announce

The fifth Strictly Come Dancing star has been revealed for the upcoming BBC series, following in the footsteps of Chris Appleton, Delta Goodrem, Dani Dyer and Lacey Turner

The fifth star to be announced on Strictly Come Dancing’s line-up has been revealed as Love Island star Cach Mercer.

Cach rose to fame on last year’s series of Love Island, winning the public vote to be crowned the 2025 male champion. He won alongside Toni Laites, who now hosts spin off show The Debrief with Shakira Khan and Yasmin Pettet.

With almost 50 million likes on TikTok, he has earned a legion of social media followers for his posts showcasing his Afrobeat, hip-hop and street dance moves. Cach also works as a model and DJ, and is an ambassador for a young persons’ mental health charity.

Following the news, he said: “I have grown up watching the show with my family and am so excited to now be part of the cast. Dancing is a huge passion of mine and I can’t wait to learn Ballroom and do the Foxtrot for the first time!”

The show has already featured a Love Island winner, as series three champion Amber Davies made it to the final last year. Love Island finalist Tasha Ghouri also took part in Strictly and made it to the final as well.

Meanwhile, Dani Dyer, who won series four, was supposed to take part last year but had to pull out. As she has already been announced as part of the line-up for this year’s Strictly, Cach’s participation marks the first time two Love Island winners will go head to head.

The BBC have been announcing their celebrity line-up for the show since the middle of June, much earlier than their usual release which comes around mid-August.

However, there’s a lot of ‘new’ this series, with five professional dancers stepping away and another five taking their place. Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have also gone and three presenters – Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdecombe – will replace them when the BBC show returns later this year.

It comes after celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton was confirmed to have signed up to the show. He counts Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, Sofía Vergara, Ariana Grande, and Katy Perry as his clients.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Strictly Come Dancing and coming home to the UK for this incredible experience. I’ve always believed that the best things happen when you take a chance and try something new. I may know my way around a salon floor, but the dance floor is a whole different story – and I can’t wait to get started,” he said.

Lacey Turner – who plays Stacey Slater on EastEnders – was the first to announce she was joining the show. She said: “I am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing! I am a huge fan and can’t quite believe I will be taking part and not watching at home this year! I look forward to meeting everyone and learning a new skill!”

Dani Dyer, who had to withdraw last year after an injury, is also back. “I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September! I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one! I’m just over the moon and cannot wait to find out who else is doing it!” she said.

Singer songwriter Delta Goodrem shared: “I’ve been incredibly honoured to perform on many different stages throughout my career – from tv, theatre, film sets, to touring my own shows around the world, there is however one stage I’ve never stepped onto and that is the ballroom floor! I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Strictly and can’t wait to get started!”

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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are finally married.

After 16 full-length albums, a batch of brutal breakups, and a record-breaking world tour, Taylor, 36, has officially locked down her prince charming.

Kelce, 36, and the pop icon said “I do” on Friday in an extravagant ceremony just 10 months after the couple announced their engagement in August 2025.

Huge purple screens reading “JUST&T MARRIED!” lit up outside of Madison Square Garden around 7:30pm on Friday, roughly an hour after Taylor’s SUV was spotted pulling into the venue.

Taylor’s bulletproof gray SUV was met with cheering fans as she arrived around the rumored start time of her wedding ceremony.

Dozens of Taylor and Travis’ A-list guests flocked to Madison Square Garden well in advance of the wedding.

read more on taylor’s wedding

HERE COMES THE BRIDE

Taylor Swift’s SUV pulls into MSG ahead of America’s ‘royal wedding’

OUT OF STYLE

Bridesmaids or double up? Taylor’s BFF & NFL star’s fiancee in same $800 dress

Some stars spotted include Ed Sheeran, Karlie Kloss, Dakota Johnson, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Kravitz, Erin Andrews, Matthew Stafford and Graham Norton.

Soon after the couple exchanged vows, Dior revealed that the bride and groom’s looks were created by Jonathan Anderson, Creative Director of Dior Women’s, Men’s and Haute Couture Collections in close collaboration with the bride and groom.

This was the designer’s first couture wedding dress for a world-renowned celebrity.

The newlyweds had custom shoes made by Christian Louboutin and Taylor wore Cartier jewelry.

The designer brand also confirmed that the couple did not have any bridesmaids or groomsmen.

Instead, Taylor’s brother Austin Swift served as her Man of Honor, and Travis’ brother, former Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce, was his Best Man.

“The ceremony joined both families together and was officiated by friend Adam Sandler,” the press release read.

Fans had been speculating who might be Taylor’s bridesmaids, and considered some of her close friends like Selena Gomez and Gigi Hadid as frontrunners.

Taylor’s childhood best friend, Abigail Anderson, and Laura Kruk, the soon-to-be wife of New York Giants wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster, stepped out in the same $795 gown with a floral corset-style bodice and a contrasting brown satin skirt, leaving fans suspecting the bridesmaids dressed had been revealed.

But it now appears to be a moment of matching as Dior confirmed the popstar had no bridesmaids.

The skies of New York City opened up soon after it was announced the couple was officially married, with people outside of MSG running to get away from the pouring rain.

Rumors had been circulating in the days leading up to the big ceremony that the couple had already wed in a private ceremony.

But, Rick, one of Taylor’s relatives, exclusively told The U.S. Sun outside the Ritz Carlton in NYC on Friday, “The ceremony is today.”

“All the rumors are nonsense. Taylor and Travis haven’t got married. They are taking their vows today.”

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end popped the question after two years of dating in a private, at-home proposal surrounded by hundreds of flowers.

Their wedding comes after months of speculation from fans as to when and where the Swift-Kelce wedding would be held.

The couple ultimately chose to tie the knot at Madison Square Garden with a rumored 1,000 guests in attendance.

An entertainment executive said the multi-day extravaganza would kick off with an intimate affair at MSG on July 2, according to a bombshell report from the New York Times.

The private event would then be followed by a much larger ceremony in the same venue on July 3.

Some of Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs Teammates were reported to have booked blocks of rooms at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square as well.

A permit had reportedly been filed to shut down the streets surrounding the Garden from July 2 through July 4 – a major holiday weekend – and there had been no public events booked at the venue from June 29 through July 6.

Amtrak police were also reportedly warned well in advance of the impending celebrity nuptials.

In the months leading up to their nuptials, it was reported that Swift had actually been planning to completely transform her $32 million mansion in Rhode Island for the fairytale wedding.

Fans also believed the seaside ceremony would be held on June 13 – a reference to the Out of the Woods singer’s lucky number 13.

A source close to Swift told The U.S. Sun that she had planned to create a new garden at her home as the couple reportedly planned to drop $1.2 million on flowers alone.

Swift apparently began planting her preferred flowers in the new garden “months in advance,” gravitating toward red roses, hydrangeas, orchids and peonies.

“She wants the entire celebration to feel like a wave of flowers, with arrangements of white, purple, and pink orchids, plus blue, white, and pink hydrangeas, and peonies in pink, white, and red tones,” the source claimed.

“Taylor dreams of being fully surrounded by flowers, with lush floral bushes everywhere, making her teenage dream of marrying in a sea of flowers come true.”

Florals aside, The U.S. Sun previously revealed that the couple was planning to drop $8 million alone on security for the event.

The insider told The U.S. Sun that Swift had planned to create a “multi-day celebration” from Friday to Sunday for her wedding weekend, making it a “unique, unforgettable memory they’ll cherish for the rest of their lives.”

In terms of security, Madison Square Garden is ideal for the global superstar, as the venue features no windows, a large capacity and guaranteed privacy from rabid fans and paparazzi desperate for a glimpse at the high-profile couple.

Leading up to the wedding, neither Swift nor her NFL heartthrob had publicly discussed their wedding plans – leaving it all up to speculation.

More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.

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While veterans jockey for new contracts during free agency, young players are getting their tryout opportunities with NBA summer league games beginning this week.

First-round draft pick Cameron Carr and second-year forward Adou Thiero highlight the Lakers summer league roster that was announced Wednesday. The 16-man team will be coached by Lakers assistant coach Ty Abbott and begin summer league play Friday against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.

The Lakers also face the Miami Heat (July 5, 1:30 p.m.) and San Antonio Spurs (July 6, 4:30 p.m.) in the California Classic before playing in the Las Vegas summer league from July 9-19. The Lakers play Oklahoma City (July 10), Dallas (July 11), the Clippers (July 14) and Chicago (July 16) in Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center.

The Lakers traded up in the draft to get Carr, a 6-foot-5 guard out of Baylor, with the 24th overall pick. He will make his unofficial NBA debut, along with former Indiana State and Saint Louis star Robbie Avila. The 6-10 center became a bespectacled college basketball cult hero known affectionately as “Cream Abdul Jabbar” while leading Indiana State to the NIT championship game in 2024. He transferred to Saint Louis, where he was named Atlantic-10 player of the year as a senior when the Billikens won a school-record 29 wins.

Although he is entering his second season with the Lakers, Thiero will be playing his first summer league games. Persistent knee injuries hampered his rookie season. The athletic 6-7 forward averaged 1.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 25 appearances last season. He said after the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs that he wanted to improve on his three-point shooting during his second year. He attempted only five three-pointers during his rookie season, regular season and playoffs, making one.

Lakers summer league roster

Robbie Avila, C, 6-10, 240
Cameron Carr, G, 6-5, 190
Jon Elmore, G, 6-3, 190
Luke Goode, F, 6-7, 210
William Hickey, G, 6-4, 203
Arthur Kaluma, F, 6-7, 225
William Kyle III, C, 6-9, 230
Chris Mañon, G, 6-4, 212
Robert McCray V, G, 6-4, 188
AK Okereke, F, 6-7, 245
Chase Ross, G, 6-5, 210
Zhaire Smith, G, 6-4, 205
Peter Suder, G, 6-5, 215
Adou Thiero, F, 6-7, 234
Anton Watson, F, 6-8, 225
Jacari White, G, 6-3, 180

Keir Starmer is under intense pressure from his own Labour party to announce plans to step down as Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer could shortly announce a plan to step down, according to UK media reports, as his likely successor Andy Burnham is expected to be sworn in as a member of parliament.

Government ministers said the Labour leader was reflecting on his political future over the weekend.

Starmer could set out an exit timetable on Monday, conceding to pressure from his Labour Party to hand over the reins of power.

The threat to the British leader, which has been building for months, increased sharply on Friday when Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, decisively won a parliamentary election to return to Westminster, beating a candidate from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, which has led national opinion polls for more than a year.

That victory gave hope to Labour lawmakers that Burnham, a career politician known for his communication skills, could transform the fortunes of a party that has lost support under Starmer, whose popularity ratings have sunk.

If Starmer does announce his exit, he will be the sixth prime minister in a decade to stand outside 10 Downing Street and announce a premature departure.

The beleaguered leader “is expected to announce on Monday that he will step down as prime minister after overwhelming pressure from Labour MPs to make way for Andy Burnham”, The Guardian said.

The BBC said “signs are growing” that Starmer could set out a plan to resign on Monday, while newspapers splashed with headlines like “Game Over”.

But the widely expected change of leader is not without risk.

Beyond saying that the country needs fundamental change and to bring down the cost of living, Burnham has yet to make clear his approach to foreign affairs, the economy and defence.

Like Starmer, he could find he has little room to manoeuvre, hemmed in by bond market investors opposed to any additional government borrowing, and confronted by an angry electorate who believe the country is not working properly.

Starmer had pledged to fight

Starmer had said on Friday he would stand in any formal Labour leadership contest that sought to replace him.

While Starmer’s team believes his landslide national election win in 2024 gives him the mandate to stay in post until 2029, business minister Peter Kyle said on Sunday the prime minister was reflecting on “the political challenges that he faces in this moment”.

If Starmer does step aside, it is unclear whether Burnham would face a coronation or a challenge. Wes Streeting, who resigned as health secretary last month to protest against Starmer’s leadership, has said that he will run in a contest if there is one.

Burnham, if he succeeds, would become Britain’s seventh prime minister since the Brexit vote to leave the European Union, which took place 10 years ago this week.

That level of turnover – the highest in Britain in nearly two centuries – underlines the struggle of maintaining the support of voters angry at successive failures to improve living standards, public services and tackle undocumented immigration.

Bloomfield had been out of work since he was sacked as Luton boss in October 2025 when he was appointed at Oxford at a time when they were 23rd in the Championship, three points adrift of safety.

He came in after Rowett had overseen a dismal spell of one win in ten matches.

Bloomfield began his managerial career at Colchester United before taking over from Gareth Ainsworth at Wycombe Wanderers in 2023.

After leading the Chairboys to the League One automatic promotion places amid the challenge of big-spending Birmingham City and Wrexham last season, he left the club to take over at Luton.

But Bloomfield was unable to prevent the Hatters from suffering back-to-back relegations to the third tier and was dismissed after an underwhelming start to the season, with the club 11th in the table.

Speaking after Oxford’s relegation was confirmed in April, Bloomfield said he was confident of keeping his job.

“I’ve enjoyed my time at the club. It’s obviously not been the outcome that we wanted for the season.

“We’ve been pleasantly content with some of the improvements we have made but ultimately we wanted to stay in the league.

“I’ve not given much thought to my job and the bigger situation and ultimately, as a manager or head coach, all you can do is focus on being the best you can be,” he said in April.

Oxford looked capable of pulling off a “great escape” in late February and early March when they won three games in a row to move up to 21st.

However, just two wins in the following eight matches saw them lose ground on the sides above them.

Relegation brought an end to a two-year spell in the second tier after they won promotion via the League One play-offs in 2023-24.

MOLLY-MAE Hague and Tommy Fury will reveal the name of their baby son this weekend, The Sun can exclusively reveal.

Boxer Tommy’s shorts will be adorned with the newborn’s name when he fights man mountain Eddie Hall in a pay-per-view event on Saturday.

A source said: “The little man’s name will be on Tommy’s shorts at his fight along with Bambi’s.

“That’s how they are going to announce it to the world.

“The shorts will be two-toned colour.

“It was Tommy’s idea and Molly was very open to it.”

OH, BOY

Molly-Mae Hague gives glimpse of the sweet gender reveal she had while pregnant

Newborn bliss

Molly-Mae breastfeeds newborn son as she opens up on ‘perfect’ first week

The insider continued: “Now the little fella is here it’s a no-brainer — what better way to announce his name than on his dad’s boxing shorts.

“Molly is now obsessed with it — she’s hoping to be there.

“They’re working out the walk outs at the minute because that’s when it will be revealed, with music and blue fireworks — it will be cool.

“It should be a really nice moment for them.”

Earlier today, Molly-Mae gave fans a glimpse inside her gender reveal party by sharing unseen footage.

The 26-year-old welcomed her baby son last week but chose to keep the gender private for the entirety of her pregnancy.

Molly-Mae gave birth at celeb-loved private spot The Portland Hospital, the same place Bambi was welcomed back in 2023 and the hospital which has seen A-listers such as Meghan Markle and Victoria Beckham give birth.

The new mum, Tommy and their daughter Bambi, three, found out the gender of the little one by popping a balloon, which exploded with blue confetti.

The couple met on Love Island in 2019 and are the show’s most famous couple.

They weathered a temporary split in 2024 as Tommy battled alcohol issues, but they are now stronger than ever.

Southampton FC and Royal Antwerp have announced the death of former academy player Victor Udoh at the age of 21.

Udoh spent six months in Saints’ academy from February 2025, featuring in eight games for their Under-21 side in Premier League 2.

Before his move to the south coast of England, he played in Belgian side Antwerp’s academy and made 28 appearances in their first team.

After leaving Southampton in September, the Nigerian left-winger joined Czech second tier side Ceske Budejovice.

“We are devastated by the tragic passing of former player Victor Udoh at the age of 21,” Southampton posted on X., external

“The thoughts of everyone at the club go out to Victor’s loved ones at this extremely difficult time.”

Udoh joined Antwerp’s academy in 2023 and played 27 times for their ‘Young Reds’ team, scoring 12 goals, and went on to make his first team debut in the same season.

“With great dismay, RAFC has learned of the passing of former player Victor Udoh,” Royal Antwerp posted., external

“Our thoughts are with Victor’s family, friends, and loved ones. We wish them much strength, support, and warmth during this particularly difficult time.”