reason

KATIE Price has revealed the real reason she is refusing to go back to Dubai – and it has nothing to do with her marriage to Lee Andrews.

The mum-of-five landed back in the UK last week after spending some more time with the self-proclaimed billionaire businessman at his home in the UAE.

But now she has revealed she has no plans to return to Dubai – especially after hubby Lee confirmed he would be coming to the UK but failed to show up.

Now, amid a mystery relating to his current whereabouts, with Katie yesterday confirming she had not heard from him in three days and suggested he’d been kidnapped after he claimed to be in the back of a van with his hands tied up, she has revealed the real reason she would not return to Dubai.

And despite her looming marital woes, the answer is all connection to Katie’s work.

She revealed she wants to remain in the UK in order to produce content for her OnlyFans page and safely distribute it and engage with her followers on the platform.

KATIE’S LOVE

Katie Price reveals secret nickname for husband Lee after ‘kidnap’ fears

LEE MISSING

Katie Price fears husband Lee Andrews has been ‘kidnapped’ as he goes ‘missing’

Posting on the adults-only site is believed to be Katie’s primary source of income – after years of being belaguered with money problems.

Speaking in a YouTube video, Katie said: “I am glad to be back [in the UK].

“When I am out there, I cannot do my OnlyFans.

“I can’t do it when I am in the country there, so I can only do it here.”

She also further revealed how she was also able to produce better quality YouTube content in the UK with her cameraman Ben who does not accompany her to Dubai.

Her YouTube channel is also understood to net Katie a decent sum.

As a result of laws in the United Arab Emeriates, Katie is banned from using OnlyFans.

Whilst the website itself isn’t explicitly banned per se, it can likely only be accessed via a VPN,

Furthermore, in the UAE, the creation, distribution, and promotion of adult content is forbidden by law as a result of the country’s strict policies.

Anyone found to be creating adult content in the country and distributing it can face punishments of lengthy prison stints or a whopping fine of around £102,000.

Despite this, Lee set up his own OnlyFans content and teased raunchy content on the site – despite already claiming to have billions in the back and the laws regarding the matter in the Middle East country.

Katie has had a turbulent weekend after she admitted she had failed to be in touch with Lee for a number of days.

The former glamour model, 47, was left furious with Lee, 43, after he failed to board a flight AGAIN to the UK, and told him “time is running out”.

In a statement last night, she revealed she is concerned that her husband has been “kidnapped” and the police cannot find any record of him being detained.

The star insisted he is a “missing person” now and revealed the last time she spoke to him, he had “ties around his hand and was in a van” with a “hood over his head”.

Katie said: “I don’t know where to really begin, but I know there is all this speculation about Lee when I met him but something really serious has happened.

“I’ve been forced that I have to say this now.”

TAYLOR SWIFT and fiancé Travis Kelce were snapped on a whirlwind trip to London last week – and I can reveal why they were in town.

The couple are planning a wedding party at celeb haunt The Chiltern Firehouse in August, a month after their upcoming New York nuptials.

The American lovebirds met the venue’s owner, US hotelier Andre Balazs, to discuss their VIP soiree for 120 guests.

The Chiltern restaurant and hotel remains shut to the public after a pizza-oven fire wrecked it early last year, but it is in the market for one-off events.

Noel Gallagher threw a bash there to mark the end of the US leg of the Oasis reunion tour.

The visit by Taylor and Kansas City Chiefs American football star Travis follows reports they will tie the knot in July in New York after getting engaged last year.

Party pals

Taylor Swift parties with Eugenie & Beatrice at Poppy Delevingne’s 40th birthday

PAY TAY!

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An insider said: “London holds a huge place in Taylor’s heart and she has so many British friends who she wants to celebrate with.

“Travis and Taylor partied at the Chiltern two years ago following her Eras tour dates at Wembley, and it is a special place for her.

“They are working on a personalised menu with bespoke cocktails and carefully selected wines.

“They’re looking at entertainment options but Taylor obviously has lots of talented friends in the music industry so it’s likely some could end up performing.”

I’m told she was hoping to use the venue’s five-star hotel rooms, too, but they have not yet reopened.

Guests will include UK stars Cara Delevingne, Kate Moss, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Ed Sheeran and Stella McCartney.

Before Travis, Taylor dated a string of Brits — The 1975 frontman Matty Healy, actors Joe Alwyn and Tom Hiddleston, DJ Calvin Harris and Harry Styles.

She has also written songs London Boy and So Long, London.

Now that she has finally found her forever man, I am so pleased she plans to celebrate in our capital.

Zara’s on a high

ZARA LARSSON rides the wave as she kicks off US TV channel Today’s Citi Summer Concert Series in New York City.

But the Swedish pop star, who looked stunning in a yellow skirt and matching top, almost had to pull out of the performance.

She told her fans on Instagram: “I was sooo nervous this morning because my voice was literally gone!

“But we pushed through. I had so much fun! Thank you to everyone for pulling up on me so early.”

Nic ‘n’ Tom have dare necessity

IT is known as the toughest show on TV – but ahead of the new series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, I can reveal at least two of the contestants, Olympic boxing champ Nicola Adams and Apprentice star Thomas Skinner, reckon they have the steel to prevail.

A source said: “Tom has been training hard with a weighted vest in preparation for the show, and Nicola is no stranger to an intense training regime.”

The pair will join Towie legend Amy Childs and Married At First Sight star Ella Morgan in competing on the Channel 4 military-style challenge.

Meanwhile, singer Jojo Siwa and former Strictly pro dancer Giovanni Pernice are also lined up to take part.

Filming is taking place this summer in Malaysia, for the ninth series, which is expected to air next year.

Olivia in full bloom

OLIVIA RODRIGO looks super cute in dainty florals during a performance in Spain.

The Drop Dead singer wore a pink mini dress and black leather boots to play a Spotify Billions Club Live show in Barcelona.

The concert on Friday night kicked off El Clasico weekend ahead of the match between Barcelona and Real Madrid today.

The American hitmaker, who embarks on her Unraveled Tour in September, also posed with her nine Spotify plaques to commemorate her songs which have surpassed a billion streams.

Stones play Amy tribute

THE ROLLING STONES cover a song by the late Amy Winehouse on their new album, Foreign Tongues.

Out on July 10, it will see Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, pay tribute to Amy’s 2007 track You Know I’m No Good.

Sir Mick performed a duet with Amy during the Stones’ set at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2007, four years before she died aged 27.

The album’s track list which was leaked by fans, also features lead single In The Stars and song Back In Your Life.

The latter has a guitar solo by Ronnie inspired by The Beach Boys star Brian Wilson – and it was recorded on the day Brian died, aged 82, in June last year.

Hit Me In The Head includes old recordings in Los Angeles with the late Stones drummer Charlie Watts, who died in 2021, aged 80.

Last month the band released another album track, Rough And Twisted, on vinyl under pseudonym The Cockroaches.

Dec 10 in secret filming

DECEMBER 10 have secretly filmed a music video for their hot new single Infinity (123).

I can reveal that the boys – Cruz, Danny, Hendrik, Sean, John, Josh and Nicolas – jetted to Palma, Mallorca to shoot the promo which will be released on Friday.

It comes as the band gear up for their first appearance at Capital’s Summertime Ball next month and the Summer Sonic festival in Japan in August.

Biz on Sunday’s Emily was lucky enough to catch up with the boys at their gig at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire last month.

And they will be returning to the London venue in July, for two sold-out nights.

Looks like they have a jam-packed summer.

Tom: Paul and I may be family

TOM GRENNAN has revealed he could be related to Irish actor Paul Mescal.

The Little Bit Of Love hitmaker bumped into the Normal People star at the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final in Dublin last year.

And he told Cork’s 96FM radio station: “Paul was there and he was like, ‘Is your dad here?’.

“He said, ‘Mate, my dad has been going on about your dad and he wants to speak to him’.

“Apparently, there’s some sort of relation!”

Tom, who welcomed daughter Dotty with wife Danniella Carraturo last summer, is set to release an album this year inspired by becoming a dad.

Talking about fatherhood, he said: “It has definitely had an impact on my songwriting.

“It’s opened up another chamber in my heart.”

Ramsay’s kitchen rebels

GORDON RAMSAY’s TV production company is making a fiery documentary series with the BBC about some of the biggest renegades in the restaurant world.

Rise Of The Rockstar Chefs will focus on Heston Blumenthal, Marco Pierre White, and, of course, Gordon himself.

A source said: “This bunch are set to lift the lid on their early days in the competitive restaurant world and share some of their juicy stories.”

Studio Ramsay’s glossy production will feature guest appearances from foodies Stanley Tucci, Prue Leith, and Pink Floyd‘s Nick Mason.

I’m told it’s set to air in the autumn.

‘Sore’ Stacey snubs BAFTAS

STACEY SOLOMON is snubbing this year’s BAFTA TV Awards after facing a backlash over her emotional reaction to losing at last year’s ceremony.

Instead of putting on a gown and trundling down the red carpet, the presenter is living her best life in Miami on a PAID Space NK brand trip with her kids. Good for her.

The Sort Your Life Out star was criticised online – with some trolls branding her a “sore loser” and a “spoiled brat” – after she admitted on Instagram that she was “devastated” her BBC show failed to win.

Although Sort Your Life Out was nominated in two categories, it missed out on a BAFTA, prompting Stacey to defend her hardworking team in the emotional video.

She said: “I know I’m supposed to take it gracefully like a champ, but I’ll be honest, I’m devastated.

“The crew also deserve the BAFTA after the effort they put into making the show.”

Other telly presenters giving this evening’s ceremony a miss are Rochelle Humes and Olivia Attwood, who are both joining Stacey in the sun.

Harry Poulton, 24, grew tired of life in the UK and decided to move to Benidorm, Spain, after falling in love with the popular hotspot. Now, he has zero plans to ever move back to England

A young British man took the dramatic step of moving to Benidorm for good following a lads’ holiday – and has pledged never to return to the UK again.

While Great Britain offers plenty of positives, it’s not without its shortcomings. Between the famously erratic weather and the ongoing cost of living crisis, it’s increasingly understandable why some people make the leap and move abroad. Such was the experience for 24-year-old Harry Poulton, who travelled to Benidorm for the first time on a lads’ holiday and immediately knew it was going to be his future home. For Harry, one of the factors that made his choice easy was the fun lifestyle available at a far lower cost than compared to “gloomy” Britain.

The travel vlogger, originally from Brighton, had become tired of life in “gloomy” England and, aged just 18, opted to transform his circumstances by abandoning his homeland in favour of Spain.

In a TikTok clip detailing his reasoning, he admitted one of the main motivations for moving was escaping the “horrible” British weather.

The cost of living was another reason behind his choice. Daily life in the Spanish coastal resort proves considerably more affordable for Harry.

He explained: “Everything in the UK is just going up, up, up and up, and no one knows when it’s going to stop. At least here in Spain, your money travels so much further – you’ll get way more for your money here in Spain than you would in the UK, and that’s my opinion.”

Speaking to Luxury Travel Daily, Harry explained: “I don’t know why anybody would want to live in Britain. It’s cold, dreary and gloomy all the time.

“There’s no room to have fun outside of the constant boring routine and work. After I visited Benidorm, I knew that it was the place I wanted to settle down.

“It offers great weather, beautiful beaches and such a laid-back vibe. It’s the complete opposite of the UK.”

Harry is a passionate advocate for Benidorm, convinced many Britons unfairly make a “mockery” of the beloved holiday hotspot. The Spanish municipality is known and loved for its thriving hotel and live entertainment industry, its golden beaches, and impressive skyscrapers.

The town is said to receive just as many tourists from abroad as it does from Spain. He said: “Stop making a mockery of such a wonderful place. If you live here, you’ll know better than any British tourists what this country is really like.”

Harry continued: “Everyone says not to visit Benidorm, as you’ll get scammed or mugged. And that bars will rip tourists off with extortionate prices for drinks – but that’s all absolute rubbish.

“It’s crazy what Brits believe. It’s not just for party-goers or stag dos. Benidorm has so much on offer and it’s not a place you’ll regret going. There are so many haters out there that like to spread misinformation or myths, stopping people from coming here.”

He added: “It’s mad. Look at the state of the UK – all of these things happen there more than they do in Benidorm.”

Harry believes he’s considerably happier living in Spain than he ever was in Britain.

For anyone contemplating a similarly dramatic overseas move, he suggested: “Learn some basic Spanish before coming. Ensure to plan financially, too. Be prepared for some paperwork, especially since Brexit, but it’s so worth it once you’re here.”

Looking back on making such a major decision at such a young age, he added: “It’s completely transformed my life – and being so young, I’m glad I leaped now rather than later. Who wants to wake up to grey skies every day, when you can have blue ones greeting you each morning? Benidorm is paradise – anyone who says otherwise is lying.”

FROM declaring himself as a millionaire to the mysterious ‘travel ban’ saga, Katie Price’s husband Lee Andrews has seemingly left fans more concerned for the glamour model than ever before.

But as friends of the star grow increasingly worried about the whirlwind marriage, and more of Lee’s apparent untruths come to light, The Sun can reveal why Katie isn’t going anywhere, no matter how muddied the waters get.

But despite what appears to be a string of red flags – from questions about his finances and qualifications to damning allegations from his furious exes – Katie is determined to stick by her decision to wed Lee, a source has told The Sun.

“Everyone has told Katie multiple times that Lee is not the man for her and that she needs to walk away. Everyone believes that he is a con artist but she will not listen.

“His lies are mounting up and every week there is something new. Everyone feels helpless or the situation and they can’t keep trying and trying. It’s tiresome,” said the insider.

They continued that Katie is brushing off the worry and working harder than ever to ensure this marriage works out.

full display

Katie Price’s bikini struggles to contain her ‘biggest ever’ boobs in Dubai

LIV IT UP

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“The sad thing is, Katie won’t walk away because she hates being on her own and always has been that way.

“She is never without a man and has never been single. Even though she may appear fiery and strong from the outside deep down she is quite vulnerable and she hates being alone.

“She is very co-dependent and does rely on a man. She’s hates a quiet home it’s her worse nightmare,” they explained.

Back in February, The Sun revealed that Katie’s family were worried she could be “conned” by Lee, who they are all yet to meet.

In fact, the only member of Katie’s inner circle who has met Lee is best pal Kerry Katona, which ended in tears when he had a bust-up with her boyfriend, Paolo Margaglione.

This has led to fears’ for Katie from all angles, but the mum-of-five isn’t listening, says the source.

“Despite the fact that so many men have been her undoing before, she is addicted to love and always thinks the next time will be different.”

“No matter how many times she has her heartbroken, and even when everyone else sees the red flags, she puts blinkers on because she doesn’t want to see them.”

Katie jumped into a romance with Lee just weeks after she had split from boyfriend of almost two years, JJ Slater.

Before that, she was engaged to Carl Woods as the pair went back and forth during an on/off relationship.

She married for the first time in 2005 to Peter Andre, welcoming two children together before their divorce in 2009.

The following year, she tied the knot with Alex Reid in a Las Vegas wedding, but split from the cage fighter less than a year later.

In 2013 she then headed to the Bahamas to say ‘I Do’ to Kieran Hayler, they then finalised their divorce in 2021, three years after parting ways.

So now, following her Dubai ceremony with Lee earlier this year, our source says that Katie won’t accept another failed union.

“Katie is also very proud and really can’t have another failed marriage. She feels like she would be a laughing stock and a punchline, and she refuses to be the butt of people’s jokes,” they said.

“She’s very stubborn like that, and hates when her doubters are right, even if they have her best interests at heart.”

They continued: “She knows everyone is waiting for her marriage to Lee to fail, especially because of the whirlwind nature in which they got together, so she is determined to prove people wrong, even if that sometimes means turning a blind eye to the warning signs.”

TOWIE star Jake Hall laid bare the “only reason” he was still alive after hitting rock bottom in his heartbreaking last interview.

The 35-year-old, who has been found dead in a Spanish holiday villa, said the only thing that kept him going was his daughter River.

Now eight, the little girl brought him back from the brink after the collapse of his first fashion label Prévu in 2023.

He said: “I was at a very low point.

“I’d lost something that I’d loved and grew from my bedroom. I went through a lot of turmoil.

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“If I’m honest, River is the reason I’m here today. She’s amazing and we’ve got an incredible relationship. She’s very creative, is always dancing and loves clothes.

“It was that part that hurt most when I lost Prévu. I lost something that was for her, everything I do is for her and her future.”

Jake shot to fame on The Only Way Is Essex in 2015 and had an explosive on-off relationship with Chloe Lewis, with millions of viewers following every moment of their doomed romance.

He left the show in 2016 and later revealed he had not kept in touch with any of his co-stars.

“I was very young,” he said.

“And it was an experience. I’m in a very different place in life now and want different things. There has been a lot of good and bad.”

Jake also opened about finding early success hard, and that he had struggled with self-belief when he was younger which had a major impact on his life.

He was desperate to be a role model for children who had faced similar problems and could not see themselves succeeding.

He said: “School was tough for me.

“I had dyslexia and quite a lot of problems growing up, and I want to show guys who might be similar to me that they can do it too. If I can, so can they.”

At the time of the interview in May last year, Jake was celebrating the launch of his second clothing brand By Jake Hall.

It had already been worn by major stars including David Beckham, former Vogue editor Edward Enninful and Manchester City star Erling Haaland.

Enninful, one of the most respected names in fashion, had worn one of Jake’s suits during the Monaco Grand Prix and had ordered two more.

A flight attendant has shared the reason cabin crew greet every passenger boarding the plane, and it has nothing to do with just being polite. There’s a lot more to the simple act

Whenever we board a plane, we inevitably interact with flight attendants who, beyond keeping us safe throughout the journey, are also on hand to offer some genuinely useful guidance. After all, they possess an unrivalled knowledge of air travel safety.

Now, one flight attendant has lifted the lid on a secret that most holidaymakers are likely completely unaware of. She revealed that the greeting you receive as you board the plane actually serves a very specific purpose, and it has nothing to do with being courteous. In fact, cabin crew are carrying out an important assessment of passengers from the very moment they step on board.

This follows further revelations from another flight attendant who recently shared some incredibly handy tips, claiming there is something people should never wear when travelling.

As it turns out, flight attendants are sizing passengers up right from the off, and it’s all been laid bare in a candid TikTok video. Flight attendant Mrs Miva has blown the whistle on one of the industry’s best-kept secrets.

In her viral clip, she revealed the true reason behind the cabin crew’s welcoming routine as passengers make their way on board. It seems that saying “hello” is about far more than simple courtesy.

Over footage of herself, she wrote: “Did you know that your flight attendant greets you not only out of politeness, but also to check whether you are too drunk or sick to fly?”

The video has since racked up millions of views, leaving countless viewers genuinely stunned. The notion of being discreetly assessed upon boarding came as a complete surprise to many.

One viewer said: “Wait, is there a reason why they always ask me where I sit when I go onboard? ” Another noted: “To see if you’re 1. Safe to fly (not intoxicated) and to see if you could help in an emergency.”

A third also wrote: “And looking for suspicious behaviour.” Meanwhile, a fourth added: “We are also picking out good candidates in the event of an emergency.”

Some even shared their own experiences to back up the theory. One recounted: “I was denied an international flight from England to America because they thought I’d die en route from being so sick.”

Another wrote: “True, and it’s the toughest part of the day. Without being paid!”

What you need to know

While cabin crew clearly aim to be friendly and welcome passengers as they embark on their journey, there’s far more happening when they greet you at the aircraft door than meets the eye. In reality, they’re carrying out a comprehensive head-to-toe safety evaluation of passengers before takeoff.

This process involves checking for intoxicated or disruptive passengers, ensuring travellers are capable of following emergency procedures, identifying potential security risks, and also spotting physically capable individuals who might be able to assist during an emergency. Crew members receive thorough training to enable them to detect any possible threats effectively.

They also watch passengers to gauge whether they can comprehend and follow safety instructions, which becomes vital should an emergency arise. While the assessment can be completed in mere seconds, it plays a really important role in helping to maintain aircraft safety.

Beyond this, it also contributes to fostering a relaxed environment. After all, it helps to establish a welcoming atmosphere for the journey ahead.

Flight attendants carry out genuinely crucial duties, and this simply demonstrates the lengths they go to in order to keep travellers as safe as humanly possible throughout. Now you understand what they’re actually up to.

The Neighbourhood is an ever-revolving door as another household will be moving into “KeepYourEnemies” Close.

The Neighbourhood’s latest residents have opened up on the real reason they want to win the massive cash prize.

Situated in the stunning Peak District, Graham Norton’s family-friendly reality game show returned tonight, Sunday, April 26, where another household was brutally kicked off.

But their home won’t be empty for long as three sisters from Bradford, known as The Khans, are moving in, describing themselves as “competitive and tactical”.

Community engagement worker Maryam, 24, is the eldest of the three, followed by Oxford University student Iman, 21, and 19-year-old Tara who is an aesthetics practitioner.

Despite their “feisty” personalities, they shared with ITV why they wanted to star on The Neighbourhood and for them, it’s all about providing for their loved ones.

Iman explained: “We’d want to help out our family. Like we said, we’re from a single-parent household and my mum as of now is a carer for our nan.

“I think even for my mum to have a bit of money to do whatever she would want to do with it.

“She has always spent her time, her energy and her own money on us and my nan.

“If she wants to splash it on a holiday or get a new house, buy a car – genuinely just invest it in her.”

Tara then went on to elaborate that they would want a “more accessible house”.

She continued: “We currently live in a four-storey house, so it’s a bit tricky getting about if you’ve got mobility issues.

“If we win the £250,000 then we’ll definitely use it on a more accessible house.”

The Neighbourhood fans are going to have to wait a little while longer before they get to see how the Khans fare in the show though.

While the ITV series has been airing consecutively over the past few nights, The Neighbourhood will be taking a break, returning on Thursday, April 30.

The Neighbourhood is available to watch on ITV and ITVX.

SHE became the youngest ever Bond girl at 21 – and Gemma Arterton thinks one reason she landed the role as MI6 agent Strawberry Fields is because she teased 5ft 10in Daniel Craig about his height at the audition.

Now 40, the actress recalls how she had been relaxed about applying for the part in Quantum Of Solace because she did not realise quite how huge the 007 films were — and just tried out for “fun”.

Talking about Daniel, 58, who played Bond for 15 years, she says: “He’s got his sense of humour, so that was good.

“I used to poke him a bit, like, I think that’s why I got the job.

“I did a screen test with him and I came on set and said, ‘Hi’, and he said, ‘Hi’. I said, ‘You’re not as tall as I thought you would be in real life’.

“He said, ‘That’s really nice of you to say so’. I was joking with him. I didn’t think I’d get it.”

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After she landed the part, Gemma — who is 5ft 7in — says Daniel had to use height-boosting shoes for a few scenes when she was ­wearing stilettos.

Gemma, whose parents split when she was young, grew up on a Kent council estate with her mum Sally-Anne, a cleaner, and younger sister Hannah.

She said at the 2024 Marrakech International Film Festival: “I knew nothing about the Bond legacy because I grew up in an all-female household where we didn’t really watch movies.

“I literally didn’t know how big James Bond was, which sounds ridiculous because everyone else does. The ­surprise of how big it was — I couldn’t believe it.

“I auditioned for it because my agent told me to, not expecting to get it, and got it and just did it because it was fun.

“But I had an amazing time making it and it was huge. I had no idea what I was letting myself in for.

“We went on all these amazing locations. I had just left drama school, it was one of my first jobs, and it was the first time I was on a big film set.”

Now, Gemma is about to appear in another spy thriller — but this time she will take on the lead role in new ITV crime drama Secret Service, which starts tomorrow night.

She plays Kate Henderson, who balances being a suburban married mother of two teenagers with secretly being a senior MI6 operative and heading the Russian desk at the intelligence service.

It is based on the book of the same name by ITV newsreader Tom Bradby.

Gemma says: “She trains spies and finds out some very important information, which is that there is a Russian spy within the British government.

“Her mission is to find out, by hook or by crook, who that is. It’s really gripping. It’s edge-of-your-seat stuff.”

For this role, Gemma did plenty of research and, with writer Tom’s help, she even met a real-life spy to perfect the part.

She told ITV’s This Morning: “I was lucky enough to meet someone who could advise me on how they negotiate their lives and live day to day — you know, their family and their kids.

“There’s a scene where I tell my kids what I do and they don’t believe me, they laugh it off. And that came from this ­previous spy and what happened when he told his daughter and she thought, ‘You’re joking’.

“But it was invaluable to me because it’s not just the high-stakes lives they live, it’s about the attributes they have to be a spy, which are very specific — very risk averse, good at problem solving.”

Gemma has been acting since she was a teenager and was 16 when she first considered it as a career.

She says: “I come from a humble family. My father was a metal worker, my mother is a cleaner, and not involved in the arts in any way.

“I always liked performing and showing off. I didn’t know that acting was a profession really until I was about 16 and I was doing a lot of amateur dramatics as a hobby.

“There was a lady there who said, ‘You should go to college to study acting’.

“I thought, ‘OK let’s see what happens’. Then I saw Breaking Away and Dancing In The Dark and I was inspired.

“That’s when I realised I would like to give it a go.”

She first broke through with comedy film St Trinian’s in 2007, followed by Quantum Of Solace a year later.

Since then, she has made more than 30 films, including 2018’s Vita & Virginia, in which she played author Vita Sackville-West, who had a romantic ­relationship with fellow writer Virginia Woolf.

Talking about why she left Hollywood films behind to make more independent movies, Gemma says: “I think at the time it was very different in the industry to how it is now for women.

“In those films — not the Bond film. I had a really good time making that film, but the other ones — I didn’t feel very empowered.

“I didn’t feel like I had a voice and I didn’t feel comfortable. I always felt good doing independent films.

“My taste is that as well. I like independent film, it’s my passion. Usually, the stories are better and the characters are stronger and I felt like I had a voice on set.”

Films such as Byzantium, The Voices, Their Finest and The Disappearance Of Alice Creed followed, alongside performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company and starring in stage productions such as Nell Gwynn, which won her an Olivier Award in 2016.

On the Dish podcast, Gemma told how, when she starred in The Little Dog Laughed at London’s Garrick Theatre in 2010 with Tamsin Greig, Rupert Friend and Harry Lloyd, they had a novel way to try to dispel their nerves.
Laughing, she said: “We used to play this game called bum slap.

“We’d be on stage before the audience came in, obviously, and you have to run around and smack each other’s bum.

“Basically, you have to smack as many bums as you can. And it was the best warm-up ever because you were all loosey goosey.

“I think I’d rather do bum slap than any of the old acting rituals.”

Gemma loves working in Britain because she gets to perform different accents.

She said: “I do enjoy a Liverpool, that melting pot of accents that is Lancashire, Manchester and Blackburn, it’s insane.”

Gemma herself had a Cockney accent before gaining her scholarship to the Royal Academy Of Dramatic Art, where it “softened up a bit”.
London is now her home, but her mum still lives in Gravesend — and now does watch films, thanks to her famous daughter.

Gemma says: “She’s grand, she’s living the life. She’s down in Kent where I grew up, the same home — I paid off the mortgage.

“I think she does eventually watch my shows. She takes her time and needs to watch them with the subtitles on, maybe to absorb them.

“She’s very honest. She’ll say, ‘Why did you do that? You sold out there’.”

Gemma has her own family now, too — son Theo, three, and a baby boy whose name she has not revealed — with her husband, Peaky Blinders actor Rory Keenan, who she married in 2019.

They do not live a showbiz life, but he is supportive of her work.

Gemma says: “My family life is my world now, whereas before it was work.

“It’s made me hyper-focused on what I do want to do.

“Before, it was like, ‘I will do that with that director or that actor I like’, even though it wasn’t the best thing for me.

“But now it’s made me really specific about what I want to do, because if I’m going to be away from them, which I inevitably will, it’s hard.

“But if I’m in it and enjoy the work, then it’s OK.”

Timeline of James Bond actors

Over the years there have been seven actors who have played 007.

The first ever James Bond film was in 1962, and this is who has played the lead role over the years:

• Sean Connery – The late star was the first ever actor to play Bond, and reprised the role for seven movies.
• George Lazenby – The star only played Bond once, but was the youngest actor to ever play the spy.
• Roger Moore – The late movie star spent 12 years making seven films in the famous franchise.
• Timothy Dalton – The smooth actor took over from Roger Moore and appeared in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill.
• Pierce Brosnan – The handsome star played Bond for four movies from 1995 to 2002.
• Daniel Craig – The British star was the first blonde James Bond and the sixth actor to win the role in 2005.

When you break a promise as clear as “No new wars,” you shouldn’t be surprised when even your most loyal supporters revolt. And that’s exactly what is happening to President Trump.

One such disillusioned supporter is Tucker Carlson — who on a recent podcast with his brother Buckley admitted, in essence, “My bad.”

“You wrote speeches for him. I campaigned for him. I mean, we’re implicated in this, for sure,” Tucker Carlson said during the conversation.

“In real ways, you and me, and millions of people like us, are the reason this is happening right now,” Calson confessed, referring to the Iran war. “We’ll be tormented by it for a long time. I will be, and I want to say I’m sorry for misleading people, and it was not intentional.”

Having worked for Carlson for six years at the Daily Caller, I’ve always found him intelligent and funny and generous, even as I have profoundly differed with him on a variety of issues throughout the Trump era.

It did my heart good to hear him accept some responsibility for what Trump has wrought.

A lot of people were complicit in boosting Trump, and some of them have even subsequently criticized him for various sins (failing to release the Epstein files, going to war with Iran, etc.). But this is the first time I can recall anyone of this stature explicitly apologizing for helping elect Trump. And that warrants a certain amount of respect.

Still, let’s be clear-eyed about what Carlson is — and isn’t — saying here. Specifically, it’s worth noting that the apology doesn’t extend to validating those of us who opposed Trump from the beginning.

In fact, it almost can’t.

Doing that would require the confessor to reinterpret not just Trump’s presidency, but also the entire ecosystem that made supporting Trump a viable option in the first place.

It would mean admitting that the framework he used to evaluate Trump was flawed, not just the outcome.

That would end up being perceived as an indictment on the broader Republican electorate — and on Carlson’s worldview and judgment — not just on Trump’s recent performance or (even more conveniently) the notion that Trump has changed or was co-opted by Israel (or whomever) since 2024.

It’s a much bigger ask than saying, “I regret this specific result.”

Specifically, Carlson is not conceding that the “Never Trump” crowd got it right — which is what those of us who have spent a decade opposing Trump (with little fanfare) have been dying to hear for a decade (even more so than “I’m sorry.”)

This is an important distinction, partly because it means that, although Carlson is now a convenient ally in the “resistance,” he is not opposing Trump for the same reasons that most Democrats or Never Trump conservatives oppose Trump.

If you put aside Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran, the Carlsons’ second-biggest criticism of Trump (based on their two-hour-long podcast) is his failure to more vigorously defend the Jan. 6 Capitol rioters.

That’s right. It’s not that he sicced immigration enforcers on immigrants and that they subsequently killed two American citizens. It’s not that DOGE fired lots of good people. It’s not that this president tried to use the Department of Justice to seek vengeance on his political rivals. It’s that Trump — the person who pardoned these people — wasn’t aggressive enough in defending the criminals who stormed the U.S. Capitol while trying to overturn the 2020 election results.

And while there’s no reason to doubt Carlson’s remarks are sincere (he has been a vocal opponent of war with Iran) and meaningful (he’s an influential figure), his comments may also signal something else: a recognition that opportunity awaits.

Consider this: Trump’s political standing is in deep trouble (Trump’s approval rating is down to 33%, according to a new AP-NORC poll).

What is more, Trump’s fading fortunes aren’t just isolated to Trump. As always, there is collateral damage: JD Vance.

Once seen as Trump’s obvious heir, Vance now finds himself in a difficult position, defending the war in Iran and attacking the pope, while simultaneously releasing a book about his Catholic conversion.

In that sense, Carlson’s apology could be less a grudging epiphany than a strategic recalibration. It acknowledges that Trump has gone off the rails but stops short of examining why it was destined to go wrong in the first place.

Carlson gets close to the answer when he tells his brother, “there were signs of low character. We knew that,” but then dismisses it by saying “there are tons of people of low character who outperform their character.”

Without deeper reflection, this apology risks becoming just another pivot — one that has as much to do with positioning as it does with repentance.

And that would be a shame.

It’s easy to regret an outcome. It’s much harder to interrogate the instincts that led you (and tens of millions of Americans) to enable it.

Apologies like Carlson’s won’t close the chapter on this long national nightmare.

Matt K. Lewis is the author of “Filthy Rich Politicians” and “Too Dumb to Fail.”

Passengers have been following these instructions for years, but a cabin crew member has now explained the important aircraft safety reason for keeping window blinds open during landings take offs

Have you ever wondered why cabin crew insist we keep the window blinds up when planes are taking off and landing? If you have, you’re certainly not alone – even frequent flyers are only now learning the reason behind this rule.

The explanation came to light following a video posted by traveller Quinn Kuntz. In footage filmed from her seat, she asked: “Can someone explain why European flights require the window shade to be open for landing? They are so strict about it.” Quinn concluded by pondering whether the rule applies “everywhere”, adding: “I just wanna know why.”

In response, cabin crew member Amelia Richardson was swift to provide a thorough explanation.

“Cabin crew here – lights off in hours of darkness – your eyes are adjusted to darkness in case of evacuation,” she began. “Window blinds open – danger can be seen outside and emergency crews can see in. Tray tables and bags under seats – saves critical seconds in an evacuation.”

Amelia went on with further instructions: “Emergency exits remaining clear – again saves critical seconds, emergency exits are a lifeline in an evacuation. Just remember an aircraft must be evacuated within 90 seconds. Listen to cabin crew, follow the rules. Everyone’s happy.”

A second person added: “Safety. There are no wing or rear view mirrors on a plane. It is so the passengers and crew can alert the pilot of anything untoward.”

A third concurred, writing: “In case the passengers notice something the pilot can’t or doesn’t see. Just an extra precaution.”

Meanwhile, a fourth TikTok user explained the rule has been implemented across the globe.

“Simple: if there a fire or emergency, flight crew needs to see what’s happening so they can better choose which side to evacuate passengers,” they said. “This is an international regulation. It’s worldwide they do this!”

Indeed, pilot school, BAA Training confirms this is correct in guidance on its website.

“The first reason is your safety,” BAA advises.

“If anything happens during a take-off or landing, your eyes will already be used to the day or night light outside, thus you will be able to react more quickly.”

The firm goes on to state: “Another reason for keeping the blinds open is visibility of aircraft outside. If any problems occur with the engine or wings, the crew can see it out of those tiny round windows in a cabin.”

“If the aircraft needs to be evacuated, passengers and the whole crew is able to see which side of the aircraft is safer for evacuation.”

In an emotional statement, I’m A Celebrity… South Africa star Adam Thomas admitted he struggled in camp due to his health and clashes with David Haye and Jimmy Bullard

A friend of I’m a Celebrity… South Africa star Adam Thomas has spoken out after seeing the actor’s confrontational side on the show. The 37-year-old has faced a number of challenging moments in the all-stars series – and not just in the Bushtucker trials.

In scenes aired on Tuesday night, Adam clashed with Jimmy Bullard after the former footballer withdrew from the Rancid Run trial, putting their time in camp in jeopardy.

During the heated exchange, the actor criticised Jimmy for his decision to pull out and called him a “p***k”, while the sportsman branded his reaction “pathetic”.

The tension came after the Waterloo Road actor confronted David Haye over his behaviour in previous days. The boxer had been accused of “bullying” Adam by some viewers, following a series of remarks.

As tensions escalated, David branded his co-star “useless” and questioned his “mental strength” to complete challenges, despite Adam telling campmates he was unwell.

The actor eventually confronted David in a heated exchange, telling him to “shut up” before the boxer apologised.

Reflecting on the fallout, Ashley Roberts, who also appeared in the series, described the atmosphere as “tough” during a discussion on Heart Radio Breakfast.

The show’s host Jason King went on to say that seeing Adam in a more serious way on screen suggested he had been pushed to his limits.

“I know Adam very, very well and he is the loveliest, most cheerful, smiley, happy guy. If you’ve broken Adam, David, you’ve done something wrong,” he shared.

Ashley chimed in: “It was nice for him to stand up for himself. It starts as lad banter, but we could tell it was going too far.

“And then finally Adam was like, ‘I’ve just had enough’ and we were like, ‘Go on Adam!’ It was tough in there at times, it was tough in general just being in there, let alone having to deal with all of that.”

David was voted out of camp on Monday night. In his exit interview with hosts Ant and Dec, he said there was “no bad blood” between him and Adam and claimed it was banter.

“I won the world heavyweight championship against a seven-foot Russian giant,” he shared.

“So when a grown man tells me that a fun TV show – where we’re being paid handsomely every single day – is the hardest thing he’s ever been through, it’s just not a frequency I recognise. I was actually on my best behaviour in there, honestly.

“I’ve spoken to Adam, I’ve said my piece, and some of what’s still to air will speak for itself. I’ll leave it there.”

In a statement shared on Instagram on Sunday evening, Adam said the boxer “broke me” in camp and “pushed me to my limits”, adding: “I’ve told David this and he’s apologised – that’s that. I’ve moved on now, I’m not one to hold a grudge.”

He went on to say he also struggled in camp due to his psoriatic arthritis, a long-term condition that can cause joint pain, swelling and stiffness.

I’m A Celebrity… South Africa airs weeknights at 9pm on ITV, ITVX, STV and STV Player.