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Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed he will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.

The Austrian, 51, will leave as a Palace legend having led the Eagles to their first major trophy when they beat Manchester City to win the FA Cup last season.

That victory meant Glasner also took charge of Palace in this season’s Conference League – their first experience of a major European competition – while they beat Liverpool on penalties in August’s Community Shield.

Sunday morning might be early for sex talk. However, the Self-Help Smut Club, gathered at the Black Cat Fables bookstore in Monrovia, doesn’t think so. Before noon, the group has already deliberated on all types of bedroom activities that might make one blush.

“A man with a mattress on the ground has a whole lot of nerve,” says Cherisse Yanit-Nadal, one of the book club members, while discussing the characters of “Late Bloomer” by Mazey Eddings.

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The book club regularly meets to discuss romance novels in all their sticky, sweaty, throbbing passions. The lively group discusses romantic — often very sexy — fiction to spark nuanced conversations about self-discovery. Caitlin Harrison, a marriage and family therapist, founded the club after noticing the rise of romantic fiction on BookTok– a large and boisterous corner of TikTok that shares opinions and recommendations of books — and considering its therapeutic value.

“As a therapist who has a focus in sex therapy, I think it’s really unique and helpful that we can see character arcs really well through sex,” says Harrison. “It allows for very rich, honest conversations about what comes up for us.”

Caitlin Harrison smiles as Ella Rodriguez shares with the group.

(Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)

Romance novels on display at Black Cat Fables in Monrovia.

(Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)

It’s worth noting that smut and romance novels have soared in popularity in recent years, becoming the highest-grossing fiction genre in recent years. Stigmas around “chick-lit” have faded as TikTok has accumulated over 1 million posts under the hashtag SmutTok. The wildy popular romance and fantasy series “A Court of Thorns and Roses” is a #1 New York Times bestseller, selling millions of copies. On Goodreads, the romance novel “Onyx Storm” dominated reading lists in 2025.

At one point during the book meetup, children wandered through the bookstore, prompting the club to adopt playfully coded, child-friendly language about pubic-hair grooming.

“She had let the weeds grow,” Yanit-Nadal said of a character in “Late Bloomer.” “You can grow the garden however you want to grow the garden.”

Open since October 2024, Black Cat Fables is a community bookstore and event space. Nicole Fabry opened it with two close friends. “We all met working for a public library, so it was kind of meant to be an extension of a public library,” Fabry said. “We definitely wanted it to be community-focused and to become more of a third space for people.” While libraries offer programming for children and seniors, Fabry noticed a gap in literary events for people ages 20 to 50 and sought to fill it.

Alexa Palomo, left, and Ashley Bagwell chat after the Self-Help Smut Club.

(Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)

The bookstore now hosts a variety of community-minded events, including Harrison’s club.

“She leads a group discussion around the importance of pleasure, how self-care and community care are linked, and why it’s important to discuss sex and pleasure and intimacy with others in a safe space,” Fabry said. “There’s a lot of giggling in the corner, which is always fun. They have a really good time.”

During the hour, conversation glided seamlessly between topics like the late-bloomer-to-kink pipeline, the virtues of being selfish in bed and a spate of other sexy encounters. Yet the group also ventured into deeper territory — boundaries, mental health, body image and community.

“There are a lot of oppressive systems right now, and it actually is all the more reason to engage with smut, pleasure, joy, so that we can build a discipline of hope,” Harrison said.

Having begun her own practice in April, Harrison centers pleasure and desire in her work. She has observed that many of her patients — overachieving, ambitious women — struggle to embrace pleasure. “I work with a lot of high-power, girl-boss types, eldest daughters who are running themselves into the ground, struggling with perfectionism. So my focus is on helping folks recover from perfectionism,” she said.

In place of productivity hacks and self-help podcasts, she offers different advice. “Pick up some smut and engage with a different part of yourself so that you can get back into your body and get out of your head,” she said.

After discovering her local bookstore, Harrison approached the owner about hosting a Self-Help Smut Club that would put the principles of her work into practice.

“Reading is an isolated activity,” she said. “Being able to meet in real life, connect in a community space, makes this even more juicy and important.”

Ella Rodriguez covers her mouth and laughs as she participates in a group discussion. She says, “I don’t want just to yearn. I also want the reward of pleasure, sex or romance.”

(Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)

One club member, Ella Rodriguez, was traveling through Europe when she saw Black Cat Fables’ Instagram post about the group. “As soon as I get back home, I’m going straight there. I literally landed and then came here a week later,” she said.

Rodriguez said she admires Harrison’s approach, which leads to open-ended discussions. “I loved how Caitlin asks people about our experiences and how that reflects in our own internal world, and how we think of our sexuality and our self-esteem.”

Discussing the sex lives of fictional characters invites deeper reflection on readers’ own desires. Rodriguez elaborated on the tension between yearning and payoff. “I don’t want just to yearn. I also want the reward of pleasure, sex or romance,” she said.

Ashley Bagwell — another licensed therapist who attends the club — commented on the novelty of a smut-focused group.

“I had also been getting into smutty books, and it just felt like divine timing,” Bagwell said. “There aren’t smutty book clubs really anywhere. You can find a book club anywhere, but a smutty one, specifically? Not really. I was really excited about that, and tying in the mental health piece was also something I’m interested in.”

Licensed marriage and family therapist Caitlin Harrison leads the Self-Help Smut Club.

(Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)

Harrison hopes ongoing conversations about romantic fiction will make it easier for women to feel empowered in their sex lives.“I love the BookTok of it all,” says Harrison. “I think that there’s continually more and more breaking down of taboo around being able to talk about what is exciting and pleasurable.”

At the end of the meeting, Harrison closed with a new motto: “2026? More like 2020-sex!” The women began excitedly pitching book titles to match the theme.

Connors is a writer living in Los Angeles. She hosts the literary reading “Unreliable Narrators” at Nico’s Wine every month.

THE Sun’s Hols from £9.50 are back and this year, one of the best ways to bag your favourite cheap summer break is through Sun Club.

Members can skip the token collecting and also get access to booking early – giving you a better chance of bagging the top holiday parks.

With the winter chill biting, thoughts are turning to summer breaks – and The Sun’s legendary £9.50 Hols are amongst the best-value, most family-friendly holidays in Britain.

To book your £9.50 Hols this way, simply head to thesun.co.uk/club and sign up to Sun Club for just £1.99 a month.

Or £12 for an annual subscription unless you cancel at least 7 days before your next billing date.

Millions of our readers have enjoyed our fabulous breaks from £9.50 and, with over 300 holiday parks across the UK and Europe to choose from you’re sure to find a break you like.

SUN HOLIDAYS

What are Hols from £9.50? Your guide to booking 2026 breaks with The Sun

ISLE GO

Isle of Wight breaks with Hols from £9.50 have white sand beaches & £2.50 trains

There is something for the whole family to enjoy, whether you are after a relaxing break, action and adventure or bowling and bingo.

Breaks are available for spring, summer and autumn 2026.

In addition to £9.50 holidays, Sun Club members also get access to savings worth up to £800 – including tickets to theme parks such as Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures and Legoland, plus attractions like the London Eye and brilliant value theatre cinema tickets.

As a Sun Club member, you will have unfettered access to all the best Sun content, with more than 300 exclusive stories a month, as well as Q&As and newsletters.

Once you have joined, head to the Offers Hub and click ‘Book’ on the Sun Hols from £9.50 offer from Tuesday, January 13 (a day early).

You will be taken to the Sun Holidays website to choose from thousands of breaks at over 300 parks across the UK & Europe.

Sun Club members do not need to collect any codewords or Sun Savers codes.

Our new £9.50 Hols Agony Aunt Tracy Kennedy, who runs the Facebook group “£9.50 SUN HOLIDAYS” with more than a quarter of a million followers recommends booking through Sun Club for the early access.

In her new guide to getting the best £9.50 Holiday, she told us: “To be in with the best chance of getting the one you want, you should set an alarm.

“I book through Sun Club which opens earlier – at midnight, so I make sure to stay up.

“I definitely recommend joining Sun Club to get first dibs.”

If you fancy asking Tracy something else about the Sun’s Hols from £9.50, she’ll be answering your questions in her new agony aunt column in Sun Club.

One top question each week will be rewarded with a £100 Amazon voucher – use the form further down to send her your question.

SCHOOL support staff worker Nicola Sennett boasts Sun Holidays are in a class of their own.

The 40-year-old mum of three rolled back the years and couldn’t resist a photo opportunity with Syd the Seagull and Sparky – just two of the colourful, larger-than-life members of the Starland Krew who keep kids entertained at Parkdean Resorts Camber Sands in East Sussex.

Nicola and her two daughters and son enjoyed a great getaway with the youngsters making a splash in the swimming pool, having plenty of adventures in the adventure playground as well as taking in all the entertainment organised by Sid and Sparky and the rest of the gang.

“It’s absolutely brilliant,” says Nicola, who explains she has been going on the bargain breaks for 20 years and reckons she has had more than 60 Sun Holidays since she first sampled them in her early twenties.

“I saw them being promoted in the newspaper and thought it must be worth a try. I remember we had such a good time that I got hooked and have been chalking up around three trips a year ever since.

“Living in Birmingham I am perfectly placed to visit parks in every direction and that’s exactly what I have done. Now we go as a family and we still get a great buzz from the holidays.

“There is a fantastic choice and all the parks we have stayed on have been of a very high standard. I have been all along the south coast, to the east of England, to Wales in the west and right up into Scotland.

“The staff are brilliant and make sure all the children are involved in the entertainment and mums and dads can join in too – if they’ve got enough energy!”

Nicola is quick to tell all her friends about the unbeatable value for money when it comes to family fun and holidays to remember.

That’s why she says: “Sun Holidays get full marks from me!”

Discover the very best of the UK, from the beaches of Cornwall and Devon to the highlands of Scotland and much more.

We’ve partnered with fantastic holiday parks that offer everything from British seaside charm to remote, natural beauty.

And when you get there, choose from evening entertainment, on-site pubs and restaurants, family activities and sports.

Or if you’re looking for some guaranteed sunshine, venture further to explore top European destinations including France, Spain and Italy.

You don’t just get early access to Hols From £9.50 with Sun Club – as well as exclusive content daily, members get a range of benefits including discounted tickets to the UK’s top attractions like Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures.

Plus there’s regular competitions and offers, saving you hundreds every year.

You can even get four FREE racing tickets to top race days across England and Scotland every three months – that’s four race days a year, on the house!

You’ve got great deals on other entertainment too, with up to 70% off West End show tickets from London Theatre Direct.

Plus discounts on railcards and train tickets with Trip.com and a FREE grüum self-care set bundle worth up to £35.50.

Competition is open to UK residents (excluding Northern Ireland), aged 18+ only. Competition ends at 23:59pm on Saturday, January 31 2026. See here for the full Terms & Conditions.

NEW YORK — Nine Major League Baseball teams have terminated their deals with the FanDuel Sports Network to carry their local broadcasts, and Commissioner Rob Manfred said MLB is prepared to produce and distribute the telecasts.

Main Street Sports Group, which operates the FanDuel networks, did not make its December payment to the St. Louis Cardinals. It also carries games of Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Kansas City, the Angels, Miami, Milwaukee and Tampa Bay, along with 13 teams in the NBA and seven in the NHL.

The termination by the MLB teams was confirmed to The Associated Press by a person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the decisions had not been announced.

“No matter what happens, whether it’s Main Street, a third party or MLB media, fans are going to have the games,” Manfred said Thursday.

Teams that terminated their contracts could reach new deals with Main Street, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

MLB took over broadcasts for San Diego in May 2023 after Diamond Sports Group missed a payment to the Padres and added Arizona that July.

Colorado joined MLB’s distribution in 2024, and Cleveland and Minnesota in 2025. Seattle is being added this season and possibly Washington, which is leaving the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network.

Diamond was renamed Main Street Sports Group as it emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings last year and its networks were rebranded as FanDuel.

“Our focus, particularly given the point in the calendar, is to maximize the revenue that’s available to the clubs, whether that’s MLB Media or third party,” Manfred said. “The clubs have control over the timing. They can make a decision to move to MLB Media because of the contractual status now. I think that what’s happening right now clubs are evaluating their alternatives. Obviously they’ve made significant payroll commitments already and they’re evaluating the alternatives to find the best revenue source for the year and the best outlet in terms of providing quality broadcasts to their fans.”

Manfred said local media provides more than 20% of industry revenue.

MLB and the players’ association for 2024 allowed discretionary fund distributions of up to $15 million each to teams whose local media revenue had declined since 2022 or 2023, but they did not reach a similar agreement for 2025.

“We are not providing financial assistance right now,” Manfred said.

Manfred spoke at a news conference to announce an initiative that includes Foster Love and envisions 250,000 volunteer hours to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. At the news conference, MLB staff assembled duffel bags with goods for foster care children.

Blum writes for the Associated Press.

BEAT the January blues and see everything that the UK has to offer thanks to these great train travel savings from Trip.com.

We have partnered with Trip.com to offer all Sun Club members the chance to save up to 25 per cent on a railcard purchase, plus 5 per cent on a train ticket purchase.

Sun Club offers readers access to more of our award-winning articles from showbiz exclusives, real-life stories, and unrivalled investigations, as a member you will get 350 more articles to read a month.

You’ll also have exclusive access to our outspoken columnists, including showbiz extraordinaire Clemmie Moodie, the iconic Jeremy Clarkson, TV expert Ally Ross and Loose Women’s Jane Moore.

Along with being able to unlock extra articles, there are big perks including instant access to our Hols from £9.50 offer which returns this January.

How to get discounted railcards and train tickets with Sun Club

Sun Club Membership Programme

Step 1: To get discounted railcards and train tickets with Sun Club and Trip.com, join Sun Club now for just £1.99 a month.

Step 2: Then head to the ‘Offers Hub,’ select the Enjoy discounted railcards and train tickets’ page and click ‘Redeem’.

Step 3: You will be taken to Trip.com page and once there follow the steps on the Sun Club ‘Offers Hub’ page.

18+ UK only. Offer ends 23:59pm on 31/01/26. Online access and Sun Club subscription required. Railcard activated by purchasing any train ticket via the Trip.com platform. Railcard and train ticket promo codes valid until 31/03/26. Sun Club new customer offer: £1.99 per month or £12 per year, unless you cancel at least 7 days before your next billing date.

Plus, discounted tickets to the UK’s top attractions like Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures plus competitions and offers, saving you hundreds every year.

This month new Trip.com customers can enjoy 25 per cent off railcard purchases, whilst existing Trip.com customers can claim 10 percent off a railcard.

This includes the following digital railcards: 16-17 Saver, 16-25 Railcard, 26-30 Railcard, Family & Friends’ Railcard, Network Railcard, Senior Railcard and Two Together Railcard. The offer excludes the Disabled Persons Railcard and the Veterans Railcard.

And the deals do not stop there, new Trip.com customers can also get 5 per cent off a train ticket purchase, so if you are not already a Trip.com customer, this is the time to join in and book a trip this January.

Working with over 300 rail companies, including National Rail, Great Western Railway, London North Eastern Railway, South Western Railways, CrossCountry trains, Trip.com is committed to offering the best prices for UK rail tickets.

Plus, with Trip.com’s price match if you find trains for a cheaper price elsewhere, let them know and they will refund the difference*.

So, take advantage of the great deals and no booking fees through the Trip.com app today.

*Best Price Promise Terms and Conditions. For full Sun Club T&Cs, visit thesun.co.uk/club.

Liam Rosenior says he could not turn down Chelsea but admits unusual situation as a deal has not yet been signed.

Racing Strasbourg coach Liam Rosenior says he has reached an agreement with Chelsea to become their next manager but has yet to sign a contract with the Premier League club.

“I ‍haven’t signed yet. I have agreed verbally with Chelsea. It’s really important – this is different to anything anyone has ever done. Nobody has made a statement before they have signed a contract,” ‍Rosenior said at a ⁠news conference on Tuesday.

“Everything is agreed, and it will probably go through in the next few hours,” he said in Strasbourg, France. “I’m here because I care about this club and I felt it was right to answer your questions physically here today before I move on.”

Rosenior added that he would take his ⁠assistants Kalifa Cisse and Justin Walker with him to the Premier League club.

The 41-year-old, who joined Ligue 1 side Racing Strasbourg in 2024, said his time at the club had been the most rewarding period of ​his career after spells at Derby County and Hull City.

“The ‌last 18 months have been a joy and the best of my professional career,” Rosenior said. “I have met some incredible people, created incredible memories and made history.”

He said he had been transparent with Strasbourg’s ‌ownership about outside interest.

“I have had interest from many clubs, including Champions League clubs, which I have always been open ‌with to our president, Marc Keller, and our ownership,” ⁠Rosenior said. “I will love this club for the rest of my life, but I cannot turn down Chelsea.”

Little-known Rosenior had been widely touted as the front runner to succeed Enzo Maresca since the Italian was sacked on Thursday, not least because Strasbourg and Chelsea are owned by the same consortium, BlueCo.

Rosenior, who has no Premier League coaching experience, will become Chelsea’s fourth permanent boss since BlueCo took control of the Londoners in 2022.

Chelsea has yet to confirm the appointment but held talks with Rosenior in London on Monday.

Connacht champions St Brigid’s advanced into the final of the All-Ireland Club Senior Football Championship with a 1-16 to 1-12 victory over Scotstown at Breffni Park.

The Roscommon side enjoyed a good run to the half to open a four-point lead and they managed that gap throughout the second period as Scotstown spurned a number of opportunities.

It was the Monaghan side’s first appearance at this stage since winning their previous Ulster title in 1989 and they will have some regrets as they didn’t make their chances count, but it’s St Brigid’s who will meet Dingle in the final on Sunday, 18 January.

In freezing conditions, the sides produced an enthralling battle that swung this way and that in the opening period, but Scotstown just couldn’t reel the Connacht side in who return to the final for the first time since losing to Glen from Derry in the 2024 decider.

More to follow.

STANDING on a small wooden platform way up in the treetops, I don’t want to make the leap.

My next foothold will be another ledge high in the branches, about 50 metres away.

To reach it, I need to hurl myself on a zip wire over a lake, praying that my harness will hold after all the croissants I’ve demolished since arriving in France.

I’m sorely tempted to back out, but my husband Chris is chasing my tail. If

I don’t jump soon, he’ll come flying into me feet-first.

Meanwhile, our four-year-old twins are safely on the ground, playing games and crafting in the kids’ club.

READ MORE ON FAMILY HOLIDAYS

PARK IN

English holiday village next to little-known theme park named one of the UK’s best

SPLASH OUT

World’s tallest waterslide is in winter sun city and park tickets are just £21

And to think we could have spent this precious, child-free morning sipping panache (French shandy) at our holiday parc’s lakeside brasserie . . .

But here we are, clipped on to the treetop adventure course at Eurocamp’s Domaine des Ormes, near Dol-de-Bretagne in Brittany.

The parc is within easy reach of ferry ports including Saint Malo and Roscoff, making it ideal for those not wanting to travel too far.

But there are far better reasons to stay here, including the pretty woodland setting, impressive range of activities and epic pool complex, complete with waterslides and lazy river.

For my family of four, this is our first Eurocamp experience.

I’d heard good things about the outdoor holiday specialist from friends raving about their bakeries and swimming pools. And it was time to see it for myself.

With two weeks to spare, we chose a two-point holiday, opting for a first week on France’s west coast before a second in Brittany.

Our adventure began on the overnight ferry to France. While the kids excitedly leapt between bunks in our cabin, I watched through the porthole as Plymouth slipped away beneath the sunset.

The next morning, we woke up in the French port of Roscoff, known for its pink onions and crepes, before clambering into our car and starting the six-and-a-half-hour drive south.

Our destination for the first week was Eurocamp’s La Pinede parc, near the seaside resort of Les Mathes in Charente-Maritime.

Sandwiched between the Atlantic and the Gironde estuary, the campsite has a laid-back vibe, with holiday homes scattered through the pine forest, as well as entertainment on tap for all ages.

Outdoor yoga

Pulling up outside our two-bed holiday home, complete with private decking, I quickly notice how relaxed our new neighbours seem.

Children cycle between pools to get their final swim before bedtime (which is much later than at home).

Parents sit on the terraces of their cabins playing cards and drinking red wine (which costs less than a tenner for a decent supermarket bottle).

Barbecues sizzle, swimwear is hung out to dry, more wine is poured.

Later, families stroll to the evening entertainment, which ranges from cabaret shows to “full-moon parties”.

We adjust very easily to the slowed-down pace at La Pinede, ditching our car and hiring bikes to get around.

Each morning, I cycle to the on-site shop to buy croissants and local melons for breakfast, loving the simplicity of it.

Our days are mainly spent together as a family, whooshing down slides in the aquapark, playing mini golf and eating on our deck (although there is also a restaurant for those times when we cannot be bothered to cook).

One afternoon, we took the kids on tagalong bikes, pedalling four miles to La Palmyre beach for ice creams and sandcastle-building.

But, for tired parents, the free children’s club for ages four to 17 offers some very welcome respite.

While the waves near La Coubre Lighthouse beckon for surf-mad Chris, I’m keen for something more zen, in the shape of outdoor yoga.

Chloe Mafana is a local yoga teacher who runs weekly classes at La Pinede (€10 per person).

And after an hour of mindful breathing and stretching, and a final relaxation to the sound of Chloe’s wind chimes, I feel blissed out.

Our second week has a different feel. Around 250 miles north of La Pinede, Domaine des Ormes is a bigger parc with even more activities, including wakeboarding, archery and horse riding.

Nearby attractions include the fortified abbey of Mont Saint-Michel.

While Chris and I were impressed by its 12th-century cobbled streets and bay views, the kids were wowed by the fact this tidal island inspired the kingdom in Disney movie Tangled.

Although Domaine des Ormes is a bigger site, the simple pleasures of our first week — evening barbecues, children playing outside and chilled-out parents sipping wine — were still there.

But back on that treetop ledge, way above ground, I felt far from chilled out.

With no option to turn back, though, I took a deep breath and leapt forward into the void.

The line caught me and I picked up speed, seeing the woods and lake rush by beneath me.

Then I started to get into it, jumping from successive platforms with increasing confidence.

After countless whoops, the final platform zoomed into view — and it was all over too soon.

Adrenaline rushed through me and my heart was pumping as I unclipped from the course.

My feet may have been back on the ground, but I was still on a high.

Next up for them is a relegation six-pointer at home to Sean Dyche’s Forest, who sit directly above them on the table in a fixture that could shape Nuno’s future.

A win against the club that sacked him in September after 21 months in charge might buy him some more time, but a defeat would deepen the crisis and amplify the questions over his position.

“Nobody expected us to play so bad,” Nuno added on BBC Match of the Day.

“Now is the moment for us to reflect and think are we doing everything we can? Do we realise the situation we are in? And how to get out of this situation and improve. There are things that need to be addressed.

“Forest will be a tough game, but now is about reacting and transforming and improving.”

The last side to avoid relegation after having less than West Ham‘s 14 points at this stage of the season were Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, who had just 12 after 20 games in 2021-22.

But they spent £85m in January to bolster their squad with Bruno Guimaraes, Chris Wood, Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier and Matt Targett and finished 11th with 49 points after winning 12 of their remaining 18 games.

Although West Ham are committed to backing the manager in the January window, it is highly unlikely Nuno will get the kind of financial support Howe received.

They have already signed Brazilian striker Pablo Felipe from Portuguese club Gil Vicente for a reported fee of 25m euros (£21.8m), and he was an unused substitute at Molineux, but have sent German forward Niclas Fullkrug to AC Milan on loan.

“It is a complex situation,” added Nuno, when asked about the club’s prospects in the transfer market.

“The club is working on that situation [of transfers]. We have problems in terms of squad and options but that is not a justification for what we did in the first half – the mistakes we made, the lack of effort… it was very bad.

“It was about mistakes we made over and over again that was really poor.”

THERE’S a special kind of contentment that washes over you as you sink into a cushy lounge chair at Celebrity Xcel’s Sunset bar.

A very dry martini in hand, I exhale and drink in the endless blue of the ocean, glittering as the sun slips slowly down beneath the horizon.

The warm Caribbean breeze envelops me as the sky turns vivid pink, orange and red — I’m as relaxed as I have ever been.

There’s a chic beach club vibe to this al-fresco bar right at the back of the ship, and after just a few days onboard, it’s my favourite spot for a sundowner.

Mind you, it’s got plenty of competition.

Around every corner of this sparkling new £764million, 15-deck beauty — the latest in Celebrity’s Edge series — there is something to delight or amaze.

XCEL-LENT

I went behind-the-scenes of the new cruise ship launching in Europe next year

LIKE A PRINCESS

Euro cruise is ‘ultimate girls trip’ with speakeasy, prosecco walls & pools

And sometimes they come in the most surprising of places.

I loved the new Country & Western show in The Club — brilliant vocalists and musicians bringing some barnstorming classics to life.

However, hiding in a dark corner of the hip venue, I spy a little photo booth.

We sit down for our selfie and smile but just as the photos are delivered, a secret door slides open.

Following the corridor of sparkling lights, we discover a fabulous 1920s-inspired speakeasy.

Flapper girls and gangsters welcome you into the low-lit, smoky joint where the bartenders mix up killer cocktails and live jazz fills the air.

You’ll get just an hour to enjoy the illicit fun before you’re asked to depart — before the police raid the joint!

It’s just one of the seven new spaces you’ll only find on Celebrity Xcel and the premium cruise line knew just who to turn to when designing the new ship — their loyal customers.

More than 650,000 votes were cast by regular cruisers to decide on everything from the entertainment (that Country & Western show got the thumbs-up) to the food and cocktails.

There are two new speciality restaurants onboard. Bora sits alongside the Rooftop Garden on deck 15 and features upscale Mediterranean seafood.

By day, there’s a decadent brunch in the beautifully decorated al-fresco space featuring shakshuka, steak and eggs, fried chicken with waffles and more.

Don’t miss the Bloody Mary Bar where you can personalise your cocktail with over- the-top garnishes, premium spirits and spicy mixes.

As night falls, the space transforms with live music and some stand-out dishes including plump carabinero prawns, razor clams and lamb tagine. Brunch costs £27pp and dinner £49pp.

When it sails the Mediterranean next summer, all will be transformed to reflect the European ports of call.

Mosaic, the second new speciality restaurant, sits in the transformed Eden area at the back of the ship.

Now dubbed the Bazaar, this spectacular space aims to blur the line between ship and shore — highlighting the destinations Xcel cruises to.

With an inaugural winter season in the Caribbean, this means interactive cooking classes, craft workshops, entertainment and live music direct from the tropical islands.

The entrance to the new area — complete with a mind-bending LED tunnel — is a treat for shopaholics, with jewellery, clothes and food from local artists and producers.

When it sails the Mediterranean next summer, all will be transformed to reflect the European ports of call.

There’s also local flavours to enjoy at casual dining venue Spice — included in the price.

But for a real treat, Mosaic offers even more upscale dining alongside triple-height glass windows looking out over the ocean.

At £70pp, it’s one for a special occasion but you can expect the best — from a delicious lobster casserole to filet mignon steak and Celebrity cruise fan favourite, spiced lamb loin.

Towers of seafood

What did surprise me, though, was the standard of food throughout the included restaurants onboard.

Towers of seafood, superb French cheeses and spectacular roasts were on offer in the Oceanview Cafe buffet restaurant.

The main dining is not one big restaurant but four beautifully decorated separate spaces, each with their own theme, from French fine dining to Italian classics.

Even the slices of pizza and burgers on the top deck were a step above your normal poolside snacks.

The Spa has also had some upgrades, including a first-ever outdoor ‘Vitamin D’ deck for sunbathing spa fun, a new hydrotherapy pool and a ‘Bubbles Bar’, where you can enjoy a glass of sparkling wine while having your nails done.

Celebrity’s Edge-class ships have become known for their quirky poolside animal sculptures but Xcel takes it to another level.

Entertainment onboard again is taken to another level in The Theatre with Broadway-style shows in a high-tech venue featuring an eye-popping 110ft curved LED backdrop.

Presiding over the new pool deck is a sparkling 14ft-tall silver sculpture of a monkey and its baby — and this latest Edge ship has upped the ante poolside, too.

The pool concierge proffers everything from sunscreen and cold towels to board games.

When not in port, this beach club turns into ‘The Poolest Day Ever’, with live music, DJ sets, pop-up shows and after dark, the Shine The Night pool party.

And the entertainment onboard again is taken to another level in The Theatre with Broadway-style shows in a high-tech venue featuring an eye-popping 110ft curved LED backdrop.

I loved The Attic at The Club — a mezzanine level where morning, noon and night you can challenge your partner and pals to everything from pool and golf to retro arcade games.

For me, this felt like the ultimate adult cruise liner. Fabulous food, thoughtfully- designed sophisticated spaces, energetic entertainment and just the right amount of laid-back fun.

Just get me back to that Sunset bar . . .

LILY Allen hosted a glittering Christmas party last night at London’s most notorious nightspot Stringfellows – turning heads in a sexy Santa outfit.

The singer, 40, slipped into a figure-hugging red mini dress trimmed with fluffy white fur, complete with lace suspenders adorned with bows.

The provocative look was teamed with a velvet red Santa cape as she embraced festive glamour.

Lily styled her hair in a Sixties-inspired blow-dry and accessorised with a classic Chanel handbag.

She added extra height with a pair of skyscraper white heels, which featured a matching fur embellishment.

Never one to take herself too seriously, the cheeky star was spotted sticking out her tongue as she posed and mingled with guests.

Lily took to the dancefloor with a host of celebrity pals including pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo.

She also shared a playful moment dancing with the London Gay Men’s Chorus, who attended the bash.

Fellow singer Ella Raye was among the guests too, wowing in a sheer red stocking dress as she joined Lily for a photo.

Bono’s daughter, Jordan Hewson, was seen at the star-studded event, lounging on a sofa with Lily.

The party took place at Stringfellows, the legendary gentlemen’s club founded by Peter Stringfellow in the 1970s.

Originally opening in Soho before moving to Covent Garden, Stringfellows quickly became synonymous with celebrity excess, glamour and late-night debauchery.

Over the decades, it has welcomed everyone from Hollywood stars to rock royalty, cementing its status as one of London’s most infamous nightlife institutions.

The Christmas bash comes during a significant year for Lily, who has launched new music widely described as a “revenge” album following her split from husband David Harbour.

The record draws on heartbreak and betrayal after Lily publicly accused the actor of cheating.

Fans have praised the project for its raw honesty and cutting lyrics, marking a bold new chapter in her career.