Happy woman is sunbathing on a beach deck chair, wearing sun hat and sunglasses, drinking a orange juice on a sunny day by the seaside, concept of a summer beach holiday, booking travel and resort
LOVEHOLIDAYS has kicked off its biggest ever Black Friday sale until midnight on December 2.
So if you’re planning a last-minute winter sun break or planning for a spectacular summer 2026 trip, you’re in luck, as there are huge savings on your next getaway.
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Itching to swap the grey skies for golden beach days
loveholidays Black Friday deals
From classic Canary escapes to budget-friendly visits to Tunisia, these deals are delivering serious value for money.
Whether you’re looking to book your next summer getaway at a beach resort or a city weekend break, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have released some major deals with up to £400 off
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have some big savings for family getaways (Image: Getty Images)
While we might be engrossed in the festivities, with less than a month until Christmas, it’s never too early to start planning for that holiday next year. And this week might be the best time, as Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have released some remarkable deals with savings of up to £400 for a family of four travelling to European hotspots.
Today (28 November) marks Black Friday, with a catalogue of airlines, hotels, and travel booking websites offering significant savings to mark the occasion. This includes Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, which have released huge deals available on all flights and holidays from today.
The leading leisure airline and the UK’s largest tour operator is offering holidaymakers £100 off per person on all holidays on sale across Winter 25/26, Summer 26, Winter 26/27 and Summer 27. This means a family of four can save a whopping £400 for a holiday in Spain or Portugal, and still travel during the school holidays.
This doesn’t just apply to families, but also to couples who book a getaway with Jet2holidays during the Black Friday sale, which could result in a £200 discount. There are also millions of hotels and resorts that offer free accommodations for children, providing even further savings.
The Black Friday deals are applicable to all new bookings made with Jet2holidays, Jet2Villas, Jet2CityBreaks, VIBE by Jet2holidays or Indulgent Escapes by Jet2holidays. This provides even more flexibility to travellers with the option to stay at an all-inclusive beach resort or opt for a quieter getaway in a villa situated in the hills.
But that’s not all. Holidaymakers can also enjoy a 20% discount off all Jet2.com flights on sale. After all, as we’ve all heard amid the tunes of Jess Glynne, “nothing beats a Jet2 holiday”.
Steve Heapy, CEO at Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “There is nothing better than knowing you have a holiday booked and something to look forward to. The savings we are offering during our biggest, boldest and best Black Friday event ever means that customers can enjoy the feeling of knowing their holiday is in the diary whilst getting a fantastic deal on a discounted getaway or fare at the same time.
“Whether it is a family holiday, a break with the other half, or a group get together, we know everyone really needs that well-deserved holiday. With deals this good, there is no better time to book, so make sure you do not miss out on our Black Friday sale and get that sunshine boxed up with the nation’s favourite and most trusted holiday provider.”
For more information or to book your next getaway, you can visit the Jet2.com and Jet2holidays websites.
After a beautiful wintry walk along the Roaches in Staffordshire (having been fuelled with Staffordshire oatcakes), we stayed at the historic YHA Hartington Hall youth hostel, a period drama setting for a cosy bunk. We woke up to find the Peak District under a blanket of snow, calm and with that magical silence that makes the world feel at peace. Ruth Campbell
The power of the Gower in winter
Windswept wonder … Oxwich Bay, in the Gower peninsula. Photograph: Robert Harding/Alamy
Winter on the Gower is a windswept wonder – the peninsula’s long, empty beaches stretch beneath dramatic skies, perfect for invigorating dog walks and lungfuls of fresh sea air. After exploring the dunes and salt marshes, warm up in the cosy Britannia Inn at Llanmadoc, where you can tuck into a serving of tender salt marsh lamb, rich with the taste of the land and sea. There is also a community shop and cafe selling great homebaked cakes. Kayleigh Witts-Thomas
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Whisky and climbing in Eryri (Snowdonia)
Tread in the footsteps of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary … in the bar of Pen-Y-Gwryd hotel
The Pen-Y-Gwryd hotel at the top of the Nant Gwynant valley was the UK training base for Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s successful 1953 Everest expedition, and the tiny Smoke Room bar is a time capsule of that period. This wood-panelled snug is lit up by a roaring fire, where guests huddle together for a post-dinner whisky and to share tales of their days on Yr Wyddfa (Mt Snowdon), or the rain-lashed peak Glyderau on whose bedrock it is built. Test your resolve in the beautiful natural pool at the top of the garden; there’s a sauna to revive yourself in afterwards. Gareth Roberts
Narrowboats and mountain passes in Clwyd
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is on Unesco’s world heritage list. Photograph: Alasdair James/Getty Images
Last year, we spent a perfect weekend in the Clwydian Range national landscape, in north-east Wales. Our stay at Faraway Follies – charming cottages nestled in the hills outside Llangollen – was made magical by wood-fired hot tubs under crisp November skies. The drive into town along the Horseshoe Pass was breathtaking, and gliding by narrowboat over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct unforgettable. Llangollen itself brimmed with warmth: a maze of cosy pubs, flickering fires, and hearty food that made every evening feel like coming home. Mike
Walking with Neolithic ancestors in Wiltshire
Worth a pilgrimage … Stonehenge. Photograph: Antony Spencer/Getty Images
Basing ourselves at the George in Amesbury for a winter break last year, we set off on a pilgrimage through a landscape sculpted by our Neolithic ancestors into a vast temple dedicated to midwinter. From Durrington Walls, to where ancient peoples may have travelled hundreds of miles to join in celebratory feasts, past the burial mounds of forgotten chiefs, and finally to Stonehenge. We spent the evenings in cosy historic pubs, honouring the season with feasting of our own. Emily Gray
Ancient ways in Herefordshire
‘Welcoming’ … The Prince of Wales free house on Church Lane in Ledbury. Photograph: Paul Weston/Alamy
Ledbury, the small market town in Herefordshire, seemed an unlikely place for a university friends’ reunion. But its impressive Tudor buildings, 17th-century market hall and Michelin star restaurant – 33 the Homend – soon won us over. The 12-mile ridge of the Malvern Hills was only 15 minutes’ drive away and provided a wealth of walking options through ancient woodlands and across common land, with magnificent views of three counties. Accommodation was a cosy Airbnb down a narrow alleyway, a short stroll from the welcoming Prince of Wales free house for a pint of local draught cider. Jane
Old wooden sea defences at Winchelsea beach. Photograph: Helen Dixon/Alamy
A November break in Barefoot Yurts, East Sussex, was almost too cosy. Two simply furnished but chic yurts, one a bedroom and one a lounge, look out over open fields studded with sheep and horses. A well-equipped semi outdoor kitchen and eco bathroom make up the rest of this isolated off-grid palace. Lying in bed with a wood-fired stove crackling, watching the morning sun disperse the mist, before a brisk roam across Winchelsea beach, enormous burgers at the Ship Inn in Rye and campfire s’mores made for a perfect late autumn weekend. Cath
Hiking in the Highlands
Live like a laird … in Tulloch Castle hotel.
Visit Easter Ross, north of Inverness, and stay in a four-poster bed at ancient Tulloch Castle on the edge of Dingwall. Take a walk to see the deep eerie canyon at Black Rock Gorge, or really get the blood pumping with a steep hike up Fyrish Hill and be rewarded with panoramic views at the summit alongside the 18th-century Fyrish Monument. Turn up hungry at The Storehouse to enjoy a pork belly poke bowl overlooking the waters edge of the Cromarty Firth and gazing out to the Black Isle peninsula. Eilidh
Hot whiskies and weather in Co Fermanagh
Unplugged (almost) … Lusty Beg Island Resort and Spa.
Even arriving at Lusty Beg Island Resort and Spa in County Fermanagh is special: you have to get a two-car ferry across Lough Erne. Once you’re over it’s like being unplugged from the world, although unfortunately they have great wifi. We brought everything we needed – the kids, the dog and a paddleboard. Our cabin was warm and spacious with views of the lough from both sides. We spent our days walking or out on the water, followed by hot whiskies in the cosy bar and restaurant. The weather, in true Fermanagh style, was atrocious but this only made it feel even more cut off. Ciaran Kearney
Toasty times in the Forest of Bowland
The Trough of Bowland. Photograph: Maureen Bracewell/Getty Images
We love visiting the Forest of Bowland when it gets chilly, and Little Oakhurst near Clitheroe is our favourite place to stay. There are toasty shepherd huts and lovely walks nearby (with great pubs). It’s a very good area for birding, but getting in the hot tub when it’s icy out may be our favourite activity. Our favourite cabin to stay in, when it’s available, is the Ivy Shepherds Hut. Amanda
The new tourist tax announced in the budget could double the cost of a holiday park stayCredit: Alamy
And industry sources have said the shocking tourist tax rise – set to be £2 extra a night – would be ‘scary’ and put prices up for thousands of families.
A senior holiday park executive said: “This tax will destroy holiday dreams, putting a short break at the seaside out of reach for many.
“Have they put Basil Fawlty in charge of boosting tourism?”
North Yorkshire’s local authorities said they are in favour of introducing the tax – hitting the thousands who holiday in the popular resorts of Scarborough, Whitby and Filey.
West Yorkshire councils have also said they would impose the charge – putting holiday parks in the Dales in the firing line.
And families taking the cheapest holiday park breaks face the biggest increases.
Right now, a family of four can enjoy a four-night break at a holiday park for around £49 in low season, made up of a £40.80 charge for the break and VAT at 20 per cent.
But the new tax is imposed on four people at the suggested rate of £2 per night that will add £32 to the cost of the holiday – bringing the total up to £81.
That’s a tax rate of 98.5 per cent – an increase of 65 per cent on what holidaymakers currently pay.
If a family of six have to pay the £2 tax on the same four-night break it would bring the cost of the tax to £48 – and increase the price of the holiday to £97.
That works out as a tax rate of 138 per cent, an increase of 98 per cent over the current costs.
For a family of five paying £100 – £83.33 cost plus 20 per cent VAT – for a four night break, the tax would add £40 to the bill, an increase of 40 per cent on the price of a holiday and a total tax rate of 69 per cent.
For a seven night stay for a family of four, prices for next year start at popular holiday parks at just £79 – £65.83 cost plus 20 per cent VAT.
With the tourist tax, a family of four would have to pay £56, bringing the total cost of the holiday to £135, an increase of 71 per cent on current costs.
Dermot King, COO of Unity Holidays which owns Skirlington Coast in East Yorkshire, said: “Any tax such as this is clearly regressive as it a tax on hard-working people who choose to spend their money taking holidays in this country.
And the far-reaching impact of the tax will also hit those enjoying cottage breaks.
Sykes Holiday Cottages – one of the UK’s biggest self-catering companies – fear the tax increase could devastate staycations.
Ben Spier, Head of Policy and Regulation at Sykes Holiday Cottages, said: “This levy won’t just be felt by families already managing rising household costs.
“It threatens to deter people from choosing holidays in the UK which would be a serious blow for the many communities that depend heavily on spending from the overnight visitors who will face this levy.
“The UK’s tourism and hospitality businesses are already among the most heavily taxed in Europe, facing everything from steep business rates and corporation tax to some of the highest VAT levels in the sector.
“Adding a new tourism levy risks putting more pressure, and more admin, on the many small businesses – from holiday let owners to local pubs, shops and attractions – who rely on a thriving visitor economy.
“And all this, for a relatively small extra return from visitors who still choose to come.
“Rather than adding another cost for visitors, disincentivizing them when the aim is to attract more of them, the focus should be on ensuring that the substantial tax income already generated is properly directed to the local communities where it’s generated.”
JEFF Brazier has broken his silence on his marriage split from wife Kate.
The television presenter has been married to PR guru Kate for 12 years but separated earlier this year.
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Jeff Brazier has broken his silence on his marriage splitCredit: InstagramJeff and Kate have split after seven years of marriageCredit: Can Nguyen/Shutterstock
Now he has broken his silence with an emotional statement.
He said: “I’m so full of love and gratitude for Kate.
“For all we achieved, for how much we grew, for everything we endured.
“We separated in the Summer and kept it private for as long as we could to give us some time to adjust.
During a podcast interview, Alex Jones has opened up about the sexting scandal, which saw her former The One Show co-presenter Jermaine Jenas sacked by the BBC last year
17:08, 21 Nov 2025Updated 17:10, 21 Nov 2025
Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas presented The One Show together(Image: BBC)
The One Show star Alex Jones has said she was “the last to know” about Jermaine Jenas’ sexting scandal, which saw him sacked by the BBC. The TV presenter and football pundit, 42, was axed in August last year over claims he had sent inappropriate texts to female colleagues. He was removed from his role as a presenter of The One Show and a pundit for BBC Sport after an internal investigation was launched.
Jenas’ BBC contract was terminated and he also parted ways with his long-term agents MC Saatchi in addition to being let go from his role presenting Formula E. Now Alex, 48, has spoken about the scandal while appearing on Jamie Laing’s Great Company podcast.
The TV star, who worked alongside Jenas until his departure from the show last year, said: “JJ and I had become good friends. I was the last to know. The BBC dealt with it, and I think if people feel uncomfortable, they have to deal with it.
“If it was my daughter, and she was at work in whatever industry and she felt uncomfortable, I would hope to God that I’d given her the tools to be able to speak up.” She added: “If she was brave enough to speak up, because it is a brave thing to do, I would hope that the company, corporation, whoever, would deal with it.
“Lots of journalists are asked, ‘Have you ever had experiences that are uncomfortable?’ I mean, if you go back to the 90s, early 2000s, there was stuff and there were ways that things were said that weren’t great. But, nothing has stuck with me, nothing makes me shudder. And I know the type of girl I was then, and I wouldn’t have handled it.”
Alex said she has “a lot of respect” for the women who spoke out, which she described as “an incredibly brave thing to do.” In addition to the professional repercussions, the scandal also led to the breakdown of Jenas’ marriage. In March, Jenas’ Ellie Penfold announced her split from him. Ellie, who shares four children with the presenter, took so social media to confirm the end of their 16-year relationship.
“I never imagined I would have to share something so personal with the public, but given the situation, I feel it’s necessary,” she said. “After 16 years together and 4 wonderful children, Jermaine and I have decided to part ways.
“We will remain friends and continue to co-parent. We kindly ask that you respect our children’s privacy during this challenging time. Thank you, Ellie.” After the allegations emerged, Jenas said that he was “ashamed of himself” after the allegations came to light, and that his wife was livid and not speaking to him.
The axed host has stressed he has done nothing illegal and said he was sorry if he made any of the women he had messaged feel uncomfortable. Jenas spoke of his shame after his world collapsed following the corporation’s confirmation and an “excruciating” meeting with HR and execs. The former One Show star denied sending any explicit pictures or videos.
A Coronation Street favourite has addressed his shock exit from the ITV soap after it emerged his final scenes had already aired without an announcement from show bosses
Mitya Underwood Senior Celebrity & Royal Writer
15:46, 20 Nov 2025
Actor Jack Carroll has spoken about his low-key exit from the ITV soap
In June, viewers learned the character had left Weatherfield for good during a conversation with Lauren Bolton and Betsy Swain. Despite speculation that Jack wasn’t going to return to set, confirmation of the low-key departure left some viewers shocked, and the actor has now revealed how he feels about the way it went down.
As well as saying he was “grateful” that Bobby wasn’t permanently killed off, the former Britain’s Got Talent star explained that he was actually happy to leave without any drama or scandal.
“That seems to be the trend in the way that they do exits now, it’s a bit more low key because it gives everybody a bit more flexibility if you need to arrange some pieces of the jigsaw in the future,” he told The Sun.
In June, a source told The Mirror that “the time has come” for Bobby to bid farewell, adding, “Actor Jack enjoyed his time on the soap, but it’s time to move on. Viewers won’t see the character exit the street as he’s already left, with Jack filming his final scenes some time ago.”
Bradford-born Jack first found fame as a comedian when he appeared on the seventh series of Britain’s Got Talent at 14, finishing up in second place.
Elaborating on his exit after 18 months, Jack, who has cerebral palsy, said he was excited to return to his comedy routes and put the spotlight back on disability in a positive manner.
He also praised the Coronation Street writers for “distilling down” the essence of his stand-up persona when he filmed his early scenes, adding: “That’s probably a good primer on what to expect as well, if you come and see me on the tour.”
Given his character is alive and well and was spared a gruesome end on the show, Jack also said he wouldn’t rule out a return, and said he was grateful that any future decisions hadn’t been taken off the table completely.
He added that the “circumstances would have to be right” and he couldn’t imagine a reason why he’d say no if the opportunity to step back onto the cobbles arose.
CYNTHIA Erivo ended up in floods of tears after paying a visit to her old school in South London to watch students perform one of the hit songs from Wicked.
Cynthia, 38, took time out of her busy schedule pre Wicked: For Good hitting cinemas to surprise the lucky students of La Retraite Roman Catholic Girl’s School in Clapham Park, who had no idea she would be paying them a visit.
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Elphaba returned to her old stomping ground to surprise some singing pupilsCynthia was reduced to tears hearing the choir singCredit: BBC Radio 1The visit left Cynthia very emotional
The star made her dazzling entrance in the best possible way: by quietly sneaking into the room as students one by one noticed she was standing there.
The students looked on in utter disbelief, tinged with obvious excitement, before squealing and jumping for joy.
During the surprise gesture, organised by Greg James and his team at Radio 1, Cynthia sat front row in the audience of an auditorium while a starstruck group of teenage girls sang Wicked’s song For Good.
It was a very emotional moment for Cynthia, who couldn’t help but break down in tears.
Speaking about the touching performance once the song had wrapped up, Cynthia described how it was “very overwhelming” for her to be back at the school where she herself performed in a number of stage productions.
“I went to this school and left over 20 years ago so to come back and listen to you singing that song is really wonderful.
“Well done everyone, it’s so nice to see you all and be back here.”
As her voice was breaking, Cynthia told the equally emotional students: “I’m just really glad to have heard that. I’m not OK at all!”
The star then took questions from the teenagers, where one fan asked when she knew she wanted to perform for a living.
Cynthia replied: “I knew when I was five-years-old, there was something I just knew about singing, what it felt like to sing, what it felt like to connect and what it felt like to perform which I’ve always loved. That never changed.
“When I was five I was asked to sing Silent Night at the nativity play, I don’t know why they asked me to sing, I was playing a shepherd.
“But something about the way people reacted sparked a bit of joy. And I loved the fact that something I did made people happy.”
After taking more questions Cynthia, who didn’t have a father figure during adulthood, imparted words of encouragement to the group, encouraging them to never diminish the power of dreaming alongside putting in the work.
“I was right where you were, literally.
“I had some really wonderful teachers who helped and guided.
“Don’t be afraid of dreaming of those things and don’t be afraid of the hard work.”
Cynthia is currently finishing off her leg of premieres for Wicked’s eagerly anticipated sequel Wicked: For Good, set to come out in cinemas on Friday.
Alongside co-lead and pop powerhouse Ariana Grande, she’s walked many red carpets, defended Ari on the Yellow Brick Road from a recent fan attack, and undertaken countless amounts of interviews.
Though the leading ladies have created many unintentional memes during their Wicked days, it’s been a whirlwind of fun, emotion, and amazing talent watching everything unfold.
Cynthia used to perform at school productions there over two decades agoCynthia broke out into song in a treat for the young performersThe surprise was organised by Radio 1 DJ Greg James
Vogue Williams sits down with the Mirror to discuss going into the I’m a Celebrity jungle and how she up for a “bit of mischief….like Traitors.”
00:01, 19 Nov 2025Updated 00:01, 19 Nov 2025
Vogue Williams is going into camp (Image: Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
A second star has opened up about entering I’m a Celebrity as a latecomer.
Vogue Williams has already blitzed the Christmas shopping, filled the cupboards and menu-planned for the next month. But now the mum-of-three is about to swap managing everything at home for running the gauntlet in the jungle. The Irish presenter, who turned 40 last month, is entering the I’m a Celebrity camp on Thursday as a latecomer with Celebs Go Dating star Tom Read Wilson.
And she admits she likes the idea of playing the game like a certain hit BBC show. “I would not mind causing a bit of mischief, a bit like Traitors vibes,” she laughs. “I don’t want to annoy anyone, but I think I am very much willing to go along with the game.”
At home in London, life with husband Spencer Matthews and their three young children is a well-drilled operation. The couple share son Theodore, six, daughter Gigi, four, and youngest son Otto, three, and it is leaving them that is preying on her mind more than any Bushtucker Trial. “My only real worry is missing the kids and missing Spencer and missing my family,” she said.
“I have done all my Christmas shopping. I have done our food shops for the next four weeks. I have organised everything down to a tee because I kind of do all that stuff at home, so I have got everything organised so I do not have to worry when I get back.” Vogue had to think carefully about how much she told the children after agreeing to take part.
“I had to be careful telling my kids, because they have a bigger mouth than me,” she laughed. “I have ignored everybody who has been texting asking if it’s true? I am like, ‘ignore, ignore.’
“I showed the kids the last series to get them into it, and they absolutely loved it when people were having an absolute nightmare. So if I get thrown in with rats, that will be their dream.”
The star, who has built a huge following through her podcasts and radio work, says the strangest part of being Down Under is suddenly not being in charge of everyone’s day from the moment she wakes up. “It is such a strange feeling, because obviously when you have kids, you have got this massive responsibility, and the first thing that you think of in the morning is them and all day it is about how you are going to organise everything that they need. And it is a really strange feeling not to have to do that. It is very relaxing.”
Part of the reason she signed up for the hit ITV show was turning 40 and realising how set in her ways she had become.
“I am too comfortable in life,” she said. “I sleep with four pillows in my bed just for me. I think you have to push yourself out of your comfort zone, particularly when I turned 40. I was getting kind of stuck in my ways a little bit. I like things a certain way. I mean, I like to walk around the park a certain way and everything.”
She said she was oblivious to what she was getting herself in for which was a difficult concept to grasp as she was such a control-freak. “It is going to be so weird, so different. I don’t even know what is happening at all. I do not know if I am going to be flung off a building, so for someone who loves control and to have a level of organisation around things, it is really weird for me to have all of that taken away.”
But she says there was one unexpected bonus: having her phone confiscated by producers.
“My phone got taken away yesterday, and even that, it has not really bothered me,” she said. “I have not watched the last two episodes of Selling Sunset but we will wait till I get back.”
She is braced for the lack of treats to play havoc with her usually steady mood.
“You do not really know how you are going to be affected by things such as no sugar, or even salt. All those things will make it a little bit harder. I am quite a stable person emotionally, really. But I think going in there and having all that taken away, and then kind of not being with people you know, might be difficult.”
As for the home-comforts she will miss the most, she admits: “Coffee in the morning, the four pillows, my really comfortable bed, a nice toilet that I do not have to share with anyone, my LED face mask, food, loads of food, I love eating,” she said.
Celebs Go Dating star Tom Read Wilson has opened up about being picked as a latecomer to enter the I’m a Celebrity jungle
00:01, 19 Nov 2025Updated 00:09, 19 Nov 2025
Tom is set to shake up the camp (Image: James Gourley/Publishd/Shutterstock)
A new contestant is being parachuted into I’m a Celebrity – and is already feeling the pressure.
Celebs Go Dating star Tom Read Wilson says he is fully braced for one particular hardship in the jungle…no champagne. The ultra-posh 39-year-old receptionist on the E4 show, also said he was looking forward to bonding with rapper Aitch when he enters the jungle as a latecomer, who he compared to Shakespeare.
Of the booze ban, he admits: “I do have a penchant for champagne, and as it is quite a naughty tipple, I confine it to the weekend. So it is just going to feel like a very, very long week. I will never usually have a coupe of anything until Friday.” And opening up about Mancunian Aitch who he will meet when he enters the jungle alongside Vogue Williams on Thursday, he said he found him “fascinating.”
“I know that he is very bendy with words, which I adore,” Tom said. “I love new coinings. It is the reason I am mad about Shakespeare, is all the endless coinings and the sense of play with lexicon. And he has got that in spades. I know he has. And I also really think of rap as modern poetry. I wish I could do it.” For Tom, any shared love of language or the arts is enough to bond campmates, no matter how different their backgrounds.
“I have always felt that it does not matter how divergent your tastes are. If your feelings about the arts are the same, it kind of pleads you together, you know. You get excited about those things,” he said.
He says that beneath his polished exterior he is “terrified” of what lies ahead. “I shan’t sugar the pill. I am terrified. I do not think I have ever been quite so frightened,” he confessed. “But it is a funny thing with fear historically for me because it is one of those things that swells and swells and swells in my mind. And as soon as I start something, I am actually much better.”
A recent conversation with a driver called Abdi, who he describes as a “philosopher”, has helped him reframe that fear. “I got into a car the other day, and I had a little bit of a wobble,” Tom said. “Without telling the driver anything, I said, ‘Well, I am just about to do this thing that is rather challenging and I do not know if I am very well equipped’.
“His name was Abdi, the driver, and he turned out to be a philosopher. And he said, look at that enormous tree outside the car. If I told you to climb that tree, you would be very daunted. But he said, once you had started, you would find a little groove to put your foot in. You would find a branch that would bear your weight.
“And before you knew it you would be in the canopy and you would not know how you got there. I could not believe it. I was so, so delighted because it just suddenly put everything in perspective. So I think I have got the same fear, but he really contextualised it for me.”
As a lover of luxury, Tom knows jungle life will be a shock to the system. The booze ban is one thing. The rations and rice are another. “I have done intermittent fasting for years now. I never knew I was in training. It does help I think. I don’t really get hungry now until 2pm,” he says.
Asked if he will bring energy to the camp, he replies: “Oh, I hope so although I gather that they are a very zestful bunch, as it is. But I suppose it is slightly incumbent on you, if you come late, to sort of be a little bit of a warm zephyr.
“Because by then, I suppose they have endured quite a lot of hardship. I mean, they probably would have done a task or two, and they certainly would be maybe food and sleep deprived by then.” He is also slightly starstruck about finally meeting Ruby Wax, thanks to a lifelong devotion to Absolutely Fabulous, which she wrote.
“I am excited and nervous about this in equal measure, because historically I have not done very well when I have been a big fan of somebody,” he admitted. “But I am a very, very big fan of Ruby Wax. In myriad ways, because, I mean, she can talk chapter and verse about Jung, which I find fascinating. And also, I am a devotee of Ab Fab, and I have been told many times that a lot of the zingers and some of the more caustic lines in Ab Fab were Ruby’s.”
Tom says he will miss the “small people” in his life most of all. “I have got five godkids and three nephews, all of whom I speak to multiple times a week and see multiple times a month. So that is going to be a real wrench.”
To prepare, he has leaned on former jungle stars including his close friend Roman Kemp. “Roman Kemp, who is a dear friend, whom I love, he said, you must make sure that you wean yourself off coffee at least . five days before,” Tom explained. “Because, he said, that is the biggest shock. You suddenly crash and you get headaches. And that is terribly good advice for me.”
IT’S never too early to book a holiday for next year – and with Butlin’s launching its Black Sale Friday, you might want to look now.
The holiday park is offering bargain breaks for families to adults-only weekends with up to 40 per cent off.
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Butlin’s has released its Black Friday offers with big savingsCredit: South Of Heaven2026 will see new shows like Maximum Pro Wrestling and a new show from DiversityCredit: Butlins
Butlin’sBlack Friday sale, or as they like to call it, the Red Friday Event, hasplenty of great offers for breaks next year, including family-friendly holidays across its three resorts in Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness.
You can book now for up to 40 per cent off – and that includes getting to see their new headline acts for 2026 if you book before December 2, 2025.
From Maximum Pro Wrestling to The Masked Singer Live and Diversity, which will perform their brand-new, exclusive show ‘Time Capsule’.
Peppa Pig and her baby sister Evie Pig will trot into the spotlight in a brand-new live show for 2026 during school holidays and Showtime breaks.
Another new addition is The Dinosaur that Pooped, a Rock Show that’s a high-energy live musical and will be at all resorts.
And Fireman Sam will be solving clues and saving the day in The Lost Pirate Treasure show.
February Half Term breaks start from £67 based on a family of four staying in a two bedroom Comfort Room on February 23, 2026 in Bognor Regis for four nights.
The Showtime midweek breaks start from £39 which across four nights works out at just £2.44pppn.
It’s not just for kids though – adults can also book themselves onto a Big Weekender for 2026.
Big Weekenders, which are exclusively for adults, and also has savings of up to 40 per cent.
Adults can enjoy child-free weekends at the Butlin’s Big Weekender eventsCredit: Paul Underhill
These start from £54 per person which includes three-nights’ accommodation, access to all music venues and plenty of daytime and evening activities.
Performers include the likes of Peter Andre, Cascada and B*Witched; these are all included in the price.
During the day guests can check out the Saddle Up Line Dancing, Soul Stroll and pool parties to Club Classic Nights and silent discos in the evening.
Next year, four brand-new Big Weekenders will begin across all three resorts.
Dress up and hit the dance floor where big names like Peter Andre and Cascada will performCredit: Paul Underhill
My Generation Weekender, devoted to Mod culture, will kick off in Minehead in early 2026.
Meanwhile, Skegness resort will be immersed in the ‘neo-soul’ era at the Soul Power Weekender.
Bognor Regis will host the Don’t Tell Mama LGBTQ Weekender and Bugged Out! will return after 10 years with the biggest names in the EDM space.
Soul Power Big Weekender starts from £54pp based on a two bedroom Comfort Room that sleeps four on January 16, 2026 in Skegness.
One writer checked into Butlin’s for a Big Weekender…
“Clutching my bottle of Smirnoff Ice in the middle of a packed dancefloor wearing silver combat trousers and a bum bag, I felt like I had been transported back to my youth.
“And for a fleeting moment, I forgot I was a mother of three with a job, a mortgage and a pile of laundry to tackle when I got home.
“This is part of the joy of a Butlin’s ’90s Reloaded Weekender where garage legends DJ Luck and MC Neat were belting out the floor fillers from my teen disco days.
“Held across Butlin’s resorts in Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness, each “weekender” break celebrates a different era or genre, from the Ultimate ’80s to I Love Ibiza.
“I was at the Bognor Regis Resort with three old school friends, which only enhanced the nostalgia of the Nineties-themed weekend.
“The fancy dress aspect alone provided plenty of entertainment. Luckily, the Nineties are enjoying something of a fashion revival, which means it was easy to source some party gear.
“And the trends of the decade were out in force — from bucket hats and Kappa tracksuits to cycling shorts and, of course, shell suits.
“There were plenty of hilarious costumes celebrating Nineties icons, too. The winner had to be one ingenious reveller who dressed head-to-toe as a bottle of Nineties alcopop Hooch, an outfit she ran up on her own sewing machine.
“In true Nineties style, midnight felt too early to go to bed so we hit the silent disco at the resort’s sports bar venue Hotshots where we could flick between channels on our light-up headphones, blasting everything fromWhigfieldto Warren G.
“The brilliant thing about a Butlin’s Weekender break is you know exactly what you’ll be spending. All entertainment and accommodation is included in the price of your visit so it’s great value for groups like ours.
“If you do have a little extra cash to splash, you can book additional activities like the ’90s Bottomless Brunch in Butlin’s restaurant The Diner.
“The bottomless prosecco and cocktails, accompanied by a live DJ, were a great way to kick off our Saturday, and my delicious build-your-own burger perfectly set me up for another day of drinking and dancing.
“In the afternoon, Butlin’s huge swimming complex opens for pool parties, also complete with DJ.”
Alan Carr is back with a new series of Changing Ends – however, he may be following in the footsteps of his Celebrity Traitors co-star Claudia Winkleman as Strictly’s new host
(Image: Mike Marsland/WireImage)
The job offers haven’t stopped rolling in for Alan Carr since his momentous Celebrity Traitors win, with the comedian even tipped to take over hosting duties on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing. While he’s back with a new series of his hit comedy Changing Ends, the 49-year-old admits he’s unsure whether he could handle the challenge of stepping into Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly’s sparkly shoes.
“My name is in the hat,” he says. “What an honour. It’s a bit like when my name got bandied about for Britain’s Got Talent and The Great British Bake Off – I’m always on the periphery.
“I don’t know how serious it is. No one has approached me. People are so passionate about it and you saw me sweating in the castle when I was a Traitor, imagine me doing live telly with how many million people watching!”
Although, after a star turn on The Celebrity Traitors, he knows how to convincingly lie – and that could come in handy on Strictly. “If someone’s cha-cha-cha is a bit s**t, I’ve got the poker face!” he jokes.
“So many things have come from The Celebrity Traitors – so many job offers coming in – I’d be flattered but I don’t know if I could do it [Strictly] justice. I just don’t want to ruin it for people.”
Alan is back on more familiar ground with Changing Ends – the semi-autobiographical sitcom about his childhood in 1980s Northampton. Series three follows teenage Alan (played by Bafta nominee Oliver Savell) as he navigates obstacles such as stressful swimming lessons, and, more importantly, his first big crush – young Alan is smitten with Jake, the Saturday boy at the charity shop.
“I really got into charity shopping,” Alan smiles. “I used to go in there every Saturday and flick through the posters to catch his eye. I must have stunk like an old woman because I would get flares, I wore my dad’s sheepskin and we didn’t have dry cleaning like we do these days.
“I just wanted to be in love really. It still hasn’t happened!” With Alan now single after divorcing ex-husband Paul Drayton back in 2022, is he hoping his teenage crush will reach the real-life inspiration behind Jake?
“The boy knew then because I was just as unsubtle as I am now,” he laughs. “When I went back to Northampton, I saw him queuing up at a cash point. My knees went to jelly and I thought, ‘Oh my God, there he is.’ But I didn’t want to say hi.
“There’s still something there, but I don’t want a Surprise Surprise moment. He had his chance and he missed it! He could be dating a national treasure now.”
Fans will already know that Alan’s father Graham was famous himself – having been a professional footballer in the 1960s who went on to manage Northampton Town among other clubs. However, the new series also sees Alan’s mother Christine embracing life as a local WAG.
“We would drop my brother [Gary] off at Beavers and me and mum would sit in the Tesco café for an hour with a cup of tea and a Chelsea bun,” he says. “I remember this woman coming over in the canteen to ask for an autograph – I mean, it was funny.
“It sounds weird but in Northampton, my dad was famous – people would stop him. My mum didn’t get the same standard as my dad, but it was funny. She was stopped a few times and people whispered, ‘That’s Graham Carr’s wife.’ Now she gets, ‘That’s Alan Carr’s mum – that’s the Traitor’s mum!’”
Christine isn’t always pleased with how Alan portrays his childhood, with Nancy Sullivan and Shaun Dooley playing his long-suffering parents. “My mum goes, ‘Oh Alan, it wasn’t that obvious you were gay when you were a child.’ My mum, bless her – she’s still that she-wolf who goes up the school. ‘Don’t you pick on my Alan, he does fancy girls!’ I don’t think she realises how camp I am, she just loves me.”
Both his parents visited the show’s “surreal” set in Enfield, north London, which completely recreates his childhood home. “My poor dad walked up the stairs and nearly fell to his death because he thought the bedroom was upstairs,” he says. “How weird is that? It’s identical to the house. To have it decompartmentalised in a warehouse is so strange.”
As for whether we can expect more episodes of Changing Ends in the future, Alan says that it’s up to the fans. “I like the stage it’s at – that weird puberty stage,” he says. “If people are watching and they want it to come back, I’ll think about writing some more.
“But when it gets to the call centre years at 18 and when I started packing shampoo and dog food, I think I’m going to run out of stories because that was a really bleak time. It could be like The Office and be called The Warehouse!”
Although, after managing to make it all the way to the very end of The Celebrity Traitors without being found out as a Traitor, Alan is concerned that viewers won’t trust him any more. “I want it to be really authentic, but I worry now after doing The Celebrity Traitors people aren’t going to believe a word of Changing Ends!” he laughs.
Changing Ends airs Sunday at 10:05pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
KIM Kardashian broke down in tears and sobbed in the days leading up to her law exam.
The reality TV star, 45, finally took the California bar after seven years of studying but she was ultimately unsuccessful.
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Kim Kardashian was left in tears in the days leading up to her bar examCredit: Instagram/kimkardashianShe could not stop crying as she spoke on the difficulties of her law journeyCredit: Instagram/kimkardashianThe vlog showcased her final two weeks studying for the examCredit: Instagram/kimkardashian
It was revealed earlier this month that she hadn’t passed but Kim has remained determined to try again in the hopes of qualifying as a practising lawyer.
Now, the All’s Fair actress has shared an intimate look at her two weeks leading up to the exam in which she shunned all other work commitments to focus on her studies.
The nine-minute social media vlog features an emotional scene in which a bare-faced Kim can be seen sobbing in bed after a long day of studying for her exam.
Heavily emotional, Kim spoke to the camera as she opened up about her law journey difficulties.
Kim said: “F***, I’m gonna film this because oh my god I am just so tired.
“It is like every time I feel like I am a step ahead, something happens to try and stop me from doing this.
“A part of me just wants to stop.
“I feel like my brain is going to explode and i still have so much more to go.”
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Whilst Kim didn’t expand on what was stopping her from studying, she was clearly suffering with problems relating to her back during the two-week period the video was filmed.
She confirmed her back had “given out” and was causing her pain.
Kim wore a large back brace throughout most of the clips in the video in order to help with the pain.
She also revealed she had undergone an MRI scan which confirmed she was dealing with some issues relating to the discs in her back.
Despite her initial worries, she admitted she was feeling confident the day before the exam and was looking forward to taking on the challenge.
The news that Kim hadn’t passed the bar exam came at the same time as her hotly-anticipated legal drama, in which she plays a lawyer, Allura Grant, premiered across the world.
Kim leads the show alongside a cast of stars including Glenn Close, Sarah Paulson, Naomi Watts and Nicey Nash.
Confirming the news earlier this month, the billionaire said: “Well… I’m not a lawyer yet, I just play a very well-dressed one on TV.
“Six years into this law journey, and I’m still all in until I pass the bar. No shortcuts, no giving up – just more studying and even more determination.”
Kim was working hard to attain her goal of being a lawyerCredit: Instagram/kimkardashianThe Hollywood icon took two weeks off work to fully dedicate herself to practiseCredit: InstagramKim has been on her law journey since 2018Credit: Getty
MUSIC legend Gary Numan has sparked concern after breaking down in tears on stage.
The 67-year-old is reported to have started weeping while performing Please Push No More at the O2 Academy Birmingham on Saturday evening.
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Gary Numan broek down in tears on stage late night – pictured here last yearCredit: GettyThe singer’s wife Gemma is said to have rushed to be by his sideCredit: Getty
According to The Mirror, his wife Gemma O’Neil rushed onto the stage to comfort him.
He is reported to have told the crowd he’d received the “worst news ever” that morning and would share it with fans once he had time to process it.
Gary is expected to appear on stage in Bristol tonight, but did cancel his meet and greet beforehand.
His fans rushed to comment on his wellbeing, with one person writing: Rough to see him so upset during PPNM – not looking forward to hearing the reason in the coming days. Can’t be good. Absolute pro to battle on.”
Someone else remarked: “He broke down – he had some bad news yesterday. Gemma came onstage and hugged him. Crowd were amazing, so supportive. Hope he’s ok.”
After it was revealed he would be playing again this evening, another person speculated: “I just hope he’s not overstretching by carrying on with the concert.”
Gary started his tour earlier this week, which celebrates the 45th anniversary of his seminal album Telekon. He is still due to play in Bournemouth, Brighton, London and various other venues.
The Cars singer and his wife, 55, married in 1997 and re-located to LA with their three children in 2012.
The move was the backdrop to documentaryAndroid In La La Land, where cameras followed them and saw him open up about his Asperger’s and depression.
Gemma was originally a member of Gary’s fan club before they found love.
Gary previously said of their relationship: “This is going to sound corny, given that it’s 30 years and four days since our first date, but I miss her even when she’s in a different part of the house.
“She’s everything I am not – which is most things, really.”
Gary is currently touring the countryCredit: Getty
Netflix and K-Pop star Nana is said to have bravely fought off an armed home intruder who knocked her mum out during a physical struggle
Netflix and K-Pop star Nana is said to have bravely fought off an armed home intruder(Image: ImaZins via Getty Images)
A Netflix star is reportedly in hospital after she and her mum fought off an armed man who broke into their home.
Nana – who shot to fame as part of K-pop group After School in the Noughties – bravely confronted the robber who is said to have threatened them with a weapon and demanded money.
The 34-year-old singer’s mother was knocked out during the altercation, and both required medical attention after they sustained ‘serious injuries’ following the physical struggle, local police said.
It happened at their home in Seoul, South Korea, in the early hours of the morning. The pair were able to detain the man until police arrived.
A local detective told AFP news agency that the intruder, who is in his 30s, was attempting to steal cash and valuables and has now been detained on charges of aggravated robbery.
Giving an update on the condition of Nana and her mother, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said: “Nana also sustained physical injuries while trying to escape the dangerous situation.”
“The mother has regained consciousness, and both of them are currently in need of treatment and complete rest,” the agency added.
Nana – whose real name is Im Jin-ah – first rose to fame back in 2009 with the popular K-pop girl group After School. This spawned sub groups Orange Caramel and After School Red.
The group is no longer active, but she has gained popularity over the past decade as an actor starring in several TV series, including Kill It and Justice, both crime dramas which first aired in 2019.
Then in 2021 she was cast in the Netflix series Glitch, a South Korean science fiction series about a young woman who teams up with a UFO enthusiast to search for her boyfriend who has mysteriously disappeared.
The K-pop icon is also said to be starring in the upcoming drama Climax and the Netflix series Scandals (tentative title), where she plays the role of Hui-yeon, a widow who vows to remain chaste after losing her husband.
Based on the 2003 Korean film Untold Scandal, it reimagines the story of the French novel Dangerous Liaisons and features a ‘dangerous love game’ between the characters. The drama is set to be released next year.
But music is still a passion as Nana released her first ever solo album in September.
Titled Seventh Heaven 16, it means ‘the highest happiness’ and she paid tribute to her mother as she she unveiled a new tattoo of the year 1968 – a tribute to her mother’s birth year.
When I broke into journalism years ago as a fledgling Whittier-based high school sports reporter, one of my favorite side hobbies was asking locals what made their city famous.
Downey was always an interesting test case.
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What wasn’t mentioned enough about Downey, particularly among the high school-aged students I spoke with, was the city’s ties to the Space Shuttle program. It was somewhat remarkable given the city’s “Home of the Apollo” nickname.
Downey’s reputation, especially among its younger residents, may reset soon thanks to a groundbreaking this Monday to announce the latest upgrade to the Columbia Memorial Space Center, a space museum that opened in 2008.
Benjamin Dickow, the center‘s president and executive director, spoke with The Times about what to expect Monday and beyond.
What’s happening Monday?
Astronaut Garrett Reisman, former Rockwell International and Boeing employees and area dignitaries will take part in a groundbreaking for an about 40,000-square-foot expansion to the existing museum.
The museum’s centerpiece will be a 122-foot-long, 35-foot-tall Downey-made space shuttle mock-up named the “Inspiration,” which is not available yet for public display.
The event begins at 10 a.m., rain or shine, and is located at 12400 Columbia Way in Downey.
A rendering of the completed front entrance of the museum.
(Nadia Gonzalez, on behalf of the Columbia Memorial Space Center)
Space Center changes and expansion
Dickow said the center was in the middle of completing the first of three phases, to be finished before the L.A. Olympics.
“Once the major construction really gets going, it’s about an 18-month process,” he said, “but if something happens with the shuttle, it’s going to add some time.”
Part of the first phase began in October 2024, when the partially-covered wood and plastic model was paraded down Bellflower Boulevard from a city maintenance yard to a temporary housing unit.
The expansion, known as the Downey Space Shuttle Exhibit and Education Building, would include a new two-story, 29,000-square-foot space shuttle museum, event courtyard, STEM building and courtyard, children’s outdoor classroom, pavilion, lawn and other amenities.
The space shuttle mock-up is also undergoing a “process of rehab and refurbishment,” according to Dickow, but is in “generally great shape.”
“The main work is getting it ready for the public, where visitors will be able to enter and get a sense of what it’s like inside a space shuttle,” Dickow said.
Astronauts would typically access the flight deck, mid-deck and crew compartment through a hatch, according to Dickow.
According to renderings, guests will instead enter through a much more accessible stairwell that puts visitors inside a cargo bay.
A rendering of the space shuttle mock-up, dubbed “Inspiration,” at its place in the center of the museum expansion.
(Nadia Gonzalez, on behalf of the Columbia Memorial Space Center)
What is the mock-up and what’s its tie to Downey?
The shuttle mock-up’s history with Downey spans decades.
North American Rockwell International, now part of Boeing, built the prototype in 1972 at its Downey facility. The space shuttle became the world’s first reusable winged orbiting spaceship.
In total, 12,000 workers developed and manufactured the shuttle at the program’s peak on a sprawling 120-acre campus.
From April 12, 1981, through July 21, 2011, NASA fleets of shuttles flew 135 missions and helped build the International Space Station.
“This is going to be something that the L.A. area will be able to show off to people from around the world and I want to make sure we’re a part of that,” Dickow said. “Downey and Southeast L.A. sometimes don’t get a lot of the spotlight and this is something that we’ll be able to put out there.”
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Pedestrians cross the street in downtown Los Angeles under light rain on Friday.
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The federal fraud case against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff and other well-connected aides is entangled with one of California’s — and the country’s — most powerful political circles.
Dana Williamson, who joined the governor’s office in early 2023 and departed late last year, was arrested Wednesday and faces charges of bank and tax fraud.
Explosive Epstein emails about Trump
Donald Trump “knew about the girls” and “spent hours at my house,” Jeffrey Epstein wrote in emails.
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ADAM Peaty’s mum has told of her heartbreak at the ongoing family feud that saw the Olympic swimmer’s brother James arrested over alleged violent threats.
Gold medallist Adam’s wife-to-be Holly Ramsay called cops while he was on his stag do in Budapest over concerns he could be assaulted when he got back to the UK.
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Adam Peaty’s mum has broken her silence over the bitter feudCredit: UnknownCaroline begged for her son to reach out amid the escalating riftCredit: GettyAdam’s mother also claimed to feel as though her son was being pulled away from herCredit: Getty
Adam and Holly are set to get married next month, with her famous parents Gordon and Tana Ramsay, and their celeb pals such as Sir David Beckham and his wife Victoria as guests.
She had her hen do at the weekend but Adam’s mum Caroline was not invited.
Caroline has now revealed she wants to repair the rift.
She told the Daily Mail: “I know it’s the end. But please, the message I want Adam to hear is no matter what happens in the future, please know I love you, your dad loves you, you can come home and talk to me at any point.
“There’s nothing you’ve done that I would not forgive. I love you so much.
“I hope your marriage is a good one, I don’t wish any ill on you and I want you and Holly to have a long and happy marriage, like your dad and me. The reason I’m speaking out is I want all this to end.”
Caroline added that she has reached rock bottom over the family feud.
She also claimed to feel as though her son is being “pulled away” from her amid the rift.
Gold medallist Adam’s wife-to-be Holly Ramsay called cops while he was on his stag do in Budapest over concerns he could be assaulted when he touched down in the UK.
Adam’s father Mark told The Sun: “They’re brothers.
“They’ve always been close but like any normal family, brothers fight, argue, fall out, make-up and start all over again. But it’s got out of hand.
“There’s been very little empathy towards Jamie’s genuine mental health difficulties.”
Adam with his son, mother and HollyCredit: GettyCaroline with Adam’s son George from a previous relationshipCredit: instagramCaroline was snubbed from Holly’s hen do and uninvited from next month’s wedding at Bath AbbeyCredit: Getty
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “We arrested a 34-year-old man, from the Uttoxeter area, on November 11, 2025, on suspicion of harassment.
“The man was released on conditional bail while our enquiries continue.”
It follows Adam’s mum Caroline, 59, being snubbed from Holly’s hen do and uninvited from next month’s wedding at Bath Abbey, a move that sparked a furious online outburst from the athlete’s auntie Louise.
However, a source close to Adam and Holly said: “This feud is heart-breaking from both sides.
“But the reality is that Adam sees his mum Caroline to be enabling his brother’s actions rather than pushing him to deal with his demons.
“Poor Caroline must feel utterly torn and it’s just very hard for everyone.
“Gordon has been incredibly supportive of Holly and Adam; after all, he’s been through similar issues with his own brother.”
Adam has been forced to cancel a two-day event in the US after the ordeal.
The Olympic champion swimmer was due to fly to the US this weekend for a two-day training clinic with aspiring swimmers who signed up to his AP Race company.
He founded the business in 2019 to provide clinics to athletes across the globe.
Adam was expected to fly to Orlando, Florida, for a two-day session on November 15 and 16.
A source close to Adam said: “With everything going on Adam is going to remain in the UK.
“His team will still be delivering a first class clinic.”
The Sun first told this week how a secret feud between Adam and certain members of his family had imploded.
His mother, Caroline, was banned from attending his wedding to his fiancee Holly Ramsay, 25, next month.
Those close to the family branded six-time Olympic medalist Adam a “narcissist” and said he was “ashamed” of the family.
“The police were sufficiently concerned that they went to the airport to accompany him through passport control, baggage area, arrivals hall and into a waiting vehicle.”
Insiders say Adam and Holly are hurt over the accusations that have been hurled at themCredit: GettyThose close to the family branded six-time Olympic medalist Adam a ‘narcissist’ and said he was ‘ashamed’ of the familyCredit: Instagram
BBC Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox has been running the equivalent of five marathons in five days to raise money for Children in Need – and just received a message from Prince William
Michael Duarte’s wife, Jess, has paid tribute following his deathCredit: GoFundMeJess said she could feel her late husband ‘moving mountains’Credit: Instagram
Duarte’s wife, Jess, has spoken out for the first time and told TMZ she’s “struggled” what to do.
She paid a glowing tribute to him on social media.
“I plan to keep his legacy going not only for him, but his family,” she wrote on Instagram.
“He gave everyone every bit of him so it’s my turn to give it back.
The influencer was a dad-of-oneCredit: Instagram / @foodwithbearhands
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.
He’s loud, he’s obnoxious and, in a very short time, he’s broken unprecedented ground with his smash-face, turn-it-to-11 approach to the vice presidency. Unlike most White House understudies, who effectively disappear like a protected witness, Vance has become the highest-profile, most pugnacious politician in America who is not named Donald J. Trump.
It’s quite the contrast with his predecessor.
Kamala Harris made her own kind of history, as the first woman, first Black person and first Asian American to serve as vice president. As such, she entered office bearing great — and vastly unrealistic — expectations about her prominence and the public role she would play in the Biden administration. When Harris acted the way that vice presidents normally do — subservient, self-effacing, careful never to poach the spotlight from the chief executive — it was seen as a failing.
Why is that? Because that’s how President Trump wants it.
“Rule No.1 about the vice presidency is that vice presidents are only as active as their presidents want them to be,” said Jody Baumgartner, an East Carolina University expert on the office. “They themselves are irrelevant.”
Consider Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who had the presence and pizzazz of day-old mashed potatoes.
“He was not a very powerful vice president, but that’s because Donald Trump didn’t want him to be,” said Christopher Devine, a University of Dayton professor who’s published four books on the vice presidency. “He wanted him to have very little influence and to be more of a background figure, to kind of reassure quietly the conservatives of the party that Trump was on the right track. With JD Vance, I think he wants him to be a very active, visible figure.”
There were other circumstances that kept Harris under wraps, particularly in the early part of Biden’s presidency.
One was the COVID-19 lockdown. “It meant she wasn’t traveling. She wasn’t doing public events,” said Joel K. Goldstein, another author and expert on the vice presidency. “A lot of stuff was being done virtually and so that tended to be constraining.”
The Democrats’ narrow control of the Senate also required Harris to stick close to Washington so she could cast a number of tie-breaking votes. (Under the Constitution, the vice president provides the deciding vote when the Senate is equally divided. Harris set a record in the third year of her vice presidency for casting the most tie-breakers in history.)
The personality of their bosses also explains why Harris and Vance approached the vice presidency in different ways.
Biden had spent nearly half a century in Washington, as a senator and vice president under Barack Obama. He was, foremost, a creature of the legislative process and saw Harris, who’d served nearly two decades in elected office, as a (junior) partner in governing.
Ohio’s senator had served barely 18 months in his one and only political position when Trump chose Vance as his running mate. He’d “really made his mark as a media and cultural figure,” Devine noted, with Vance’s memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” regarded as a kind of Rosetta Stone for the anger and resentment that fueled the MAGA movement.
Trump “wanted someone who was going to be aggressive in advancing the MAGA narrative,” Devine said, “being very present in media, including in some newer media spaces, on podcasts, social media. Vance was someone who could hammer home Trump’s message every day.”
The contrast continued once Harris and Vance took office.
Trump has treated Vance as a sort of heat-seeking rhetorical missile, turning him loose against his critics and acting as though the presidential campaign never ended.
Vance seems gladly submissive. Harris, who was her own boss for nearly two decades, had a hard time adjusting as Biden’s No. 2.
“Vance is very effective at playing the role of backup singer who gets to have a solo from time to time,” said Jamal Simmons, who spent a year as Harris’ vice presidential communications chief. “I don’t think Kamala Harris was ever as comfortable in the role as Vance has proven himself to be.”
Will Vance’s pugilistic approach pay off in 2028? It’s way too soon to say. Turning the conventions of the vice presidency to a shambles, the way Trump did with the presidency, has delighted many in the Republican base. But polls show Vance, like Trump, is deeply unpopular with a great number of voters.
As for Harris, all she can do is look on from her exile in Brentwood, pondering what might have been.
