David Beckham was awarded a knighthood for services to sport and charity todayCredit: PAThe whole family were there to support David, but Brooklyn was nowhere to be seenCredit: romeobeckham/InstagramDavid’s son Brooklyn is yet to congratulate dad David on his knighthoodCredit: GettyBrooklyn and his wife Nicole have reportedly ‘quit’ the Beckham familyCredit: Getty
The Beckham family feud is understood to have actually started four years ago, when Brooklyn’s wife Nicola Peltz, 30, refused to wear a wedding dress designed by Victoria.
Meanwhile, Becks put the feud behind him today to receive the biggest honour of career and become Sir David Beckham.
It marks the end of an agonising wait for the charity ambassador, who was first put forward for a knighthood in 2011.
Sir David was made a Knight Bachelor by King CharlesCredit: Getty
In a lengthy Instagram post he said: “I can’t even begin to describe what a special day it is for me today, a boy born in East London, to receive a Knighthood from His Majesty The King. I am truly humbled and so grateful for this honour.”
Sir David then went onto reveal just how much the honour meant to him.
“All I have ever wanted to do is to make my family proud.” the star gushed.
Becks then added a sweet message to his four kids, and wrote: “To my beautiful children who I am so proud of and I know this is a proud and inspiring day for them as well, they are our greatest joy in life and my inspiration every single day. I love you all so much…”
Sir David proudly shows off his knighthood alongside Lady Victoria and his parentsCredit: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire
Victoria Beckham is set to reunite with her former Spice Girls bandmates for a new animated project on the band, marking their first professional collaboration in a decade
Daniel Bird Assistant Celebrity and Entertainment Editor
18:34, 18 Oct 2025Updated 18:48, 18 Oct 2025
Lady Beckham is set to join her Spice Girls bandmates for an exciting project(Image: BANG Showbiz)
Victoria Beckham is gearing up to join forces with her old Spice Girls pals for a huge new project. The animated venture, simply named The Spice Girls, will be their first professional reunion since they rocked the stage at the 2012 Olympic Games closing ceremony.
According to the official IMDb listing, The Spice Girls is currently in the early stages of production and will star all five original members: Geri Horner, Melanie Brown MBE, Melanie Chisholm, Emma Bunton, and Lady Victoria, lending their voices.
The brief description reveals: “An animated project featuring the music group The Spice Girls as superheroes.” Details regarding the storyline, format, and release date are still hush-hush, with IMDb only revealing that the project will see the girls reprising their pop star alter egos, including Posh, Ginger, Scary, Sporty, and Baby Spice.
This exciting news broke as Victoria, 51, graced the premiere of her three-part Netflix docu-series Victoria Beckham at The Curzon Mayfair in London on 8 October. The fashion mogul and former pop sensation was accompanied by her husband, Sir David Beckham, 50, and their children, except for eldest son Brooklyn Beckham, who is reportedly caught up in a family dispute.
Her ex-bandmates Emma, Geri and Melanie Chisholm also showed up at the premiere to lend their support, striking a pose together on the red carpet. Melanie Brown, better known as Mel B, was the only member not present but sent Victoria a lovely bouquet of flowers ahead of the event.
Melanie had previous work commitments in the United States. Victoria hasn’t performed with the Spice Girls since their iconic Olympic appearance in London 12 years ago, despite the other four members reuniting for a UK and Ireland stadium tour in 2019.
Although Victoria opted out of that tour, she publicly expressed her support and has continued to honour the group’s legacy. The IMDb listing is the first official hint that the full lineup could once again collaborate on a professional project.
It remains unclear whether the animated production will be a feature film or a series. The Spice Girls became a worldwide sensation in the mid-1990s following the release of their debut single Wannabe in 1996. They went on to sell over 100 million records globally before Geri exited the band in 1998, leading to an official hiatus.
The band also reunited for a world tour in 2007 and again for their Olympic performance in 2012, which was widely hailed as one of the highlights of the Games. Since then, each member has embarked on individual ventures in music, television, fashion and business while maintaining a close personal bond.
But it seems that this isn’t the only Spice Girls project that Posh has in mind. During an interview with Andy Cohen, she admitted that she has been having several ideas about the chart-topping band, which will next year celebrate three decades of their debut single, “Wannabe.”
After saying she loved the idea of the band performing at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Victoria said: “It would be tempting. But could I take on a world tour? No, I can’t. I have a job… How good would the Spice Girls be at the Sphere! I love the idea of it. I mean, I don’t know if I could even still sing, I mean, I was never that great!” Host Andy soon interrupted saying: “You can sing, babe.”
The Mirror has approached Victoria’s spokesperson for comment.
The 14-year-old could become the next Kylie JennerCredit: instagram/victoriabeckham
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Harper has been increasingly popping up on her mum’s social media feedCredit: Instagram
Earlier this month the HIKU BY Harper, the proposed name for the skincare and beauty brand, was filed under two trademark applications by the business Victoria incorporated for Harper, H7B Limited, matching the teenager’s full name, Harper Seven Beckham.
A source said: “Harper loves fashion and make-up and has already started doing make-up tutorials.
“The plan is to create a brand aimed at the younger market, taking inspiration for pop culture and Korean beauty.
Harper has been increasingly popping up on mum Victoria’s Instagram feed and even set up her own account earlier this year.
Victoria said: “Harper is going to be one of two things. She’s either going to be a beauty mogul or she’s going to be a stand-up. She is hilarious.”
Last year Harper, who has been stepping out in custom-made dresses by her mother’s VB label, spoke publicly for the first time to present Victoria with a prestigious award for entrepreneurship, on behalf of Harper’s Bazaar magazine at its annual Women of the Year event.
She said: “I’m so nervous. Especially as tonight’s a school night. Hopefully this isn’t going to get me in trouble.
“My amazing mummy has built an incredible business from the ground up and has shown me the value of working hard.
“But above all, she’s taught me to always be kind and, even though she has a million things to do, she rarely misses school.”
Victoria Beckham left in tears as David shares emotional video after Netflix doc launch
Harperis still being made to do her homework in addition to her onlinemake-uptutorials alongside her mum.
Victoriachooses to lead by example, instilling a work ethic into each of her four children.
While eldest sonBrooklyn, 26, is forging a career with his own hot sauce company Stateside, former footballerRomeois successfully modelling.
She told The Sun: “I mean, I feel sorry for these kids that are considered nepo-babies.
“The kids are simply the kids of their parents.
“It’s not their fault. Give them a chance.
“What matters is that people are good and kind.
“It is fine to be ambitious, but it is more important to be kind.”
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Hiku By Harper is the proposed name for the skincare and beauty brandCredit: hiku
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Victoria and David instil a good work ethic into each of her four childrenCredit: Instagram @victoriabeckham
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Victoria says she ‘feels sorry’ for kids that are considered ‘nepo-babies’Credit: instagram/victoriabeckham
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The youngster could turn a business into the next huge beauty brandCredit: Instagram/@victoriabeckham
VICTORIA Beckham has revealed all about her celeb feuds, which included a “rude” meeting with Donatella Versace and also being branded “a b*****” on live TV.
However, despite not being a fashion designer at that time, she set about making alterations to it, asking the store staff to tighten the waist, shorten the hemline and take off the sleeves.
“I basically redesigned the whole dress,” Victoria said. “I can’t believe I did that. So rude!”
This in turn did NOT go down well with Donatella.
Brave Victoria Beckham opens up on crippling eating disorder for first time
‘You shouldn’t do it. That’s how I feel,” the fashion designer said on the Netflix doc.
‘Yeah, and I thought “how does she dare?”
However, Donatella, who is now good friends with Victoria, added: “Then I realised it was better on her the way she did it. She knows her body.”
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Victoria made alterations to this Versace dressCredit: Netflix
BEING CALLED A ‘B***H’
Victoria also revealed on the Netflix doc how art critic Brian Sewell bluntly branded her a ‘b***h’ on TV – while at the same time praising her husband David Beckham .
Speaking on Alan Titchmarsh’s show in 2009, Brian said: “Beckham is wonderful in what he does; off the field he does all sorts of good works.
“Madame Beckham comes along, wearing virtually nothing, and steals the photographs, steals the occasion – and she’s just a common little b***h.”
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Victoria revealed art critic Brian Sewell called her a ‘b***h’ on TVCredit: Getty – Contributor
MEL B FALL OUT
As she tried to make it in the world of fashion, Victoria tried to distance herself from her Posh Spice alter-ego.
However, in 2008 she was asked to go back out on the road with the Spice Girls.
She explained: “When I was working with (fashion designer) Roland Mouret the other Spice Girls told me they wanted to go on tour…
“David was like, ‘it’s really good for the kids to see you do this’, he mum-guilted me!”
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Mel B was fuming with Victoria when she refused to do the 2019 Spice Girls tourCredit: Splash
Victoria agreed to the reunion tour and confessed: “I hadn’t been Posh Spice for such a long time. It was good to be back with them.”
But in 2019, when she was asked again to do it, Victoria said “no” – something that did not go down well with Mel B.
Victoria said she was “hurt” by one of Scary Spice’s comments, after she said she didn’t want to do the tour.
“It upset me not too long ago actually – Melanie B said to me ‘don’t forget where you’ve come from’,” Victoria told the doc.
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Victoria’s new three-part series is out on Netflix nowCredit: Netflix
She insisted: “I have never forgotten where I’ve come from. I have never forgotten that Posh Spice is the reason that I’m sitting here now.
“She might have been grumpy but she was actually great.
“It was good to celebrate the Spice Girls but it was during that [2008] tour that I realised I didn’t belong on stage. It had been fun but it wasn’t what I loved anymore.”
She admitted that she starved herself in an effort to stay thin.
She candidly revealed how she became “very good at lying” after losing control of what was being said about her.
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Victoria said she battled an eating disorder after leaving the Spice GirlsCredit: Getty
“It’s been a lot, and that’s hard. I had no control over what was being written about me, the pictures being taken, and I suppose I wanted to control that,” Victoria revealed in an episode entitled Kill The Wag
“I could control it with the clothing, I could control my weight and I was controlling it in an extremely unhealthy way.
“When you have an eating disorder you become very good at lying and I was never honest about it with my parents.
“I never talked about it publicly. It really affects you when you’re being told constantly that you’re not good enough and I suppose that’s been with me my whole life.”
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Victoria with hubby David on the red carpet at the premiere of her new Netflix documentaryCredit: Getty
Victoria and David were joined by kids Romeo, Harper, Cruz and his girlfriend Jackie Apostel.
Although Brooklyn was not there, Posh held out an olive branch by mentioning him in her speech.
David’s mum, Sandra, and sister Joanne were also present along with the Beckhams’ celebrity pals Tilly and Tana Ramsay.
Three of Victoria’s Spice Girls pals turned up — Ginger Spice Geri Horner, Sporty Spice Mel C and Baby Spice Emma Bunton.
Before the screening Victoria stood on stage and said: “I’d like to thank the Spice Girls — Geri, Emma, Melanie and Melanie. I love you so much and thank you so much.
“My children, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, Harper and David — oh, my God, he’s not a child. I was doing so well without cards as well.
“It’s taken me this process to really be proud of what I’ve achieved and to realise finally that I am enough.”
Victoria Beckham is available to stream on Netflix now
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From left to right: Jackie Apostel, Cruz, Romeo, Harper, Victoria and David BeckhamCredit: Getty
WHEN Victoria Beckham’s business was at the height of its extravagant spending she admitted some of her most ostentatious requests included “flying chairs from one side of the world to the other.”
She also spent £70,000 a year on plants for her office – then paid someone £15,000 a year to water them.
Small wonder, she admits, the company was struggling financially. But she confesses in her new documentary that she’d naively gone from the ostentatious world of entertainment to the more business-minded world of fashion.
“I didn’t realise it at the time, but the waste was mind-blowing.” she says in the Netflix three-parter, out now. “I hear it now and I’m horrified but I allowed that to happen.”
She is nothing if not candid in the mini-series, but doesn’t stop there. She goes on to admit, seemingly, that already being a Spice Girl married to a famous footballer meant she was unwittingly at a disadvantage.
She said: “Part of the problem was people were really afraid to tell me ‘No’. I think probably there’s a power, if I’m being honest, the power of celebrity. People thought that I wasn’t used to hearing ‘No’.
“I’ll hold my hands up and hold myself accountable for things that I’ve done, that I should have done, and could have done differently. and I was in debt – there was a lot I had to change.”
If ever you needed definitive proof that Victoria Beckham is as sharp as razor, then this documentary is it.
She could have delivered a bog standard warts and all autobiography for Netflix, or a no holds barred snapshot of her life as a fashion designer.
Instead she’s carefully curated both elements and woven them into this version of events.
It shows how she went from a Spice Girl to the darling of the catwalk and, of course, the head of one of Britain’s most famous families with husband David.
Here she also admits to her own flaws, to the moments when she lost her way and picked herself back up when she inevitably faltered.
But despite now being the successful global fashion icon that is Victoria Beckham, she does it without seeming pious. Instead she oozes genuine humility and sense of humour that proves a huge part of her is still Posh Spice.
Former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has revealed the part husband David Beckham played in her creating her steely pose in which she rarely smiles for the camera
07:27, 09 Oct 2025Updated 07:31, 09 Oct 2025
Victoria Beckham has revealed why she doesn’t smile(Image: PA)
Victoria Beckham’s trademark pout has become symbolic with her appearance over the years. The singer and fashion guru, 51, is well known for her steely look on the catwalks and red carpets and is rarely spotted cracking a smile.
However, while her trademark look has long been speculated, the former Spice Girl has finally revealed the real reason behind keeping her teeth under wraps. Sorry David, but she’s gunning for you.
Victoria’s latest project sees her appear in her self-titled Netflix docuseries and she spills the beans on a number of the family’s most personal details. And this also includes her lack of smiling.
She insists her look was simply formed after husband David stood on her “good side”. She said: “Here’s a fact, I’ve looked miserable for all these years because when we stand on the red carpet, this guy has always [stood] on the left.
“Now I didn’t realise that when I smile – which I do! – I smile from the left, because if I smile from the right, I look unwell. So I’m smiling on the inside but no one ever sees it – so that’s why I look so moody.”
As well as the admission about David’s positioning, Victoria later revealed it may have been a confidence thing at times. She said she was left feeling as though she didn’t want to smile after losing her way following the split of the Spice Girls in 2000.
As her solo career failed to hit the same heights, Victoria said people questioning her next moves began to take a toll on her. “I’d be lying if I said I was the best singer or dancer,” she said. “But when people are mean and you’re hearing things and you’re seeing things and you’re constantly made to feel you’re not good enough, that really hurts. I became so self conscious.”
She later added: “The minute i see a camera, I change. The barrier goes up, my armour goes on and that’s when the miserable cow who doesn’t smile comes out.
“I’m so conscious of that and I don’t like that, I’d rather not be that person. I’d love to have the confidence to walk out of a restaurant and smile but I just can’t do it.'”
And her change in persona was also noted by David who said he could see her confidence and bubbly side slowly disappearing.
Elsewhere on the series, Victoria admitted she became “good at lying” as she revealed how she was able to hide an eating disorder. The mum-of-four explained that she stopped eating because she was felt unable to control what others were saying about her during the height of her fame, but “I can control my weight”.
She revealed how she tried to control the narrative about what was being reported about her: “I could control it with the clothing, I could control it with my weight and I was controlling it in an extremely unhealthy way.
“When you have an eating disorder you become very good at lying and I was never honest about it with my parents.”
Victoria Beckham is available to stream on Netflix now.
FROM a chic bob to a full mane of long, voluminous waves, Victoria Beckham has had her fair share of different hairstyles over the years.
But while her cut has chopped and changed, ‘Posh Spice,’ whose much-anticipated Netflixdocumentary is set to be released tomorrow, has always stayed true to her consistent chocolate brown hair shade.
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Victoria Beckham has debuted a new autumnal hair lookCredit: Getty
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The former Spice Girl’s hair stylist Josh Wood has revealed all on her transformationCredit: Instagram
While she’s occasionally mixed it up with some honey-toned highlights, her latest autumnal look is perhaps her most vibrant yet.
And now, Josh Wood, the hair stylist responsible, has spoken out about the 51-year-old’s recent hair transformation – and the colour you should always avoid if you’re in your 50s.
While the hair says the former Spice Girl has always been aware of the cuts and tones that suit her, he points out that not everyone is.
“The biggest mistake women in their 50s can make is going too dark, which can age the hair and make it look flat,” he says, speaking to Hello!
“It’s always best to speak to your colourist about a shade that complements your skin tone and lifestyle.”
He goes on to highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy routine which includes using heat protection and conditioner – adding that avoiding these can gradually dull your colour and damage your locks.
Victoria, who is married to David Beckham, most recently showed off her new do as she presented her SS26 collection at Paris Fashion Week.
Hairstyles that are kind to your locks
Loose Braids: Opt for loose, soft braids rather than tight ones to minimise tension on the scalp and reduce breakage.
Low Ponytail: A low ponytail is less stressful on your hair compared to high, tight ponytails. Use a fabric-covered hair tie to avoid snagging.
Messy Bun: A relaxed, messy bun can be both stylish and kind to your hair. Avoid pulling your hair too tightly and use gentle hair ties.
Soft Waves: Embrace your natural texture or use heatless methods to create soft waves, reducing the need for damaging heat styling tools.
Half-Up, Half-Down: This style keeps some hair pulled back while leaving the rest down, reducing the strain on your scalp.
Headbands and Scarves: Using headbands or scarves can keep hair out of your face without causing damage, and they can be quite fashionable.
Loose Plaits for Sleeping: Before bed, loosely plait your hair to prevent tangles and breakage overnight.
Josh, whose A-list clientele also includes David Bowie, goes on to say how he wanted to make the fashion icon’s hair appear more “luxurious and rich” as autumn approaches.
Speaking of how he achieved the warm look, he adds that Victoria already had “great natural colour and highlights,” so he used glosses to tone her ends and enhance her own natural lights.
As for his expert recommendations, the hair whizz advises the “Chocolate Gloss” and “Glossing Water” from his own brand.
“Chocolate is a more ‘neutral’ brunette hair colour; not as warm as Chestnut, or as cool as Smoky, but a beautiful, velvetychocolate brownis flattering for all skin tones,” he concludes.
MOST of the Beckhams put on a united front at Victoria’s Paris Fashion Week show but eldest son Brooklyn snubbed his family again.
The designer and former Spice Girl, 51, was joined by husband David, 50, sons Romeo, 23, and Cruz, 20, as well as 14-year-old daughter Harper in the French capital last night.
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Former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham strutted along the catwalk at Paris Fashion WeekCredit: YouTube
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She was joined by family including husband David, son Romeo and daughter HarperCredit: Splash
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Youngest son Cruz Beckham attended too alongside model girlfriend Jackie ApostelCredit: Getty
They fought bad weather to get to the Val-de-Grace venue but Brooklyn, 26, and actress wife Nicola Peltz, 30, remained in LA even though Victoria’s collection was inspired by being a mother.
Describing the show, Posh’s website said: “For Spring- Summer 2026 collection, Victoria Beckham revisits the instinctive experimentation of girlhood dressing, inspired by the designer’s own adolescence and her perspective as a mother.”
Ex-Vogue editor Anna Wintour, 75, was seen chatting to David before it started.
The Beckhams’ close friend Eva Longoria, 50, was seen leaving her hotel in a black wrap dress with her producer husband, Jose Baston, 57, as they travelled to the show.
Victoria Beckham’s highly anticipated Netflix documentary is set to be released on October 9, and the streaming giant has released a brand new trailer.
The eagerly awaited docuseries will arrive on Netflix next week, leaving fans absolutely buzzing with excitement. The three-part programme is scheduled for release on 9 October, and is crafted by the same team behind the Emmy award winning BECKHAM series.
Featuring exclusive chats and shocking revelations, the docuseries will give viewers an unprecedented peek behind the curtain of Victoria Beckham’s world, encompassing both her professional journey and family dynamics. And supporters won’t have much longer to hold their breath.
Netflix has unveiled a fresh teaser as the fashion mogul opens up about her family memories, reports the Manchester Evening News. In the footage, Victoria Beckham reveals: “I’ve always wanted to do this.
“Throughout my life, I’ve used clothes to become someone else, be the person that I always wanted to be, that maybe naturally I wasn’t.
“I used to customise the school uniform in the bathroom at lunchtime. I used to love watching my mum get dressed up, you know she really cared and made the best of herself.
“I remember my mum saying to me if you dress up to get on the aeroplane, if there’s any chance of being upgraded they’re always going to look at who looks the best. I mean the truth is, there is no first class on budget air lines.”
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Posting the teaser on Instagram, Netflix captioned: “Victoria Beckham looks back on the importance of fashion in her life VICTORIA BECKHAM comes to Netflix October 9.”
One excited fan responded: “I can’t WAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIT!” Another chimed in with: “Welcome back.”
While Netflix has already given us a glimpse into the life of her ex-footballer husband David Beckham, this new series will shine the spotlight on the former Spice Girl.
Netflix tantalises viewers with: “VICTORIA BECKHAM, a three-part documentary series, gives all of us a front row seat as Victoria prepares for the fashion show of her life.
“From the teenager who restyled her school uniform, to the Spice Girl who fought to be accepted by a notoriously demanding fashion industry, Victoria Beckham is the story of resilience, reinvention and self-discovery.
“From the makers of the Emmy award-winning BECKHAM and the award-winning director of Michelle Obama’s Becoming.”
Last month, Netflix released the official trailer which saw the star breaking down in tears as she made a shocking confession. She revealed: “We were millions in the red”, while husband David confessed it “made me panic.”
Victoria Beckham premiers on Netflix on October 9.
Wedding Dress Controversy: Rumours begin circulating that there’s tension between Nicola and Victoria Beckham after Nicola chooses not to wear a Victoria Beckham-designed wedding gown. Nicola later clarifies in August 2022 (and again in March 2023) that Victoria’s atelier couldn’t make the dress in time, but reports in May 2025 suggest Victoria actually changed her mind about making the dress.
Post-Wedding (2022 onwards): Minimal interaction between Nicola and Victoria on social media, and noticeable absence of Nicola at key Beckham family events.
May 2025:David Beckham’s 50th Birthday Snub: Brooklyn and Nicola are notably absent from David Beckham’s 50th birthday celebrations in London, despite being invited. Reports suggest their absence was due to Brooklyn not wanting to be in the same room as Kim Turnbull, the girlfriend of Romeo who had previously been reported to have been dating Brooklyn, who David allegedly opted to have at the party over Nicola.
Rumours emerge of a falling out between Brooklyn and his younger brother Romeo, reportedly due to Romeo’s new girlfriend, DJ Kim Turnbull, who allegedly had a past connection with Brooklyn.
Reports surface that the Beckham parents are “hurt and disappointed” that Brooklyn is “playing no part in family life.” Sources claim that tensions between Brooklyn and Nicola and his parents are “definitely not beyond repair.”
July 2025: Reports indicate David and Victoria are “desperate” to reconcile with Brooklyn. Brooklyn publicly wishes his sister Harper a happy 14th birthday on Instagram, tagging Nicola, which is seen as a potential “olive branch” and a rare public message to his family amid the rumored rift.
Brooklyn UNFOLLOWS his brothers Romeo and Cruz just 24 hours after his birthday message to Harper. Nicola quickly follows suit and also ditches the Beckham bros from her Instagram following. Romeo and Cruz are now also no longer following Brooklyn.
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Romeo also opted for a throwback snap with his cousinCredit: Instagram
Brooklyn Beckham is planning to open a burger joint in the USCredit: INSTAGRAM/BROOKLYN BECKHAM
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Insiders said he was being backed in the venture by his wife Nicola Peltz and her wealthy familyCredit: Getty
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Brooklyn’s bold move is the latest in his ongoing feud with his parents David and VictoriaCredit: PA
Last month he quietly revealed the branding for Beck’s Buns, following a row with the beer brand Beck’s.
He tinkered with the application of his trademark to include restaurants and is pushing ahead with his plans.
Insiders said he hoped to open next year.
A source said: “Brooklyn has long dreamed of opening a restaurant in Los Angeles where he lives and that is finally coming to fruition.
READ MORE ON THE BECKHAMS
“He has created Beck’s Buns and quietly launched it on social media last month. Brooklyn’s company Buster Sauce Inc owns the trademark and he is planning to open a restaurant.
“The issue with the trademark is all but resolved now after Brooklyn made it clear he wasn’t making booze but wanted it for a restaurant.
“The menu is still being decided but it’ll be high quality burgers with his signature Buster hot sauces.
“It’s been something Brooklyn has always wanted to do. He has the full support of Nicola and her family, including her businessman dad Nelson, and is excited about the future.”
Being a chef is the latest in a long line of career ambitions for Brooklyn, 26.
He has previously tried his hand at modelling, acting and photography.
Romeo Beckham celebrates with family at birthday party as Brooklyn skips celebrations AGAIN amid family feud
He even had dreams of following in dad David’s footsteps as a professional footballer but failed to make the grade.
Brooklyn, David, 50, and mum Victoria, 51, are estranged following a series of rows, said to include disagreements over money.
Sources say he is now keen to move on and focus on his life with Nicola, 30.
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Being a chef is the latest in a long line of career ambitions for BrooklynCredit: Getty
WHEN Rio Ngumoha curled in his historic goal for Liverpool, fans of Chelsea AND Manchester United should have felt a kick in the guts.
Because although the teenage winger left the Blues’ Academy to join the Reds last year, London-born Ngumoha was a childhood United fan who spent time with the Red Devils before opting for Anfield.
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Rio Ngumoha scored a beauty on his Premier League debut for LiverpoolCredit: Getty
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But Chelsea and Man United would have winced as the strike hit the back of the netCredit: Getty
The wonderkid’s sensational winner against Newcastle made him the youngest scorer in Liverpool’s history and the fourth youngest in the Premier League era.
At 16 years and 361 days, Ngumoha was just one day older than Wayne Rooney when he announced himself to the world with an amazing strike against Arsenal in October 2022.
And it left Chelsea supporters in particular wondering how the club let one of English football’s greatest young talents get away.
Stamford Bridge legend John Terry is among those devastated that the club lost Ngumoha to their rivals.
Terry told SunSport: “He is a very ambitious boy that wanted to play first-team football and believed that was his pathway into Liverpool’s first team.
“I’m still in contact with him, but just a fantastic player.
“There’s going to be many more over the years that as an academy you lose, but there’s always one that you think, a bit gutted we missed out on that one.”
Terry has been back at Chelsea for a couple of years as a mentor to players at the club’s Academy and knew Ngumoha was something special.
Terry said: “We had a really good under-14 team and he was a big part of that.
“Just seeing him taking it and driving the defenders, being a defender myself, [I was] thinking I wouldn’t have liked that at all.
Sky Sports viewers ‘get motion sickness’ as Premier League adds new feature for Newcastle vs Liverpool coverage
“You don’t see too many players that are exciting like him anymore.
“He was a very confident player, taking the ball on the back foot, lots of personality, very confident in himself.
“Since the likes of [Eden] Hazard and Joe Cole and those types of players that are very confident and get the fans off their seat as well…I think football’s become a little bit stale and a little bit kind of tactical over the last four or five years.
“It’s refreshing to see players like him in the team and I’m sure the Liverpool players are speaking very well of him.
“He will be a top, top player, I’m sure of that.”
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Ngumoha was a star of the Blues’ Cobham academyCredit: Getty
From the moment Ngumoha came on against Newcastle, he showed the same confidence that had seen him grab the headlines in pre-season.
Terry was speaking after the winger had crowned a brilliant run with a fabulous finish in a friendly against Athletic Bilbao at Anfield, following an earlier strike against Yokohama Mariners during the Reds’ Far East tour.
Terry said: “He’s still only 16, which is incredible, but the confidence to kind of shrug people off, well-known established players in the Premier League, and go on and kind of chop inside and then put it in the bottom corner is a very good thing to do.
“But he showed that ability in the academy and unfortunately we’ve lost him.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on the boy, and I wish him well because he’s a great player.
“He’s also a great little kid as well, someone who wants to learn and wants to get better.”
Chelsea fans will be as gutted as Terry about losing Ngumoha, but United supporters should also wonder what might have been.
Because in one of his few interviews, he revealed that he was a United fan.
In a viral TikTok video promoting Adidas’ F50 boots, in which he was made to choose between David Beckham and Jude Bellingham, Ngumoha admitted: “I’m a Man United fan, I didn’t really watch Beckham, but I have to go with David Beckham”
In June last year Ngumoha spent time with United, who pushed for his signature, but admitted defeat to their rivals who were further ahead in the race to sign the talented youngster.
Mystery surrounds the details of Ngumoha’s move from London to Anfield.
Often when the hottest young talents change club, the saga is played out in public in a bitter row.
In response to losing one of their most talented teenagers, the Stamford Bridge hierarchy reportedly DENIED accreditation requests from Liverpool and Manchester United scouts who would be looking to poach their top players – though those in charge denied having done so.
In Ngumoha’s case there is radio silence, with no confirmation of what compensation Liverpool have had to pay Chelsea to snatch the player who joined the Blues Academy when he was eight.
Compare and contrast what happened when the Reds poached two other youngsters from London clubs.
Fulham were furious when Liverpool moved for Harvey Elliott in 2019 when he was 16.
It was not until February 2021 that the Reds were ordered to pay £1.5m, plus up to £2.8m in performance-related add-ons – a record fee at the time for a player of that age.
Further back, Liverpool caused controversy with their signing of Raheem Sterling.
The QPR youngster was only 15 when the Reds made their move in 2010, joining for an initial fee of £450,000 which would rise to up to £2m.
Ngumoha’s brilliance was no secret to anyone involved in youth development in English football.
He played a key role in Chelsea’s under-16 team being crowned national champions.
Ngumoha’s amazing individual goal for the Blues against Wolves in the Premier League Cup final for Under-17 sides in April 2024 was perhaps the first time a wider public saw his talent up close.
Ngumoha joined Liverpool officially in September last year, a few days after turning 16.
That is the age at which young players can sign two-year scholarship terms at clubs which combine more intensive training with ongoing academic execution.
Only Chelsea know what they offered him to sign scholar’s terms.
Transfer commentator Fabrizio Romano reported that the Reds broke their usual pay structure for young players to sign Ngumoha.
Others, including Terry, say that Ngumoha was impressed by the pathway for young players at Anfield after Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah were fast-tracked into the first team.
But the reality is that clubs poach each other’s top young talent all the time and Chelsea do it as much, if not more, than anyone else.
Tyler Dibling, like Ngumoha, was 16 when he left Southampton for the Blues in 2022, only to return to the Saints later the same year.
Dibling has just joined Everton in a deal worth up to £40m and is regarded by some as a potential superstar.
But Terry is not the only one to believe that in Ngumoha, Chelsea lost a generational talent.
And the young man himself has big dreams.
“I truly believe I can win the Ballon d’Or one day.
“I want to be regarded as one of the best players to ever play football and be a legend of the game.
“The love for football started when I was four or five, I was watching my brother, and I wanted to be like him.
“I was going to academies from a young age, and it was a big thing when so many clubs wanted to sign me.
“I have learned you have to be resilient and believe in yourself, you can have a few bad games, but you have to have that belief that you are the best.”
What Ngumoha did on Monday night at St James’ Park was the first step to fulfilling those dreams.
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TRANSFER NEWS LIVE – KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW
CARLOS ALCARAZ has unveiled a radical new look for the US Open – he has shaved off all his HAIR.
The five-time Grand Slam champion rocked up at Flushing Meadows on day two.
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Carlos Alcaraz had a full head of hair when he was at the US Open last weekCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
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Alcaraz stunned fans with a dramatic new look on Tuesday afternoonCredit: X
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Alcaraz was compared to David Beckham in the early 2000s by fansCredit: X
And fans were left shocked when they spotted him on the practice courts.
The Spaniard, 22, normally has thick, black hair and certainly did when he played in the Mixed Doubles Championship.
That was last Tuesday with Emma Raducanu on the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Yet ahead of his first-round encounter with lanky American Reilly Opelka on Tuesday evening, he turned up with a fresh skinhead.
It was a surprising look that was captured by US Open cameras and footage was posted on their Instagram channel.
The former US Open champion wore a white Nike Total 90 Dri-FIT soccer jersey, which was a sleeveless top.
It is perhaps a wise choice given the heat and humidity of playing in the Big Apple at this time of the year.
Nonetheless, the decision to chop off his locks was a recent one.
That was given that a video was posted on Monday of him attending St Patrick’s cathedral off Fifth Avenue.
The world-renowned tennis player was given a blessing from a Catholic priest – and in the footage, he has a full head of hair.
Petra Kvitova’s Tearful Farewell: The Emotional End of a Grand Slam Legend
Alcaraz is one of the biggest sportsmen on the planet and will be hoping for a deep run at the last Slam of the year.
In their last four tournaments together, Alcaraz and world No.1 Jannik Sinner have met in the final.
They battled it out in Rome, Paris, Wimbledon and Cincinnati.
Assuming he has not lost his magical powers like biblical hero Samson did following a hair cut, then there is a great chance Alcaraz and Sinner could meet again in the final on Sunday September 7.
How to watch the 2025 US Open
THE tennis world has descended upon New York City for the fourth and final slam of the year.
The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows will have the eyes of the sporting universe upon it.
The 2025 US Open takes place from Sunday 24 August to Sunday 7 September.
And there is a standalone mixed-double competition as well as qualifying taking place in the week beforehand.
ESPN is showing every moment live for fans in the United States, and you can sign up below.
*If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue
BROOKLYN Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz have shared a series of romantic snaps from their recent wedding vow renewal.
The ceremony was officiated by Nicola’s billionaire father Nelson – but Brooklyn’s parents David and Victoria were absent as their family feud rumbles on.
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Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz Beckham have renewed their vows and shared a series of snapsCredit: Instagram
Brooklyn and Nicola said ‘I do’ again on Nicola’s family estate on August 2 in Westchester County, New York.
Three years after they first tied the knot, the couple decided to have a low key ceremony to reaffirm their love for each other.
Brooklyn captioned the snaps “Only love” alongside a white heart emoji.
The tiny chocolate box village of Great Tew in Oxfordshire has just 156 residents and is served by one pub and a small cafe – but A-listers are moving in in their droves
12:13, 09 Aug 2025Updated 12:35, 09 Aug 2025
Welcome to Britain’s Beverly Hills – where the hum of private jets fills the air and a single sausage roll will set you back £8.
The tiny chocolate box village of Great Tew in Oxfordshire has just 156 residents and is served by one pub and a small cafe. But in recent years, famous names have arrived in their droves, with everyone from the Beckhams and Simon Cowell to US chat show host Ellen DeGeneres calling it home.
And hundreds descended on the local church last month to watch the late tech billionaire Steve Jobs’ daughter Eve, 27, wed Olympic showjumper Harry Charles, 26. The newfound popularity of Great Tew – which has more thatched cottages per square mile than anywhere else in the country – has sent house prices skyrocketing, with a simple three-bed in the OX7 postcode now fetching at least £2.5million.
Great Tew has just one cafe and one pub(Image: w8media)
Villagers reckon celebrities are drawn to the peace and quiet, but fear the parish will buckle under the strain. One says: “We’re overrun. People come here to celebrity spot. We’ve gone from being a place virtually nobody’s heard of to one of the UK’s most sought after. It’s pretty unbelievable when you think about it.”
Sausage rolls at Quince and Clover cafe cost £8(Image: w8media)
It hasn’t always been this way. In the 1970s, many of the cottages lay derelict. One historian described it as “one of the most depressing sites in the country” and coachloads of people would visit to get a glimpse of the abandoned village that time had forgotten.
But things changed in 2015, when exclusive private members’ club Soho Farmhouse pitched up on the outskirts. The venue hosted Meghan Markle’s hen do in 2018. The £2,500-a-year club, which offers everything from surfboard yoga sessions to a Japanese grill house serving seared fish salads, quickly became the go-to weekend escape for the well-to-do.
Soho Farmhouse is on the outskirts of Great Tew(Image: Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
A year later, David Beckham, 50, and wife Victoria, 51, nabbed the neighbouring barn conversion, which boasts a pool, football pitch and outdoor kitchen, for £6.15m. They were quickly followed by Simon Cowell, 65, and his fiancée Lauren Silverman, 48, who, locals say, have got stuck into village life.
One resident reveals: “Simon rides an electric bicycle. He’s a creature of habit and rides around the village each day on his set route before picking up a latte and smoothie from Quince and Clover.”
Great Tew in Oxfordshire has just 156 residents(Image: w8media)
A small coffee at that cafe-cum-delicatessen costs £4, while ice creams start at £6.50 and smoothies at £7.95. Eggs and avocado on toast is priced at £17.50, a salt-beef bap is £16.95, and a sausage roll – albeit one adorned with fennel and sunflower seeds – comes in at £8.
Prices at the Falkland Arms pub next door – the go-to watering hole for the Soho Farmhouse set – are more modest, with cocktails starting at £8.45. Many of the rich and famous arrive in helicopters and private jets, landing at nearby Enstone Airfield before being ferried to the pub in one of the club’s electric Porsches.
The Falkland Arms is popular with Soho Farmhouse guests(Image: w8media)
Ellen DeGeneres is another local – and the 43-acre pad she bought there is on the market for £22.5m. The US TV host, 67, and her wife Portia de Rossi, 52, paid £15m in 2019 and, according to the estate agent, have transformed the converted barn into “an enchanting and secluded rural retreat”. There is a gym and pool, and the potential to turn the helicopter hangar into a tennis or padel court.
There wasn’t, however, enough room for Portia’s beloved horses, so they moved nearby. Great Tew is smack bang in the middle of the so-called Cotswolds’ golden triangle, sandwiched between the affluent market towns of Chipping Norton and Burford. Former PM Boris Johnson, 61, and his wife Carrie, 37, live in the nearby village of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell and 65-year-old Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm is a 15-minute drive away. And US Vice President JD Vance, 41, is reportedly spending his summer in a sprawling manor house a stone’s throw away.
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is back and bosses have now confirmed the full line-up, including a member of the Peru Two drugs smuggling group and Rebecca Loos
The Celeb SAS 14 include stars from music, entertainment and sport(Image: Pete Dadds / Channel 4)
Celebrities from the world of music, entertainment and sport have lined up to take part in the most gruelling phase of Special Forces selection whilst being filmed so millions of people can watch from the comfort of their sofas.
Channel 4 bosses have chosen a wide selection of stars from football, reality TV and even a woman made famous as one of the ‘Peru Two’ drug smugglers for Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. Michaella McCollum will line up alongside other star names like Rebecca Loos, who had a rumoured fling with David Beckham as well as former Premier League footballer Troy Deeney.
The Seventh series will see the action play out over eight one-hour episodes as the 14 celebrities are put through their paces by an elite team of ex-Special Forces soldiers – Chief Instructor Billy Billingham and his team of Directing Staff (DS) – Foxy (Jason Fox), Rudy Reyes and Chris Oliver. They take the famous faces to Wales, the home of the first phase of SAS Selection, where they will be stripped of their home comforts, families, agents and social media.
This year’s course will be physically demanding and psychologically gruelling; all but a few who take part will fail, but the question is who will make it to the end and eventually pass?
Commenting on this year’s group of celebrity recruits, Chief Instructor, Billy said: “This course is not an attendance course, the bar is set high and will not waiver. Every recruit is a volunteer who chose to step into our arena. Although many will start, very few will finish and even less will pass. This is not for the weak minded or faint hearted.”
DS Foxy said: “The world is now a complex and dangerous place with threats coming from all angles. Because of that, we as a country need to be ready. We want to show these celebrity recruits what it takes to prepare for war, but do they have what it takes, far away from their privileged lives?”
DS Rudy commented: “SAS: Who Dares Wins is brutal, revealing and a testament to human perseverance. Punishing elements, relentless pace, and standards that make war fighters proud to give these recruits a hard reset to find their true self. And in that truth, an insight into the human experience for us all.”
DS Chris added: “This isn’t just about physical strength; it’s about mental resilience too. The recruits will be pushed to their limits, both individually and as a unit. Trust in each other will be our greatest asset. When the waves are high and the wind is howling, they will need to rely on the training and instincts if they are going to succeed.”
Adebayo “The Beast” Akinfenwa
The Beast getting reading to take on the SAS challenges(Image: Channel 4)
Age: 43
Famous for: Former Wycombe footballer
What they say about challenge: “I’ve asked myself time and time again – am I built for the Special Forces? One of the reasons why I’m doing this is to find out. I would like to think that, put me in most situations, most environments, I’ll be able to put my best foot forward, get out of my comfort zone, hit my responsibilities and do what I need to do! I think that’s what I want to get out of taking part on this course.”
Troy Deeney
Footballer Troy has joined the line-up(Image: Channel 4)
What they say about challenge: “I’m at a crossroads in my life, so I’m hoping the course can highlight the good and bad in me, and hopefully we’ll see at the end that the good outweighs the bad. I’m sure the DS will get me irritated very quickly but they will also know how to nurture and to reshape and probably help me along the way.”
Conor Benn
Conor admits the show will be very different to his day job(Image: Getty Images for AELTC)
What he says about the challenge: “Although boxing is hard, I feel like this is going to be a completely different challenge, and I always want to challenge myself. I just want to see and experience the toughness and the grittiness you need to pass this course.”
Louie Spence
Louie is hoping to challenge himself
Age: 56
Famous for: Dancer, choreographer and television presenter
What they say about challenge: “This course I hope can walk away feeling I’ve actually really achieved something here, that I’ve really pushed myself to the edge of my boundaries and put myself in a position which is beyond something I could have even imagined a year ago. This is a course that is really going to challenge me. This is different to anything I’ve ever been part of before. There’s no fluff, there’s no glitter, there’s no getting myself out of a situation with a quick bit of wit. It’s really refreshing for me to do something like this…and, hopefully, come out a much better person, both physically and mentally.”
Tasha Ghouri
The Love Island star is ‘excited’(Image: PA)
Age: 26
Famous for: TV star
What Tasha says about challenge: “I’m very excited to actually take on the course and just go for it, push myself and really challenge myself. But I also want to show people that having a disability makes you no less able – we can also push ourselves, and do crazy challenges if we put our mind to it.
“I really want to be able to actually walk away from the course feeling like I’ve accomplished what I wanted to do and I want to look back and think, wow, I did that, I’m proud of myself. I’ll be doing this for the people who have doubted me. I want prove to them that they can’t bring me down. I can fight my way to the end.”
Harry Clark
Former military man Harry was inspired by the SAS(Image: Channel 4)
Age: 24
Famous for: Winner of season two of Traitors
What they say about challenge: “Growing up, I’d watch people close to me be in the SAS, which always inspired me. This show was a different experience to what I had imagined but I always love a challenge and it proves you’re always learning new things about yourself.”
Hannah Spearritt
Singer Hannah wants to gain ‘strength’ from her experience
Age: 44
Famous for: S Club 7 star
What they say about challenge: “I hope to take out of this experience, strength. I want to feel stronger again, mentally and physically, because there’s always improvement there. There are always dips that happen along the way with motherhood or whatever but I think when you just experience different stuff, it changes you. I have no idea what to expect, but I do know it will be an experience and it’s something that I will have for life.
“However the experience goes, I am going to learn about myself. Maybe I’ll find out I am a bit of a mess or I might find out that I’m stronger than I think I am…it’s finding out things about yourself that you would never, ever find out. We live in this world where it’s so easy to live in our comfort zone, so this is an opportunity to get outside of that and…for me anyway, growth and expansion is one of the most important things, and that is something that hopefully I can pass on to my kids.”
Rebecca Loos
The show represents a TV comeback for Rebecca who did reality show The Farm in 2004(Image: Channel 4)
Age: 48
Famous for: Yoga teacher who had a rumoured fling with David Beckham
What they say about challenge: “I honestly don’t know whether I am mentally strong enough but one of the reasons I want to do this course is because I want to find out whether I’m able to stick it through mentally. I think it’s going to be really, really tough. This is by far the toughest thing I’ve ever done. But I want to do this course because it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to do an SAS training course. It’s going to be really interesting to see how far I can go and how strong I’m able to keep myself.”
Bimini
Bimini is hoping to prove they can do anything(Image: Channel 4)
Age:
Famous for: Drag queen and DJ
What they say about challenge: “I want to do this just to prove to myself that I’m capable of anything I put my mind to. I want to prove to myself that I can do it. No glam, no red carpets, no magazine covers. This is literally just going to be me to my core and I am excited about it but I don’t think the course is ready for Bimini.
“People in the UK love to debate gender like it’s a concept, not a lived experience. It gets reduced to headlines and toilet talk. I’m doing this to remind them that behind every opinion is a human being. The course, the SAS and the Army have got a very masculine stereotype and I’ve got both elements of masculine and feminine and that’s my superpower. Vulnerable, raw, and stronger than ever. This bleached rat tail is gonna f**k it up!”
Michaella McCollum
Michaella McCollum was one of the Peru Two(Image: Pete Dadds / Channel 4)
Age: 31
Famous for: One of the Peru Two drug mules
What they say about challenge: “The level of resilience I learned from being in prison in Peru and knowing how important that mindset is, will definitely help get me through the course, so I’m going to need to use my mental strength to help me along the way. In Peru, I was completely stripped back to the rawest version of myself…and I know in this course, it will have a similar effect. I will get to see the real me again and I want to challenge myself to see how capable I am. I don’t know if I’m physically fit enough to complete the course but I have good mental strength.”
What they say about challenge: “I hope I have the mental grit to get to the end of the course. I have been through quite a lot in my life, and I’ve done a lot of work to navigate what that left behind, and I really hope that I can apply it to the course, and make it all the way to the end.
“I’ve always wanted to do this course, and what I love about this course is the sheer pressure it puts on a human being, that you will just not get anywhere else in life. And I’ve had pressure, I’ve had so many forms of pressure, nothing like this, so I really just genuinely want to see how far my brain can go.”
Adam admits he loves a challenge(Image: Channel 4)
Age: 29
Famous for: Fitness coach and Love Islander
What they say about challenge: “Hopefully during the course, the DS will peel back a few layers because I’m stubborn as hell. And maybe I need to be broken down to then go and sort some stuff out.
“I’m doing it for the little boy who hated himself and couldn’t do anything and was the last to get picked in everything. And from an emotional point of view, I’m hoping that this spits out a better person.
“I love a challenge. And I really think this course is exactly what I want to really tap into my fitness, the mental strength, the resilience, and see if I’ve got the grit to finish and go all the way.”
Lady Leshurr
Lady Leshurr hopes to feel empowered(Image: Channel 4)
Age: 37
Famous for: Rapper
What they say about challenge: “I think this course is not only going to make me become the best version of myself, but it’s going to make me the strongest I’ve ever been. It’s going to make me realise so much about myself that I’ve kept in. It’s going to push, motivate and inspire me. It’s really going to make or break me. But regardless, it’s going to teach me a lesson about myself that I can definitely work on.”
“Doing this course is going to make me regain my strength, my understanding, who I am as a person and just unpack all the trauma that is on my chest…I’m hoping to leave this course feeling empowered, feeling the strongest I’ve ever felt, a beast. I want to walk into the gym the next day, like I own this place.”
Chloe Burrows
Chloe learnt a lot about herself(Image: Channel 4)
What they say about challenge: “On SAS: Who Dares Wins , everything is completely stripped back. You have absolutely nothing. And I want the course to kind of remind me of that, because I’ve got a bit lost in myself and the industry. I want to feel a little bit grounded. I want to get a sense of it. I want to push myself, and I want to get a sense of achievement. I want to feel proud of myself for whatever I put into it.
“I think the course is going to give me a bit of confidence. If I even achieve half of the course, then I can walk out and be like, yeah, guess what? I did that on my own. No makeup, no hot shower. I’m very capable…I would love to come out and just feel really pleased with myself and really confident in myself. I want to feel like I’ve tried my absolute hardest and that I had nothing left in the tank…I don’t want to leave half-heartedly. If I leave, it’s because I physically cannot do anymore, which is fair, but I just want to know that I’ve tried my hardest.”
* Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins can be streamed or watched live every Sunday and Monday from 9pm on Channel 4, starting on 3 August.
A stunning but wildly remote UK island, which hasn’t been permanently inhabited since the 1960s, is so exclusive even the Beckhams have visited – but getting there isn’t easy
This remote island was abandoned decades ago, but has since been cast under the tourist spotlight(Image: Getty Images/500px)
A remote island that was abandoned decades ago has seemingly rebranded itself as a tourist magnet for A-listers.
Stranded just off the east coast of Scotland, and a mere stone’s throw from the island of Jura, lies the idyllic isle of Scarba. Here, you’ll find an abundance of wildlife, including golden eagles and otters, sugar-like beaches, crystal clear waters, and a restorative sense of peace and quiet you never knew existed.
Offering uninterrupted views of the Hebrides, and enveloped in spooky myths, this island is set between the famous Corryvreckan whirlpool – which almost killed acclaimed writer George Orwell – and the notorious Grey Dogs tidal race. But the island is missing just one thing: people.
The island is rife with wildlife, including grey seals(Image: Getty Images)
In fact, Scarba hasn’t been permanently inhabited since the 1960s. Harsh living conditions and economic hardship meant many residents flocked to the mainland or abroad in search for a better life, significantly declining the island’s population until nobody was left. It is now privately owned by Lord Richard Sandys and features just one primary residence: Kilmory Lodge.
Only accessible via private charter boat, seaplane or helicopter, this five-double-bedroom house has been modernly updated to resemble a ‘cosy traditional lodge’ with log burning stoves and modern interior. The lodge, together with a bothy in the south, are the only permanent buildings on the island.
“The lodge is let on a fully catered basis for parties of up to 8/10 guests. The chef will prepare a cooked breakfast each morning before the day’s activities, including packed lunches or you might have a barbecue on the beach instead, and back to the lodge for a three-course dinner,” property experts over at George Goldsmith explain. “The Kilmory chef works with only the freshest, local ingredients, including langoustine which is dropped off on the pier and are all part of the Scarba experience.”
Kilmory Lodge and its hard-to-reach location are both what makes the island so exclusive, opening up its appeal to celebrities wanting to get away from the paparazzi.
The Beckham family enjoyed eating their catch at the cosy lodge(Image: @davidbeckham/Instagram)
Earlier this year, Scarba was propelled under the tourist spotlight after football legend David Beckham celebrated his 50th birthday here with his sons. The family is believed to have spent a night at the bothy during a boy’s fishing trip, before tucking into ‘fresh scallops, blue lobster and crabs’ for dinner.
On social media, David documented their time in the no-thrills bothy, joking his children were ‘smiling on the inside’ after sharing a picture of them huddled around the log fire. “Doesn’t get any fresher than this,” he captioned an Instagram story as he cooked seafood on an outdoor BBQ.
David said the trip to Scarba was ‘so much fun’(Image: @davidbeckham/Instagram)
It is not public knowledge how much Kilmory Lodge costs per night, but with its exclusive offerings and unique set up – it’s safe to say it won’t be cheap. You can enquire about visiting the property here.
Do you have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured
He shares a passion for horticulture with Charles and sported the King’s rose in his lapel.
Charles asked him: “You got it, didn’t you?”
Becks replied: “It was incredible, thank you. It was very kind.”
David Beckham meets with King Charles at Chelsea Flower Show
Letters inviting recipients to accept honours are sent out weeks in advance – and one may have already landed on David’s mat at the time of their chat.
He was first put forward for a knighthood in 2011 after helping to secure the London 2012 Olympics.
Becks retired from playing in 2013, and his finances were cleared by the taxman at least four years ago – paving the way for him to finally get the coveted honour.
The Beckham household will be glad of the good news amid a rift with their eldest son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola PeltzCredit: Getty
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The Beckhams from left to right: Romeo, Rome’s former girlfriend Kim Turnbull, Harper, Victoria, David, Cruz and Cruz’s girlfriend Jackie ApostelCredit: Tim Stewart
The Sun understands he narrowly missed out on a knighthood in the New Year Honours List published in December last year.
David and his wife — who shot to fame with the Spice Girls before becoming a successful fashion designer — have an estimated combined net worth of £500million.
David also has a long history of charitable work, which will have been considered by officials on the Honours Committee.
It was inspiring to hear from The King about the work of His Majesty’s Foundation
David Beckham
Last year, he was formally made a charity ambassador by the King, and beekeeper Becks was buzzing with excitement at teaming up with him.
Charles invited Beckham to Highgrove to learn more about the charity, which focuses on “creating better communities where people, places and the planet can coexist in harmony”.
Tours of the grounds help to fund workshops and courses in traditional skills and crafts, and the former footie star met woodworking and embroidery students.
Becks said at the time: “I’m excited to be working with The King’s Foundation and to have the opportunity to help raise awareness of the charity’s work.
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Former footie ace David played 115 times for EnglandCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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David and wife Victoria have an estimated combined net worth of £500millionCredit: Instagram
“I’ve always been keen to help young people to expand their horizons and I’m particularly looking forward to supporting the Foundation’s education programmes and its efforts to ensure young people have greater access to nature.
“Having developed a love for the countryside I’m also on a personal mission to learn more about rural skills which is so central to the Foundation’s work.
“It was inspiring to hear from The King about the work of His Majesty’s Foundation during my recent visit to Highgrove Gardens — and compare beekeeping tips.”
In 2020, he teamed up with the Chelsea Pensioners as he backed The Sun’s campaign to save the Poppy Appeal amid the devastating Covid lockdown.
He said he was “in awe” of the veterans as he delivered poppies to their London HQ.
David added: “With another lockdown coming it is more important than ever that we support our veterans.”
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David teamed up with the Chelsea Pensioners as he backed The Sun’s campaign to save the Poppy AppealCredit: The Sun
Becks, also dad to son Cruz and daughter Harper, has carried out lots of charity work focusing on children, and was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador 20 years ago.
To mark his 50th birthday last month he appealed for donations for the charity.
He was also a founding member of the leadership council of charity Malaria No More in 2009, helping to eradicate the disease, even visiting No 10 to highlight the issue.
In 2023, he delighted the Brentford Penguins – a football team for children with Down’s Syndrome — with a visit to celebrate them winning one of The Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards.
He took footballing son Romeo with him to lead a surprise training session.
The honours will be formally announced later this month.
The government does not comment on them beforehand.
WINNER ON PITCH AND OFF
BECKHAM enjoyed an 18-year career that included winning titles in four countries — England, Spain, the US and France — and made him one of the world’s best-known footballers. Some of his most striking moments are:
APRIL 1995: Becks makes his Premier League debut for Manchester United in a 0-0 draw against Leeds.
AUGUST 1996: Scores famous goal from halfway line against Wimbledon.
MARCH 1997: Meets Spice Girl Victoria at an Old Trafford charity match.
JANUARY 1998: Posh and Becks announce their engagement.
JUNE 1998: Plays in his first World Cup with England but is sent off in defeat against Argentina.
MARCH 1999: Has his first child, son Brooklyn, with fiancée Victoria.
MAY 1999: Wins the treble with United as they beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.
JULY 1999: Weds Posh in lavish ceremony in Dublin’s Luttrellstown Castle.
NOVEMBER 2000: Named England captain for first time.
OCTOBER 2001: Celebrates as his free-kick goal against Greece takes England to World Cup, left.
JUNE 2003: Joins Real Madrid after falling out of favour with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
JANUARY 2005: Becomes a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, having previously supported its work for children.
MARCH 2005: Opens his first football academy.
JULY 2005: Helps London to win its bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.
JULY 2007: Joins US side LA Galaxy, before two loan moves to Italian giants AC Milan while in LA.
JANUARY 2013: Joins Paris Saint-Germain, donating wages to kids’ charity.
MAY 2013: Retires from professional football.
FEBRUARY 2015: The 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund is launched to mark his tenth year as goodwill ambassador.
JUNE 2024: Becomes a King’s Foundation ambassador.
ARMY Sergeant Majors are being urged to stop shouting at sensitive recruits, we can reveal.
Rather than barking orders like in war film Full Metal Jacket, they are encouraged to be more like mild-mannered David Beckham.
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Windsor Davies as Sergeant Major Williams in It Ain’t Half Hot MumCredit: Rex
Regimental Sergeant Majors have traditionally been feared as they are responsible for enforcing Army discipline.
But Warrant Officer 1st Class Matt Howarth, head of the Army’s Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, told Soldier Magazine: “There are people who believe the drill sergeant in Full Metal Jacket is what we’re like.
“But the era when people shouted and screamed is long gone — for me, the picture of a good leader is more like David Beckham who never seemed to raise his voice.”
