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AFTER quitting smoking years ago, Rachel Stevens was spotted in a rare relapse as she puffed on a cigarette on a recent trip to London.

While many a celeb has been caught giving in to their smoking urges, the image is a far cry from her “clean girl” Instagram aesthetic and carefully curated social media, and Insiders tell The Sun that the cheeky cig-break is only a glimpse of the real Rachel, who has hidden behind her S Club 7 persona for years.

One source close to the singer says: “People have always had this perception of Rachel as the ultimate girl-next-door. She’s sweet, wholesome, polite and completely drama-free, but the truth is she’s always been far more complex than that.”

“Rachel has spent years carrying the weight of an image that was created when she joined the band aged just 19, and while she appreciated the love from fans, there were times when she felt trapped by the expectations.”

Even now, at 48, Rachel’s online world remains extremely polished.

Just days ago, she was posting perfectly styled outfits, wellness content and carefully framed snapshots of her life.

Scroll through Rachel’s social media, and you’ll find plenty of evidence of the lifestyle she has built her brand around. One day she’s sharing a Pilates session, the next she’s posting from the gym lifting weights or promoting healthy meals and wellness products. Yoghurt bowls, workout routines and clean living have become as much a part of her image as the pop career that made her famous.

What she wasn’t posting about was arguably one of the biggest professional moments she has had in years.

This summer, S Club reunited to support Boyzone on the first night of their Final Farewell tour at London’s Emirates Stadium.

It marked one of the band’s most significant performances since October 2023.

Yet while many artists would have flooded their feeds with backstage snaps and promotional content, Rachel largely stayed quiet. There were a handful of Stories and a Reel, but little fanfare.

Though some fans were left questioning her excitement, for those close to Rachel, it’s entirely typical.

Our source said: “Rachel has always separated the public version of herself from her private life. She doesn’t feel the need to broadcast everything she’s doing. People assume they know her because she’s been famous for so long, but actually she’s one of the more private people in show business.”

That privacy perhaps explains why so much of Rachel’s personal life has unfolded away from public view.

For years, she was considered to be in one of show business’s most stable relationships. Her marriage to childhood sweetheart Alex Bourne appeared rock solid.

The couple had first met as teenagers before reconnecting later in life, eventually marrying and having two daughters together. Which is why their split in 2022 sent shockwaves through fans.

Following the breakdown of her marriage, Rachel began dating Dancing On Ice professional Brendyn Hatfield. They were together for three years, before calling it quits last summer.

The relationship attracted huge attention, with speculation swirling about timelines and cheating rumours that Rachel was ultimately forced to deny. According to those close to her, the experience was deeply uncomfortable.

A pal said: “Having private matters become public talking points was incredibly difficult for Rachel.

“She’s always preferred to keep her personal life out of the spotlight. The divorce came as a shock not just to fans but to people around her too because they genuinely thought the marriage would last forever.”

Yet relationship drama is far from the only challenge Rachel has faced.

Perhaps the most startling chapter of her life came years earlier when she found herself caught up in two terrifying incidents within weeks of each other. In 2009, Rachel was violently attacked during a robbery at her North London home.

The singer later recalled being ambushed by a man who grabbed her around the neck and covered her mouth.

Speaking in court years later, she admitted she was left “absolutely terrified”. Just weeks after that ordeal, she found herself caught up in another traumatic incident while having dinner with family in St John’s Wood when a gunman opened fire nearby during a gangland shooting.

The experiences left a lasting mark – Rachel later revealed she suffered PTSD, anxiety and fears around travelling alone with strangers.

The star admitted: “The two incidents that happened so close together definitely caused a lot of post-traumatic stress. After that, I felt scared to even leave my house, get out of my car, and I was just very fearful.”

It was a side of the pop star the public rarely saw. After all, while Rachel was being voted one of the sexiest women in Britain and appearing on magazine covers, privately she was battling fears few fans knew existed.

The source adds: “Everyone assumed she was confident because she was on TV and branded one of the sexiest celebrities in the world every week. But privately she could be incredibly anxious and hard on herself.”

Even Rachel’s driving ban became a talking point because it didn’t fit the image many people had of her.

The singer appeared in court after accumulating 21 penalty points from five speeding offences and attempted to avoid a ban by explaining how it would affect work commitments and family life.

Again, it surprised many because it felt so at odds with the Rachel the public thought they knew. But insiders insist that’s precisely the point.

Our source explained: “She’s made mistakes, faced challenges and dealt with consequences when things have gone wrong. The idea that she’s some squeaky-clean pop robot isn’t accurate. But neither is the suggestion that there’s some secret wild side waiting to be exposed.”

Indeed, those closest to Rachel say these photos will reveal a whole new authentic side to the pop star.

An insider added: “What people are seeing now is a woman who’s much more comfortable being herself. The smoking pictures might surprise some fans, but those who know Rachel aren’t shocked.

“She’s never claimed to be perfect, and she’s certainly never lived her life trying to be a saint.”

For years, Rachel Stevens was boxed into a role she never quite chose: the impossibly perfect girl next door. But behind the green juices has always been somebody far more human.

As one insider puts it: “The real Rachel sits somewhere in the middle. Warm, emotional, resilient, occasionally rebellious and a lot more human than the image people have projected onto her for the last 25 years.”

And if a cigarette outside a venue is finally enough to remind people of that, Rachel probably won’t lose too much sleep over it.

WHEN his relationship with pop star Sabrina Carpenter imploded 18 months ago, Barry Keoghan’s life was left in tatters amid allegations he cheated.

The award-winning actor, who is playing Ringo Starr in the hotly anticipated Beatles biopics, disappeared from public life after being relentlessly attacked online by Sabrina’s fans.

But last week, Dublin-born Barry stepped back into the limelight with a new woman on his arm.

And far from being a global superstar, she’s a down-to-earth Brit.

“Barry’s new girlfriend is Danica Hall,” a friend tells The Sun. ­“Compared to Sabrina she couldn’t be more low key.

“She was born in Staffordshire and moved to London a few years ago. She was working for a cosmetic surgery company on Harley Street.

“Danica — or Neeka as her mates call her — is well-connected through her work. She met Barry through mates and they started talking. It evolved into a romance and they’ve both been totally smitten.”

Saltburn and Peaky Blinders star Barry, 33, and Danica, 29, were photographed together for the first time last week. They were seen ­kissing while picking up coffees on a relaxed holiday in Barcelona.

Friends say the pair have been together officially for weeks, with those close to Barry telling The Sun that Neeka reminds them of Alyson Kierans, the mother of his three-year-old son Brando.

The 39-year-old dated Barry from 2021 to July 2023, five months before he was first linked to Sabrina.

“Alyson was a dental nurse when she met Barry,” a pal explains.

“She didn’t court the spotlight then and she certainly doesn’t now.

“Her relationship with Barry may be over but they will share their son forever. She is a devoted mother and caring for Brando is her priority.

“That is something Barry really values in a partner. That sense of ‘normalness’ he had with Alyson, who wasn’t bothered about living a public life, is what his friends think he has found again in Neeka.”

Barry’s new romance is a stark contrast to the one he had with American singer Sabrina, 27.

They became one of 2024’s biggest It couples, with loved-up appearances at Coachella and the Met Gala.

Barry was even rolled out as part of Sabrina’s album campaign for Short N’ Sweet, appearing in the music video for her single Please, Please, Please.

“Neeka is totally in sync with Barry,” a friend explains. “When their relationship got more serious, she deleted all of her social media profiles, even her LinkedIn.

“She gets that he wants to live a quiet life and she is totally down with that.”

Those close to Barry also say that he has never been happier.

A pal adds: “Career- wise, Barry is going from strength to strength.

“The Beatles biopics will be intense from next year, with promotion all over the globe and Barry knows his feet won’t touch the ground.

“With Neeka, he’s been able to spend time doing things he loves. Working hard, living a quiet life and hanging out with his mates.”

When Barry split from Sabrina after a year, a source cited their busy workloads. But then all hell broke loose.

Social media trolls and hardline Sabrina fans accused him of cheating.

The unfounded claims were fuelled further by a TikTok personality called Breckie Hill, who was linked to Barry on a gossip website. In a statement posted just days after his split was made public, Barry wrote: “I can only sit and take so much. I deactivated my account because I can no longer let this stuff distract from my family and my work.

“The messages I have received — no person should ever have to read them.

“Absolute lies, hatred, disgusting commentary about my appearance, character, how I am as a parent and every other inhumane thing you can imagine.”

Those close to Barry said it was comments about his late mother, who died of a heroin overdose when he was 12, that hurt the most.

The star, who spent his formative years in and out of the care system in Ireland, said of his background: “She was just unable to look after us.

“My father wasn’t there and so we got taken into care.

“That kind of thing still haunts me. You don’t forget waiting on the social worker’s steps and waiting for a new family to come and play with you. You ask: why you?”

In his heartfelt statement announcing he was leaving social media, Barry also described the messages sent to him.

He wrote: “Talking about how I was a heroin baby and how I grew up, and dragging my dear mother into it. Knocking on my granny’s door. Sitting outside my baby boy’s house intimidating them. That’s crossing a line.”

But just four months after he bid a public retreat, Barry was unveiled as one of the new Fab Four for Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopics.

Insiders revealed that he threw himself into the work alongside Paul Mescal, Harris Dickinson and Joseph Quinn ahead of filming, which started production earlier this year.

He was rarely seen or gave ­interviews, and kept a low profile.

But last August, he hit the headlines again after Sabrina dropped her album Man’s Best Friend, which once again led to frenzied speculation that some of the songs were about him.

She even remade the video for Please, Please, Please, with the new version showing Barry’s character tied up in the boot of her car.

Sabrina refused to shut down allegations of cheating and said of her album: “I write songs about exactly how I feel, so I guess I can’t be surprised that people are interested in who and what those songs are about.”

In March this year, Barry told how he was still getting abuse online. He said: “There’s a lot of hate online. There’s a lot of abuse of how I look, and it’s kind of past the point of, ‘Everyone goes through that’.

“And everyone does, but it’s made me shy away.

“It’s made me really go inside myself, not want to attend places, not want to go outside.

“And I say this being absolute pure and honest to you. It’s becoming a problem.”

The following month he addressed the backlash around Sabrina, saying: “There was a narrative out there that was never really sort of even spoken on — a narrative that’s not true — and I never confirmed or said anything about it. And I just disappeared.

“I’m not asking for people to become my fans and like me because that’s not normal.

“I’m asking for people to stop assuming and also stop jumping on this narrative and attacking me and dragging me down in any way you can. I’m not saying this for pity. Why is it cool to hop on and beat someone up?”

Now, those close to Barry insist he will not be hard-launching his romance with Danica.

A friend added: “He has been through a high- profile romance, he’s not in a hurry to go back.

AFTER taking a break from music to focus on her acting career, Ariana Grande made a triumphant return to the stage this weekend.

She kicked off her first tour in seven years with a show in Oakland, California, in front of 20,000 fans. In August, she will play ten sold-out nights at London’s O2 Arena. But among the celebrations, she’s sparked concerns from those close to her, who have been blindsided by the news of her break-up with her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater.

In a cruel twist of fate, hours after she wrapped up that first show, news broke that she had split from Ethan after three years together.

After being burned multiple times while growing up in the spotlight,
I’m told Ariana keeps her circle so small that many in her wider team
had no idea she was single once more.

A source tells me: “Some artists have Zoom calls with their wider teams
almost weekly to keep everyone across what is happening in their lives, in case stories break.

“But with Ariana, it’s all on a need-to-know basis.

“She fully understands the interest in her life and openly channels
her personal experiences into her music and art, but at the same time,
she has no desire to give a running commentary about what goes on
off-stage.

“Her break-up with Ethan is a prime example of that.

“Many of her wider team thought they were still together until the
news broke.

“There has been no big ‘gotcha’ moment; things have simply
run their course.”

To make matters worse for the superstar, the toxic side of the
internet immediately began to speculate en masse about Ari’s body
image during her latest performance.

It is a topic she has repeatedly asked fans to drop and was so upset by previous speculation about weight loss that she felt forced to speak out online.

Posting on TikTok in 2023, Ariana said: “I just wanted to address your
concerns about my body and talk a little bit about what it means to be
paid such close attention to.

“The body that you’ve been comparing my current body to was the
unhealthiest version of my body.

“I was on a lot of antidepressants and drinking on them and eating
poorly, and at the lowest point of my life, when I looked the way you
consider me healthy.

“But that in fact wasn’t my healthy. You never know what someone is
going through, so be gentle with each other.”

Ari also used the lead single from her 2024 album to tell fans to back off.

On Yes, And? she sings: “My face is sitting, I don’t need no disguise.
Don’t comment on my body, do not reply. Your business is yours, and
mine is mine.”

She added in November 2024: “I love my fans. I love them always, but I
think they can sometimes hurt my feelings, and sometimes I don’t like
them — but I love them always.”

In my experience, Ariana has always been sweet and kind.

I met Ariana when she was attending the 2025 Baftas. That year, the glitzy bash was brimming with A-list stars, with Timothée Chalamet, Selena Gomez, Cynthia Erivo, Pamela Anderson, and Demi Moore all in attendance.

Despite arguably being the biggest name in the room, Ari seemed almost
overwhelmed by the hysteria around her and was surprisingly shy.

When I was making my way to an unplanned toilet break after enjoying one too many glasses of bubbles, I bumped into Ari being escorted to another part of the venue for official photos.

It was just her, her chaperone, and me in our part of the corridor. Being a fan, I shamelessly saw my chance and took it.

Keen not to make eye contact with her security, who I knew would
rebuff my request, I smiled at the superstar, quickly telling her how
I had supported her career for years and asked for a selfie.

Ariana immediately took pity on me, thanking me and saying “of course” to a quick snap.

Clearly on a tight schedule, her chaperone tried to move her on.

“No, no, it’s okay,” she sweetly told him, before we got into position
and posed for a few pictures.

After a brief chat about the evening ahead, where she was nominated for
Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as Glinda in
Wicked, we went our separate ways.

Someone at her level could easily be cold and uninterested—believe me,
I’ve met enough stars like that over the years.

But despite a decade of torrid luck, Ariana clearly hasn’t let the industry jade her.

Ari has endured more in the last few years than most of us will in a lifetime.

In 2017, 22 people were killed and more than 1,000 were injured when her concert at the Manchester Arena was bombed in a horrific terror attack.

The following year, her former boyfriend, rapper Mac Miller, tragically died from an accidental overdose shortly after their break-up.

The singer then endured intense, highly unfair harassment from online
trolls blaming his passing on her.

While reps insist there was no overlap in either relationship, the fact that both she and Ethan were married when they first met on the set of Wicked fuelled the rumour mill once again.

As is so often the case, it was Ariana, the woman, who became the
lightning rod for abuse, while Ethan largely escaped scot-free.

The Wicked press tours were also pounced on as an opportunity for mass
speculation about her changing image.

Speaking to the Sun, fashion designer and singer Laura Marshall says:
“Often changes in body image aren’t surface-level; they are the side
effects of a deeper pain that manifests in control.

“Being questioned in this way makes it so much worse.

“Speculating doesn’t help. Judging doesn’t help. Showing kindness and compassion is the only way to handle it.”

Before her split from Ethan, Ariana had finally begun to find inner
peace and confidence once more.

Her eighth album, Petal, is set for release on July 31, penned about
finding life again after something “cold and challenging.”

Ariana explained: “Petal is something that is full of life and growing
through the cracks of something cold and hard and challenging.

“It’s definitely from a place where I have been maybe too shy or
polite to tap into before. This kind of just feels like, ‘f*** it.’

“It was about breaking up with all different kinds of negative
attachments—whether it’s my own monsters in my own head, external
voices, or things that no longer serve me.”

The lead single, Hate That I Made You Love Me, has already given Ari
her eighth UK No.1 single since 2020’s Positions.

I can’t imagine having to go on stage while navigating a break-up at
any point, let alone performing a show explicitly based on my own past
heartbreaks and traumas.

And the new show has it all.

A truly spectacular pop concert packed with hit after hit,
interspersed with thought-provoking interludes hinting at Ariana Grande’s turbulent past decade.

The production is based on her seventh album, Eternal Sunshine, which
chronicled the breakdown of her marriage to Dalton Gomez and her finding love with actor Ethan Slater.

During the opening night, she broke down in tears, seemingly overcome
with emotion at being back on stage after previously admitting she
thought she would never tour again.

I hope for Ari’s sake that spectators and fans think twice before
speculating en masse as she continues to take to stages around the
world.

After everything she’s been through, the fact that she even wants to
perform is remarkable. At the very least, she deserves kindness.

MADONNA has landed a host of A-listers to feature in cameos on her new music film.

Last night the Queen of Pop premiered the 13-minute Confessions II — featuring Hollywood’s Benedict Cumberbatch, supermodel Kate Moss and several other celebrities.

The film features six songs from her upcoming album.

During the one unreleased track, Danceteria, the singer slinks through a bathroom where Chelsea football aces Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro are at the urinal, while Richard E. Grant, Gwendoline Christie, Shygirl, Kate and Benedict rave in the toilet disco.

Sabrina Carpenter, who teamed up with Madge on the record’s lead single, the recently released Bring Your Love, also has a starring role.

Julia Garner, who was cast as Madonna in a yet-to-be-filmed biopic, appears in a scene where Madge flies over the crowd.

KATIE’S TRUTH

Watch full chat with Katie Price as The Sun puts ALL Lee Andrews’ lies to her

OH BI-HAVE

Bianca Censori crawls on the floor in a g-string thong for Kanye’s birthday

The superstar’s ­daughter, Lourdes Leon, is in there too.

Other new tracks in the film are I Feel So Free, Good For The Soul, One Step Away and Read My Lips.

I first told in March how the superstar had enlisted her showbiz pals to be part of a four-day shoot at a West London studio for the video — and now she has proved it was worth the wait.

Her Confessions II collection is set to be released on July 3 — 21 years after her original Confessions On A Dancefloor album came out.

I revealed at the weekend that she is now eyeing up plans for potential concerts to celebrate the record’s release — but you are unlikely to see her follow in other stars’ footsteps with a Las Vegas residency.

Name-checking a state-of-the-art 20,000-capacity arena in Paradise,

Nevada, she said, during a Q&A: “Sphere seems cool, but I don’t want to wake up and look at Vegas every day.”

And she’s ready for fans to ditch their phones at any future gigs. She added: “Put your phones down, go out, and connect with people.

ABBA have hatched a scheme to take Mamma Mia! The Party to Manchester after it proved a hit in ­Stockholm and London.

Plans for a new entertainment venue next to the city’s Etihad Stadium have been recommended for approval by council planners.

The three-storey venue, set to be built beside Man City’s new North Stand and close to the Co-op Live, would offer a theatrical dining experience for up to 600 guests.

City have teamed up with entertainment giant Pophouse – founded by Abba’s Bjorn Ulvaeus – for the project, with bosses saying the city’s rich music heritage made it the perfect home for the production.

Pophouse chief executive Jessica Koravos said: “Manchester is known for its innovation in music and entertainment and we cannot think of anywhere better to bring one of the world’s most ­popular and ground breaking theatrical productions.”

TRAITOR STEPHEN’S MUSICAL

TRAITORS winner Stephen Libby fancies himself as the next Andrew Lloyd Webber.

I can reveal the Scottish fashionista has penned a musical that he hopes to bring to the West End in the not-too-distant future.

A source said: “Stephen has the musical all written and ready to go.

“He has always dreamed of his work making it to the West End.

“With The Traitors opening so many doors – both financially and in terms of connections – he feels like the time could be now.

“He’s been having various meetings and things are looking promising.”

Stephen and fellow Traitors winner Rachel Duffy split the hit BBC show’s £95,750 prize money earlier this year.

Since then he has been a regular on the showbiz circuit in London and even landed an ad hoc hosting job on ITV’s This Morning.

NIALL HORAN is on course to catch up with his One Direction bandmate Harry Styles this ­week by scoring his third No1 album.

The Irish singer released Dinner Party on Friday and it is ­currently in the lead to top the charts, after Sir Paul McCartney claimed pole position last week with The Boys Of ­Dungeon Lane.

ACE THEO TACKLES TOXICITY

FORMER England ace Theo Walcott is getting into the World Cup spirit despite hanging up his footie boots.

The Arsenal legend has teamed up with EE to front its new Yes Boys campaign.

The initiative aims to shine a light on the negative online influences shaping boys’ attitudes both on and off the pitch.

It comes as new data reveals 42 per cent of boys aged 11 to 16 encounter outdated phrases like “men shouldn’t show emotion” and “boys need to toughen up” every week.

Progress has been made over the years, but clearly there is still a long way to go.

DOLLS ASH: MY DANCE TRAUMA

PUSSYCAT DOLLS star Ashley Roberts has admitted she was so burned out when the group split in 2010 that even seeing people dance would make her cry.

The girls were known for their intense, choreographed routines but Ashley couldn’t bear to bust any moves after the break-up because of the trauma wrapped up in the group’s original run.

She said: “It was absolutely heartbreaking. I couldn’t even actually watch dancing because I would just be bursting into tears.

“When it first became my job, I was like, ‘Well, this is epic’.

“But then it got wrapped up in this bubble of a major pop group that was a global success.

“I got a bit on the other side and I was like, ‘Well, who am I actually outside of this, right?’

“I just felt very lost, very disconnected to the one thing that actually made me feel like it was like the essence of life to me.

“I just didn’t really recognise myself.

“And it was a really, really tough time.”

Thankfully Ashley has since healed herself, as well as her relationship with performing, and has reunited with Nicole Scherzinger and Kimberly Wyatt for a tour here this autumn.

On how she feels to be back, she told Fearne Cotton on her Happy Place podcast: “Everybody’s like, ‘No, you’re in shape – you got this’.

“I’m like, ‘No, this is a whole other beast’.

“It’s like running a marathon in heels.

“We’re like, ‘Screw it’. You never know when we’re going to be able to do this again.

“We’ve got to just do it – we’ve got to say yes and just go for it.”

Swissh look, Sam

SAM SMITH mixed business with glamour by pairing a shirt and tie with an eye-catching gold corset.

The Stay With Me singer’s snap has been released for the first time as part of a book called The Elegance Of Time, celebrating the 60th edition of Switzerland’s Montreux Jazz Festival.

Sam played at the event – held annually near Lake Geneva – in 2023, and this photo, along with 150 other intimate portraits of artists including Raye, Lionel Richie, Benson Boone and Pulp, will be included in the book, which is out tomorrow.

BBC bosses splashed out on therapy for UK Eurovision act Look Mum No Computer after he came last in the contest and was ridiculed online.

The performer, whose real name is Sam Battle, said the fallout from his quirky entry Eins, Zwei, Drei is ongoing, so he is still seeing a counsellor.

Sam told The Euro Trip podcast: “There was some sort of therapy stuff. The BBC got me a therapist, which is amazing.

“I’ve never really had one before. They were very accommodating. In fact, I’ve still got the therapist because obviously the fallout is another thing. They don’t just leave you.”

Now Sam reckons the only way forward for the UK at Eurovision is to send a hard rock band.

He said: “We went for ‘very good sensible pop songs’ and then for something ‘a little bit left field’. Still didn’t quite work.

“My tip? Metal. Do we have anything to lose?”

JODIE Marsh was once one of the most photographed women in Britain, with her belt-braced boobs becoming one of the defining images of early Noughties celebrity culture.

Back when today’s reality stars were still in nappies, and the world had ‘It Girls’ instead of influencers, Jodie was everywhere – splashed across lads’ mags, starring in her own TV shows and commanding huge pay cheques at the height of her fame.

She even penned books, launched fitness DVDs and became one of the country’s most talked-about glamour models.

Jodie first shot into the spotlight, tipped as the edgy alternative to glamour queen Jordan – now known as Katie Price – with the pair locked in a fierce rivalry as they battled to become Britain’s biggest pin-up.

More recently, it appeared Jodie had finally found peace after quitting showbiz to run an animal sanctuary in Essex.

The model devoted herself to rescuing animals and regularly shared videos introducing followers to meerkats, foxes, lemurs and marmosets living at the farm.

But pals say a string of devastating events slowly pushed her into isolation.

Now the former Celebrity Big Brother star is facing assault charges following an alleged incident at her Essex animal sanctuary – as pals tell The Sun of their fears for the once larger-than-life star.

One friend told The Sun: “After her mum died, something in her just switched off.

“She became far more isolated, and it was worrying.

“The irony is she spent years desperate to be photographed and talked about, but now the last thing she wants is to be the centre of attention.”

Jodie was left heartbroken in September 2020 when her beloved mum Kristina died following a battle with cancer.

The 47-year-old previously spoke of her anguish after claiming her mum was sent home from the hospital during the Covid pandemic despite battling an aggressive cancer.

Friends believe the loss deeply affected the star, who became increasingly withdrawn from public life in the years afterwards.

A pal said: “She only wanted to be around her animals – they are the only thing that brings her any joy.

“She felt safe around them, so she stayed in her own little bubble. “

Three years later, Jodie put her £1.5million Essex farm on the market following bitter tensions linked to the sanctuary and the animals she kept there.

While many local families regularly visited the sanctuary with their children, Jodie also became embroiled in rows with neighbours.

The TV personality previously went to court after attempting to adopt eight lemurs at the sanctuary.

She claimed Uttlesford Council’s refusal to grant a dangerous wild animal licence was unreasonable amid allegations she had previously taken a meerkat to the pub.

Our source shared: “She fell out terribly with her neighbours and absolutely dreaded seeing them – she became convinced they all hated her too, and it caused a lot of anxiety for her.

“Ultimately, she just wanted to live in peace. Having tensions in a place that is meant to be your sanctuary is just the worst.”

Then, in August 2024, tragedy struck when a fire tore through part of the farm and killed two of Jodie’s beloved marmosets.

An emotional Jodie later admitted she planned to “go far, far away” after the devastating blaze.

She said, “I don’t care about my house being destroyed; all I care about is losing two marmosets.”

A close pal explains: “The fire destroyed more than just the house, emotionally, that was the moment she completely unravelled.

“Behind all the glamour and bravado is somebody incredibly vulnerable and sensitive.”

Friends claim Jodie became increasingly isolated following the blaze and breakup of her most recent relationship.

They added: “Some of her friendships have fallen by the wayside because contact dwindled. Her older friends have been worried about her and did try and reach out, but not all of them heard back. She has a very small cirlce around her now. There was definitely some self-sabotage going on on Jodie’s behalf, although it’s not all on her.

“When Jodie is in a tough place, she does have a tendency to pull away, but her mates that have lost contact with her are still hopeful she will come back.”

Her last publicly confirmed partner was builder Mark, but the pair reportedly split in March 2024 after he struggled with the quiet lifestyle at the farm.

A pal said: “She does struggle with loneliness, but she also struggles to trust people, so it’s a bit of a catch-22.

“A lot of people in her life have badly scarred her, so it’s understandable she has her walls up a lot of the time.”

Last month, Jodie appeared in court accused of assaulting a man at the sanctuary. Essex Police confirmed a woman had been charged following an alleged incident at the site.

The former reality star was also accused of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause or provoke violence against the man and a woman.

Appearing at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court, she pleaded not guilty and was told a trial would take place in May 2027.

With a potential prison sentence looming, Jodie previously claimed neighbours had trespassed onto her land and filmed her animals before posting edited clips online to make them appear “skeletal”.

Speaking about one alleged confrontation, she said: “I’m scared to sleep in my own house. I’m scared to go out.”

Now, friends fear the once vivacious glamour model has completely retreated from the world she once dominated.

One pal told us: “It’s really sad what’s happened to Jodie, and we all really feel for her.

“She’s deleted her Instagram and now fully blocked the outside world from her life. It’s just her and her animals now.

“She lived this mad showbiz life for so long, it’s like she became addicted to the chaos and forgot what being normal was like.

“People think the fame disappeared overnight, but the truth is it was a slow-motion car crash.

“It’s been very sad to watch, but the one thing about Jodie is she is made of tough stuff and, like she has in the past, she’ll likely pick herself back up again.”

When approached by The Sun for comment, Jodie claimed the biggest ‘nightmare’ for her over the last few years, beyond the fire, is that she has been ‘harassed and stalked’ by her neighbours.

She accuses them of trying to bully her out of her home.

“I find it hard to trust people but the circle I have around me now are amazing and worth their weight in gold,” she says. “I trust them with my life. Everyone who comes to my home never wants to leave because it’s magical here.

“The animals are all so special and my life revolves around them. It’s a shame people like my neighbours are trying to ruin it for me. But good always wins over evil and karma is real. I will come out on top. I always do. Watch me.

“I’m living my best life and my dream life and these people are obsessing over me. That can’t be a fun way to live (being obsessed with another human you don’t even know). I just want to be left in peace to run my sanctuary with my true friends and family.”

SMITTEN Oasis star Noel Gallagher is seen out on a date with his new girlfriend who is less than half his age.

The She’s Electric rocker, 58, and events boss Nina Johnson, 28, left a West London gastropub together.

A source said: “There was no mistaking the spark between them.”

We revealed in March the Half The World Away star had split from girlfriend Sally Mash.

Noel and Nina — who works for an events company — were seen smiling before getting into a car on Thursday night after a date at The Hart gastropub in Marylebone, West London.

An onlooker said: “They were laughing and joking, but keeping a slight distance so they did not look like a couple. However, there was no mistaking the spark between them and they were clearly together. They had been engrossed in each other’s company inside and spent hours together, just the two of them.

“Noel looked particularly happy when he came out — and who can blame him? As they got to the waiting car, Noel opened the door for Nina and they got in the back seat together.”

Originally from the South West, Nina is a marketing manager at London firm Rhubarb Hospitality, which organises corporate events, weddings and posh private functions.

She is said to have met dad-of-three Noel through mutual friends, and has spent a lot of time with him over the past few weeks.

A source told The Sun on Sunday: “She is a lot younger than him but that doesn’t bother either of them.

“They have been seeing a lot of each other in the past few weeks.

“Her career is going great guns. She is really bright and taking her career seriously.

“She’s her own woman and Noel really respects that.

“They really enjoy each other’s company and both love the finer things in life and go to a lot of the same places. It is fair to say Noel is smitten and he is telling people he couldn’t be happier.”

We revealed in March that Noel and private members’ club boss Sally had split after two years with “no bad blood”.

In 2024, Noel said of his attractive partners: “I’ve punched above my weight several times in my life, and I think if you can make a girl laugh the battle is more than won.”

He married Meg Mathews in Las Vegas in 1997 and they had daughter Anais in 2000.

After they split, Noel started dating Scots publicist Sara MacDonald, who he wed in 2011 after almost a decade together.

They had sons Donovan, now 18, and Sonny, 15, before divorcing in 2023.

FOR someone whose face never moves, Katie Price couldn’t hide her emotion yesterday as her husband Lee Andrews stood her up on live TV.

What was supposed to be the loved-up couple’s chance to quieten the naysayers turned Katie into a laughing stock as she desperately tried to explain Lee’s absence amid claims he had been detained in the UAE. We’re told the public humiliation was a step too far for those close to Katie, 47, but has it been enough for her to see the light?

An insider said: “It’s not nice to see Katie put on the spot like that. All she ever does is try to be the perfect wife, but she’s struggling with the constant uncertainty.

“Her inner circle are worried it’s going to take its toll on her. It’s put a lot of pressure on the other relationships in her life – like with her sister Sophie, who has been terrified about Lee’s intentions from the start.

“Katie has been through so much heartache in the past and been treated so badly by men, and they think she deserves more – or at least some transparency.

“It’s one thing Lee supposedly missed the flight, but the videos of him at the airport while he desperately insists he is still coming are a hard watch. There is a feeling that he needs to accept the game is up, and they are just worried about how Katie will react when she realises that something is amiss.”

The couple, who tied the knot in January, were due to appear on GMB yesterday. It was set to be their first joint telly interview and a chance for them to set the record straight. 

But while Katie, who had been visiting Lee in Dubai, made it back to the UK, Lee was nowhere to be seen. What followed was a bizarre game of will-he, won’t he, while poor Katie was left struggling alone. 

There is ongoing speculation that Lee, 43, is unable to leave the United Arab Emirates city after allegedly forging his ex-girlfriend Dina Taji’s signature to secure a £200,000 loan – something he’s strongly denied. 

Presenters Susanna Reid and her co-host Ed Balls told how they had approached the Foreign Office to see if Lee had a travel ban.

They said they had been informed they had “supported a British man detained in the United Arab Emirates”.

When the pair quizzed Katie as to whether this was Lee, she said he had denied it in a voice note and added laughing emoji icons to his message.

Explaining the reason for his no-show, Katie, who wore a pink shirt and gold hoop earrings for her chat, said: “He just didn’t make the flight.

“He’s coming here to spend quite a few months now. He’s been sorting out my visa, my international driving licence.

“He’s flying from Muscat, and he had things to do; he didn’t make the flight, but he’s at the airport now”.

Lee reinforced her words as he took to his social media page from the departures lounge.

He praised Katie’s appearance on GMB and said: “Yes, I am at the airport and flying to my wife, who did very well on GMB today.

“And I am on my way to her. I had a couple of things that I had to do last-minute; I couldn’t make the show. I was hoping to get on there with the Zoom link, but they carried on with Kate, and she did really, really well”.

Mum of three Susanna mused: “I wonder if he’s telling you everything, do you trust him?” to which Katie said, “Yes”.

He then asked if Lee was normally unreliable, and she replied: “Not with me”.

Our insider added: “Katie was desperate to keep painting a happy picture, but the cracks are starting to show. She will have been upset about the line of questioning about the man she loves. She is a hopeless romantic and wants to believe the best in Lee, even if no one else does.”

The interview was a disaster, and clips of Katie frantically trying to defend Lee quickly went viral, and Lee was heavily scrutinised. Some people claimed the video he shared wasn’t filmed where he said it was, while others felt sympathy towards her.

Who is Katie Price’s husband Lee Andrews?

KATIE Price tied the knot with Lee Andrews in January 2026. Yet who is he?

• Katie Price has married businessman fiancé Lee Andrews in a whirlwind wedding
• It is the fourth time Katie, 47, has been a bride. She has also been married to Peter Andre, Alex Reid and Kieran Hayler
• Katie and Lee met just after being introduced on social media
• Lee claimed he is a billionaire in a failed clip from his acting career
• He now claims to be a Dubai-based businessman
• Yet The Sun has unmasked him as a fantasist who faked celebrity links using AI-generated photos and recently talked about marrying two other women
• Failed actor is just another title to add to Lee’s questionable CV, after he claimed to have once worked as the Director of Philanthropy at The Prince’s Trust (now The King’s Trust)
• Lee also shared images – since proven to be AI – of him working with Elon Musk and Kim Kardashian
• It’s been revealed shameless Lee told former girlfriends that he had studied at Cambridge University, and has a PhD in biotechnology science
• But The Sun has seen a response from the university explaining it could not find a record of Lee being registered as a student with a date of birth they had provided
• His LinkedIn profile says Lee has been a Member of the Board of Advisors to the Labour Party since 2015
• Lee was also mocked for repeating the exact same wedding proposal on Katie – that he did for another woman just four months ago.

One person commented: “I actually feel a bit sorry for her.”

Another remarked: “This is so sad. The penny still has not dropped, even though GMB know its him that’s been detained as they would have had it confirmed. I hope Suzannah told her after the cameras stopped rolling.”

And as the day went on, it seemed less and less likely Lee would actually arrive, despite his insisting he was on his way.

There certainly seems to be some confusion with the couple’s timeline – over 12 hours before she was due on GMB, Katie posted on her social media – in a video which has now been deleted – to reveal Lee was joining her 

She said on social media: “Where the hell is my husband? Lee will not be on Good Morning Britain with me!!”

She added: “Well, he is not coming, which is gutting really as he said he was coming, so I’m getting the house ready for me”.

And for the first time, the tide might be slightly turning for Katie, and in a surprise movie, she did lay down an ultimatum.

Katie said that although Lee “pays for” her flights to Dubai, she needs him to be more present in the UK.

The mum-of-five, who hasn’t even been able to introduce her kids to Lee, said: “I’ve been in Dubai, I came back on Friday.

“But because I can’t keep going to Dubai, because obviously I’ve got work and my kids here.

 Susanna quipped: “And it’s expensive”, and Katie replied: “Well, he pays for it anyway.”

“But I can’t keep going to Dubai.”

Katie believes that Lee will now be joining her for a few months in the UK, but whether he ever makes remains to be seen. 

TESS Daly and Vernon Kay tonight announced they had split up “amicably” after 23 years of marriage.

A statement from the showbiz couple, with two daughters, said no one else was involved.

The ex Strictly Come Dancing host, 57, and her BBC Radio 2 DJ husband, 52, had grown apart and become more like “roommates” than a ­married couple.

A source close to the couple told The Sun: “They are both sad that it has come to a natural end but happy for both of their futures.”

Tess and Vernon — who have daughters Phoebe, 21, and 16-year-old Amber — announced their “amicable” marital split in a joint statement last night.

They posted online: “After much consideration, and with a deep sense of care and respect for one another, we have made the decision to separate amicably.

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“This has not been an easy choice, but it comes from a place of mutual understanding and a shared desire of what is best for both of us.

“We remain great friends and, most importantly, fully committed to our roles as loving and supportive parents, which will always be our priority.

“There are no other parties involved in this decision.”

They are understood to have decided to go public after returning from a Caribbean holiday last month.

Both shared photographs from their sunshine getaway but failed to post snaps of each other.

A friend insisted the pair, who married in 2003 after two years of dating, had simply grown apart.

They said: “They have had many conversations about this and tears were shed.

“It wasn’t a sudden decision but it’s something they have been quietly navigating together for some time. It was very natural in a way, it’s just one of those things.

“Vernon is a real social butterfly, he loves going to parties with Phoebe and hanging out with her doing things, while Tess is a bit more of a homebody.

“They are still such great friends, which is why they went on that family holiday together.

“Amber and Phoebe are Tess and Vernon’s world and their focus is solely on them.

“They’ll continue to co-parent together and keep making happy memories with their girls.”

It was understood they will keep their six-bedroom family home in Buckinghamshire while they work out their future plans.

A pal added: “Tess and Vernon are both being very grown up about this. They became more like roommates in the end.

“Working out how to move forward is what they’re doing now.

“Vernon works in London five days a week so it’s likely he’ll get a place in the city for now until they decide what to do with the house.”

On Thursday the pair reunited in London with Phoebe, who attends university in New York.

Vernon was in a typically upbeat mood on air yesterday hosting his Radio 2 mid-morning show.

The couple both started off as models before breaking into Channel 4 – Vernon with T4 and Tess hosting the Find Me a Model segment on The Big Breakfast.

They started dating after meeting in 2001. Vernon recalled of their initial encounter: “She didn’t know anyone except me because we’d worked together that day – she spotted me in a crowd and we had a laugh.

“I was instantly attracted by how independent Tess was, and that’s not changed at all.”

In 2003, they married at a church in Vernon’s hometown of Horwich, Greater Manchester.

Phoebe was born in 2004 — the year Tess started co-hosting BBC ballroom dance show Strictly, first with Bruce Forsyth.

In 2007, Tess and Vernon worked together for the first time, co-hosting BBC celebrity singing show, Just The Two of Us.

Two years later, Amber was born.

When they celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in 2023, Tess spoke of how proud she was of hitting the milestone.

She said: “Twenty years is a long time. We still have lots to talk about, the conversation hasn’t dried up.

“That’s a good thing.

“We’ve got lots in common and shared values.

“We just enjoy each other’s company and that’s what it boils down to, really. I’m proud of us.”

Vernon said their marriage got stronger thanks to the Covid lockdowns, saying: “You really get under the skin of your relationship with your kids and your missus.”

Tess also launched her own clothing range, and her bombshell decision to quit Strictly last year along with Claudia Winkleman was supported by Vernon.

Tess and Vernon hosted BBC’s The One Show together in a special episode in February, but those close to them said the cracks in their marriage started to form last year.

A source said: “Vernon is more outgoing than Tess is and he loves nothing more than heading out with his mates.

Last summer he was at loads of Oasis gigs. He loves going to the Brit Awards. He’s so outgoing and he loves that lifestyle.

“After quitting Strictly, Tess has been more keen to enjoy life at a slower pace.

“She’s been working really hard on her swimwear line and has loved not having to jump back on to that Strictly treadmill.

“It became clear after a while that they were becoming more like ships in the night.

“It’s not been easy but, ultimately, if the love they had for each other had gone, what is the point in staying together?”

HELEN Flanagan almost spilled out of her plunging corset while enjoying a boozy night out with her pals.

The former Coronation Street star, 35, took to Instagram to share a sneak peek into her big night out with her friends.

She threatened to spill out of her top as she stunned in a teal blue animal-print corset top, which was held together with just one thin clasp.

The actress showed off plenty of cleavage as she went for a bouncy blow-dry and a glam make up look complete with eyelashes and a glossy lip.

She posed at a bar with a friend and took some mirror selfies in the bathroom as she took a break from mum duties for the night out.

Her followers rushed to the comments section to compliment her as one gushed: “Stunning!! Absolutely gorgeous…”

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Another social media user enthused: “Wow, such a beautiful face and stunning body.”

Somebody else commented: “Classy and stunning,” while a fourth added: “Looking hot there babe.”

Her evening out comes after she was axed from Celebrity Ex On The Beach after just four episodes.

She joined the likes of Towie’s Dani Imbert and Love Island’s Toby Aromolaran to shoot the new series of the Paramount+ reality show in Tenerife last year.

But a shock twist saw Helen and controversial star Rogan O’Connor sent packing just four episodes into the current run.

When it was revealed the boys had picked Helen to go home, while the others looked stunned, she wasn’t upset by the decision.

Smiling, she said: “Thank you so much!”

Speaking in a confessional, Dani, 28, said: “I’m so shocked the boys have picked Helen, I feel like they loved her so much.

“It’s going to feel so strange not having her here in the morning. Really sad to see her go.”

The Celebs Go Dating star said of her exit: “I do feel a sadness that I didn’t find a romantic spark, but I feel that the connection I have with the girls… I feel sad leaving them.”

HOLLY Willoughby giggled the afternoon away on a boozy lunch with her star-studded girl squad after it was revealed she’s plotting a major career rebrand.

Former darling of ITV, Holly, 45, took centre stage in a fun video clip from a lunch date with pals Nicole Appleton, Emma Bunton, Christine Lampard and Vice President of Artist Relations at Universal Music, Shiarra Bell.

Mojitos looked to be the favoured drink for most of the girl gang, who appeared in playful mood as they looked into the camera.

Holly chose the Sex and the City theme to soundtrack the clip on Instagram and continued the US drama theme in the caption which referenced lead character Carrie Bradshaw [Sarah Jessica Parker].

She wrote: “As Carrie Bradshaw said… They say nothing lasts forever; dreams change, trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style. Love my girls…”

The post went down a treat.

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CBB legend Kate Lawler wrote: “Love the energy of this girl gang.”

EastEnders icon Sam Womack said: “Jealous!!!! Love you lot.”

One fan added: “Love that they’ve grown up in the industry together and remained friends. Bet their WhatsApp chats are juicy!”

Holly has been lying low since her time on Netflix‘s Celebrity Bear Hunt early last year.

She’s been absent from TV screens for the longest period in her career, having previously been an ever present on This Morning, Celebrity Juice and Dancing on Ice.

But the mum-of-three, who is married to TV producer Dan Baldwin, is now branching out from traditional TV and is preparing a comeback on YouTube.

Her channel will start with a magazine show similar to This Morning – effectively marking the dawn of “Holly TV”.

Our insider explained: “Holly has been slowly shedding her This Morning self for a few years now and has been gradually letting the fans see the real her more and more.

“Once rarely posting on social media, Holly will now happily share her outfits, favourite tipples and days out with her very cool group of pals.

“When she was on This Morning her friendship with the likes of the Appleton sisters was kept on the down-low but now there’s no need for her to live up to a certain image.

“She has always been a party girl at heart, but kept it very well hidden while on the daytime TV show.”

Since stepping back from the box, Holly has posted edgier content on social media, including an out of character F-bomb.

When American hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa announced they would be performing in the UK, a delighted Holly squealed online: “Excuse my language but f**k, I’ve waited my whole life for this.”

The insider continued: “Holly would never have sworn online while she was on This Morning but is deliberately showing a different side to herself. She wants to be seen as cool and edgy.

“She was definitely keeping up appearances while on the show and can now finally be herself fully.”

Though the former kids TV presenter has maintained a clean cut image, her party girl image has long been talked about in media circles.

In 2019 she partied until the early hours at The Streets’ comeback gig afterparty at Brixton Academy with Nicole Appleton, wearing a T-shirt that read: “Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go backstage”.

Her legendary drinking stamina has led to her being labelled a “robot” by pal Keith Lemon.

“Holly is a party animal. I’m a drinker, but I can’t keep up with her,” he told The Sun.

While Piers Morgan said: “Piers Morgan backed up his comments, admitting: “If I go to a party and Holly Willoughby is there, you know your liver is in for a caning, and you could end up in a career-ending situation. She’s a very dangerous lady. Very dangerous.”