enjoys

RICKY Gervais banked £16.2million from his sell-out 80-date live Mortality tour, accounts show.

The Brit comedy legend, 65, raked in £311,500 a week for the stint.

It meant the 2025-26 financial year was his best earner to date.

His firm, Red Lion 99, has £17.9million in assets and he has another £33.9million in his TV and film firms listed on Companies House.

Gervais will earn even more from a new nationwide tour, Legend, which starts this autumn.

Yet the Reading-born star is known to be disinterested in wealth.

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He once said: “People ask me why I dress like a tramp.

“And I say, ‘My clothes are clean and comfortable.

“Who am I trying to impress?’

“I don’t wear £50,000 watches. I don’t collect cars. I can’t drive.”

“Nothing gives me more of a buzz than to help an animal. I don’t get excited about things.

“I’m not a hippie or communist, I think money’s for the safety of your family and friends, and you can’t take it with you.”

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — As USC baseball coach Andy Stankiewicz noted the next additions that will be made to USC’s refurbished baseball stadium, he paused Monday night as a train rumbled loudly behind Blue Bell Park.

Stankiewicz, 61, smirked at the fitting metaphor after the Trojans clinched their first NCAA super regional berth in 21 years. He, after all, has rebuilt the USC program over his four seasons as head coach.

“Now we have a beautiful stadium,” he said of Dedeaux Field. “We’re going to have a beautiful clubhouse next year, batting cages and all that.”

As Stankiewicz attempted to utter another sentence, the train’s ear-piercing horn sounded.

USC baseball coach Andy Stankiewicz has guided the Trojans to the NCAA super regionals for the first time in 21 years.

(USC Athletics)

“That’s appropriate because we tell people the train’s moving,” Stankiewicz said. “Now we have a train honking its whistle. The train’s moving. We’re certainly excited to see where we’re going.”

The Trojans are definitely going places these days thanks to many players who believed in Stankiewicz’s vision despite knowing their on-campus stadium would be under construction for at least two seasons.

The Trojans had six players on the College Station Regional’s All-Tournament Team. Three of them — Abbrie Covarrubias, Kevin Takeuchi and Andrew Lamb — are upperclassmen who could have been tempted to transfer after they learned that they would be without a home field for two years. Junior shortstop Dean Carpentier is another upperclassman who believed in Stankiewicz.

“You talk about just kind of cornerstones,” Stankiewicz said. “Abbrie and Takeuchi … and Dean Carpentier and Andrew Lamb, these guys, they could have left. … They got here when we had a field, and they chose to stay.

“That’s something that I’m grateful for. It just tells you the quality of young men that they are. They’re here. They got two feet in and said, ‘I’m not going anywhere. I want to help build this program. Then to see the success that, not just Abbrie, but all of them have had, they’re great leaders. They lead by example.”

While Dedeaux Field was under construction, the Trojans played most of their home games in 2024 and 2025 at Irvine’s Great Park, 47 miles and another county away. They practiced at East L.A. College.

Yet, they still reached a regional final in 2025. They have gone a step further this year by climbing out of the losers’ bracket in the regional to eliminate Texas A&M and reach a super regional for the first time since 2005.

The Trojans didn’t just climb out of the losers’ bracket. They rumbled through like a runaway train, dominating with 55 runs over four losers’-bracket wins. They scored 21 of those runs over two victories against SEC power Texas A&M in the regional final.

The Trojans made themselves at home while playing in one of the SEC’s most hostile environments. It was as though the Trojans have grown accustomed to making themselves at home on the road in recent years.

Although parts of Dedeaux Field are still under construction, the Trojans were 32-1 there for the best home record in school history. USC (47-17) eclipsed the 40-win mark for the first time since 2005.

“Obviously being able to play at home this year has been a blessing,” designated hitter Augie Lopez said after he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the College Station Regional. “But the last couple of years we’ve just kinda showed up every day — whether that was in Irvine or East L.A. Community College for practice — just with the same mentality of we’re going to show up and put our work in and dominate no matter where we are.

“Just showing up every day and punching that time card and going to work and just putting your head down and knowing that no matter where you are (or) what home field you have or you don’t have a home field, we’re going to get it done and play quality baseball.”

USC pitcher Grant Govel throws to home against Texas State during an NCAA regional on May 29.

(Sam Craft / Ap Photo/sam Craft)

The 12-time national champions will face North Carolina at the Chapel Hill Super Regional in hopes of reaching their first College World Series since 2001. No player on the current roster was alive when the Trojans won their last national title in 1998.

Only a few were even born when USC made its last super regional appearance in 2005 at Oregon State.

“With the history that this program has, it’s been an honor to wear the Trojan brand on the front of my chest,” Lopez said. “Honestly just knowing that this team is the team to bring USC back to the super regional it’s incredible.

“Honestly, it hasn’t hit me until right now, but we’re just feeling absolutely grateful. I’m super blessed.”

You don’t need to hear the horn to realize USC’s train is moving in the right direction in Stankiewicz’s fourth season at the helm.

HELEN Flanagan has been enjoying a holiday in Newquay with her kids as she put the bitter rows with her ex Scott behind her after moving out of her ex’s home.

Helen parted ways from her long-term fiancé in 2022 after 13 years together – and she’s been open about how it wasn’t always plain sailing.

Helen was spotted with her kids in Newquay after having dinner at the Harbour Side Fish & Grill Restaurant overlooking the harbour.

The former Coronation Street star looked as stunning as ever in a pair of black shorts, low cut vest and sliders as she enjoyed the sunshine with her young children.

Helen is mum to daughters Delilah, seven, and Matilda, ten, as well as five-year-old son Charlie, who she shares with ex-partner Scott Sinclair.

In the snaps, she can also be seen with her lovely mother Julia, who Helen recently revealed still does all her washing – and even organises her kids’ schedules too.

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Helen is down in Newquay, Cornwall to be interviewed for the Lewis Nicholls Life Stories Show.

Earlier this year, Helen was forced out of her £1million family home by Scott as they never married and the house near Bolton is solely in his name.

The house looked bare, ready for the family to move out, just days after Helen and Scott were snapped moving their belongings into a van.

Back in January, a friend of Helen’s said: “Scott pays for the house and all the bills and he’s decided a six-bedroom place is way too big for Helen on her own with the kids.

“But Helen doesn’t want to move and is digging her heels in.

“She loves the place, the kids are settled at the local school and her mum and dad live around the corner.”

“Scott wants to buy Helen a four-bedroom home. He’s even offered to put it in her name but wants to stop the maintenance payments.

“The relationship has completely broken down. They no longer communicate — everything goes through her parents.”

Last year we reported the house was put on sale for £1.5million before being reduced to £995,000.

I’M A Celebrity star Jake Quickenden has enjoyed a family day out at the fair with his kids following his shock split from his “soulmate” wife Sophie Church.

Sources confirmed to The Sun last week that Jake and Sophie, who share two children together, have formerly separated.

The pair married in 2022 but called it quits earlier this month, telling their friends and family.

The source told us they “remain incredibly amicable” and their “main priority is the kids.”

Jake has been spotted in dad mode this bank holiday weekend as he took his sons Leo, 5, 16-month-old Kit and Freddie, 10 – Sophie’s son from a previous relationship – on a fun day out.

The family were spotted grinning from ear-to-ear as they posed in front of a handful of stalls at the fair.

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In one snap, Jake was seen sitting on a carousel clutching his youngest son as they soaked up the weekend vibes.

The kids enjoyed playing games at the fair and even came away from the trip with a few teddy bears to their name.

Toddler Kit looked over-the-moon in another picture as he played with the ducks in the hook-a-duck pond.

Elsewhere, Jake, 36, was seen taking a dip with his kids in a splash pool – the family certainly had a jam-packed day.

Underneath his Instagram post, one fan wrote: “It looks like you had a lovely day with your boys @jakequickenden making memories.“

Another fan penned: “You’re a great dad Jake, so glad you all had fun x”

Former X Factor star Jake and his ex Sophie are fully committed to being the best parents possible during this tough time.

They called time on their romance after growing apart.

A source said: “Over time, they started to grow apart and Jake and Sophie have had some long and honest conversations about this.

“While they might not be together any more, they are still on great terms and are looking to the future, co-parenting together. Maintaining a happy and supportive family unit together is their focus now.”

Singer Jake recently broke his silence on the split after he replied to a fan who said: “Whatever is happening the kids have the best parents ever…dad and mum who love them so much!

“I hope things work out for the best! Positively you way!”

Jake replied: “Appreciate that, they are all that matter.”

Influencer Sophie and Jake first began dating in 2018 and proposed three years later in Rhodes, Greece.

DECADES on from when ‘Ladette’ culture dominated the 1990s, the trend appears to be making a comeback – with popular TV stars at the forefront.

Olivia Attwood and Helen Flanagan are leading the charge as they rally against a polished media profile in favour of authenticity… just like original ladettes Sara Cox, Zoe Ball and Denise Van Outen.

From Olivia’s raucous holiday with Pete Wicks instead of her husband, to Helen starring in steamy dating shows with three kids at home, the girls are proving they won’t apologise for doing what they want – despite facing backlash over their part in the era’s resurgence.

It follows a spell of female stars in the spotlight – like Holly Willoughby – who took on the “good girl” image – with any suggestion of naughtiness carefully constructed for dramatic effect.

PR and Entertainment expert Lynn Carratt said: “The ladette era was famous in the late 90s, early 00s as an era in which women ruled supreme.

“And now it appears the boozy and unfiltered 90s trend is enjoying a second wave.

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“TV stars Olivia Attwood and Helen Flanagan appear to be leading the revival with the same throwback energy – loud, emotional, unpredictable, and unapologetically visible – like Sara Cox and Zoe Ball, back in the day.”

While Holly Willoughby was famous for juggling being the nation’s sweetheart on This Morning, alongside her role as a doting wife and mother of three, younger female celebrities don’t feel the need to pretend they have it all figured out.

The 45-year-old would feign shock and giggle behind her hand at any filthy humour on her ITV2 show Celebrity Juice, which aired after 9pm, but her hangovers after the National Television Awards became a well known skit.

In 2016, dressed in her ballgown from the night before, Holly hosted This Morning alongside Phillip Schofield in a tux, telling viewers: “I haven’t been home yet. I came straight here.”

It became a running joke every year about Holly’s “wild” night out – but those behind the scenes suggest it was all carefully curated.

Then, along came former Love Island star Olivia who has become ITV‘s newest darling – presenting a host of shows including Bad Boyfriends and Getting Filthy Rich.

The 34-year-old has recently separated from her husband of three years, footballer Bradley Dack.

She says the split has made her feel “incredibly passionate” about being self-sufficient.

“Navigating what I’ve been going through, the fact I have my own place and car, I can’t even imagine not being able to look after myself,” she says.

Last summer, she ended up in the doghouse with her then-husband Brad when she was pictured cuddled up to close pal Pete on a yacht in Ibiza.

The pair have since struck up a secret romance following her marriage split in January. Pals insist “there was no overlap”.

Soon after her wild week with pals in Ibiza where she was spotted dancing on a boat in a thong bikini, downing shots and posting hungover pics, Olivia was back on This Morning presenting.

Lynn added: “You have to hand it to Olivia Attwood, she has managed to do what few reality stars achieve to do and turn notoriety into a high-profile media career.

“She is a permanent fixture on ITV with presenting roles and prime-time appearances, she has built a success podcast brand, as well as appearing on Kiss.

“She one of reality TV’s most in-demand personalities and has developed a polished media profile. But sitting alongside that something far more chaotic behind the scenes: headline-making holidays, relationship drama and brutally honest social media posts that regularly ignite debate and she likes to party.

“One minute she’s fronting glossy TV projects, the next she’s dominating tabloid headlines with candid revelations about love, life and everything in between.

“It seems like controlled chaos, but it’s working for her.”

Meanwhile mum of three Helen has recently come under fire for being on Celebs Go Dating and Celebrity Ex on the Beach.

She has been outspoken about the criticism she’s faced for taking part, particularly as a mother.

‘I find it empowering,” Helen said previously.

“There have been comments on social media suggesting I shouldn’t be doing a show like that as a mum of three, but no one would say that about a dad.

“Women should be allowed to have fun and enjoy themselves too.”

Lynn added: “Helen has stepped firmly back into the reality TV spotlight and is currently appearing on Celebrity Ex on the Beach, enjoying herself in a villa under 24/7 filming, sun-soaked conditions and constant emotional scrutiny.

“The former soap star and mum of three was filmed constantly in bikinis, drinking, flirting and kissing on screen, embracing a level of unfiltered reality television that feels ripped straight from the early 2000s.

“Helen’s comments strike at the heart of the debate surrounding modern ladette culture: who gets to be seen as ‘wild’, and who gets judged for it.”

So why now is there a resurgence of the 90s ladette era?

Lynn continues: “In an era of heavily curated Instagram perfection and tightly managed celebrity branding, audiences are increasingly drawn to the opposite – unpredictability, imperfection and personalities who don’t play it safe.

“Olivia Attwood and Helen Flanagan sit at the centre of this shift.

“One balancing mainstream ITV success with headline-grabbing personal drama, the other embracing high-emotion reality television where nothing is off-limits.

“And right now, they are doing anything but staying quiet.”