show biz

SINGER Louis Tomlinson has donated £4,000 to help fund life-saving surgery for a bodyguard who looked after One Direction. 

The Lemonade singer, 33, pitched in hours after learning former minder Preston Mahon, 54, was staring down the barrel without urgent help. 

Preston, who texted Louis his thanks, told The Sun: “I’m so appreciative. It means the world to me.” 

Close protection officer Preston — who guarded Louis and bandmates Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Niall Horan — was forced to end his 27-year security career owing to deteriorating mobility.

Doctors discovered a clogged artery in his left thigh and he had angioplasty to clear it at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.  

He was told he could have the procedure every two years but the rules changed after Covid, he said. 

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On his last visit, he says a doctor told him: “Both arteries are blocked in both legs and there’s nothing I can do.

“The next time I see you will be for bypass and amputation.” 

Preston used all his savings and borrowed from relatives and friends to pay for a private op in Spain to have stents fitted and is now £16,000 in debt.

He hopes to raise £35,000 to pay for the same procedure on his troublesome right leg.  

Preston, now a machine operator for Cadbury, said: “My dad organised for me to see an expert in Madrid who did his knees. 

“He phoned my father after the op and told him, ‘We just did life-saving surgery on your son’. 

“After the operation it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders but now I desperately need this second operation to have a chance of living out my years without pain.  

“I’ve never asked for money but I’ve got nothing left.

“My family finances have been exhausted.”

Grandad Preston, of Birmingham, who also looked after Simon Cowell, Westlife, Boyzone and Leona Lewis, is raising money through GoFundMe and, with the help of ID fans, already has more than £6,300. 

On Louis’ donation on Wednesday, he said: “I can’t thank him enough.

“Wow. I wasn’t expecting that.  

“I sent Louis a text personally saying thank you.

“All the boys from One Direction mean the world to me.

“I met up with all the lads again at Liam’s funeral exactly a year ago.  

“It was the saddest time ever but a lovely reunion.” 

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He added: “I also previously worked with Freddie Starr and went to his funeral. 

“It’s hard seeing people you cared for go and I don’t want to join them yet.” 

Kevin Spacey is reportedly homeless after facing multiple allegations of sexual harassment and assault.

The “House of Cards” actor told the Telegraph in an interview published Wednesday that he is currently “living in hotels [and] living in Airbnbs” near wherever he can find work because his current financial situation is “not great.”

“I literally have no home, that’s what I’m attempting to explain,” Spacey said.

The actor, who used to live in Baltimore, said he lost his house “because the costs over these last seven years have been astronomical.”

“I’ve had very little coming in and everything going out,” Spacey said. But “[y]ou get through it. In weird ways, I feel I’m back to where I first started, which is I just went where the work was. Everything is in storage, and I hope at some point, if things continue to improve, that I’ll be able to decide where I want to settle down again.”

Spacey swiftly fell from grace in 2017 after actor Anthony Rapp alleged that the two-time Oscar winner had made sexual advances toward him in the 1980s when he was a teenager. Additional accusations of sexual misconduct or assault by more than 30 men followed. Spacey has denied all allegations, and the various lawsuits that stemmed from them ended up being dropped, dismissed, or resulted in his acquittal.

Spacey previously addressed his mounting debt in a 2024 interview with Piers Morgan. After admitting that he was unable to pay the bills that he owed, he said he had considered filing for bankruptcy but had so far “managed to sort of dodge it.” He also revealed that his Baltimore home was facing foreclosure and would be “sold at auction.”

The actor has since attempted to make a comeback. In 2021, he landed his first acting job since the misconduct allegations: an Italian indie movie. He has appeared in other projects, including on stage.

While Spacey has yet to return to Hollywood, he remains hopeful about his future.

“We are in touch with some extremely powerful people who want to put me back to work,” he told the Telegraph. “And that will happen in its right time. But I will also say what I think the industry seems to be waiting for is to be given permission — by someone who is in some position of enormous respect and authority.”

Shelley Spadoni reflects on the time she interviewed comedy legend Ruby Wax and how after a wobbly start, the I’m A Celebrity star won her over completely

The one and only time I ever interviewed the inimitable Ruby Wax was in 2023, a long time before she had to contend with eating camel’s penis, or deal with run-ins with YouTube stars ‘blocking her light’.

The no-holds-barred I’m A Celebrity star, 72, has already made her mark in the jungle with her straight-talking ways and abrasive humour – and to be honest, I’m not surprised. She’s a force of nature.

Getting ready to speak to her on the phone two years ago as she prepared to set off on the UK tour of I’m Not As Well As I Thought (also the name of her book at the time), I was a little apprehensive.

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I had this idea in my head – and how wrong can these preconceived notions be – that she was a brash, at-times rude, if supremely-talented comedian, writer and TV star who if she was having a bad day, would make mincemeat out of me.

And as we began chatting, my fears were, in part. realised. I kicked off by asking Ruby about some of her favourite showbiz memories over the years, of which there are too many to mention here. In hindsight, perhaps I should have warmed her up a little first.

I recall cringing after asking how she felt about finding herself in 2000 sharing a plane with the now-US President Donald Trump, which she’s already talked about around the I’m A Celeb campfire.

Quick as a whippet, she responded, slightly irritated, with, ‘Shelley, I’ve talked about this many times before – as well as hanging out with Pamela Anderson. What else would you like to know that I haven’t said before?”

Fair play. She’s got a bag full of tricks when it comes to A-lister anecdotes. But she’s also got another huge passion in life – campaigning for mental health, and getting people to open up about theirs.

Over that little hiccup, we began discussing her stage show at the time, exploring mental health – as well as her Frazzled Cafe, the online space Ruby founded in which people can share their mental health stories and struggles in a safe space.

And the star slowly came to life. The more we spoke, the more I realised, Ruby just wanted to get to the nitty gritty, the thing that clearly is a huge part of what drives her.

And during the course of our interview, she showed not only her dark sense of humour, but also a vulnerability that is quite rare in the world of celebrity.

At one point, discussing her own mental health struggles, she brought up the idea that we all have an inner voice, ‘negative loops’ inside our head s that try to bring us down, and which she still has to try very hard to ignore.

Hers, she admitted with that throaty laugh, tells her, “I’m old, I’m finished and nobody likes me. And I tend to hear them when I’m feeling anxious. It’s like chewing a wad of gum and feeling exhausted.”

Her honesty was disarming. Mindfulness, she confessed, helps her deal with those intrusive thoughts. With her typically dark humour, she said she had first read about it while being treated in a mental institution, following a devastating bout of depression.

She suggested I try it, that we all do. And by the time we said goodbye to each other, I was a big fan – and have been, ever since.

We haven’t seen much of this vulnerable, reflective side of Ruby in the jungle yet, but I think we will. And though she may have divided fans at times, the more we see of her, the more viewers will understand what makes her tick.

Meanwhile, of course, she’ll continue to be absolute TV gold. She may say it like it is if someone rubs her up the wrong way, but she’s hugely entertaining.

The mother of three is also very insightful about the human condition, something that is sure to come through Down Under, during those famous deep and meaningfuls around the campfire at night.

As she told me before I hung up the call, “We’re all on different boats Shelley, but believe me, we’re in the same storm!”

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BLAKE Shelton and Gwen Stefani were mysteriously absent from the CMA Awards last night, despite the country singer’s nomination.

Blake, 49, and Gwen, 56, sat out Nashville’s big night, with a source telling E! the couple “will be watching the CMA on their TV this year.”

The source did not provide an explanation as to why the couple was passing on the popular annual event.

Despite going missing, Blake won the CMA Musical Event of the Year award for his song Pour Me a Drink with Post Malone.

Blake has won 11 awards at the annual event in the past.

HEADED FOR DIVORCE?

The pair is currently facing rumors their marriage is on the rocks.

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In March, Blake released a breakup song called Hangin’ On, which fans could suspicious.

He insisted she song was “really no reflection of where Gwen and I are in our relationship – I hope.”

Blake and Gwen have also toned down their constant PDA, and instead have lived much more privately in recent months.

When Blake marked Gwen’s 56th birthday on his Instagram this year, for instance, his caption was much more subdued.

Truth be told, they’re both so different and it’s starting to become more apparent now,” a source told Star magazine.

“There’s a real fear that the way things are headed, Blake and Gwen could wind up becoming another Hollywood divorce casualty, even though it’s the last thing either of them would want.”

The couple will soon be spending more time apart.

Gwen will begin her No Doubt residency in Las Vegas, while Blake is reportedly focusing on making new music and his Ole Red restaurant chain.

More than a dozen TV shows were awarded production incentives for filming in California, including several that are relocating from other states, such as action series “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” and a reboot of “Baywatch.”

Together, the 17 series are expected to generate $1.2 billion in economic activity for the state. The shows are estimated to employ a collective 5,165 cast and crew members, as well as more than 35,000 background actors.

In total, the shows were awarded about $313 million in tax credits, with season 3 of the post-apocalyptic series “Fallout” receiving the largest credit ($166 million). “Baywatch,” which relocated from Hawaii, was awarded a credit of $21 million, while “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” returning from New York and Italy, was allocated nearly $80 million. The Netflix show “Forever” got nearly $63 million.

These shows are the second round of TV projects to receive incentive awards under the state’s revamped film and television tax credit program. Approved by state legislators and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this year, the new program now has a cap of $750 million, up from $330 million.

Eligibility criteria was also expanded to allow more types of shows to apply.

The changes to the program came after intense lobbying from Hollywood unions, studios and other insiders amid an exodus of filming to other states and countries with more generous production incentives.

“California’s creative economy isn’t just part of who we are — it helps power this state forward,” Newsom said in a statement. “And when we make smart investments like our film tax credit, we’re keeping talent here at home, supporting good-paying union jobs, and strengthening an industry that defines the California brand.”

“Baywatch” executive producer and showrunner Matt Nix noted that the wildfires in January encouraged him to want to film in the Golden State. He said in a statement that the fires nearly destroyed his home, but that the “heroism of the first responders who fought to save our community” inspired him.

“Baywatch was born in Los Angeles,” Nix said. “I’m so glad we can bring it home again.”

A Coronation Street favourite has addressed his shock exit from the ITV soap after it emerged his final scenes had already aired without an announcement from show bosses

Coronation Street star Jack Carroll has broken his silence from his abrupt exit from the soap earlier this summer. The 27-year-old actor joined the ITV cast in 2023 as Bobby Crawford, the half nephew of Carla Connor and son of convict of Rob Donovan, and was last seen on screen in May this year heading off on holiday.

In June, viewers learned the character had left Weatherfield for good during a conversation with Lauren Bolton and Betsy Swain. Despite speculation that Jack wasn’t going to return to set, confirmation of the low-key departure left some viewers shocked, and the actor has now revealed how he feels about the way it went down.

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As well as saying he was “grateful” that Bobby wasn’t permanently killed off, the former Britain’s Got Talent star explained that he was actually happy to leave without any drama or scandal.

“That seems to be the trend in the way that they do exits now, it’s a bit more low key because it gives everybody a bit more flexibility if you need to arrange some pieces of the jigsaw in the future,” he told The Sun.

In June, a source told The Mirror that “the time has come” for Bobby to bid farewell, adding, “Actor Jack enjoyed his time on the soap, but it’s time to move on. Viewers won’t see the character exit the street as he’s already left, with Jack filming his final scenes some time ago.”

Bradford-born Jack first found fame as a comedian when he appeared on the seventh series of Britain’s Got Talent at 14, finishing up in second place.

He first appeared on Coronation Street in 2023, when his character Bobby came to stay with his aunt Carla, the half maternal sister of his dad Rob, who was previously convicted of the murder of Tina McIntyre.

Elaborating on his exit after 18 months, Jack, who has cerebral palsy, said he was excited to return to his comedy routes and put the spotlight back on disability in a positive manner.

He also praised the Coronation Street writers for “distilling down” the essence of his stand-up persona when he filmed his early scenes, adding: “That’s probably a good primer on what to expect as well, if you come and see me on the tour.”

Given his character is alive and well and was spared a gruesome end on the show, Jack also said he wouldn’t rule out a return, and said he was grateful that any future decisions hadn’t been taken off the table completely.

He added that the “circumstances would have to be right” and he couldn’t imagine a reason why he’d say no if the opportunity to step back onto the cobbles arose.

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PETER Andre has dropped a huge hint about doing a new TV series with wife Emily.

It comes just weeks after The Sun revealed the couple had pulled out of filming the second series of his daughter’s Princess’ reality show amid a feud with her mum Katie Price.

Peter, 52, has now teased that Emily, 36, and him have got a new TV project in the works.

The couple, who have been married since 2015, are well known faces on TV, and now it looks like they are set to get a new show.

Teasing this, Peter wrote in his Planet Peter column for this week’s New magazine: “Although I have some major solo projects launching in 2026, Emily and I are having exciting meetings about working together.

“We’ve got something very special lined up and we’ll let you know more soon.

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“The end of the year has come around very quickly – and there’s so much happening next year, I’m like, ‘Woah!’.

“But we’re going to have lots of fun, so watch this space.”

PULLING OUT OF FILMING

It comes after The Sun revealed how Peter and Emily wouldn’t be filming the second series of The Princess Diaries.

When the series catapulted onto TV screens over the summer, Princess‘ mum Katie – and Peter’s ex-wife – vented about the show.

The Sun revealed her secret heartache about being cut out of her TV series – and her vow to boycott it.

The former glamour model said she would not watch her daughter’s reality show after feeling left out of such an important thing in Princess’ life.

This then led to a huge public slanging match between Katie and her ex Peter, who did feature in the show.

In the latest turn of events, Peter and wife Emily have pulled out of starring in the second season of her show.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun, a source revealed: “Basically Princess’s big moment was overshadowed by her rowing parents.

“It definitely took the shine off her.

“ITV wanted to see if they could come to an agreement where neither party would be involved.

“Pete was aggrieved but naturally said he would do what is best for Princess.”

The source continued: “She loves both her parents so much and never wants them to row.

“By just keeping her in the frame and neither of them on screen, it stops any unnecessary bickering in the public eye.

“Both Katie and Peter are continuing to support Princess in the background.”

FALL OUT

Back when the first series of Princess Andre’s reality show came out, Katie spoke about her ex-husband in her podcast.

“There’s no reason why both parents just can’t be there to support her. Now this isn’t about me. I have to clarify this,” Katie said in August.

“I don’t care that I’m not in Princess’ show.

“I don’t need to raise my profile by being on Princess’s show, I do enough stuff.

“All what I want to do, is just whatever my daughter does, and it’s the same with Junior, I don’t care if I’m in the background, but I want to watch her do her photo shoots, I wanna watch her do her signings, because that’s what I did.

“And my mom and you and Nan used to come along and support, and I’m proud of her.

“And I just wanna be there with her because I now I feel that I’ve missed out on so much.”

PETER HITS BACK

The Mysterious Girl singer then released a bombshell statement on the same day where he claimed that the two young adults were placed in his care when they were teens “for their safety”.

Taking to Instagram, Peter spoke out just hours after Katie said she had made contact with him after their fallout over daughter Princess amid her show.

In the statement shared on his social media page, Peter penned: “For sixteen years I have stayed silent in the face of repeated lies from my ex-wife and her family, out of respect for my children and loved ones.

“But staying silent has been incredibly frustrating. That ends today.”

He continued: “The latest comments about my children’s welfare and living arrangements compel me to set the record straight.

“For well-documented reasons, and for their safety, Junior and Princess came into my care in 2018 and remained with me until they reached adulthood.

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“In 2019, the family courts issued a legally binding order to enforce this arrangement.

“I have never made this public before out of respect for my children.”

Since “Stranger Things” last released new episodes in 2022, a lot has happened. The writers’ and actors’ guilds went on a historic strike, delaying production on the final season. The Duffer Brothers, as the show’s creators Matt and Ross are known, developed a stage play set in the “Stranger Things” world that premiered on London’s West End and transferred to Broadway earlier this year. The star, Millie Bobby Brown, who was 12 when the show premiered, became a wife and mother.

The time between the fourth and fifth seasons is long enough that many fans — save the ones who have been faithfully rewatching and carefully taking notes in preparation — may not remember what happened last. And key context and developments from earlier seasons may be even fuzzier in our memories, like Eleven trying to recall what happened in the rainbow room.

The only guide you need for holiday entertainment.

Let’s refresh our memories together.

“Stranger Things,” set in fictional Hawkins, Ind., (primarily) in the 1980s, follows a ragtag bunch of kids and a handful of trusted adults as they battle evil and supernatural forces in their small town. High school students Will (Noah Schnapp), Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Max (Sadie Sink), along with older teens Nancy (Natalia Dyer), Jonathan (Charlie Heaton), Steve (Joe Keery) and Robin (Maya Hawke), work alongside Eleven (Brown), a girl with special psychokinetic abilities, to protect the town from a parallel dimension called the Upside Down with monsters, electrical storms and a Lovecraftian, other-worldly force. Joining them in the fight is Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder), Will and Jonathan’s mom, police chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour) and a handful of other instrumental characters.

Here’s a recap of the important storylines to remember, a refresher on where the series left off and everything else you need to know to prepare for the fifth and final season that will be released in three installments, beginning with Vol. 1 on Nov. 26, Vol. 2 on Christmas Day and the finale on New Year’s Eve.

Where we left off

The crew gathers as they see dark clouds move over Hawkins at the end of Season 4, indicating that the Upside Down is infiltrating the real world.

(Netflix)

Season 4 of “Stranger Things” concludes in a dark place, literally.

Vecna, the main antagonist from Season 4, had been seeking out four victims whose deaths would open four gates to the Upside Down. Although his final victim, Max, was only dead for a minute (more on that later), he succeeded. The gates converge at the center of Hawkins, culminating in a large boom at the Hawkins Public Library. Although it’s dismissed by officials as an earthquake, our gang knows better — the Upside Down is merging with the real world.

The final moments of the season show dark clouds billowing through the sky as the familiar, dandruff-like particles from the Upside Down float through the air. Earlier in the season, Vecna possessed Nancy, showing her a terrifying vision of mass death and destruction in Hawkins and the four gates to the Upside Down ripping through the town. These are just a few steps in his mission to destroy humanity.

At the end of the season, we also see the long-anticipated return of Hopper, who was trapped in a Russian prison until Joyce and Murray Bauman (Brett Gelman), their mutual friend and a private investigator, help break him out and bring him back home. Eleven and Hopper, who have a father-daughter-like bond, reunite in one of the bright spots of an otherwise dark season.

And although he achieved his goal, Vecna is weak. Nancy, Robin and Steve set his body on fire while he was attacking Max, who was in a trance. Fearless Nancy then shoots him repeatedly until he falls out of the second story of his lair. Although it seems at first that they have killed him, his body is gone by the time the crew rushes to the ground floor, and Will senses that he is still alive.

Characters who died in Season 4

Vecna’s attack briefly killed Max, but Eleven was able to revive her. She’s in a coma at the end of Season 4.

(Netflix)

Max Mayfield (sort of)

Vecna preyed on Max for much of Season 4, and in the final episode, playing Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” on repeat from her Walkman is not enough to save her. Vecna kills Max, but Eleven is able to revive her by using her powers to restart her heart. The last shot we see of Max is of her hospitalized in a coma, with broken bones and her concerned friends by her side.

She’s alive, but her temporary death was enough for Vecna to accomplish his goal. Theories about whether Max’s consciousness is trapped in Vecna’s visions, or if she will recover with powers that enable her to spy on Vecna, have been circulating on social media since the release of Season 4, but fans of the character shouldn’t fret. Sink is listed in the credits for Season 5 and she is seen briefly in the Season 5 trailer, with Lucas carrying her body as a Demogorgon, one of the monsters in the show, runs toward them.

Although he died in the Season 3 finale, Billy Hargrove, Max’s stepbrother, is noteworthy since his death took a big emotional toll on Max, filling her with guilt and grief, which primed her to be one of Vecna’s targets.

Eddie Munson

This fan-favorite character played by Joseph Quinn died in the final episode of Season 4, but he went out with a blaze. Eddie and Dustin were in the Upside Down carrying out their part in the plan to attack Vecna, and Eddie shredded out Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” on his guitar in order to distract the Demobats protecting Vecna’s lair. Dustin says the musical ruse is the “most metal ever,” but it’s not enough to keep them safe from the terrifying creatures.

After Dustin makes it through the gate back into the real world, Eddie stays behind to drive the bats away and buy the group more time. He is eventually attacked by the creatures, and dies in Dustin’s arms after protecting his friends.

Eddie initially befriended Mike, Lucas and Dustin because of their shared love of Dungeons & Dragons, forming the Hellfire Club to play the game together. Eddie’s death is likely to reverberate with Dustin in the upcoming season, who is seen in the trailer wearing his Hellfire Club T-shirt.

Dr. Martin Brenner

Dr. Brenner, or Eleven’s “papa” as his test subjects called him, was killed by military gunfire when officers invaded his research facility in search of Eleven. They believed she was behind the strange happenings and murders taking place in Hawkins.

Brenner (Matthew Modine) played a significant role in the controversial MKUltra program, a real-life covert CIA mind-control and chemical interrogation research program. He took a young Henry Creel (who ultimately became 001/Vecna) into his custody after discovering he possessed psychokinetic abilities and tried to replicate those abilities in other children, including Eleven.

In his final moments, Brenner tells Eleven he is proud of her and that all he ever wanted was to help her and protect her, despite the psychological and physical abuse he inflicted on her.

Other important things to remember

Although Hopper and Joyce were able to rescue Will from the Upside Down, he is still closely tied to the dimension and its monsters.

(Netflix )

Will’s connection to the Upside Down

Since he was trapped in the Upside Down during Season 1, Will hasn’t been able to sever his tie to the dimension. In Season 2, he is possessed by the Mind Flayer and feels pain when the vines in the Upside Down are damaged or Demogorgons are hurt. He is tapped into the dimension’s “hive mind” and can sense Vecna’s presence, usually through a strange feeling on the back of his neck.

Eleven’s ‘sister’

Although all of the test subjects who were raised alongside Eleven were killed by Henry/001 in the massacre at Hawkins Labs (Season 4, Episode 7), one of her “siblings” managed to escape the lab before that fateful day. Kali, or 008, made a brief appearance in a Season 2 storyline — Eleven temporarily joined her gang of misfits to help in Kali’s mission of getting revenge on people who worked in the lab.

Kali did not appear in Seasons 3 or 4, but aside from Eleven and Henry/Vecna, she is the only other person known to have powerful psychokinetic abilities.

‘The First Shadow’

The stage play “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” is a prequel diving into Henry’s origins and how he eventually became 001, and Vecna. Although it is considered a standalone work, the Duffer Brothers collaborated with “Stranger Things” writer Kate Trefry to create the play’s story and they have confirmed it is canon in the “Stranger Things” universe.

Some fans who have compared the details from the play and the series say that the play suggests Vecna might not be in control of the Mind Flayer, as he has suggested. Rather, the Mind Flayer is in control of him, or that it had at least corrupted his human self.

Fans who have traced back through the series to see if this theory holds water point out that Dustin, whose theories about the Upside Down tend to be correct, suggested the same thing in Season 4. Speaking about the Mind Flayer, he says, “If the Demogorgon was just his foot soldier, Vecna’s his five-star general.”

What we know is coming next

In the first look at Season 5, Will and Vecna come face to face.

(Netflix)

Netflix released the first five minutes of the new season in early November, in which we see a flashback to Will’s time trapped in the Upside Down. A Demogorgon drags an unconscious Will to Vecna’s lair, and Vecna ominously says they can begin their work “at long last.” “You and I, we are going to do such beautiful things together, William,” he continues.

It looks like we can expect a showdown between our heroes and Vecna, but it’s possible we might also get further explanation about why Will was specifically targeted from the beginning.

Is this the end of ‘Stranger Things’?

In a word, yes. But new stories taking place in the world of “Stranger Things” will be coming. Netflix recently unveiled the first look at an animated spinoff series, “Stranger Things: Tales From ’85.” The series is set between the events of Seasons 2 and 3, and it will feature the main characters fans know and love. The Duffer Brothers collaborated with showrunner Eric Robles to create the series, which does not have a premiere date yet.

The Duffer Brothers are also developing a spinoff series with new characters and a “clean slate,” which they teased in a recent interview with Variety.

Joe Swash has given a rare insight into his marriage with Stacey Solomon as he opened up on his ‘weakness’ and admitted that he takes a step back when it comes to Christmas

Joe Swash has offered a candid glimpse into his marriage with wife Stacey Solomon as he revealed his “weakness”.

The former EastEnders actor, 43, appeared alongside Vernon Kay, Rob Rinder and Jordan Banjo on ITV Loose Men on Wednesday (November 20), where they tackled various subjects.

But it was one particular discussion that got the blokes chatting as they explored which family members contribute more effort during the Christmas period.

Vernon kicked things off by saying: “December is just around the corner and it’s just 5 weeks till Christmas. Statistics show that it’s the woman of the house that put the most effort in when preparing for the festive season.”

Focusing on his colleague Joe, the TV host then enquired: “So Joe, Stacey is Mrs Christmas. Is there any pressure on you when she gets cracking?”, reports OK!.

Joe confessed: “All year there is a pressure on me. If you are ever wondering what month of the year it is, just pop around my house and my door will tell you.

“If it’s summer we will have a summer display on. We just got rid of the Halloween display and Christmas is going up now.”

Speaking candidly about his marriage, the celebrity went on: “I feel like a good relationship is about knowing the strengths and weaknesses and one my weaknesses is getting involved. I like to take a step back because Stacey has got a vision and I’ll do the running around.”

He quipped: “Stacey is the site manager and I’m a tradie so I’ll be going to pick all the stuff up and Stacey makes it look beautiful. You know what they say, there is no I in the team.”

The room erupted into laughter as Jordan chimed in with a joke: “Well there is an on- site manager.”

Later in the programme, Joe couldn’t resist highlighting one of Stacey’s habits that “gets on his nerves so much.” During a panel discussion about pet peeves, Joe was quick to confess his dislike for noisy eaters.

To add insult to injury, Joe confessed that Stacey isn’t exactly quiet when munching on a packet of crisps. He said: “My Stacey, somehow she can project the volume of the crisps she is eating. How can you make that louder than it needs to be? That gets on my nerves so much.”

Joe added another gripe: “There is one more. You know when someone puts something in the dish washer and they don’t take the stuff out of the dishwasher so when I go in there to get a cup I’m then made to take everything out of the dishwasher like it is my job.”

Stacey and Joe tied the knot in 2022 and together they have three children – Rex, five, Rose, three, and one year old Belle. Stacey has two sons and Joe has one son – teenagers Zachary, Leighton and Harry – from previous relationships.

Loose Woman airs weekdays from 12.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX

KATIE Price broke her silence on her long-running feud with Kelly Brook as she ripped into their mutual ex Danny Cipriani.

Katie played down their bitter spat in the noughties as she turned on Danny and took a swipe at his manhood.

Katie, 47, heaped praised on I’m A Celeb star Kelly, 45 – after they traded digs in the past.

She said she’ll be supporting the Heart Radio presenter in the jungle and claimed on the latest episode of her podcast: “I love Kelly Brook.”

She added: “The only difference between us was she came from a dance background and wouldn’t get her t**s out.”

The glamour model – previously known as Jordan – also spoke out on their connection to rugby star Danny, 38.

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Katie said: “She was going out with Danny Cipriani, and I was going out with Danny Cipriani, and he was a player with a small willy, absolute k**b.”

Her podcast co-host and sister Sophie waded in with her own memory, saying: “I remember dad meeting him and thinking he was a k**b.”

Later in the pod, the sisters discussed reports that Kelly and Katie didn’t get along.

Sophie added: “Did you call her a heffer?”

Katie replied: “I can’t remember calling her a heffer.

“She’s always had a bigger figure than me. She’s a voluptuous figure – she’s stunning, beautiful.

“I am rooting for Kelly (in the jungle) from one glamour girl to another.”

Katie and Danny’s relationship happened a year after his split from Kelly in 2010.

Their romance was short-lived, ending when Katie claimed she discovered Danny in bed with another woman.

Kelly and Danny proved to be the more enduring as they dated for around two years between 2008 and 2010, though their time together was turbulent.

Both accused the other of cheating and Danny even alleged that when Kelly began dating his rugby teammate Thom Evans, she still secretly met up with him while on holiday.

Unsurprisingly, Danny became a key source of bitterness during the infamous clash between Kelly and Katie in 2013. 

At the time, Katie used her newspaper column to take a swipe at Kelly, labelling her a “heffer” and remarking on her size with backhanded compliments.

Katie wrote: “Kelly is a brilliant role model for young girls because of her curvy figure. 

“Every mum should make her daughter look at the recent set of pictures that show Kelly modelling her latest New Look range in Miami.

“They don’t appear to be airbrushed and I’m FLABbergasted to see how big Kelly really is.

“Rumour has it she’s been hanging out with our mutual ex Danny Cipriani. Knowing him, I guess she’s probably been doing a bit of comfort eating.

“You’re a heffer, Kelly, but still a hot one.”

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Her comments came amid rumours that Kelly was considering rekindling things with Danny. 

The following day, Kelly responded, insisting that such remarks were “unladylike.”

Want to hear Ariana Grande, actor, playing Ariana Grande, pop star? Make sure you have a ticket for her Eternal Sunshine Tour next summer, because after that she’s not planning to do another one any time soon.

In fact, she’s calling the tour her “one last hurrah.”

“I’m very excited to do this small tour, but I think it might not happen again for a long, long, long, long time,” she said Tuesday on the “Good Hang With Amy Poehler” podcast. “So I’m going to give it my all and it’s going to be beautiful and I think that’s why I’m doing it, because it’s like, one last hurrah.”

One. Last. Hurrah.

Grande is a mere 32 years old. That said, her last tour had 97 shows on two continents in less than a year. We would be tired of it too.

The 2026 tour, which runs from June 6 to Sept. 1, hits only 10 cities with multiple dates in each. Tickets went on sale a couple of months back, but there’s always the resale market.

Also, Ariana Grande the actor is very busy at the moment, with more going on than simply “Wicked: For Good” promotion. That obligation, though, has taken her all over the world for multiple premieres, including one in Singapore last week where she was accosted on the yellow carpet by a self-proclaimed troll looking to glom onto her fame and make it his own. (He is currently in jail.)

She has also been busy filming “Focker In-Law,” the fourth installment in the somewhat unlikely “Meet the Fockers” franchise.

“It’s just so great to sort of experience a new, new journey and learn from those around me,” one that includes Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro and Beanie Feldstein, she told Poehler.

The host said it sounded like this movie was “much less physically exhausting” than her work in “Wicked,” but Grande begged to disagree.

“I’m not sure I’m supposed to say this, but I have to say it ’cause you’re going to laugh your ass off. My character’s a triathlete,” she explained.

“Oh nooooo!” Poehler said. “So you’re always running?”

“I spent yesterday doing burpees and high knees with Robert De Niro, and he’s like, ‘Good job, Olivia. Good job,’” said the “Thank U, Next” singer, whose character is named Olivia Jones. “It’s like the craziest, most — I’m like, what is this movie? What are we doing? But I’m having a blast.”

There’s no corset, like Glinda wore, in “Focker In-Law.” No posture-altering shoes, according to Grande. But Stiller and De Niro are both big runners in their free time, which apparently starts in the neighborhood of 4:40 a.m. As for Ariana?

“There’s a lot of biking in this movie. Like a lot lot lot lot.”

No rest, apparently, for the wicked.

The dark comedy stars the former Doctor Who actor and it has viewers saying they’re ‘locked in’

Matt Smith is fronting a new dark comedy series adapted from a “compulsive read” which has proved a massive success since its debut episode.

The Death of Bunny Munro, shot on location throughout Sussex, is a dark comedy adaptation of Nick Cave’s novel sharing the same title.

The musician and author’s website describes the original book as “a compulsive read possessing all Nick Cave’s trademark horror and humanity, often thinly disguised in a galloping, playful romp”.

In The Death of Bunny Munro, the ex-Doctor Who actor portrays the titular role, a middle-aged salesman obsessed with sex who embarks on a journey across Sussex with his son following his wife’s death.

Whilst packed with black humour, the programme also delves into themes of bereavement and has drawn comparisons to programmes such as Netflix’s Adolescence.

Radio Times awarded it four out of five stars, stating: “Netflix’s Adolescence brought much-needed attention to the hateful attitudes emanating from a growing corner of the internet and taking root in the minds of today’s teenagers and young men.

“But the revelatory element of its story was less the misogyny itself and more so the method of transmission, with the web’s now-infamous ‘manosphere’ serving as a powerful amplifier for harmful ideas that had once appeared to be in decline.

“The Death of Bunny Munro almost serves as a prequel in that respect, exploring how the objectification, disrespect and outright abuse of women was taught to boys long before social media had the world in its death grip.”

The six-part series drops in its entirety, allowing viewers to watch all episodes back-to-back.

Social media users flocked to X, previously known as Twitter, to heap praise on Smith’s performance, with Lil Lulu writing: “#MattSmith you really have outdone yourself with Bunny Munro. Just superb. I love him and I hate him all at the same time. Give this man his flowers and give him ALL THE AWARDS!”

@drunkestgiraffe posted: “No in all honesty this is giving me emotional whiplash. It is gutting me and all I want is to help these poor souls but also WHY is he so HOT?

“I fully concur with Nick Cave he should NOT be this attractive. Put it away, Smith.”

Vid wrote: “Watched a half of episode one of Bunny Munro to see the vibe. Matt is so great as a despicable mf holy **** I can actually ******* kill him and the show’s kinda depressing and funny so far. Also truly heartbreaking son and wife, I’m locked in.”

Nana remarked: “I already love this mini-series.”

Rachel Louise declared: “Despite only having seen those first two episodes, I’m pretty confident in saying I think The Death of Bunny Munro is actually Matt Smith’s best role yet.”

The Death of Bunny Munro broadcasts on Sky Atlantic.

SITTING in her car outside the hospital, Talia Oatway looks exhausted – her son Oakley is once again being treated, and this time the news is more terrifying than ever before.

The single mum-of-four and ex-partner of Geordie Shore star Aaron Chalmers may be drained, but as she tells The Sun all about her three-year-old’s diagnosis, she appears determined and ready to fight for his life.

Little Oakley was born with Apert syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes fusion of the skull, hands, and feet bones. At just three years old, he’s already been put under general anaesthetics 19 times, and last week, devastated Talia, 31, was told there is yet another issue he has to contend with – and this time it’s life-threatening hydrocephalus. 

Last year, Oakley ended up in a coma after complications during a planned operation on his skull. While initially, Talia expected him to be in hospital for five days, she ended up uprooting her life for seven weeks to be by his side.

Oakley has been living with just half his skull since then, after surgeons deemed it too dangerous to try to replace it.

Once they finally returned home, Talia soon realised something wasn’t right, but she wasn’t prepared for just how hard everything was about to become.

You don’t understand the pressure I’m under. At home, even when he’s well, you’re still looking for signs, thinking, ‘Is something going to happen?’

Talia on being a medical mum

She explains: “Since that admission, we’ve been back and forth with hospitals and coming to A&E because he kept vomiting non-stop to the point where he was getting too dehydrated and needed a drip. 

“Then he got diagnosed with something called CVS – cyclic vomiting syndrome. He gets migraines, then he starts projectile vomiting. And that was because he got meningitis last year. It triggered a neurological condition.”

Oakley was given medication, but wasn’t responding – concerned doctors rushed him in for a CT scan, where they discovered he had a condition called hydrocephalus, which is a build-up of fluid on the brain. 

Talia tells The Sun: “The CT scan also showed that he had a bit of brain damage at the front of the brain from the meningitis last year.

“It also showed that his forehead they’d rebuilt was absorbing a percentage of the bone.

“So he’s actually got less bone from last year when they removed part of it because his body was absorbing part of it because of the fluid.”

Doctors have now fitted a shunt in Oakley’s brain to drain the fluid, and he is being monitored in hospital to see how his body will react.

Fighting back tears, Talia says: “There’s a lot of stress around being vigilant with Oakley’s care, acting on instinct, acting on signs that he shows.

“But Oakley’s non-verbal. So it’s not as if he can say, ‘I’ve got a headache and I’m about to be sick’, or, ‘I feel dizzy’.

“The two conditions he’s got are exactly the same symptoms. However, one of them can be life-threatening if it’s not treated when it needs to be treated.”

Talia, who has made a name for herself online as a ‘medical mum’ influencer, has taken a step back from social media as she comes to terms with the latest development.

‘I don’t like to air dirty laundry’

She first became known when she started dating Geordie Shore star Aaron in 2017.

The pair had a whirlwind romance and welcomed three children in quick succession –  Romeo, five, Maddox, four, and Oakley.

Speaking about the start of their relationship, she reveals:  “We always wanted a big family. This sounds really cringe, but I love being a mum.

“I love being pregnant. I loved having the babies and the routine and the whole mum thing. I absolutely loved that. And I still love it.”

During her pregnancy with Oakley, doctors flagged that there could be an issue – she had two MRIs but was discharged from foetal medicine and was told everything was fine.

She says: “So when Oakley was born, obviously it was a shock.”

Asked when the true extent of his issues dawned on her, Talia says: “I don’t think it truly hit me until Oakley was about three months old when he was bouncing in and out of hospital.”

The pressure became too much, and Aaron made the decision that the relationship was over.

Asked about their split, she says: “I think the pressures of what comes with being a medical family, your priorities change. And the pressures that come with it are a lot. Speaking with other medical families, it takes a very, very strong couple to survive a relationship.

“Trauma, as in what your child goes through, the constant hospital stays, all of that sort of stuff… that’s just the way it went.”

Since their split, Aaron has hit out at Talia on a number of occasions, but she has mostly kept a dignified silence.

Last week, though, things reached boiling point, with the struggling mum admitting: “I do solo parent two of my children. Oakley’s here every single night, he has been for over a year, and the fact that this person can just go online and start talking about his medical care when he doesn’t attend any appointments, doesn’t attend hospital, is mind-blowing.” 

But having time to calm down, she adds: “I don’t like to air dirty laundry. I think my kids will grow up, and once things are on the internet, they will stay on the internet, and I’ve always been mindful of that.”

‘I got dealt these cards’

Asked how she is coping with it all, Talia explains: “I’ve had no option but to just put my big girl pants on and learn for my son.

“I got dealt these cards and I’ve got to deal with it and make sure my son’s always being cared for, always safe.

“I’m his advocate because he doesn’t speak. I say all the time, you don’t understand the pressure I’m under. At home, even when he’s well, you’re still looking for signs, thinking, ‘Is something going to happen?’, you’re waiting for the next thing.”

Oakley sleeps with the help of ventilation at home and uses oxygen when he’s unwell – he has a tube in his nose, which is seven centimetres long, to keep his airway open. Talia explains: “If that tube comes out, you’ve got to straightaway put that back in because that’s his breathing support.”

Talia is full of praise for the NHS, as well as Oakley’s lead respiratory consultant, who she describes as “amazing”.

She’s also seeing a psychologist once a week to help her process what is going on.

Talia won’t let herself think about a worst-case scenario.

Looking to the future, the mum is cautious and tells me: “I just want things to calm down for him. Have some time at home without hospital admissions, and enjoy being a child.

“I feel like he’s not really had that time to have that, because it has been quite a lot of hospital admissions – whether that’s an operation, a CT scan, lumbar drains, he’s had a lot of things done to him.”

In the meantime, Talia is enjoying the special little moments with her boy – and despite him being non-verbal, he has developed his own form of communication.

She says: “Affection is not very much at the moment because he’s also got a global developmental delay as well. But like I can say, ‘OK, can I have a kiss? Can I have a kiss?’

“Because he wears hearing aids, too, he still can hear a little bit. And he will give me a kiss, or I say, I’ll cuddle, and then I’ll pick him up, and he knows.

“It makes me appreciate things a lot more when he does do it, because it isn’t often.”

As the interview comes to an end, Talia heads back inside the hospital, and it’s clear that behind the social media persona is an incredibly strong, brave and caring woman doing it all on her own.

WASHINGTON — National Public Radio will receive approximately $36 million in grant money to operate the nation’s public radio interconnection system under the terms of a court settlement with the federal government’s steward of funding for public broadcasting stations.

The settlement, announced Monday, partially resolves a legal dispute in which NPR accused the Corporation for Public Broadcasting of bowing to pressure from President Trump to cut off its funding.

On March 25, Trump said at a news conference that he would “love to” defund NPR and PBS because he believes they are biased in favor of Democrats.

NPR accused the CPB of violating its 1st Amendment free speech rights when it moved to cut off its access to grant money appropriated by Congress. NPR also claims Trump, a Republican, wants to punish it for the content of its journalism.

On April 2, the CPB’s board initially approved a three-year, roughly $36-million extension of a grant for NPR to operate the “interconnection” satellite system for public radio. NPR has been operating and managing the Public Radio Satellite System since 1985.

But corporation officials reversed course and announced that the federal funds would go to an entity called Public Media Infrastructure. NPR claimed the CPB was under mounting pressure from the Trump administration when the agency redirected the money to PMI, a media coalition that didn’t exist and wasn’t statutorily authorized to receive the funds.

CPB attorneys denied that the agency retaliated against NPR to appease Trump. They had argued that NPR’s claims are factually and legally meritless.

On May 1, Trump issued an executive order that called for federal agencies to stop funding for NPR and PBS. The settlement doesn’t end a lawsuit in which NPR seeks to block any implementation or enforcement of Trump’s executive order. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss is scheduled to preside over another hearing for the case on Dec. 4.

The settlement says NPR and CPB agree that the executive order is unconstitutional and that CPB won’t enforce it unless a court orders it to do so.

NPR, meanwhile, agreed to drop its request for a court order blocking CPB from disbursing funds to PMI under a separate grant agreement.

Katherine Maher, NPR’s president and CEO, said the settlement is “a victory for editorial independence and a step toward upholding the 1st Amendment rights of NPR and the public media system.”

Patricia Harrison, the corporation’s CEO, said CPB is pleased that the litigation is over “and that our investment in the future through PMI marks an exciting new era for public media.”

On Aug. 1, CPB announced it would take steps toward closing itself down after being defunded by Congress.

Kunzelman writes for the Associated Press.

KATHERINE Jenkins and Jessie J led the glam and tonight’s glitzy Royal Variety Performance.

The classical singer looked typically stunning in a Union Jack dress with a floaty cape, while Jessie was demure in a chic black outfit.

Blonde bombshell Katherine beamed on the red carpet, proudly showing off her patriotic frock inside the Royal Albert Hall.

Jessie was a vision, looking strong after a difficult year that has seen her have surgeries after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

She will sing her new track “I’ll never know why” later in the night.

It was a who’s who of entertainers inside the iconic venue, with the talented guestlist dressing to the nines.

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Westlife‘s Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne were dapper in black suits, while Tom Fletcher swapped his rock ‘n’ roll tour outfits for a smart suit.

Queen drummer Roger Taylor and his wife Sarina Potgieter put on a loved-up display on the carpet, while ska legends Madness, led by frontman Suggs, were in fine form.

Evening host Jason Manford waved and looked ready to lead the showbiz spectacular, following on from Amanda Holden and Alan Carr last year.

Celebrity Traitors star Stephen Fry was back in more familiar territory after his brush with the hit BBC gameshow up in Scotland.

Adrian Stoica and his dog Hurricane, from America’s Got Talent, brought some sparkle to the occasion, with Adam rocking a pink sequin blazer.

Royal couple Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Prince William joined proceedings, arriving together and looking excited for a night of entertainment.

Catherine looked incredible in a velvet green dress and large sparkling earrings.

It is the first event they’ve attended together since Kate’s cancer diagnosis, and marks their sixth time at the entertainment showpiece in total.

The evening will feature an exclusive performance by the cast of Paddington The Musical.

Meanwhile in celebration of the show’s 40th anniversary there will be a performance from the West End and Paris casts of Les Misérables.

This will include a star studded lineup with Michael Ball, Matt Lucas and Killian Donnelly all performing.

ITV will air the show next month.

Last year, the King watched the star-studded show by himself because Queen Camilla was forced to pull out at the last minute due to illness.

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The San Antonio man accused of fatally shooting his neighbor Jonathan Joss, the actor best known for his voice work on animated series “King of the Hill,” faces a murder charge.

A grand jury in Bexar County, Texas, on Monday indicted 57-year-old Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez on a single felony count of first-degree murder, according to legal records reviewed by The Times. Legal representatives for Alvarez did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

Alvarez was indicted more than five months after police arrested him on suspicion of murder in connection to the fatal shooting. Officers responded to the 200 block of Dorsey Street on the evening of June 1, where they found Joss near the roadway, according to an incident report. The report initially identified Alvarez as “Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja” and said the incident occurred on the 200 block of “Dorsey Dr.”

First responders “attempted life saving measures” until EMS officers arrived, police said. The actor, who also appeared in “Parks and Recreation,” was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 59.

Though police did not disclose details about the events that led to the shooting, Joss’ husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales alleged in a Facebook post that he and Joss suffered “openly homophobic” harassment and threats prior to the fatal shooting, which he claimed was also motivated by homophobia.

At the time, Gonzales wrote that he and Joss had returned to the site of the actor’s San Antonio home — which had burned down in January — to check their mail. The actor had also lost three dogs in the fire. Gonzalez alleged that a man approached them, “started yelling violent homophobic slurs” and “raised a gun from his lap and fired.”

He said Joss pushed him out of the way, saving his life, and added that his husband “was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other.”

Police disputed Gonzales’ claims, writing in a tweet that “the investigation has found no evidence to indicate that Mr. Joss’ murder was related to his sexual orientation.” In a separate tweet shared in June, police said investigators “handle these allegations very seriously.”

In “King of the Hill,” Joss voiced John Redcorn, protagonist Hank Hill’s neighbor. He recorded lines for the series’ revival prior to his death. His TV credits also include “Tulsa King,” “Ray Donovan,” “Friday Night Lights,” “ER” and “Charmed.”

A Coronation Street icon is set to return to the famous ITV cobbles this festive period after making an emotional exit exactly a year ago

Coronation Street fans are set for the dramatic return of a legend of the cobbles this Christmas. And it will mark exactly a year since they initially left.

Former mainstay Gail Chadwick is set for a return during the festive special. It will mark a year since the star, played by Helen Worth, married Jesse Chadwick and headed for a new life in France.

Fans of the ITV show were devastated by her exit after a long-running stint on the soap, spanning back to 1974. And now, she is set for a one-off appearance, which is sure to delight the show’s avid viewers.

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Details are still being kept close to the chests of producers. However a TV insider has said she could be about to connect with her family again for the festive period.

The source told The Sun: “It could be more timely as the Platts find themselves in yet another drama, one that they’ve had to deal with by themselves since the Platts’ matriarch moved abroad.”

They continued: “It’s a move which is guaranteed to thrill soap fans, who wondered whether we’d ever catch a glimpse of show favourite Gail on the cobbles again.”

Helen, 73, bowed out from the soap as Gail last year after an astonishing 50 year. She told viewers she’d been part of “the most wonderful show in the world“.

Since making her debut in Corrie 50 years ago the actress has been involved in an array of hard-hitting and juicy storylines. Her biggest lines have involved murders, steamy affairs and the perennial drama surrounding her three kids, Nick (Ben Price), Sarah and David.

When she finally left her role, Helen posted a message on social media to thanks her fans and their long-time support. She said at the time: “There’ll be more Platt stories, and I hope you’ll be watching.”

In a statement announcing her exit, she said: “This year felt like the perfect time to leave the show after celebrating 50 years in the most wonderful job on the most wonderful street in the world.

“I made the decision at the start of the year and spoke to the producers, who were very kind and understanding.”

In the build-up to Christmas, fans are set to watch dark scenes for Todd Grimshaw next week. It comes as his abusive partner Theo Silverton takes action against him once again.

The scenes result in a character outside of the relationship becoming suspicious which leads to a falling out. Later, Todd accuses Theo of rail-roading him into doing a half marathon.

However, Theo claims to him that it’s for his own good and they’ll be going for another run later as part of their training.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

MANY celebs these days are pretty boring and spend their nights drinking matcha tea with LED masks strapped to their faces rather than falling out of clubs after a booze- filled night.

But Leonardo DiCaprio is bucking the clean-living trend and is busy proving he is still one of Hollywood’s most hardcore partiers.

One of my Mayfair moles told me the Titanic actor headed to posh members-only club Annabel’s in London on Tuesday night, after appearing at the BFI Southbank to talk about his new action ­comedy film, One Battle After Another.

Leo partied with his best pal Tobey Maguire until the early hours.

“Leo came in to Annabel’s and ­settled in for a big night with his mate,” my insider said.

“ He’d been at the BFI on the Southbank and came for a private dinner.

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“It coincided with their Christmas light switch on which was really special.

“Alexandra Burke performed and it was an amazing evening.

“Leo and Tobey got food as well and, as you’d expect, there were plenty of female fans hanging around to enjoy a drink with them.

“They absolutely love Leo at Annabel’s because he’s a big spender and a nice guy — there’s never any trouble and he’s really low-key.

“He stayed until around 12;30am ­yesterday before leaving with Tobey.”

After One Battle After Another came out in September, Leo is now waiting on the green light for his next big movie role.

He is being lined up to star in Michael Mann’s sequel to 1995 cult classic Heat.

Leo is said to be in the frame to take the role of Chris Shiherlis, who was played by Val Kilmer in the original.

Christian Bale is now in talks to come on board too, with the final cast yet to be ­confirmed.

Heat is one of my all-time favourite films but to this day I still scream in frustration about why Robert De Niro‘s master criminal Neil McCauley chose to scupper his own escape by ­stopping off to kill the evil Waingro.

You should have gone straight to the plane, Neil. You fool.

ROSIE’S LAID BACK STYLE

IT’S little wonder Rosalia needed a lie-down on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon – because she had to try to teach him how to sing.

The Spanish star, whose new album Lux reached No4 in the charts last Friday, warned US host Jimmy that “some songs are harder than others” before she got him to have a bash at singing her hit La Perla.

To put it kindly, Rosalia had her work cut out with Jimmy’s vocals, but luckily for her fans she then got up on stage to give her own rather more tuneful performance of the song.

Fans will next see Rosalia on screen in the third season of teen drama Euphoria.

She kept schtum about which part she will be taking on but opened up about juggling the recording of Lux with filming the hit HBO series.

Rosalia said: “I had to divide my mind between both, and it was the first time, also, that I was doing something like this – preparing a character and studying lines.

“These are new things for me. It’s very different from making an album and making music.”

POSH’S SPICY CRUZ TRACK

I THOUGHT hell would freeze over before I saw Victoria Beckham singing a Spice Girls song again, but it seems her son Cruz’s passion for music is ­rubbing off on her.

The fledgling musician posted a video on Instagram yesterday playing the guitar and singing the girl group’s 1998 No1 Viva Forever – duetting with his make-up-free mum, Posh.

And props to Victoria, she sounded pretty good during the jam session in their living room, although I wasn’t quite as keen when husband DAVID joined in with some falsetto backing vocals.

He commented on the video: “Sorry, I ruined it.”

I can’t help but feel like this is a clue, after months of discussions that the Spice Girls will do something together to mark their 30th ­anniversary in 2026.

Last month, Victoria even said the idea of a residency at Las Vegas venue Sphere was “tempting”.

The vocal cords are warmed up, so shout when you’re ready to Spice Up Your Life, Posh.

ACE MYLES BASTILLES THE SHOW

BASTILLE brought their From All Sides tour to an end with a massive show at London’s O2 Arena, where they were joined on stage by one of my ­favourite stars of 2025, Luton-born Myles Smith.

The band, celebrating 15 years together, played their 2012 hit Flaws with Myles amid a mighty set which saw them play tracks covering their entire career.

Emotional frontman Dan Smith told the crowd: “It’s f***ing mental that we’re allowed to play here.

“We’ve been away for a ­couple of years and it’s very surreal being back up on this stage.”

Bastille played ten dates across the country and debuted their new single Save My Soul, ahead of its release tomorrow.

It’s been a while since their last proper album, so I’m ­hoping they’ll get back in the studio soon to get the next one done.

ZAYN: I’M JUST LIKE EMINEM

ZAYN MALIK has revealed he practised singing Mario’s Let Me Love You for a whole year before auditioning for The X Factor.

The former One Direction star spoke to BBC Radio 1 in a special interview last night, which you can listen back to now on BBC Sounds.

During the chat, Zayn said: “I listened to this a lot around the time when I was first starting to sing. Probably around 15 or 16, I started taking it more seriously.

“I practised that song for about a year before I went on X Factor and sang that as my first audition song.

“It has a near and dear place in my heart. It is the song that changed my life.”

Bradford-born Zayn also said he felt a synergy with Eminem and compared his life growing up in the north to the US rapper’s tough upbringing in Detroit.

Zayn added: “I remember watching Eight Mile for the first time when I was growing up in Bradford and that movie inspired me.

“It felt like he was growing up in a similar environment to me. The things he overcame and did were incredibly inspiring.

“Eminem will always be one of the top rappers in my book.”

YUNGBLUD IS BOY FOR ME

YUNGBLUD has been forced by ­doctors to pull the plug on touring until the end of the year, after concerns were raised about voice issues and blood test results.

But that means the star has plenty of time to read the script for a new biopic about Boy George‘s life.

George’s manager, Paul Kemsley, has told us that Doncaster-born Yungblud is the Culture Club singer’s first choice to play him.

Speaking at the launch of reality star Mauricio Umansky’s new ­collaboration with clothing brand Ari, Paul said: “Yungblud is the man that we want to play George, and George wants him too. We have told the film company that is our plan.

“We hope to have cameras filming at some point next year.

“Yungblud can really capture the essence of George, ­especially as a young man, and show the world what a trailblazer he was.”

Yungblud has previously said he’s keen to take on the role, so if their schedules can align, he could soon be on set.

He’s had a stellar year, with a No1 album and Grammy nominations, so it’s little wonder Boy George is keen to sign him.

THE season of goodwill is almost here and Ed Sheeran is one of the first celebs out of the blocks to spread festive cheer.

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The chain is hosting a “Bear Hunt”, with beer mats featuring the Tingly Ted bear logo and a special QR code.