Real

After an eventful couple of months, Yan Diomande, one of football’s top young prospects, is about to get his wish of joining a European powerhouse.

The 19-year-old is signing with Real Madrid in what can only be described as a record-setting transfer.

The Spanish giants will pay more than £100m for Diomande – making him a new record sale for RB Leipzig and he is expected to also become a new record signing for Real Madrid.

Simultaneously, Diomande becomes the most expensive African player in history.

His rise to stardom has also occurred seemingly in record time as less than 18 months ago he was almost completely unknown.

Only scouts and insiders were aware of a skinny winger who had previously played for Florida-based DME Academy, more renowned for its basketball programme.

Diomande had trials with Chelsea, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Rangers and Olympiacos but remained unsigned until he was picked up by La Liga side Leganes.

Within only a few months and 10 games in the Spanish top flight he increased his market value considerably, eventually signing with Leipzig for 20m euros.

The Red Bull-funded club believed they had acquired a diamond. And they were right. Almost from the get-go, Diomande looked like one of the most exciting players in the Bundesliga, scoring 13 goals and providing 10 assists across competitions in his first full season in Europe.

Initially, Leipzig intended to keep him for another year, hoping his market value would increase even further, but the demand was simply too high.

Liverpool, Paris St-Germain and finally Real Madrid showed so much interest in the winger, who also played for his home country of Ivory Coast at the World Cup, that the Bundesliga side had to give way and agree to a deal.

A lot can be said about the steadily increasing prices on an overheated transfer market where even prospects can demand fees in the nine digits, but Diomande is special. A hyper athletic and very creative winger, it is not far-fetched to consider him among the best dribblers in Europe already.

Obviously, there is still a degree of rawness to his game, but he made a leap forward in the past 12 months and there’s no reason he couldn’t develop further at the tender age of 19.

His passing skills are also somewhat underrated because he is the embodiment of a dribble-first winger. Diomande connected very well with right-back Ridle Baku at Leipzig and may look even stronger with the support of the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marc Cucurella.

Diomande is able to play on both wings. A right-footer, he was mostly employed on the left side by Leganes but found a home on the right at Leipzig. At the World Cup, he played in both positions for Ivory Coast.

Finding the perfect property in Cyprus can quickly become stressful. With thousands of listings to sort through, buyers may encounter outdated ads or unreliable agents. Choosing the right search platform can save both time and money. This ranking looks at which Cyprus real estate websites provide useful tools, current listings, and reliable support.

Top 5 Platforms for Property Search

1. MySpace

Source: https://myspace.com.cy/

2. FOX Smart Estate Agency

3. Bazaraki

4. Dom.com.cy

5. Index.cy

Ranking Criteria and the Winner

As a special tribute celebrates the extraordinary 50-year career of Bonnie Tyler, the Mirror takes a look at the Total Eclipse of the Heart icon’s wild life behind the scenes, including the accident that changed everything

With her unmistakable husky voice and theatrical music videos, there was nobody quite like Bonnie Tyler.

Her unexpected death earlier this month at the age of 75 came as a great sadness to those who’ve followed her distinctive work over the decades.

A legend of ’80s power ballads, many a fan has attempted a karaoke version of Holding Out for a Hero or Total Eclipse of the Heart. But few could hope to hold a candle to Bonnie’s signature rasp and melodramatic stage presence.

The Welsh singer’s extraordinary 50-year career will be celebrated this weekend in a special tribute compilation aired on BBC Two. And it will perhaps surprise no one that magnetic Bonnie’s personal life was every bit as explosive as her musical output.

Little-known real name

While the name Bonnie Tyler may adorn her Platinum-status records, it wasn’t actually the singer’s real name, and it took some time for her to find one that fit.

Britain’s First Lady of Rock was originally christened Gaynor Hopkins, a name she never much cared for as a budding star growing up in the sleepy village of Skewen, near Swansea.

In the early days of her career, young Bonnie began trying out the name Sherene Davies as a stage name, hoping to distinguish herself from the celebrated Welsh folk singer-songwriter, Mary Hopkin, who was just one year her senior.

Speaking with the Leicestershire Press in 2023, Bonnie revealed: “I never really liked my name, so it was a lovely opportunity to change it. My sister had a little girl called Sherene, and I loved that name – it was my name for seven years.”

It wasn’t to stick, however, and after being signed by RCA Records – Elvis Presley’s old label – Bonnie was told that Sherene just wouldn’t do, as it sounded, to their ears, “like a belly dancer”. A search began for a third moniker, with Bonnie taking a creative approach.

She remembered: “I bought two broadsheet newspapers, and I made a list of all the Christian names in one list and all the surnames in another list, and I matched them up until I came up with Bonnie Tyler. It’s been a great name for me, I reckon Steven Tyler must’ve been in the paper that day.”

Scream injury

She is often referred to as ‘the female Rod Stewart’, but the vocal similarities only became apparent after a grim post-surgery accident.

Speaking with the Mirror in 2023, the It’s a Heartache songstress shared how, as her star began to rise in the glitzy ’70s era, belting out ballads began to take a strain. And in 1977, she had to undergo surgery.

Bonnie said: “I started to get a sore throat because all the singing was taking its toll. A doctor discovered that I had nodules on my vocal cords. The only option was for them to be surgically removed. After the procedure, I was told by my surgeons not to talk, let alone sing, for six weeks.”

Unfortunately, after realising she’d forgotten to take strawberries to her brother, Lynn, who was hospitalised with a leg injury, Bonnie momentarily forgot about the doctor’s warning and let out a scream of frustration.

Detailing the incident in her 2023 memoir Straight from the Heart, Bonnie recalled: “I was so frustrated that I’d have to drive all the way back home, I let out an ‘Oh no!’ scream. When I went for a check-up with the specialist, he looked at me and said, ‘You could have done permanent damage’.”

While medics weren’t best pleased, Bonnie’s producer, David Mackay, was impressed by the gravelly sound her vocals produced, once healed. Bonnie said: “I’d always had quite a husky tone to my voice anyway, but as David joked, I now sounded like a female Rod Stewart!”

Marriage to Olympic athlete

Bonnie may have sung about doomed love affairs, but her marriage to a former Olympic judo athlete Robert Sullivan was a long and happy one. The couple first locked eyes back when Bonnie was still singing in Swansea nightclubs, and Robert was a nightclub manager. They tied the knot on July 4, 1973, with Bonnie officially becoming Mrs Gaynor Sullivan – her fourth name.

In a 2012 interview with The Guardian, Bonnie spoke fondly of those early days together, and it appeared the pair were just as smitten as they were as twentysomething newlyweds just starting out. She shared: “I married Robert, my first serious boyfriend, in 1973, when I was 22. I am still very much in love with him and he with me. We never fall out. He is very easy on the eye, which helps.”

And speaking to the Times about Robert, who went into property development after hanging up his judo belt, she said, “I think the secret to our success is that we met before I was famous.

“We don’t have children because we left it too late to stop taking precautions, and then I had a miscarriage when I was 40. I was unlucky, but I love all my nieces and nephews. Our house in Mumbles is like Paddington Station because everyone wants to come and visit Auntie Gaynor.”

Bonnie and Robert owned at least 25 properties together, including 22 homes across Berkshire and London, plus a sizeable farm in New Zealand. However, their seaside home in Mumbles and their villa in Albufeira proved to be their favourites, and it was between these two much-loved residences that they split their time.

Bonnie Tyler at the BBC airs July 25 at 8:30 pm on BBC Two.

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com.

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As EastEnders’ king-hearted teen Barney Mitchell lands himself in hot water, let’s take a look inside the life of actor Lewis Bridgeman.

EastEnders has aired shock scenes for the teenagers of Walford this week, and Barney Mitchell could be hiding a very dark secret.

Actor Lewis Bridgeman arrived on the BBC One soap in the summer of 2024, alongside his dad, Teddy (Roland Manookian), and Harry (Elijah Holloway), and drama quickly followed.

It was soon revealed that self-confessed bookworm Barney is the product of an affair between his mum, Nicola (Laura Doddington), and Zack Hudson (James Farrar), leaving both Barney and Teddy devastated by the truth about his paternity.

Sweetheart Barney appears to be an innocent extension of the Mitchell family with a passion for friendship and education, but the schoolboy is now taking center stage, as he may be hiding a sinister side following a violent incident involving Joel Marshall (Max Murray).

In recent episodes of the BBC soap, Joel returned to Walford following a six-month prison sentence for violently attacking his step-mum, Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig), who was determined not to live under the same roof as the tearaway teen.

He soon realised he was not welcome in the Square and planned to leave without saying goodbye to his dad, Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw). However, before Joel left the Square, he was attacked by Walford’s teenagers who tied him to a fence and soaked him in beer while making fun of him.

Lily Slater (Lillia Turner), Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James), Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd), Nugget Gulati (Juhaim Rasul Choudhury), Ricky Branning (Frankie Day), Denzel Danes (Jaden Ladega), and Barney Mitchell (Lewis Bridgeman) later went back to free Joel after Will Mitchell (Freddie Phillips) ordered to let him go.

But when they returned, Joel was found unconscious on the floor with a serious head injury. On Thursday (July 23), the group was sickened by the sight of his body, and the police soon arrived at the scene.

DC Craig Ingram (Matthew James-Bailey) assured the teenagers were not under arrest as their parents gathered at the station, though they were all witnesses to the assault.

The group later gathered in The Arches to get their story straight as Joel received treatment in the hospital, but Barney looked visibly sheepish.

Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway) arrived and told them to leave, saying that the garage owner, Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), would be furious if he knew they’d used his premises as a meeting point. It then transpired that Barney had taken his spare key.

With everyone gone, Barney asked his brother if he’d found anything. Harry pulled a carrier bag from his coat that contained a hammer and said he needed to know everything. Did Barney attack Joel?

Who plays Barney in EastEnders?

Barney Mitchell is played by actor Lewis Bridgeman. The 19-year-old actor was born in Maldon, Essex, and attended Plume School with aspirations to become a drama teacher or an actor from a young age.

In 2021, Lewis joined the National Youth Theatre, which allowed the soap star to participate in workshops and stage productions and opened up opportunities for professional acting contracts.

The young actor has since appeared in various theatre productions, including The Wind in the Willows and Goodnight, Mister Tom.

Lewis’ talents do not stop at acting, as the soap star is also very intelligent. At the age of 12, he took Mensa International’s acceptance test and passed, indicating an IQ above 132 and placing him in the top 2% of the world’s population.

Lewis has been diagnosed with autism and dyspraxia, and his mother, Jayne Bridgeman, was worried he would struggle at school.

“Lewis has wanted to become an actor since the age of six,” proud mum Jayne told Maldon Standard in 2021.

“He adores everything to do with theatre and film. I’m very proud, I love the theatre, and we geek out together on Star Wars and Marvel things.”

Lewis went on to achieve four grade 9s and studied drama at A-Level whilst attending Chelmsford Drama Centre at weekends.

He landed the role of Barney Mitchell in EastEnders in 2024, with his first scene airing the same summer.

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer

Son Heung-min scored a goal for the second consecutive game, Denis Bouanga added a goal, and LAFC beat Real Salt Lake 3-1 on Wednesday night.

Hugo Lloris, who leads MLS with nine shutouts this season, had six saves for LAFC (9-5-3).

Son, who scored his first goal this season Friday in a 3-0 win over the Galaxy, opened the scoring in the 11th minute. The 34-year-old forward pushed the ball wide to his left to create space from a defender and then blasted his next touch inside the near post from the end of the penalty arc.

Mathieu Choiniere played a ball ahead, the last of four consecutive first-touch passes by LAFC, to Bouanga, who raced to the center of the area, cut back to evade a defender and fired a shot into the net to make it 2-0 in the 40th.

DeAndre Yedlin’s own goal capped the scoring in the 68th minute.

Lukas Engel, a 30-year-old defender in his second MLS season, scored his first career goal in the 86th minute for RSL (8-5-2). Rafael Cabral had one save.

Pat McAfee knows just what the world needs in 2026.

More Pat McAfee.

The former Indianapolis Colts punter and kicker already is seemingly everywhere — as the host of his own show every weekday on ESPN, as an analyst on “College GameDay” and guest on a number of other shows on the network, as a commentator/participant with WWE until earlier this year, as host of multiple podcasts, etc.

McAfee has not, however, released an album full of songs written and sung entirely by the two-time Pro Bowl selection himself.

That situation will be rectified in a matter of weeks.

McAfee announced Wednesday that he would be dropping his debut record, “The Diary of a Polarizing Figure,” on Aug. 14, a musical collaboration with country singer-songwriter Ernest.

“For as long as I can remember my mere existence has made people hate my guts,” McAfee wrote in an X post announcing the project. “I’ve been writing songs about it for 20yrs & it’s time to let them aht.. A LOT of headlines & narratives.. if I was to die, I’d like my kids to know exactly who their dad is.”

Although McAfee definitely has his detractors, it’s interesting that he’s putting out an album focusing on the haters, considering his current popularity is such that he is reportedly in talks for a contract extension with ESPN that would pay him more than $60 million a year.

Some online commenters have criticized McAfee for the timing of his announcement, which comes a day after a number of his ESPN colleagues were laid off by Walt Disney Co. McAfee reposted one such complaint on X and commented simply, “The Diary of a Polarizing Figure, August 14th, 2026.”

He said Wednesday on “The Pat McAfee Show”: “A lot of things are being said about me at this exact moment. [People] are going to hear my responses through these songs because these types of situations have been happening to me throughout my entire life. … Literally since elementary school I’ve had people that just don’t like me because I’m too loud and everything like that.”

In December, McAfee released a country-rock single called “Dookie,” also a musical collaboration with Ernest. A news release at the time stated that the single marked “a new partnership between McAfee and DeVille Records / Big Loud Records.”

Ernest told Whiskey Riff early this year that he and McAfee had recorded eight or nine songs together.

“Any EA Sports game should have a Pat McAfee song on it,” Ernest said in describing the former West Virginia standout’s musical style. “It’s locker room hype s—.”

Many athletes have attempted musical careers, with varying degrees of critical and commercial success. It would seem far fewer sports broadcasters have tried the same crossover, with John Tesh probably being the best-known example after his stint covering athletic events for CBS and NBC in the mid-1980s.

If he wants advice from a peer, perhaps McAfee might seek it from Terry Bradshaw, the four-time Super Bowl champion and longtime NFL analyst who also has released a number of country/gospel albums and even had a top 10 country hit with a cover of “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” in the 1970s.

McAfee said on his show that he “wrote this entire thing over the last 20 years or so in the notes section” of his phone.

“A lot of very personal stuff in here,” he said. “Finding my singing voice has been fun. That has been a blast. Then [to] all the incredible people in Nashville who have assisted and kind of helped me piece all this together, I’m so grateful and thankful.”

Clive Masters has officially arrived in Walford, and while he gets to know Linda Carter, let’s take a look at the actor’s family life off-screen

EastEnders newcomer Jason Durr has a famous wife who television and gardening fans will know.

During Wednesday’s (July 22) episode of the BBC soap, Jason officially arrived in Walford as Clive Masters, a local Councilor and potential love interest of Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).

As the local community centre is at risk of closing down and being redeveloped, Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) put Linda in touch with Clive, who might be able to help with their fight to save the venue.

During their first meeting, it was clear that there was romantic chemistry between Linda and Clive as they opened up about their former partners, and they were set to grow closer in forthcoming episodes.

Will the pair take a chance on a little romance? The former Queen Vic landlady is yet to find love following the presumed death of her beloved husband Mick, played by Danny Dyer, who disappeared at sea on Christmas Day 2022.

Speaking about joining the cast of the BBC soap, Jason, 58, said: “Few shows command their place in the national conversation quite like EastEnders, so I’m delighted to be joining the cast as Clive Masters. Working with the wonderful Kellie Bright has been an absolute joy and pleasure from day one.”

He added: “All the cast, crew and production staff have been incredibly generous, welcoming and good humoured. I’m excited for audiences to meet Clive and see what’s in store.”

Who is Jason Durr married to?

Former Heartbeat star Jason has been married to TV presenter Kate since 2004, after they met while in Majorca, Spain. Kate, a former actor and model, is a garden designer and has even won a Royal Horticultural Society gold medal for her expertise.

In 1984, Kate enjoyed a brief stint in the children’s drama Grange Hill and starred in the television series Perfect World and Sam’s Game, both of which aired in 2001.

She has had success presenting, hosting Dream Ticket, Night Fever, and An Audience with Lennox Lewis, and is best known for her Guinness World Records presenting work.

The couple lives together in Wiltshire, and Kate often shares pictures on her Instagram of her stunning garden and many gorgeous outdoor designs.

Jason and Kate have three children together, two daughters and a son, and they usually keep their family out of the spotlight.

On Wednesday afternoon (July 22), Jason appeared on This Morning to talk about his latest acting role on EastEnders and paid a sweet tribute to his “lovely” wife.

Speaking to ITV daytime hosts Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond about learning his scripts, he said: “You’ve got to be absolutely pinpoint perfect with your dialogue, and it’s just a joy to be working with other regulars, who get it.”

Jason added, “Keep reading it. It’s one of those things, repetition, parrot fashion, you know, that kind of thing. The kids help me, my lovely wife helps me.”

Before marrying Kate, Jason was married to an Australian named Jeanine between 1995 and 2000. She was a singer-songwriter, and the pair were together for five years before splitting.

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer

A hit crime series series that delves into unsolved murders is available to binge

A series that explores real unsolved murders is streaming on ITVX and viewers are “obsessed”.

Cold Justice follows former Texas prosecutor Kelly Siegler and her team of investigators as they look into old cases that nobody ever managed to crack.

Murders they explore include the death of a young journalist and the killing of a family of four on Halloween. Another episode focuses on a young man who discovers his father dead on his front steps.

The show, which first hit screens in 2013, has proved enormously popular with audiences, with many posting messages online saying that while it is “disturbing”, it makes for a “gripping” watch, reports Wales Online.

“Perhaps the best real crime show on TV,” one viewer wrote on IMDb.com. “I enjoy this show best of all the many crime shows I watch.”

Somebody else said they were “obsessed”, as another said: “Love the show… I’ve been hooked since the first episode.”

“Just found this show and I’m so addicted,” one person wrote on X, which was formerly Twitter.

“Kelly and her team plus the officers really care about these cold cases and want to solve them for the families to get their justice. Really feel Kelly has her heart 100% in this show and I’m hooked. Two seasons down in three days!”

“I’m obsessed with Cold Justice,” remarked somebody else. “I am always in absolute awe watching how brilliant @SieglerKelly is. She just seems like a kind, sympathetic, people person who actually wants to bring answers to these poor families.”

One fan said they had “never missed an episode”, adding: “I am beyond obsessed with the closure and hard work @SieglerKelly and her team do to help with these cases. If you haven’t watched Cold Justice you should definitely start.”

“It is the best show out there!” exclaimed another fan.

“It’s the best show on TV and helping so many families,” commented another.

Nine series of Cold Justice have aired since it began 13 years ago, with Kelly and the team helping to secure a number of arrests and convictions as a result of their investigative work.

Cold Justice is available on ITVX.

HOLLY Willoughby has admitted she knows “what real fear is” after a terrifying kidnap plot as she opens up on experiencing a “really difficult time”.

The presenter, 45, is gearing up to relaunch her career with her brand new show on YouTube.

But the last few years of her life haven’t exactly been plain sailing after she was the victim of a horrific kidnap, rape and murder plot back in 2023.

Security guard Gavin Plumb was charged in October of that year for soliciting murder and inciting kidnap and rape and was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 16 years.

Speaking about the difficult time of her life, she told Grazia in a new interview: “Everybody knows what happened and it was difficult. It was a really difficult time.

“It did set me back and made me realise, ‘Right, well of course you haven’t got everything figured out. Of course life is going to keep throwing challenges at you.”’

READ MORE ON HOLLY WILLOUGHBY

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Holly Willoughby makes VERY x-rated confession about Romesh Ranganathan

“When something like that happens, suddenly everything else gets put into perspective and you know what?

“I don’t fear what people think because I know what real fear feels like.”

Last month, The Sun on Sunday reported that Gavin was caught with a sinister stash of pictures of her in his prison cell.

The disturbing haul was found by prison officers hidden under a mattress.

A source said: “Plumb is still obsessed with Holly. The pictures were taken from magazines.

“He should not have been allowed access to images of her.”

Despite everything she’s been through, Holly is focusing on the next chapter of her life as she moves on with her career relaunch.

Her new YouTube show ‘Holly Willoughby Together’ is set to launch on July 28.

Speaking at her launch event earlier today, she said: “The YouTube idea obviously I’ve been away for a little while and my kids, watching my kids how they use stuff now, you know they watch stuff on YouTube they watch stuff on Netflix that’s how they do things.

“I was like right how am I watching stuff now and I was walking the dog and I’d be listening to Spotify or a podcast and I’d come in and I’d start cooking lunch and then I’d be like oh watch that now.”

“You suddenly realise that the way you see and view things and watch things is very very different.

“I don’t feel like it’s just me, I feel like everybody’s doing the same sort of thing,” added Holly.

The mum-of-three explained she feels as though mainstream TV isn’t the only place that can breed success.

She said: “You see what Gary Lineker has just done with the World Cup, you know collaborating with Netflix and with music, people will go on Radio 2 but then they’ll also go on a podcast.”

Holly added: “I think being a little bit braver and not just going for the obvious options, is the thing that really got me and then I thought ‘yes.’

“I thought ‘that’s it, that’s what I want to do.’”

Holly stepped down from This Morning in October 2023 and despite appearing briefly on Dancing On Ice the following year, she has largely taken a break from the spotlight.

Her glitzy lifestyle YouTube series, which starts on July 28, has a similar format to ITV‘s This Morning.

She will drop two episodes every week, and they will include sections on cookery, lifestyle, fashion, beauty and real life stories, as well as celebrity guests.

The telly legend has already confirmed appearances from actor Stanley Tucci, Spice Girl star Emma Bunton, All Saints singer Nicole Appleton, and comedians Joanne McNally and Katherine Ryan.

Coronation Street’s Betsy Swain has taken centre stage this week as the ITV soap tackles the silent dangers of non-fatal strangulation in a powerful stroke awareness storyline

Coronation Street’s Betsy Swain is currently part of a hard-hitting storyline.

The hit ITV soap is tackling the silent dangers of non-fatal strangulation in a powerful stroke awareness storyline. Only recently, Ryan Connor discovered an unconscious Betsy, where she was rushed to hospital.

Doctors confirmed that she had suffered a stroke caused by a blood clot which was the result of neck artery damage from a temporary loss of circulation.

Once stabilised having suffered a second stroke, an embarrassed and vulnerable Betsy eventually managed to reveal that her boyfriend Dylan Wilson strangled her during consensual sex, despite both believing the pressure applied was minimal.

In the coming months, viewers will witness Betsy’s challenging recovery journeys as she transitions from hospital to home, navigating significant life changes. With Betsy taking centre stage, soap watchers are keen to learn more about actress Sydney Martin’s life from her real age to her normal job before Corrie fame…

Real age

Sydney shot to fame when she joined the ITV soap as Betsy, daughter of fan favourite DS Lisa Swain, played by Vicky Myers.

In the soap, Betsy’s age is 18 with the character having been born in September 2007, meaning she will turn 19 later this year. However, in real life, actress Sydney is in fact 24.

Back in October, Sydney celebrated her birthday, sharing a post on her Instagram revealing she was 24. Reacting to Sydney’s real age, soap fans were left floored at the time.

On a Coronation Street Facebook fan page, one person said: “Happy 24th birthday to Sydney Martin who plays Betsy Swain!“

Someone else declared: “Never knew she was 24!” A third chimed in and quipped: “I need a moment! She’s 24 What?!” Echoing their thoughts, another person penned: “Def looks younger doesn’t she.”

Normal job before Corrie fame

Before landing her Coronation Street role, Sydney was working at supermarket Tesco and immediately handed her notice in after getting the life-changing call.

Previously talking to The Sun, Sydney recalled how she was watching the film Pitch Perfect 3 with flatmates in Manchester when she got the call to say she had won the role of Betsy.

The actress told the publication: “I just ran to the corner of the flat to answer the phone. I said, ‘It’s going to be a no, so keep watching the film’, and then my agent said, ‘Go hand in your notice’.

“I was doing six days at Tesco, so it’s quite the career change. My flatmate picked me up and we just cried. We didn’t finish Pitch Perfect. I could not have asked for a ­better first opportunity.

“My parents are my biggest fans. They are over the moon. I had my first picture in a magazine recently and they bought ten copies.”

Sydney admitted that she had previously auditioned for two smaller roles before landing Betsy and it was a two-month process before getting the job.

Coronation Street continues on weekdays at 8:30pm on ITV and ITVX.

Netflix viewers meet grown-up versions of Charlie and Nick in Heartstopper Forever

Heartstopper fans should prepare for more steamy scenes in the new Netflix film.

The young adult show returns with one final chapter called Heartstopper Forever tomorrow (July 17), which sees Joe Locke and Kit Connor reprising their roles as Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson.

Based on Alice Oseman’s popular graphic novels, the film picks up as Charlie and Nick face the prospect of a long-distance relationship ahead of going to university.

We’ve watched their romance blossom over three seasons, during which they were completely inseparable. So this new milestone poses a new hurdle they haven’t faced before.

As well as a new challenge, though, fans will notice that Charlie and Nick are more intimate in the new film than in previous seasons.

When asked about the final chapter featuring “a lot more sex,” Connor told The Guardian: “It’s a line that you have to walk: ‘How far are we going to take this?'”

He went on to explain that the inclusion reflected a natural progression in the characters’ romance.

“But at the end of the day, it did feel like these two guys are really attracted to each other at the age where they probably would have been doing it,” Connor added.

Locke agreed, explaining: “It would be weird if we hadn’t shown it. Just because our show is a more earnest version of a queer representation doesn’t mean that sex [shouldn’t be shown]. It’s still a big thing for anyone in the world.”

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Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.

This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things and The Last of Us.

The new coming-of-age drama includes traditional sex scenes as well as segments depicting masturbation, which is pretty standard for the genre.

However, Heartstopper has previously centred on the less-explicit elements of young queer relationships.

The actors were actually eager to push the envelope even further with their characters, Connor revealed.

He said: “If I’d had my way, I would have had Nick and Charlie cheating on each other and doing all those stupid things.

“Because young people do that and don’t necessarily need to be villainised for it. Heartstopper Forever takes a step in that direction of not being so rose-tinted about being human.”

Heartstopper Forever premieres on Netflix this Friday, July 17.

Coronation Street detective Kit Green may have a surprising plan for nemesis Gary Windass after finding out his partner Sarah Platt is Theo Silverton’s real killer

Kit Green has a plan for Gary Windass on Coronation Street – but it’s not what you might be expecting.

With Kit finding out his partner Sarah Platt is Theo Silverton’s real killer, he has a decision to make. The detective could put his own career on the line to try to save Sarah from prison – but what about Gary, who helped Sarah cover up the crime?

Amid recent hints that Kit would throw Gary under the bus and could frame him for the crime, Kit actor Jacob Roberts has now had his own say. Teasing Jacob may actually try to help Gary, Kit spilled on what was ahead…

How does Kit feel finding out Sarah killed Theo?

He was incredibly shocked, mostly because he’s just been lied to for all this time. As soon as Sarah found the ring, it completely delayed his plan and put a massive dampener on things. I think Kit always suspected she and Gary had something to do with it and he was actively defending her based on that suspicion. But he never, ever expected it to actually be her who did it. He’s just reeling from the fact that it was her all along.

How compromised does Kit feel now that he knows the truth and how far do you think he’d go to protect her?

He will protect her as much as he can, but Kit is ultimately going to protect himself first. He suddenly realises he’s been living with a murderer right under his nose. He isn’t going to be totally selfless here – he will only protect her as long as his own career is safe. His perspective is very much: “If you had told me this straight away, I could have done something about it. Now, I’m just left to pick up the pieces.”

His career means a lot to him, but does his relationship mean more?

No, his career means everything to him. The trust between them is massively gone. He isn’t prepared to lose anything because he had absolutely nothing to do with the crime. What Sarah did was wrong. Kit is a loyal guy – he’s loyal to family and the people he cares about – so he’ll do what he can, but this has simply gone too far.

Kit already disliked Gary. What are his feelings towards him now, especially knowing Sarah turned to her ex in her moment of need rather than him?

He feels incredibly betrayed. Kit knows how to cover things up way better than Gary ever could, so he feels like Sarah just picked the wrong person in a moment of panic. Gary should have honestly just called Kit himself.

Is there a part of Kit that understands why she couldn’t come to him because of his job as a police officer?

No, absolutely not. First of all, she should have never been on that roof in the first place with a guy like Theo. But turning to Gary? No. That’s her ex. Going to an ex for advice or help like that is completely out of order and non-negotiable for Kit. He might sympathise a tiny bit because she was panicking, but he doesn’t think it’s justified at all.

How do you think Kit would have reacted if she had phoned him straight away? Would he have protected her?

Absolutely. He’s done stuff like that before. He’s a bit of a dodgy copper, so he knows exactly how the system works. It was self-defence and he could have handled it. The problem now is that it’s much harder to justify because she kept quiet about Theo’s death for so long and in doing so, she has put Kit in serious jeopardy.

Is Kit happy to send an “innocent-ish” man like Gary to prison just to save Sarah?

Ideally, he would try to get them both off. But if it comes down to a direct choice between Sarah and Gary, he is always going to choose Sarah.

Can Kit get his head around why Sarah is so dead-set on protecting Gary? Do you think it makes him doubt their relationship?

It makes him doubt it massively. He’s clever enough to know there’s a lot of history there and that they’ve probably protected each other over the years, but it’s still a huge dint to his pride. He doesn’t think she’s physically cheating on him, but in a way, an emotional affair can be worse. You just don’t go to your ex for help with something this massive. It’s totally out of order.

Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITV X. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

Emmerdale star Shebz Miah arrived in the village in 2025. Here’s everything you need to know about the actor.

Shebz Miah’s real age recently left Emmerdale fans surprised, as they thought the actor was much younger.

In March 2025, actor Shebz arrived in the village as Kammy Hadiq and caused a stir by stealing a quad bike from Moira Dingle’s (Natalie J Robb) land, with Ross Barton (Mike Parr) being blamed for the theft.

This incident introduced Kammy as a bad boy, and he soon caught Sarah Sugden’s (Katie Hill) attention when she found him struggling to start the stolen vehicle by the roadside.

Kammy was soon caught up in a love triangle with Sarah and Jacob Gallagher (Joe-Warren Plant) as both men tried to win her over. As fans know, Sarah and Jacob rekindled their romance, and have since gotten married and are surrogate parents to baby Leyla.

Meanwhile, Kammy caught the affection of close pal Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson), whom he had to gently let down, but revealed his true caring and loyal nature following Vinny’s violent attack.

In a devastating twist, Kammy recently confessed to being homeless, a revelation that left viewers in tears. He was living in a barn and explained that his family estrangement was directly linked to the difficult path his life had taken after tragedy struck in his family years ago.

“My dad died. Unexpected,” he told Belle. “I took it really bad, I didn’t look after my mum how I should have done”. Struggling to cope with his grief, Kammy started mixing with the wrong crowd and became involved in stealing cars.

This led Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) to welcome the mechanic into the family as his romance with Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) blossomed.

Taking to Instagram earlier this year, Shebz, from Bradford in West Yorkshire, shared snippets for his time on the ITV soap so far and wrote: “One year bringing Kammy to life. Grateful for the journey, the incredible people behind the scenes, and everyone who’s welcomed the character into their homes…We’re only just getting started… “

Before his stint in the Dales, eagle-eyed fans might recognise Shebz from his cameo in a 2024 episode of Casualty, where he portrayed Noor Din, and from popping up in Doctors in 2023 as Reece Shaw.

How old is Shebz Miah?

Shebz recently celebrated his 29th birthday, which left fans ‘floored’ as they assumed he was much younger. One fan wrote on Facebook: “Happy 29th birthday to Shebz, who plays Kammy”, as another replied: “29!!! I’m shocked.”

A third chimed in: “I thought he was about 20!!”, as another echoed the sentiment: “Happy birthday, I thought he was only 20 years old, he doesn’t look 29.”

“I didn’t think he was 29, he doesn’t look it. Happy birthday,” exclaimed one person as another simply asked, “29?”

Soap star Shabz tends to keep his private life away from the spotlight and has yet to confirm a romance off-screen.

Emmerdale airs weekdays on ITV and ITVX

“The Real Housewives of Orange County” star Jennifer Pedranti says that her son was involved in starting a brush fire that burned in Ladera Ranch.

Pedranti posted the admission on her Instagram stories on Thursday, saying that there will be consequences for her son.

“I would like to clear up the rumblings of my son having involvement in the Ladera Ranch fire,” her statement began.

“He and others were involved. My ex husband and myself take this very serious. This behavior is unacceptable and we are deeply sorry to our community. This is a tough learning moment for our son and our family.”

Pedranti continued that she was thankful that there was no property damage and nobody was injured. “The fire and police were absolutely amazing and gave these boys a lesson they will never forget,” she said. “There were no arrests made, but consequences for actions are being put into place.”

According to Pedranti, her son will be taking a fire safety course to “make sure a mistake like this never happens again.”

“There are consequences within our family and we will make sure our son learns from this accident.”

The brush fire originated near Ladera Ranch’s Narrow Canyon Road and Acaster Way on Tuesday afternoon and spread across seven acres before firefighters were able to get it under control.

Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Augie Romo confirmed to The Times that three minors were interviewed in connection with the Ladera Ranch brush fire and that no arrests were made. A full report will be made available in 10 days, but for now, most details of the incident remain under investigation.

The Bravo reality star shares five children with her ex-husband, biotech entrepreneur William Pedranti: sons Harrison, 22; Dawson, 19; Greyson, 16; and Dominic, 12; and daughter Everleigh, 14. She is engaged to “Real Housewives” cast member Ryan Boyajian, who reportedly was formerly involved in real estate and mortgage lending.

TAMERA Mowry fans couldn’t believe the star’s real age as she took to social media to mark her birthday.  

She and twin sister Tia are 90s sitcom icons after starring in the series Sister, Sister – which aired on Nickelodeon in the UK from 1994 until 1999. 

Today Tamera shared a clip on TikTok revealing the women are celebrating their 48th birthday, and fans refused to believe it. 

The clip showed her being presented with a cake decorated with ‘3’ and ‘8’ candles, before someone off camera switched the first for a ‘4’. 

After jokingly running away from the cake, Tamera stopped and pulled the candles from the cake before holding them up and smiling at the camera. 

She wrote: “We spend so much time running from our age. Well, this year, I’m dancing with it. 48 and grateful, because every year is a gift not everyone gets to unwrap.”

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Rushing to comment, one fan wrote: “Why did I think she’s actually 38? She looks amazing.”

Another said: “There is no way they’re 48!!!”

Someone else wrote: “Oh baby you look 28.”

And a fourth added: “Excuse me, 48? You don’t look a day over 20.”

It comes after Tia spoke out following long-running rumours of a feud between the two sisters.

Confirming there are issues between them, she told Entertainment Tonight: “Yes, there’s distance.

“But when something is important to you… you will make time for it.

“We’ve made a pact with each other that we’ll reach out once per week, and that’s on Sundays.”

Coronation Street has welcomed real-life family members to the Cobbles over the years

Soap operas blur the line between drama and reality when family members land roles on the same show.

Coronation Street star Isabella Flanagan plays Weatherfield’s Hope Stape, daughter of Fiz Brown (played by Jennie McAlpine), on the ITV show alongside her brother William, who portrays Joseph Brown, son of Chesney (Sam Aston).

The siblings also share a real-life connection to Emmerdale’s April Windsor star Amelia Flanagan, who is their big sister.

Cousins Brooke Vincent and Ellie Leach have both enjoyed successful stints on the show, while Rick Neelan actor Greg Wood is actually the real-life brother of Tommy Orpington star Matt Milburn.

Last month, Rosie Fleeshman became the latest member to follow in the footsteps of her famous sibling, Richard Fleeshman, enjoying a guest stint on Corrie. Their mum has also starred on the show.

Richard first graced the soap as Craig Harris in 2002, with his family, including father Tommy Harris (Thomas Craig), mother Angela Harris (Kathryn Hunt), and sister Katy (Lucy-Jo Hudson).

The family arrived in Weatherfield as part of a witness protection scheme, and they quickly stirred up some drama. Moreover, young Craig was central to several dramatic storylines during his tenure.

In 2005, he lost his entire family when his sister Katy killed their father Tommy in a rage, and their mother Angela took the fall. Unable to cope with the guilt, Katy later took her own life.

The character also embarked on a romance with Rosie Webster (Helen Flanagan), becoming her first boyfriend. Craig even plotted to flee to Berlin with Rosie.

However, in 2006, Craig departed alone and bid farewell to the cobbles. Since then, actor Richard has kept himself occupied, appearing in shows such as Call the Midwife and Death in Paradise, as well as stage productions.

Richard hails from a talented family, as his mum, Sue Jenkins, who joined the cast of Coronation Street as Gloria Todd in 1985, became a regular face at the Rovers Return pub. She worked alongside Julie Goodyear, who famously played landlady Bet Lynch.

Beyond her time on Corrie, Sue also portrayed Jackie Corkhill in Brookside from 1992 to 2001, and made a brief appearance in Emmerdale in 2008 as Bonnie Drinkwater.

In 2024, Richard appeared on Loose Women and spoke to panellists Kaye Adams, Kelle Bryan, Linda Robson, and Jane Moore about his role on sci-fi show, The Ark and paid tribute to his mum’s time on Brookside.

“She was amazing in that show”, he said. “I was allowed to watch certain episodes growing up. Some of them were a little bit past my bedtime. It was an amazing show and such a great following.”

The revelation of Sue and Richard’s roles on Corrie left fans astounded. On X, previously known as Twitter, one viewer posted about Sue’s stint on Corrie.

Another fan responded: “That’s Richard Fleeshman’s mum!” A third person commented: “Wow, all this time watching and I never knew that, I can see her son in that photo now.” Yet another added: “Her real-life son played Craig Harris, son of Psycho Tommy!”

Richard’s dad is David Fleeshman, who appeared in Boys from the Blackstuff, and he credited his parents for inspiring his successful career. He said, “I grew up with both of them being around the industry fully, so it was just everything I knew.”

Coronation Street airs weekdays on ITV and ITVX

OLIVIA Attwood has revealed the ‘real reason’ why she was cuddling Pete Wicks in those cosy yacht pictures from last year.

The former Love Island star, 35, was seen pictured looking very close to Pete, 37, while lounging on a boat in Ibiza in August 2025.

Olivia and Pete went public with their relationship in March this year.

And it comes after she split from her ex husband Bradley Dack, who she tied the knot with in 2023, in January 2026.

In the most recent episode of the Olivia’s House podacst, the ITV star and pal Mark Johnson discussed the trip, and the pictures of her and Pete.

“Okay, let’s talk to my listeners about the yacht pictures with Pete,” Olivia said.

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“Because there is a funny story here. Just as a subtext, okay I was obviously leaning back on him like on the yacht, but nothing happened.”

Mark then told her: “Tell the whole story!”

Olivia continued: “But the pictures, the actual came back was funny, right? So I am lent back on him and whatever…”

Mark chimed in: “Yeah, but let’s go first, when that woman dunked you! Do you remember? Rebecca is her name. She dunked. Do you remember?

“She slipped drunk and dunked you.”

Olivia confessed that she didn’t remember and Mark explained: “What the hell? You were getting out off the board, you know that board, where you jump? Do you not remember? Where were you?!”

“Did she give me concussion?! Because I don’t remember,” Olivia told him.

Mark continued: “So when you were getting out of the water, you know when you get in that board bit.

“You were getting out and she was rotten, fell down the stairs, slid and dunked you.”

Olivia asked: “So is that why he was cuddling me?”

Mark told her: “Yeah so when you were getting out, you were crying, and I was laughing.”

“I remember hitting my head, but I thought I hit it inside,” Olivia confessed.

Mark said: “No. It was when you got dunked under the water. And you were crying. I don’t see you cry at all.

“So I thought it was funny!”

Olivia then went on to explain the other part of the story.

She said: “Our friend Megan Elliot, who we love, we adore her. She is my second sister. She is my blood, my family.

“But love her, sometimes, she is a couple of sandwiches short of the whole picnic. Sometimes she comes out with things, we go “Oh, shut up, Megan!”

“So anyway, she goes, we’re in the middle of the ocean, right? And not posted anything for days.

“There’s a catamaran, so if you don’t know what a catamaran is, it’s one of those boats that has two bits, and then the middle bit is like, it’s a weird boat.

“She goes, “Someone is taking pictures of us off that boat! I saw a flash, it was massive.”

“And we go “Shut up, Megan!” We were all taking the p**s. Someone is taking pictures of us. Who do you think you are? Jennifer Aniston?!

“We were actually mocking her for it. And then she was like “No I swear!” We carried on about our business, next day we’re at the pool and I’m so hungover, I think I’m going to die.

“I’m on the back. I’m on the bed, and she comes in and she goes “Told you.” And then she was going all like “I told you, I told you”.

“She’s scrolling through and she goes “I knew it, I knew it. I saw…”

“She had her t*ts out.”

TV star Olivia had kept tight-tipped about her romance with Pete after being pictured snogging the hunk and leaving a hotel together after the Brits.

But in March, in a statement accusing her ex Bradley of cheating on her multiple times over their 10-year relationship, Olivia admitted she’s trying to move on.

“Yes, I’m dating,” wrote Olivia.

“Yes, I’m getting up every single day even when I have cried all night to film the shows I love filming, record my podcast, record my radio show, shoot campaigns and somewhere in there TRY to move on.”

Since then, the pair haven’t been able to keep their hands off each other.

They were spotted smooching on a sun lounger while on Nikki Beach in St. Tropez.

Olivia and Bradley first met in 2015, dated for three months, and then went their separate ways.

After Olivia went on Love Island in 2017, and split from ex Chris Hughes, the pair got back together in 2018.

Bradley proposed to the star in 2019, and they tied the knot in 2023.

Meanwhile Pete has dated the likes of Maura Higgins, Megan McKenna and Chloe Sims.

NBA mock drafts projected Cameron Carr getting selected somewhere between 15 and 20 in the first round on Tuesday night.

Ending up with the Lakers later in the draft, however, was more than Carr could have asked for.

The Lakers acquired his draft rights from the New York Knicks, who took the 6-foot-5 Baylor guard with the 24th pick, in a multiple-team deal in which L.A. sent the draft rights to Spanish guard Sergio De Larrea, who was taken 25th, and cash considerations to New York.

As he sat for his introductory news conference Friday, dressed in all black, Carr shared what his thoughts were when he found out he would be playing for the Lakers.

“I’m going to the Lakers! It was more of an exciting thing,” he said. “It felt surreal. It didn’t feel real for the first couple minutes when I found out. It was trying to get my head around, ‘Man, I’m about to walk across the stage and be an NBA player.’ I’ve dreamed of this my whole life, especially since I was a kid. So it took a second. Still trying to get my head wrapped around it, but nothing but excitement and happiness. I feel more motivated to work.”

Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ president of basketball operations, met Carr at the facility on Friday but didn’t speak with the media during the news conference.

It meant Pelinka couldn’t be asked about Austin Reaves agreeing to re-sign with the Lakers on a four-year, $185-million deal, or about how conversations are going with free agent LeBron James.

But NBA rules prohibit team officials from commenting on anything during the free agency moratorium, which won’t be lifted until July 6.

So, this day was all about the 21-year-old Carr and how impressed he was being in the Lakers’ building.

“Walking in the building, first thing you notice is the rich tradition of the people that have been here before you,” Carr said. “It’s a moment of happiness. As a kid, you always dreamed of walking across that stage and accomplishing everything you wanted to. Man, it just felt good to walk in the gym and look at the people that came before me. Now I’m in their shoes.”

Carr was viewed by NBA scouts as athletic with his 42½-inch vertical leap and as having a good jump shot.

During his sophomore season at Baylor, Carr averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocks in 34 games. He shot 49.4% from the field, 37.4% from three-point range and 80.1% from the free-throw line.

But Carr quickly talked about how playing defense will be his calling card with the Lakers.

“Stepping into an organization with people with the same type of mindset and abilities, it only makes my job easier,” Carr said. “I’ve just got to cut and dunk the ball for them, and run in transition. But first things first is establishing a defensive consistency and showing I can be dominant or a plus on the defensive end as someone they would like to guard the best player.”

Carr always had his dad, Chris Carr, to lean on during his journey as a basketball player. Having him as a mentor was so beneficial because his father spent six seasons in the NBA. His most famous moment came in 1997, when he became the runner-up to Kobe Bryant in the slam dunk contest.

Now father and son have something else in common: making the NBA.

“I’ve always wanted to be better than him,” Carr said. “I’ve always been behind, so I want to show he’s put a lot of work in me becoming a better man. So I feel the only way I can credit him and show I’m thankful for him is by putting in the work and using it every single day. He was a heck of a player, so it’s some big footsteps I’ve got to follow and a long journey.

“It’s good motivation. My ‘why’ is just to be better and show people I’m better than a lot of people that are put in front of me. I feel like that’s the chip on my shoulder, or the fire under my feet.”

THIS may sound strange, but as we finished our first circuit around Yorkshire Wildlife Park, I was pleased we hadn’t seen all the animals who call this place home.

We hadn’t spotted them all because the amazing beasts — including giraffes, rhinos, zebras, lions, tigers, polar bears and wallabies — live in huge, free-roaming enclosures.

They have areas to play, relax, eat and sleep instead of being squashed in small cages just so humans can instantly peer at them.

The humans on my trip included my son Alex and his friends Jack and Finn, together with their mum Laura. They travelled from London and we went from Manchester, meeting at the park in Auckley, Doncaster.

Even though our visit to the 175- acre adventure park was in February we were lucky with the weather and by the end of our day we were lucky with the animals we saw, too.

It takes about 90 minutes to walk the 3km circular route, and once you’ve done it the first time, you can do it all over again.

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As we passed by the 30 life-size dinosaur models and then watched sea lions, the boys used the park’s app to decide which animals they wanted to see.

For Alex, it was the six polar bears. They live in ten acres, with grassy plains, rocky beaches, water pools and shaded caves, but thankfully seemed to love being near visitors.

One gigantic bear dipped in the pool and had a kickabout with a football right in front of us.

Finn chose the red pandas. Visitors can book 30-minute experiences with several of the animals, including the red panda, and feed them.

But Finn was thrilled just to see the “real-life Kung Fu Panda”.
Jack’s wish was to see the tigers.

As we headed there, we first saw monkeys swinging through trees and playing, which the boys loved. Then we stopped at Leopard Heights, which has a large elevated viewing platform plus ground-level glass wall to see the big cats play on their huge wooden climbing frames.

But as big cats go, they weren’t as majestic as the lions who sprawled out on rocks, seemingly oblivious to everyone gazing at their splendour.

Throughout the park, signs explain each animal’s back story. There is a big focus on environmental projects and it was lovely to read how the lions had been rescued from dangerous situations, including from Ukraine.

The Amur tigers were a highlight. One wandered right past us making moaning noises, which apparently indicated contentment. But as one man behind me rightly commented: “You wouldn’t want to hear that on a dark night, would you?”

There are several picnic spots here, too. One is sensibly inside and next time I visit I’ll shove a sandwich or two in a backpack.

But we weren’t that organised so had lunch at the Safari Cafe. Two very decent coffees for the adults, plus sandwiches and quiche with salad, and three portions of nuggets, chips, beans and apple juices for the kids came to £45 which, for a tourist spot, didn’t seem like bad value.

There are also many play areas and the boys loved the Jungle lookout, climbing through wooden tree forts, over obstacle courses and down slides as us adults had a catch-up.

Finally we returned to the Yorkshire Hive — a hub at the centre of the park with a beauty salon, shops, cafes and fitness centre plus hotel the Hex, where we were staying.

After dumping our bags, we went to Evolution Experience Restaurant where there were more roaring dinosaurs, illuminated dragons, smoke effects, crayons and colouring sheets for the boys.

They each had home-made pizza, apple juice and organic fruit lollies for £10 while we had ribs for £12 with a decent sauvignon blanc and prosecco.

The hotel ticked a lot of boxes — bunk beds and giant bean bags for the boys to sit on and watch Netflix plus black-out blinds, Temple Spa bathroom products, fresh coffee sachets and the cutest packets of mini Jammie Dodgers I’ve ever seen.

But without doubt the best bit of that room was two oblong windows in the walls — one at kids’ level and one at adult height — giving a bird’s eye view over the park.

We watched the wolves prowling and then eating their breakfast. It was the highlight of our trip.

After we had our own breakfast — a full English buffet at the Wilds Cafe Bistro — the boys had a final run around at the large soft play centre, while we relaxed and chatted.

That’s what is so perfect about this place — they catered for the needs of the animals, the kids and us. And for me, that was the real winner.

Caracas, June 25, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuela suffered two successive major earthquakes on Thursday afternoon that caused devastating damage.

Authorities reported that 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck 39 seconds apart just after 6 pm. The epicenters were close to San Felipe, Yaracuy State, some 120 kilometers west of Caracas.

The tremors strongly shook central and northern Venezuela and were felt as far as Brazil and Colombia. Geological services registered 20 aftershocks in the following hours.

Emergency services, firefighters, and civil protection brigades were immediately deployed. Videos circulated on social media showed collapsed infrastructure in parts of the capital and nearby towns and rescue teams removing rubble to reach survivors.

Reports from the coastal of La Guaira showed completely devastated areas with rows of destroyed buildings.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez addressed the nation on Thursday night and again in the early hours of Friday, calling for calm and unity in the wake of the natural disaster and declaring a state of emergency.

Rodríguez decreed a suspension of educational and “non-essential” activities, as well as the Caracas metro and suburban trains. The Simón Bolívar airport in nearby Maiquetía was likewise temporarily shut down.

“The priority right now is to save lives,” the acting president told press. “Later we will address the material reconstruction.” Rodríguez gave a preliminary figure of 32 dead and over 700 injured.

The acting president called the situation in La Guaira “a real tragedy” and a “disaster zone” with dozens of collapsed buildings. She expressed condolences to relatives of victims and urged Venezuelans to report missing people or damaged infrastructure via a dedicated phone app.

Rodríguez went on to call on people to evacuate buildings with visible structural damage and urged medical personnel to report to their stations as soon as possible.

During her press conference, Rodríguez thanked multiple countries for expressing solidarity and offering support, and announced the imminent arrival of rescue teams from the US, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Qatar.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on social media that Washington is “immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela.”

Caracas additionally received support from Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, and a host of other nations. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reported that specialized rescue teams are being prepared and that her government is in contact with Venezuelan counterparts.

Some areas of the capital and nearby states remained without electricity hours after the earthquakes. Authorities temporarily disconnected the direct supply of cooking gas to avoid secondary fires.

Story in development.

A future that, he says, has always intrigued him – and perhaps not dissimilar to David Beckham.

Like Bale, the English icon was his nation’s footballing figurehead and could have had his pick of post playing jobs, before ending up a co-owner of MLS franchise Inter Miami as part of various business interests.

Was that route an influence?

“I think so; a lot of American athletes do that type of thing and I would read about it and listen to interviews about what they’ve done,” says Bale, whose old Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric has become a minority investor in Swansea City.

“A lot of players still go down the coaching route, management or even with younger players at academies.

“But you are seeing more players being a bit more business minded. Maybe because we’ve done so much on one side, this side becomes a new chapter, a new world.

“It always really interested me, but I didn’t really have the opportunity before being introduced to John.”

The John who could help Bale build it like Beckham is experienced US investor John Shulman, founder of private equity firm Juggernaut Capital.

The company is said to have $1bn in capital commitments and had already been investing in various sport businesses – from golf courses and volleyball to “thrill” sports – but sensed an opportunity, especially when it came to Europe and the UK.

Shulman says he wanted to bring on board “an elite, iconic athlete” to help launch a sports specific investment platform – Juggernaut Diversified Sports – ready to invest more than £500m.

And after an introduction – and, naturally, a round of golf – found one.

“There is only a small number of human beings on the planet who have done what Gareth has done,” Shulman says.

“We’re good investors, but what we lacked is the mindset, experience, drive and unique perch Gareth does.

“I mean, the guy has got it all. What he can do on the pitch, I’ve seen him do in the boardroom metaphorically. So I have nothing but excitement about [our plans], doing it at the right time and the right place and the right way.”