESS GLYNNE has called it quits with Jay-Z’s management company Roc Nation.

The move is to wipe the slate clean for 2026.

It follows a career blow earlier this year when she split from record label EMI following the release of just one album with them.

I’ve now learned she is no longer being looked after by Roc Nation — who I first revealed she had signed to in 2022 — and her career is now being guided by former Bros bass player Craig Logan.

Jess has teamed up with Logan Media Entertainment, which is run by Craig, who was in the Eighties pop band that had hits inculding When Will I Be Famous?.

It means that she is now on a roster alongside Pink, Dido, Louise and Beverley Knight.

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My music insider said: “Jess hasn’t had the easiest situation in music. She has found it hard to get a team behind her who she feels really gets who she is and what she is aiming for.

“Now she has Craig and his firm, there are fresh ideas coming through thick and fast. Big things are being discussed for the coming months.”

Despite a turbulent time behind the scenes in 2025, Jess has had one of her most successful years thanks to hit Hold My Hand — a decade after it was released.

The song was named TikTok’s UK song of the year, after it was supercharged by the viral Jet2holidays trend.

Jess said: “I always knew there was something special about it. Melodically it’s instantly uplifting and catchy, but at its heart, the lyrics are powerful. They are about connection. The Jet2 campaign has brought a really fun, light-hearted twist to the song, and seeing it become TikTok’s song of 2025 ten years after its release has been incredible.

“It breathed new life into it, and I’m so grateful to see a wave of a new audience now connect with it and learn more about the song, and me. I am incredibly grateful for the journey this song is on.”

There has been more good news lately, with Jess suggesting she is preparing to pop the question to her girlfriend Alex Scott following the football presenter’s stint in I’m A Celeb.

During her career, Jess has scored seven UK No1 singles, although her last one was I’ll Be There in 2018.

But with a new team behind her, she will be giving it everything she’s got to add to that hits tally.

Fit Shaun tour vow

SHAUN RYDER is preparing to spend the new year whipping himself into shape ahead of the next Happy Mondays tour.

The group will hit the road for 22 dates across March and April.

Shaun tells me in an exclusive chat: “I am determined to get fit for the tour.

“I still get on my bike, and I love swimming. There is a pool at my gym. I do that a few times a week. But my other hip is f***d, and I need it replaced. So I can’t walk like I used to. “I’ve already had one hip replacement. And that f***d up.

“I should have had the other one done ages ago, but I’ve not had time.”

Shaun also vowed to be on his best behaviour on tour, adding: “I think the last time I went out and did any raving was 2000.

“I went and saw Oasis three nights in a row and danced around like a lunatic but I am totally clean now.

“My only addictions are to tea and Haribos. However, I still have two teenage girls at home.

“This means that when I am at home, I am Shaun’s taxi service. It’s f***ing nuts.

“The missus wants me out of the house as quickly as possible. So, you know, it’s like, I have come back from Ireland, and I am going straight out on the road with Black Grape.

“But I have spent the last few days as a taxi driver for the girls.”

The joys of middle age, eh Shaun?

Khloe’s not to be mist

THIGH and mighty Khloe Kardashian flashes the flesh as she promotes her hair mist.

And it comes after she denied getting back together with basketball player Tristan Thompson after their split in 2021.

The Kardashians celebrated Christmas with a gingerbread house that was iced with the family members’ names, and fans noticed his was on there.

But she replied: “He’s my children’s father.”

Ashley’s melon boat

ASHLEY ROBERTS enjoys a slice of the high life as she chomps on a watermelon during a luxury getaway.

The Pussycat Dolls singer wore a bikini top, shades and headscarf as she posed on a yacht in Mauritius.

She has jetted off with her boyfriend, tattoo artist George Rollinson, for a post-Christmas holiday and looks suitably loved up.

Coming back to dreary England in the new year is going to be quite a shock for her.

Zoe: My Britpop snogs

ZOE BALL has revealed she locked lips with famous names while living life to the full in the hedonistic Nineties.

On her Dig It podcast, she played a game of Snog, Marry, Avoid, and joked: “I did snog and avoid quite a few Britpop stars, none of whom I shall mention now.”

Zoe added: “I would avoid Damon [Albarn] because I can’t talk to him because I go all stupid. Young me would definitely have wanted to snog Liam Gallagher way back in the day.

“He would talk to me and I’d be like, ‘Fair, fair’.

“I don’t think I’d have wanted to marry any of them because I don’t think you should marry or meet your idols, quite frankly.

“But Dave Grohl, however, I would have wanted to marry and snog.”

Me too, Zoe.

Sex pistols are firing with Frank

THE SEX PISTOLS and Frank Carter are planning new music.

The punk band, made up of Glen Matlock, Steve Jones and Paul Cook, have been touring with Frank, who replaced John Lydon as singer.

Now Glen wants the group to get into the studio together.

He said in an exclusive chat: “I’ve got a few ideas. I think Frank has. Steve’s a bit of a, ‘Just go and play’ kind of guy. I think Paul’s sort of on the fence about it, we’ll see. I think we’ve got it in us.”

The Sex Pistols and Frank – whose gigs were branded “karaoke” by bitter John – are also heading on tour again this coming year and have a host of dates in America.

Glen, who has a new documentary out, I Was A Teenage Sex Pistol, said: “We should have been just finishing a two-month American tour, but we had to postpone it because Steve fell over coming out of the Chelsea ground and broke his wrist in three places.

“We’ve had to reschedule everything. We’re going to be busy again.”

Fifth ammendments

FIFTH HARMONY will make their comeback in 2026 after a brief reunion at a Jonas Brothers gig.

NORMANI has confirmed the return, eight years after they split up. She will take part with Ally Brooke, Dinah Jane and Lauren Jauregui, but Camila Cabello won’t be back.

Teasing that fans can expect them back, Normani said: “I don’t have loose lips, but yes, 2026 will be one for the books for Fifth Harmony.”

Freedom for Jade

ANGEL Of My Dreams singer Jade has become Angel Of The North – after being given the Freedom of the Borough in South Tyneside, where she’s from.

She received the honour alongside the owner of local chippy Colmans.

Jade said on Instagram: “What an honour this was, with my family and friends by my side.

“If you see me walking my cattle around the town, mind ya business.”

Olivia’s loving New Year No1

OLIVIA DEAN looks set to claim the first No1 album of 2026, as The Art Of Loving is rising back up the charts.

The British singer’s album is currently in the lead and is expected to spend a third non- consecutive week in the top spot, although Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend is just behind her.

And another Liv – Olivia Rodrigo – is also back in the charts.

After I told last week that she had split up with her boyfriend, actor Louis Partridge, fans have shown their support by streaming her albums.

Guts has risen to No21, while Sour is now at No22.

Card pass for B’s fit

SOMETHING tells me Cardi B was more focused on turning heads than watching the match as she turned up at an American football game in New York.

Her 1991 outfit is vintage Chanel, while the giant pearl handbag is from its latest line.

Gogglebox stars Sue and Steve Sheehan have celebrated a special family milestone

Gogglebox stars Sue and Steve Sheehan have stunned fans with a snap of their rarely-seen daughter.

The married couple first joined the cast of the Channel 4 show back in 2019, and have since become fan favourites with their witty commentary from the comfort of their stunning South London home.

Steve, a retired black cab driver, and Sue, who is semi-retired, have been married for nearly 47 years. They have two daughters, Leah and Kate, as well as a grandson named Roman.

Sue and Steve took to Instagram on Saturday (December 27) to share a rare photo of their youngest daughter Kate as she celebrated her 40th birthday.

“Our 2nd born 40th birthday today. Happy Birthday my darling, celebrations later,” the caption read, alongside several photos of Kate over the years.

Sue later shared a throwback photo of their daughter when she was younger, as well as one of her 40th birthday cake.

“The beautiful retro cake made by @claires_cakes5 and the old holiday photo,” she wrote.

On Monday (December 29), the stars went on to share more photos of a celebratory dinner for their daughter, which took place at Boys Hall restaurant in Kent.

The caption read: “A good time was had by all @boys.hall sharing a special birthday with the family.”

Several Gogglebox fans have shared their well wishes in the comments section, with one person writing: “Beautiful young woman, happy happy birthday. Best wishes to your gorgeous daughter.”

Another added: “Happy birthday to your lovely girl,” while a third said: “What a beautiful girl happy birthday.”

A fourth fan echoed the sentiment, saying: “Stunning girl you have!” with another similarly sharing: “Your daughter is absolutely beautiful. You have every reason to be proud.”

The news comes after Sue announced that she had Bell’s Palsy, which causes temporary weakness or paralysis in the muscles on one side of the face.

After an extended break from Gogglebox, the star told viewers that she had to “relearn” a couple of things since the diagnosis, explaining: “One is to speak through the side of my mouth, and the other one is chewing. Chewing takes a long time.”

Steve then joked: “I have offered to chew your food for you, but you declined. I’ve gotta say, you haven’t lost the sharp side of your tongue though, have you?”

“No, it’s sharper than ever actually,” Sue quipped in response.

Gogglebox is available to stream on Channel 4

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THE list of living names in Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire has shrunk to a jaw-dropping three.

Three decades after the tongue-twister song topped charts around the world, most of its human landmarks are gone. 

Out of the 59 people name-checked in the 1989 mega-hit, only Bob Dylan, rock n roll singer Chubby Checker, and “subway vigilante” Bernie Goetz are still alive. 

The grim-but-fascinating fact has been doing the rounds on social media after Bardot’s death was announced on Sunday.

One shocked fan admitted: “This is how I find out Chubby Checker is still alive.” 

Another said: “The kind of useless trivia I’ll be physically incapable of not repeating at the next dinner party.”

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Billy’s catchy banger is a whirlwind history lesson.

It rattles through headlines and pop culture moments in strict chronological order starting the year Billy Joel was born in 1949, and racing toward the late 1980s.

One of the song’s most packed lines – “Bardot, Budapest, Alabama, Khrushchev” – covers 1956, the year iconic French actress Brigitte Bardot shot to global fame in And God Created Woman. 

It also nods to the Hungarian Revolution in Budapest, the Montgomery Bus Boycott in Alabama, and Nikita Khrushchev’s rise to power in the Soviet Union after Stalin’s death. 

Music also runs through the song like a second timeline.

Chart topper Billy, now age 79, kicks things off with Cry singer Johnnie Ray in 1949, one of the first modern pop stars signed to a major label. 

He quickly follows with Bill Haley & His Comets, whose Rock Around the Clock sent rock ’n’ roll into overdrive. 

Elvis Presley turns up in 1955, Buddy Holly marks 1959 and the tragedy of the Day the Music Died, Chubby Checker dances into 1960.

Bob Dylan appears in 1961 as pop music takes a sharp turn toward protest and social change.

By the time Joel hits the mid-to-late 1960s, it’s Beatlemania and Woodstock.

Bernie Goetz gets a mention after he became a household name in 1984 for shooting four black men on a train in New York after they allegedly demanded money.

One of the men was left brain damaged and paraplegic, and the shooting became a symbol of deep racial divide in the city.

Goetz handed himself in to police nine days later and was dubbed the “subway vigilante” by local media.