Peter

Lord Peter Mandelson says he never saw any girls when visiting sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s properties

BBC Lord Peter MandelsonBBC

Lord Mandelson was sacked as the UK’s ambassador to the US in September over his ties to Jeffery Epstein

Lord Mandelson has said he never saw girls at Jeffrey Epstein’s properties, and declined to apologise to the late paedophile’s victims for maintaining his friendship with the American because he was not “knowledgeable of what he was doing”.

In his first interview since being sacked as the UK’s ambassador to the US over his links to Epstein, he told the BBC he thought he had been “kept separate” from the sexual side of the late financier’s life because he was gay.

He was fired after emails emerged showing supportive messages he had sent to Epstein after the American was convicted for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

The former ambassador said the only people he had seen at Epstein’s properties were “middle-aged housekeepers”.

He said he would have apologised were he “in any way complicit or culpable” but stressed that was never the case.

Epstein, a well-connected financier, died in a New York prison cell in 2019 awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. He had previously been convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor, for which he was registered as a sex offender.

Asked on BBC’s One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg whether he would like to apologise to Epstein’s victims for continuing the friendship after that first conviction, he said:

“I want to apologise to those women for a system that refused to hear their voices and did not give them the protection they were entitled to expect”.

“That system gave him protection and not them.

“If I had known, if I was in any way complicit or culpable, of course I would apologise for it. But I was not culpable, I was not knowledgeable of what he was doing.”

He continued: “I regret and will regret to my dying day the fact that powerless women, women who were denied a voice, were not given the protection they were entitled to expect.”

Lord Mandelson, whose tenure as ambassador lasted just a few months, was also asked in the interview about his views on US President Donald Trump’s ongoing comments about his country needing to “own” Greenland.

While saying that he admired Trump’s “directness” in his political dealings, he said he did not believe the US president would “land on Greenland and take it by force”.

He added: “He’s not going to do that. I don’t know, but I’m offering my best judgement as somebody who’s observed him at fairly close quarters. He’s not a fool.”

He said the president had a close circle of advisers around him “reminding him that if he were to intervene, take Greenland, that would be completely counterproductive – and would spell real danger for America’s national interest”.

Asked about his long friendship with Epstein over the decades, Lord Mandelson said he believed he was “kept separate” from Epstein’s sex life because of his own sexuality.

“Possibly some people will think because I am a gay man… I wasn’t attuned to what was going on. I don’t really accept that.

“I think the issue is that because I was a gay man in his circle I was kept separate from what he was doing in the sexual side of his life.”

He referred to one occasion he had spent one or two nights on Epstein’s infamous private island, as well as visits to Epstein’s New York and New Mexico properties.

“The only people that were there were the housekeepers, never were there any young women or girls, or people that he was preying on or engaging with in that sort of ghastly predatory way that we subsequently found out he was doing.”

“Epstein was never there,” he noted of his visits to the island.

The government sacked Lord Mandelson as its ambassador to the US after emails showed he had been in contact with Epstein after his first conviction, offering him support.

Number 10 sources said at the time that he had been “economical with the truth” before he was appointed and they were not aware of the “depth” of their relationship.

On Sunday, Lord Mandelson said the government “knew everything” when giving him the job, “but not the emails because they came as a surprise to me”.

He said he understood why he had been sacked.

“The prime minister found himself in the middle of what must’ve seemed to him to been some kind of thermonuclear explosion – I’ve been there, I know what goes on.

“I wish I’d had the opportunity to remind him of the circumstances of my relationship, my friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and how I came to write the emails in the first place.

“I didn’t, so I understand why he took the decision he did, but one thing I’m very clear about is that I’m not going to seek to reopen or relitigate this issue. I’m moving on.”

In response, Downing Street said the emails showed the “depth and extent” of the relationship was “materially different” to what they had known when appointing Lord Mandelson, particularly his “suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged was new information”.

“In light of that, and mindful of the victims of Epstein’s crimes, he was withdrawn as ambassador with immediate effect.”

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Peter Andre teases exciting new project

FANS of Peter Andre have been sent into a tizzy after he began teasing an undisclosed new project online today.

The Mysterious Girl singer, 52, is loved for many things, from his warm smile, quips, and chart-topping tracks.

Peter is teasing something new on his InstagramCredit: Instagram
He accumulated numerous chart-topping hits between the mid-90s and 2000sCredit: Rex

So him teasing an unknown project on his Instagram page today is bound to have had an effect.

Peter kept things simple, posting a plain cream background to his story, scrawled with the words “Something coming.”

Underneath in red lettering is the date for January 23, indicating that something special will be happening in a few weeks.

The date flits between flashing from red to white, drawing a viewer’s attention.

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family ties

Princess and Junior pose with Peter Andre and wife Emily in matching PJs

The only other feature in the announcement is upbeat music playing in the background.

So could this mean that Peter is making a return to his music career?

Peter first launched into the music industry back in the mid-90s with major hits like Mysterious Girl, Flava, and I Feel You.

He rapidly gained popularity, becoming both a heartthrob and a leading artist.

After competing on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2004, his music entered prominence again.

It was around this time that Mysterious Girl was propelled to number 1 on the charts.

He released more successful albums off the back of the smash hit, including The Long Road Back with popular track Insania.

Though after the 2009 and 2010 album drops of Revelation and Accelerate, his career largely diversified into television.

Most notably, Peter starred in programmes alongside ex-wife Katie Price.

But he also worked on his own shows including Peter Andre: My Life.

Since his split from Katie, Peter’s been living a busy family life with wife Emily, who he married in 2015.

Together they share three children – Amelia (11), Theodore (8), and Arabella (1).

On his social media, Peter describes himself as many things including a “proud dad, award winning singer/songwriter, actor, producer and TV presenter.”

He also adds that he’s a “happy guy”, reflected by his beaming smile in many Insta snaps.

Back in the day, Peter made all the ladies swoonCredit: Getty

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Peter Harte-Rian O’Neill: Tyrone and Armagh stars to step away for 2026

Tyrone manager Malachy O’Rourke says that Peter Harte is ‘probably not going to commit’ to the Tyrone cause ahead of the 2026 season, while Rian O’Neill looks set to sit out the 2026 campaign for Armagh.

O’Rourke was speaking after the Red Hands opened their campaign in the Dr McKenna Cup with a 2-13 to 0-17 win away at Armagh.

Mattie Donnelly who was also a part of the 2008 All-Ireland minor winning side with Harte, contributed 1-2 on the night.

“I think Peter, at this stage, is probably not going to be able to commit, unfortunately. Peter has given so much service to the county, he’s a brilliant role model for all the boys, he’ll be missed greatly,” O’Rourke told BBC Sport NI.

“We’re never going to close the door on him, and I definitely don’t want to close the door on him.

“So, if it was the case that he got a wee bit of breathing space later on in the year and he was able to come back, well, then the door will always be open for him.

“But, at this stage, he’s not able to give the commitment. So, we’ll just have to move on in the short term without him, and we’ll see how things go.”

With the conveyor belt of underage success coming through in Tyrone at the minute, including last year’s U20 and minor All-Ireland winning sides, the experience of the 35-year-old would be beneficial for the county.

“Both on the field and off the field, just the way he conducts himself, the way he trains, the way he prepares for training, and everything about him is just what you want in a panel,” O’Rourke continued.

“And it’s great. We’ve so many young lads coming through who, I suppose, in many ways, are learning to trade at this level.

“And the more fellas like Peter that they can learn from, the better. Maybe there will be some chance that he’ll be back to us later on in the year. But, at this stage, I’m not sure that’s going to be the way it turns out.

“But, Peter certainly owes nobody anything. He’s had a tremendous career. Even last year when he was in with us, he was brilliant to work with.”

O’Rourke also confirmed that Darragh Canavan should be available for selection ahead of Tyrone’s National Football League opener at home to Kildare on 24 January.

“All the boys that weren’t involved tonight were all training earlier on today, and Darragh included,” the Tyrone boss confirmed.

“They were all out in the field. So, everybody was training. Everyone was at different stages.

“But, no, we’d be hoping that they’ll all be back and be in contention for the start of the National League.”

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PDC World Championship 2026: Justin Hood beats Danny Noppert in epic, Peter Wright knocked out

World number 86 Justin Hood beat sixth seed Danny Noppert in an Alexandra Palace classic as three more seeds exited the PDC World Championship on the final day of competition before the Christmas break.

Hood won a sudden-death leg of a high-quality match to progress to the last 32, having missed a dart at the bull to win in straight sets.

Noppert fought back to force a decider and, helped by some clutch ton-plus finishes throughout, created a victory chance for himself in a dramatic final set.

But Hood, the 32-year-old debutant, held his nerve in the final leg to land a 78 finish, setting up a third-round tie with fellow English left-hander Ryan Meikle.

Both players averaged more than 102 and hit more than 40% of their attempts at doubles.

Hood told Sky Sports: “It was a good game and I knew it would be because Danny is a class player.

“I don’t worry about the pressure, I just throw the darts and if it’s good enough, it’s good enough. Tonight it was.”

Seventeen of the 32 seeds have been knocked out in the opening two rounds of the tournament, with Noppert the highest-ranked player to fall so far.

Also beaten on Tuesday were two-time former champion Peter Wright, who lost in straight sets to German debutant Arno Merk, and Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney, who came out on the wrong side of a deciding set with England’s Callan Rydz.

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EXCL Princess Andre reveals why mum Katie Price AND dad Peter haven’t watched her reality show

PRINCESS Andre has revealed that neither her mum, Katie Price, or her dad, Peter Andre, have watched her reality TV show.

The 18-year-old became a star in her own right earlier this year when ITV launched season one of The Princess Diaries, a fly-on-the-wall docuseries.

Princess Andre has revealed that neither her mum, Katie Price, or dad, Peter Andre, have watched her ITV series The Princess DiariesCredit: ITV
Peter, who Princess has a close bond with, appeared on the first season of the ITV showCredit: Getty
While Katie claimed she was shunned from the production and didn’t feature in itCredit: PA

And despite the show being a massive hit, Princess says her famous parents weren’t sitting down on the couch to give it a watch.

She told The Sun: “I actually don’t think either of my parents have watched the show.”

“I don’t think it’s my dad’s thing, it’s more, it’s a show for people my age to watch, I think,” explained Princess, who was speaking at the launch of 3D Refirm x Facebible in Windsor.

Exes Katie and Peter share Princess and her older brother Junior, 20. While Peter is also a dad to Theo, Amelia and Arabella, and Katie to Harvey, Jett and Bunny.

SAD ADMISSION

Peter Andre says he’s worried this will be his sick mum’s ‘last Christmas’


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Peter and his wife Emily were featured in the reality show, but Katie claimed she was shunned from the series.

While her parents may not have watched it, Princess admitted she’s seen plenty herself.

“I watched everything about five times!” she laughed.

The teenager continued: “Just to make sure everything is how I want it and to check everything.”

The Princess Diaries has been renewed for a second and third season already, with Princess admitting that she has been filming “every day” recently.

“I’ve finished for season two and then I’ve got season three to film. So, I’m really excited. I think people are going to love it,” she said.

A date for the show’s release has not yet been confirmed, with Princess simply telling fans last year: “See you in 2026”.

In a break from filming, Princess was speaking at The Fairmont in Windsor, where Dr Raj Arora was launching 3D refirm – non-surgical skin tightening procedures – at her clinic, Facebible.

The doctor is a close friend of Princess’s dad and stepmum, Emily Macdonagh, who were also in attendance at the event.

She is the first doctor to offer 3D refirm at a medical-grade in the UK, with the treatment now available to book at http://www.thefacebible.com.

Princess is currently filming for the second two seasons of her reality showCredit: Splash
Her brother, Junior, also features in the show as the pair’s close relationship is displayedCredit: Getty

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UK names Christian Turner as US ambassador, replacing Peter Mandelson

The UK has named career diplomat Christian Turner as its new ambassador to the US, Downing Street has confirmed.

Turner has spent nearly 30 years working across Whitehall and the Foreign Office.

He will now become the man tasked by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer with building links to the Trump administration.

The previous ambassador Peter Mandelson was sacked by Starmer after evidence, including emails and photos emerged, showing his continued association with the paedophile Jeffery Epstein.

Lord Mandelson has repeatedly said he regrets his relationship with Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking offences.

The Foreign Office said in a statement that King Charles had formally appointed Turner, and the UK would now seek official approval for his appointment from the US.

Turner said he was “honoured” to be nominated for the role.

“At a pivotal time for the transatlantic relationship, I look forward to working with President Trump’s administration, and leaders in Congress, business and society to strengthen that bond in the years ahead,” he added.

In a statement released by the Foreign Office, Starmer said: “The United Kingdom and United States have a very special relationship, and Christian’s extensive experience as an outstanding diplomat will support this uniquely close bond and ensure it continues to flourish.”

Turner’s previous roles include political director at the Foreign Office, British High Commissioner to Pakistan, and Foreign Office Director for the Middle East and North Africa. He also previously worked in 10 Downing Street as Private Secretary to the Prime Minister.

Before entering government, he worked in television documentaries.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Turner would bring “exceptional diplomatic experience and deep understanding” to the role.

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Peter Andre gives heartbreaking update on sick mum as he shares concerns this will be her ‘last Christmas’

PETER Andre has shared a heartbreaking update on his mother’s health, admitting he worries this Christmas may be her last.

89-year-old Thea, who lives in Australia, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s back in 2023.

Peter Andre has shared a sad update on his mum’s health, admitting this Christmas could be her lastCredit: Instagram
Peter’s mum, Thea, and his dad, Savvas, live in Australia and have suffered declining health over the last few yearsCredit: Instagram
Peter, his wife Emily and their children are spending Christmas home in the UKCredit: Instagram/peterandre

Peter has spoken over the last year about his mother’s deteriorating health and the heartache that comes with it.

And in a new interview with OK! Magazine, he admitted: “Of course I worry this could be Mum’s last Christmas.

“She’s very delicate. Her Parkinson’s has progressed quite a bit. Her speech is almost gone. She’ll say a word or two. It’s heartbreaking, because she’s our world, our pillar of strength.”

Peter, who was raised in Australia, often goes back Down Under to visit Thea and his dad Savvas, 92.

anti-social

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for Pete’s sake

Princess Andre risks wrath of Katie Price as she heaps praise on dad Peter

His older sister, Debbie, also resides back home and helps to look after their parents.

Admitting that it’s tough to also see his dad’s health decline with age, the dad-of-five said: “Then I see Dad and he’s 92 and with her every single day. But he’s getting delicate now, too.

“His memory’s going, but I am so grateful that they made that milestone I prayed for – 70 years of marriage in September.”

“It’s a raw pain. I’m a grown man, but I still can’t accept in my heart that these things happen to the people I love the most,” he added.

In September last year, Peter shared a heartwarming clip of his parents to social media as they celebrated their 69th anniversary,

His dad, Savvas, could be seen in the clip bringing wife Thea a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

He wrote at the time: “You inspire me so much mum and dad. Love you so very much.

“My 91-year-old dad giving flowers to my beautiful mum.”

Last year, Peter’s eldest children, 20-year-old Junior and Princess, 18, took a solo trip to visit their grandparents last year.

The holiday fell just days after his wife Emily MacDonagh had given birth to their third child together, Arabella.

The couple also share kids Theo and Amelia, while Peter shares his eldest children with ex-Katie Price.

At the time, the singer shared how proud he was of Princess and Junior for taking the time to visit Emily in hospital after labour before then flying to Austrlia.

He said on Instagram: “Junior and princess. The fact that you drove to Somerset to be with us hours before and the days that followed to see the arrival of your baby sister,”

“AND THEN to get on a plane and travel 12,000 miles to be with your grandmother in a very difficult time for her shows me what beautiful children you are.”

Peter admitted it’s tough to see his mum, who is a “pillar of strength” struggling so muchCredit: Instagram
The singer often visits his family Down UnderCredit: instagram

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‘Stereophonic’ at the Pantages falls flat: Review

“Stereophonic,” David Adjmi’s heralded drama that won five Tony Awards including best play, is ready for its Los Angeles close-up.

The first national tour production, which opened Wednesday at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, seems right at home in the music capital of the world. The play about a 1970s rock band on the brink of superstardom takes place in recording studios in Sausalito and L.A., where the Laurel Canyon vibe is never out of sight.

The visual crispness of this L.A. premiere goes a long way toward dispelling doubts that the Pantages is the wrong venue for this ensemble drama. If there’s a problem, it isn’t the cavernousness of the theater. The production, gleaming with period details on a set by David Zinn that gives us clear views into both the sound and control rooms, comfortably inhabits the performance space, at least from the perspective of a decent orchestra seat.

The play, which includes original music from Will Butler, the Grammy-winning artist formerly of Arcade Fire, has a sound every bit as robust as one of the blockbuster musicals that regularly passes through the Pantages. The songs, crushed by the actors at top volume, are Butler’s indie rock re-creation of cuts for a part-British, part-American band that bears such a striking resemblance to Fleetwood Mac that a lawsuit brought by a former sound engineer and producer of the group was eventually settled.

Adjmi, like Shakespeare, takes his inspiration where he finds it. And like the Bard, he makes his sources his own, alchemizing the material for novel ends.

Musicians record music in a sound room as engineers watch outside in "Stereophonic."

The touring production of “Stereophonic” makes clear just how integral the original cast was to the success of the play.

(Julieta Cervantes)

Unfolding in 1976 and 1977, “Stereophonic” offers a fly-on-the-wall perspective of a band at a crossroads. While recording a new album top-heavy with expectations, the group falls prey to romantic conflicts and self-destructive spirals, to toxic jealousies and seething insecurities. The prospect of fame magnifies pathologies that have been intensifying over time.

Diana (Claire DeJean) is the Stevie Nicks of the band. Beautiful, achingly vulnerable and awash in lyrical talent, she is entangled in a relationship with Peter (Denver Milord), the Lindsey Buckingham of the group, who strives for musical perfection no matter the cost.

Their connection is as professionally enriching as it is personally destructive. Diana’s ambition is matched by her self-doubt. She’s susceptible to a Svengali yet doesn’t want anyone to tell her how to write her songs.

Peter, angrily competitive, can’t help resenting the natural ease of Diana’s talent, even as it’s her song from their first album that has put the band back in the spotlight. His genius is ferociously exacting while hers seems to spring naturally from her soul.

Artistically they depend on each other, but the tension between them is unsustainable. And as the play makes clear, there’s no way to keep their personal lives out of the studio.

DeJean and Milord are the most captivating performers in the ensemble. The other actors are solid but this touring production makes clear just how integral the original cast was to the success of the play.

Daniel Aukin’s production, which had its New York premiere at Playwrights Horizons in 2023 before moving to Broadway the following year, hasn’t lost its confident flow. The storytelling is lucidly laid out. But the tantalizing peculiarities of the characters have been whittled down.

The British band members suffer the worst of it. Emilie Kouatchou’s Holly moves the character away from the obvious Christine McVie reference, but her role has become vaguer and less central. Cornelius McMoyler’s Simon, the drummer and weary manager, fills the bill in every respect but gravitas, which must be in place if the character’s ultimate confrontation with Peter is to have the necessary payoff.

No one could compete with Will Brill, who won a Tony for his strung-out portrayal of Reg, a deranged innocent whose addictions and dysfunctions create farcical havoc for the band. Christopher Mowod can’t quite endow this “sad man in a blanket,” as Simon dubs his bundled-up bandmate, with the same level of fey madness that Brill was able to entertainingly supply.

These casting differences wouldn’t be worth noting if it weren’t for their impact on a play that distinguishes itself by its observational detail. Everything is just a little more obvious, including the two American sound guys bearing the brunt of the artistic temperaments running riot in the studio.

Jack Barrett’s Grover, the sound engineer who lied about his background to get the job, sands off some of the character’s rough edges in a more straightforwardly appealing version of the character than Eli Gelb’s bracing portrayal in New York. Steven Lee Johnson’s Charlie, the dorky assistant sound engineer, is an amiable weirdo, though I missed the way Andrew R. Butler played him almost like a space alien in New York.

The play has been edited, but it’s still a bit of an endurance test. Art isn’t easy for the characters or for us. But the effort isn’t in vain.

Adjmi’s overlapping dialogue and gaping silences, orchestrated in a neo-Chekhovian style, renders the invisible artistic process visible. By the end of the play, the tumultuous human drama behind creative brilliance emerges in poignant, transcendent glory.

‘Stereophonic’

Where: Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., L.A.

When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays. (Check schedule for exceptions.) Ends Jan. 2.

Tickets: Start at $57 (subject to change)

Contact: BroadwayInHollywood.com or Ticketmaster.com

Running time: 2 hours, 55 minutes (including one intermission)

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