Arab Barghouti tells Al Jazeera Israel wants to ‘silence’ his father amid reports Israeli guards beat him last month.
The son of prominent Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti says he fears for his father’s life in Israeli prison amid witness reports that he was beaten by guards last month.
In an interview with Al Jazeera on Thursday, Arab Barghouti accused Israel of targeting his father because he is a unifying figure among Palestinians.
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“We do fear for my father’s life,” Arab said from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
Earlier this week, the family told media outlets that they had received testimonies from Palestinian detainees released as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal that Barghouti was beaten by guards in mid-September as he was being transferred between two Israeli prisons.
Arab told Al Jazeera that the attack is the fourth time since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023 that his father has been assaulted in Israeli detention.
“They are targeting him,” said Arab, explaining that Israel sees his father as “a danger” because of his ability to bring Palestinians together.
A prominent member of Fatah, the Palestinian political faction that dominates the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs limited parts of the occupied West Bank, Barghouti has been in Israeli prison since the early 2000s.
He is serving five life sentences plus 40 years on murder and attempted murder charges, which he has consistently denied.
A Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research poll from May found that Barghouti was the most popular Palestinian leader, garnering more support than Hamas official Khaled Meshaal and PA President Mahmoud Abbas.
Palestinians had called for Barghouti to be released as part of the recent Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, but Israel refused to free him.
As part of the deal, Israel released 250 Palestinians serving life sentences, several of whom were sent into exile abroad. About 1,700 Palestinians who were detained in Gaza and transferred to Israeli detention facilities during the Gaza war were also freed.
One of the released prisoners, Mohammad al-Ardah, told Al Jazeera Arabic that Israeli forces would carry out “barbaric” raids in the prisons each week, severely beating Palestinian detainees.
“The latest reports we heard about the great leader Marwan Barghouti is that they broke three of his ribs,” al-Ardah said.
The Israeli authorities have denied that Barghouti was beaten in September, with the Israel Prison Service telling BBC News that it “operates in accordance with the law, while ensuring the safety and health of all inmates”.
But Arab, Barghouti’s son, said the Israeli authorities have no credibility.
He also pointed to an August video that showed far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatening Barghouti in prison, as evidence that the Israeli government is trying to “silence” his father’s voice.
“We know that [Ben-Gvir] showed him an electric chair on his phone and he told him, ‘This is your fate’ … If that’s not a threat to his life, I don’t know what is,” Arab told Al Jazeera on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Barghouti’s son said the family has repeatedly asked Israel to allow international lawyers and the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit his father in prison, but their requests have been denied.
“They see him as a danger … because he wants to bring stability, he wants to end the cycle of violence. He wants a unifying Palestinian vision that is accepted by everyone, and the international community, as well,” Arab said.
“They [Israel] know what my father represents, and they don’t want that. They don’t want a partner for peace.”
It’s clear from the existence and execution of “Black Phone 2” that Universal and Blumhouse never expected 2021’s “The Black Phone” to be a hit. If there was ever an inkling that the first film might have been more than a quick and dirty ’70s-style riff on a boogeyman tale, there’s no way those in charge would have let their big baddie, the Grabber, be killed off at the end of the movie.
But a hit it was and so, for a sequel, supernatural elements must be spun out and ’80s slasher classics consulted, especially since it’s now four years later, in 1982. Masked serial killer the Grabber, played by Ethan Hawke (we never really see his face, though we do hear his voice), continues to haunt, torment and maim children, despite the inconvenience of death.
Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill co-wrote both films, with Derrickson behind the camera as director. The first was based on a short story by Joe Hill (the son of Stephen King) and is set in 1978 Denver, where plucky Finney Blake (Mason Thames) had to escape the clutches of kidnapper the Grabber while fielding phone calls from the ghosts of his previous victims, offering tips and tricks. What distinguished “The Black Phone” was its shocking approach to violence with its young characters, who all sported entertainingly profane potty mouths. While it was daring in its hard-R riskiness and played on our basest fears, it didn’t reinvent the wheel, or even try to. However, the film’s phone conceit played well enough and young star Thames was outstanding.
In “Black Phone 2,” Finney’s now a high school student, drowning his trauma in weed and schoolyard fights, sometimes the bully himself. He’s protective of his sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw), who has the gift of psychic sight, but mostly he just wants to check out from his own brain. The sequel is primarily Gwen’s movie. She starts lucid dreaming and sleepwalking, receiving phone calls from beyond — like from their dead mother when she was a teenager beyond.
The messages bring Gwen, Finney and her crush, Ernesto (Miguel Mora), to a winter retreat for Christian youth, Camp Alpine, now run by Mando (Demián Bichir) and his niece, Mustang (Arianna Rivas). As it turns out, this camp is rife with the ghosts of young dead boys — the phone keeps ringing and it won’t stop until Finney picks it up.
If “The Black Phone” dabbles in crimes that are taboo and is even unforgivable in its depiction of brutality against innocent children, “Black Phone 2” commits its own unforgivable crime of being dreadfully boring. This movie is a snooze, not just because all of the action takes place entirely during Gwen’s dreams.
The film can’t shake its lingering scent of “Stranger Things,” but the filmmakers have also turned for inspiration to another iconic ’80s-set property: The whole movie is a “Nightmare on Elm Street” ripoff, with a disfigured killer stalking his prey through their subconscious. Those sequences are fine, action-packed if not entirely scary, but at least it’s something more rousing than the awake scenes, where the characters stand in one place and make speeches to each other about their trauma and backstories. The entire affair is monotonously one-note and dour, with only a few pops of unintentional humor.
You realize almost immediately what the deal is with these ghost boys, but the film takes its sweet time explaining it all. It’s a fairly simple story, so you do understand why Derrickson gussies it up with grainy dream sequences and shaky 8mm flashbacks, and a pretty terrific electronic score composed by his son, Atticus Derrickson.
It’s also a bit surprising that “Black Phone 2” turns out to be so pious and deeply Christian, which is a bit of an odd mix. For a film about Jesus and the power of prayer, it also features a scene in which a kid’s face gets sliced in half by a windowpane. Then again, horror’s trend toward the faith-based isn’t a surprise when you take a look at the success of the Bible-thumping “Conjuring” franchise.
However, it seems like this might be the Grabber’s last hurrah. You’ll root for the characters to vanquish him only because then the drudgery might finally end. Who knows, maybe it’ll be a hit and they’ll figure out another way to reanimate this utterly uninspiring horror villain. Personally, I’ve had my fill of the Grabber’s grabbing.
Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.
‘Black Phone 2’
Rated: R, for strong violent content, gore, teen drug use and language
BRITNEY Spears has furiously clapped back at her “gaslighting” ex husband Kevin Federline in a brutal takedown of his jaw-dropping allegations over her conduct.
The mom-of-two issued a passionate statement on her Instagram page after her baby-daddy told how he feared the pop star would die without help – and said “it’s impossible to pretend everything is OK.”
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Britney Spears has issued a scathing statement on ex husband Kevin Federline after he made a series of jaw-dropping allegations about her conductCredit: Instagram/britneyspearsBritney ad Kevin married in 2004 – yet things have turned sour and she has blasted his ‘gaslighting’ ways as ‘exhausting’Credit: GettyThe chart star told how she had only seen one of her two sons – Sean Preston and Jayden James – for ’45 minutes in five years’Credit: Instagram / britneyspearsBritney was seen with her rarely seen son Jayden, 18, this summerCredit: Instagram / britneyspears
Kevin – who is set to release book You Thought You Knew on October 21 – has already teased many shocking revelations about his relationship with the Toxic singer and life raising their sons, Sean Preston, now 20, and Jayden James, 19.
The former professional dancer, 47, has used his tome to open up about his struggles co-parenting with Britney, 43, throughout her downward spiral from pop princess to troubled artist.
In a text post written in black font on a white background, she wrote: “The constant gaslighting from my ex husband is extremely hurtful and exhausting.
“Relationships with teenage boys is complex. I have felt demoralized by this situation and have always asked and almost begged for them to be a part of my life.
“Sadly, they have always witnessed the lack of respect shown by own father for me.
“They need to take responsibility for themselves.
“With one son only seeing me for 45 min in the past 5 years and the other with only 4 visits in the past 5 years. I have pride too.
“From now on I will let them know when I am available.
“Trust me, those white lies in that book, they are going straight to the bank and I am the only one who genuinely gets hurt here.”
The Hit Me Baby One More Time hitmaker also revealed she had bought Jayden a brand newMercedesAMG SL 63 roadster valued at $187K.
The US chart star then wrapped her emotive message with the words: “I will always love them [her boys] and if you really know me, you won’t pay attention to the tabloids of my mental health and drinking.
“I am actually a pretty intelligent woman who has been trying to live a sacred and private life the past 5 years.
Speaking in court, Judge Brenda Penny said: “Based on what I read in the filings, and I read everything. I do believe the suspension of Jamie Spears is in the best interest of Britney Spears.
“The current situation is unattainable. The court finds the toxic environment Jamie Spears has created needs to be removed today.”
Following the judge’s decision, a temporary conservator was put in Jamie’s place for about a month.
On November 12, Judge Penny ruled in favor of the pop star, removing Jamie from the position of conservator without requiring any further mental examination from Britney.
“I speak on this because I have had enough and any real woman would do the same.”
MOM LOWDOWN
Britney lost full-time custody of her sons in 2007 after an infamous breakdown during which she shaved her head.
The US star was allowed only supervised visits to see her boys, then aged two and one, who went to live with her former husband Kevin.
She now has 30 per cent custody but her relations with her sons hit a rough patch after they chose not to attend their mum’s 2022 wedding to US model Sam Asghari, her now ex.
The teens were also said to be embarrassed by her semi-naked pictures and overtly sexual dance videos posted on Instagram.
MARRIAGE BREAKDOWN
Kevin and Britney got married on September 18, 2004, just five months after they met but they split in 2006.
In an interview with The New York Times, Kevin previously revealed he’s kept his distance from his ex-wife and they “haven’t spoken in years,” following their divorce nearly two decades ago.
However, in the book, the DJ also revealed some of Britney’s alarming behavior, which he learned mainly from their kids.
“They would awaken sometimes at night to find her standing silently in the doorway, watching them sleep — ‘Oh, you’re awake?’ — with a knife in her hand,” Kevin wrote.
“Then she’d turn around and pad off without explanation.”
In a statement provided to Us Weekly, Britney’s representative said, ‘Once again [Federline] and others are profiting off her, and sadly it comes after child support has ended with Kevin.
‘All she cares about are her kids, Sean Preston and Jayden James, and their well-being during this sensationalism,’ they added.
In 2023, Jayden and Sean moved to Hawaii with their dad and his new wife, Victoria Prince, and the their two half-sisters.
There were rife reports of a rift between the two sons and their famous mother, which was sparked after her conservatorship was terminated in November 2021.
Previously, the bubblegum pop queen apologized for “not being perfect.”
Meanwhile, we exclusively revealed the secret Mother’s Day phone call which saw her attempt to rebuild her connection with her sons.
We told how Britney is now at pains to rebuild a loving relationship with her sons — who were once by her side for everything, from Smurf movie premieres to Dodgers baseball games and trips to Disneyland.
Kevin has teased a series of serious allegations about Britney, including suggesting she had a knife while watching their sons sleepCredit: GettyThe dancer’s book will be released this monthCredit: Instagram/@federline4realBritney has been slowly rebuilding a relationship with her two sonsCredit: Instagram / britneyspears
Rapper Cardi B is willing to get “nasty” when it comes to defending her kids.
Following the release of her second full-length album “Am I the Drama?” in September, the “I Like It” singer publicly feuded with Nicki Minaj. Both rappers’ children were also pulled into the fracas.
In a recent interview with Paper magazine, Cardi B opened up about the combative exchange.
“This week I showed the world that I will get the most nasty about mine. I never had to get that nasty for my kids. But I did, and I really feel like a lioness,” she said. “This has been one of the moments I got tested the most about being a parent.”
The beef between music’s biggest female rappers has been an ongoing saga dating back to 2017. The most recent spat took place on X in late September, when Minaj belittled Cardi B’s record sales. The two proceeded to tear apart each other’s personal and professional lives.
Cardi B called out Minaj for feuding with her on X instead of celebrating her son’s birthday. Minaj called Cardi B’s 7-year-old daughter “ugly,” among other mean-spirited names, and started to question her son’s brain development. The spat ended with Cardi B asking to meet up with Minaj — they have not posted about each other since.
Cardi described her behavior as that of a “mother warrior” and explained the lengths she would go to protect her kin. The 33-year-old performer is currently pregnant with her fourth child, her first with New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs. The “WAP” performer shares three children — Kulture, Wave and Blossom — with rapper Offset.
“Am I the Drama?” is Cardi B’s first full-length project in seven years. The 23-track album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard 200 and hit platinum 10 days after its initial release. Her debut, “Invasion of Privacy,” earned her a Grammy for rap album in 2019 and made her the first solo female artist to win in that category.
While doing press for her newest LP, Cardi B hasn’t strayed away from talking about parenthood. She told Paper that she aims to instill a hardworking mentality in her children.
“You have to hope that your kids have that work ethic in them, and I just pray that they do,” she said. “I don’t want one of them to feel they’re behind their siblings. You just got to work and not think too much. … Procrastination is what kills you. It’s what slows you. Don’t ask too much questions. Just go and f— do it.”
Freddie Flintoff was injured in the crash which happened at Dunsfold Aerodrome near Cranleigh in Surrey, where the former cricketer had been filming for BBC One’s Top Gear
Freddie Flintoff has spoken candidly about injuries – both physical and mental – suffered in the crash (Image: PA)
Freddie Flintoff has told how his two-year-old son wouldn’t go near him after his horror Top Gear crash.
The former professional cricketer, 47, said he became “a snappy mess” following the smash which happened during filming for the BBC One programme at Dunsfold Aerodrome near Cranleigh, Surrey. The three-wheeled Morgan supercar overturned on the track and Freddie, who played cricket for England for 11 years, dragged his face along the ground, cutting open the side of his nose, cheek and lips, and shattering his jawbone and teeth.
But he has spoken this week of how traumatic the mental injuries were, revealing for the first time how the ordeal impacted his children. Freddie, who had PTSD following the accident, said: “(After the crash) I would get snappy and angry.
“The kids were incredible… It was the younger one, Preston, because he would have been about two, two and a half, at the time and he wouldn’t come near me to begin with because I was a mess.”
Top Gear was shelved following the crash, and Freddie reportedly received £9m in compensation from BBC Studios, who make the show. Yet, the star has spoken since at how the experience changed his life, including how he wouldn’t leave his home – except for medical appointments – for six to eight months in the wake of it.
But the former fast bowler, a Lancashire Cricket Club legend, has now said he is on the road to recovery, to a great extent thanks to wife Rachael Wools, whom he wed in March 2005.
Speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Freddie said: “I have flashbacks and nightmares, but I’ve probably got more of an acceptance of them now.
“I suppose that the biggest thing it did do, was brought me back to cricket. Family and friends and cricket have been things that now, have probably helped me more than anything. It’s all good now. But Rachael was strong. I suppose she had to be for both of us.”
Freddie, originally from Preston, Lancashire, has returned to TV work in recent months too. A second series of Freddie’s Field of Dreams – in which he creates a brand-new cricket team with a group of promising teens and inspires a fresh generation – aired on the BBC in 2024. The BBC has given the green light for a third series, it is understood.
And the dad was chosen to front the revival of game show Bullseye, which returned as a trial on Christmas Day last year on ITV. It became so popular ITV commissioned Bullseye for a full series, which is set to broadcast before the year is out.
Michael Archer Jr., the son of R&B stars D’Angelo and Angie Stone, has been dealing with grief for months — long before the death of his father on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old musician, whose stage name is Swayvo Twain, penned a heartbreaking Instagram post reflecting on the deaths of his parents and the final moments he shared with his Grammy-winning dad. His mother, Grammy-nominated singer Angie Stone, died in March in a traffic accident in Alabama. She was 63. D’Angelo died Tuesday after a private battle with cancer. He was 51.
“I just sat here watchin my daddy die after feeling like it was the first time he and I were truly building,” Archer wrote in an Instagram story shared Tuesday. “He was there when I needed him most after the passing of my momma.”
Archer added: “Unfortunately, time ran out.”
D’Angelo’s family announced Tuesday that the neo-soul pioneer had “been called home” after a “prolonged and courageous battle with cancer.” Additional details about his cancer fight were not revealed.
D’Angelo was a four-time Grammy winner known for his sensual albums “Brown Sugar” and “Voodoo.” Though he was immeasurably influential on generations of R&B, the singer had a fraught relationship with fame that led to stints of years out of the spotlight. Stone, on the other hand, was a singer who found success in the neo-soul movement in the 1990s after after nearly two decades in the music business. Her work included the solo album “Black Diamond” and the singles “No More Rain (In This Cloud)” and “Wish I Didn’t Miss You.”
Before his parents’ deaths, the rapper-singer spoke about D’Angelo and Stone’s careers and their influence on his music for an episode of MTV’s “Family Legacy.” As he recalled bonding with his father over music and shared a tender — at times awkward — confessional with his mother, he joked that the pair’s best work was himself.
Archer reflected on the “Family Legacy” episode weeks after his mother’s death, writing on Instagram that he wanted to pave his own path and “separate myself from my parents cause it always felt like I was fated to be in their shadows forever.”
“Thankfully, long before, momma left I learned to embrace them and their legacy full on,” he wrote at the time. “I’m blessed and happy to have had this moment with my momma man.”
“We thank you for your beautiful music, your voice, your proficiency on the piano, your artistry,” the memorial reads. “You were the pioneer of neo-soul and that changed and transformed rhythm & blues forever. We will never forget you.”
Charlie Cosser heartbroken dad makes a solemn promise to his tragic son Charlie, while sister Eloise reveals the devastating moment she heard her brother’s heart stop
Charlie Cosser was stabbed three times(Image: ITV)
After his 17-year-old son Charlie was fatally stabbed, dad Martin Cosser made a solemn double promise – he would get justice and he would dedicate the rest of his life to preventing knife crime.
Charlie was murdered by 16-year-old Yura Varybus at an end-of-term party on 23rd June 2023 in a farmhouse in West Sussex. Medics worked tirelessly to try to save his life but tragically, Charlie died two-and-a-half days later in hospital.
His father Martin broadcast his grief on TikTok, and now the story of how the murder case went viral is being told in the second series of ITV1’s TikTok: Murder Gone Viral.
In heartbreaking scenes viewers will see Charlie’s younger sister Eloise recall how police came to the family home in the night. She recalled: “I woke up to the sound of the door being banged on really hard. The police officer tells us she’ll be driving us to the hospital where they’ve taken Charlie. I didn’t have time to put my shoes on. I just ran out in the darkness into the police car.”
One of the three stab wounds had damaged Charlie’s aorta and he had a cardiac arrest in the ambulance. However, medics operated in the ambulance then managed to stabilise him before his family gathered at his bedside. Tragically, Charlie died when his heart broken family agreed to turn off his life support on the advice of doctors, whose tests showed Charlie had suffered irreversible brain damage.
Eloise revealed how she watched the life drain out of her beloved big brother, who was nicknamed Cheeks, as his heart stopped beating. She said: “I can’t even describe how it feels like to watch your brother die. I put my head on his chest and I was listening to his heart beat for the last time. I looked at his face and I could see the colour draining from his face and he became even more pale than he was before. I was told I needed to step back because I was in such a state but I’m refusing because I don’t want to leave his side in his last moments and that’s when I put my head back on his chest and realised his heart was no longer beating.”
Losing his son galvanised dad Martin to do everything he could to stop knife crime. “I just held Charlie’s hand and I made him a promise. I promised him justice but the main promise was that I would spend the rest of my life educating people about the dangers and immeasurable impacts of knife crime. I felt so isolated and alone in the immediate aftermath and I just recorded into the phone.”
Martin posts under his son’s name @CharlieCosser17. His most watched video sees Martin reacting tearfully to Varybus’ conviction and has been viewed 4.7 million times.
ITV reporter James Dunham, who covered the case, revealed how the posts made the murder go viral. He said: “Once Martin started posting his videos on Tiktok he soon gained a lot of attention but because police had arrested their prime suspect quite quickly, there wasn’t the usual Tiktok speculation about who the killer might be or where they might be hiding. Instead we got raw, unfolding agony.”
The documentary reveals how the violence unfolded. Charlie was stabbed three times after an altercation at the party. When he was arrested he initially pleaded guilty, but was later given permission to change his guilty plea to not guilty, forcing the family through a lengthy murder trial.
“An application had gone in for him to vacate his guilty plea,” Martin tells the documentary. “As far as we were concerned he’d already been found guilty, he was guilty. That was torture, absolute torture.”
However, the evidence against Varybrus was overwhelming. While the murder weapon was never recovered, there were eye witness accounts that reported Varybus being “drenched in blood”, and one witness said they heard him say “I’ve stabbed someone”. He later burned the clothes he was wearing and was also seen changing the settings on his mobile phone which detectives believe was intended to tamper with the evidence of his location. Varybrus was convicted of murder and possession of a bladed article and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of sixteen years. Because Varybrus was under eighteen at the time of the killing, reporting restrictions initially protected his identity, but the judge lifted these after conviction, allowing the press to publish his name.
On the show Charlie’s dad Martin holds up the grey t-shirt Charlie was wearing on the night he was murdered. “You can see three stab wounds clearly on there,” says Martin. “Actually they are really small knife wounds and yet they caused catastrophic damage.”
Martin’s campaigning helped make the story a national talking point and start his work to educate people about the horrendous ramifications of knife crime. Now Martin and his wife Tara have set up a charity called Charlie’s Promise which raises awareness of the dangers of carrying and using a knife.
Martin said: “I set about putting the wheels in motion and setting up a charity called Charlie’s Promise and the talks I go out and give are to prevent and make a difference to knife crime in this country. And while there is air in my lungs I will continue to tell the story of my little boy and how incredible he was and make a difference in this country to prevent other families like ours going through this misery.”
THE son of Dame Deborah James has honoured her “amazing” legacy by following in her fundraising footsteps.
Hugo Bowen ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon at the weekend, smashing his target to raise £3,000 for her Bowelbabe Fund, in true Dame Debs style.
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Deborah, pictured with her husband Seb, Hugo and daughter Eloise, received her damehood from Prince William before she died of bowel cancer in June 2022, aged 40Credit: Graham Prentice
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Dame Deborah’s son, Hugo Bowen, ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon in memory of his inspirational mum, raising more than £4,300 for her Bowelbabe FundCredit: Supplied
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Hugo told The Sun running was something he and his mum loved to do togetherCredit: Deborah James
The 18-year-old told The Sun: “Running was something Mum and I used to do when I was younger, we often did park runs and I think I spurred her on to run a little faster.
“It was amazing, there was so much support along the route, which really helped motivate me to run harder and faster than I would have.
“It meant so much to be able to run in memory of her, and the amazing change she has inspired.”
Reflecting on the advice his running-obsessed mum would’ve given before the race, he added: “She would definitely have told me to make sure I had had a poo.
READ MORE ON DEBORAH JAMES
“And to ‘go smash it’, which I probably did a bit too much at the start, so I was super tired towards the end.”
In the last weeks of her life, the Sun columnist launched her Bowelbabe Fund, aiming to raise £250,000 to help fund research into the disease to help prevent “any future Deborahs”, and give cancer patients the hope of new and better treatments.
So far, the Fund has supported more than 11 different projects, including a state-of-the-art interventional radiology machine at The Royal Marsden hospital where Deborah was treated.
Other scientific studies that have received a contribution from the Fund include one that is investigating personalised medicine for patients with bowel cancer, a cause Dame Debs was very passionate about.
The King went on to quote Debs parting message to her followers before she died: “Find a life worth enjoying; take risks; love deeply; have no regrets; and always, always have rebellious hope.”
“I’m honestly so proud of Mum and everything the Fund has done to help others,” Hugo added.
“I remember when she set it up she had a target of £250,000 and now we are at over £18million raised – it is beyond what any of us could’ve imagined.
“It’s such a beautiful legacy for my Mum and the research it is funding will save so many lives.”
Inspired by his mum, Hugo has already added another £4,300 to the Fund’s total, and thanked all those who have supported him so far.
“Everyone has been so supportive, I thought £3,000 would be a really difficult target to hit but we’ve smashed it and I’m so happy and honestly so surprised,” he added.
“I’m really grateful to everyone that has donated.”
Hugo was just the latest in the family to take on a running challenge, with Debs’ brother Ben and sister Sarah taking on the London Marathon this year – Sarah wearing the same poo emoji costume her sister was often seeing running in.
Sun columnist Deborah was 35 when she was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer in 2016, and survived five and a half yearsCredit: Stewart Williams
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Hugo and his sister Eloise would often join their mum at Park Runs or the annual CRUK Race For LifeCredit: Supplied
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Deborah was an avid runner, and throughout her treatment would run to The Royal Marsden Hospital to collect test and scan results, to prove to herself that her body could still do itCredit: Instagram
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Dame Debs with her childrenCredit: Instagram
The signs of bowel cancer you need to know – remember BOWEL
B:Bleeding
There are several possible causes of bleeding from your bottom, of blood in your poo.
Bright red blood could come from swollen blood vessels, haemorrhoids or piles, in your back passage.
Dark red or black blood could come from your bowel or stomach.
Blood in your stools is one of the key signs of bowel cancer, so it’s important to mention it to your doctor so they can investigate.
2. O: Obvious change in loo habits
It’s important to tell your GP if you have noticed any changes in your bowel habits, that lasts three weeks or longer.
It’s especially important if you have also noticed signs of blood in your poo.
You might notice you need to go to the loo more often, you might have looser stools or feel like you’re not going enough or fully emptying your bowels.
Don’t be embarrassed, your GP will have heard a lot worse! Speak up and get it checked.
3. W: Weight loss
This is less common than the other symptoms, but an important one to be aware of. If you’ve lost weight and don’t really know why, it’s worth mentioning to your GP.
You may not feel like eating, feel sick, bloated and not hungry.
4. E: Extreme tiredness
Bowel cancer that causes bleeding can cause a lack of iron in the body – anaemia. If you develop anaemia you’re likely to feel tired and your skin might look pale.
5. L: Lump or pain
As with lots of other forms of cancer, a lump or pain can be a sign of bowel cancer.
It’s most likely you’ll notice a pain or lump in your stomach or back passage.
See your GP if it doesn’t go away, or if it affects how you eat or sleep
BRITAIN’S Got Talent star, Dave Betton, who was praised by Simon Cowell after performing with his son has died, aged 82.
Betton had appeared on the show alongside his son Dean in 2020, reaching its latter stages after impressing the judges.
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Britain’s Got Talent star, Dave Betton, has died aged 82Credit: ITV
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He performed alongside his son Dean in 2020Credit: ITV
The father-son duo had left them stunned throughout and at one point received a standing ovation for rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “That’s Life”.
Simon Cowell said at the time: “There are certain days I think what I need is a mug of hot chocolate – and you were a mug of hot chocolate!
“You made me feel good, I needed that.”
Betton, from Chesterfield, worked as a club singer after moving to Blackpool in 1981 with his wife after she bought the Dorchester Hotel.
Throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s he performed at clubs up and down the coast on the local circuit.
He went on to perform on tour in Australia and South Africa and even had a stint in Las Vegas, achieving a personal ambition of his.
Following the death of his wife, he had retired 15 years ago.
His son, Dean, had also carved out a career as a Robbie Williams tribute act and it was his idea that they should go on Britain’s Got Talent where they were billed as Dave and Dean.
“I always looked up to my Dad and he inspired me to take up singing, quite late in the game,” Dean said.
“He was definitely a local legend in his time – he would pack out clubs.”
Dave sadly passed away last month from sepsis after a short illness and was surrounded by his family.
His funeral will take place on Monday, October 27 at Carleton Crematorium.
He leaves two sons, five grandchildren, five great grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and a step great granddaughter.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online
Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Shirlie Kemp talks about being married to a rockstar and mum to Roman Kemp and Harleymoon – and the real reason she refuses to take part in Strictly Come Dancing
17:00, 11 Oct 2025Updated 17:08, 11 Oct 2025
Shirlie Kemp has just taken Bupa’s Medication Check DNA test(Image: LORNA ROACH PHOTOGRAPHY)
She toured with Wham!, had two Top 10 hits, married a Spandau Ballet superstar and appeared in a Spice Girls video — but Shirlie Kemp never wanted to be famous. Shirlie, 63, who grew up with four siblings on a London council estate, has had such a wild life and career, you’d be forgiven for thinking it must have been planned and executed with military precision.
“It just felt like destiny, like everything happens for a reason,” says Shirlie, who started singing backing vocals for Wham! during an early romance with Andrew Ridgeley before forming pop duo Pepsi & Shirlie when they split. “I was where I was at that time… As I get older, I realise, ‘Wow, my life felt like it was actually mapped out for me.’ There is that saying ‘God laughs at your plans,’ which I really love. For me, I just see space and I don’t know what’s going to come in but I’m always attracting the positive.”
Touring the world and performing to millions is miles away from the life Shirlie expected. “I was told you leave school, get a job, get married and then have kids,” she explains. “But in my heart I knew there was so much out there. I’ve never put limits on myself.”
Shirlie and Martin married in St Lucia in 1988. After their daughter Harleymoon was born in 1989, followed by Roman in 1993, Shirlie retreated from the public gaze. “I lived in baseball caps and sunglasses when I was younger,” she admits. “Then after I had children, I backed out of it. I didn’t go anywhere to be seen. I just wanted to be a mum and devote myself to my children.”
Even when Martin swapped Spandau Ballet for EastEnders in 1998, Shirlie stayed out of the limelight. And these days Martin and Shirlie’s children are eclipsing their fame. Roman is a successful documentary maker, TV presenter and DJ, while Harleymoon is a singer-songwriter, who recently duetted on stage with Ronan Keating.
“It’s such a stupid saying. It’s like farmers, are they called the ‘nepo baby farmers’? I have so many friends whose sons have gone into business with the dad because the dad wants them to take over that family business. With my kids, it was in their DNA. Harley’s been singing and songwriting since I can remember. And Roman, when he was about three or four years old, we called him Roman the Showman. He would watch Frank Sinatra and next minute he was doing a show for us.”
Watching her children grow up, Shirlie knew they had what it takes to thrive in the entertainment industry. But despite her instincts, she decided to let them carve their own path. “I actually thought they should go to stage school,” says Shirlie. “I would love to have gone to a drama school. But then we thought, ‘No, we don’t want them to go down that route.’ So I purposely did not put them into any type of drama school. But they’ve taken that route and they’re not after it for the fame, they’re after it because that’s their joy area. That’s what they can do and they can do it really well. It just comes naturally.”
Roman is currently spearheading a new campaign called Together Against Suicide in partnership with the Premier League. It follows his 2021 BBC documentary Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency, which saw him shine a light on the mental health crisis affecting young men after his friend Joe Lyons took his own life.
Shirlie is incredibly proud of her son’s work. “I was in Marks & Spencer and this young lady came up to me and she said, ‘Roman’s documentary was so powerful. My brother committed suicide. I wish he could have seen something like that.’ And I stood there crying and holding her, because you realise that if there is just one person you can save, that’s enough. So I am proud of him for doing that. It’s the heaviest of topics, but it has to be done.”
Like her son, Shirlie doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects and she’s proactive about her wellbeing and mental health, making sure she lifts weights, plays tennis and regularly socialises with friends. “As you get older it’s a necessity because there is that saying, ‘Use it or lose it.’ Well, that’s true! You get muscle waste, you get aches and pains. And also for your mental health, for your brain health. Tennis is great for hands and eye brain coordination, which is also preventative. So I look at everything I’m doing now as a preventative [measure], but I wish I knew this when I was younger. I just thought, ‘Keep fit, then you can fit into the dress you want to wear,’ not realising the real goodness that it was doing.”
As part of her effort to stay healthy, Shirlie has just taken Bupa’s Medication Check DNA test, to help us understand which medicines are more likely to work, and which might not. And the results shocked her. “I’ve always said that prevention is half the cure,” says Shirlie. “So when Bupa approached, I put my hand up straight away. Shirlie swabbed her mouth and sent her DNA back where it was analysed before a GP talked her through her results, which revealed that anti-inflammatory tablets were not suitable for her. “When I was younger I had endometriosis, and excruciating pain,” shares Shirlie. “The doctor prescribed anti-inflammatory tablets. So I took them constantly for the pain. Now I know I have to find an alternative.”
With good fitness and a can-do attitude, Shirlie sounds like the perfect candidate for Strictly Come Dancing. She could even do a quickstep to Heartache, Pepsi & Shirlie’s biggest hit. However, Shirlie isn’t keen. “I couldn’t take the pressure,” she admits. “I love going to the supermarket, going to the gym and being out. I would hate, ‘Oh, you’re off Strictly!’ I’ve done what I did, and now I’m enjoying everything.”
“Shirlie Kemp in partnership with Bupa – learn more about their genomics products and Medication Check here “
Logan was sexually assaulted for nearly seven years by his own mother
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Logan Gifford, left, has been confirmed as the father of his younger brother after he was raped by his mum as a teenager
When mum Doreene gave birth, speculation around who the father was quickly swirled.
Doreene – who was convicted of sexual assault, incest and lewdness in 2015 – claimed it was from an affair she had had away from Logan’s dad Ted.
But it wasn’t until Logan was in high school that he started to unravel the disturbing potential reality of his family tree.
Wanting to secure justice for both himself and his younger sibling, Logan became locked in a custody battle over the boy – who was living with his father Ted.
Logan wanted to find out who was the true father and if it was him to support the 15-year-old as much as possible.
After months of uncertainty and DNA tests, Logan has now officially been declared the teen’s dad in a Nevadacourt.
Speaking to The Sun on the verdict, Logan said: “The legal determination was made through the court process, but the biological and emotional realities remain deeply intertwined and unresolved.
“My goal has never been about winning a legal argument — it has always been about protecting my brother and ensuring the truth is fully known.”
The Las Vegas local has been trying to uncover the truth for years after he put Doreene behind bars in 2015 for the abuse.
As he battled to overcome the mental scars of his childhood, Logan started therapy.
It was during one of these sessions that he was asked about the possibility that he could be the father of his brother due to the years of abuse.
Logan said his brother went through a “complex” birth as he was deprived of oxygen and “came out purple”.
His brother went through years of speech and physical therapy and continues to struggle with a range of cognitive difficulties, requiring support at home and school.
Children born as a result of incest face a much higher risk of genetic disorders and disabilities due to the increased likelihood of inheriting recessive genetic mutations.
This case stems from a lifetime of trauma and abuse – circumstances no child or family should ever have to endure
Logan Gifford
Babies who are starved of oxygen can develop Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy, which causes brain injuries and can lead to disabilities such as cerebral palsy, seizures and developmental issues.
Logan has long battled with the idea that he may have been the reason for his brother’s disabilities – due to his incestuous conception.
Logan said: “This case stems from a lifetime of trauma and abuse – circumstances no child or family should ever have to endure.
“My parents did my brother, who is disabled, a disservice in not fully understanding why he was born the way he was.”
The court’s decision allows Logan to claim custody for his brother – but his father, Ted, has not completed a DNA test yet.
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Logan has bravely battled to overcome the horrors of his childhoodCredit: Logan Gifford
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Logan’s father Ted was presumed to be the dad at first
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Doreene Gifford was charged with sexual assault and incest
Logan explained: “The DNA testing that was conducted produced results showing that I was not ruled out as his biological father.
“At the same time, Ted – the man who was presumed to be the biological father – defaulted, meaning he declined to participate in the process and failed to appear.
“As a result, the judge issued a ruling based on the available evidence and that default.
“This outcome highlights how complex and painful this case truly is.”
A few years after the abuse ended, Logan decided to report his mum to the police.
Questions still remain over the Gifford family tree but Logan says he is happy to finally be recognised as his brother’s dad by law.
His focus will now turn to supporting the boy as much as possible.
Logan said: “I remain steadfast in my commitment to my brother’s safety, therapy, education, and emotional well-being.
“While this chapter has been extraordinarily painful, I believe in transparency and accountability.
“I am speaking out because I know other families have lived through similar silence and confusion.
“I know how difficult this story is to read, and even harder to live through but I believe that only through honesty and courage can we build something better — for my brother, for survivors, and for anyone still waiting to be heard.”
While this chapter has been extraordinarily painful, I believe in transparency and accountability
Logan Gifford
A few years after the abuse ended, Logan decided to report his mum to the police.
He said the decision to tear the family apart came when he realised he would be able to look after and support his brothers now he had reached 18.
Doreene was convicted in 2015 of sexual assault, incest and lewdness with a child under 14, according to court documents.
She was sentenced to eight to 20 years in prison after taking a plea deal.
Despite being convicted, she has maintained her innocence and has since been released as a registered sex offender after less than a decade behind bars.
At the time, Logan believed he had dealt with the biggest problem in his life by putting his mother behind bars.
Logan is now committed to pursuing additional genetic testing in the hopes of continuing to uncover the truth.
Despite a harrowing childhood and still many unanswered questions, Logan is now looking forward to starting his own family alongside his brother.
He is expecting a baby girl in October with his wife.
Logan is currently the Executive Director of Repair The Vote PAC and has been involved in US politics since 2020.
His top achievement is spearheading a voter ID ballot initiative in 2024, which secured over 180,000 signatures and 70 per cent of voter approval.
How to report a sexual assault
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A family photo of Ted (far left), the son (centre) and Logan and his partner
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Despite facing several cognitive issues as a baby, Logan’s younger brother is continuing to improve each day
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A young Logan with his brother in his arms shortly after his birthCredit: Getty
Carlson Turner, seven, suffered the nasty injury backflipping into a swimming pool on holiday in Antalya, Turkey, and needed urgent treatment at Konakli Medical Centre
Rhiannon Dunn, pictured with her son Carlson hours before the accident, had to pay £1,500 for his treatment(Image: Kennedy News & Media)
A mum was forced to fork out £1,500 when her son split his head open backflipping into a pool on holiday – as the hospital didn’t accept her Asdainsurance.
Rhiannon Dunn, 32, was left “panicking and I was crying” when little Carlson was rushed to a medical centre to treat the 1.5cm gash on the back of his scalp following the accident. The seven-year-old lad had four stitches put in his head under local anaesthetics and an X-ray on his skull to make sure there were no fractures.
Rhiannon had secured insurance with Asda before the trip to Antalya, Turkey at the start of September, but the hospital would not accept the cover. The mum of four had to cough up £1,532.27 for the treatment before Carlson could be discharged from Konakli Medical Centre.
After Asda was approached by journalists, it said it has paid Rhiannon in full and “surprised and disappointed” the medical centre would not accept the £40 Superior Asda travel insurance.
The accident happened on the first day of the trip, which Rhiannon had booked as a birthday present for Carlson. The youngster hit his head with such force it split open, causing severe bleeding.
Rhiannon, a full-time carer, said: “His cut was so wide open and deep, he needed stitches and to go to hospital. The wound was very deep and black and because he’s a red head it stood out.
“Everything was fine but then they shut us in a room and told us we had to pay the last bill. I told the hospital we had travel insurance from Asda. It was a premium travel insurance with unlimited access as I know kids can be clumsy.
“I was more worried about my son. He was looking at me and he was scared and frightened. I was more upset as you buy travel insurance for a reason and they wouldn’t accept it.
“In the end I had to borrow money from a friend. I don’t know what would have happened if I didn’t pay. Asda were shocked that they [the hospital] wouldn’t accept it.
“Asda spoke to the Turkish hospital and the hospital still point blank refused to accept the travel insurance. We were [put] in an office box room until we paid up. Asda were very distressed with the hospital and said they tried everything they could. I was panicking and I was crying.”
Konakli Medical Centre has apologised the mum felt “distressed” but said treatment is prioritised and “never delayed” over insurance matters. The hospital confirmed that ‘not all policies or insurers are accepted for direct cashless billing’, and in those instances patients are expected to pay the bill.
Rhiannon, who is from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, is now speaking out about her experience to warn holidaymakers to check their travel insurance is accepted at hospitals near to where they stay.
“It’s annoying because you buy travel insurance for a reason… He told me he’d hit his head, [then I spotted the blood] and started panicking,” Rhiannon, a mum of four, continued.
“I just want to warn other parents to check your insurance and what hospitals it covers. The hospital said they don’t work with Asda travel insurance but Asda said they hadn’t been notified that they didn’t work with them.
“It’s affected me financially as you pay for holiday insurance for a reason and expect to pay the excess [if you need to claim], but I’ve never known to have to cough up the whole amount.
“I want to raise awareness to other families to make sure they do thorough checks and to make sure the local hospital near to where you are staying is covered through your insurance.”
Travel Insurance explained
A spokesperson for Konakli Medical Centre said: “Firstly, we take all patient feedback seriously, and we are sorry to hear that Ms Dunn felt distressed during her visit.
“We work with many travel insurance providers; however, not all policies or insurers are accepted for direct cashless billing, particularly when there is no prior agreement or contract in place.
“In such cases, patients are generally required to pay for treatment and seek reimbursement from their insurer. This is standard procedure at many private healthcare facilities internationally.
“Our medical centre always prioritises the urgent care and well-being of the patient. Treatment is never delayed due to insurance matters.
“Once the patient is stable and treatment is complete, administrative steps regarding payment or insurance are handled. No patient is ever held against their will at our facility. Payment is processed in a separate administrative area from the patient registration desk.
“Additionally, before any treatment is carried out, the full medical process and associated costs are clearly explained to the patient (or guardian), and informed consent is obtained prior to proceeding.”
After being contacted by journalists, Asda said they were ‘surprised and disappointed’ that the hospital didn’t accept the insurance details but said they had now processed Rhiannon’s claim.
An Asda Travel Insurance spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that Ms Dunn had this experience on her holiday, and we wish her son a speedy recovery.
“Ms Dunn’s insurance claim has now been accepted and paid in full. We were surprised and disappointed that the hospital did not accept her insurance details, which was the cause of this problem and, had the hospital followed normal process, the challenges experienced could have been avoided.”
Max Bretos is a soccer broadcaster who has witnessed all the big arrivals in MLS, from David Beckham to Lionel Messi, and believes Son’s immediate acclimatisation makes his arrival unique.
“He landed on a Tuesday. On Wednesday he had the introductory press conference, and his visa process went through quickly, so by Friday he was on his way to Chicago to play his first game,” says Bretos.
“Then he played in the game, off the bench, and you could see it there. His second game was in New England, where they play on [artificial] turf. Generally, when the big stars arrive, they don’t want to put them on turf right away, for obvious reasons, but he started, played 90 minutes and assisted a goal.
“He’s played every game, and he’s played almost every minute of every game. This is unheard of. He was on the field immediately, and you can see the reaction of his team-mates – they loved him. It’s like he’d already been there for months.”
Big signings in MLS can often become the defining aspect of the franchise they join as everything becomes all about one player, but this has not been the case in LA.
“If a player like Cristiano Ronaldo arrived in MLS, he would move the needle in many ways, but if he arrived it kind of becomes his club,” adds Bretos.
“Much like in Miami with Messi – which is fine. But I think LAFC maintains its identity as Son Heung-min just blends into it, which I think is what he wanted. It’s a perfect marriage.”
A good example of this teamwork is the form of forward Denis Bouanga.
Since Son’s arrival, Gabon international Bouanga has scored 11 goals in nine games. This run has made him the first player with three consecutive 20-goal seasons in MLS, and put him level with Messi at the top of the 2025 Golden Boot race.
Between them, Son and Bouanga have scored LAFC’s past 18 goals, and with the end-of-season MLS Cup play-offs just around the corner, there are now shouts that LAFC could win it.
Ike Turner Jr., the son of Ike and Tina Turner who won a Grammy for traditional blues album in 2007 as a producer on his father’s album “Risin’ With the Blues,” has died. He was 67.
Turner died Saturday at a Los Angeles hospital from kidney failure, family member Jacqueline Bullock told TMZ. She said the musician had been battling heart issues for years and had a stroke last month.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of my cousin, Ike Turner, Jr.,” Bullock said in a statement to the New York Post. ‘”Junior’ was more than a cousin to me, but rather a brother, as we grew up in the same famed household together.”
“As the son of Tina and Ike Turner, from an early age, his talents were evident as there wasn’t an instrument he did not want to play,” the statement continued. “Eventually, Junior would end up helping to run Bolic Sound Studios, the recording studios founded by his father, Ike Turner.”
Ike Turner Jr., and friend Mary Ellis at a memorial service for his father in 2007.
(Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)
A musician, producer and sound engineer, Turner was pulled into the music business by his father when he was 13.
“My father took me out of [the] house and out of school and I traveled [with them],” Turner said in a 2017 interview on “The Bobby Eaton Show.” “That wasn’t no easy work.”
In that same interview, he also shared the role his mother Tina played in the instruments he picked up in his youth.
“My first instrument was drums, until my mother started making me break my drums down every day,” he said. “The piano was always there in the family room, so I started playing piano. I play guitar and bass. Everything except horn because horn used to make me dizzy from blowing air.”
Turner was one of four children associated with Ike Sr. and Tina Turner’s famed union, which ended with the latter filing for divorce in 1974 (finalized in 1978). The couple performed together from 1960 to 1976 as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, but their musical achievements were often overshadowed by the former’s abuse.
Born in 1958 to Ike Turner Sr. and Lorraine Taylor, Ike Jr. and his brother Michael were adopted by the “What’s Love Got to Do With It” singer upon her marriage in 1962 to their father. Their siblings also included Ronnie and Craig.
“Tina raised me from the age of 2,” Ike Jr. told the Mail on Sunday in 2018. “She’s the only mother I’ve ever known.”
Over the years Turner had commented a number of times on his estrangement from his mother since his parents’ divorce. In 2018 he said he had not spoken to her in nearly 20 years.
Turner was preceded in death by both of his parents and two of his siblings. His father died in 2007 of a cocaine overdose and Tina died in 2023 after a long illness. Craig Turner died by suicide in 2018 and Ronnie Turner of complications related to late-stage cancer in 2022.
Denis Bouanga scored in his sixth consecutive match Sunday night, connecting in the 86th minute to send LAFC past Atlanta United 1-0 for its fifth consecutive victory.
Late in a frustrating evening for LAFC stars Son Heung-min and Bouanga, the French star pounced when a long cross into the box deflected to him off the head of Atlanta’s Enea Mihaj. In his 100th MLS match, Bouanga hammered home his 99th goal for LAFC.
LAFC has been turbocharged by Son’s arrival, losing just once in all competitions since July 25 while streaking up the standings and becoming the Western Conference’s highest-scoring team.
Bouanga and Son have scored LAFC’s last 18 goals, an MLS record, while combining to score 19 total goals in their nine matches together.
Son’s four-match goal-scoring streak was ended by 14th-place Atlanta’s cautious game plan, which included a five-man back line with 10 men frequently behind the ball. Atlanta attempted just three shots and nearly disappointed a packed stadium eager to watch exciting soccer, with a particularly huge turnout of Son fans during Korea’s Chuseok mid-autumn holiday.
LAFC is fourth in the Western Conference after this victory, but with two games in hand on first-place San Diego and third-place Minnesota.
LAFC nearly broke through in the 57th minute, but Atlanta goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert saved Mark Delgado’s point-blank shot with his trailing hand. Son then got a corner to an unmarked Ryan Hollingshead in the 64th minute, but the LAFC defender barely missed the net.
Atlanta got a rare chance in the 70th minute, but Bartosz Slisz hit the post.
Son and Bouanga are both headed off for international duty this week, and they’ll be absent when LAFC hosts Toronto on Wednesday. LAFC must make up postponed matches after earning a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Soap star Kellie Bright highlights the struggles parents face securing school support for autistic children in a poignant new BBC Panorama documentary
Kellie Bright exposes heartbreaking fight to secure support for autistic son(Image: Getty Images for BAFTA)
As EastEnders’ Linda Carter, actor Kellie Bright has faced heartbreak, grief and despair. However, no soap storyline could prepare her for the frustration, anxiety and heartache of trying to fight for her Autistic son’s education.
Kellie’s little boy has been diagnosed with Autism, ADHD and Dyslexia but despite this, she has struggled to secure an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) for him, which would entitle him to extra support.
Now Kellie, 49, has filmed a documentary for Panorama examining the exhausting and expensive fight parents face just to get their children the right help at school.
Kellie tells cameras: “I’ve wanted to make a documentary about special needs for a really long time. I have a son, he is autistic, he has ADHD and he’s dyslexic. To try and get the support you need you have to fight every step of the way.
“I hear from lots and lots of families how the system is broken, how things need to change so I want to shine a light on it, I want to speak to families who are suffering. I am very fortunate to be in a position because of my job that I do have a voice, I do have a platform and I want to use it.”
The government is in the process of reforming the Special Educational Needs system, which parents say is failing their children, despite it costing £12 billion every year. On Friday (3 Oct 25) The Institute for Fiscal Studies said the figure would rise by £3bn a year by 2029.
One in five pupils (1.7 million) in England get some kind of support for special educational needs in school at the moment, and councils are footing the cost. Many councils blame the rising costs of SEND support for debts that run into hundreds of millions of pounds.
The IFS is predicting that the proportion of pupils with EHCPs will rise even further in the next four years, to 8 per cent of all pupils aged four to 16. However, for many parents, like Kellie, getting an EHCP is a difficult and frustrating task.
Kellie says on the show: “When we tried for an EHCP for my son, we also ended up heading for a tribunal because the council refused to assess him. I have to say that left me feeling really angry. Then I felt frustrate,d and then I felt like I was letting my son down.”
After Kellie and her husband, Paul Stocker, started proceedings to take the local authority to a tribunal, they suddenly agreed to assess her son.
She was so emotional that she recorded her reaction on her Instagram account, telling followers, “I have just received an email to say they have agreed to assess my son. It has been 8 months of such hard work and perseverance and fighting to get to this point.”
Reflecting on the fight to get her son the help he needs in school, Kellie tells the documentary: “One of the main things is that as a parent you feel completely and utterly powerless. Powerless to move things forward, powerless to help your child, and because of that, it’s an extremely frustrating system to have to work with.”
Kellie meets lots of parents in a similar position. Many educate their children at home because local authorities are unable or unwilling to offer them a place that is appropriate for their needs. Parents with children out of school are often forced out of the workplace.
Kellie says: “More than half of parents of autistic children have had to take time off work to support their child.”
From the families Kellie meets, all are exhausted, tearful and feeling hopeless about their situations. Councils often force families to take them to tribunal to get EHCPs – even though 99 per cent of cases that reach tribunal are won by families.
One father, called Lee, tells Kellie he suspects his local council is trying to wear them out to avoid paying for help for their daughter, who is, at the time of the film, not in education.
Lee, whose daughter Charis is autistic, says, “I think there is a deliberate policy of fatigue because they know that not every parent will come back for appeal so they lose some. So now we are fighting against the local authority because we’re fighting for our daughter.
“But in battles people get hurt. So that deliberate and I think it is a deliberate policy of fatigue is hurting families and parents and it’s got to be better than that.”
Kellie goes to meet Georgia Gould who is the Minister of State at the Department of Education, as of last month. She tells Kellie: “I can’t give you all the details of all the different reforms we’re doing because we’ve got a process we’re working on with families.
“We want to honour that what I can tell you is we’re really dedicated to supporting children early to make sure there is accountability in the system.
“Within the reforms we’re not taking support away from families, we’re wanting to put more support in earlier where people have fought for support and that support is in place we want to make sure it continues,” she adds.
When Kellie tells her that parents have “high anxiety” about the reforms, Georgia insists the new system will still have a legal basis for support.
She promises Kellie: “There has to be a legal basis for parents to get support, but what we really want to work with parents on to get right is, where does that accountability happen? How can we get support in at the earliest possible point rather than having the battle?”
Kellie says only time will tell if the reforms, which are intended to save money while delivering the right support, will make things better or worse.
Kellie says, “All eyes are now on the government to see if its reforms can relieve the pressure on so many families.”
Panorama: Kellie Bright – Autism, School and Families on the Edge, Monday 6th October BBC1 at 8pm ( iPlayer from 6am)
For years, Matthew McConaughey wouldn’t tell his mom, Kay, anything of substance during their weekly phone calls — her love of spreading news had cost her his trust.
“We had about an eight-year period where I had to have short conversations with her on our Sunday phone calls because she was sharing a lot of information,” Matthew told People in a joint interview with his mother. “I’d tell her something on Sunday between son and mom, and Tuesday I’d read about it in the news or see it in the local paper.”
Kay called the period a hiatus, which started after she took the media on a tour of Matthew’s childhood home without his consent. In her defense, she didn’t think he would find out.
“I was so proud that I was just telling the world,” she said.
The hiatus came to an end when Matthew felt stable enough with his fame. When the two hit red carpets together after that, Kay would ask if there were any rules she had to follow, but he let her tell the raunchiest stories at will.
“My mom can say whatever the hell she wants,” Matthew said. “Let’s take the lasso off and just go for it, Mom.”
Matthew and Kay co-star in the upcoming film “The Lost Bus,” where she plays his mother. The movie, which premieres Friday on Apple TV+, also stars Matthew’s oldest son, Levi.
Hear the sound of fingers crossing? That might be Levi hoping his dad learned a thing or two from Grandma.
A PASTOR’S son held four people captive in his “basement of horrors” with no access to food or water for up to 10 years, police say.
Donnie Birchfield Jr., 36, is accused of keeping a vulnerable married couple and two women in his terrifying basement in South Carolina.
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Donnie Birchfield Jr. was arrested after cops found a dead woman in his basementCredit: Facebook
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He allegedly kept four people hostage in the basement of his homeCredit: Lancaster County Detention Center
The two women who were allegedly held hostage were reportedly romantically involved with Birchfield before the relationship spiralled.
He was arrested on August 1 after cops raided his Lancaster home on Churchill Drive following reports a woman had died in the property.
Authorities discovered that the woman, who died one day before they arrived at the scene, had faced neglect and abuse.
Police probed the dead woman and the three other victims – before revealing one of them had been inside the basement for 10 years.
They were all held against their will and denied access to food, water, medication and the outside world, police say.
Birchfield even oversaw what times each alleged hostage ate at, and controlled when they were allowed to use the bathroom.
One of the women he was romantically involved with had a “relationship” with him for one year, with the other lasting nearly 10 years.
Birchfield allegedly assaulted the victims routinely – controlling their movements and trapping them in the basement.
The accused captor also regularly policed their phone use.
One woman said Birchfield told her he was “going to kill her” and boasted how he “knows how to get rid of a body from past experience”, WBTV reported.
Disturbing video from horror house where 3 babies’ bodies found as mom ‘admits to wrapping child in towel to stop noise’
From September 2022, Birchfield made a slew of purchases for himself using the credit cards owned by the victims.
He even paying off his own debt with their money, police said.
Birchfield’s laywer told WBTV he is currently investigating the matter.
He said: “My client maintains his innocence in the case and it is important to remember that he is presumed innocent of these allegations.
“We look forward to litigating this case in the court system where facts, evidence, and the rule of law matter.”
Birchfield faces charges including but not limited to exploitation of a vulnerable adult, false imprisonment, domestic violence and financial identity fraud.
He was placed under a $150,000 bond.
Local police said more charges were possible as the case continues to be investigated.
Stacey Solomon was joined by her ex-boyfriend Dean Cox on the latest episode of her BBC series Stacey & Joe, as they celebrated her son Zach’s 17th birthday
Stacey Solomon shares her eldest son Zach with her ex
Stacey Solomon showed a lovely example of a happy blended family on the latest instalment of her reality TV show as her ex, and father of her eldest son, made a cameo on screen.
The 35-year-old mum-of-five used first-born son Zach’s 17th birthday to recall on the moment she found out she was expecting him at the age is he now and how her loved ones reacted to her teen pregnancy.
The BBC One series, Stacey & Joe, which also stars the Loose Women star’s husband Joe Swash, follows the happy couple and their busy lives. Stacey shares her three youngest children, daughters Rose, three, and Belle, two, and son Rex, six, with the former EastEnders actor.
Stacey, who discovered she was expecting her first child at the age of 17, also shares Zach with ex boyfriend Dean Cox, and 12-year-old Leighton with former fiancé Aaron Barnham.
On Tuesday night’s episode of Stacey & Joe, the pair invited Dean into their home to mark Zach turning 17. As the blended family enjoyed fish and chips they looked back on when Stacey discovered she was pregnant at the same age Zach had just reached.
When asked how old he was at the time, Dean responded: “I was just 18.” Speaking about learning she was set to become a teenage mum when she was 17, Stacey recalled: “My step-mum was the first person who knew I was pregnant, because she guessed it.
“We were at a cafe, me, her and my dad, and I was like, ‘oh, my God, your onions stink, Dad’. And he didn’t even have any onions. Someone, like, at the other end of the cafe had onions, and I remember her pulling me to the side and being like, ‘When was the last time you had a period?’ I was like, ‘I don’t know.'”.
“She immediately made me tell my dad straight away. And then my dad made me ring my mum, and then everyone else that was in the house, Jemma, Matthew, everyone, my brothers and sisters, were all there to hear the fallout.”
Tuesday night’s instalment of Stacey & Joe was actually filmed back in March, coinciding with Zach’s real birthday. The doting mum took to Instagram at the time to celebrate her son’s 17th birthday with an emotional tribute to her first-born.
Stacey has previously spoken about the ‘rocky road’ she and husband Joe faced when blending their families. In addition to Stacey’s two older children from previous relationships, Joe shares his eldest child Harry, 16, with ex-partner Emma Sophocleous.
“The blended family situation has been a rocky road,” Stacey admitted on the Parenting Hell podcast in 2022. “That has never been easy. We have always had to work really hard to make sure everyone feels secure.”
She went on to reveal how wedding a few months earlier, where her and Joe’s four eldest son’s made speeches, made her feel more reassured about her blended family and confessed the kind words from their children left her in floods of tears.
“It was so funny we didn’t say to the boys you need to do a speech,” she recalled, before adding: “Joe was an emotional mess the whole day. People coming up to me saying ‘Joe is a mess down there’.”
How good is Son Heung-min? On the night LAFC celebrated Carlos Vela’s induction into the team’s ring of honor, Vela asked for Son’s autograph.
And he’s not the only one. Small crowds of fans have begun gathering outside LAFC’s training center at Cal State Los Angeles, some waiting for hours, to request Son’s signature on scraps of paper, photos and plush likenesses of the South Korean star in a Tottenham uniform.
On a recent afternoon, Son stopped his car and obliged every one of them.
Forget, for a moment, what he’s done on the field — which isn’t easy to forget since he’s scored six times and assisted on three other goals in seven games, only one of which LAFC lost.
The transformation Son has brought everywhere else since joining the team seven weeks ago has been breathtaking.
He arrived just as the dog days of summer were becoming ferocious. LAFC had been eliminated from the FIFA Club World Cup and the Leagues Cup, had won just four of its last 12 games in all competition and faced a severely compacted fixture schedule going forward.
Yet by dint of personality alone, Son immediately lightened the mood.
“He brings a smile to work every day,” coach Steve Cherundolo said.
A month later he was even more effusive.
“What I’m most impressed [with] is how Sonny treats people. His fans and his teammates,” Cherundolo said. “He’s an incredible human being. He’s very gracious. He’s patient. And he’s just a fine human being.”
That’s why everyone from teammates to security guards at the team’s training center use superlatives like humble, special, gracious, down to earth — and, yes, nice — when describing Son.
Midfielder Timothy Tillman, who was born in Germany, said Son, who played there for five years, surprised him when he began speaking to him in “very good” German.
“I love that he’s talking German with me. Having someone speak in German on the team feels good,” said Tillman, who quickly added what’s become the rote reaction to Son.
“I really, really like him,” he said. “I like that he’s here.”
LAFC’s Son Heung-Min forms a rectangle with his fingers after scoring against Real Salt Lake on Sept. 17.
(Chris Gardner / Getty Images)
Being kind hardly qualifies one for the Nobel Prize. Nor does being liked and appreciated by your co-workers. In many ways, those things seem like the bare minimum we should expect from one another.
But those traits are, many times, rare among superstar athletes — or celebrities in any field. Vela, an MLS MVP and the league’s single-season scoring champion, was often moody and aloof during his seven years at LAFC. Zlatan Ibrahimovic dominated the score sheet during his two seasons in MLS, yet he wasn’t shy about harshly criticizing teammates, which may be one reason why the Galaxy won fewer than half the games he played in.
Son, on the other hand, lifts everyone around him. Last spring, as he neared his final season in the Premier League with Tottenham, an English journalist — who rated players on charity, personality and sportsmanship — christened Son the nicest player in soccer history. (Speaking of sportsmanship, in 2019 when a dangerous Son challenge fractured the ankle of Everton’s André Gomes, Son broke into tears on the pitch. After apologizing — profusely and repeatedly — to Gomes, Son refused to celebrate two Champions League goals against Red Star Belgrade, choosing instead to look into the TV cameras with his palms pressed together in prayer for Gomes’ recovery.)
Now that Son, 33, is playing in the U.S., MLS is getting its first up-close look at what fans in South Korea, England and Germany have known about the player for years. And Son’s kindness and humanity is proving contagious.
Last week teammate Denis Bouanga, who is in the race for the MLS Golden Boot, declined to shoot at an open net, instead slipping the ball to Son, who scored to complete his first MLS hat trick.
“I could have scored. The goal was open,” Bouanga admitted through a translator. “It was good for him to have the feeling to score a hat trick. We celebrated together.”
On Sunday, Son returned the favor, setting up two of Bouanga’s three goals. Bouanga’s second hat trick in three games gave him 22 goals for the season and tied him with Lionel Messi for the league lead. It also made him the first player in MLS history to score at least 20 times in three successive seasons.
“Sonny is a very good player and a very good pal on the field and outside the field,” Bouanga added. “This connection that we have, this chemistry, it was automatic.”
Transformative too: Bouanga and Son have combined for all 12 goals in their team’s last three games — all wins — becoming the first teammates to score hat tricks in three straight games. The most potent attacking duo in the league has also given LAFC (14-7-8) a firm grip on a home playoff berth and made it a legitimate MLS Cup contender.
Son, predictably, deflected the praise, saying that he appreciated the welcome he’s received.
“What should I say? I never expected, to be honest, that welcome or support,” he said after Sunday’s win. “It seems very crazy. But I love that. I’m a very, very happy guy, lucky guy, having this amazing support behind me. I want to give always something back.
“I just want to say thank you.”
That’s exactly what everyone at LAFC has been saying since Son arrived.
⚽ You have read the latest installment of On Soccer with Kevin Baxter. The weekly column takes you behind the scenes and shines a spotlight on unique stories. Listen to Baxter on this week’s episode of the “Corner of the Galaxy” podcast.
