A WIZZ AIR pilot-in-training has revealed all about what it is like to work for the airline including the flying tips and tricks you need to know.
Having joined Wizz Air back in 2024 as cabin crew, Sebastien Harrison is now training to be a pilot through Wizz Air’s Cabin Crew to Captain programme.
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And from spending years in the air, he has loads of tips for travellers.
When it comes to flying itself, the 20-year-old had many tips including where the best place to sit on Wizz Air planes.
He said: “The best seats in the plane for turbulence are on or about row 15; this is because if the plane is pitching up or dowduringne turbulence in the middle of the plane there is least movement.”
And for nervous fliers, Sebastien says: “If you are a first-time or nervous flyer, let the crew know as soon as you board.
“They are excellent at providing reassurance and will check in on you throughout the flight.”
And when it comes to managing tiredness when you reach your destination, Sebastien recommends not napping before your bedtime so you get solid sleep and avoid “pushing back the tiredness”.
He added: “Go to the gym at maybe 5pm because it’s going to make you tired and then you can go to sleep a bit earlier.”
And of course, there are a number of destinations Seb is excited to see and recommends visiting.
He revealed: “I’m very excited for the Greek destinations like Santorini, because obviously it’s an island with very beautiful weather and beautiful scenery.”
And if you want to head to a really unique destination then Seb recommends Tromso in Northern Norway.
He shared: “It’s in the Arctic Circle and it’s very beautiful, set in a valley surrounded by mountains.
“It is some of the best scenery I’ve seen in the world.
“You can see the Northern Lights, head skiing, spot whales and see reindeer – it’s just a very interesting place with loads to do.”
He added that the destination is also super unique because in the summer you get midnight sun, and in the winter you get polar night, where the sun remains below the horizon between late November and mid-January.
For a more beachy destination, Sebastien suggests heading to Catania in Sicily – which is Italy‘s sunniest destination.
He said: “There’s a volcano which you can see from the airport and the beaches are really cool.”
Having grown up only 10 minutes from Glasgow Airport in Scotland, Seb knew he wanted to one day become a pilot.
He said: “As a child I was always excited to literally leave the earth – you’re defying gravity.
“I think being able to literally fly planes is very rewarding.”
Then in 2024, his dream of working on planes came true as he got a job as Wizz Air cabin crew.
He said: “Being cabin crew has been a very useful experience.”
“Obviously I went into cabin crew knowing that I wanted to become a pilot and I just thought as cabin crew I would have the opportunity to speak to pilots a lot and really gain a lot of insight about the job.
“I knew that if I was cabin crew, I’d kind of see the job firsthand – it’s a very sociable job being cabin crew too.
“When I’m a pilot, it’s probably going to make me a better pilot as well because I’m going to understand what the cabin crew do as well, but some pilots they don’t 100 per cent appreciate it.”
“At the moment we’re only doing classroom theory training and we’re in the classroom for about four hours a day on average.
“There’s quite a lot of testing maybe about two or three tests a week just to make sure that you’re progressing – there’s 13 theory exams that you have to pass in total across around two years.”
Taylor Swift was in tears during her wedding to Travis Kelce, it has been revealedCredit: GettyThe couple tied the knot at Madison Square Garden on FridayCredit: EPA
When asked if the couple cried, Robin replied: “Oh they cried… and they laughed, and they danced and they hugged and they kissed.”
Speaking to LBC news, she was then asked what the reception’s dinner was like.
Not giving too much away, Robin said there was “lots” of food and nice cake.
Taylor and Travis said “I do” on Friday in what guests have called a “deeply moving” ceremony just 10 months after the couple announced their engagement in August 2025.
Taylor’s aunt says the star ‘cried, laughed, danced, hugged and danced’ during their big dayCredit: GettyThe couple are yet to share pictures from inside the lavish nuptialsCredit: Getty
In an unusual move, the pair chose to have actor Adam Sandler officiate the proceedings while also ditching the traditional bridesmaids and groomsmen.
Instead, they had members of their families by their sides with the groom having his brother and former Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce as best man and Taylor having her brother Austin be her man of honor.
In another unusual wedding detail, Swift reportedly walked down the aisle to a strings rendition of one of her own songs while Jason and Kylie Kelce’s daughters scattered petals.
At around 7:30pm, Travis and Taylor’s marriage was confirmed with huge purple screens reading “JUST&T MARRIED!” lit up outside of Madison Square Garden, roughly an hour after Taylor’s SUV was spotted pulling into the venue.
After the ceremony, the couple threw a fairytale-esque party on the lower level of MSG with the theme reportedly mixing Alice in Wonderland and Wizard of Oz.
Ed Sheeran, Karlie Kloss, Dakota Johnson, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Kravitz, Erin Andrews, Matthew Stafford and Graham Norton were all seen arriving to the day.
SCARLETT Moffatt has heartbreakingly revealed that her fiancé Scott Dobinson’s mum has passed away.
In an emotional tribute to his mum Janice, the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! star – who is expecting her second child – said she was “so upset” that Janice wouldn’t be around to meet their second son.
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Scarlett Moffatt has heartbreakingly revealed her mother-in-law, Janice, has passed away
Announcing the sad news that Janice has passed, the star wrote to Instagram: “My heart is broken for Scott and all of his family at the loss of his mam Janice 💔
“You were the best Nanna to Jude, the kindest mother-in-law and one of the loveliest people I’ve ever known.
“I’m so upset that you won’t get to meet your second grandson but I know you will be watching over us all, I’ll forever be grateful for all the love, kindness and warmth you showed me from the very beginning, and especially for the love you gave Jude.”
Shortly after the announcement, she told fans how she had been struggling with sickness, hot flushes and migraines.
And alongside the health woes, the star has also had a wave of pregnancy cravings.
She told The Sun in May: “I’m having different cravings to last time,” she says. “With Jude, it was honeydew melon. Sometimes I’d have a whole melon a day.
“Now it’s cheese — specifically grated cheese. I think it’s a texture thing. I want grated cheese sandwiches all the time. I can’t have the pre-grated, it’s too hard, so I’ve got Scott grating me cheese at 11pm.”
QUEEN of the Sun £9.50 holiday, Tracy Kennedy, is back to answer your burning questions on all things budget breaks
Tracy has been taking £9.50 holidays for 30 years, and even runs a Facebook group dedicated to helping people book their Sun holidays.
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Our Hols from £9.50 Agony Aunt Tracy Kennedy is here to help you pick the right holiday park for youCredit: Paul Tonge
Now she’s here to answer all things Hols from £9.50, from how to get a good deal during the school holidays to the items she can never leave without packing.
You can leave a question for Tracy by filling out the form above, and with each Q&A with Tracy we will pick one lucky reader to win a £100 Amazon voucher.
This week’s winner of a £100 Amazon voucher is Stephanie Marriott. Congratulations, Stephanie!
Yes! The next top up is coming on July 7 for Sun Club members, and July 8 for people collecting codes.
The first lot of £9.50 holidays come out in January, but there are many promotions throughout the year. The cheapest holidays do tend to go quick, but don’t let that put you off.
My secret tip is that some people book and then they choose to upgrade, so those cheaper dates that were once sold out come back and are then released again.
And if you are signed up to Sun Club, you’ll get first pick of the holidays during each top-up.
Always keep an eye out for the top-up promotions and check the website regularly.
Hols from £9.50 are having a major restock this July, where Sun Club members can book earlyCredit: Destination Selsey
How do I get a good deal during the school holidays?
Fiona Curry
If you have specific dates in mind, I always recommend being up and waiting for the moment when the £9.50 holidays are released.
Sun Club get to book first, so I’d recommend joining so you get first access. It’s only £1.99 a month, and we all stay up for when access opens to Sun Club members at midnight.
That way you get to book your holiday before the final codes drop.
Firstly, research the parks you’d like to go to, and have all the parks and dates you’d ideally want written down in front of you.
Just in case they don’t come up, I suggest having some alternatives that you wouldn’t mind going to.
Not every park has availability during the school summer holidays, but quite a few of them do.
There is also quite a lot of availability in other school holiday periods, like October half term, which can be a lovely time to go with lots of themed activities.
Seal Bay and Golden Coast are two family-friendly parks that have offered dates in the school summer holidays – and you’re not going to find a holiday at popular parks like that for a cheaper price anywhere else.
What is your essential packing item? Not the obvious (food, clothes, towels) but a little something that makes the trip so much easier?
Lorraine Cooper
Every time I go away, I take an essentials box with me. My mum used to always bring one on trips when I was little, and now I do the same.
It’s basically a box packed with all your essential bits, like washing up liquid and sponges. I even take those little travel-sized bottles and siphon off any cleaning products or toiletries into them.
We also bring tins, pasta, spices, non-perishable foods like that. The kind of bits you’d reach for in your cupboard at home, that might not be there in your caravan.
Bringing those sorts of bits with you will save you spending an extortionate amount at the on-site shop. Then you only need to buy any fresh food once you’re there.
Also, always pack a tin opener and potato peeler, just in case!
Tracy recommends a trip to Seal Bay for a longer break, as there are plenty of on-site activitiesCredit: Seal Bay, Cove UK
What are the best parks for a longer (seven day) trip?
Sharath Reddy
For a longer trip, you’ll want a holiday park with loads to do on-site so that there’s enough to keep you busy for a whole week.
For this I’d recommend Seal Bay in Selsey, which is in West Sussex. It’s definitely got enough to keep you busy.
On site it feels like one big party park. Seal Bay has its own fairground and it’s right on the beach, so definitely have a beach day. There’s even a bar which is practically on the beach.
It’s also got a lovely big pool with lots of water activities, so you could also have a pool day. It’s also got a Wave Rider surfing machine.
Then when you want to explore off-site you’ve got Bognor Regis, Chichester and Littlehampton all nearby.
You could easily spend a full day in Chichester. It’s a town with a great big cathedral and lots of artsy and historical things to do, with museums and galleries.
In Littlehampton you’ve got beaches and Harbour Park with rollercoasters, and it also has a miniature railway.
Then of course you’ve got Bognor Regis, which is a fantastic British seaside town. It’s got a beautiful seafront, a small traditional pier, and all the classics like hot doughnuts and fish and chip shops by the sea.
You could even buy a day pass to Butlins if you wanted. So you can bag a cheap stay with £9.50 holidays, then buy a Butlins day pass to go over and do all their daytime activities and visit the fairground.
Hundreds of new Hols from £9.50 will become available at club950.co.ukCredit: parkdean resorts camber sands
What would you suggest to make a £9.50 holiday a bit more manageable for SEN families?
Stephanie Marriott
I actually get this question a lot in my Facebook group, and it’s a very important one.
Depending on how old your children are, if you can go away outside of the school holidays, then do. The parks tend to be a lot quieter which can be helpful.
But if that isn’t doable, you can always ring the site and ask if they have any special hours for kids with extra needs. Quite a lot of them offer a quiet hour at the pool, for example.
I’d also recommend having a look at the activities and entertainment program ahead of time to see what you would like to spend each day doing.
There are usually things like arts and crafts and indoor activities which might be a bit quieter than the full-on evening entertainment.
All the ways to book your holiday from £9.50
There are six ways to book our Holidays From £9.50 – however Sun Club members gain access an entire day early
Book with Sun Club: Join Sun Club for £1.99 per month. Then go to the Sun Club Offers hub and find the Hols from £9.50 page. You do not need to collect any code words or Sun Savers codes. Sun Club members can book from 00:01 on Tuesday, July 7 2026.
Collect codes then book online: Simply collect five out of 20 code words printed in The Sun daily from Saturday July 4 to Thursday, July 23, 2026. Then enter them at thesun.co.uk/holidays to unlock booking. Code collectors will be able to book from Wednesday, July 8.
12-Page pullout – Gather codes from the pullout on Saturday, July 4, 2026. Then enter them at thesun.co.uk/holidays to unlock booking.
Book with Sun Savers: Download the Sun Savers app or register at sunsavers.co.uk. Then go to the ‘Offers’ section of Sun Savers and click ‘Start Collecting’ on the ‘Hols From £9.50’ page. Collect five Sun Savers codes from those printed at the bottom of the Sun Savers page in the newspapers from Saturday, July 4, 2026. Then enter or scan the codes on Sun Savers to unlock booking from Wednesday, July 8.
Book by post: Collect five of the code words printed in The Sun each day fromSaturday July 4 to Thursday, July 23, 2026. Cut the code word out and send it back with the booking form – found in paper onor online at thesun.co.uk/holidays.
Book with The Sun Digital Newspaper: Sign up to The Sun Digital Newspaper at thesun.co.uk/newspaper. Then download the Sun Savers app or sign up at sunsavers.co.uk, log in to Sun Savers with your Sun account details (the same email and password you use for your Digital Newspaper) and enjoy automatic access to Hols, without the need to collect Sun Savers codes daily. Digital Newspaper subscribers can book fromWednesday, July 8.
MAYA Jama has revealed she risked being arrested in Ibiza after she accidentally took something from a bar without paying for it.
The Love Island host, 31, shared a new vlog on her YouTube channel as her hairdresser got her ready for a photoshoot to be a cover girl on a magazine.
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Maya Jama has revealed she nearly got arrested in IbizaCredit: Instagram/ @mayajamaShe made the revelation during her latest vlog on her YouTube channelCredit: @mayajama / YouTube
Her hairstylist divulged: “We were in Ibiza and the bar was closing and we were walking back to the hotel, but we took our glasses and then the Spanish lady, she was chasing us down the road.”
Maya added: “So we came and gave them back! Otherwise we would get arrested!”
The hairdresser expressed: “We’d get arrested in Ibiza and that’s not what we want.”
Maya told the camera: “They weren’t even proper glass cups, they were plastic.”
She admitted she took drinking glasses from a bar in SpainCredit: @mayajama / YouTubeIt comes as she returned to the Love Island villa for the Casa Amor recouplingCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
When Jasmine saw Kavan, who she was in a couple with, walk back into the main villa with the stunning Irish influencer – she was left taken aback and quite frankly, fuming.
After she processed the information, Jasmine asked Kavan if he had slept in bed with girls during Casa.
She also asked him if he’d kissed any girls outside of challenges.
His brother Aidan was quick to butt in, saying how he thinks this is a conversation for them to have in private.
“I’m allowed to speak to him. That’s who I was in a couple with,” Jasmine snapped at Aidan.
“Yeah, Aidan, let them two speak,” Maya then added in a stern voice.
Reacting to Maya’s hilarious snap back at Aidan, one person penned: “The fact even Maya’s sick of Aidan acting like the spokesperson.”
“Maya Jama is so real telling Aidan to let Jasmine and her couple speak. That’s a REAL ASS HOST,” said a second.
Olivia Attwood has revealed the ‘real reason’ why she was cuddling Pete Wicks in those cosy yacht pictures from last yearCredit: YouTube/Olivia’s House with Olivia AttwoodThe pair were snapped looking very cosy on a yacht in IbizaCredit: BackGrid
“Because there is a funny story here. Just as a subtext, okay I was obviously leaning back on him like on the yacht, but nothing happened.”
Olivia and her ex Bradley Dack split up earlier this yearCredit: GettyOlivia confirmed her relationship with Pete four months agoCredit: Getty
Mark then told her: “Tell the whole story!”
Olivia continued: “But the pictures, the actual came back was funny, right? So I am lent back on him and whatever…”
Mark chimed in: “Yeah, but let’s go first, when that woman dunked you! Do you remember? Rebecca is her name. She dunked. Do you remember?
“She slipped drunk and dunked you.”
Olivia confessed that she didn’t remember and Mark explained: “What the hell? You were getting out off the board, you know that board, where you jump? Do you not remember? Where were you?!”
“Did she give me concussion?! Because I don’t remember,” Olivia told him.
Mark continued: “So when you were getting out of the water, you know when you get in that board bit.
“You were getting out and she was rotten, fell down the stairs, slid and dunked you.”
Olivia asked: “So is that why he was cuddling me?”
Mark told her: “Yeah so when you were getting out, you were crying, and I was laughing.”
“I remember hitting my head, but I thought I hit it inside,” Olivia confessed.
Mark said: “No. It was when you got dunked under the water. And you were crying. I don’t see you cry at all.
“So I thought it was funny!”
Olivia then went on to explain the other part of the story.
She said: “Our friend Megan Elliot, who we love, we adore her. She is my second sister. She is my blood, my family.
“But love her, sometimes, she is a couple of sandwiches short of the whole picnic. Sometimes she comes out with things, we go “Oh, shut up, Megan!”
“So anyway, she goes, we’re in the middle of the ocean, right? And not posted anything for days.
“There’s a catamaran, so if you don’t know what a catamaran is, it’s one of those boats that has two bits, and then the middle bit is like, it’s a weird boat.
“She goes, “Someone is taking pictures of us off that boat! I saw a flash, it was massive.”
“And we go “Shut up, Megan!” We were all taking the p**s. Someone is taking pictures of us. Who do you think you are? Jennifer Aniston?!
“We were actually mocking her for it. And then she was like “No I swear!” We carried on about our business, next day we’re at the pool and I’m so hungover, I think I’m going to die.
“I’m on the back. I’m on the bed, and she comes in and she goes “Told you.” And then she was going all like “I told you, I told you”.
“She’s scrolling through and she goes “I knew it, I knew it. I saw…”
But in March, in a statement accusing her ex Bradley of cheating on her multiple times over their 10-year relationship, Olivia admitted she’s trying to move on.
“Yes, I’m dating,” wrote Olivia.
“Yes, I’m getting up every single day even when I have cried all night to film the shows I love filming, record my podcast, record my radio show, shoot campaigns and somewhere in there TRY to move on.”
In an interview with NBC’s Lester Holt that aired on the “Today” show on Wednesday, the 79-year-old actor and activist opened up about living with the disease. According to People, he received his diagnosis in 2023, which was not long after he was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2022.
“I could live with it, in a sense,” Glover says of his condition, which has been affecting his movement, speech and memory. “I’m sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing.”
A neurodegenerative disease, Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior and worsens over time, according to the Alzheimer’s Assn. Holt reports that more than 7 million Americans over 65 are living with Alzheimer’s, with Black men suffering at a rate double the national average.
Glover and his family say the Hollywood icon is sharing his story now to “have ownership of his life” and to help remove the stigma around the disease.
“They’ve got my back,” Glover says of his family’s support.
Besides his portrayal of L.A. police Det. Roger Murtaugh in the “Lethal Weapon” film series, Glover is known for roles in movies including “Places in the Heart” (1984), “The Color Purple” (1985), “To Sleep With Anger” (1990), “Angels in the Outfield” (1994), “Dreamgirls” (2006) and “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” (2019). He’s also been a vocal advocate for social justice and humanitarian causes both in the U.S. and abroad.
He was the recipient of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2022.
“I don’t feel like it’s the end of my life,” he said in his interview with People about living with Alzheimer’s. “There’s work to do.”
VERITY Bowditch has just announced that she’s gotten engaged to her boyfriend, Cameron Jack.
The Made In Chelsea star, 30, took to Instagram to share a series snaps with her followers to celebrate the major milestone.
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Verity Bowditch has revealed that she’s gotten engagedCredit: InstagramThe Made In Chelsea star shared a series of snaps online to announce the milestoneCredit: Instagram
Verity made the first post to her Instagram story, flashing her round engagement ring to the camera as she laughed.
Cameron had his arms wrapped around her while kissing her cheek, and the date of June 27 was written underneath the picture.
The second snap showed the happy couple kissing in a field, accompanied by the words: “Get to spend the rest of my life with the love of my life!”
Verity continued to gush while flashing the ring in the streets, describing the proposal as “the most perfect, romantic and thoughtful proposal that ever could have been created.”
Verity couldn’t help but gush about the perfect proposalCredit: Instagram / veritybowditchHer fiance Cameron pulled out all the stopsCredit: Instagram / veritybowditchThe couple got engaged on June 27Credit: InstagramVerity and Cameron were first linked in public during 2024Credit: Instagram / veritybowditch
A final snap showed a typed up letter addressed to Verity from Cameron that provided some insight into the proposal. It read: “Good morning my darling!
“Today is a very special day. A day I have been planning for over a year.
“A scavenger hunt has been laid out across London for you. Each clue you solve will lead you to another important location. Solve them all and meet me at the finish line.
“Expect the unexpected, and look out for some of my helpers along the way! Because in the words of The Beatles: ‘I get by with a little help from my friends.’
“Ps. I know you may be eager to skip straight to the end, but I have designed what I hope will be the best day of your life.
“So please, take your time and enjoy every minute of it, I’m not going anywhere! I love you xxx”
Verity also made a post to her Instagram grid that saw her scooped up in Cameron’s arms while going in for a smooch.
The star captioned the picture with: “I’m going to marry the love of my life.”
Verity and Cameron have kept their relationship very private, so it’s unknown when they first started dating.
However, they were first linked in public during 2024 when Cameron praised Verity online, saying how proud he was of her.
TAYLOR Ryan has spoken out about going to therapy after her public break up from Gladiators star Giant.
The OnlyFans model took to Instagram to chat about how strange it has been going through a split in the public eye, and the wonders therapy has done for her so far.
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Taylor Ryan has opened up about how therapy is helping her through her public breakupCredit: Instagram/ @Taylor RyanThe OnlyFans model used to be dating Gladiators ‘Giant’Credit: Instagram/ @Taylor Ryan
In a video filmed inside her house, Taylor said: “Got a therapy session in ten minutes.
“She is working for her cash today. Sit down, got things to tell you. A woman’s intuition always knows.
“I’ve been going to therapy for a lot of years. Like this last month, the sessions are crucial.”
The clip then cuts to show a snippet of Taylor saying: “Yeah, I know now I wouldn’t do that again.
The pair started dating shortly after Jamie split from his wife in NovemberThe Gladiators star is known for his huge musclesCredit: Instagram
“I wouldn’t shrink myself to make someone comfortable. I need help working through this betrayal.”
Taylor then got in her car after the therapy session and took her dog for a walk.
She then returned back home looking tearful as she debriefed to a friend who hugged her.
In the post’s caption, Taylor shared how hard a break-up can be in the public eye, saying: “Come to Dylan Gossett with me and a proper day in the life vlog.
“The experience of a public break up is so, SO weird. Because you’re trying to grieve the future you thought you were going to have and was promised, in real time; with every other persons 2 pence included.
“I’m very thankful for social media and what I’ve been able to achieve so far because of it (rehoming a lot of dogs in shelters, building my business, advocating topics I really care about), but experiencing the downsides is, well, savage.”
He had previously been given an ultimatum to either stay with her or leave the show due to her being on OnlyFans.
However, he’s now done a U-turn and called time on their romance despite being axed by the BBC.
Jamietook to Instagram to address the speculation that his relationship had ended.
He said: “I’m not in a relationship anymore. I’m working on myself, the most important person right now to serve the people that I love is working on me.
“Working out who it is I want be, which direction I want to go in because the ego has been put in a box, I want to move forwards and I want people to know me for me.”
Myleene Klass has revealed she has turned down a 25th anniversary Hear’Say reunionCredit: ITVMyleene rose to fame in the noughties band alongside Kym Marsh, Danny Foster, Suzanne Shaw, and Noel SullivanCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
This year marks 25 years since they were formed on Popstars, with Kym previously hinting they would do a reunion performance to mark the milestoneCredit: GettyMyleene said she isn’t ‘in a position’ to say yet to joining them, but will be there to support a reunion from the sidelines
“It’s not something I can commit to right at this moment. But you go and, you know, I’ll be front row – singing Pure And Simple!”
Myleene then admitted she wasn’t sure it was possible to recapture the magic of the band when it was first formed.
She said: “Generally speaking, I think it’s very hard to replicate the feeling of the first time.”
Hear’Say were put together on the talent show Popstars and in March 2001, their single Pure And Simple became, at the time, the fastest-selling debut single in the UK.
In December, Kym said of a reunion: “I always laugh and say ‘never say never’ about a Hear’Say reunion.
“We might pop up somewhere, just for a one-off performance down the line, to surprise everyone.”
Myleene was previously asked to take part in a Hear’Say reunion, revealing in 2021 that she had turned it down.
She said at the time: “There was definitely talk last year. Suzie came to my house just to have the discussion. I said, ‘look at the minute, I have so much on’.”
FRANKIE Bridge has revealed she’s been diagnosed with ADHD after her Loose Women co-star Denise Welch spotted the symptoms and urged her to get tested.
The 37-year-old has previously been open about her battle with depression and anxiety and now she believes she’s found the “last missing piece” with her attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnosis.
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Frankie Bridge has revealed she’s been diagnosed with ADHDCredit: GettyShe revealed she went and got tested after her Loose Women co-star Denise Welch spotted symptomsCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Speaking on her latest YouTube vlog, the former Saturdays star told her viewers: “I found out today that I’ve got ADHD.
“Denise was like, ‘I got diagnosed with ADHD and it’s completely changed my life – my depression and my anxiety is so much better’.
She was like, ‘let me put you in touch with [a specialist]. You can just see’. I was a bit like, ‘yeah, I mean, I could be’.”
The mum-of-two continued: “I’ve been battling with [the diagnosis] all day. Part of me is like, what a relief, because it does make sense to me.
“When I went on the call, I was not sure if this was going to really resonate with me. But by the end of it, I was like, ‘f***, it really does’.
“It’s kind of reassuring. Not that it makes excuses for it, but I can hopefully try and feel less guilt because I’m such a perfectionist, and all that is part of it.”
According to the NHS, those with ADHD are significantly more likely to experience depression and anxiety.
ADHD itself can cause emotional dysregulation, making individuals more prone to intense emotions and making it harder to soothe themselves when feeling down or worried.
The I’m A Celebrity star added: “Hopefully this is the last missing piece that is going to help.
“They do say with a lot of women, we’re not diagnosed ’til we’re a lot older, and by then, you’ve already dealt with depression and anxiety for a really long time.”
Her fans flocked to the comments section on YouTube to commend her on her bravery as some related to her diagnosis.
One penned: “I recently got diagnosed with adhd too and so much makes sense now.”
Frankie shared the news on her recent YouTube vlogCredit: YouTube/Frankie BridgeShe told her viewers that the diagnosis was a “relief”Credit: YouTube/Frankie Bridge
Another person said: “Awww love your vids. Love your vulnerability.”
While a third added: “Thanks for another great vlog and thanks for being you.”
Denise was diagnosed with ADHD herself in January 2023 after undergoing a series of intense tests.
Incidentally, Denise went to get tested after her Loose Women co-star Nadia Sawalha received her own diagnosis and saw similar traits in her.
Frankie has previously been open about her struggles with depression and anxietyCredit: Shutterstock EditorialShe often shares when she’s strugglingCredit: YouTube/Frankie Bridge
Frankie has previously stated that she was “anxious from the womb” and experienced physical symptoms including stomach aches, night time panic and difficulty breathing.
Her depression began to manifest significantly when she was 15, coinciding with her first brush with fame in S Club Juniors.
In 2011, at the height of her success in The Saturdays, Frankie suffered a major mental health breakdown.
She voluntarily admitted herself into a private psychiatric hospital for treatment for one month.
It’s something the ITV star has continued to deal with on daily basis but has used her platform to help other people who are experiencing the same as her.
In March last year, she told her Instagram followers: “I have finally made it down to the gym. It’s taken me the whole day to actually get here.
What is ADHD?
ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how individuals focus, regulate their impulses, and manage their energy levels.
Symptoms depend on the type; inattention causes challenges with focusing, organisation and time management, hyperactivity causes excessive energy or restlessness, and impulsivity causes a person to act without thinking or struggle to wait their turn.
People can be predominately one type or a mix of the two and symptoms are varied and unique to individuals.
While living with ADHD is challenging, people often find unique strengths within their condition, such as the ability to hyperfocus on something they find interesting, problem-solving skills and creativity.
“My depression is absolutely kicking my a**e, and I’m so over it. You know when you just feel like you do all the things you’re told you’re meant to do, and then it just still always comes back?
“I’m just so bored of myself. It is so boring. You know when you just think everyone around me must just be so bored of it as well, and I just I’m over it.”
“But I’m here,” she added. “I’m going to try and do as much as I can in the gym, because I know it will make me feel better.
“Instead of just sitting around, eating s**t, which is what I’ve been doing all day, which only makes me feel worse and I know that, so I don’t know why I do it, but here we are back in the same old place.”
THE Jam star Bruce Foxton has revealed he’s been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
The iconic bassist, 70, took to Facebook this evening to share the news with fans just days after cancelling two shows at short notice due to illness.
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Bruce Foxton has revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s DiseaseCredit: RexThe Jam — Rick Buckler, Bruce Foxton and Paul Weller — pictured in 1977Credit: Getty
In his statement, he revealed the diagnosis came to light after side effects from his cancer treatment were investigated.
He said: “It’s no secret that I’ve undergone treatment for cancer and am still having scans on a regular basis to keep an eye on that.
“However, what you don’t know is that the cancer treatment in itself caused some significant issues for me and investigations into all of that uncovered the fact that I’m now facing a future living with Parkinson’s Disease…and I’m determined to do that as well as I possibly can.
“As anyone coping with this diagnosis will know it’s a huge shock, and it’s taking a long time to let that sink in and for me to accept that my body and mind are dealing with something completely out of my control.
“I have to manage the challenges I now face physically and mentally on a daily basis, and some days are better than others.”
Fans sent the musician their well-wishes in the comments.
One wrote: “Sorry to hear about all your health problems you need to do what is best for you and your family moving forwards.”
Another said: “All the best Bruce, your health is far more important than anything else and I am so sorry that you are having more health struggles. Look after yourself and I hope you enjoy many more years of happiness.”
Bruce cancelled his show in Kidderminster on Friday and postponed the following night’s show in Lincoln after high temperatures aggravated a chest infection.
The former Stiff Little Fingers musician formed From The Jam in 2007 with The Jam drummer Rick Buckler and new frontman Russell Hastings.
Original The Jam frontman Paul Weller was initially critical of the band playing the old hits but his stance softened over the years as his friendship with Foxton strengthened.
The trio were prolific on the touring circuit, thrilling mod fans young and old with the legendary band’s iconic hits such as The Eton Rifles and Going Underground.
Bruce underwent immunotherapy after a cancerous lymph node was found in 2023 and, the following year, he had knee replacement surgery.
The health issues took their toll and fans noticed he appeared to be struggling during shows in 2025, which eventually led to him retiring from From The Jam.
However, he scaled down his schedule and now performs with his All-Star band.
Bruce wears custom hearing aids due to hearing loss from 40 years on stage. He also has lived with tinnitus for years.
Bruce Foxton’s statement in full
“Firstly, I just wanted to thank everyone for the messages wishing me well. Your love, support, and understanding means a lot. It was a difficult decision to cancel the shows last weekend (especially as my bag was packed!), but the brutal heat coupled with an underlying chest infection really knocked me for six, and the medical advice was to rest up while taking medication.
I’m not sure where the rumour about being in hospital started, but luckily that wasn’t necessary, and I was able to rest up at home and I’m pleased to say that I’m feeling a lot better than I was.
This latest knock back has brought about more speculation about my health, and that’s totally understandable. It’s no secret that I’ve undergone treatment for cancer and am still having scans on a regular basis to keep an eye on that. However, what you don’t know is that the cancer treatment in itself caused some significant issues for me and investigations into all of that uncovered the fact that I’m now facing a future living with Parkinson’s Disease…and I’m determined to do that as well as I possibly can.
As anyone coping with this diagnosis will know it’s a huge shock, and it’s taking a long time to let that sink in and for me to accept that my body and mind are dealing with something completely out of my control. I have to manage the challenges I now face physically and mentally on a daily basis, and some days are better than others.
Back in May 2025, it was hard to accept that touring with FTJ was no longer an option for me, but being officially diagnosed and having the right meds to help deal with symptoms has given me another chance to carry on doing what I love and what I live for in a relaxed and supportive environment. The response and love we’ve felt at our gigs has been second to none and I can’t thank you enough.
With your help I’m going to keep going and playing live for as long as I’m able to do it. It’s good for me, my future health and hopefully good for all of you who still enjoy coming along to join with me, Mark, Craig, and Andy to enjoy those great songs. I will be working hard every day to give the best performance possible.”
AS one of Hollywood’s highest-earning actresses, Millie Bobby Brown has her pick of big-budget productions.
But she reckons British reality show The Celebrity Traitors would be the perfect platform for her secret manipulation skills — after she beat a lie-detector test.
Millie Bobby Brown reckons she has what it takes to smash The TraitorsThe actress believes the show would be the perfect platform for her secret manipulation skillsCredit: Getty
The inquisitive actress took a polygraph with her Enola Holmes movie co-star Louis Partridge, who ended up in a real sweat as he was grilled.
But Millie, 22, remained so composed under questioning, that the machine failed to spot she was telling porkies.
The Stranger Things star, who earned nearly £20million last year, says: “I so want to be on The Traitors. I think I’d be really good.
“Do you know why? I did a lie-detector test with Louis, and Louis was sweating during the whole thing and could not lie.
“And then he said, ‘Her hands are getting cooler and she’s evading the questions’.
“Somehow, the report has come back, like, ‘She’s a pathological liar’.”
The BBC and its Traitors host Claudia Winkleman should get right on the telephone to Millie’s agent, because her appeal to young audiences is unrivalled by any other actress from these shores.
Millie, who grew up in Bournemouth, has been acting since she was nine.
For nearly a decade, she played telepathic Eleven in Strangers Things, which broke streaming records on Netflix before ending last December.
She is now back as Sherlock Holmes’ detective sister in her third Enola Holmes movie, which lands on the streaming channel today.
Millie is also working on a host of ideas, producing projects alongside her 24-year-old husband Jake Bongiovi, who is the son of rock singer Jon Bon Jovi.
The couple, who married in May 2024, have a lot on their hands.
Not only did they adopt a baby girl last summer, they also have a huge menagerie of animals at their home in Georgia — including sheep, ponies, goats, cows and ten dogs.
Some critics have questioned whether Millie was too young to adopt at the age of 21.
But she says: “I love being a young mum because I’m able to run around and chase after her.
Jake and Millie adopted a baby girl last summerCredit: Instar ImagesMillie is now producing projects alongside her 24-year-old husband Jake Bongiovi, 24, who is the son of rock singer Jon Bon JoviCredit: Splash
“And I love where I’m at right now. I never was the kind of girl to be, like, out on the town, you know? So it wasn’t just in my nature. I love living on my farm. I love sewing.”
Having missed out on a normal childhood because she grew up on sets with “men over 40 years old” talking about “grips” and “ladders”, Millie was not the most outgoing teenager.
But that has all changed since she met Jake.
Millie explains: “I can’t talk about, you know, ‘Oh my God, what bars do you like around this area?’. I lack a little bit of that.
“When I met my husband, he’s the most social butterfly, the complete opposite of me. I really tried to lean more into that.”
A lot of Millie’s time, though, is spent watching the telly at home — where ITV’s Love Island is her guilty pleasure. Although Jake is not so keen on the dating show.
She says: “Love Island. He’s like, ‘Millie, I don’t care about these people’. And I’m like, ‘Well, I do. And they just broke up’.
“Yeah, I’m a reality TV snob. I mean, I just watch every show out there.”
Film buff Jake would rather go to the cinema to watch a movie, but parenthood now makes nights out a bit tricky.
And Millie says she usually nods off if she settles down in front of a movie.
She reveals: “I have to have a coffee because I typically fall asleep. It’s not because of the film, it’s because I’m tired. I’m a mum.”
Even though she is still only 22, Millie is now almost a showbusiness veteran, having been in the industry for 13 years.
She is able to call on a host of big names for advice, including Top Gun and Mission Impossible megastar Tom Cruise.
For the past decade, she played telepathic Eleven in Strangers Things, which broke streaming records on Netflix before ending last DecemberCredit: Netflix
Millie is also close to many of the actors she has appeared with on screen, including Winona Ryder, Matthew Modine and David Harbour who are her Stranger Things co-stars.
There is also Helena Bonham Carter, who is her character’s mum in Enola Holmes.
Millie says: “Winona will text every four months, but the longest message ever. However, Helena Bonham Carter, she is there for me whenever I need her, and I’m very, very grateful to her.
“Matthew Modine, my godfather. He officiated my wedding.”
Tom Cruise is also only ever a phone call away. Millie says: “I’m very lucky to call him my friend.”
Now, she is paying back the support she has received from industry greats by helping to mentor young talent.
Owen Cooper, 16, was thrust into the limelight when his debut performance in Netflix drama Adolescence led to a string of awards, including an Emmy last year.
Millie says: “He has my number, anytime he needs me, has any questions. He texts me, he’s like, ‘Hey, am I doing this magazine? Is this, like, one I should do?’.
“And I’m like, ‘Owen, do what makes you happy. If you’re not tired, do it. But if you’re tired, don’t do it.
“‘Don’t run yourself into the ground and listen to your parents and just enjoy it. But don’t push yourself’.”
Reports emerged at the end of last year about a claimed fall-out between Millie and David Harbour.
It was alleged that she had filed a bullying and harassment claim against the 51-year-old actor, who played her adoptive father in Stranger Things.
But there is no sign of tension in Millie’s interview to promote Enola Holmes 3, where she speaks warmly about David.
Stranger Things star snapped with Adolescence’s Owen CooperCredit: instagram/owencoooperThe star is back as Sherlock Holmes’ detective sister in her third Enola Holmes movie, which lands on the streaming service tomorrowCredit: Netflix Inc.
She says: “I’m very lucky. David Harbour’s a great person. I like to talk to him.”
The duo are teaming up again for a Netflix TV series, where David is a former FBI agent reunited with his daughter, played by Millie.
The actress insists the untitled project, which will be written by Adolescence co-creator Jack Thorne, is “concrete”.
Millie adds: “The schedule is insane and it’s just placing things in the right place for my time and my schedule. But the David Harbour project is sooner than expected, I think.”
Most recently, Millie filmed a romantic comedy called Just Picture It and has written a book about her grandmother’s World War Two stories, called Nineteen Steps.
Whatever she is doing, the young actress and producer will make sure that everyone is comfortable with the working environment.
Discussing the main rules on set, the Gen Z icon says: “I don’t tolerate any bullying. I don’t tolerate any negativity.
“I have been in situations like that before and I only tolerate positivity, love, friendship, kindness, trust, communication.
“And I just will stop people in their tracks if I see that.
“I’ll just take them to the side and be, ‘This isn’t working’.
“I’ll just take them to the side and be, ‘This isn’t working’. We’re playing pretend, for goodness sake. My daughter plays pretend. This is meant to be fun.
“You know, let’s not yell or be upset or dwell on something that’s very, very small and minor.”
Years in showbiz, which is often unforgiving, has clearly taught Millie how to cope with relentless negativity.
The hatred she has experienced online led her to delete her social media in 2021 and leave someone else to deal with her digital output.
She explains: “I needed to hire someone for my mental health to take care of it for me.”
There is no escaping the trolls, though, and last year she called for the cruel comments about her appearance to stop.
There were dumb remarks online about her appearing to be aged 35 or 40.
Afterwards, Little Britain creator Matt Lucas apologised for posting, “No but, yeah but” — the catchphrase of TV “chav” Vicky Pollard — next to an image of Millie in a pink tracksuit top.
He admitted it was a misplaced gag.
Fortunately, Millie is now able to laugh off those brickbats, intended or not.
She says with a smile: “If you Google it, everybody says I look like a 50-year-old. And honestly, I am here for that.
“My mum looks amazing for 50. Gosh, I feel very much 22.”
Let’s all hope that is the truth, and that Millie has the youthful energy to keep up her incredible output on screen.
And with any luck, we will see her plotting away in a cloak inside a Scottish castle very soon.
Enola Holmes 3 is streaming on Netflix from today.
Cara Delevingne has revealed she snorted rhino ketamine at the peak of her drug addictionCredit: BackGridCara admits she was doing ‘big lines’ because she ‘just wanted to disappear’Credit: Getty
Cara told a podcast she regularly took a scary amount of drugs and never came down in her 20s because she was always high.
She explained: “I remember being sold, like, rhino ketamine but it wasn’t really rhino ketamine.
“When I first started doing it, if anyone who takes ketamine or has taken drugs knows, you do a tiny bit of ketamine, and that’s enough.
“But I’d be doing really long, big lines because I just wanted to disappear, not have a bit and feel weird. I wanted to completely lose consciousness, tranquilise myself, I suppose.
“My tolerance was so high with that stuff to the point where I’d go to a party and I’d give some to a 6ft 5in man, and he’d be floored by doing a tiny amount compared to what I was doing, which is scary.”
Class B drug ketamine is a dissociative general anaesthetic and known as a horse tranquilliser.
Rhino ket is the term for a powerful synthetic version or a mix of ketamine and amphetamine.
Cara said she and Amber Heard became romantic after her toxic split from Johnny Depp in 2016Credit: Getty – ContributorSupermodel Cara got sober in 2022Credit: AFP
On The Louis Theroux Podcast, out today, she said of the illegal substances: “They were my best friend, my support. They were the thing that I could control my emotions with, you know? They kept me going.
“For a long period I only did drugs. I didn’t drink at all. I don’t know why. I just didn’t like it. I think in my 20s, I never came down, I was just working and partying, and it was fine.”
Cara said she and Amber, 40, formed a friendship on the film London Fields and became romantic only after Amber’s toxic split from Johnny Depp in 2016.
Cara said: “We were close for a long time, then when they were going through the divorce. Yeah, we were entangled, I suppose. But she was also entangled with others.”
When Louis suggested that could be a reference to her dating Elon Musk, she replied: “There you go.”
Heard and Musk dated on and off from 2016 to 2018.
The couple have a three-year-old daughter called IvyCredit: InstagramZack and Samantha’s son Leo died 14 months agoCredit: Instagram / @zackgeorge
Kate Lawler said: “Congratulations to you both. You deserve so much happiness x.”
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, aka Gladiator Nitro, wrote: “Massive congratulations! Beautiful!”
Matty Campbell, better known as Bionic, posted: “Over the moon for you both.”
Zack and Samantha are also parents to Ivy, three.
The couple bravely shared late son Leo’s fight with followers last year.
He was initially placed on a ventilator, but after responding well he was taken off it and provided with CPAP, a non-invasive way of keeping airways open.
However, when he was retubed after six hours, it is believed accidental damage was done to his windpipe.
As well as suffering from brain bleeds, a hole in the heart and collapsing lungs, air pockets began to form around his lungs.
Zack told the Mirror: “Around the tenth day they started getting a bit bigger. They came to the conclusion that when they tubed him, either the first or the second time, they created a hole in his windpipe. It’s no one’s fault, a baby that young is really fragile; it’s just a risk.
“That was really hard, because if it hadn’t happened, he would probably still be here. A 23-week-old baby has so much to do. Overnight, he got quite bad, that’s when we went in and he passed away.”
The couple decided against giving Leo CPR having already witnessed him go through so much.
Zack announced Leo’s tragic death with a heartbreaking picture of he and Samantha holding him.
Chris Johnson, the former NFL running back who holds the record for most yards from scrimmage in a single season, has the degenerative neurological disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Johnson shared the diagnosis during an interview with Michael Strahan that aired Monday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” The 40-year-old father of four spoke in his own voice but didn’t use his mouth — instead, he used his eyes to trigger a device that generated sentences based on recordings Johnson made soon after he was diagnosed last year.
“It’s continued to progress much faster than I ever imagined,” Johnson said of the disease. “I want people to understand just how quickly ALS can attack your body. Just over a year ago, I was picking up my 7-year-old daughter so she’d make a wish with her birthday cake. Today, I couldn’t do that.”
There is currently no known treatment that stops or reverses ALS, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and most people with disease die of respiratory failure within three to five years of noticing symptoms (although one in 10 survive a decade or more).
In addition to receiving the standard medication to help slow the disease’s progression, Johnson has been working with neurologist and leading ALS researcher Dr. Merit Cudkowicz. She told “Good Morning America” that Johnson has taken part in a clinical trial for a therapy “that decreases inflammation, and I think that helped him a lot.”
“At first, you’re in shock, then you realize you have two choices: You can give up, or you can fight,” Johnson said. “I chose to fight.”
Johnson’s wife Brittany told Strahan: “We’re still hopeful. We’re hopeful that a breakthrough will happen or … a miracle will happen.”
Selected by the Tennessee Titans at No. 24 in the 2008 draft, Johnson was an instant NFL star. He made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons and was named the league’s offensive player of the year in 2009. Also that season, Johnson led the NFL with 2,006 rushing yards — earning the nickname CJ2K as one of only nine players to have rushed for 2,000 or more yards in a season — and set a record with 2,509 yards from scrimmage that still stands.
Johnson rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his six seasons with the Titans, then spent a year with the New York Jets and three more with the Arizona Cardinals before retiring after the 2017 season. He finished with 9,651 yards and 55 touchdowns rushing and 2,255 yards and nine touchdowns receiving.
Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk released a statement Monday morning after Johnson’s diagnosis was revealed.
“Learning this news is extremely difficult, and we will support Chris every step of the way throughout his journey,” she wrote. “We are holding him and his family close, and join our fans around the world in expressing our love for Chris.”
The Jets and Cardinals also released statements expressing their support for Johnson.
While Johnson’s body will no longer allow him to perform a task like gripping a cup, he said he wants people to know that with ALS, “your mind stays sharp.”
“People sometimes look at the physical disability and assume you’re not still the same person inside,” Johnson said. “I still think the same. I still dream. I still love my family. My body just doesn’t cooperate.”
OLIVIA Attwood has revealed how Pete Wicks is making sure she doesn’t forget him while she’s partying in Ibiza.
The presenter shared a huge bouquet of red roses sent by Pete, along with a note saying they were to “make her feel better” as she battled a monster hangover.
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Olivia shows off the huge bouquet of red roses sent to her by PeteCredit: instagramPete Olivia a huge bouquet of red roses with a sweet message to help cure her hangoverCredit: instagram
The 36-year-old also admitted she was relying on an IV vitamin drip to nurse herself back to health on the party island.
The TV star is currently in Ibiza filming the latest series of Bad Boyfriends and is expected to be away for four weeks.
When she’s not filming, Olivia has been letting her hair down at some of Ibiza’s biggest superclubs.
Meanwhile, Pete, 37, has spoken publicly about their romance for the first time after the pair were pictured packing on the PDA during a recent holiday.
Pete and Olivia only recently went public with their romanceCredit: AlamyPete and Olivia are believed to have been dating since earlier this yearCredit: Getty
Hollyoaks star Haiesha Mistry, who played Yasmine Maalik on the Channel 4 show from 2017 until 2024, has landed a completely different kind of job two years after quitting the soap
20:31, 28 Jun 2026Updated 20:31, 28 Jun 2026
Hollyoaks star Haiesha Mistry has landed a new job away from the TV industry(Image: Lime Pictures)
Hollyoaks star Haiesha Mistry has landed a “normal job” two years after quitting the soap. The actress, 32, played Yasmine Maalik on the Channel 4 show from 2017 until 2024 and was part of several major storylines, even winning the British Soap Award for Best Single Episode in 2018 when her character was involved in a group self-harm plot.
But now, Haiesha has taken to social media to reveal that she has now found employment in a secondary school, although she did not go into too much detail about her new role.
Alongside a mirror selfie taken during the heatwave, she wrote on Instagram: “Spent the last 2 days working in a high school during the hottest days of the year.”
As part of her departure storyline, Yasmine decided to accept a new job in Canada, leaving the village and her husband Tom Cunningham behind after months of drama. Yazz had been talking to someone online unaware it was Tom pretending to be ‘Gordon’. He was gutted when he realised she had no idea it was him, and the pair clashed.
Tom then cheated on Yazz with his ex and her best pal Peri Lomax, while Yazz also kissed another character. But the biggest betrayal came when she was offered a huge job in Canada and Tom sabotaged it, or at least tried to.
Not wanting to lose her, Tom emailed the potential employer and pretended to be Yazz. He declined the job opportunity and did not tell his wife what he had done.
Yazz found out via the employer though, and confronted Tom during the vow renewal where she announced she wanted a divorce. She then confirmed to her loved ones that she planned to take the job and leave for Canada.
In sad scenes, the character said her goodbyes to her mother Misbah and her friends and family. She then had a final goodbye with Tom as they made amends, with Yazz getting into a taxi and starting her new life away from the village.
Hollyoaks marked Haiesha’s on-screen acting debut and whilst she took a break from the soap in 2021 to shoot the short film Mug, she has not appeared in any other television projects since she left completely.
When her exit scenes aired, Haiesha reflected on her time on the programme with an emotional Instagram post.
She said: “That’s a wrap. 2017-2024 7 years of Yazz Maalik/Yazz Cunningham complete! Yazz you have been my pride and joy for the last 7 years. You’ve taught me so, so much. I will never forget your sass! Especially in the last 2 episodes!
“Unmatched at every level! To the iconic beehive, all the creative hairstyles or the outfits that screamed sass, especially that ‘big bird’ yellow fluffy jacket! “Our make-up and costume ladies will know, the way I would go, ‘OH HERE SHE IS, YAZZ IS HERE’, you brought so much life and served looks every damn time!
“I’ve had so many incredible storylines over the years. Whether it’s the car crash stunt, school explosion, the tunnel of terror, the self-harm storyline, Yazz’s deafness, the historical rape or the ectopic pregnancy storyline to name a few. “Being on the show has taught me how important it is to tell stories and represent, especially that BROWN GIRL REPRESENTATION!
“To the Hollyoaks fans, the best there is. Thank you for loving and hating on Yazz. When I got those reactions, I knew I was doing my job right. It’s been a pleasure to keep you entertained. “Being part of the Hollyoaks family is something I will cherish forever but as the saying goes, all good things have to come to an end. Peace out Yazz.”
RYLAN has apologised after being forced to pull out of his BBC Radio Two show.
The 37-year-old was due to be on air today, but failed to make it home from Nice, France.
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Rylan forced to pull out of his BBC Radio 2 show after being stranded abroad – as he details desperate attempt to get homeCredit: InstagramHe hosts a weekly show on BBC Radio 2Credit: Instagram
The radio host had to be replaced at the eleventh hour after being stranded abroad.
Calling into Emma Willis‘ show to explain his predicament, Rylan said: “I decided to go away with my partner and a couple of my friends to Nice for a few days and just enjoy the sun.
“I didn’t have work this week, I’d managed to clear my diary and I was like, that’s amazing.
“I was flying back very early this morning, so I went to the airport and it was like, ‘no’.
“At one point I was going to get on an eight-hour train, which still would have made me late for work, but would have got me home today.
“In the end I thought, ‘you know what, you’ve done well for yourself, I’m just going to stay another day’.
“What can I do? I’m not going to be able to make the show today so I thought I can either really stress myself out about this and sweat my foundation off my forehead or I’m just going to have to swallow it and deal with it and go, ‘what a shame, there’s worse places to be’.”
Rylan was replaced by Mark Goodier, with a BBC rep confirming on social media: “Rylan got stranded somewhere Nice…”
Rylan replied in the comments, writing: “So unprofessional.”
He also went on his Instagram, telling fans: “Soz about today’s show.
“I blame everyone but myself.
“Genuinely had it all sussed out and then flights all cancelled.
“Thanks Mark for stepping in you legend. Gonna have a rosé and think of you all.”
Mark stepped up to the hotseat for Rylan to host the film and TV quiz Couch Potatoes and discovered how listeners’ holiday dilemmas turned into a feel-good success story.
Rylan will be back next week to host his three-hour show Rylan On Saturday which airs weekly at 3pm.
Rylan explained why he was missing from his BBC Radio 2 showCredit: InstagramHis radio two colleague Emma Willis didn’t look impressedCredit: Instagram
HARRY Style’s ex girlfriend Nadine Leopold has just revealed that she’s pregnant with her first child.
The stunning Victoria’s Secret model, 32, took to Instagram to announce the amazing news with a series of black and white photos.
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Harry Styles’ ex Nadine Leopold has revealed that she’s pregnantCredit: InstagramNadine and the singer dated between 2014 and 2015Credit: Getty
In the post Nadine compiled four snaps together showing her blossoming belly from different angles.
She cradles her bump and holds up a pregnancy test next to it in one picture, meanwhile others show her with her hands on her lower back to really flaunt the change in her figure.
Penned alongside the photos, Nadine said in the post’s caption: “The best is yet to come…” followed by emojis of a baby’s bottle and a white heart.
Fans of the star flooded the comment’s section with congratulatory messages.
When Morocco reached the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the achievement immediately transcended the boundaries of sport. It was the first time an African and Arab national team had reached that stage of the tournament. Yet what drew the greatest attention from international observers was not simply the result itself, but the way it confirmed changes that had already been unfolding elsewhere.
Football rarely exists in isolation. The fortunes of a national team often reflect deeper developments in governance, investment, youth development, and a country’s capacity to pursue long-term objectives. Morocco’s World Cup campaign brought into focus the broader transformation of a nation whose international profile has steadily expanded through diplomacy, infrastructure development, strategic investment, and regional cooperation.
That distinction matters. The World Cup did not create a new geopolitical reality for Morocco; it revealed one that had already taken shape. For several weeks, hundreds of millions of viewers encountered a Morocco that differed from the image long associated with the Kingdom. To many, Morocco had primarily been known as a tourist destination, a close European partner, or a North African state. Qatar 2022 introduced another image: a country capable of competing with football’s traditional powers, rallying a global diaspora, and projecting ambitions that extend well beyond its immediate neighborhood.
The scale of that exposure helps explain why the tournament proved so consequential. The 2022 FIFA World Cup reached an estimated audience of more than five billion people across television and digital platforms, giving Morocco a level of global visibility that few international events could ever provide.
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This evolution reflects broader changes in the international system. Throughout much of the twentieth century, a state’s influence was measured primarily through military capabilities, economic strength, and diplomatic reach. While these pillars remain essential, they cannot fully explain how a country’s international image is shaped. In an era shaped by digital communication and instantaneous information flows, the ability to capture global attention, generate narratives, and engage international audiences has become another source of influence.
Football occupies a unique position within that landscape. No other sport crosses cultural, linguistic, and geographic boundaries with comparable ease. A World Cup captures the attention of governments, businesses, media organizations, and public opinion all at once. For several weeks, it places a country under a level of global scrutiny that no public diplomacy campaign could realistically achieve.
Morocco benefited from that exposure in remarkable fashion. Victories over Belgium, Spain, and Portugal naturally attracted worldwide attention. Yet the significance of Morocco’s campaign also lay in what it revealed about the Kingdom’s distinctive position at the intersection of multiple geopolitical spaces. Throughout the tournament, the Atlas Lions received support far beyond their domestic fan base. Celebrations unfolded across cities in Africa, the Arab world, and Europe. Those scenes illustrated something analysts had long observed but rarely witnessed so vividly: Morocco simultaneously belongs to several geopolitical spheres.
The team’s appeal was not built on sporting success alone. It also rested on a moral and ethical capital that substantially strengthened its international standing. Across much of the Global South, Morocco came to embody the possibility that a nation operating outside football’s traditional centers of power could challenge the established hierarchy without abandoning values deeply rooted in its own identity. Images of players embracing their mothers after victories, the importance given to family, and the respect shown toward opponents throughout the tournament resonated in ways that athletic performance alone rarely achieves.
Competitiveness, humility, and attachment to deeply held values combined to create a powerful sense of identification. That helps explain why Morocco inspired support far beyond its own borders.
Looking back, the 2022 World Cup stands out as a genuine turning point. It did not, by itself, redefine Morocco’s place in the world. What it did accomplish was introducing much of international public opinion to a modern Morocco—confident in its identity, proud of its history, and already engaged in a far-reaching process of transformation.
When Performance Becomes an International Language
Morocco’s 1–1 draw with Brazil at the 2026 FIFA World Cup lends itself to a reading that reaches well beyond football. For decades, African national teams were largely viewed through the prism of isolated upsets against the sport’s established powers. Morocco now appears to have moved beyond that perception. Consistent results over several years have established the image of a team capable of competing regularly with the world’s elite.
This evolution reflects a broader pattern often found in international affairs. A country’s status rarely changes because of a single success. It changes when success ceases to be viewed as exceptional. The result against Brazil therefore says less about an unexpected sporting achievement than about Morocco’s growing place within world football’s established hierarchy.
The real shift is not that Morocco earned a result against Brazil. It is that such a result has become part of normal expectations.
The Foundations of Influence
Morocco’s growing stature on the football field is also the product of sustained investment in talent development. The Mohammed VI Football Academy has become one of the clearest expressions of that long-term strategy. With some of Africa’s most advanced training facilities, an integrated sports medicine center, and highly qualified coaching staff, the academy has helped build a generation of players capable of competing in the world’s leading leagues. The objective has never been limited to short-term success. It has been to establish the conditions for Moroccan football to remain competitive over time.
The success of this development model now extends well beyond the senior national team. Morocco won its first FIFA U-20 World Cup by defeating Argentina 2–0 in the final of the 2025 tournament in Chile. This dynamic illustrates the depth of the country’s football structure and suggests that recent achievements are part of a broader trajectory rather than an isolated cycle. The ability to produce successive generations of highly competitive players has become one of the defining features of Moroccan football.
Few countries possess the ability to inspire such diverse audiences. Morocco’s history, geography, and human ties connect it simultaneously to Africa, Europe, the Arab world, the Mediterranean basin, and, increasingly, the Atlantic community. Football has made that distinctive position visible in a way that few other instruments could.
A broader picture also emerges. Morocco’s achievements on the pitch have encouraged many foreign observers to look beyond football and discover a country they previously understood only in part. Behind the national team stands a state investing heavily in modern infrastructure, expanding its international partnerships, and strengthening its role across Africa while deepening its engagement throughout the Mediterranean.
Football has become one of the clearest expressions of that broader trajectory. It has drawn international attention to developments that were already reshaping the country.
It likewise strengthens one of Morocco’s most effective sources of soft power. Without replacing diplomacy, economic policy, or cultural outreach, football helps shape how the Kingdom is perceived abroad. Sporting success, world-class infrastructure, the organization of international competitions, and the presence of Moroccan players in Europe’s leading clubs all enhance the country’s visibility among audiences that may have little direct interest in political or economic affairs. Football has therefore become another instrument through which Morocco projects influence beyond its borders.
In today’s international environment, influence is measured not only by the ability to deter, but also by the capacity to inspire, attract, and unite. A successful national team can sometimes do more to strengthen a country’s international standing than demonstrations of hard power that no one hopes to witness.
Football, however, does not operate in a strategic vacuum. Its impact forms part of a broader national trajectory in which diplomacy, economic policy, institutional reform, and international partnerships reinforce one another.
Morocco’s return to the African Union in 2017, the expansion of its economic engagement across Sub-Saharan Africa, the implementation of major strategic infrastructure projects, and the consolidation of its diplomatic position on several regional issues all reflect a broader transformation whose significance extends far beyond sport.
The same pattern is evident in Morocco’s ability to organize major sporting events. The Africa Cup of Nations confirmed the results of years of investment in stadiums, transportation networks, and supporting infrastructure. Tournament management, logistical coordination, hospitality, and operational efficiency demonstrated capabilities already visible in other sectors of national development. The experience further strengthened Morocco’s credibility within international sporting institutions while reinforcing its reputation as a country capable of hosting events of global significance.
From Recognition to Projection
Against this backdrop, the decision to award the 2030 FIFA World Cup jointly to Morocco, Spain, and Portugal carries particular importance. Beyond its symbolic value, the decision reflects confidence in Morocco’s organizational capacity and in the institutional ecosystem that has been developed over many years.
In addition, the tournament carries a broader civilizational meaning. Its Moroccan, Spanish, and Portuguese framework creates a new narrative connecting Africa, Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Atlantic. For Morocco, this configuration reinforces the image of a country located at the intersection of these spaces and capable of transforming geography, history, and culture into instruments of dialogue, visibility, and influence.
Hosting one of the world’s most watched events requires more than modern stadiums. It demands political stability, efficient institutions, and the ability to coordinate complex operations over an extended period.
For that reason, the 2030 World Cup represents far more than another sporting milestone. It will serve as a large-scale test of credibility as well. For several weeks, Morocco will be observed by billions of viewers, thousands of businesses, and hundreds of official delegations. Few international events offer such an opportunity to showcase a country’s transformation before a truly global audience.
Morocco’s experience reflects another broader international trend. An increasing number of states now use major sporting events to support their integration into global political and economic networks. China’s Olympic Games, Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and Saudi Arabia’s expanding sports strategy all illustrate this evolution. Sport has become a platform through which countries project national ambition and shape how they are perceived abroad.
Morocco’s trajectory nevertheless stands apart. Unlike countries whose sporting influence depends primarily on financial resources, Morocco benefits from a combination of history, geography, and culture that allows it to engage multiple regions simultaneously. Few countries occupy such a position. At a time when the international system is increasingly fragmented by geopolitical rivalries, economic competition, and identity politics, that characteristic has acquired growing strategic value.
Football ultimately raises a broader question about the changing nature of power itself. For decades, influence was measured largely through military capabilities, economic resources, and demographic weight. Those factors remain fundamental, yet they cannot fully account for how countries are perceived today. The emerging international landscape increasingly rewards countries able to connect regions, facilitate exchanges, and build relationships across political, economic, and cultural divides.
From that standpoint, Morocco’s evolution may signal the emergence of what could be described as a connective power. Unlike traditional middle powers, a connective power derives its influence less from the resources it controls than from its ability to connect regions, facilitate exchanges, and create strategic interfaces between political, economic, and cultural spaces. Its comparative advantage lies not in domination, but in connectivity.
Football represents only one expression of that broader transformation. Infrastructure development, Atlantic initiatives, expanding African economic partnerships, growing human mobility, and the country’s capacity to host major international events all reinforce the same strategic trajectory. Taken together, they point toward a distinctive role for Morocco within the emerging international order.
Football, then, accompanies a much deeper national transformation. It reflects Morocco’s gradual evolution from a respected regional partner into a country whose initiatives and ambitions increasingly attract attention well beyond its immediate neighborhood. The Kingdom’s Atlantic vision, its expanding role across Africa, continuing investment in infrastructure, and ability to host major international gatherings all belong to the same strategic narrative.
The geopolitical importance of football lies precisely in its ability to make visible changes that often develop far from public attention. Sporting achievements can reveal broader shifts in economic development, diplomatic influence, and a country’s strategic positioning.
For Morocco, football has become one of the clearest mirrors of a broader national ambition. It is neither the source nor the principal driver of the Kingdom’s rise. Rather, it provides one of its most visible expressions. As Morocco strengthens its position between Africa, Europe, and the Atlantic, football continues to reflect changes that extend well beyond the sporting arena.
Behind the achievements of the Atlas Lions lies a Royal Vision that places human development at the center of national progress while pursuing a broader ambition: establishing Morocco as a connective power capable of linking Africa, Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Atlantic.
Football did not transform Morocco’s place in the world. It simply made that transformation impossible to ignore.
The flights are booked, your passport is valid, the bags are packed, and excitement is building, but there’s one crucial check you must do at the time of booking your holiday
A travel expert has issued important advice if you’re booking a holiday(Image: Getty Images/Stock Image)
An aviation expert has outlined how to best prepare for your next getaway abroad, and there’s one vital task you must do.
Going on holiday is always an exciting time, and even the booking process can spark a buzz. What hotel will you stay at? What activities will you do? And what will the weather be like? But amongst the planning, there’s a checklist to ensure you’re fully prepared for any trip abroad.
Checking that your passport is valid before booking flights is vital, along with any documents or visas you might need when entering your chosen country. However, there’s one check that Brits could miss, and failing to obtain it could completely impact your holiday.
In crucial advice to Brits ahead of the summer holidays, travel expert and head of aviation at loveholidays, Gavin Brewer, said that booking travel insurance at the same time as your holiday “is one of the smartest moves you can make”.
While it’s vital to have in case anything happens while you are away, it also means you’re protected from the moment you hit confirm on your desired getaway.
Gavin explained: “That means if you need to cancel your holiday for unforeseen reasons, such as sickness or other medical circumstances, or even redundancy, you should get your money back from your insurer. Understanding your cover is just as important as picking your destination, because when the unexpected happens, the right policy can be the difference between jetting off with confidence and being left out of pocket.”
In further support for holidaymakers jetting abroad this summer, the travel expert advised booking a package holiday as it offers “more protection than booking flights and hotel separately”.
He commented: “Package holidays give built-in protection that you won’t get if you book your flights and hotels separately.
“In the rare event of disruption before you travel, such as a cancelled flight with no suitable alternative, you are fully protected under a set of consumer laws called the Package Travel Regulations. This entitles you to a full refund on your package holiday.”
Gavin added: “At Loveholidays, our holiday packages are also protected by the ‘gold standard’ ATOL scheme, so you can relax knowing your holiday is in safe hands from start to finish.”
And while it might be edging nearer to summer, it’s never too late to book that well-deserved break. If anything, it might just be the best time, as three European hotspots are cheaper than usual during the busy travel period.
Gavin revealed that Bulgaria, Montenegro, and Turkey have all seen substantial price cuts on seven-night packages during the summer. Bulgaria, with its golden beaches along the Black Sea and majestic mountain terrain, has dropped by an average of 60pp.
Montenegro, dubbed a ‘Balkan gem’ with dramatic mountain landscapes that meet the sea, has dropped in price by around £53pp. While Turkey, known for its striking architecture, culture, and colourful markets, has also seen a price cut of around £35pp.
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