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Britain’s biggest dinosaur theme park reveals its ‘longest ride to date’ opening just in time for summer holidays

THE UK’s largest dinosaur themed adventure park is set to open its longest ride yet – and it’s just in time for summer.

Families will be able to enjoy the new attraction from July onwards.

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The outdoor adventure park has rides suitable for children up to 12 years old Credit: Roarr!
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The Dino-themed adventure park is the largest in the UK Credit: Roarr!

ROARR! theme park in Norfolk has revealed a new 105-metre long attraction, dubbed the site’s “longest ride to date.” 

The Fossil Falls experience will allow visitors to soar down a winding slope, set inside the park’s 85 acres of natural woodland.

The course also features a launch platform, brake ramp and 12-metre tunnel, which riders will be able to glide down inside of an inflatable ring.

The £250,000 investment marks the latest addition to the adventure park’s 25 other attractions.

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Other rides include the Swing-o-saurus and Dippy’s Raceway, with an off-peak day pass priced at around £60 for a family of four.

Ben Francis, park director at ROARR!, told Eastern Daily Press: “Fossil Falls is a fantastic new addition to ROARR! and one we’re really excited to open this summer.

“At 105 metres, it’s our longest ride to date, and we think it’s going to be a real highlight for families visiting the park.

“We’re always looking at ways to invest in and improve the ROARR! experience for our visitors, and Fossil Falls is a brilliant example of that – adding real value for the families who choose to spend their day making memories with us.”

The Dino adventure park is located in just off the A47 and A1067 near Lenwade, and can be reached in just 25 minutes from Norwich by car.

It also holds a variety of activities suitable for children aged zero to 12 years old.

The park will be open from 10am to 5pm, seven days a week, in July and August.

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One of England’s biggest aquaparks reopens with archery range and laser tag

ONE of England’s largest aquaparks has reopened, but its glamping overnight stays now come with a twist.

Camping enthusiasts can now enjoy an overnight stay in a converted helicopter, as well as tonnes of new activities.

North Yorkshire Water Park reopened back to the public back in March Credit: North Yorkshire Water Park
New inflatables, slides, obstacles, and more have been added to the Wipeout Aqua Park Credit: North Yorkshire Water Park

North Yorkshire Water Park has undergone a massive makeover, and it is a hit with thrillseekers.

Based in Wykeham, near Scarborough, the park showed off its fresh new look back in March, welcoming visitors throughout the Easter holidays.

Now, families can get stuck in to the great outdoors, with archery, axe throwing, outdoor laser tag, climbing and a 250-metre zip line all on offer.

For a mental retreat, visitors can also tackle an array of brain teasers in its escape and puzzle rooms.

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This revamp also marked the grand reopening of the upgraded Wipeout Aqua Park in April.

One of the largest aqua courses in England, this course has brand new inflatables, slides, swings and extra challenging obstacles.

This joins the current Warrior Aqua Park and toddler-oriented Splash Kingdom, with the Warrior and Wipeout parks combining for an extra long course in the summer months.

A more peaceful retreat can also be enjoyed with kayaking, wakeboarding, paddleboarding and pedalos on offer.

Guests can stay in a former RAF helicopter to experience the ultimate glamping getaway Credit: North Yorkshire Water Park
Stays in these unique glamping pods starts at £130 per night Credit: North Yorkshire Water Park

Most excitingly, for those wishing to book an overnight stay after a long day of the great outdoors, there are new glamping experiences available.

In addition to the existing accommodation, adventurers can also stay in two helicopter glamping pods.

Originally built for RAF Search and Rescue, the Sea King helicopter glamping experience offers guests the chance to sleep in a converted aircraft.

Both helicopters are fitted out for the whole family, with double beds and bunk beds inside both.

Guests will also have access to the cockpit area, which has been transformed into a dining area, equipped with a microwave, toaster, kettle and fridge.

The winch operator’s sliding door also works, leading onto a gravel landing pad with a picnic bench.

Prices to stay start from £130 per night to experience this one-in-a-lifetime stay.

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Katie Price’s bikini struggles to contain her ‘biggest ever’ boobs as she sunbathes in Dubai

KATIE Price appeared to struggle to keep her ample assets protected as her tiny bikini struggled to handle her ‘biggest ever’ boobs.

The surgically-enhanced star shared a selfie of her enjoying a spot of sunbathing in Dubai – after jetting over to spend time with her fourth husband, Lee Andrews.

Katie Price’s boobs almost spilled out of her bikini Credit: Katie Price/Facebook/Backgrid
Katie regularly shows off her colossal bust Credit: Getty

In the snap, a very busty Katie risked her boobs from spilling out of her tiny bikini top as it struggled to protect her modesty.

Katie underwent her 17th boob job in 2024 in Belgium where she had work done to refine the biggest chest she has ever had.

Her previous breast surgery saw her get massive 2120cc implants in order to have the title of Britain’s biggest boobs.

Katie first began having breast surgery in 1998 where she initially went from a natural B-cup to a 32C.

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The star’s appearance has drastically changed over the years Credit: Splash
She has had 17 boob jobs throughout her career Credit: Getty

The following year, she had two further boob jobs before she took a break of seven years before having a fourth operation in 2006.

Since then, Katie has had some form of breast surgery almost every one or two years in order to change their shape and size.

Her current boobs are the biggest they have ever been.

Katie briefly returned to her natural B-cup and was without implants after her chest became infected in 2015 following the surgeries.

However, she soon quickly opted to have implants put back in, despite the risks, months later and went from her natural size to a major 32GG.

Known for her cosmetic surgery, Katie underwent her biggest change in 2019 when she opted for a full body overhaul in Turkey.

During her visit to the surgeon, she underwent a third facelift, an eye and eyelid lift, her first BBL, a tummy tuck as well as her 14th breast surgery.

However, the following year, she was forced to jet to Belgium to correct some of the work after it was reported she was left with botched boobs from the Turkish clinic after undergoing the assortment of procedures.

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Mifepristone ruling is biggest obstacle to abortion access since end of Roe

In the biggest jolt to abortion policy in the U.S. since the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, a federal appeals court has restricted access to one of the most common ways to end early pregnancies by blocking the mailing of mifepristone prescriptions.

The unanimous ruling Friday from the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals marks a substantial victory for abortion opponents seeking to stem the flow of abortion pills prescribed online that they view as subverting state bans on the procedure.

The ruling, which is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, requires that mifepristone be distributed only in person and at clinics, overruling regulations set by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

Friday’s ruling is in effect while the case works its way through the courts, but a mifepristone maker has asked the appellate court to put its ruling on hold until the Supreme Court weighs in.

Here’s what to know.

Nationwide impact

Frustrated with a lack of federal action against medicated abortions, Louisiana Atty. Gen. Liz Murrill sued the FDA last month, saying its regulations undermined the state’s ban on abortions at all stages of pregnancy.

“The regulation creates an effective way for an out-of-state prescriber to place the drug in the hands of Louisianans in defiance of Louisiana law,” Judge Kyle Duncan, who was appointed by President Trump, wrote in the ruling.

FDA officials have said the agency is conducting a new review of mifepristone’s safety, but the appeals court noted that there was no timeline for its completion.

Friday’s ruling affects all states, even those without abortion restrictions.

There is little precedent for a federal court overruling the scientific regulations of the FDA, and it remains to be seen how the decision could affect how the drug is dispensed long-term.

Murrill, a Republican, celebrated the ruling as a “victory for life,” while other antiabortion advocates cheered the reversal of rules finalized under President Biden that ended a long-standing requirement that the pills be obtained in person at a doctor’s visit.

Representatives for the FDA and the U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Long record as safe and effective

Danco Laboratories, a mifepristone manufacturer and defendant in the lawsuit, has asked the appeals court to put its order on hold for one week to give the company time to seek relief from the Supreme Court.

Mifepristone was approved in 2000 as a safe and effective way to end early pregnancies. It is typically used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol, which is not affected by the ruling but is less effective on its own.

Surveys have found that the majority of abortions in the U.S. are administered using pills and that about 1 in 4 abortions nationally are prescribed via telehealth. Providers have suggested that its availability through telehealth is a reason why the number of abortions in the U.S. has not fallen since the Supreme Court overturned Roe in 2022.

As a result, abortion pills and those who prescribe them out of state have become key targets of abortion opponents.

Some Democratic-led states have adopted laws that aim to protect providers who prescribe via telehealth and mail the pills to states with bans. Those so-called shield laws are being tested through civil and criminal cases in Louisiana and Texas.

One telehealth provider in a state with a shield law, Dr. Angel Foster, was working with legal experts to understand how the ruling would affect her organization, the Massachusetts Medication Abortion Project.

“We will do everything in our power to continue providing care to people in all 50 states,” she said.

Midterm politics

The case could make abortion a key issue in this fall’s midterm elections as Democrats aim to take back control of the U.S. House and Senate and Republicans fight to hold on to their narrow majorities.

Recent electoral results suggest that voters seeking to maintain abortion access have the political momentum. Since Roe was overturned, abortion has been on the ballot directly in 17 states. Voters have sided with the abortion rights side in 14 of those results.

Abortion rights supporter Fatima Goss Graves, president and chief executive of the National Women’s Law Center, slammed Friday’s ruling as “deeply out of step with both the public and fact-based science.”

Trump received criticism after the ruling from some antiabortion advocates who expressed frustration that he did not take action himself to block distribution of the pill.

The FDA under Trump approved another generic version of mifepristone last year, which peeved some allies of the president.

“It’s shameful that the Trump administration’s inaction has forced pro-life states to take their battle to the federal courts,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, who also applauded the ruling.

Schoenbaum and Mulvihill write for the Associated Press.

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World’s biggest lake borders five countries and is the size of Japan

It’s so big that it crosses two different continents

The world’s biggest lake is so large that it is the same size as Japan. There are more than 304 million lakes worldwide, filled with slowly moving or standing water.

Many of the largest in the world can even be classed as inland seas. However, the lakes are still landlocked and connected to the oceans via rivers or narrow channels.

The Caspian Sea is the largest lake in the world, with a surface area of 386,400 sq km (149,200 sq mi). It sits across both Europe and Asia.

The huge lake is bordered by Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan. Its surface is about 27 metres below sea level.

In comparison, the Caspian Sea is almost five times as large as Lake Superior, which lies on the border of Canada and the US and covers 82,000 sq km (31,660 sq mi).

The Caspian Sea is so large that it accounts for up to 44% of the world’s lake waters.

The Caspian Sea is believed to be around 30 million years old and became landlocked about 5.5 million years ago. Europe’s longest river, the Volga, flows into the Caspian Sea and is the main freshwater source.

Due to this flow, the Caspian Sea’s water is almost fresh. Over 130 rivers go into the Caspian Sea, including the Ural River and the Kura River.

There are several small islands in the lake, with most of them in the North. Some islands are near the coasts, but none are found in the deeper parts.

Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is the largest city by the Caspian Sea, with others also including Astara in Iran, Atyrau in Kazakhstan and Derbent in Russia.

The lake is home to a wide range of species, and it is particularly known for its caviar and oil.

Sadly, pollution from the oil industry and dams on rivers that drain into the lake have harmed its ecosystem.

Due to global warming, it has been reported that the depth of the sea will decrease by nine to 18 meters.

About 850 animal and more than 500 plant species live in the Caspian, many of which are endemic. Six critically endangered species of sturgeon live in its waters, as well as the unique Caspian seal and beluga.

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The ultimate seaside spot with the UK’s biggest outdoor waterpark

ONE of my favourite summer days out is on the south coast of Devon, where you’ll find the UK’s biggest waterpark.

Splashdown Quaywest Waterpark on Goodrington Sands beach in Paignton, Devon boasts several slides and pools and will reopen on May 2.

Splashdown Quaywest Waterpark on Goodrington Sands beach in Paignton, Devon will reopen on May 2 Credit: Google maps
In total, the waterpark has 11 slides Credit: Google maps

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

In total, the park has 11 main waterslides and one of the latest additions to the park is a pirate-themed water playground, ideal for kids under 12-years-old.

Dubbed Shipwreck Island, visitors will find seven smaller slides, tipping buckets and interactive water features such as spray arms.

As a born-and-bred Devonian, Splashdown Quaywest was on my doorstep growing up and it still hold a huge draw nowadays, when the sun is shining.

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The park’s provision for younger kids has grown significantly in recent years, but they’ve always been known for their bigger rides – making it a fail safe day out for families.

When it comes to those bigger rides, visitors can head on Devil’s Drop – a black hole ride, with a 19.8metre vertical drop, making it the highest and fastest flume in the UK.

Alternatively, you can head on The Screamer – a high-speed steep waterslide.

And there’s Corkscrew – a waterslide where across 98 metres you’ll spin 360 degrees several times over.

And there’s a normal swimming pool area, if you just fancy a swim.

Tickets cost from £20 per person aged over nine years old or from £16 for those aged under nine years old.

Alternatively you can get a combined adult and child under five years old ticket, which costs from £24.

But what makes the waterpark an even better place to visit than most, is that it sits right next to Goodrington Beach, which is a long beach split into North Sands and South Sands.

The latest addition to the park is a pirate-themed area for younger kids Credit: Google maps
Tickets cost from £20 per person Credit: Google maps

Along the South Sands you’ll find lots of different spots to eat from kiosks to restaurants including Brewers Fayre Inn On The Quay – which has a large garden and great views of the sea.

In between the two beaches is a Premier Inn which also has incredible views of the coastline and is a great option if you want to extend your stay in the area.

Behind the Premier Inn you’ll also find Reach Outdoors, so if waterslides weren’t enough for you, you can head on a kayaking adventure or try out paddleboarding.

On North Sands, the beach is backed by Young’s Park with a boating lake where I have spent many days during summer holidays on giant swan pedalos.

And if that wasn’t enough, in the park there is also crazy golf and go karting.

On this side of the beach you can drop by Cantina for some food, which also has a huge garden to soak up the sunshine, while you dine on £5 cheesy chips (or even crabby or steaky chips).

The waterpark sits right next to a huge beach as well Credit: Alamy
You’ll also find go karting and crazy golf there Credit: Alamy

Rather conveniently, it is also next to a play park if kids want to let off some steam.

After eating there, I would always venture back to the beach via Devon‘s Ice Cream Shop for a cone of locally made ice cream costing a few quid – the cappuccino crunch and clotted cream vanilla flavours are a must.

And if parents need a caffeine fix, coffee will set you back between just £2 and £3.

This end of the beach also has a number of B&Bs costing from around £79 a night – and you couldn’t be closer to the beach.

If you fancy a walk, Goodrington also sits on the South West Coast Path, which you can walk along to reach Paignton in as little as 20 minutes.

Paignton town centre has even more things to see and do for families as well, such as a huge play park, pier, arcades, cinema and often a sprawling funfair.



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A 48-team World Cup is Panini sticker collectors’ biggest challenge yet | World Cup 2026 News

The decades-old football book craze will comprise 980 unique stickers, including 68 ‘special’ ones in a 112-page ​album.

For generations of ‌football fans, no World Cup would be complete without the thrill of opening ⁠a packet of ⁠Panini stickers and discovering Zico, Franz Beckenbauer, Diego Maradona or Lionel Messi staring back.

Since Italian company Panini’s first sticker collection at the 1970 World Cup ⁠in Mexico, trying, and usually failing, to complete the set has been an obsession for young fans around the globe, with playground swapping mandatory.

This year’s World Cup in ⁠the United States, Canada and Mexico will present the biggest challenge yet, though, and will require a considerable amount of pocket money.

With 48 nations heading for the tournament in June and July – the largest edition ever – 980 unique stickers, including 68 “special” ones, will be required to ‌fill the 112-page album that will be available from Thursday.

Individual packets of seven stickers retail at 1.25 pounds ($1.69) in the United Kingdom, meaning that even with impossibly perfect luck and no duplicates, 140 packets would be required, costing 175 pounds.

Statistically, however, more than 1,000 packets may be required to acquire every player in the album, meaning an outlay in the region of 1,000 pounds ($1,351).

Panini’s biggest-ever collection was launched at a ⁠special event at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday, with former England players ⁠David James, John Barnes and Gary Cahill reliving their sticker-hunting days.

“As someone who grew up collecting Panini stickers, swapping with friends in the playground and trying to complete the album every tournament, the album has always ⁠marked the real start of a World Cup for me!” former Chelsea defender Cahill said.

“Seeing myself in the collection during my ⁠playing days was a surreal and proud moment, and ⁠a reminder of how these stickers become part of the story of every World Cup.”

Panini say they will be hosting a live “swap shop” in May around the UK, giving collectors the chance to find their must-have players while a “Sticker ‌Box” will travel up and down the country, giving away sticker packets and albums.

When the dust has settled on the World Cup, it might also be prudent to store ‌duplicates ‌in the loft as there is a burgeoning market in vintage stickers.

In 2021, a 1979 Panini sticker of Maradona, then aged 19, sold for 470,000 pounds (about $556,000 at the time) at auction.

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UK’s biggest freshwater lido to reopen this week as temperatures to hit 26C

THE BIGGEST outdoor swimming pool in the UK is reopening this week for the season.

Tooting Bec Lido, which first opened in 1906, is one of the most popular freshwater lidos in London.

The Tooting Bec Lido London UK
Tooting Bec Lido is reopening this week for the spring and summer season Credit: Alamy
Tooting Bec Lido with sunbathers and swimmers on the poolside in front of the aerator fountain and cafe building.
It underwent a huge renovation last year as well, costing millions Credit: Alamy

Measuring twice the length of an Olympic pool, it can welcome up to 1,400 swimmers at once.

And despite being unheated, you can expect it to be busy when it reopens on May 1, with temperatures expecting to hit 26C.

Anyone wanting to visit will have to register for a free membership and, while tickets are sometimes available on arrival, it is recommended to book ahead – especially on hot days.

From May to August, it will be open from 6am to 8pm, with two swimming sessions a day. In September it closes earlier at 5pm.

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The lido underwent a £40million upgrade last year, which will “safeguard it for the next 50 years” and includes new water systems and filtration systems to keep the pool cleaner.

The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey raved about the lido, saying: “When I used to live in South London, this was the best place to spend the mornings.

“Not only was it the best brisk wake up, but there was a form of comradery amongst other swimmers, all supporting each other when the cold got a bit too much.

“In the summer, it has the best vibes, especially after ending with a coffee to relax on Tooting Common to warm up.”

Hillsea Lido is also reopening this week, after a £7million makeover.

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Britain’s biggest aquapark is reopening this week

BRITAIN’S biggest aquapark is reopening just in time for the Bank Holiday weekend – and is getting a new 39ft-high water slide.

The ride is built for “adrenaline junkies” and is the first attraction of its kind in the UK.

The new slide is perfect for adventure seekers and is the “first UK tower of its kind” Credit: Unknown
The giant aqua park features eight diiferent inflatable courses Credit: Unknown

Aqualand is reopening this weekend (May 2) in time for the bank holiday, and is back with a new addition that is “not for the faint hearted”.

A brand new mega-slide will form part of the adventure site this summer and is “officially the UK’s first tower of its kind”.

The X Tower – standing at 12 metres tall – is a huge six slide tower and is ideal for racing with its dual lanes.

The waterpark will reopen in time for the bank holiday Credit: Cliff LAKES
Aqualand is located in Tamworth and is around 25 minutes from Birmingham Credit: CLIFF LAKES

Opening later this summer, it’s one of two new attractions to join the beloved waterpark this year.

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A spokesperson for Cliff Lakes said: “We’re taking Aqualand to a whole new level…

“Standing at a HUGE 12 metres tall X Tower is officially the UK’s first tower of its kind.

“Six epic slides featuring dual racing lanes, high-speed drop slides with kicker exits and a sliding mat, built for adrenaline junkies aged 12 year or over.

“This is not for the faint-hearted. This is next level!

“Are you brave enough to take it on?”

The latest addition to the adrenaline-packed waterpark will open slightly later in the month than the rest of the Cliff Lakes site.

While the rest of the waterpark will reopen on May 2, thrill-seekers will have to wait until May 23 to try out the X Tower.

The new slide will be open in time for the May half-term holiday and the second bank holiday weekend of the month.

Visitors should note that for a trip down the tower, you’ll need to upgrade a general admission ticket by £5 per person.

Adventure seekers are buzzing with exicitment on social media, and are ready to take on the “epic” looking attraction.

Alongside the X Tower, another new slide will also be on offer this summer season.

The Wibit Wave is a 15 metre long and five metre high slide which has a double-wave for swimmers to enjoy.

Aqualand is located at Cliff Lakes in Tamworth, and is around 25 minutes outside Birmingham.

The park features eight inflatable obstacle courses which visitors can explore for up to 80 minutes.

Visitors must be six years or older and at least 1.10 metres tall, and children aged seven and under must be accompanied by an adult on the course.

As well as families, the park also caters for large group bookings, birthday parties, corporate events and hen and stag dos.

Admission costs include wetsuits and buoyancy aids.

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Inside Olivia Dean’s huge UK arena tour as British chart topper baffles fans by NOT performing one of her biggest hits

OLIVIA DEAN stormed the opening night of her debut arena tour – but left fans gutted by not performing No1 hit Rein Me In.

She received a hero’s welcome at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, fresh from a stellar few months which saw her scoop four Brit Awards, three Mobos and the Grammy for Best New Artist.

Olivia Dean left fans gutted by not performing No1 hit Rein Me In on the opening night of her debut arena tour Credit: LOLA MANSELL
Olivia told the crowd that her whirlwind success over the past 12 months has been a shock, even to her Credit: Getty

But she surprised the audience by deciding not to include her Sam Fender collaboration, which has so far spent eight weeks at the top of the charts, on her 23-track setlist.

So fans had a singalong to it outside the venue afterwards instead.

Rein Me In won the Brit Award for Song of the Year in February, but Olivia had plenty of other brilliant tunes to satisfy the sold-out arena.

As floor-to-ceiling white stage curtains opened to reveal the singer, she looked cool, calm and collected, despite the high expectations on her shoulders.

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She breezed out in a pink sequined dress and was greeted with echoing singalongs of utterly joyous tracks Nice To Each Other and So Easy (To Fall In Love).

She then told the crowd that her whirlwind success over the past 12 months has been a shock, even to her.

She explained: “This is crazy. Apologies if I get emotional tonight but I just can’t believe how many people are here. Today we were driving in and I drove past King Tut’s. I played there two years ago, and there was 300 people in the room.

“Now I’m here with all of you, so thank you so much for being here.

“Just enjoy yourselves. Sing, dance, cry, whatever you want. I’ll certainly be having a good time.”

And things got more emotional as she performed UFO, from her 2023 debut album Messy, which she said is about feeling “overwhelmed.”

When the audience spontaneously waved their phone torches in the air to light up the arena, she wiped away tears of joy.

SET LIST

The Art Of Loving (Intro);

Nice To Each Other;

Lady Lady;

So Easy (To Fall In Love);

Close Up; Let Alone The One You Love;

Messy;

UFO;

Touching Toes;

I’ve Seen It;

Carmen;

Echo;

Time;

Loud;

A Couple Minutes;

The Hardest Part;

Baby Steps;

Ladies Room;

Move On Up (Curtis Mayfield cover);

OK Love You Bye;

It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be;

Dive; Man I Need

One of the set’s unexpected highlights came as she sang Loud live for the first time.

And she did so in a flowing white skirt from a flower-shaped stage in the centre of the room.

Against stripped-back instrumentation, the haunting track showed her vocals at their most powerful.

Back on the main stage, disco balls descended from the ceiling for a more upbeat section which had her skipping and dancing across the stage, along with her nine-piece band.

As she wrapped up the gig, she said: “I never imagined I could have my own headline arena tour. It’s mental.

“Thank you so much for listening and just believing in me.”

And while she didn’t do Rein Me In, she finished her set with fan favourite Dive and her first No1, Man I Need.

She will be back on stage tomorrow at Manchester’s Co-op Live before six nights at London’s O2 Arena, and further shows in Dublin and across Europe.

Olivia is at the top of her game right now and if you want a warm, musical hug, this concert is it.

Duran set for summer

Duran Duran have dropped new single Free To Love Credit: Stephanie Pistel.
The band have worked on a single with Nile Rodgers Credit: Alamy

DURAN DURAN have dropped new single Free To Love and have signed up presenter Clara Amfo to appear in the music video.

They gave Radio 2 a first play of the track yesterday morning and it’s a banger, with Simon Le Bon and the band working on the single with Nile Rodgers – 40 years after he produced their Notorious album.

In an exclusive chat after the single dropped, John Taylor told me: “We wanted to write something uplifting for these times we find ourselves in. A feelgood piece for an imaginary dance floor.

“I always want to feel the DNA of classic disco in our music, reframed for now. Nile locks us into that timeless groove, bringing a sense of optimism. It’s a reminder that music can still bring people together.”

If you’ve not heard Free To Love yet, definitely give it a listen. It’s the perfect summer song.

Lady Gaga eyes six second Oscar

Lady Gaga wants an Oscar Credit: Splash

LADY GAGA is eyeing up another Best Original Song nomination at the Oscars after recording three songs for Devil Wears Prada 2.

After Gaga, released her Doechii collaboration Runway earlier this month, I told how the superstar had a surprise in store for fans and had contributed more to the film’s soundtrack.

I can reveal that as well as Runway, Gaga has recorded Shape Of A Woman which she performs during the film, plus a third song, which is called Glamerous Life.

It is a stripped-back emotional ballad – similar to her 2022 single Hold My Hand for the Top Gun: Maverick sequel.

On the new song, Gaga sings: “I might need a hero to save me from breaking. Can I be myself in a world that’s just faking it?”

In 2019 Gaga won Best Original Song at the Oscars for A Star Is Born’s Shallow and if Prada 2, which is in cinemas from May 1, takes off like I think it will, she will have another Oscar nomination under her belt.

Gaga co-wrote Shallow with Mark Ronson and performed it at the Oscars ceremony with her movie co-star Bradley Cooper.

Sofa, so good Kylie

Kylie Jenner used her cream sofa as the backdrop for a load of thirsty Instagram snaps Credit: Instagram/kyliejenner

ANYTHING Kylie Jenner touches seems to turn to gold.

So I think sofa superstore DFS should be having a serious think about signing her up, after the American reality TV star turned beauty mogul decided that she would use her cream sofa as the backdrop for a load of thirsty Instagram snaps.

Over two million of her fans have now liked the images, which Kylie captioned: “Can’t a girl have fun?”

I can think of more places to have a laugh than on my sofa wearing a bra, but each to their own.

Ant & Dec go crazy

We revealed back in February that Ant & Dec were in talks for a new ITV show all about crazy golf Credit: Rex

OUR sister showbiz column Biz On Sunday told you back in February that Ant & Dec were in talks for a new ITV primetime show all about crazy golf.

And now I’m told the Geordie duo have had the series green-lit by telly chiefs, and the pair are already busy filming with a host of golf-mad hopefuls.

It is based on US show A Hole In One, where contestants battle it out on a seriously hard silly course for cash.

A source said: “Ant and Dec have been given the nod and they’re preparing to film their new ITV show later this summer.

“Rather than having the public competing like in the US version, they’ve got a load of golf fans to sign up and play.

“It’s going to be the weirdest and wackiest game of crazy golf ever, with some big personalities trying to putt a winner.

“Ant and Dec are huge golf fans so really wanted to get the concept off the ground. ITV loved it and now it’s being pitched for a primetime slot on Saturdays. It’s family-friendly and with the great personalities they’ve got on board, they think it could be a ratings winner.”

Ant and Dec will have a hell of a job fitting this new show into their schedules, with the pair due to jet off to Australia later this year for the next series of I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here!

But if I was getting paid to spend some days in the sun mucking around on a crazy golf course, I’d definitely make some time in my diary.

Liam bigs up Oasis return

Liam Gallagher is bigging up more Oasis live shows Credit: Getty

LIAM GALLAGHER is fuelling what we all know – Oasis will be coming back with more live shows.

And now the motormouth has sent fans in Italy into overdrive after heading to Rome.

He was mobbed outside his city-centre hotel, where one asked if he and Noel would return to the city.

Liam replied: “Without a doubt. We’re coming next year.”

I revealed the rockers are plotting more reunion dates in 2027 after taking this year to recharge.

A huge run across the UK, Europe and North America is heavily tipped as the brothers celebrate the 30th anniversary of their heyday.

For a man meant to be on holiday, Liam is putting in serious hours in the Oasis promotions department.

Tyla has A* pop lined up

Tyla has announced her second album and when it will drop Credit: Tod Dow Young/ Fallon Tonight

TYLA has announced her second album A*Pop will drop on July 24.

The singer was in New York to dish out copies of her signed i-D Magazine cover and celebrated the release date with her fans, saying: “Initially going into this project, I was nervous – like, ‘Where do we go from here?’

“But I realised that the music really reflects where you are in life, and the way the new album sounds came on its own, it fell into place.

“There are some exciting features but those are all still under wraps for now.”

Reverand And The Makers also have exciting news for fans.

Today they have dropped new single F*ked Up with Robbie Williams.


NICK GRIMSHAW knows an act who has already been booked to headline Glastonbury 2027, after I revealed in January his close pal Harry Styles will top the bill next summer.

On his Sidetracked podcast Nick seemed to confirm my story by saying: “I know someone that’s playing. I can’t say who. So two spots to go . . . Maybe. They might be booked.”


VINYL fans with deep pockets should start saving now, as the White Label Auction is back.

The annual sale in aid of The Brit Trust begins on June 23, with hundreds of rare white label test pressings going under the hammer through Omega Auctions.

Among the hottest lots are signed releases from Sam Fender, The Cure, Roxy Music and Yungblud.

Collectors can also get their hands on gems from Gorillaz, Coldplay, Freddie Mercury, Sex Pistols and The Who.

The charity event has already raised more than £200,000.


STRICTLY fans can swap the sofa for the dance floor later this year, with the show’s pros heading to Warner Hotels for a string of star-studded breaks.

Kai Widdrington and Katya Jones will lead the glittery line-up, with guests able to watch live performances, snap photos and even learn a few moves themselves.

And it’s not just sequins on offer.

Singers Chesney Hawkes, Michael Ball, Alexandra Burke, Will Young and Russell Watson are all booked to perform at various locations across the country.


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Justin Bieber’s biggest hits, ranked from worst to best

In the weeks before Justin Bieber’s headlining performance at this month’s Coachella festival — the 32-year-old teen-pop survivor’s first major concert after a lengthy stretch in the celebrity wilderness — speculation began to mount that he planned to play only songs from his recent “Swag” and “Swag II” albums.

And indeed, for 45 minutes or so last Saturday, it seemed like that was what he’d come to do as he sang new song after new song on Coachella’s giant main stage. But then he pulled out a laptop, fired up YouTube and started singing along with some of his old hits — a thrilling subversion of our expectations for a big festival set and a poignant act of self-examination by an artist who’s lived more than half of his life on our screens.

For the singer, Bieberchella was clearly a trip down memory lane. But it also offered the audience a chance to look back on a career that’s encompassed virtually every major shift in pop music over the last two decades.

Ahead of Coachella’s second weekend, then, here’s a list, ranked from worst to best, of every hit that Bieber has put inside the Top 10 of Billboard’s flagship singles chart, the Hot 100. Pop, of course, is an art as much as a science, meaning statistics get you only so far: Some important Bieber songs aren’t here, not least among them “Lonely,” which may be his finest vocal performance but stalled out at No. 12 on the chart. Other throwaways made it on the list thanks to Bieber’s gamesmanship or Billboard’s methodological quirks.

Yet these 27 songs tell a fascinating story about a boy, about a man, about a talent possibly more vital today than ever before.

27. ‘Never Say Never’ (peaked at No. 8 in March 2011)

Co-written and co-produced by the guy who would later top the Hot 100 with “Rude” by the band Magic, this booming kiddie-rap track was introduced as the theme song for Jaden Smith’s 2010 remake of “The Karate Kid” before Bieber used it in a 2011 concert film of the same title. The voice is high; the beat is blah.

26. ‘Monster’ (peaked at No. 8 in Dec. 2020)

Just a month after he dropped “Lonely,” Bieber returned to his teen-idol woes — far less movingly, alas — in this dreary duet with Shawn Mendes.

25. ‘Stuck With U’ (peaked at No. 1 in May 2020)

The nicest thing you can say about the doo-woppy “Stuck With U” is that Bieber and Ariana Grande donated the song’s proceeds to first responders navigating the early months of the COVID pandemic. Do not rewatch the video unless you want to be reminded of the smiley horrors of Zoom life.

24. ‘No Brainer’ (peaked at No. 5 in Aug. 2018)

We’ll get to Bieber’s convivial 2017 hook-up with DJ Khaled and friends. As for this shameless sequel, Khaled’s “another one” tag has never been less necessary.

23. ‘Cold Water’ (peaked at No. 2 in Aug. 2016)

Sleek. Pretty. Forgettable.

22. ‘As Long as You Love Me’ (peaked at No. 6 in Sept. 2012)

How high was Bieber riding as he prepared to release 2012’s “Believe” LP? High enough to swipe the title of the Backstreet Boys’ classic teen-pop ballad for this junior-dubstep jam. Stick around (or don’t) for Big Sean’s guest verse about needing “you” to spell both “us” and “trust.”

21. ‘Holy’ (peaked at No. 3 in Oct. 2020)

In which Bieber and Chance the Rapper preach about marriage like two horny youth pastors.

20. ‘Anyone’ (peaked at No. 6 in Jan. 2021)

What if Phil Collins had recorded “In Your Eyes” instead of Peter Gabriel?

19. ‘10,000 Hours’ (peaked at No. 4 in Oct. 2019)

Timed to commemorate his and Hailey Baldwin’s wedding among the salt marshes of South Carolina, Bieber’s crack at high-gloss country music was warmly welcomed by the Nashville establishment; it even spent two weeks atop Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. No surprise, really: To listen to earlier stuff by Dan + Shay, Bieber’s collaborators on “10,000 Hours,” is to hear how extensively white-soul singing had reshaped country by the early 2010s.

18. ‘I Don’t Care’ (peaked at No. 2 in May 2019)

Has any would-be song of the summer ever song-of-the-summered harder? Bieber and Ed Sheeran’s breezy dancehall bro-down was clearly modeled on the sound — and the success — of Sheeran’s “Shape of You.” (Call it “Shape of II.”) Yet the duo’s chemistry feels real enough to believe that all of these hooks — hey, they just happened.

17. ‘I’m the One’ (peaked at No. 1 in May 2017)

Bieber’s first Khaled collab has a merry bounce that softens the braggadocio from him, Quavo, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne, whose verse opens pricelessly like so: “Looking for the one?/ Well, b—, you looking at the one.” Fun chart fact per Billboard: The week after “I’m the One” bowed atop the Hot 100, Bieber became the first artist ever to score new No. 1s back to back when his remix of “Despacito” replaced “I’m the One.”

16. ‘Boyfriend’ (peaked at No. 2 in April 2012)

A decade after Justin Timberlake stepped out from NSYNC, JB blatantly ripped JT’s “Like I Love You” for this heavy-breathing flirtation. “Baby, take a chance or you’ll never, ever know/ I got money in my hands that I’d really like to blow,” Bieber pants over a spacey, Neptunes-style beat. (Later, he suggests fondue.) In an ironic twist, given the song’s all-grown-up-at-18 energy, “Boyfriend” was blocked from No. 1 by “We Are Young” from Jack Antonoff’s old band, Fun.

15. ‘Ghost’ (peaked at No. 5 in April 2022)

A hurtling lost-love lament that doubles as a farewell to a departed grandparent (as in the song’s music video, which stars the late Diane Keaton).

14. ‘Let Me Love You’ (peaked at No. 4 in Oct. 2016)

In the final Top 10 hit of Bieber’s EDM era, a pleading tenderness in the singer’s vocals cuts appealingly against DJ Snake’s strobing Sahara Tent beat.

13. ‘Baby’ (peaked at No. 5 in Feb. 2010)

New puppy, old love.

12. ‘Yummy’ (peaked at No. 2 in Jan. 2020)

“Hop in the Lambo, I’m on my way/ Drew House slippers on with a smile on my face,” Bieber sings — not the last time he’d plug one of his or his wife’s brands in a lyric. A country remix with Florida Georgia Line adds shout-outs to Waffle House and Chick-fil-A.

11. ‘What Do You Mean?’ (peaked at No. 1 in Sept. 2015)

The path to Bieber’s first No. 1 on the Hot 100 was cleared by a better, more interesting song that reframed him as a dreamboat experimentalist. (More on that one in a minute.) But if “What Do You Mean?” deploys a more conventional tropical-house production, it’s still built around one of the singer’s loveliest vocals. And the fake pan flute still hits.

10. ‘Despacito’ (peaked at No. 1 in May 2017)

Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s pop-reggaeton seduction had already found an enormous audience among Latin music fans when Bieber jumped on a remix after hearing the song in a Colombian nightclub. Yet the star’s presence — in a Spanish-language chorus whose lyrics Bieber learned phonetically over the course of a four-hour recording session — turned “Despacito” into a global juggernaut. In the U.S., the song became the first Spanish-language chart-topper since “Macarena” two decades earlier; it also became something of a protest tune amid the anti-immigrant rhetoric of President Trump’s first term in office. Said Scooter Braun, Bieber’s then-manager, in a 2017 interview with The Times: “A song in Spanish is all over pop radio in an America where young Latino Americans should feel proud of themselves and their families’ native tongue.”

9. ‘Essence’ (peaked at No. 9 in Oct. 2021)

Like “Despacito,” this slinky Afrobeats track was a hit before Bieber got involved. (Among its fans: President Obama, who put it on his best of 2020 list.) What distinguishes the version with Bieber is how gently he slides between the Nigerian singers Wizkid and Tems, who both joined him for a rendition of “Essence” at Coachella.

8. ‘Stay’ (peaked at No. 1 in August 2021)

At a mere 2 minutes and 22 seconds, this breakneck electro-pop duet with Australia’s the Kid Laroi (who also put in a cameo at Coachella) is the shortest of Bieber’s 27 Top 10 singles. Yet with 63 weeks on the Hot 100, it’s also his longest-lived chart hit — and his most-streamed song on Spotify.

7. ‘Intentions’ (peaked at No. 5 in June 2020)

“Stay in the kitchen cooking up, got your own bread/ Heart full of equity, you’re an asset.”

6. ‘Beauty and a Beat’ (peaked at No. 5 in Jan. 2013)

The most fondly remembered of Bieber’s teen-idol hits anticipates the EDM makeover to come even as it stays rooted in his squeaky-clean persona: “We’re gonna party like it’s 3012 tonight” is truly something only a kid would say. Seven months after “Beauty and a Beat” peaked on the Hot 100, Bieber was infamously caught on video urinating in a mop bucket in a New York City restaurant kitchen; this song would be his last Top 10 single for more than two years.

5. ‘Peaches’ (peaked at No. 1 in April 2021)

A sumptuous R&B jam about procuring one’s peaches from Georgia and one’s weed from California, this three-way joint with Daniel Caesar and Giveon was nominated for record and song of the year at the 2022 Grammys. (It lost both prizes to another sumptuous R&B jam in Silk Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open.”) Extra props here for the vivid contrast among the singers’ voices and for the Kool & the Gang-ish synth solo at the end.

4. ‘Love Yourself’ (peaked at No. 1 in Feb. 2016)

A sick burn delivered oh so sweetly.

3. ‘Where Are Ü Now’ (peaked at No. 8 in July 2015)

Behold the dreamboat experimentalist. In search of a fresh sound after Bucketgate, Bieber found it with Skrillex and Diplo, veteran dance-music producers who took a morose piano ballad that Bieber and his frequent accomplice Poo Bear had demoed and turned it into a glimmering boudoir-rave fantasia. “I was like, ‘Diplo, Skrillex — I don’t really know if that’s, like, where I wanna go,’” Bieber later told the New York Times. “They did it, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is blowing my mind.’”

2. ‘Daisies’ (peaked at No. 2 in July 2025)

Is putting a nine-month-old song at No. 2 on this list an act of recency bias? Maybe. But what a song! Against a bracingly lo-fi guitar lick played by his pal Mk.gee, Bieber sings with beautifully understated soul about coming into an emotional maturity he admits he avoided for too long.

1. ‘Sorry’ (peaked at No. 1 in Jan. 2016)

A plea, a flex, a come-on — this delirious pop masterpiece contains multitudes. “Is it too late now to say sorry?” Bieber asks, and the trick of a song born from a branding problem is that it summons the sensation of endless ascent.

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Why a 14-night holiday in the Caribbean is now cheaper than just ONE week on Spain’s biggest island

IF you thought that ditching long-haul holiday for destinations closer to home will save you money, you’re wrong.

Majorca is just a few hours from the UK and a trusted holiday spot – but in some cases it’s actually cheaper to go to the Caribbean.

It’s cheaper for Brits to go to the Dominican Republic than Majorca Credit: Getty Images
The island of Majorca has all-inclusive holidays in August from £953pp Credit: Alamy

The Spanish island has always been a top holiday destination, with two million British tourists going there every year.

It’s not hard to see why – the flight is short at around two and a half hours long, it’s got great weather and lots of pretty beaches.

But if you want to get more bang for your buck, you might want to look elsewhere – like the Caribbean.

In some cases, a two-week holiday to the Dominican Republic came in cheaper than a one-week break to Majorca.

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This was highlighted by Pedro Fiol, the president of the Aviba association of travel agencies in the Balearics.

Talking to Majorca Daily on behalf of Spanish citizens, he said: “At certain times of the year it is more affordable to spend 15 days in the Caribbean than to enjoy a week in our own country.”

He continued to add: “For one of the most popular weeks of the year, around August 15, this can cost some 2,300 (£2,000) per person.

“In contrast, for the same dates a trip to the Caribbean, for example to Punta Cana (Dominican Republic), for 14 nights in five-star all-inclusive hotels can be found for around €2,250 (£1,957) per person.”

While Pedro Fiol highlighted the expense for Spanish citizens to go on holiday in their own country – the same applies for Brits heading there too.

Looking at the likes of TUI, a one-week all-inclusive in Majorca during the week of August 17, 2026 can be as high as £3,793per person.

To have an all-inclusive break on the seafront – in similar looking locations to the Dominican Republic – you can book a break from £1,921 per person.

This is for a seven-night all-inclusive stay at the Iberostar Selection Albufera Playa departing on August 15, 2026, which has multiple swimming pools and beach access.

Meanwhile, 14-day all-inclusive to Bahia Principe Explore La Romana in the Dominican Republic departing on August 17, 2026, works out at £1,832 per person.

The Bahia Principe Explore La Romana has everything from multiple swimming pools to bars, a kids’ club and five on-site restaurants.

Overall the trip to the Dominican Republic is £89 cheaper – and you get to stay for twice as long.

At a day-rate, the break to the Dominican Republic resort works out at £130pppn, and the one in Majorca is £274pppn.

A one-week all-inclusive in Majorca in August 17, 2026 starts from £953per person Credit: TUI

Here are some of our favourite Caribbean holidays…

*If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue.

Hotel Capriccio Mare, Dominican Republic

Facing the calm, crystal waters of the Caribbean Sea, Hotel Capriccio Mare looks like a bright white island villa. The hotel’s position on Bavaro’s coastline is perfect for exploring the popular resort town of Punta Cana. Whether it’s strolling the sands to grab a fresh coconut with a straw, or venturing out on a catamaran trip to Saona Island, this dreamy Caribbean resort is not one to miss.

BOOK HERE

Coconut Court Beach Hotel, Barbados

This friendly, family-run hotel is a slice of Caribbean paradise. This hotel sits smak-bang on a sugar-white beach with warm turquoise waters. Enjoy both the beaches of Barbados and its plethora of rum bars – there are about 1,500 of them on the island.

BOOK HERE

Sugar Bay Club, St Kitts

Set on the quiet side of St Kitts’ Frigate Bay, the boutique Sugar Bay Club offers superb value and wonderful views of the Atlantic Ocean. Staff are on hand to assist with island tours, from catamaran cruises to scenic railway excursions.

BOOK HERE

Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort, Antigua

Amazing Antigua has 365 beaches – one for every day of the year – as well as a fascinating history. This resort in Falmouth Harbour is perfect for exploring the beautiful local area, including Pigeon Point, Nelson’s Dockyard and English Harbour.

BOOK HERE

Bahia Principe Explore La Romana in the Dominican Republic is much cheaper Credit: Unknown

All-inclusive breaks to Majorca don’t have to be that expensive though – with TUI they start from £953 per person.

At this price you can stay for seven-nights at the Hotel Stil Picafort Park which has an adults-only pool, to entertainment like cabaret and comedy performances as well as bars and a restaurants.

It has four-stars and includes return flights to London Gatwick departing on August 17, 2026.

But, it still works out cheaper to go to the Caribbean island though by £6 a day.

The Dominican Republic is one of the cheapest Caribbean islands, so it’s fairly inexpensive to explore when you get there too.

The average price of coffee in the Dominican Republic is £1.54 and a meal at an inexpensive restaurant can start from as little as £4.96, according to Wise.

In Majorca, a coffee can be as much as £3.04 with a meal ranging from £26 to £43.

The flight to the Dominican Republic is, of course, longer, taking on average nine hours and 15 minutes.

But you can expect better weather all year round too – even its coldest month, the average low is 23C.

Canto de la Playa in the Dominican Repubic is one of the world’s best beaches Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

One of the world’s best is Canto de la Playa which is found on Saona Island and is considered ‘one of the Caribbean‘s best-kept secrets’.

It’s been described as having noticeably soft sand with calm waters for swimmers and vibrant coral reefs just offshore.

Saona Island is found off the southeastern tip of the Dominican Republic and forms part of the East National Park which is known for its mangroves coral reefs and palm-fringed beaches.

In the waters around the island, visitors can expect to see sea turtles, dolphins and even humpback whales.

For more on the Caribbean, check out the island where one writer travelled to that has world-best beaches and floating bars.

And discover the ‘true gem’ resort town on one of the Caribbean’s most popular islands.

It’s cheaper for Brits to go to the Dominican Republic than Majorca in Spain Credit: Alamy

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