Here’s hoping that 2026 holds even more for Oasis.
MOMENT OF THE YEAR
POP star Katy Perry proved she was out of this world when she soared 62 miles above Earth in April.
The American singer went into space on Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket with an all-female crew, and promised that a song inspired by the trip was on its way.
Katy Perry proved she was out of this world when she soared 62 miles above Earth in AprilCredit: AFP
But critics branded her part in the mission “tone deaf” in light of the world’s economic struggles.
After both appeared in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here! in 2024, they were spotted together at a Brit Awards after-party in March – and married guitarist Danny was filmed kissing single Maura.
McFly singer Danny Jones and Love Island beauty Maura Higgins certainly had a rocky start to 2025Credit: The SunLuckily for Danny, his loyal wife, model Georgia, later forgave himCredit: Getty
Luckily for Danny, his loyal wife, model Georgia, later forgave him.
Hopefully he will be on his very best behaviour next year.
QUOTES OF THE YEAR
“I don’t know what a jacket potato is” – Kim Kardashian
“I last unloaded the dishwasher in 1997” – Robbie Williams
“I forgot how funny he was” – Noel Gallagher on brother Liam
“I didn’t have an absolute clue with these young people” – Denise Welch on stars at Charli XCX wedding
“You should think of your energy as if it’s expensive – not everyone can afford it” – Taylor Swift
“Who the f*** is Madeline?” – Lily Allen
SPLIT OF THE YEAR
LILY ALLEN proved that revenge is a dish best served cold – following her split from Stranger Things star David Harbour.
The British pop star laid bare her marriage breakdown through 14 tracks on her album West End Girl, which was released in October.
Lily Allen proved that revenge is a dish best served cold – following her split from Stranger Things star David HarbourCredit: GettyLily’s tell-all lyrics came after months of hints about her toxic split with American David last December, amid rumours she caught him cheatingCredit: Getty
Lily’s tell-all lyrics came after months of hints about her toxic split with American David last December, amid rumours she caught him cheating.
If the album is anything to go by, her West End Girl tour will be one to remember.
TOP 5 FILMS
Wicked: For Good Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy The Brutalist Sinners Snow White
TV TWIST OF THE YEAR
THE Celebrity Traitors was the year’s biggest TV show – with 12million viewers tuning in to watch Alan Carr win.
The comedian became the standout star of the series after “murdering” his best mate Paloma Faith – and having the worst poker face at the round tables.
The Celebrity Traitors was the year’s biggest TV show – with 12million viewers tuning in to watch Alan Carr winCredit: PA
Alan will be forever remembered as the best and worst Traitor in BBC history.
TOP 5 SINGLES
Man I Need, Olivia Dean XMAS, Kylie Minogue Ordinary, Alex Warren Midnight Sun, Zara Larsson IT Girl, Jade
COUPLE OF THE YEAR
TAYLOR SWIFT and Travis Kelce broke the internet in August when the announcement of their engagement scored 37million likes on Instagram.
In a joint post, US hitmaker Taylor was pictured surrounded by flowers, with her American football star boyfriend on one knee, and a cryptic caption quipped: “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.”
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce broke the internet in August when the announcement of their engagement scored 37million likes on InstagramCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
The couple, below, first sparked rumour of a romance when Taylor was spotted watching a Kansas City Chiefs game in 2023.
If the engagement is anything to go by, this is going to be the wedding of the century.
TOP 5 ALBUMS
The Life Of A Showgirl, Taylor Swift
West End Girl, Lily Allen
Euro-Country, CMAT
Man’s Best Friend, Sabrina Carpenter
Mayhem, Lady Gaga
UNLIKELY NEW ROMANCE
HE is Britain’s most eligible pop star – so when Harry Styles stepped out with Catwoman Zoe Kravitz in Rome in August, fans went wild.
The As It Was singer was seen walking arm-in-arm with US actress Zoe through the streets of the Italian capital.
Harry Styles stepped out with Catwoman Zoe Kravitz in Rome in AugustCredit: InstagramHarry is Britain’s most eligible pop starCredit: GettyUS actress Zoe KravitzCredit: Getty
Could we see a diamond ring in the new year?
TOP 5 TV SERIES
Taylor Swift: The End Of An Era, Disney+
The White Lotus, Series 3, Sky Atlantic
The Death Of Bunny Munro, Sky Atlantic
The Summer I Turned Pretty, Series 3, Prime Video
Adolescence, Netflix
ARIANA GETS A GRANDE HOTEL
ARIANA GRANDE seems to be planning a Wicked time during her rumoured West End stint — including a £1million hotel stay.
I hear the US singer and actress, who is tipped to star in a revival of hit musical Sunday In The Park With George, has included accommodation at the 5H Mandarin Oriental among conditions for her potentially taking the role.
Ariana Grande seems to be planning a Wicked time during her rumoured West End stint — including a £1million hotel stayCredit: GettyA source said: ‘Ariana loves London and believes that the Mandarin Oriental has the city’s best views’Credit: Handout
Penthouses at the Hyde Park hotel start from £40,000 a night.
The three-bedroom suite is almost 5,000sq ft, with a walk-in wardrobe and grandstand private terrace.
If the play runs for six weeks, Ariana’s hotel bill would run to more than £1million.
Fans believe she is set to star in a revival of Stephen Sondheim’s 1984 musical Sunday In The Park With George at London’s Barbican Centre in 2027.
If so, she would line up alongside Jonathan Bailey, who played her Wicked character Glinda’s love interest.
A source said: “Ariana wants to stay at the Mandarin when she stars in the play.
“She really appreciates her downtime when she is working on productions and is a huge fan of the hotel.
“Ariana loves London and believes that the Mandarin Oriental has the city’s best views.”
Meanwhile she is nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Wicked: For Good at the Golden Globes in January.
She will then start her The Eternal Sunshine Tour in June, in Oakland, California, to support her album of the same name.
Sounds like she deserves some five-star R&R.
GET READY FOR A HARRY NEW YEAR
HARRY STYLES has given his most telling clue yet that he is preparing for a comeback.
He put on his YouTube channel a clip from his final Love On Tour gig, in 2023 in Italy – and the post was cryptically titled, “Forever, forever”, with text declaring: “We belong together.” He is at the piano, sparkling in gold.
Harry Styles has given his most telling clue yet that he is preparing for a comebackCredit: YouTube
It comes amid rumours of a fourth solo album – and a stage return.
The former One Direction star released his last album, Harry’s House, in 2022.
The radio host and her producer boyfriend kept their relationship on the down low but are now celebrating their happy news.
Eve Wagstaff Social Newsdesk Reporter
14:39, 21 Dec 2025
Congratulations., Kemi! The star is engaged to her boyfriend Thomas(Image: @kemirodgers/Instagram)
Congratulations are in order as Kemi Rodgers, host of I’m A Celebrity: Unpacked, has announced she is engaged after her boyfriend Thomas Hannett proposed during a trip to Australia.
The radio presenter, 30, shared the happy news with fans over the weekend, posting a series of photos to Instagram showing off her engagement ring. In one snap, Kemi beamed as she held up her hand, while another captured the couple enjoying their time abroad.
Kemi, who hosts Unpacked alongside Joel Dommett, was in Australia for the duration of the series, which started on 19 November and ended on 7 December with YouTube star Angryginge taking the crowd.
She captioned the post: “I said yes.” Friends and celebrity colleagues were quick to flood the comments with congratulatory messages. Coronation Street actor Colson Smith wrote: “Congratulations Kemi!”
Capital FM star and This Morning host Sian Welby reacted with excitement, posting: “OMGGGG INCREDIBLE.” Former X Factor contestant Sam Lavery added: “OMG YESSSSS.” While Capital FM presenter Jordan North also shared his delight, commenting: “OMG! Congratulations guys.”
Thomas, who is a senior producer at Capital, and Kemi’s engagement comes just weeks after she revealed that they had actually been dating for over a year. The couple only went public with their relationship in September, when they shared photos from a romantic trip to Paris.
At the time, Kemi explained they had chosen to keep things private before stepping into the spotlight together.
In a short video shared on her Instagram page, Kemi and Thomas could be seen in Paris having a drink at a low-key restaurant as they enjoyed the weather.
They used the famous TikTok audio featuring a person’s voice saying: “Are you happy to be in Paris?”, which Thomas lip-synced before Kemi, 30, said: “Oui.” In the caption, she wrote: “Wine drunk in paris and thought the best way to hard launch my boyfriend on the grid was with the iconic nicki minaj ‘oui’ video loooooool.”
She added: “Full bottle of sancerre in the sun truly is the key to my heart.”
Friends and fans were delighted by the launch and took to the comment section to congratulate the pair. One pal wrote: “The hard launch we’ve all been waiting for,” and another said: “Finally.”
Last year, Kemi joined Sam Thompson and Joel Dommett in hosting a I’m A Celebrity spin-off show called Unpacked, four years after companion show Extra Camp was axed.
Mirror reporter Julia Banim enjoyed a winter spa break at A-list favourite and foodie haven Carden Park, and a little bit of drizzle did nothing to dampen her spirits
06:00, 20 Dec 2025Updated 07:14, 20 Dec 2025
With Christmas fast approaching, I was fortunate enough to enjoy a winter spa break at a hotel beloved by celebs, and I’m happy to say it’s not down south.
Nestled in the Cheshire countryside, Carden Park is reportedly a favourite of A-lister couples such as Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, as well as Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury. And the spa garden, complete with jacuzzis, fire pits, and heated glass pods, may well leave you feeling like you’re on a very high-end version of Love Island.
Back when I’m A Celebrity was filmed in North Wales during the pandemic, Carden Park even served as a plush eviction hotel for booted off campmates. It must have felt like a true haven for contestants after their insect infested ordeal, but what does this glam retreat have to offer for an average Joe such as myself?
Situated in complete seclusion amid lush green grounds, it’s no wonder that stars favour this haven of relaxation, which feels a world away from the bustle of city life. But, with pretty Chester and the bargain heaven that is Cheshire Oaks just around the corner, shopaholics won’t have much to complain about.
If you listen carefully during the sweeping drive through the grounds, you may well hear the gentle putt of a golf ball, but today, I’m in no mood for sport. It’s time to completely unwind and put all the stresses of the dark and gloomy season aside.
The spa building is separate from the hotel, an elegant, immaculate building which smells heavenly. The staff are warm and welcoming, and the bathrobes are soft and fluffy. I’m here on a girls’ weekend with my mum and my sister, and I can’t think of a better place to natter the day away over some celebratory fizz.
Now, stripping to your swimsuit on a drizzly November day isn’t for the faint-hearted, but I can assure you that once you slip your shoulders under the waters of the vitality pool, you’re absolutely away.
The sky is clear and blue, and I can barely tear myself away from my tranquil spot for my spa treatment, a wonderfully indulgent 50-minute Time-to-Pause ritual treatment, which left my sunlight-deprived skin glowing and petal soft.
Admittedly, I sometimes struggle to drift off during spa treatments and find myself anxiously making to-do lists in my head, but here I found myself almost completely disconnected from the world.
It certainly helps that, after you’re done with treatments, you have a choice of relaxation rooms to unwind in before entering reality. This includes a sensory room, complete with soothing screen, and, my personal favourite, the deep relaxation room, where the crackling fire offered a very seasonal feel.
Famished from all my ‘lady of leisure-ing’, I head for lunch at Elements, where we enjoy matching, and tasty, Tandoori Chicken Open Sandwiches overlooking the spa garden, washed down with some of the most delicious peach mimosas I’ve ever had. Any future visitors should make sure to grab a portion of the salt and pepper chips – a truly sensational side, and even better than your favourite chippy.
Even in what can feel like the greyest time of the year, the floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of light, and for a moment I feel as though we were back on holiday with a whole week of sunshine ahead of us.
The waiters also couldn’t be more lovely, even phoning down to the spa garden’s Bollinger champagne bar to ensure we had hot chocolate treats waiting for us when we returned. Very welcome when wearing flips in November.
Full from our hearty lunch, we head back down to the spa garden, to luxuriate in one of the glass pods with our hot chocs. Although we are already quite comfortable, a member of the bar staff came over with cuddly hot water bottles for us – a very sweet touch.
The bar is described as running in ‘all-weather’, and we certainly didn’t feel any less pampered for a bit of chill. That being said, we are Northern, and Southerners may well feel differently.
The afternoon soon melts away as we set about the very important task of trying out the spacious jacuzzis, plus the outdoor sauna, with its floor-to-ceiling window. It’s life I could very easily get used to. While we don’t mind a spot of drizzle, when it starts to rain, we head inside to the Indoor Thermal Suite.
While I would be more than happy with just the one sauna, Carden Park offers a relative gallery of thermal experiences, from a Finnish sauna to a Tepidarium, all encircling a sparkling ice fountain.
There are even two steam rooms to choose from – salt and aroma. I particularly enjoy the indoor vitality pool, which looks out over the garden and offers gorgeous therapeutic jets of bubbles.
I could happily float around gossiping in the vitality pool for hours, but it’s time to dry off and get glammed up for the next part of our dreamy day – dinner. We’re set to dine at Carden Park’s award-winning à la carte restaurant, The Vines, which has a swish yet welcoming feel.
Typically of me, I’ve forgotten my posh shoes and have to borrow some smart boots from my much more organised mum (this isn’t somewhere you stomp in with your muddy trainers!).
I am touched, however, by staff reassurances that they would have sorted me out with suitable shoes in a pinch, which definitely helps alleviate my embarrassment.
Carden Park Hotel is tastefully decorated, with a cosy feel perfect for blustery winter nights. But The Vines elevates this to a whole new level of elegance. Atmospheric, yet never daunting, we are made to feel at home, and there is a gently lively buzz to the room. The sort of sparkle you hope for any chatty girls’ night, albeit far posher than my usual Saturday.
The staff, are friendly and attentive, – an ongoing theme – while every single course on our taster menu is nothing short of superb. Even the freshly baked bread and butter is memorable.
There’s a real northern, comforting sense to the menu – the BBQ Cheshire Venison Loin is sublime – and there’s plenty of experimentation, with intriguing flavour inspirations from far and wide.
The roasted monkfish on the bones, served with bombay potatoes and a tasty coconut and kaffir lime sauce, is a real highlight. And I have to admit, even though I initially feel a little squeamish tucking into the chicken & rabbit galantine, this is dreamy.
Each dish is paired with a delicious drink, explained to us by the very knowledgable sommelier. I particularly love how creative these pairings were, with the sweet Hungarian Tokaji wine, which accompanies the caramelised apple pie, being my absolute favourite.
It’s always a surprise to me that this honeyed drink, which I can’t get enough of when in Budapest, hasn’t become fashionable among chic sorts in the UK yet.
In terms of my personal ranking, this is closely followed by the Brown Butter XO cocktail, served alongside the Banana & Popcorn Iced Parfait, which tastes like a desert in itself. There should be far more buttery cocktails in my opinion.
Although I try to pace myself, this is a table filled with temptation and I happily enjoy every drop. Really, is there a more blissful evening than sitting with two of your favourite people, enjoying a range of novel yet tasty treats? I think not.
When the time comes to leave the restaurant, I practically waddle to my room. I have a large appetite, and proud of it, but this hearty taster menu has defeated me. Thankfully, my room is clean, comfortable and with deep plush pillows. I’m soon enjoying the easy sleep of the truly rested.
Although I’ve enjoyed some lovely spa days in my time, I have to say nothing has ever come close to Carden Park. The setting is idyllic, the facilities are extensive, and every inch feels immaculate and well thought out.
Not to mention, the culinary experiences on offer are just as special as those found in the spa treatment rooms. Foodies, bring your appetites.
I will treasure my memories of Carden Park, and wholeheartedly recommend it as a winter bolthole, whether for a pre-Christmas getaway or January detox.
