reveals

Loose Women star Coleen Nolan has spoken out about a family feud

Coleen Nolan has opened up about a sad family rift in which some members of her family have ‘never spoken to her again’.

The beloved presenter returned to screens on Wednesday (September 23) for Loose Women. Along with Coleen, the panel consisted of Kaye Adams, Janet Street Porter and Jane Moore.

While on the show, the conversation turned to the topic of Earl Spencer’s book – which has made plenty of headlines. “I think that’s the thing when you’re writing your memoir. You can only do it from your perspective and your truth,” Coleen said.

She then shared that she waited until her mum and dad passed away before writing and releasing her own autobiography. Coleen said: “My mom and dad weren’t alive because I knew it would really hurt my mom to hear some of the things that I was going to say my truth about my dad.

“He was a brilliant dad. But had his moments where he wasn’t, and that would have upset my mom.” Coleen then shared that, due to her memoir, a family rift erupted.

She said: “Now, because I wrote those things, I had my dad’s side of the family, a couple of his sisters who never spoke to me again because of that, because they never saw him like that, and he was their golden boy, he was the only boy in the family. They absolutely idolised him.

“Even though I said he was a great dad, he drank too much for me and I didn’t like him when he was drunk and those kinds of things. I had to accept that. I lost those relationships.”

Jane Moore then asked Coleen: “Do you think that’s because you did it publicly? If you’d have that conversation with them privately, would you have carried on speaking to them?”

Coleen replied: “No, they were never, ever, ever gonna believe that. They just didn’t see anything bad at all. And, that’s okay.”

The TV star has been open about the relationship with her father – who died in the 90s – over the years. In 2024, she explained on Loose Women how she would be “scared” whenever her dad Tommy would return home from the pub at weekends.

“My dad was quite a big drinker and I think he’s the reason I became almost phobic about, well not about drink but about drunk people,” Coleen said. She added: “And even now I love when people get tipsy and have a good time but as soon as they cross that line to where their personality changes I have to leave.

“I can’t stand it because I don’t know whether it’s gonna go aggressive, you can see it in their face can’t you? That’s where I’ve gotta leave, and that stems from, as a kid, watching my dad.

“He was a brilliant dad but at weekends he’d come home and he was the quiet drunk and that scared me more because I knew he was in that mood. So that sent me the other way.”

Loose Women airs Monday to Friday at 12:30pm on ITV1.

Miranda Hart has explained why she decided to sign up to Celebrity Traitors, which comes after years out of the spotlight as she dealt with a series of health struggles

Miranda Hart has explained why she decided to sign up to Celebrity Traitors following her “long term ill health issues.” The comedienne, 53, is best known for fronting her eponymous sitcom in the late 2000s but took a break from the spotlight after becoming increasingly unwell.

The TV star previously told how she had suffered a “tick-borne illness” while living in the USA as a teenager. At one point, she was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, before eventually being diagnosed with Lyme Disease in 2020.

The Celebrity Traitors will mark Miranda’s first mainstream television appearance in six years, and she has now explained that she jumped at the chance to take part.

She said: “My decision making in life generally, and certainly work, is follow the joy. I haven’t done much TV work for a long time, having only recently come out of long-term ill health issues and when I was offered this, my whole body sort of relaxed, I smiled, and I just wanted to jump about like a schoolgirl with joy.

“It’s just fun. It’s outdoors, it’s games. All the stuff I love. It’s play basically. And I’m passionate about encouraging people to play more generally, and this game is that in spades.

“It’s a brilliant television show – the only flaw in taking part is that as a fan of the show it will be less fun to watch it with myself in it!”

Despite her new lease of life, the former Call the Midwife star, who secretly got married in late 2024, is still living with elements of her illness and is struggling to a point but has been able to manage her symptoms and insisted she felt well enough to join Claudia Winkleman’s hit BBC game show.

She added: “I’m still living with elements of ME, and that brings fatigue and pain to manage, but I have come to a point where I feel well enough to step out, and that’s also partly why I’m doing this.

“The joy of mucking about on television again will hopefully outweigh some of the challenges. And I think it will be challenging on my body, so it’ll be interesting, and it’ll take some courage as this is a big next step.

“When you live with a chronic illness, it’s invisible, so people don’t know that you’re sitting there in pain. But then it reminds you that everybody’s got their thing. So, I’m also really looking forward to making friends and looking after each other and hopefully they can carry me up a hill or whatever we’re going to have to do!”

Miranda, who will appear alongside the likes of Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Coronation Street legend Julie Hesmondhalgh, and Love Island host Maya Jama, even teased that there could be a nod to her sitcom past.

She added: “When someone said on Instagram, “Oh, I hope you gallop in the castle,” I foolishly replied, Right, I now take that as a dare.” So that was idiotic of me.

“I will have to at some point gallop down a corridor. I’ll gallop when no one’s watching…or who would be the best person to encourage to gallop?

“I don’t know. I mean, Kenny probably doesn’t even know who I am. So, if I could get him to gallop…I could get a new generation galloping.”

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Simon Reeve’s popular BBC series Wilderness makes an epic return to screens as the star recounts his deadly encounters

Presenter Simon Reeve has shared some of his near-death experiences while filming his new BBC series.

For his brand new series, Wilderness with Simon Reeve, the host returns to screens with four new expeditions to some of the world’s wildest and most remote places.

From trekking deep into Papua New Guinea’s jungle-clad mountains and diving with sharks in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez, to exploring Canada’s Yukon and crossing almost 3,000 miles of Mongolia by 4WD, horse and on foot, these journeys promise to be bigger, wilder and more ambitious than ever.

With such major expeditions throughout the series, Simon has shared insight into disasters that almost cost him his life. Sharing his thoughts with the BBC, the 54-year-old was asked to elaborate on his near-disasters, which he revealed he had “several”.

Explaining the hair-raising moments, he said: “In Papua New Guinea, I had a makeshift bamboo chair in our camp. It looked pretty sturdy, right up until the moment it collapsed beneath me and a sharpened length of bamboo speared straight through the side of my t-shirt. It missed me. But it was close. Definitely a near-disaster.”

He also shared insight into a terrifying moment in Canada. He continued: “Even supposedly safe Canada was tricky.

“After getting up in the night to film the Northern Lights, I was half-asleep, freezing cold and fumbling with the stove in my tent.

“A burning log tipped onto the bone-dry mossy floor and suddenly there was a trail of fire heading towards my bed. In a bit of a panic, I kicked the log out through the tent flap and then extinguished the remaining flames with the nearest available liquid: a bottle of what I’ll call ‘Trucker’s Tango’ beside my camp bed. Thankfully I have a very poor sense of smell.”

The star also said: Then there was Bear Cave Mountain in the Yukon. Every night-time trip to the outside loo involved thoughts about what if I slip on the ice in my long johns, knock myself out and become breakfast for a wolf or a grizzly? It was one of the most remote places I’ve ever been.

“We were about 100 miles, as the crow flies, from the nearest other humans. It was like being in the middle of an ocean – except the ocean had bears.”

Wilderness with Simon Reeve will consist of four episodes which are 60 minutes each. The series is produced for BBC Two and iPlayer by The Garden, part of ITV Studios and co-produced by The Open University. The series has been written and presented by Simon Reeve.

Wilderness with Simon Reeve airs Saturday at 7:45pm on BBC Two.

SHE has faced a tough few years, but standing centre stage in a pop-up stadium built and named in her honour, Shakira has well and truly nailed her big comeback. 

Nearly quarter of a century after her debut UK hit Whenever Wherever, she is about to embark on a sold-out residency in Madrid.

Over 21 nights, she will perform for more than 600,000 fans after pulling off one of the most impressive career revivals ever.

The concerts are the finale to her 127-date Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour — the highest-grossing Latin tour of all time, and the fifth most lucrative female tour in history.

And Shakira herself is enjoying it just as much as her rapidly- expanding fan base.

In an exclusive chat, the Colombian superstar — who, despite her age-defying looks, turns 50 in February — said: “I feel more secure and more confident than ever; so much more than when I was in my 20s, which is something I never would have believed or expected.”

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She added of her pop renaissance: “I’ve never been more in love with my career, so I’m grateful to still be able to do what I do and just know that people are connecting to that.”

This year has been a game-changer for Shakira. Her World Cup anthem with Burna Boy, Dai Dai, topped charts globally and became one of the biggest hits of 2026 so far.

The video has had more than 1billion views since May, contributing to her becoming the most-watched female artist on YouTube.

The same month, she performed to over 2million people in a single night on Copacabana Beach in Rio De Janeiro — one of the highest- attended concerts ever.

But in Dai Dai, she sings: “You’ve been this brave all along, what broke you once made you strong.”

It is a reflection of her last few years, when life was challenging.

Shakira’s 2017 album, El Dorado, was not received as well as expected, and five years later came her highly-publicised split from Spanish footballer Gerard Pique.

The couple, who never wed but have sons Milan, 13, and Sasha, 11, announced their separation after 11 years together in a public statement.

He was alleged to have moved on with another woman while they were together, although he has not spoken about the circumstances.

Things were made worse when Shakira was dragged into court by Spanish authorities over a tax dispute, in which she claimed she had not spent enough time in the country to pay the taxes they said she owed.

In 2023, she settled on one case of tax evasion, forking out €14.5million in unpaid taxes plus interest, a €7.3million fine and a €432,000 payment to waive a suspended three-year prison sentence.

At the time, things were looking bleak. But she started to turn it around, funnelling her anger into her music, which attracted a whole new generation of fans.

Then in May, a Spanish court ordered the country’s tax authority to refund €55million of taxes, ruling that the cash was improperly collected during the dispute.

Her epic, two-and-a-half hour concert tells the story of a wronged woman who comes out the other side.

At one point in the show, during song TQG,she is seen trying to reprogramme men’s behaviour.

Later, she is depicted as a lone wolf protecting her cubs, and then duets with her sons, who appear on screens for the track Acrostico.

The message is clear as she tells the crowd: “Love is beautiful. But self-love is more beautiful.”

The gig features a set of some 25 songs, more than a dozen extravagant costumes, fireworks, flamethrowers, twerking and Shakira on the drums and guitar.

It is a triumphant moment of celebration and, during her carnival-inspired, multi-coloured performance of Waka Waka (This Time For Africa), she beams from ear to ear.

Shakira hopes her concerts leave fans, especially women, optimistic about the world, as that’s certainly how she feels after the ordeal she has gone through in recent years.

She told me: “I hope women walk away feeling empowered and excited about what’s ahead of them, knowing that they are the ones who decide how to tell their story and what they want to take away from everything life throws at them.

“It’s been such a revelation to realise that the worst I ever imagined could happen . . . and that I can still find this level of happiness again.”

In Madrid, as well as the temporary stadium built in her honour, there is an entire 30-hectare village of attractions based on the Hips Don’t Lie singer.

And she’s bound to rake it in as there are high-profile sponsorships, including a museum about Shakira in partnership with Amazon.

A whole Disney area inspired by the star’s voice role in Zootropolis 2 is another key attraction, along with a library, in partnership with Penguin, promoting authors from South America.

During the residency, hotel bookings in Madrid are up 15 per cent from 2025, while Ryanair added 225,000 seats on flights to the hotspot ahead of the shows, which are generating hundreds of millions for the city’s economy.

Shakira, who has sold 100million records during her career, has now relocated from Spain to Miami with her sons to start afresh — and she is flying high.

She proved as much on the global stage when an estimated 1.5billion footie fans watched her perform at the inaugural World Cup halftime show in July.

And although she sang alongside acts including Madonna, BTS and Justin Bieber, it was Shakira who stole the spotlight.

Her success is a testament to her grit and temerity, with music insiders revealing she is hands-on with every detail of her career.

A source said: “Shakira has worked harder than anybody for this comeback — it’s taken blood, sweat and tears.

“There have been sleepless nights, relentless workouts and a back-breaking schedule, but she loves it and wants to prove to other women what is possible. She pulled an all-nighter with her band last Wednesday just to rehearse for the show in Madrid, not finishing until 8.30am.

“This is very serious to her. She wants to stay at the top for years to come.”

Shakira also teamed up with another in-demand pop star, Zara Larsson, earlier this summer for a remix of her song Eurosummer.

And last week, she released a collaboration called Agua with fellow Colombian star Maluma.

Now, all eyes are on what’s next for Shak, who has barely stopped in her quest to win back her superstardom.

As for a 13th studio album and future collaborations, she teased: “I’ve definitely chatted with a few people recently who would be really fun and unexpected, but I won’t ruin the surprises . . . ”

Although her tour is coming to an end, Shakira shows no signs of slowing down.

She has hinted that she wants to return to the UK, where she has not performed since 2018.

On the prospect of headlining Glastonbury, where she sang on the Pyramid Stage in 2010, she has said: “It’s such an iconic place to perform.

I’d love to go back to England and perform at Glastonbury.

“That would be like the cherry on top for this amazing year I’ve been having.”

As for a break? I wouldn’t count on it. She said: “I take days here and there to rest, but as long as I still have energy and inspiration, I love to stay working.”

MILLIE Bobby Brown has shared the first picture of her second baby and revealed its gender, after adopting another child again aged 22.

Yesterday it was revealed how the Stranger Things actress and her husband Jake Bongiovi, 24, had added another addition to their growing brood.

Now, Millie Bobby Brown has thrilled fans by sharing the first picture of her son .

The TV star, who adopted her first child in August last year, shared a picture of her hands placed over her new baby’s.

Posting the snap on Instagram, the mum-of-two wrote: “Hi little guy!”

The star’s news has already had over two million likes, including from stars like David Beckham, 51, Chrissy Teigen, 40, and Amanda Holden. 55.

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Millie and husband Jake announced that they had adopted their first child just over a yearagoo.

At the time she wrote: “This summer, we welcomed our sweet baby girl through adoption.

“We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in both peace and privacy.”

She signed off the post, writing: “And then there were 3, love Millie and Jake Bongiovi.”

The Stranger Things star married the son of Jon Bon Jovi in 2024.

People reported that the couple had married in a private ceremony at Villa Cetinale in Tuscany, Italy in May 2024, with Millie taking her husband’s last name.

They met in 2021 and announced their engagement in April 2023.

The couple now live in the state of Georgia.

KATIE Price has revealed why she’s still wearing her engagement ring from conman ex-husband Lee Andrews despite their split – and if she’s spoken to him since her bombshell Good Morning Britain appearance this week. 

After ending her marriage to Lee, 43, the former glamour model was played a voice note from him on GMB on Wednesday, in which he insisted “there’s been no wool pulled over anyone’s eyes”. 

On the latest episode of her podcast The Katie Price Show, Katie held up her hand to sister Sophie, 36, and said: “I’m still wearing my ring but on the other hand because I love the ring. 

“I’ve taken Lee out of [my Instagram] bio now. Enough is enough now, it gets to a point where you can tolerate so much… 

“I did what I had to do. It doesn’t matter what people say about whoever I’m with. I have to do what I need to do. 

“If there are things that I question, that’s for me to find out myself to make my decision. Things haven’t added up and I’m not happy about them. He is still in prison and I haven’t spoken to him.”

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Speaking to Susanna Reid and Ed Balls this week, Katie candidly confessed that – despite everything – she still loves Lee. 

She said: “I love him… but who is he?

“I love the man I met. I can’t take it. I was stupid to fall for him. It’s really sad.”

Katie also admitted she believes her ex loves her too, saying: “I do believe he did. 

“I think he’s got himself in such a situation… where he copy and pastes what he says to women… I do believe he’s fallen for me.”

Katie then revealed the signs that finally made her open her eyes.

She said: “For example, one of the rings he bought me he said was worth £72,000. So I thought I’d better get it insured.

“So I took it into a shop and got it cleaned to get it insured. When they gave it back to me I said, ‘How nice are the diamonds?’

“They said, ‘They’re really good lab diamonds. They were grown in a lab. The ring is probably only worth about five grand’. Do you know how embarrassed I was?”

NOUGHTIES pop singer La Roux has said “she’s back” after disappearing from the spotlight – revealing a “nervous breakdown” ended her career.  

La Roux – real name Elly Jackson – shot to fame in 2009 and is known for her number one single Bulletproof. 

But it’s been a long time since La Roux released a new album and, ahead of her upcoming LP Old Flames, she posted on TikTok to tell fans she’s back. 

She wrote: “You think you can hurt me?

“I literally wrote and sung this song, lost my voice, had a nervous breakdown and disappeared for 10 years.” 

Speaking about releasing new music, La Roux told Another: “It’s been a long time coming, so I’m very eager to get back out there. 

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“Supervision [my third album] being totally marred by the [Covid-19] pandemic wasn’t ideal, so I’m very excited.”

She added: “I’d only just finished my last album when the pandemic hit, so I wasn’t ready to start making a new record instantly. You need a gap before you make new work. 

“I started f***ing around with new sounds and new ideas. It took a couple of years to know if I even wanted to make another record or if there was any point.”

La Roux’s mum is actress Trudie Goodwin, who drama fans will know best for playing Sergeant June Ackland in ITV’s The Bill.

She previously shared the advice Trudie, 74, gave her on dealing with fame. 

La Roux said: “She’s really good at saying things like, ‘Never have a drink when you do an interview’ – which I don’t always take notice of! And ‘Only give away what you need to give away’.

“And she says that if there’s paparazzi, just give them a picture and they’ll f**k off.”

HILTON has revealed 10 new locations are set to come to the UK – and one is coming to a major capital city.

The new hotels will form part of the chain’s “value-focused” brand.

Ten new hotels, operating under the Spark by Hilton brand, are set to come to major railway stations, stadiums, motorways and visitor attractions across the UK.

The locations, confirmed to open in Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Doncaster – among others will add a total of 672 rooms to Hilton’s portfolio.

Created with “value” in mind, the sites will provide reliable, comfortable and affordable accommodation.

Exact dates of completion and room rates are yet to be confirmed, however the company said the new locations could open as early as late 2026 through to 2028.

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Paul Blackmore, vice-president of development for the UK and Ireland at Hilton, said: “With nearly 700 rooms in the pipeline, including the brand’s first hotel in Wales, Spark continues to gain momentum.”

Launched in 2023, Spark by Hilton operates more than 275 hotels worldwide, with more than 200 properties in development.

The budget conscious “premium economy” brand was designed to provide a reliable and value-driven stay at an accessible price point.

The 10 properties have been signed through an agreement between Hilton and UK hotel owner and operator AG Hotels Group.

An additional 53-room property in Dunfermline, Scotland is scheduled to launch in late 2026.

However this is set to operate separately from the 10 hotels included in the latest agreement.

Stephen McGann has opened-up about his character, Dr. Turner, being played by a new actor for the drama’s prequel

Call the Midwife legend Stephen McGann has claimed he “cannot see” the resemblance as a new actor steps into the role of Dr. Turner.

The 12th season of the much-loved BBC period drama, based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, concluded earlier this year with a heartbreaking finale. The death of Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt) left viewers devastated, while the future of Nonnatus House remained uncertain due to advances in the NHS.

Before the show returns with season 16, a prequel titled Sisters in Arms is set to air this festive season. The three-part mini-series will be set during the London Blitz and follow familiar characters in the early stages of their careers, including Dr. Patrick Turner.

The adored GP first arrived in Poplar during the debut episode of Call the Midwife, which aired in 2012, and has since remained a favourite among fans. The character will appear in the prequel, with This Town actor Ben Rose portraying a young Patrick Turner.

Speaking about Sisters in Arms, Stephen, 63, has offered a playful glimpse into his marriage with the show’s creator, Heidi Thomas, who thinks Ben Rose is the spitting image of her husband. “I think he’s the image of Steve,” Heidi told Radio Times. “Steve can’t see any resemblance, so the audience are going to have to draw their own conclusions.”

Stephen was quick to chime in: “Do you know what happened? I’m in my house, and when the final casting was confirmed, my good lady wife and my son were conferring, going, ‘Oh, he looks like Dad, doesn’t he? Doesn’t he look like Dad?'”

Heidi laughed: “He does, he does, but you can’t see it, can you, love?” Stephen then confirmed: “I can’t see it at all.”

Stephen and Heidi first crossed paths in 1988 and exchanged vows two years later, when they were both 27. They spent their honeymoon in Tuscany before settling down in a quaint cottage in rural Essex, before moving to Cambridge. The couple share one son, Dominic. As per Stephen’s memoir, A History of My Family in Seven Maladies, he first encountered Heidi when he auditioned for her new play at the Liverpool Playhouse.

What is Sisters in Arms about?

Call the Midwife will turn back the clock to World War II as bombs rain down in Poplar, East London, at a time when the National Health Service was non-existent. Set in 1939, it will see three familiar nuns in the early stages of their careers.

According to the BBC’s synopsis: “In September 1939, Sister Monica Joan is in her prime, Sister Julienne and Sister Evangelina are young and zealous, and Nonnatus House is the beating heart of Poplar.

“Together with Sister Alice, and local GP Dr Kit, the nuns dedicate their lives to mothers, babies and those in need. But there is no gas and air, no penicillin, no cure for TB, and no welfare state. Then war is declared – and life gets even harder.”

It adds: “While bombs rain from the sky, women give birth underground, families are shattered, children run wild, and whole streets are reduced to rubble. But courage, compassion and resilience triumph as the community unites in its efforts to survive.”

Created, written, and executive produced by Heidi Thomas, Sisters in Arms welcomes a new cast, including Coronation Street’s Hayley Cropper star Julie Hesmondhalgh as Sister Alice.

Theatre star Helena Wilson is taking on the role of a young Sister Julienne, though the original actress, Jenny Agutter, will be narrating the miniseries. Ami Metcalf, who played Lynette in the first Christmas special, is returning as Betty Buckle, the first wife of Fred Buckle, now played by Ciaran Bowling. Ben Rose also takes on the role of Dr. Turner.

The BBC has confirmed that Sisters in Arms will air on BBC One and iPlayer this Christmas, though the exact days and times are yet to be confirmed.

Call the Midwife is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

ONCE dubbed “the most boring man in football” Michael Owen’s choice to sign up for a fly-on-the-wall Amazon documentary about his family was unexpected to say the least.

The former England striker turned pundit, 46, allowed cameras to follow him, his wife Louise and their children Gemma, James, Emily and Jessica as they balance family life with running a horse racing business in Cheshire.

And it was a distinctly left-field move from Michael, who – unlike celebrity documentary subjects David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and the larger-than-life Tyson Fury – has largely stayed out of the spotlight.

He is seen joking in six part series Meet The Owens that he is now best known as a “boring p***k” or “Gemma Owen’s dad” after she appeared in Love Island, raising questions about why he would agree to film the at-home-with style show.

And we can reveal that the ex-footballer – often referred to as ‘the most boring man in football’ – signed up for his TV payday after ploughing £13 million into his racing business pushed him to his financial limit.

While he may have other streams of income, accounts for Michael’s company Owen Promotions show it holds just £7,219 in cash and owes £2.3m to creditors.

It also has three outstanding loans, two of which were taken out in March 2022 and February 2024 with Leeds-based MR Denton Properties.

A further loan was taken out in February 2024 with Andrew Black, who co-founded Betfair.

Two other loans with Grosvenor Funding, which claims to offer “fast and flexible” bridging loans were paid off in 2023.

And all five loans were secured using parts of the Owens home estate – a 42-acre estate he bought in 2001 for £4million.

Speaking in Meet the Owens, which is now number 3 on the Amazon Prime UK chart, Michael revealed he has had to put “£12 or £13 million” into Manor House Stables to build it to its current level.

But he admits the business – which makes cash by persuading investors to back the horses they buy at auction – still desperately needs investors.

And he describes their current status as: “Premier League. Brighton, but not seventh, but kind of bottom half.”

Footage from the first episode shows the racing enthusiast giving pal Jamie Carragher a tour of the impressive grounds and stables, showing off a horse owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and another he owns along with Paul Scholes, Steve McManaman and Owen Hargreaves.

Drone shots show the impressive site from the air, while graphics also flash up on screen showing how the structure works – a handy guide for any would-be investors.

One source told us: “Michael is passionate about Manor House and racing, and he has done an incredible job on Manor House.

“The problem is that it is a big money pit and you can pour millions into it without any guarantee of winning horses.

“He loves it, and would never walk away, but it would be naive to say it hasn’t had a massive impact on his finances.

“And the pressure is never ending because as a business, you have to buy horses each year – for £90,000 or more – and try to find investors for them.

“Then the million-dollar question is whether or not those horses win, as the stables need winners to succeed.

“But the reality is that you only win a very small percentage of the races in which you have horses.”

Michael is now the sole shareholder for Manor House Stables LLP, which owns the stables, after director and co-owner Andrew Black resigned in March 2022 after six years.

Accounts show the company has healthy assets of approximately £13.6million.

Yet the source said the business still has a way to go before it becomes a money-spinner, rather than a money pit.

They added: “The Amazon payday has come at a good time for Michael, but he is also hoping the airtime for Manor House will attract more investors.

“The more money that comes in, the better the horses and the more winners we will see here.

“That will help the business move higher up the rankings among the top British stables.

“Michael loves racing and he is driven by passion for the sport, but he is also very competitive and wants to win.”

Previously, a source told us: “Michael is extremely determined to succeed in racing. He has poured millions of his own money into Manor House, and he will not stop until he’s at the very top.

“Signing up to broadcast this to the world was a huge risk for him, and he’s desperate for it to work.

“Michael is keen to show off how much Manor House is a reputable and successful stable, and he hopes putting the business on screen ends up being a help rather than a hindrance.”

A spokesperson for Michael declined to comment.

ANGIE Best has revealed that she’s back in hospital after a suffering ‘setback’ following her battle with colon cancer.

The former model, 74 – who announced that she was diagnosed with the disease in January – shared that she was cancer-free back in July.

“Colon cancer is a growth of cells that begins in a part of the large intestine called the colon,” Mayo Clinic states.

Angie, who is the ex-wife of football legend George Best, has been keeping fans up to date on social media after having traditional medicine, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, as well as an alternative mistletoe therapy in Switzerland.

Taking to her page earlier today, Angie said: “Update my homies. I find myself back in the hospital.

“I have an infection. They think it’s bacterial. Bt I have to stay here a few days for results and to make it better.

on the mend

Angie Best, 74, reveals she’s cancer-free after doctors removed tumours

HEALTH UPDATE

Angie Best reveals she has to go under major surgery within days

“See you on the other side.”

She captioned the post: “Slight setback but nothing that can’t be fixed.”

Many rushed to the comments section to share that she is in their thoughts, including her reality star son Calum, who wrote: “I love u and we have got this.”

Another said: “You are in my prayers.”

“Sending love and hugs and strength xx,” a third chimed in.

A fourth added: “Wishing you a speedy recovery sending love and prayers.”

After major surgery to remove a tumour from her colon in July, Angie told fans the incredible news that she is free of the disease.

Sharing her good news on Instagram, she wrote: “Bit different from all the miserable videos of the last 7 months. I’m a truly happy grateful girl, it’s over.”

In a video update, a relaxed Angie explained: “The chemo and the immunotherapy prior had shrunk my 30cm lump down to a little tiny bit that was attached to the colon.

“They shrunk it, now we go in and cut it out… A bit like an interior designer coming in and moving the furniture around, but it still works.

“So then it’s done, they sew you up, then they wait three days, and in those three days, they give you fluids only.

“So of course I lost so much weight, this is why I look so drawn, but I’m not worried about that because I’ve just been eating some shrimp tempura and I’m gonna gain that weight back again without no worries about that.

“On the fourth day, they give you your first meal, very sensible meal, all white.

“And then they wait for the next morning to see if you go to the bathroom.

“I did. And again the next day and again the next day, so everything was working as it should perfectly in my little colon.

“I’m so happy because now I can officially say with gratitude and love that I am cancer free and healing. All I’ve got to do now is get better.

“I’ve got to heal and I can do that. That’s what I’m good at. God knows it’s the only thing I’m good at.

“But I can’t come home yet because this was such a major operation. I have to wait eight days and sit and wait, but I’m gonna use that time to heal and get better.

“I’ve got so much I want to do. I’m going to reinvent myself at the ripe old age of 74. Wish me luck!”

MAKKAH: More than 60 early Islamic inscriptions and two historic wells in Wadi Al-Usaylah, northeast of Makkah, are providing archaeologists with a record of early Arabic writing and the pilgrimage routes used by caravans traveling to the holy city.

The six-kilometer-long, two-kilometer-wide valley was historically an important passage for travelers and pilgrim caravans arriving from Iraq and surrounding regions, according to a report by the Saudi Press Agency, or SPA.

The inscriptions, carved into mountain rock faces, date to the seventh and eighth centuries — corresponding to the first and second centuries of the Islamic calendar. They include references to figures from the early Islamic period and offer scholars tangible evidence of changes in the form, structure and aesthetic development of early Arabic script.

Water was also essential to sustaining travelers crossing the arid landscape. Successive Islamic rulers established water infrastructure along the route, with two of the valley’s four original historic wells still surviving near the inscribed rock faces. Some of the wells are believed to date to the Abbasid Caliphate.

The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites is carrying out a comprehensive preservation program along the corridor to protect the inscriptions and wells from erosion. The effort forms part of wider initiatives under Saudi Vision 2030 to preserve the Kingdom’s archaeological heritage while developing sustainable cultural destinations, SPA reported.

The Wadi Al-Usaylah findings add to a growing body of archaeological evidence documenting the development of writing and human settlement across Saudi Arabia.

In a July 2026 report, SPA said the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve contains thousands of archaeological inscriptions and rock carvings, including Thamudic and Nabataean writings as well as depictions of animals, hunting scenes and aspects of daily life. More than 400 archaeological and historical sites have been documented across the reserve, with some remains dating as far back as 8,000 BC.

Najran provides another extensive record of the evolution of writing in the Arabian Peninsula. In a September 2024 report, SPA described the UNESCO-listed Hima Cultural Area as a vast outdoor museum containing rock carvings and inscriptions in Ancient South Arabian, Thamudic and Islamic scripts.

Archaeological surveys in Najran have documented inscriptions from different periods, including tribal markings and writings in Thamudic, Sabaean, Himyarite and early Islamic scripts. The accompanying rock art depicts people, camels, horses, ibexes, hunting scenes and battles, offering clues to ancient communities and their material culture, SPA reported.

The continuity and development of Arabic writing are also illustrated by a bilingual inscription discovered and documented in 2024 in Alqan village in the Tabuk Region. According to an SPA report, the inscription dates to the fifth century AD and contains two lines in Thamudic script and one in early Arabic.

The Heritage Commission said the Tabuk discovery provided evidence that Thamudic writing continued to be used alongside early Arabic during the fifth century. It also offered new insights into the coexistence of the two writing traditions and the development of Arabic letter forms.

Together, such discoveries underscore the archaeological value of Saudi Arabia’s mountains, valleys and desert landscapes as repositories of written history. They also highlight the importance of systematic documentation and preservation to protect inscriptions and other remains from erosion and other threats while making them accessible for scientific research and cultural tourism.

For Wadi Al-Usaylah, the combination of early Islamic inscriptions and surviving water infrastructure provides a particularly important glimpse into the networks that connected travelers and pilgrims with Makkah during the formative centuries of Islam.

There is a lost EastEnders Christmas special which showed groundbreaking gay character Barry Clark come out to his homophobic dad.

In 1986, bosses on the BBC drama cast the first ever gay couple on the soap with Michael Cashman and Gary Hailes playing Colin Russell and Barry.

The two characters were the first openly gay couple to share a kiss in a British soap. Gary Webster joined EastEnders in 1987 playing Barry’s protective older brother Graham Clark who accepted his sibling was a homosexual man.

Former Minder star Webster has now revealed that an entire Christmas episode was filmed in 1987 around Barry emotionally revealing his sexuality to their father, who hated homosexuals.

Webster insists the unique episode was in the can and due to air on Christmas Eve but when he sat down to watch it, bosses had lost their nerve and left it on the cutting room floor instead airing an episode forcing on Pauline and Arthur Fowler’s broken oven and Sharon Watts coping with Christmas with her parents Angie and Den separated.

None of the scenes were ever shown on the soap.

Webster said: “I was very proud to be a part of that storyline, absolutely. “That was really groundbreaking writing. Not only having Colin and Barry’s relationship out there, accepted or not accepted. It wasn’t for effect it was a reflection of what was happening to people in those relationships.

“It was fantastic writing, the idea that his brother would be fully accepting of it as well, when everyone thought the brother would find it unacceptable. At that time they could have gone further. I remember we shot a whole Christmas episode of the father of Barry and Graham – my character – finding out his son was gay, and he wasn’t accepting of it. It had all been building to that culmination of the father coming into the pub.

“We filmed 15 scenes and it was a whole episode at Christmas. I sat down to watch it at Christmas and they had pulled it and had shot something else. I think they just lost their bottle a little bit at that time.

“No, never broadcast. I don’t what happened to it. All I know is that my parents were sitting down with my aunt and uncle, my current girlfriend at the time was sitting down with her parents on Christmas Eve. I’d told them I’m featured in this episode a lot, this is going to be a big episode. I was sat down on my own, I saw the opening scene and I suddenly realised, ‘Oh my god! This has changed. This is not the episode that we shot.’

“Back in those days if you got an episode on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day it was the pinnacle of your career. Then I thought, ‘I just look like I’m a big liar. Now I’m going to have to take the flak of people going, ‘Right, so you were going to be in a big episode?’ Everyone doubted me for years afterwards.”

Webster – who stars in new independent British horror movie Harbinger – believes the episode was dropped because bosses on EastEnders feared the British public weren’t ready for it.

Despite that history-making episode never making it to television screens, Webster says being a part of the Colin and Barry story is one of the proudest acting jobs of his long career.

He said: “To be a part of that storyline, to work with Gary Hailes and Michael Cashman who played Barry and Colin – I still keep in contact with them both – I look back on that and I am proud of my part of that storyline. It was EastEnders at its very best. “What everyone forgets, people in my industry and in that London scene, we probably lived in a bit of a bubble than what was going on in the rest of the country.

“I felt that maybe people at that time weren’t ready for that yet. But I think people are ready for it at any time. You have to have more faith in the public.”

Webster made a return to EastEnders in 2016 as new character Neville Peacock. The actor still watches the soap and insists it is vital it remains on screens as it is a hotbed of new talent.

He said: “EastEnders is in a battle but I still think the basics and foundations are great, the same with Coronation Street and all the soaps. They are a great breeding ground for great talent whether it’s in front of the camera or behind the camera. People still like that regularity of storyline and characters they now and love. It’s just getting it out there, because there are so many other platforms.

“I did about four episodes of EastEnders as a different character in 2016. There was some hope that I might return. Hope is one thing, reality is another. It doesn’t bother me if something doesn’t quite work out, that’s just the nature of the business we’re in.

“If they called me again I would be thrilled and honoured to be in the show. “I still think there is a lot of value to the soap operas. In this country we do them extremely well. It’s a hot bed for new talent, discovery of new talent across the board that we would lose at our peril. If we allow that to just slip away I think the industry would suffer across the board. I’m a great advocate of retaining all those returning dramas.”

The BBC declined to comment but a soap source said EastEnders had “a rich history of championing LGBTQA+ storylines and characters over its 41-year tenure”.

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GETTING paid to travel the world is the ultimate dream job – and one Brit who gets to do just that has revealed her top bargain sun spots to escape to on a budget.

Having visited more than 20 TUI hotels and resorts, Lucy Langtry has travelled all over the world for the past four years for the company as a public relations manager.

And as a result she knows the best sunny spots with cheap deals.

She said: “Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia have impressed me most for overall value.”

Though, for a closer-to-home great value destination she recommends visiting the Albanian Alps, where “the scenery felt pristine and there were hardly any crowds”.

One particular spot she recommends is the village of Theth, where temperatures reach up to 20C in October.

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She said: “There were hardly any crowds – it felt like discovering a part of Europe that not everyone had caught on to yet.”

The small mountain village in Northern Albania is surrounded by rugged and dramatic peaks.

In the village you will find traditional stone houses as well as amazing hiking routes that include waterfalls.

TUI has loads of accommodation options in the capital, Tirana, which makes a great base for exploring both the north and south of the country.

And packages could cost you as little as £173 per person for three nights in October, including flights and accommodation.

If you want to head slightly further afield, then Lucy recommends travelling to Morocco – where temperatures reach up to 20C in December.

She said: “Morocco is such a strong one for value, especially TUI BLUE Tikida Gardens [in Marrakech] which feels like a little oasis.

“It is so calm and relaxing, with that proper switch-off feel that makes you forget you are only a short flight from home, and you can spend your days exploring the colourful souks right on your doorstep.”

A three night stay at TUI BLUE Tikida Gardens costs from £335 per person in December including flights and accommodation.

But there are other packages available if you want to spend less, including three nights at the Moroccan House Marrakech in December from £216 per person.

Or in Egypt, Lucy recommends visiting TUI BLUE Crystal Bay in Hurghada, Egypt, where temperatures reach 35C in September.

“Egypt has become the destination I recommend more than anywhere else, and TUI BLUE Crystal Bay captures everything I love about it.

“The hotel has a beautiful setting on the Red Sea, lovely pools, incredible service and a relaxed atmosphere that makes you feel like you are on holiday as soon as you arrive.

“It is the sort of hotel where you can spend the morning relaxing beside the water, have a long lunch and then head out into the desert for a completely different experience,” she said.

You could stay at the hotel in December for six nights including flights for £810 per person.

Or for a cheaper option you could head to Palm Inn Hotel also in Hurghada for seven nights in September, with flights and accommodation included, from £400 per person.

She added that while in Hurghada you can head on a TUI Musement excursion into the desert and watch the sunset from the top of a mountain.

She revealed: “It felt like another world. One moment you are enjoying a beautiful beach and a lovely hotel, then you are surrounded by this incredible desert landscape watching the whole sky change colour.”

Off Hurghada, you can also travel to Mahya Island, on a TUI Musement experience, where you will see clear water that “rivals photographs of the Maldives”.

For a hidden gem, she suggests heading to Jaz Elite Amara in Marsa Alam.

She said: “Marsa Alam is one of my favourite places in Egypt because it still feels less discovered than some of the better known resorts.

“The Red Sea is unbelievably clear and the marine life is incredible.”

Off the island you can head snorkelling with dugongs, also known as sea cows, as well as turtles.

You’ll get beautiful beaches ideal for a relaxing too.

She added: “It is perfect for anyone who wants a quieter side of the Red Sea, with incredible snorkelling right on their doorstep.”

Her final recommendation is Holiday Village AQI Skanes Resort in Tunisia costing from £436 for a six-night break in October, which Lucy commented is great for families.

She said: “The kids’ club was amazing. There was so much for children to do and the team brought such brilliant energy.

“You could see how excited the children were to go back each day, which I imagine is music to any parent’s ears.”

She added that the whole resort felt designed to make family holidays easy, with activities, entertainment and spaces where different ages could have fun.

She continued: “Tunisia itself really surprised me too.

“The beaches were beautiful, the people were incredibly friendly and the overall experience offered fantastic value.

“It is somewhere I would happily recommend to families who want plenty to do without spending a fortune.”

In an unusual move, Assembly candidate Cesar Portillo, a gay activist running in a Hollywood-Eastside district, disclosed Sunday that he was arrested nine years ago after being propositioned by an undercover Los Angeles policeman.

Surrounded by members of his family, his partner and supporters at a news conference at his Highland Park election headquarters, Portillo claimed that the campaign of his opponent, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg, had begun a whisper campaign about the arrest and he chose to discuss it.

Goldberg flatly denied that her campaign had any role in spreading information about the issue. “We would never raise it,” she said in an interview. “We did hear rumors, but I told everybody this was not something we were going to do. I don’t think this is an appropriate issue to raise.”

Portillo, the director of governmental affairs at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, said he chose to address the issue head-on because he “wanted to make sure people heard from me first rather than misinformation and smear.”

In a statement read to supporters at the news conference, he said: “Nine years ago, I was approached by an undercover police officer who propositioned me and then arrested me. I was not guilty. I was in my twenties and I did not have the money to fight this in court.”

Later, in an interview, Portillo said he pleaded no contest to the 1991 misdemeanor charge of lewd conduct and paid a fine of about $200. After his arrest, he said, he was automatically suspended from his job as an elementary school teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District and resigned before the case was concluded.

The 36-year-old Portillo vowed to continue campaigning for the seat being vacated by Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles), who is running for mayor of Los Angeles. Villaraigosa and County Supervisor Gloria Molina, among others, have endorsed Goldberg. Portillo has been endorsed by numerous Latino legislators, including state Sen. Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles).

Portillo said he will release any officeholders from their previous endorsement if they so desire.

The March 7 primary is tantamount to election because the 45th Assembly District is so overwhelmingly Democratic in registration that there is no Republican on the ballot. The district runs from Hollywood through Silver Lake, Mount Washington, Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, and Highland Park to the edge of Pasadena.

Prominent gay activist Morris Kight, a member of the county’s Human Relations Commission, said that what happened to Portillo reflects police harassment and entrapment of gays.

And Wallace Albertson, a longtime Democratic Party activist, added that she was appalled at “this kind of character assassination and smearing going on.”

Portillo charged that the whisper campaign had started in Sacramento when a legislator and a legislative aide were contacted by Goldberg’s campaign.

Parke Skelton, Goldberg’s campaign consultant, denied that that occurred. “It’s been whispered about for quite some time,” Skelton said. “Believe me, it didn’t come from us.” He said Goldberg has no intention of using “any issue about [Portillo’s] private life or criminal arrest” in the final weeks of the race. “This is a ludicrous battle to get in the middle of,” he said.

Skelton did say that people in Sacramento had called him about the arrest.

Anticipating that the arrest could find its way into the contest, Portillo’s campaign manager, Frank Berged III, said it was necessary to discuss the issue.

KATIE Piper has called out cruel abuse from online trolls over her National Television Awards look – as celebs rallied with their support.

Taking to Instagram, the writer and presenter shared a video addressing upsetting online comments she’d received.

In 2008, Katie, 42, was left with severe facial burns and blindness in one eye following an acid attack.

The star explained she hadn’t originally planned to make a video and had woken up feeling positive after the NTAs.

She continued: “I went to the NTAs the other night, I felt really good.

“I thought I looked really nice, I felt really pretty. I think I was even singing to myself, driving along.

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Katie noticed notifications popping up on her phone after Woman & Home posted a red carpet interview featuring her.

She continued: “The comments are going mad. I thought, “Oh why?” and it’s just endless.

“Oh, look at her. What happened to her face? Oh, she’s overdone it on the filler.

“Oh my God, why are we talking about the hair, the hair’s not the problem. The face, blah blah.”

“And you’re just like, “I am a normal person, I am a real person”. I’m just out here trying to do my best, trying to live my life.

Katie added she had replied to these commenters, but later felt it wasn’t the right move.

She said: “I started replying to them all saying, “What’s it got to do with you how I look? Why are you policing women’s appearance?

“What if this was even a choice? Why does it matter to you how I look?”

Celebrities soon offered support, as Lisa Snowdon wrote: “You are the most beautiful inside and out Katie- never forget that.”

Morning Live‘s Rav Wilding penned: “Pipes, as your husband knows as your kids know and how all your friends know, you ARE beautiful.”

Strictly Come Dancing‘s Dianne Buswell commented: “You are a super woman and yes you are beautiful.”

Matt Goss shared: “This breaks my heart you’re amazing and you have every right to let people know how you feel.

“You are genuinely an inspiration. sending so much love.”

Myleene Klass posted: “Katie. I was with you that night and I was over the moon to be with you.

“Your company, your energy, your funny one liners….and you also happened to look incredibly BEAUTIFUL. They don’t matter. They’re trying to. They just don’t x.”

Dannii Minogue wrote: “Katie – you, your words, your kindness and your digital footprint, you can be proud of. By all means take time for you, but do not let them take your light.”

COMEDIAN Jim Davidson has called off his sixth wedding to his fiancée Natasha after secretly separating – and exclusively revealed to The Sun the reasons behind the split.

The Celebrity Big Brother star, 72, was set to wed at Hampton Court Palace last year – and ending it all has come at quite a cost.

The palatial venue, where all six of King Henry VIII’s wives lived during their marriages, was an amusing nod to Jim’s string of failed marriages – but Davidson and Natasha, 49, have now lost their £10k deposit.

Despite plans to marry six times like the former King of England, funnyman Jim confirmed the engagement is off.

He told The Sun: “There’s no bad blood. Natasha is the most caring and dutiful person. 

“It’s not like we’re splitting up because we don’t love each other anymore.

“It’s a sort of a grown-up separation. The timing’s not right because she has so much time for everybody and how can you knock that?”

Dad-of-five Jim met Natasha, who is 23 years his junior, at the Southampton Boat Show in 2023 soon after the breakdown of his fifth marriage.

The smitten comic later introduced her to pals at Reform leader Nigel Farage’s birthday party saying he was going to make her his sixth wife – despite previously admitting his divorces had cost him around £60million.

He even renamed his £350,000 yacht – previously called Princess Mitchie after his ex-wife Michelle Cotton – Lady Natasha in honour of his new love.

However, the former Big Break and Generation Game host says the couple are no longer in a relationship ahead of their third anniversary.

He told us: “We still speak every other day, but whether we’ll ever find room to see one another again, I don’t know.

“She is very dutiful. She puts family first. And of course she has three children and now a grandson as well. 

“She is just so busy and so I’m very busy as well. I’ve just finished a tour and my a*** is shaped like my car seat after travelling around the country. I get out of the car and I walk like I’m still in it. 

“Our busy lives mean we’ve not been seeing one another. I previously fitted into her life because I’m hardly ever around myself.

“But there’s no bad feelings. I do love her. She’s fantastic.

“She’s the best friend you could ever have. She’s the best mother you could ever have.

“She’s the best daughter you could ever have. And I’m so proud that she was my girlfriend up until now.”

Jim – who was awarded an OBE in the 2001 New Year Honours – launched the Ustreme streaming channel after a successful stint recording short videos during Covid when he was unable to perform live and had no idea how audiences would respond.

The content includes exclusive stand-up shows and in-depth interviews with the aim of “making people laugh like they used to”.

Natasha’s new series is set to air on Jim’s website, where she jokingly refers to herself as the ‘future ex Mrs Davidson’.

Jim continued: “We planned to get married last year and even booked Hampton Court Palace, which we thought was great because Natasha would be the sixth wife and she thought that was hysterical.

“But these days we just don’t have the time to see each other and split up every month.

“So going forward, we might end up seeing each other again, or we might draw a line under it because it’s not practical for the pair of us.

“I said to her, ‘Are you going to give me my jewellery back? and she told me, ‘If you want it back, I’ll just get it from someone else’,” Jim laughed.

“She’s a beautiful girl. How she found time for me, I’ve no idea. She does everything for everybody and asks nothing for herself.”

Ruling out there being another potential wife-to-be on the cards, Jim joked: “The only thing that’s in my life now is a Hyundai Santa Fe and a dressing room.”

Natasha’s new eight-part series launches in October, interviewing an array of celebrity guests.

Meanwhile Jim Davidson – The Christmas Cracker Tour – launches on December 2. 

EXCLUSIVE: A contestant on The Jury has revealed just how difficult it was for the group to reach a verdict in the latest episode

A man who appeared on The Jury has opened up on ‘most difficult’ deliberation yet.

The contestant took part in the Channel 4 hit show and explained the extraordinary difficulty of reaching a verdict as the gripping series heads towards its final episode.

James, one of the members of the specially assembled jury, admitted the group faced an incredibly challenging time when they retired to deliberate over the case.

Speaking to The Daily Mirror about the experience, he said it was “probably one of the most challenging deliberations and claimed it was the most difficult the jurors had faced across the series so far.

James added, “I know for a fact out of 2 seasons previously, it was probably the most difficult of deliberations so far, and I suppose we really, really struggled to come to a decision.”

His comments come as The Jury reached the crucial stage of its four-part run, with the final episode airing on Channel 4 tonight (September 9).

The series has placed ordinary members of the public in the extraordinary position of having to decide the fate of two brothers accused of killing their stepfather.

Unlike a conventional documentary, the programme recreates a real-life murder trial using actors, with the jurors watching the evidence and arguments before being asked to reach their own verdict.

In the real case, the brothers were accused of killing their stepfather after years of alleged abuse and violence within the family home.

The Channel 4 series changed the defendants’ names, with the teenage brothers referred to as Daniel and his older brother as Luke.

The case presented the jurors with a particularly difficult question: could the brothers’ age, background, and claims of abuse alter how responsibility for the killing should be judged?

Reaching a conclusion was far from straightforward, and for James, it was even more difficult as he was voted as the jury’s foreperson.

He recalled the moment he was left feeling “really disrespected” when he was called out by a fellow juror. He said, “There was a moment where I went around all the jury members.

“I went around individually, and I asked people for their final decision, and when it came to be, quite literally, the last person to go, I was really thinking about what I was saying. And then another member of the jury, Phil, called me out, basically said, ‘Come on mate, we’ve not got all day, get a move on’”.

James added: “I just felt really disrespected because I had been voted in as the foreperson, so I had a responsibility to moderate a conversation, a really serious one of that, but also have my say at the same time.”

You can stream the new season of The Jury on Channel 4

24 Hours in Police Custody fans have been left gutted as fan favourite Tom Hamm revealed he’s left the show.

Detective Sergeant Tom Hamm has announced he’s officially retired after more than 22 years of police service and seven years on the show.

He shared the news with his fans on social media this week, writing: “So tonight is likely to be my last appearance on #24hoursinpolicecustody.

“I hope that the episodes I have appeared in have somehow influenced people by showing the difficulties that police face when investigating crime. Thanks for the support.”

Tom’s followers were devastated by the news.

One wrote: “Happy retirement Tom, I bet all the free time you get will be a breath of fresh air.”

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A second said: “Happy retirement Tom! Love the series, its great to see what goes on behind the scenes. Time to relax now.”

“The series won’t be the same without you working on the team. Well done to your team and everyone else who was involved,” this person posted.

The last episode featured a 17-year-old boy was left for dead under a railway bridge, suffering traumatic brain injuries.

Police originally thought he was a victim of a hit-and-run in Luton in June 2022.

They boy survived but had life-changing injuries.

Tom, who worked for Bedfordshire Police, said: “This case, for me was quite emotional because the victim was a twin and I have twin boys of similar ages to him and the parallel of how my children’s lives and the difficulties and circumstances of his life was something that played on my mind.”

“I could put myself in the position of his parents and how I would feel if I got that knock on the door from a police officer saying one of them had been hurt.

“This, by the grace of God, could be me.

“And I understand how it would affect the other twin.

“They do share a different bond than other siblings I think.

“Knowing how close mine are, if one of them is suddenly not there, it does affect them deeply.”

He had another reason to feel personally attached because of an enduring regret over the loss in quick succession of first his father and then his mother.

Tom’s personal feelings are evident in the two-part documentary, 24 Hours in Police Custody, in which he and his team investigate the mystery of why a 17-year-old boy was left critically injured on the roadside after suffering catastrophic head injuries.

“Initially, we didn’t know who the victim was, and we were working hard to establish his identity,” says Tom, who has now retired from Luton CID after 22 years of service.

At first, it looked like a hit and run but as all the injuries were to his head, medics believed they were inconsistent with a car collision.

When the victim’s twin brother arrived at the police station, he told them that he believed his brother had come to Luton from London to meet a girl.

But then he learnt on social media that he had been involved in some sort of altercation,

With the victim lying in hospital in a life-threatening coma, Tom told his team their priority was to get his family by his bedside as soon as possible.

He discovered that the case was linked to a county line drugs trade, where drugs are moved between different part of the country.

Hamid was found guilty of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm and was sentenced to 10 years and nine months in jail.

Jasmine Aldrich was also charged with conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm but was found not guilty.

BOURNEMOUTH is one of the most popular seaside towns in the UK, pulling in millions of visitors every year to its pretty beaches.

But there’s so much more to it than just its coastline, as Michael Regenhard, who manages the Bournemouth Highcliff Hotel, reveals.

Michael Regenhardt left Germany for Bournemouth 20 years ago and he’s lived there ever since – what did he make of it when he first arrived?

He told us: “I’m German, so you look at the English and think they do all these weird and wonderful things. Then when you live here – I eat my lamb with mint sauce now – my mother will never forgive me for that.”

Michael continued: “I wear brown suede shoes now too. And when I came to Bournemouth – it was the first time I went to an amusement arcade I was given a bundle of coins and I thought ‘what do I do with this?’

“But now, when I have friends come to visit, I take them on the lift down to the beach – then we go there and their eyes light up.

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“I see it with Brits too because it’s nostalgic – it takes them back to their childhood. It’s a lovely experience – then we go for fish and chips afterwards.

“You can’t get more English than that.”

Here are his top Bournemouth recommendations.

Hotels

Being the Multi Property General Manager of the beautiful Bournemouth Highcliff (and the Portsmouth Marriott) – Michael has to recommend it to visitors.

“The Highcliff is 150-years-old and was initially just four townhouses then it was converted into a hotel. Next to us we have the original coastguard cottages that Bournemouth had when the smugglers still came across the sea.

“They go back to around 1830 – and they’re part of the hotel as well. Now they’re rooms, with a little garden in front of them.”

“Winston Churchill stayed here at the beginning of World War Two – he was actually declared wartime leader at the hotel.”

Michael continued: “We have 160 bedrooms and the hotel sits on top of the cliff, so we get the best views out of most of the hotels I would say.

“We have Brasserie Blanc, it’s our restaurant partner, and we have an outdoor swimming pool.”

Restaurants

“I have one in the summer which is called El Murrino – it’s right on the beach. But it’s only open from April until September.

“It has good vibes, it has good food – it’s very simple, pizzas, burgers, salads, cocktails and beers. But it’s one of the only restaurants right on the beach.

“We have a place for Tiien Thai, which I have to say, is in my hotel. It’s not part of the hotel, but it is inside. It’s been around for almost 12 years and I think it’s the best Thai restaurant in the south.

“I’m a Panang man – it’s what I have every time I go. And they have the best crispy squid, or calamari.”

Bars

When it comes to beach bars, he said there aren’t many, but praises Aruba which overlooks the pier, saying there is “always a good vibe in there during the evening”.

He added: “We have a place called The Botanist now in the square in the old Debenhams building – it’s very beautiful and it’s on the rooftop.

“You take an old staircase up, and it is a restaurant too but they have a lovely outside bar – you overlook the square and the Lower Gardens.

“Our hotel has a bar as well, it’s part of Brasserie Blanc, they have a fantastic terrace – but that would be biased from me!”

Pubs

“One in the town centre is called The Sun which has recently been refurbished, it used to be called 60 Million Postcards.

“It has a good look to it with a big terrace.

“Then there’s a couple up in The Triangle, they’re a bit older; The Branksome is one of those.

“There’s two pubs in the main square too – like the Wetherspoons. It depends what you want.”

Date night spots

“Go back to the Urban Garden as a restaurant because you can go on a romantic walk there too through the gardens, take the staircase, it’s half in the jungle.

“Afterwards, if you’re a bit younger, I’d say go down to 1812 which is next to the BIC.

“It’s a huge building and there’s a cocktail bar inside there – it gets busy on Fridays and Saturdays.

“But it’s a nice setting, especially if you sit outside.”

Best beaches

“One really nice beach is if you go towards Sandbanks, the beach is beautiful, there aren’t any stones – but it is busy.

“During the week, it’s much quieter.

“Branksome is a lovely beach with two lovely restaurants there and it’s a nice, family-friendly spot. It’s not too busy – and you can only park in the Chines.

“I don’t think there’s a bad spot in Bournemouth though.”

Hidden gems

“One of those is Sobo Beach, which is in Southbourne. It’s very much a neighbourhood beach and is usually quiet, but busy enough that it has a good vibe.

“SOBO Beach Bar and Restaurant is great too – it’s very quirky, a bit Miami, very colourful with good music on the weekend.

“During the week it’s part of the neighbourhood where people go for coffees in the morning and so on. That’s a great beach and it’s not busy.

“If I give one tip – if you ever go to the beach, avoid the piers. Go 200 metres one way or the other, it’s just too packed.

“There are miles and miles of beach.”

Local experiences

“Past Southbourne is a little place called Tuckton, and when you speak to all the English tourists they talk about Tuckton Tea Garden – but that’s not the experience I’m talking about.

“They have a mini marina there and from there you take boat trips up to Mudeford Spit. It’s like little boats for eight or nine people, then you drive up the river a bit, go part Christchurch and come out on Christchurch Bay.

“It’s a beautiful little trip. Then when you get there you have England’s most expensive beach huts, which go for around £250,000 and over.

“They are the only beach huts where you can stay overnight and some of them have dual aspect so you can see the Isle of Wight and Christchurch Bay.

“It’s a beautiful trip. There’s a little train as well which goes to Hengistbury Head and from there you can take a bus or a cab back.

“Not many people know about that.”

Family attractions

“There’s the Oceanarium – it’s something for the whole family. It’s right on the pier, they have penguins there.

“It’s nicely done with lots of activities, quite educational – it’s a nice thing to do as a family.

“The pier has a zipwire, and a climbing centre now too. Overall, the pier has lots of little activities for families.

“As for attractions – it’s really all about the beach.”

Shopping

“I’d say Westbourne which from the hotel is a five-minute drive away.

“It’s a very nice, older kind of neighbourhood; it has an arcade with shops inside and the high street isn’t one long road, it’s more of a loop.

“They’re all very individual shops, with nice cafes, lovely restaurants – it’s all a bit quirky.

“It takes you away from the classic shopping centre – which we do have.”

Cheap food spots

“Where the pier is, there’s the Pier View Kitchen and it’s got a huge terrace, it’s half self-service and half service.

“But they have everything you need and you can pick up a bacon butty and a coffee for £5.

“It does what it says on the tin and you can look over the whole pier approach.”

Sweet treats and coffee

“There are two places that aren’t far from each other – there’s a place called Fika on Westover Road.

“It’s where the Pavilion is, and they’re really individual coffee shop, it’s a lovely place to eat, they do ice creams too – it’s very cute.

“Then there’s another coffee spot I recommend called BigWigs – it’s a family bakery that have a few places dotted through Bournemouth.

“Great pastries, cakes and great coffee – they serve Bad Hand coffee which is a local coffee roastery.

“Then you have Bad Hands itself which is up towards the Triangle, that’s where their roastery is, and they have a coffee shop now too.”

Cheap activities

“We had a group recently that hired some bikes and went all along the promenade from one end to the other. And the best time to do that? 8 o’clock in the morning – it’s stunning.

“That’s a nice way of doing some sightseeing while in Bournemouth. If you’re looking for something free to do, head to the beach.”

Cultural activities

“There’s the Russell Cotes Museum on Eastcliff in a beautiful old building which goes back over 100 years.

“It used to be family owned and the people in there loved collecting art and sculptures and it was slowly turned into a museum.

“It’s very beautiful and inside, it’s fantastic and it’s Bournemouth-centric.

“That’s from the pier, five minutes up the hill – there are also some art galleries on Westover Road if that takes your fancy.”

Best views

“So if you go over to Mudeford Spit, that is attached to Hengistbury Head – and you want to go to the oppositesidee of Sandbanks.

“It’s not a mountain, it’s a hill and it’s beautiful to walk, you can go along the beach and around it – or up and over.

“Once you’re on top of it, you see the Isle of Wight and The Needles, Swanage and Christchurch – it’s absolutely beautiful.

“When the regatta is on over on the Isle of Wight you can see all the ships too.

“The best time to do it in the early morning when it’s clearer – you can see for miles.”

Michael has some final tips as a local…

“I just say prepare for the weather! It’s one of the main things that people do wrong.

“It could be sunny and then it gets cold – which it always does in the evenings.

“As I said before there’s never the wrong weather, just the wrong clothes – and I’d say Bournemouth is just as lovely in the autumn and winter.

“It’s lovely in the summer months but it can be a bit too much – if you come out of season, October, November – it doesn’t matter, it’s still lovely. Just put your jacket on.”

TREVOR Nelson has revealed when he’s returning to Radio 2 after undergoing brain tumour surgery.

The 62-year-old announced in June that he was stepping back from his work commitments before revealing last month that he was diagnosed with a brain tumour and had “very serious” surgery.

But now he’s looking onwards and upwards as he returns to work.

Trevor confirmed today that he will be returning to host his BBC Radio 2 show from Monday (September 7).

He will be back in his 2pm-4pm slot at the beginning of the week before returning to his BBC Radio 1Xtra show on Sunday (September 13) at 11am.

The iconic DJ said: “I will be slowly easing my way back on to the airwaves from Monday on Radio 2 and next Sunday on 1Xtra. I look forward to being with you all then.”

READ MORE ON TREVOR NELSON

BRAVE TREV

Trevor Nelson reveals he’s been battling a brain tumour & had ‘serious surgery’

off air

Trevor Nelson hinted his working days were numbered – days before Radio 2 break

The news was revealed in a trail on Sara Cox’s Breakfast Show this morning at 8:50am.

Trevor popped up to ask: “Oh hi Sara Cox…. Have I missed anything?

“Now where were we before I was rudely interrupted?

“It’s been a minute, I know… but over the next few weeks I’m getting back to where I belong… In the Radio 2 studio, behind the microphone and spinning some records!

“It’s so good to be home and I’d be delighted if you could join me Monday afternoon from 2. Just ask your smart speaker to play BBC Radio 2, but for now Sara…  “It’s FRI-YAYYYYY.”

He’ll be making a staggered return with two days next week, three days the week after, four days the following week, before returning full time on the airwaves on Monday 28 September.

DJ Spoony, who has largely covered for Trevor in his absence, will be stepping in for the days he’s not in, as well as Clara Amfo.

He returned to social media last month as he addressed speculation after suddenly stepping away from work two months prior.

Trevor expressed: “There’s been a lot of speculation as to what’s wrong with me, I know that much.

“My phone’s blown up 20 times over with people asking what’s wrong with me.”

The dad-of-two said he felt he wanted to share more details due to the outpouring of love he had received.

However, he said he wasn’t going to do a “deep dive” just yet, rather that would come at a later date.

He continued: “I was minding my own business and then it was discovered I had a brain tumour.

“As you can imagine, I was shocked. In fact, my world was turned upside down.

“Quite literally, my head was all over the place. I knew I had to stop work because I couldn’t be that guy on the radio knowing I had that going on.”

After confirming his surgery was a success, Trevor said he’d been at home “recuperating and resting” and having post-op treatment.

He went on: “I can only tell you the truth, and the truth is I feel great right now.”

Trevor added he was back playing golf and in the gym and living his old life, except for the radio and gigs.

SHE’S long been known as one of Towie’s most fiery personalities, but Ella Rae Wise has now broken her silence on a fresh fallout with a co-star – and revealed exactly what’s going on behind the scenes with an ex she once couldn’t be in the same room as.

Speaking to The Sun, the 26-year-old lifted the lid on the real story behind her rocky relationship with former best friend Dani Imbert, addressed another friendship that has quietly crumbled away from the cameras, and explained what it’s actually like filming alongside ex Dan Edgar these days.

When it comes to Dani, Ella insists there was never one big bust-up, but rather a realisation that the loyalty she was giving out wasn’t being returned. 

She said: “I would just say we decided not to be friends anymore. I don’t really know why on her behalf, but for me people always scream loyalty, but when the shoe is on the other foot, loyalty probably isn’t that strong towards me. 

“But I’m the one that needs to be seen to have loyalty everywhere and cut my nose off to spite my face. With this specific friendship, she was okay doing what she wanted to do behind my back with people who didn’t like me. 

“So, it wasn’t a mirrored friendship. It was one-sided is how I feel. With time going on, I think I prepared myself for this… I could see it coming.”

Ella and Dani first became close after Dani joined the show in 2021, quickly forming an inseparable trio alongside Junaid Ahmed that dominated cast trips, nights out and red carpet appearances for the best part of two years. 

Cracks first appeared in early 2023 when Dani admitted on camera to lying to Ella about a secret kiss with co-star Roman Hackett, but the real turning point came later that year during a cast trip to Cyprus, when Ella fell ill and says she was left feeling completely “frozen out“ by both Dani and Junaid. 

Matters were made worse when Dani and Junaid began socialising with Chloe Brockett – Ella’s long-running nemesis on the show – something Ella viewed as the ultimate betrayal, accusing Dani during fiery on-screen rows of being spineless and easily led by Junaid.

The pair did appear to patch things up by March 2024, but Ella admits the relationship never really recovered, and their apparent truce hasn’t lasted. 

In a teaser shared on Towie’s socials with Ella and her co-star Jodie Wells, Ella reflected on a moment where she found herself defending Dani in her absence, saying: “I defended her in a room she wasn’t in with Jonnie… why was I being so nice?” 

Jodie pointed out that Ella had been “really defending Dani… which is really nice considering she wasn’t being that much of a friend to you at that time,” before asking where things stand between them now. 

Ella replied: “I’d say the friendship is probably quite non-existent. I didn’t ever think I’d be in this position with Dani. We’ve fell out before and we always made a pact that we wouldn’t fall out again.”

But it seems the girls have gone back on their word, with Ella adding: “I don’t see where the friendship can go,” while Jodie suggested: “Maybe you’ve outgrown each other.” 

Asked by The Sun whether she and Dani have fallen out again, Ella made her feelings clear, admitting there’s little chance of a reunion this time round. 

The pair have now settled into two firmly separate camps within the cast, with Dani remaining closely aligned with Freddie Bentley, while Ella sticks by her pal Harry Derbidge.

The two groups manage to film together during big cast scenes and parties, but rarely mix on a personal level.

Dani isn’t the only co-star Ella has fallen silent with, though.

She also confirmed she and former best friend Freddie are no longer on speaking terms, telling us bluntly: “No. I’m alright with it, though. I don’t feel any type of way about it.”

Ella and Freddie were close pals long before Freddie officially joined the show and, when he did make his debut, he wasted no time stepping up as one of Ella’s fiercest defenders on screen, backing her throughout her dramatic falling out with Dani and Junaid. 

The two became practically inseparable, filming together constantly and championing one another in the media, but their bond hit a wall during a Towie Christmas special when an explosive row – fuelled by shifting group loyalties and Ella’s closeness with Harry Derbidge, who already had history with Freddie, triggered a complete breakdown in their friendship. 

Freddie later confirmed on GK Barry’s podcast Saving Grace last year that the pair were “not friends” anymore, and while the two briefly appeared to patch things up during a cast trip to Vietnam earlier this year, secondary drama involving Saffron Lempriere and Elma Pazar reignited old tensions, with a frustrated Freddie quitting the trip early and flying home. 

Freddie has since buried the hatchet with Harry but, as Ella’s own words confirm, his friendship with her shows no sign of being repaired heading into the new series.

Dani and Freddie are far from the only names on Ella’s list, either – the star has built up something of a reputation over the years for falling out with those closest to her. 

Her rivalry with Chloe Brockett remains one of her longest-running and most explosive, with the pair’s friendship collapsing not long after they joined the show together in 2019 when Ella began dating Chloe’s ex, Harry Lee – a feud that has seen the two repeatedly clash on camera ever since, each branding the other insincere. 

Her fallout with Junaid also stemmed from that same Cyprus trip, with Ella accusing him of being controlling and toxic and of deliberately turning mutual friends against her. 

Meanwhile her relationship with Amber Turner has been fraught since 2022, when Ella claimed Amber’s then-boyfriend (and her now-ex) Dan Edgar behaved inappropriately towards her on a night out. The feud reignited in 2024 once Amber and Dan split and Ella and Dan struck up a holiday fling of their own while filming in Bali.

Which brings us to the one relationship that, remarkably, appears to be going in a positive direction. 

Despite that turbulent history, Ella insists she and Dan have found a way to move past their issues, telling us: “We’re literally amicable, polite to each other, keep it moving. And it’s easy because we’re in the same group. 

“The boys banter it and break up the awkwardness. It’s been fine. This series has really been a good series for me. I’m feeling comfortable around everyone.”

It’s a far cry from the tension that once defined their dynamic, after Ella and Dan’s relationship first hit headlines in Bali following his split from Amber.

Things later boiled over during the cast trip to Vietnam for season 36 when Courtney Green accused Dan of “flirting” with Ella and being disrespectful to his then girlfriend Chloe Lewis. 

But with their wider friendship group having shifted considerably since then, the pair have settled into a far calmer footing – something Dan himself has previously credited to their mutual closeness with Jodie Wells and James “Diags” Bennewith.

As for her own life away from the group dramas, Ella tells us this series has marked a real turning point in how she feels in herself. 

She said: “It’s been fun. It’s been nice to do different things and have happy moments. This series is so different. So much better. 

“The change is probably how I feel in myself. I think I needed to focus on how I feel in myself to be able to get over things. So, I did that, and yeah, I’m over it!” 

She added that rebuilding her confidence has come from learning to love herself again and leaning on easier, less intense friendships, saying: “I think it’s more finding love for yourself again. That comes in time, doesn’t it… And the friends you have around you. That’s changed.

“I have a lot more easy-going friendships. They’re not hard work. We don’t have to be attached to each other 24/7. We’ve all got our own lives. It’s been good.”

Ella’s newfound sense of stability comes as she’s also settled into a new romance away from the cast, having gone public with new boyfriend Ricky, 34, in early August while on holiday with mutual pals Lorri Haines and Ferne McCann. 

The pair were pictured kissing at Marbella’s luxury Don Carlos Hotel and even sparked marriage rumours after Ella was spotted wearing a gold band.

TOWIE continues on Sunday and Monday every week on ITV2 & ITVX.