comeback

British chart-topper axes full comeback album amid fears it would flop

MABEL scrapped an entire album before making her new self-titled mixtape – after being “crippled” by the expectations.

The singer, whose previous album About Last Night came out in 2022, said she felt pressure to live up to her debut, High Expectations.

Mabel performing at Radio 1's Big Weekend 2022.

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Mabel scrapped an entire album before making her new self-titled mixtape

It won her a Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist.

Mabel said on TikTok: “I did scrap an album.

“I kept waiting for this moment like, ‘Now’s the time to put out an album’, but inevitably you change, you grow, and the music you made last year or the year before, you’ve kind of outgrown it.”

She added: “People expect you to do certain things and get certain accolades again like it’s easy.

“But that has been crippling, mentally and creatively, for me for years.”

Cardi’s love boat

CARDI B put the boot into her ex-husband Offset by going Instagram official with American football player Stefon Diggs.

The WAP rapper has been rowing with the Migos musician for weeks, with him seeking spousal support from her in their divorce, which she is arguing against.

Cardi B on a yacht in a black swimsuit.

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Cardi B put the boot into her ex-husband Offset by going Instagram official with American football player Stefon Diggs
Cardi B and her boyfriend on a boat.

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Cardi confirmed her romance with Stefon in sexy snaps on a yacht

But Cardi made it clear he’s the last thing on her mind as she confirmed her romance with Stefon in sexy snaps on a yacht.

Good for her.

SAM IN THE KIT PARADE

SAM FENDER is out on the Toon as the star of an ad to launch Newcastle United’s new third kit.

Iain Stirling jokes about Toby and Mabel as sexy star performs in the villa

I revealed last week how the Geordie singer had signed a massive deal with Adidas, as part of a tie-in with his beloved Magpies.

Sam Fender carrying a guitar case while filming an Adidas commercial.

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Sam Fender is out on the Toon as the star of an ad to launch Newcastle United’s new third kit
Sam Fender filming an Adidas commercial outside the Tyneside Irish Centre.

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Sam walks towards the venue for the ad
Sam Fender discussing the Newcastle United FC takeover on BBC Breakfast.

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Sam in a Toon tracksuit

My exclusive pictures show Sam on set at the Tyneside Irish Centre, just over the road from St James’ Park, as he filmed the new ad with more than 100 extras.

My source said: “As well as the Adidas ad tying in to Sam’s massive People Watching tour which kicks off in London on Friday, it will be used to launch Newcastle’s new third kit.

“He arrived at 3pm and filmed for five hours with loads of extras. Sam was decked out head to toe in Adidas and played his guitar. He was on top form and everyone who met him said he was absolutely lovely.

“It was a long shoot but everyone who took part got to take home a pair of brand new trainers as a treat.

“Sam is really pleased with how the ad looks and so are the big cheeses at Newcastle United.”

Since his debut album Hypersonic Missiles, which went straight to No1 in 2019, Sam has been on the most incredible rise.

I’ve no doubt the journey is going to get even more exciting for Sam in the years to come.

And now he’s got some lovely new clobber to wear while he’s doing it.


MILEY CYRUS is battling it out with Garbage to score her third No1 album on Friday.

Her album Something Beautiful is in the lead to top the charts.

But just behind her is Garbage’s new record Let All That We Imagine Be The Light.

They may face opposition from Taylor Swift, whose album Reputation is at No8 in midweek figures.


NADINE TO TELL ALL IN MEMOIR

NADINE COYLE has risked falling out with her Girls Aloud mates again with a memoir that promises to “tell all” on their career, including notorious “bust-ups”.

She reunited with Cheryl Tweedy, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh last summer for a successful UK tour after patching up their differences.

Nadine Coyle of Girls Aloud performing in Dublin.

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Nadine Coyle has risked falling out with her Girls Aloud mates again with a memoir that promises to ‘tell all’

But I imagine they might be more than a little worried about what Nadine has written in the book, called Loud: Diary Of A Derry Girl.

It is due to be released in time for Christmas, with details about it leaking online after Amazon put up a pre-order link early, seemingly by accident.

A description said it will be “an intimate tell-all account” of her life.
It added: “This is her story, a story full of friendships, a lot of laughs,

some bust-ups and just a whole lot of pop.”

It’s also likely to touch on her close friendship with bandmate Sarah Harding, who died from cancer in 2021, so I’m sure it will be an emotional read.


RADIO 2 In The Park is heading to Chelmsford, Essex, for three days from September 5-7.

The annual music festival will take place in Hylands Park, with tickets going on sale at 8.30am tomorrow.

That will follow the line-up announcement during Scott Mills’ breakfast show this morning.


JOJO: HEAD OVER HEELS FOR CHRIS

JOJO SIWA has finally confirmed her romance with reality no-mark Chris Hughes, two months after meeting in the Celebrity Big Brother house.

Jojo split with her partner hours after leaving the ITV show in April.

JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes on the set of This Morning.

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JoJo Siwa has finally confirmed her romance with reality no-mark Chris Hughes

She said in a new interview: “It’s not platonic any more.

“It’s been a beautiful development, a beautiful connection, and I’m absolutely head over heels for him and he’s the same way.”

Hitting back at critics, she added: “Anyone who suggests the relationship is a PR stunt is only telling on themselves.

“Clearly, you’ve never been around us.

“I won’t ever speak for him, but for me personally, the happiness in my life just radiates off of me right now.”

Alexandra vamps it up

ALEXANDRA BURKE looks incredible as she prepares to take on the role of Morticia in The Addams Family musical comedy.

She got into character ahead of the UK tour which starts in Birmingham on July 10.

Alexandra Burke as Morticia in a black gown.

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Alexandra Burke looks incredible as she prepares to take on the role of Morticia in The Addams Family musical comedy

The production will tour other spots including Leicester, Salford, Canterbury and Blackpool.

But while Alexandra has made a name for herself as a stage actress, she will return to music.

On taking a break to have her two children, Alexandra said: “Babies happened. One planned. Another baby happened . . .  wasn’t planned.

“But the plan is music. I’m hopefully coming back, I promise.”

Alexandra, whose last album The Truth Is came out in 2018, added: “Life just happened and I’m so grateful for my gorgeous children. It’s slowed me down, it’s made me realise the most important things in life.”

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Shohei Ohtani homers twice in Dodgers’ comeback win over Yankees

It wasn’t quite as significant as the fifth inning of Game 5 last year.

But, in the opening contest of a World Series rematch at Chavez Ravine on Friday night, the Dodgers mounted another stunning late-game rally against the New York Yankees.

And this time, they didn’t even need an assist from the Yankees’ porous defense.

Seven months to the day since the Dodgers’ historic comeback at Yankee Stadium in last year’s World Series finale — when three Yankees errors keyed an infamous five-run fifth that propelled the Dodgers to the franchise’s eighth championship — the team produced an inning of similarly unexpected magic, scoring four times in the bottom of the sixth to turn a three-run deficit into an eventual 8-5 win at a sold-out Dodger Stadium.

“The situation is a little different,” designated hitter Shohei Ohtani said in Japanese, “but I think coming back to win is always good.”

It was Ohtani who got Friday’s sixth inning started, leading it off with his second home run of the night and MLB-leading 22nd of the season.

Freddie Freeman took over from there, hitting an RBI double off the wall to reprise his role of Yankees killer after winning MVP honors in last year’s Fall Classic.

Then, what had once been a 5-2 New York lead officially evaporated when Andy Pages lined a tying single against a drawn-in infield. The Dodgers finally went in front on a bases-loaded walk from Michael Conforto.

For a team that has been grinding for much of the last month, the sequence led to a scene of stadium-wide elation.

“Just getting guys on, keeping the line moving, getting huge hits,” Freeman said, “that was awesome.”

“Every win is important, [but] this one is a big one,” added outfielder Teoscar Hernández. “We were down early, [but] we didn’t panic.”

Highlights from the Dodgers’ 8-5 win over the Yankees on Friday night.

For the Dodgers (35-22), nothing will compare to the ecstasy of last year’s fifth inning in Game 5; when a dropped ball from Aaron Judge, an errant throw from Anthony Volpe and calamitous miscommunication between Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rizzo keyed the largest comeback in a title-clinching game in World Series history.

Asked about the similarities to Friday’s game, Freeman said he “actually never thought about it.”

But, given the team’s sub-.500 play over the last three weeks, and a rash of injuries that got worse Friday when Mookie Betts was scratched with a fractured toe and Evan Phillips was ruled out for the rest of the season because he’ll need Tommy John surgery, Friday injected this trying stretch of the regular season with a sorely needed jolt of life.

“For us to get behind the 8-ball a little bit … and find a way to scratch back into the game was huge,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Huge game for us to win.”

Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages reacts after he hits an RBI single against the Yankees in the sixth inning Friday.

Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages reacts after he hits an RBI single against the Yankees in the sixth inning Friday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

For much of Friday, the Dodgers seemed headed to the kind of loss that had become commonplace over their 10-11 slide entering the night.

Their starting pitcher struggled, with Tony Gonsolin giving up four home runs in the first three innings — including a mammoth blast from Judge two batters into the game — to hand the Yankees a 5-2 lead.

Their lineup, meanwhile, was sputtering against a premium pitcher, inducing little stress against major league ERA leader Max Fried after an Ohtani homer to start the night.

“After giving up a run on [Judge’s] homer, I think it’s important for the flow of the game to get one back right away,” said Ohtani, whose first blast was his sixth leadoff homer of the season. It marked the first time in MLB history that the reigning MVPs of both the American and National League hit first-inning home runs in the same game.

“We were in a bad position after that too,” Ohtani noted, “but everyone didn’t give up.”

Indeed, as they did so many times during last year’s World Series, the Dodgers flipped the script on the Yankees (35-21) with an inning they never saw coming.

Dodgers baserunner Freddie Freeman, right, beats the tag of New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells to score.

Dodgers baserunner Freddie Freeman, right, beats the tag of New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells to score in the seventh inning Friday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Ohtani’s blast to lead off the sixth was a sky-high fly ball to right, carrying just deep enough to land in the pavilion for his 15th home run of May (tying Pedro Guerrero in June 1985 and Duke Snider in August 1953 for the most in a single month in Dodgers history).

“Testament to Shohei,” Freeman said, “who is hitting home runs all over the place.”

The rest of the inning played out more methodically.

Hernández and Will Smith lined back-to-back singles. Freeman chased Fried from the game with an RBI double to left that got over Cody Bellinger’s head. Then, after the Yankees turned to right-hander Jonathan Loáisiga to face Pages, he hammered a ground-ball single through a drawn-in infield to bring home the tying run.

“When you can feel a little momentum, guys getting hits, you just try and keep that line moving,” Freeman said.

Another pitching change, with left-hander Tim Hill entering to face Conforto with the bases loaded and one out, didn’t help either.

“There were a lot of really good grindy at-bats in there, hitting some good pitches, spoiling some pitches,” Conforto said.

Against a ground-ball pitcher in Hill, Conforto took a different approach, working a full count while waiting for something up and over the plate.

On the payoff pitch, however, Conforto “kind of got the feeling he was losing the zone a little bit.”

Thus, when Hill pulled a sinker on his payoff offering, Conforto took for a run-scoring ball four.

“Just a rough inning,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

The Dodgers took more good at-bats in the seventh, when another double from Freeman set up Pages for a two-out, two-run single — with Freeman racing home on his battered right ankle to score on a bang-bang slide.

And after Gonsolin settled down to work through six innings without further damage, the Dodgers’ bullpen made the lead stand, getting key outs from Jack Dreyer and Ben Casparius in the seventh, then struggling late-game options Tanner Scott in the eighth and Alex Vesia for a ninth-inning save.

“It’s still early, it’s still May,” Gonsolin said. “But it’s cool to play that kind of caliber team and come out on top.”

“We try to win each and every game, of course,” Ohtani added. “But I think [tonight was] a special atmosphere. I think it was huge to have taken the [first game] of the series.”

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Dearica Hamby, Kelsey Plum rally Sparks, but their comeback falls short

When the Sparks traded for Kelsey Plum, the buzz around her reunion with former championship teammate Dearica Hamby centered on one thing: their pedigree elevating the franchise.

On Tuesday night, fans got a glimpse of the potential that the duo could attain. The chemistry. The comfort. The way they fed off each other’s energy — stepping up when the Sparks needed it most, looking to build momentum off a previous hard-fought victory.

By the fourth quarter of an 88-82 loss to the Atlanta Dream (4-2) on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, the Sparks (2-4) were on the verge of a comeback. A steal by Hamby near midcourt turned into an outlet on the fastbreak to Plum, who quickly dished it back for the finish, trimming the deficit to 66–63.

The second half belonged to them. Plum and Hamby combined for 39 points to rally the Sparks from a 40–31 halftime hole. Like clockwork, Plum buried a clutch three-pointer to cut the lead to 71–70 — the closest L.A. would get. Hamby’s late free throws pulled them to within two in the final minutes.

They led by example — attacking the basket, applying pressure on defense, diving for loose balls — doing everything necessary to win the close games the Sparks have so often found themselves in this season.

But in the end, like so often before, their effort fell just short.

Although the duo played with a sense of urgency, it’s still something the team as a whole struggles to sustain over a full 40 minutes, according to head coach Lynne Roberts. It seemed they might have turned a corner Sunday, but that performance now feels like the exception, not the start of a trend.

“My message to the group was we’ve got to be able to put 40 minutes together and not get down and then play with that urgency,” Roberts said. “We have the ability to play like that more, and that’s what I’d like to see when we go in those spurts or the droughts.”

As a team, the drought came in the second quarter. Coming off their highest-scoring game of the season, the Sparks looked out of sorts against a staunch Atlanta defense that refused to give up easy baskets.

The Dream disrupted the Sparks’ rhythm from the start, denying space for them to initiate sets, locate open shooters or generate meaningful possessions — the blueprint of Roberts’ offense. That inefficiency became more pronounced as the quarter progressed, when opportunities came sparingly and turnovers, whether from steals or denied attempts at the rim, became a recurring theme.

“I could do a better job,” Plum said, shouldering the brunt of the offensive inefficiency in the period. “Getting the people the ball, good shot. And I think we had a lot of good looks around the rim early… Just missed them, and credit to them.”

Plum finished with 27 points, five assists, three rebounds and four steals, and Hamby had 28 points, eight assists, six rebounds and four steals of her own, with Roberts adding that “those are stupid numbers. And her defense there in the second half got us back in it.”

With inconsistency still prevalent and struggles to close out games lingering, Plum and Hamby agree the team is close to improving, but the process is ongoing.

“If you watch these game, we’re right freaking there,” Plum said.

Hamby says success won’t come this early in the season, reflecting on her and Plum’s championship experience in Las Vegas.

“We enjoy the process — been part of the process,” Hamby said. “We know that it’s not like it happens overnight. It’s not going to happen in the first six games of the season.

“Obviously, we want to compete and we want to keep building. But perspective: this is a new group. We’re learning a whole new system. It’s predicated on chemistry, movement, space, team.”

But the road to success remains a marathon.

The Sparks will have only a few days to continue their team-building efforts before hitting the road for a matchup in Las Vegas against the Aces — the former home of both All-Stars. For Plum, it signifies her first return since the offseason trade.

The quick turnaround also gives Rickea Jackson, fresh off a concussion, more time to ease back into the lineup.

With starters logging heavy minutes and rookies thrust into high-pressure roles early in the season, the Sparks simply needed more bodies to ease the burden. The return of Rickea Jackson was a welcome boost.

Still, the Sparks took a cautious approach to her reintroduction. Jackson came off the bench and played limited minutes (12) mostly in the second half, as she worked to reacclimate to the pace of live play.

At times, she looked like a player still finding her rhythm, missing shots she typically makes and picking up uncharacteristic fouls. She finished with more fouls than any other stat: three fouls and just one rebound.

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Angel City can’t complete comeback against Racing Louisville

Racing Louisville held on for a 3-2 win over Angel City on Saturday despite Kayla Fischer being shown a red card midway through the second half.

Louisville (4-4-2) has won three of its last four games. Angel City (4-4-2) has lost two in a row.

Taylor Flint put Louisville up 1-0 at BMO Stadium with a penalty kick in the 23rd minute. Rookie Riley Tiernan scored for Angel City in the 48th minute.

Emma Sears nodded the ball in from close range off a corner kick in the 53rd minute and USC alum Savannah DeMelo made it 3-1 Racing Louisville in the 56th.

Fischer was sent off for a physical altercation with Madison Hammond inside the Louisville box in the 67th minute. Alyssa Thompson converted on the ensuing penalty kick for Angel City.

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Sparks’ furious late comeback falls short in loss to Valkyries

Although not an official rivalry steeped in tradition just yet, the competitiveness between California’s two WNBA teams suggests the start of one.

With the Sparks and Golden State Valkyries trying to jump start new eras for their respective franchises, the meeting marked the third clash between the teams in as many weeks — and it left the Sparks emotionally and physically bruised.

On their first road trip to Southern California on Friday, the expansion Valkyries exacted revenge on one of the WNBA’s charter members, holding off a late Sparks comeback in an 82-73 win.

The Sparks’ frustration was evident after the game. Coach Lynne Roberts looked displeased. Beside her, rookie Sarah Ashlee Barker sat stone-faced, a fresh shiner darkening the area beneath her right eye. Dearica Hamby rested her head in her hands, her responses to questions from the media brief and subdued.

“They beat us tonight,” Roberts said. “They were more connected. They played harder. They played with more intensity.”

What began as a back-and-forth battle quickly underscored how evenly matched the two teams are despite being at different stages. The final score suggested a close game, but for much of the night, it looked like it would be a Valkyries rout.

The Sparks surged to an early 20-9 lead behind strong play from Odyssey Sims, Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby. Sims hit three early three-pointers and Plum added six points fueled by defensive pressure and steals. Hamby anchored the interior with physical play.

But much like their previous two matchups, inconsistency quickly crept in for the Sparks (1-3). The Sparks’ struggles emerged after halftime in their last two games. This time, the unraveling came earlier.

“We stopped following the game plan,” Roberts said. “It’s bad — we’ve got to fix it. We need to put together a full 40 minutes. We haven’t done that yet.”

A second-quarter collapse — marked by defensive breakdowns and offensive stagnation — put L.A. in a hole too big to overcome. Entering the period with a two-point lead, Golden State went on an 18-0 run to take a 45-26 lead.

Golden State (2-1) shot 10 for 18 (55.6%) from the field in the second quarter, looking every bit like a team determined to avenge its two earlier losses — one in the preseason and the other in their season opener.

Meanwhile, the Sparks appeared far removed from the cohesion and toughness they showed in a loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday — the kind of progress coach Lynne Roberts pointed to as a sign of early-season growth. The Sparks didn’t register a field goal in the second quarter until the 2:36 mark.

L.A. trailed 49-35 at halftime after shooting just 2 for 16 from the field and scoring nine points in the second quarter.

From the start, the Valkyries’ game plan centered on containing Kelsey Plum, who erupted for 37 points against them on May 16. Golden State’s defense swarmed Plum with traps and forced the ball out of her hands, limiting her to 16 points on six-of-18 shooting, including two for 10 from beyond the arc. She also had four steals.

Golden State’s lead hovered around 15 points for much of the third quarter. The Sparks only began to chip away at the deficit in the fourth quarter.

A three-pointer from Plum cut the Valkyries’ lead to 73-63 with just under six minutes remaining. Moments later, Hamby powered to the rim through heavy contact, converting a tough layup and drawing the foul. Her successful free throw made it an eight-point game.

Hamby continued to take charge, shooting a three-pointer with 2:32 left to make it a five-point game.

“We definitely picked up the defensive energy,” Hamby said of the fourth-quarter effort. “We got some good hustle plays and tried to build momentum — but I want to win, so I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

But that was as close as the Sparks would get after Hamby fouled Kayla Thornton on a three-point attempt. Thornton made all three of her free-throw attempts.

Robert liked what she saw from the Sparks in the fourth quarter, but she wants to see that urgency deployed earlier and throughout the game.

“We can’t wait,” Roberts said. “We did show toughness — we didn’t fold. They kept competing, and we made it a game. … But why does it take us 30 minutes to play like that?”

Hamby scored 10 of her 25 points in the fourth quarter. She also had six rebounds and three blocks. Sims finished with 13 points as the Sparks suffered their third consecutive loss. Carla Leite led Golden State with 19 points.

Golden State’s win marked a special homecoming for Anaheim native and Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase, who said she felt a wave of emotion as the team flew into L.A. Seeing familiar landmarks from the window of the plane — including her childhood homes — stirred memories of her father and the path that led her to becoming a WNBA coach. Nasake served as an assistant coach under Clippers coach Doc Rivers.

“It’s like seeing the ushers — a lot of them I’ve known for a long time, and they’re just saying congratulations and what an accomplishment,” said Nakase of the surreal feeling of winning at Crypto.com Arena. “It’s nice to see a lot of familiar faces.”

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‘I’d be concerned about him fighting’ – Boxing legends including Tyson Fury urge Deontay Wilder to QUIT before comeback

DEONTAY WILDER has been urged to hang up his gloves just a month before his ring return.

The former long-reigning WBC heavyweight champion will bid to get back to winning ways on June 27 in a rebuild fight against Tyrrell Herndon.

Zhilei Zhang (gold shorts) and Deontay Wilder (black shorts) boxing.

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Deontay Wilder has looked like a shell of his old self in his last few fightsCredit: GETTY
Deontay Wilder down on the mat during a boxing match.

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The American has suffered three brutal knockout losses in his last five lossesCredit: GETTY
Tyson Fury knocking out Deontay Wilder in a boxing match.

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Former foe Tyson Fury has urged ‘The Bronze Bomber’ to hang them upCredit: AP

Wilder, 39, will enter the bout on the back of four defeats in his last five outings, with three of those losses being brutal knockouts to Tyson Fury and Zhilei Zhang.

The American has looked like a shell of the fighter who struck fear into the hearts of heavyweights during his pomp, so much so that a litany of boxing icons, Fury, included, have urged him to call it a day.

During an appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast with former UFC champs Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, he said: “I’d like to see poor old Deontay retire from boxing.

“When I beat Wilder, he was 44 and 0, with 43 KOs, and he KO’d the guy who went the distance with him in the rematch, so that means he knocked out every single person he ever faced. 44 people.

“Obviously, he lost the three fights to me and since that third trilogy, we took a lot of lot of years off each other’s lives.

“That war, which ended in the 11th round by knockout, that took a lot out of our tanks.

“Between me and Wilder in that trilogy there was 10 knockdowns. It takes a lot out of a fighter.

“Even when he’s come back and had a couple of fights since, he’s only a shadow of his former glory.

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Deontay Wilder reacting after knocking down Tyson Fury in a boxing match.

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Deontay Wilder has vowed to return to the summit of the heavyweight divisionCredit: Getty

“The only thing left that remains the same about Deontay is his name.”

Legendary boxing coach Teddy Atlas, who used to train Mike Tyson, shares the same view as Fury.

Deontay Wilder’s three-fight ‘plan’ revealed including overdue Anthony Joshua fight

Atlas told Slingo: “The last thing to go, George Foreman showed, is that the last thing to go with a fighter is power.

“As long as you have power, you’ve got a shot.

“But the way he’s looked, the punishment he took against Zhilei Zhang.

“Wilder took a lot of punishment in his last few fights.

“And the way he took it, how clean he got hit, and how he reacted to it, just as a human being.

“Forget trainer, promoter, anything, just as a human being, I’d be concerned about him fighting again.”

Wilder and his team are hoping a win over Herndon will kick-start an unlikely run to a world title, with head coach Malik Scott saying: “He’s still got that urge to become champion, because he’s a champion at heart.

“He’s on the second half of his career, he’s filthy rich.

“He wants to make another run at the heavyweight championship of the world.”

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Michael J Fox to make huge TV comeback in first role after devastating health battle

Back to the Future star Michael J. Fox is gearing up to be part of the cast of a TV show for the first time since 2020, after his health condition deteriorated

Michael J Fox on a Back to the Future panel
Michael J Fox has landed a guest role in a TV show for the first time since stepping away from acting because of Parkinson’s (Image: Getty Images for ReedPop)

Michael J. Fox has announced his exciting return to television as he prepares for a guest role in the popular Apple+ comedy show Shrinking. The series revolves around the lives of three psychiatrists, played by Harrison Ford, Jason Segel, and Jessica Williams.

The main characters, Dr Paul, Jimmy, and Gaby, all support each other through their own personal struggles as they work to help their patients in sometimes unconventional ways. Fox’s role in the third season of the series has not been revealed yet, but there is a possibility that it will be linked to Dr Paul’s ongoing Parkinson’s storyline.

Fox himself stepped away from acting as his Parkinson’s symptoms worsened in 2020, and he started to experience issues with his speech. He was diagnosed with the neurological disease three decades ago, and fans have theorised that his character will address what it is like to live with Parkinson’s on-screen, given Dr Paul’s season two character arc focused on his health struggles and fears that he would have to walk away from psychiatry.

Michael J Fox presenting an award at the BAFTAs 2024
Michael J Fox has landed a guest role in a TV show for the first time since stepping away from acting because of Parkinson’s (Image: Getty Images for BAFTA)

This stint on Shrinking will also mean the Hollywood A-lister gets to collaborate with the show’s co-creator Bill Lawrence again, after they previously both worked on Spin City.

Lawrence previously admitted that Fox influenced his portrayal of Dr Paul’s battle with Parkinson’s on Shrinking, saying: “It’s cool to get to write about things you care about now. And Michael J Fox is my first mentor. So we wanted to represent it in hopefully an inspiring and not sad or tragic way.

“I found the first mentor in my life and career, Michael J Fox, to be so inspiring. The way he took it in stride and continues to work harder than anybody I know. And we want to kind of carry that spirit if we can into the show.”

Michael J Fox on an event about Parkinson's
The Back to the Future star last took on a role on-screen in 2020(Image: Getty Images)

The last TV show Fox starred in was American legal drama The Good Fight, which is about a lawyer who loses her life savings after being scammed and is forced to start again.

His last big film role was in the 2019 sci-fi blockbuster See You Yesterday as Mr Lockhart, the science teacher of the two teen leads who attempt to crack time travel.

The Back to the Future star has reportedly been managing his Parkinson’s symptoms with the drug carbidopa/levodopa, and he is also said to have had a thalamotomy in 1998.

He previously spoke about how “tough” it is to live with the disease, telling The Guardian : “It didn’t defeat me. I wish it was a heroic thing. I’m not saying: ‘Yeah! Bring it, bring it!’

“I hate it. It sucks. It’s a piece of s**t. It’s tough to get up in the morning and keep going. But I have a beautiful family and this office with trophies.”

He also shared that being unable to act was “a struggle”, adding: “It’s very difficult. I get sick of talking about me. I know me too well.”

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Noughties boybander turns to VERY racy job after pop comeback failed to take off

A NOUGHTIES boyband star has turned to a very racy job after their music comeback failed to take off.

Two decades ago they were hitting the UK Top Ten with hits like Blood, Sweat and Tears, and Hip to Hip.

Kevin McDaid of the boyband V at a celebrity screening.

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The boyband star on the red carpet in the noughtiesCredit: Alamy
Boy band V at the European premiere of The Day After Tomorrow.

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Do you remember this boyband?Credit: Alamy
A shirtless man holds a fanned deck of cards and looks unhappy.

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He is now a personal trainer and photographerCredit: Instagram/noraabuckingham
A nude man lifting weights in a gym.

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Kevin McDaid is offering naked gym training sessions

They had a string of top ten hits in 2004 before disbanding.

The band reunited as a four piece last year to celebrate their 20th anniversary.

They played at Mighty Hoopla in London and teased new music.

However just months later they have split again, and Kevin McDaid, who once was engaged to Westlife’s Mark Feehily, is now working as a personal trainer – with a very niche offering.

He is offering fans hour-long sessions in the buff at a private London gym for £250.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Kevin, who is also a photographer, said alongside a naked photo of him lifting weights: “Who’s booking in for your naked PT session this week?”

The boyband comprised of five members with Kevin, Mark Harle, Leon Pisani, Antony Brant and Aaron Buckingham.

Last year two members reunited and stripped down to speedos to enjoy a sun soaked holiday together.

Kevin and Aaron beamed for holiday pictures shared to Instagram, as they showed their friendship was still going strong.

Aaron shared a series of pictures of the pair including some of the lads topless enjoying the sunshine.

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In one picture Aaron struck a pensive pose, staring into the distance in just a pair of board shorts.

Former bandmate Leon is also still close with the pair, who despite not being on the holiday commented on the picture adding “My boys”.

Post band, V have gone on to very different careers after leaving the music industry.

Former bandmate Mark moved into the TV and film industry and has worked as an art assistant on TV series including Ghost Loop.

Leon has traded music for mortgages and is now a mortgage company owner and living in West Wales.

Aaron has stayed close to his music roots in becoming a songwriter for Spotify.

Despite the band splitting in 2005, they did reform for fans in 2023 without Harle and instead making up a four piece.

Mark Feehily and Kevin McDaid of Westlife at an MTV event.

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Kevin dated Westlife star Mark Feehily, pictured here in 2009, and they were once engagedCredit: Getty
Two men in swimsuits on a boat.

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The group have remained friends since their time in the boyband in the early noughtiesCredit: Instagram/noraabuckingham
Man in swim trunks on a boat at sea.

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Aaron Buckingham is now a songwriter for SpotifyCredit: Instagram/noraabuckingham

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