Comedian Hasan Al-Habib made a heartbreaking admission about being ashamed of his religion
Hasan said he grew up being ashamed (Image: BBC)
Award-winning stand-up comedian Hasan Al-Habib has made a heart-wrenching confession about once feeling embarrassed by his religion during his younger years.
Hasan is one of seven celebrities embarking on Pilgrimage: The Road to Holy Island, which returns for its eighth series.
However, in one segment, Hasan candidly discussed his experience growing up as a Muslim and how he once felt shame about his heritage.
He shared, “I was aware of faith from a pretty early age. I was lucky that I was definitely aware of my religion before I was aware that people don’t like it necessarily, or there are some people that are prejudiced against it,” reports the Express.
“I was growing up post 911 during the Iraq War, and that’s why, for a long time, I was kind of ashamed of being Iraqi because I didn’t like being associated with this war.
“I didn’t like being seen as the face of this conflict, so I tried to be as white British as I possibly could, and I realised that if you were funny, people liked you, and that was an invaluable currency for me at the time, because people didn’t like me.”
He continued, “Being Iraqi now, career-wise, it has been a really good thing. It’s definitely something I lean into now, maybe even too much for someone who doesn’t speak Arabic fluently and has only been to Iraq once in their life.”
Discussing his aspirations for featuring on the programme, the comedian added, “I’m really looking forward to the big questions and the searching questions that come as a part of doing this process. If you’re a rational human being, you’ve got to wonder, what happens at the end of all this, or where did we come from?”
He reflected: “People spend their whole lives answering those questions. So to have this opportunity to do it with other people, I think is really, I’m gonna say it’s a blessing.”
Hasan also accompanied Ashley and Tasha to a mosque, which proved to be a touching yet emotional experience for the duo. Tasha confessed to feeling quite moved, revealing to her co-star Hermione Norris that it was a revelation for her.
She said, “I am never going to forget it, and I felt quite emotional just seeing them two just really embracing their religion and just doing their prayer, but it was when they were doing it together, and that’s what made me go like, ‘Wow’.”
She added: “It was just powerful, and it made me realise we need to be more open-minded about religion and just not judge what people believe in, just because they believe in something different from what we may believe in.”
At another moment, Tasha became tearful as she remembered experiencing online abuse when she featured on Love Island. As she attempted to hold back tears, Tasha stated, “I suffered with ableism while I was on a reality TV show. People use your disability as their point to hate somebody. When people go on TikTok, making videos, literally taking the mick at how I spoke, it still gets to me now.”
She remarked through tears, “I don’t like crying,” before continuing, “It’s literally three years ago, but it still gets to me. I think it’s because I saw the impact it had on my family, my dad and mum had to see so many horrible comments about my disability, my and that’s why now I have a stronger shield within me, really.”
Pilgrimage: The Road to Holy Island is available to stream on BBCiPlayer.
This Morning presenter Alison Hammond has addressed the 22-year age gap between her and her boyfriend David Putman, as she issued an update on their relationship
Alison has spoken about her relationship with a man 22 years her junior(Image: Instagram)
Birmingham-born telly star Alison Hammond has addressed the 22-year age gap between herself and her partner, Russian model and massage therapist David Putman, telling the Daily Mail: “I completely understand why people are interested when there’s a 22-year gap,” before questioning: “But what I find interesting is that it’s not as interesting when it’s the man who is older. Why is that? I just want people to be happy for us. We are absolutely in love.”
The presenter first encountered the towering 6ft 10in model after booking him for a £150 massage. Sparks flew instantly between them. According to Alison, they complement each other perfectly, with David being “mature and sensible”, while she admits she’s “so not”.
Gushing about her beau, Alison said: “He just has the most beautiful energy and everyone feels it when they’re in his presence. It’s very rare. I am so grateful that he chooses to spend his life with me.”
Wedding bells aren’t ringing quite yet for the loved-up couple, though Alison playfully teasedThis Morning audiences about a possible engagement during a celebrity gossip segment last summer.
While discussing the day’s headlines alongside co-presenter Dermot O’Leary, Alison spotted articles about herself: “Oh my God! Apparently I am engaged?” she gasped, before joking, “Let me swap it over to stop these rumours,” as she shifted her eye-catching diamond ring to another finger.
Alison revealed in December that neither she nor her partner feels any urgency to tie the knot: “We live together, and we’re happy the way it is. I don’t need a ring to show my love to somebody. What I will say is, if he asked me tomorrow to marry him, it wouldn’t be a ‘no’. That’s all I’m going to say to you.”
The mother-of-one, whose wealth is estimated at around £4 million, has previously stated she prefers to keep details of her personal life private. She said: “I don’t like to go into detail about him, because it’s my private life, and I want to respect his life as well.”
Nevertheless, she noted that those close to her are fully aware she is completely “loved-up.”
The Bake Off and Love of Dogs presenter shared that being in a relationship makes her “more patient” and “kinder”, adding that she cherishes having someone to “care for”.
The sole difficulty in their romance appears to be David’s mother, Olga, who is said to disapprove of the age-gap relationship. A source close to the pair told The Sun that Olga, 64, believes Alison is too mature for David and is uncomfortable with how Alison’s fame has thrust him into the public eye.
“She’s uncomfortable that her son is with someone who has so much more financial power than him,” the insider revealed. “Olga’s traditional values don’t sit well with their relationship. She’s told him in no uncertain terms that he must end it.”
Another source added: “Olga raised her children in the Orthodox Church. This kind of relationship doesn’t fit her beliefs.” She has reportedly made several calls to David from her home in Sochi, on the Black Sea coast, urging him to rethink his decisions.
Despite his mother’s misgivings, David remains content with how his romance with Alison is progressing, and it seems unlikely that her concerns will have any bearing on his choices.
Emma reportedly went to extreme lengths to avoid being papped with married celebrity life coach Jay ShettyCredit: GettyJay Shetty was seen looking after Emma’s dog, Sofia, according to The Mail’s sourceCredit: Getty
Just last month they were spotted passionately snogging at the airport after having jetted off on a romantic break.
But now, Emma was seen going to extreme lengths to avoid being papped with Jay Shetty, 38, according to The Mail‘s source.
Emma reportedly had dinner with the former monk and now lifestyle guru at a lavish LA restaurant last week.
The 35-year-old made her swift departure using a different exit to podcast host Jay, the source said.
Taking their seemingly well-thought-out exit a step further, The Mail’s eagle-eyed onlooker told how the pair even “swapped cars,” in a bid to baffle the paps.
In September last year, Emma, who is a PHD student at Oxford, appeared on Jay’s podcast, On Purpose With Jay Shetty.
The pair got into a deep conversation on Emma’s love life and she told how marriage is “a miracle,” and while she hopes it may one day happen to her, she doesn’t feel “entitled to it.”
Since the podcast aired, it seems Jay and Emma have struck up a close friendship – so why make a great escape?
It’s not the first time they have been spotted out on the town together, according to The Mail.
Stunning actress Emma appeared on Jay’s podcast last September and it seems the pair have since struck up a friendshipCredit: Getty
Jay and his wife influencer Radhi Devlukia married in a traditional Hindu ceremony back in 2016.
Celebrating his wedding anniversary back in 2020, he said: “Your laugh is infectious, your dances are hilarious and your heart is so so deep.
“You’re my spiritual inspiration and guide in SO many ways! Thank you for being my wife and loving me!”
Meanwhile, actress Emma is thought to be loved up with her boyfriend Gonzalo.
They didn’t appear to care who saw them last month as she embraced the businessman as they walked through Mexico City airport.
Gonzalo, who is one of Mexico’s most eligible bachelors, is said to be taking his relationship with Emma very seriously – having already introduced her to his parents, a source told The Daily Mail.
Jay Shetty married his wife, Radhi Devlukia, in a traditional Hindu ceremony back in 2016Credit: Getty
Doncic is the NBA’s leading scorer this season with 2143 points for an unequalled average of 33.5 points per game.
However, having been sidelined for four games with a left hamstring strain earlier in the season, and missing two games to return to Slovenia for the birth of his daughter in December, Doncic is set to fall short of the minimum games threshold required to qualify for the NBA’s major end-of-season awards.
Doncic, who is one appearance short of the 65 required, will apply for an “Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge”, according to his agent Bill Duffy.
“This season, Luka Doncic has performed at a historic level, leading the league in scoring, carrying the Lakers to third place in the Western Conference and placing himself in the middle of one of the most tightly contested MVP races in memory,” Duffy told ESPN.
“To ensure Luka’s incredible accomplishments this season are rightly honoured and he can be considered for the league’s end-of-season awards, we intend to apply for an ‘Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge’ to the 65-game rule.”
Doncic was named March’s player of the month following 13 consecutive 30-point performances which helped the Lakers to 13 wins in 14 games prior to the defeat by Thunder.
After a major national debacle on live TV when she was only 20 years old, Ashlee Simpson Ross finally found a way to win back a small-screen audience’s love: She put a galaxy mask over her head and let the vocals rip.
Forget that 2004 incident where she got caught singing over a backing track in an appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” Sure, she did a weird little dance, then fled the set. Sure, her dad made excuses. But that’s in the past.
“I feel like I became Galaxy Girl and I had the best team ever,” Simpson told People. “So I mean, it felt great to do it. It felt great to perform, not being able to see where I’m going. You can hardly see where you’re going. I think just becoming that character of Galaxy Girl and people not knowing who I was, it was just a different way of performing that. I enjoyed that. It was definitely a moment of discovery.”
Back in fall 2004, Simpson, who’s now 41, was about to do her second song as the musical guest on “SNL.” Following in her famous sister’s footsteps as Jessica Simpson’s newlyweds reality show with then-husband Nick Lachey was hitting its stride, she had just released what would become the year’s top-selling album by a female singer.
Lorne Michaels would confirm later that it had been a first for the sketch show.
“What can I say? Live TV,” host Jude Law told the audience during the show’s goodbye sequence that night. Simpson, standing at his side, jumped in with a rapid-fire explanation of what had just happened, throwing her band under the bus and not making much sense at all.
“I feel so bad. My band started playing the wrong song and I didn’t know what to do, so I thought I’d do a hoedown. I’m sorry!” she said.
This was a year after her sister had asked, with cameras rolling, whether a can of Chicken of the Sea contained tuna or chicken, and whether Buffalo wings were made out of buffalo. So what stuck in people’s minds were those lyrics playing out of the ether. Ashlee Simpson, it was clear, intended to lip sync, which sort of implied to casual observers that she couldn’t sing. She became, to many, a laughingstock.
Her dad said afterward that acid reflux had made her vocal cords swell, necessitating the last-minute switch from live to Memorex. He called it a learning experience and said she would prove herself in future shows.
“Unfortunately, that happened to us on Saturday, so just like every other artist in America she has backing tracks … so you don’t have to hear her croaking through a song on national television,” Joe Simpson told Ryan Seacrest in a radio interview.
“She never used them before,” he said of the vocal tracks, but “you have to do what you have to do.”
A few months later, she was booed on national TV when she did the halftime show at the 2005 Orange Bowl. Folks joked that it was worse than what happened on “SNL.”
So, yes, her career continued, but it hasn’t been 100% smooth. After a couple more albums, she took a role in a Broadway musical and eventually she returned to acting. She said over and over that she was going to get back into music, but life kept getting in the way.
Then in 2025, after celebrating the 20-year anniversary of her breakout album release with a short gig at a WeHo nightclub the year prior, she announced a residency at the Venetian in Las Vegas. The gig proved popular enough that it was extended into 2026.
And over the course of “The Masked Singer” season, Simpson finally proved to those casual observers that she has a voice and knows how to use it. She even bested her husband, who competed this season as Stingray and was cast out in Episode 10.
“Performing is my happy place, and to be doing that again just feels so nice,” she told People. “I’m inspired to keep playing shows and creating new music. And moments like ‘Masked Singer’ and Vegas, and I’m looking forward to Pride and Stagecoach — those moments just make me realize, ‘Oh, this is what I love to do.’
HE IS the working class boy from Wales who conquered Hollywood as Sir Elton John in Rocketman.
She’s the Louisiana-born Baywatch actress whose reality TV family want to be the nextKardashians.
Taron Egerton and Brooks Nader have become showbusiness’s hottest coupleCredit: BackGridBut Taron’s inner circle is sounding the alarm on the pair’s relatonshipCredit: SplashThe chaotic circus of Brooks’s life could derail Taron’s acting career, it is fearedCredit: Getty
But behind the steamy snogs, Taron’s inner circle is sounding the alarm.
For I can reveal, that the 36-year-old Kingsman heartthrob’s prestige acting career could be spectacularly derailed by the chaotic circus of Brooks’s life, and her ferociously protective, camera-hungry family.
As my insider warned: “This could all end in disaster. He doesn’t know what he has gotten himself into. She will eat him alive.”
But it is not just one Nader Taron has to contend with.
She also has a brood of high-flying sisters who all live together in Manhattan and keep a watchful eye on their big sis.
Dubbed the “Wannabe Kardashians”, Brooks and her photogenic sisters – Sarah Jane, Grace Ann, and Mary Holland – became smash hit reality stars when their show launched last year on Disney+.
If his relationship with Brooks hits a speedbump, Taron won’t just be dealing with a private heartbreak – he’ll be dealing with the wrath of the sisters and a Hulu camera crew capturing every excruciating detail.
As one insider summarised the situation: “Who knows if this is happily ever after. But it could spectacularly backfire for Taron if things get messy. The Nader sisters are brutal and unafraid to play dirty to protect their own.”
The Louisiana-raised siblings swapped the country for the bright lights of New York and Los Angeles, and they absolutely do not take prisoners.
In the first season of their show, which quickly became a guilty pleasure for millions of viewers, the sisters famously tore shreds into Brooks’s exes.
This could all end in disaster. He doesn’t know what he has gotten himself into. She will eat him alive
Insider
They had choice, cutting words for her former husband, advertising executive Billy Haire, whom she divorced in 2024, with Brook herself saying she married him “for rent purposes”.
When she was asked on a chat show what she thought about her ex remarrying, Brooks remarked: “Which ex?”
But the sisters saved their unfiltered venom for her Dancing With the Stars partner and ex-boyfriend, Gleb Savchenko.
The pair met when they were partnered on the dance show, and sister Grace Ann revealed they hit it right from the off.
Brooks and her protective, camera-hungry sisters have been dubbed the ‘Wannabe Kardashians’Credit: Instagram/BrooksNaderThe Kingsman heartthrob could be dealing with the wrath of her sisters and a camera crew capturing every detail if his relationship to Brooks hits a speedbumpCredit: Alamy
‘Highly dangerous tightrope’
She explained in eye-watering detail: “I can tell you firsthand, every time I visited Brooks’ trailer, the trailer was shaking — every single time.”
But Brooks’s whirlwind fling with the Russian dancer imploded months later, but made great reality television.
The sisters discovered he had left his phone in their flat and quickly went about searching the device while being filmed for the series.
Brooks said they were “shocked” by what they found. She said on the episode: “All these screenshots of my boobs. What the f— is this? There’s like a million girls in here. This is a week ago.”
She then found a contact labeled “Threesome girl, Joshua Tree,” and broke down in tears.
Gleb vehemently denied the allegations, but the truth hardly mattered once the Nader sisters went to war.
They cornered him both on-screen and off, acting as Brooks’s personal attack dogs.
Brooks later admitted that watching herself “crying on the bathroom floor” over the split was the hardest part of filming the show,
But she also issued a chilling warning to anyone who might doubt her family’s investigative skills, proudly claiming: “My sisters are my sources.”
With these glamorous private investigators, any misstep Taron makes is guaranteed to end up in the next season.
Reality television thrives on conflict, and the Nader sisters know exactly how to deliver it
Insider
This is exactly why Hollywood insiders are so nervous for the Welsh actor. A-list directors and prestige studios often shy away from actors embroiled in reality TV circus acts.
My insider added: “By aligning himself with a star whose life, heartbreak, and family drama are filmed for public consumption, Taron is stepping onto a highly dangerous tightrope. Reality television thrives on conflict, and the Nader sisters know exactly how to deliver it.”
But he does not seem deterred. The pair have been painting California red over the last week, looking thoroughly besotted with one another.
Since The Sun revealed earlier this week that they were dating, they’ve been spotted holding hands outside luxury steakhouses and grabbing intimate drinks at Shutters on the Beach.
Yet, as the romance heats up, there are dark whispers in Hollywood, with some questioning the authenticity of the sudden pairing.
A more cynical insider even suggested that the highly photographed romance might be a well-orchestrated PR stunt designed to mutually boost their profiles.
‘Extremely ambitious’
Taron, despite his undeniable talent, has slipped off the radar slightly since his meteoric run with Rocketman and the Apple TV+ prison drama Black Bird.
Meanwhile, Brooks is “extremely ambitious” and “desperate” to cement her burgeoning reality TV empire.
Still a source told The Sun, Taron is “very keen” on the swimwear model, but this highly public romance is a stark departure from his roots.
Born in Birkenhead but raised in the quiet seaside town of Aberystwyth, small-town boy Taron has until now kept his private life discreet.
Taron, above with Elton John, had his meteoric run with Rocketman and is said to be ‘very keen’ on the swimwear modelCredit: Instagram
When he burst onto the scene as a council estate rebel turned superspy in Kingsman: The Secret Service, he was praised for his grounded nature.
He dated assistant director Emily Thomas for six years, keeping the romance strictly low-key and away from red carpets before they quietly parted ways.
However, the famously cheeky star hasn’t been entirely mute about his romantic preferences or his prowess as a boyfriend in past interviews.
Speaking to Andy Cohen, Taron confessed he wasn’t looking for a specific body type, laughing as he admitted his actual preference.
He joked “I’m probably more of an a** man… I’ve got a big butt. Quite a big round butt. When we’re walking away hand-in-hand as a couple, it’s not going to look right [if she doesn’t]. It won’t work.”
He even doubled down while reading thirsty fan tweets online during a promotional tour, cheekily declaring to the camera, “I’m quite proud of my a**, actually.”
And when he does fall for someone, he falls incredibly hard.
Recalling a romantic gesture for his ex, Emily, he once revealed, “When my girlfriend and I first got together, I took her to Claridge’s hotel in London, and I had them deliver a necklace to the room.”
He has confidently described himself in the past as an “attentive, thorough, enthusiastic” lover.
But all the attentive enthusiasm in the world might not be enough to shield him from the Nader family.
Brooks is ‘desperate’ to cement her burgeoning reality TV empireCredit: Getty
EXCLUSIVE: I Love LA has landed in the UK with the launch of HBO Max and it features the daughter of a Hollywood star.
21:56, 01 Apr 2026Updated 21:56, 01 Apr 2026
I Love LA is now available to watch on HBO Max(Image: HBO MAX)
An I Love LA actress has shared the unexpected familial link her father has with one of her co-stars.
HBO Max has finally made its way to the UK, dropping an abundance of hit shows, including I Love LA, a sitcom about Maia (played by Rachel Sennott) whose life becomes chaotic with the return of her influencer friend Tallulah (Odessa A’zion).
They are joined by other stars such as Jordan Firstman, Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester, as well as actress True Whitaker as Maia and Tullulah’s close friend Alani Marcus.
Film buffs may best recognise Whitaker though as the youngest daughter of actor Forest Whitaker, famed for movies such as The Last King of Scotland, The Butler and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
But it wasn’t until True got to the set of I Love LA that she discovered that her dad was already very well acquainted with one of her co-stars.
Speaking to Reach Plc, Whitaker explained: “My dad in the show, Keith David, is a friend of my dad’s.
“When I was on set shooting the last episode, I Facetimed my dad being like ‘Hey, do you know this guy? This is my dad.’
“And he [Forest Whitaker] was like ‘Keith?!’ and Keith was like ‘Forest!’
“And apparently my dad is the reason Keith moved to LA. They did Platoon together when they were in their 20s so it was kind of cute to see them reminisce.”
Also starring actors William Dafoe and Charlie Sheen, 1980s film Platoon followed the story of a young American volunteer as he deals with the horrors of warfare in Vietnam.
While Whitaker was behind the role of supporting character Big Harold, actor Keither David played veteran soldier King.
True also shared her famous father’s pride at her landing a major role in I Love LA after first featuring in his drama Godfather of Harlem.
She explained: “He’s extremely proud of me. Even his assistant pulled me aside and was talking to me and got emotional and was like ‘you have no idea.’
“My dad apparently had just been gloating to everybody and was stoked to see me in this light.
“And for me to be able to use my comedic skills, because obviously in the house I’m annoying and loud and funny but now I can actually utilise it.”
Last week, a woman filed a civil lawsuit against Nacua, alleging that on New Year’s Eve he made an antisemitic statement during a group dinner and later bit her shoulder. Attorney Levi McCathern told The Times before the lawsuit was filed that Nacua denied the allegations and that Nacua would “pursue all available legal remedies in response to these false and damaging statements.”
The California Post reported Wednesday that Nacua had checked into a Malibu rehab facility. A Rams official declined to comment.
In a statement to The Times on Wednesday, McCathern said Nacua “voluntarily entered a private facility to focus on his health, personal growth, and overall development — and I’m really proud of him for doing that ahead of his upcoming season.
“He is committed to using this time constructively so that he can return in the best possible position — both personally and professionally — to continue contributing to his team and the game he loves.”
The Rams are scheduled to begin offseason workouts under coach Sean McVay on April 20. In the statement, McCathern said that Nacua would complete the program in time to participate in Rams organized team activities. That part of the offseason program begins several weeks into the offseason.
“Puka is deeply grateful for the support he has received from his family, friends, Coach McVay, and his teammates,” McCathern said. “It is unfortunate that a trivial lawsuit has drawn attention to him during a time when he is committed to becoming a better person. I am excited to see what the future holds for this exceptionally talented young man.”
The lawsuit was the latest situation involving Nacua that cast a spotlight on the fourth-year pro.
During a livestream last December, Nacua criticized NFL officials and made a gesture regarded as antisemitic. Nacua apologized, and the Rams and the NFL issued statements condemning antisemitism and discrimination. But after the Rams’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Nacua criticized officials in a social media post from the locker room. The NFL fined him $25,000.
Nacua, 24, led the NFL with 129 receptions last season, was voted All-Pro and was a finalist for NFL offensive player of the year. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and he is eligible for an extension that could equal or surpass the deal Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba recently signed that includes $120 million in guarantees.
On Monday, at the NFL owners meetings, McVay repeatedly said, “I trust this kid’s heart,” and later said “he understands what the responsibility is, not exclusive to just the production on the field.”
General manager Les Snead described Nacua as “ young man, becoming,” who is “continuing to evolve” as a person and player. Snead and Tony Pastoors, the Rams’ chief operating officer both said on-the-field performance is not the only factor that is taken into account when making decisions regarding contract extensions.
“It isn’t just, ‘OK, turn it on on Sundays and make decisions from there,’” Pastoors said. “We have to take in every data point we can.”
HOLLYWOOD actress Vanessa Hudgens’ sister was keen to make a bold impression with her latest selfie.
The influencer sister of Vanessa, Stella, left little to the imagination as she showed off her very full bust in a lacy bodysuit.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Vanessa Hudgens’ sister Stella put on a very busty display in new picturesCredit: Instagram / stellahudgensThe star showed off her body in a variety of snapsCredit: Instagram / stellahudgensShe wore a lacy bodysuit for the snapsCredit: Instagram / stellahudgens
Stella’s plunging number featured a translucent design that made sure all eyes were on her.
The glam star’s hips were also on show thanks to the bodysuit number which showed off her snatched waistline.
Stella struck a variety of poses for her Instagram upload which included her appearing to playfully writhe around her seat as she enjoyed a few cocktails at a bar.
In one shot, she manovered her arms to squeeze her chest as well as flashing a model-like post with her hand behind her head in another.
Stella’s fans were quick to react to the jaw-dropping selfies.
One fan wrote: “Baddest ever.”
Another added: “My heart just stopped.”
A third went on to state: “Hot as hell.”
Before a fourth wrote: “Them hips don’t lieeeee babyyyy.”
Stella is best known for her online career as a social media influencer as well as being a regular live-streamer.
She has broadcast her life on Twitch since 2022 as well as hosting her own podcast, That’s Crazy, as she aims to follow in her sister’s famous footsteps.
Stella has also attempted to carve out an acting career with minor appearances in a number of films since 2016.
Vanessa is best known for her roles in the High School Musical franchise.
She has since held a number of high-profile acting roles as well as a successful music career.
Stella appeared to be having an epic nightCredit: Instagram / stellahudgensShe struck her best model like posesCredit: Instagram / stellahudgensStella is the sister of actress VanessaCredit: GettyShe often gets racy onlineCredit: Instagram / stellahudgens
Long Covid is when the symptoms of Covid-19 – extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, joint pain, aching muscles and brain fog – last longer than 12 weeks
Zara Zubeidi Deputy Showbiz Editor
00:01, 01 Apr 2026
(Image: courtesy of ‘Prima / Sarah Brick’)
Hermione Norris has revealed she has suffered from long Covid, which left her concerned about her ability to take on physical challenges. The Cold Feet star, 59, said she is now much better but the change to her body has been a “shock”.
Norris is one of seven celebrities who embarked on a pilgrimage through north-east England to one of Britain’s most important pilgrimage sites, Lindisfarne, for new BBC series Pilgrimage: The Road To Holy Island.
She was joined by stars including Ashley Banjo, Patsy Kensit and Tasha Ghouri for the programme but said she had concerns about her health before setting off.
She told Prima magazine : “I’m not great at extreme discomfort. I had long Covid a few years ago, so I was worried about my physical fitness and the demands of walking so much every day, plus carrying the backpack. But we did a couple of massive walks and I was fine. I was pleasantly surprised.”
She added: “Having been ill [with long Covid], my focus is on being well and healthy. It’s about exercising, not to make me look good but to keep me strong. I stretch a lot, and I’ve really got to start lifting weights.
“I also use an infrared sauna for my autoimmune condition. I get really stiff joints. I’m so much better after the long Covid, but I feel different, physiologically. It gave me a shock, as I’ve always been quite fit and strong.”
Long Covid is when the symptoms of Covid-19 last longer than 12 weeks, according to the NHS website. Symptoms include extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, joint pain, aching muscles and brain fog.
Norris, best known for her role as Karen Marsden in cult 90s drama Cold Feet, said she has also noticed significant changes since going through the menopause, telling the magazine: “Menopause talk is everywhere now. But the alchemy that happens is unquestionable. The masks drop.
“I feel like a different person from who I was in my 40s – mentally and physically – in a good way. Now I enjoy simple things. My morning coffee, a walk, my doggies, beautiful skies. The joy is in the day-to-day of living, not the big things.”
Read the full interview in the May issue of Prima , on sale now
Pilgrimage: The Road To Holy Island airs on BBC2 5-7 April
Earlier this year, the Bronx-born Dominican actor reprised her breakthrough TV role as Carla Espinosa on the reboot of the beloved ABC medical sitcom, “Scrubs.” For just four episodes, she returned to Sacred Heart Hospital as head nurse and an exhausted mother of four daughters, whom she parents alongside her onscreen hubby, chief of surgery Dr. Christopher Turk (played by Donald Faison).
While fans only caught a quick glimpse of Carla — who is said to be picking up extra shifts elsewhere — her name lingers in the script.
“I’m like the Lord,” said Reyes on a recent video call with The Times. “Just when you think you’re getting away with something, there’s Carla!”
In reality, Reyes has been splitting her time on set with another ABC workplace drama. Now in its second season, “High Potential” sees Reyes leading a top-notch team of crime solvers as Lieutenant Selena Soto, opposite Kaitlin Olson and Daniel Sunjata. “I don’t know any other way to be!” she said of the role. “Latinos are lieutenants and nurses and doctors, et cetera!”
When The Times connected with Reyes, she was crouched down backstage at the Lovinger Theatre at Lehman College in the Bronx. We spoke merely hours before the debut of “Freestyle: A Love Story,” a stage production that follows two lovers who meet at a freestyle show — then reconnect at a concert 20 years later.
Created and directed by George Valencia, with Reyes as one of the executive producers, the story interlaces the history of freestyle music: a Latin hip-hop and pop hybrid genre popularized in the 1980s by acts like Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, George Lamond and Judy Torres.
“Our very existence is political no matter what. Our joy is a problem for a lot of people,” said Reyes. “It’s really important for us to tell our stories.”
Between the passion project and two highly-rated Hulu shows, which continue to stream on the platform despite eventual plans to merge into the Disney+ app, Reyes is not taking her spotlight for granted — especially amid a sinking Hollywood industry model that’s made it difficult for some to find work — “I’m milking it for all it’s about,” she said.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
How were you able to film both the “Scrubs” reboot and Season 2 of “High Potential”? ABC was willing to make it work. “Scrubs” had been in the works for a long time. From Zach Braff and Donald Faison doing their podcast [during the pandemic], to the T-Mobile commercials … A whole new generation became interested in and got hitched to “Scrubs.”] It just so happened at the same time that “High Potential” was happening. My manager was wonderful about making sure [filming] was accommodating.
“I’m so honored and so thrilled to be part of what I consider a television history,” said Judy Reyes of her role as Carla Espinosa on the ABC medical sitcom “Scrubs.”
(Jeff Weddell / Disney)
Did it feel natural to return as your character Carla on “Scrubs”? It did. They did right by making all these characters older. We were all older with each other. We’re all friends that don’t necessarily talk to each other every day [except] Zach and Donald — they’re pretty much married — but it was like we never left.
What has changed in Carla — and what hasn’t changed? What’s changed in Carla is that she’s got four kids and she’s tired and she’s older. The consuming passion of her work is not what it used to be because it’s physical. Life is catching up. Her kids are older, so everything changes and she’s not able to work her ass off the way she used to and she has to confront that.
In season 2 of “High Potential,” your character Lieutenant Soto faces a moment of defeat when she’s not chosen to be captain. What thoughts popped into your head as you rehearsed the scene? It’s extremely well-written. Defeat is very relatable as a woman — [and] as a woman of color, as a woman of a certain age and as a woman of a certain position. I think we can all, as actors, relate to not getting something you are sure you deserved. But there’s also the surrendering. It’s opening up to all the [possibilities] because if you don’t do that, then you get paralyzed. It stops you in your tracks. “Well, what if I feel this defeat again?” You might, you know, but what’s your alternative? You gotta eat s— to move ahead.
Judy Reyes portrays Lieutenant Selena Soto in “High Potential,” leading a top-notch team of crime solvers opposite Kaitlin Olson and Daniel Sunjata.
(Jessica Perez / Disney)
There are some moments in “High Potential” when your character is holding up a mug with the Dominican Republic flag. How do you find other ways to incorporate your Latinidad in the story? When we did the “High Potential” pilot, the props department said I got a mug in the scene and if I wanted anything on it. I was like, “Hmm, no one ever asked me before. Can you do a Dominican flag?” That was in Vancouver and I’ve had it since. The Dominicans lose their f— minds on social media and I love it. It fills my heart.
The other stuff is just being me, which is the purpose of being an artist. I don’t know how much sense it makes to throw in the Spanish word, unless you have other Latino people with you.
Latinos haven’t historically been represented as leaders in Hollywood. Has it evolved? Things progressed before DEI collapsed. There was an active attempt and pursuit of putting people of color in leadership roles. I’m grateful it’s happened. I’m sad it’s retreated a little bit, but I think it has to start behind the camera. We need to champion writers, directors, producers and the stories or get risky and daring with casting.
What has changed in Hollywood and what has not changed in your perspective? Many things have changed from the way we view television. Everything is streamed. Now everything is a limited series. There’s such a political impact in what gets seen and what doesn’t. It’s very hard for people right now and I feel challenged to say how it is better, because I’m working. I see how hard it is. The best thing I can do is seize the platform and connect with other creatives who want to go ahead and take a chance and make investments in stories.
Now with the growing monopolies in the entertainment industry, I’m sure that’ll likely change Hollywood too. It continues to affect the workforce. The workforce is gonna be severely impacted. The more you merge, the more people you fire and the more machines you put in their place. It’s a frightening moment.
I’m grateful I saw Noah Wyle represent against the [Paramount-Warner Bros.] merger. I’m motivated, because I think we ultimately have to protect each other and protect the art for as long as we can.
What grounds you and your art in an era that is often trying to strip you away from your creative liberties? My company GoodTalk Films, myself and my partner and husband George Valencia are working with the Watford F.C. Women’s League to launch a Latina Women’s Football Club here in L.A.. We [want to] train Latinas to be coaches. That’s another way to reach out to the community and help people see themselves. That keeps you grounded in the creative process.
I see a lot of theater. I make a lot of trips to New York. I just saw [the Broadway adaptation of] “Dog Day Afternoon,” produced by Stephen Adly Guirgis. My kid is in the arts and I hang out a lot with him and help him sing and perform. The process is what brings joy in working with other people interested in the same thing.
The ex-Made in Chelsea star is set to join Clare Balding and Ade Adepitan to host The CHANEL J12 Boat Race this Saturday (April 4).
Broadcasting live from the banks of the River Thames, they’ll be stationed in a fresh studio at the starting line in Putney.
Oxford University Boat Club and Cambridge University Boat Club will battle it out oar-to-oar in one of the globe’s oldest and most prestigious amateur sporting events.
Alex Jacques will helm lead commentary, with Olympic gold-medal winning rower Martin Cross and Olympic silver-medal winning rower Jess Eddie as co-commentators, while three-time Olympic gold medallist Pete Reed OBE will serve as pundit, reports OK!.
Broadcaster and mathematician Hannah Fry will also be present to delve into the science of rowing, as well as championing Cambridge Men and Women in her capacity as Professor of Public Understanding of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge.
Coverage of The Boat Race will air from 13:30 to 16:30 on Channel 4 and Channel 4 Streaming, where Oxford and Cambridge Men and Women will tackle the iconic Championship Course, a 4.25-mile stretch of tidal Thames from Putney to Mortlake.
In addition to broadcasting the historic races between the two universities, Channel 4 will also spotlight the Youth Boat Race for the first time on British TV.
The Youth Boat Race, backed by the Oxford and Cambridge Rowing Foundation, is scheduled for Friday 3 April, with coverage included in Saturday’s broadcast.
Discussing his new role, Jamie confessed he “can’t wait”, stating: “The Boat Race is always such a brilliant day, it’s London’s party by the river. Joining Clare, Ade and the team to present coverage of such an iconic occasion is a pure thrill.”
The presenter and podcaster further added: “I can’t wait to meet the incredible athletes taking part and get in amongst the action with the fans on the banks of the Thames and at the finish line to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of the crews.”
This news comes as Jamie and his wife Sophie Habboo prepare to offer their fans a sneak peek into their private life in a new reality show.
The couple, who got hitched in April 2023, are set to feature in a brand new series on Disney+, which is slated to premiere on Thursday (April 2).
The programme will track the reality star couple during Sophie’s pregnancy and the birth of their son Ziggy. Ahead of the three-part series’ release, fans have been given a preview of what they can anticipate from the show.
In a teaser clip, the pair are seen having a heated argument, with Sophie labelling her husband’s behaviour as “unacceptable”. Jaime is shown standing in the doorway as Sophie becomes tearful during the dispute.
He stated: “I’m stressed, I am tired.” Sophie could be heard retorting: “But you just go behind my back, that’s so unacceptable.”
Elsewhere the couple were dealt a “bad news” blow during a hospital visit. Jamie revealed: “Bad news is that the baby, his arm is through the cervix. She (Sophie) needs to have an emergency c-section.”
The smitten duo are seen tearfully supporting each other during the birth of their first child. Jamie tenderly kisses Sophie’s forehead, reassuring her with the words, “It’s alright you got this. You got this”
The CHANEL J12 Boat Race 2026 will air on Channel 4 on Saturday, April 4 from 1.30pm and Raising Chelsea is available to watch on Disney+ from Thursday, April 4
Malcolm in the Middle star Justin Berfield spent years playing older brother Reese in the beloved American sitcom and he has now given his first interview in almost 20 years ahead of its reboot
Liam McInerney Content Editor
08:17, 31 Mar 2026
Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) with Reese (Justin Berfield) (Image: Carin Baer/FOX)
The actor who famously played Reese in Malcolm in the Middle has broken his silence after 20 years — and revealed the real reason he quit Hollywood.
Justin Berfield is back on our screens next month with the four-episode revival of the popular show that ended two decades ago. And he has now revealed why he has remained so quiet since then.
Speaking on The Joe Vulpis Podcast, Justin, now aged 40, was asked whether he had done any other podcast or interview since the sitcom ended.
He replied: “No, like podcasts weren’t a thing and I’ve always just said no because like I wasn’t working on anything. I’m just like a stay-at-home dad! So, why am I going to do a podcast?
“Because I’m just chilling at home with my kid. So unless I had something to talk about, I’m like, I don’t want to go on a podcast.”
He then explained that he has remained in the industry by working behind the camera as an onset producer and writer on various projects.
And he added: “I was just like, I don’t care (about going on podcasts). I’m enjoying my life. Unless I have something to talk about current. I don’t want to go back in time and talk Malcolm.”
However, he is now more than happy to talk about the beloved sitcom, given Hulu’s Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair is set to land on Disney+ in April.
The final episode of Malcolm aired in May 2006 and Justin revealed in the rare interview why he quit Hollywood soon after.
He said he moved to Colorado with his wife, Liza, after filming because he just wanted a change of scenery.
Giving an insight, he said: “Lots of fly fishing. I still miss it. I love it because I just loved being somewhere so secluded. I was still living in Denver so I was like in the city because I still like access to sports teams and good restaurants and things like that. So I wasn’t living in the mountains or anything like that, even though I went to visit them quite often.
“But I kind of separated from Hollywood and I just got to live somewhere else for once because I grew up here and I just wanted to live somewhere else.
“At that time I had no kids, so I was like, this is the perfect time to do this. So we lived there for three years and then we moved back to LA.”
He also revealed that he quit acting and was never “in demand” after the show.
However, he said he never had the intention of becoming the next Leonardo DiCaprio and that he has loved being a stay-at-home dad to his two children in recent years.
The new series of Malcolm in the Middle will see Justin return as the older brother of Malcolm, played by Frankie Muniz.
Malcolm’s other brother, Francis, played by Christopher Masterson, is also set to return, as are Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek who play parents Hal and Lois.
And asked what it was like being back on set with his old colleagues, Justin said it felt like no time had passed at all.
He added: “It felt like a really, just a really long hiatus. When we were filming the show, you’d film for like eight months and then you’d take like two, three months off, and then kind of go back and do some things again and start seeing everyone, and that was like your year for seven years straight.
“And then we did this, it was obviously like 20 years since we’d seen each other for most of us. And you just kind of, it felt like time stopped, like we just got right back into it.”
The synopsis to the upcoming revival reads: “After shielding himself and his daughter from his family for over a decade, Malcolm is dragged back into their orbit when Hal and Lois demand his presence at their 40th anniversary party.”
Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Not Fair arrives on Disney+ on April 10
Joey Browner, a star defensive back at USC and a six-time NFL Pro Bowl selection, has died. He was 65.
“The Vikings are mourning the loss of Ring of Honor member Joey Browner,” the team said Sunday in a statement. “Browner will be deeply missed by former coaches and teammates, as well as many others he impacted throughout his life.”
The Vikings added in a separate post: “He helped define what it is to be an NFL safety.”
No cause of death was given. In August, former Minnesota quarterback Tommy Kramer organized a fundraiser for Browner, who Kramer said was “battling through some serious health issues.”
On Sunday, Kramer wrote about Browning on Facebook: “Not only a great player, a great person. Rest in peace my friend.”
Browner was one of six brothers, all of whom played college football and four of whom went on to play in the NFL. Younger brother Keith Browner, who also played at USC and spent five seasons in the NFL, died in November at age 63 after a sudden illness.
Oldest brother Ross Browner, who played 10 NFL seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers, died in 2022. Another older brother, Jim Browner, who played two seasons for the Bengals, died in 2024.
A high school standout in football, basketball and track and field, Browner played at USC from 1979-1982. He was named team MVP his senior year and finished his college career with nine interceptions and 40 pass deflections, as well as one punt return for a touchdown.
In the 1983 draft, Browner became the first defensive back to be selected by the Vikings in the first round (19th overall). He went on to play nine seasons in Minnesota, making the Pro Bowl six times (1985-1990), and spent his final NFL season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Browner finished his career with 37 interceptions, 17 forced fumbles and 17 fumble recoveries. He was named to the NFL 1980s all-decade team, as selected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and inducted into the Vikings’ Ring of Honor in 2013.
Sean Salisbury, a former quarterback whose career intersected with Browner’s in college and the NFL, was one of many in the football community paying their respects to the four-time All-Pro player.
“This is a major gut punch,” Salisbury wrote on X. “I was blessed to be his teammate at USC and with the Vikings! Phenomenal player and loved by so many. One of the best players I’ve ever played with in both college and the NFL. Very grateful to have called him a good friend. God Bless him and his family.”
Former tight end Steve Jordan, who played nine seasons with Browner in Minnesota, recently visited his former teammate in the Twin Cities, according to a Vikings news release.
“We’ve lost a great friend and one of the best Vikings teammates,” Jordan said in a statement released by the team. “God blessed Joey with phenomenal talent and a big heart to love people and be a beacon of positivity. Truly, he will be missed.”
Former quarterback Rich Gannon, who played five seasons with Browner in Minnesota, wrote on X: “Sad to hear about the passing of my former teammate Joey Browner. On the football field he was one bad dude, off he was a kind soul!”
Retired punter Greg Coleman wrote on X that “one of the happiest moments of my time with the Vikings” was learning that Browner was going to be added to the punt team.
“One of the best teammates you could have and a man I called Friend!” Coleman wrote. “Prayers up for his family. RIP JB!”
Current Vikings cornerback Dwight McGlothern wrote on X: “Dang, I had a chance to meet him my rookie year & I was wearing #47 at the time during camp & hearing about his accomplishments, I’m grateful to [have] had the chance to meet him & [represent] the # he wore with the Vikings !! Everytime I walk in the DB room I always see greatness on the wall !!”
AT 36, Millie Mackintosh is navigating divorce for the second time in her life, after her seemingly fairytale marriage to Hugo Taylor collapsed earlier this year.
It’s the latest hurdle after a difficult few years, which has seen the star quit drinking and come to terms with an ADHD andanxietydiagnosis, which she hadpreviously numbed with boozeand prescription drugs. As she faces the pitfalls of divorce, insiders tell us why she has been left worrying about money and the lengths she’s gone to, to protect herself.
Millie Mackintosh is said to be worrying about money amid her divorceCredit: RexMille and Hugo called time on their relationship earlier this yearCredit: Getty
After seven years of marriage, Millie and Hugo, who are parents to Sienna, five, and Aurelia, four, filed for divorce earlier this month. The pair are yet to comment on the break-up but insiders suggested that Millie’s massive lifestyle overhaul played a part in the decision.
Suddenly, Millie, who is worth roughly £6million from her various business ventures over the years, went from a shared income with Hugo, who runs a luxury eyewear company, to fending for herself once again.
Hugo is thought to be worth around £4million – he launched luxury eyewear brand Taylor Morris off the back of his MIC fame, and it’s been a huge hit with the likes of everyone from David Gandy to the Beckhams.
An insider explained: “Millie has always made her own money; she didn’t rely on Hugo, but it is, of course, very different when there are two people instead of just one.
“Almost overnight, friends noticed a huge difference in her spending habits. Suddenly, she started to cut back and seemed to be really thinking about what she was buying.
“She’s worked so hard for what she’s created, and it’s terrifying not knowing what will happen. It’s causing her crippling anxiety.
“It’s very surprising to see someone like Millie fretting about money, but like any couple who has separated, it’s a shock to the system, and it will take time and effort working out how she will maintain her current lifestyle.”
Most people know Millie as one of the original cast members of Made In Chelsea – the reality show about some of London’s wealthiest 20-somethings.
She was billed as a chocolate heiress when she first burst onto the scene in 2011, but was determined to be known as more than that.
Her great-great-grandfather, John, was a Victorian entrepreneur, known as the Toffee King, who created Mackintosh’s sweet company.
A generation later, her great-grandfather and his brother invented Quality Street, which Brits know and love today, but they sold it in 1988.
Millie insisted: “People severely overestimate how wealthy I am.
“I’m routinely referred to as the heir to the Quality Street fortune, as though I hit 21 and inherited millions. If only.
“It’s not as if I get a cut every time someone eats a toffee. My family sold the business years ago. I’m comfortable, but I don’t live a flash life.”
Millie, real name Camilla, definitely has a comfortable life – her parents, Nigel and Georgina, brought her up in a £1.4million townhouse in Bath.
And as soon as she was old enough, Millie started working. She was a waitress at first and was working in Space NK when she was approached about her place on MIC when she was just 21.
She famously dated Hugo on the show, but then met and fell in love with rapper Professor Green. They married in 2013 and split in 2016.
It was a rocky relationship, with Pro Green — real name Stephen Manderson — recently admitting that he had nearly “called off” their nuptials, but they had both felt “pressured” to go through with it.
A decade on from the split, Millie and Pro have reconnected andhave bonded over both being diagnosed withADHDin recent years.
Speaking onJamie Laing’s Great Company podcast last October, Pro branded her “beautiful”, but added that the pair were toxic for one another at the time of their marriage, describing it as a “trauma bond”.
In another interview, he admitted their quickie divorce had been costly for him.
He told John Bishop: “You know what they say about divorce, it’s expensive, you know why? Because it’s worth it.
“I can’t stop working right now, my mortgage isn’t paid, I am not a house owner. The bank own my house, I own a percentage of it depending on where it sits in the market.”
The summer after their split, she rekindled things with Hugo, and it looked like they would last forever.
Second marriage split
News of their split came as a surprise, but insiders have suggested the writing had been on the wall for some time.
Millie had changed a lot in recent years – she has been open about her massive lifestyle overhaul after quitting drinking in 2022, then dealing with the ADHD and anxiety she had previously numbed with booze and prescription drugs.
What’s more, she revealed last year that, having grappled with her sexuality, she had finally admitted to herself and Hugo that she was also attracted to women.
Millie has been left struggling and worrying about moneyCredit: Instagram/@milliemackintoshThe star is used to a luxury lifestyleCredit: Instagram/milliemackintosh
The pair have now both appointed legal teams and have quietly started divorce proceedings.
A pal said: “Fans will be sad to hear that their relationship is really over, but the pair just want a clean break.
“Millie and Hugo are committed to co-parenting their two young children and keeping everything stable. They are still very amicable with each other and have a lot of respect for one another.
“They want the divorce to go through as painlessly as possible and are focusing on work in the meantime.”
They want the divorce to go through as painlessly as possible
Pal
Millie has always been a grafter – she swiftly turned her reality TV fame into an online following as an influencer, which paved the way for many after her.
She launched her own fashion brand in 2014, proudly saying at the time: “I invested my own money into setting it up.
“I own it, I model it, and they’re my designs. So I would say, yeah, I’ve kind of created my dream.”
But by 2018, the dream was over, and she lost £178,000 of her own money when the company became unsustainable.
It didn’t stop her, though, and she transformed into a lifestyle influencer, with brand deals popping up left, right and centre.
Our insider says: “Don’t be surprised if you see more and more collaborations on Millie’s social media. Her arms are very open to any opportunities that come her way.”
She even wrote a book – Bad Drunk – about her boozing issues.
She has been sober now for over three years and admitted that one of the ways she realised it was such a problem was the fact that it was “stealing her money”.
It hasn’t been an easy road to being financially secure, and the work/life juggle has proved tricky at times since she became a mum.
As a self-employed woman, Millie went back to work just three months after Sienna’s birth and, while it was difficult, she believes it was the best thing for her.
She says she gets up at the crack of dawn to get a head start on emails and tasks.
She explained: “Since becoming a mother, I really want to get the most out of work.
Millie has been making her own money since she was legally able to workCredit: GettyProviding for her kids has now become her biggest responsibility in lifeCredit: Instagram/@milliemackintosh
“Your time is your most valuable thing.
“I get up at 5am so I feel I can start my day early enough to get everything I need to do, done.”
She admits she got the “balance wrong” at first when it came to juggling work with kids.
“It weighed on me quite a lot,” she says.
“So I was actually doing some work around this in therapy, and I figured out that my weeks weren’t structured in a way that was beneficial for me and my mental health.
“I had to change the balance.
“And I now have blocked out time in my diary every week, and the kids know that I won’t be working in that time.”
The juggle has no doubt been even harder since her split from Hugo, and just a few days ago, she candidly spoke about her fears, saying: “I think recently I have found it really hard to know how to show up online because of things I’ve got going on in my personal life that I am not going to share online.
“But because I do usually share so much of my life, I felt like this gap, this resistance to posting and like letting you guys in.”
Millie certainly seems to be well aware that sharing her life with fans is helping to pay her bills at the moment, but just how much she will share is yet to be seen.
One thing is for certain, though, with her divorce looming, there is likely to be another very big bill on its way.
Millie has always been a grafter and swiftly turned her reality TV fame into an online following as an influencerCredit: Instagram/@milliemackintosh
Cops have dropped an investigation into a raid at the home of model and TV star Danielle LloydCredit: Getty ImagesDanielle shared a tour of her new property with fansCredit: InstagramDanielle and husband Michael were out celebrating Halloween when they were alerted to a break-in at their homeCredit: Instagram/Missdlloyd
We told how Danielle, 42, was at a Halloween party with husband Michael O’Neill and her five children when she watched the raid in real time on a security app on her phone.
“They will be aghast to discover police have dropped the probe, as convictions would have brought peace of mind.
“But they have moved home now — and security at their new place is tougher than ever.”
The professional gang took just 90 seconds to smash through the back door of Danielle’s home in October 2023.
They were then in the house for one minute and 26 seconds as they dashed straight to a bedroom and stole a jewellery box and designer handbags worth £100,000.
West Midlands Police said: “We carried out a number of enquiries but weren’t able to identify a suspect.”
It is feared the burglary gang are from South America and have fled the country.
Danielle with Michael and her five childrenCredit: Instagram
On the latest episode of The Chequered Flag Podcast, 1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill thinks that if Max Verstappen is not enjoying the sport any more following regulation changes then perhaps he needs to take a break.
The former EastEnders star has been cast in the reboot of The X Files, which has been greenlit by American streaming powerhouse Hulu
Himesh Patel has landed a major new TV role(Image: PA)
Former EastEnders star Himesh Patel has landed a significant role in the highly anticipated reboot of The X Files.
The 35-year-old, who first captured the nation’s hearts as a youngster on the popular BBC soap portraying Tamwar Masood in Albert Square, is now setting off on a completely different adventure.
He has been cast in Ryan Coogler’s reboot pilot of The X Files, which American streaming giant Hulu gave the go-ahead to last month. Himesh will appear alongside BAFTA-nominated actress Danielle Deadwyler, playing two ‘vastly different’ FBI agents.
Danielle, 43, boasts an impressive array of accolades, particularly for her compelling portrayal of Mamie Till-Mobley in Till. She was nominated for the Best Actress in a Leading Role award at the 2023 BAFTA Film and TV awards, reports OK!.
According to a logline by Variety, the reboot focuses on: “Two highly decorated but vastly different FBI agents (Deadwyler, Patel) form an unlikely bond when they are assigned to a long-shuttered division devoted to cases involving unexplained phenomena.”
The publication also confirms that both stars will portray entirely new characters, rather than reimagined versions of Fox Mulder and Dr. Dana Scully, according to the Daily Mail. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson brought those iconic roles to life across 11 series.
Original creator Chris Carter is returning as executive producer, while Jennifer Yale (The Copenhagen Test) has been appointed as showrunner. Meanwhile, Coogler is scheduled to write, direct and produce, drawing inspiration from his mother’s fondness for the original series.
This marks another collaboration between Himesh and Danielle, having previously worked together on the 2021 miniseries Station Eleven.
Himesh left EastEnders in 2016 after his character ran away with then-girlfriend Nancy Carter. Two years later, he shot to international fame by securing the lead role in Yesterday, which became his breakthrough film.
In 2024, Himesh disclosed that struggling with acne while working on EastEnders as a teenager ‘felt like the worst thing in the world‘.
Speaking openly to British GQ Hype, the actor looked back on his remarkable career journey, including his early years on the legendary soap.
He told the publication: “I’ve been doing this since I was 16, When you’re a teenager and you have acne, it’s the worst thing in the world.
“But then when you’ve got acne in front of millions of people every week in EastEnders, it’s a whole other thing. ‘It was rough. You just kind of feel defective because you’re surrounded by actors. Everyone gets spots, but I just felt the pressure.”
Strictly Come Dancing’s Vito Coppola sparked a mixed reaction from viewers following his stint on Saturday Kitchen.
The popular BBC programme returned to our screens on Saturday morning (March 28), with Matt Tebbutt once again taking the reins.
Joining Matt on the show were culinary experts Theo Randall, Samin Nosrat and drinks connoisseur Helen McGinn. Strictly star Vito also popped in to whip up a dish, while singer Self Esteem, also known as Rebecca Lucy Taylor, made an appearance – with viewers voting on whether she would experience her version of food heaven or food hell.
However, it’s safe to say that Vito was the one who got tongues wagging, as some viewers seemed divided over the dancer’s presence on the show, with a few taking issue with his loud speaking.
On X, one viewer remarked: “Can’t stand the screeching at this time of the morning.” Another jested: “Can you speak a bit louder please – they can’t quite hear you in Naples…”, reports the Express.
A third wrote: “Vito should stick to dancing and you just know the miserable blonde guest is getting hell.”
Nevertheless, not all feedback was negative as other viewers rallied behind Vito, with one person commenting: “Such happy, bubbly chefs on today. Especially the lovely @Vito__Coppola Food looks delicious too.”
Another fan wrote: “Love Vito.” A third enthused: “Vito seems like such a lovely, upbeat fella.”
This follows Matt Tebbutt’s return to Saturday Kitchen this month after spending some time in Australia. Earlier in March, audiences saw The One Show’sAlex Jones take the presenter’s chair as she was accompanied by Mike Reid, Adejoké Bakare, Bryn Williams and special guest Phil Wang.
While Matt appeared on the programme the previous week, the BBC star confirmed it was a pre-recorded episode as he posted updates from Australia with his Instagram followers.
Nevertheless, the 52 year old presenter was back in charge once more in March as he paused to commend Alex for stepping in.
He remarked: “Before we go on with our usual nonsense, we should say how well Alex did last week. Well done, Alex Jones.”
Saturday Kitchen airs every Saturday at 10am on BBC One.
Lauren Betts arrived at UCLA unsure she could continue playing college basketball.
After a turbulent freshman season at Stanford almost took her out of the game entirely, she joined rising stars Gabriela Jaquez and Kiki Rice in Westwood.
Betts blossomed in three seasons as a Bruin, but none of her games were as special as the final one she played at Pauley Pavilion. During a second-round NCAA tournament win over Oklahoma State on Monday that at times was closer than many expected, Betts dropped a career-high 35 points and nine rebounds to lead UCLA to the Sweet 16.
“This community, the minute that I transferred over here, has just welcomed me with open arms,” Betts said. “The fans have just been so supportive of me through my entire journey, through my mental challenges, through just basketball, everything. I feel like I’ve grown so much, and they have really taken care of me here.
“It’s not even about basketball to me at this point. Like the people, like Coach Cori [Close] said, that we’ve been able to affect and just the difference that we’ve made, I think has been huge. And so for me, like, just to see all the people waving at us at the end of the game was really special.”
Suicide prevention and crisis counseling resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, seek help from a professional and call 9-8-8. The United States’ first nationwide three-digit mental health crisis hotline 988 will connect callers with trained mental health counselors. Text “HOME” to 741741 in the U.S. and Canada to reach the Crisis Text Line.
Betts wrote about her journey to joy on March 9 in The Players Tribune, the second time she has spoken or written in detail about her battle with depression and thoughts of taking her own life. She has become well known for not being afraid to be honest about her mental health challenges and being an advocate for those in need of support. It has endeared her to the UCLA community that’s embraced her, along with her teammates.
She wrote that her transparency about suicidal thoughts and an ensuing hospital stay midway through her sophomore season, first with her UCLA teammates, felt like a release from all the anxiety and self doubt that hounded her as she tried to live up to expectations at Stanford and UCLA.
“I want people to know that I’m doing better,” Betts wrote. “But I also want to be very realistic. My mental health isn’t perfect. It’s an ongoing project.”
UCLA center Lauren Betts, left, and teammate Charlisse Leger-Walker laugh together on the bench during Monday’s NCAA tournament game against Oklahoma State.
(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)
Her teammates are in awe of her efforts to be the best person she can on and off the floor.
“She makes everyone better not just because of the basketball player she is, but the leader she is,” said Gianna Kneepkens, a graduate student who transferred from Utah to UCLA. “She challenges us, she pushes us, she just wants what’s best for the team. When people are getting tripled, she’s not worried about, ‘Oh, like, can I get the points?’ She’s seeing who is open so that we can score. So I just have had such a great time playing with Lauren and she’s one of the biggest reasons I came here.”
During the Oklahoma State win, UCLA led from wire to wire. But the Cowgirls outscored the Bruins in the second half and the Bruins’ shooting fizzled out during a tense third quarter. Betts, however, didn’t falter.
Her 35 points came in just 34 minutes. She was 15 of 19 from the field and nearly reached a double-double with nine rebounds.
Betts had long established herself as one of the best players in the country, but she doesn’t lead the nation in scoring, in part, because UCLA is a balanced team with many scoring options. Her performance against Oklahoma State was a reminder that she is still the Bruins’ most formidable player and remains the heart of the program’s push to win a national championship.
“That [scoring is] always in her bag,” Jaquez said. “Maybe some nights she passes more, but that’s just what makes her so special. She’s going to win 99% of her matchups.”
UCLA’s offense runs through its star center even with some of the best shooters in the country. Their starting lineup spaces the floor, with former Washington State leading scorer Charlisse Leger-Walker as a fifth option.
“She puts a lot of pressure on herself a lot of the time and always blames herself when she shouldn’t be and no one else is thinking that way,” Leger-Walker said of Betts. “And I think over this past year, she’s really been working on trying to not do that so she can be the best she can for this team. We obviously need her to be confident, just being able to trust herself, because that is what is going to make our team so much better.”
UCLA center Lauren Betts shoots the ball during the Bruins’ NCAA tournament win over Oklahoma State at Pauley Pavilion on Monday.
(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)
There are games that often belong to someone else. Jaquez has turned in big games this season and Rice was the Big Ten tournament most outstanding player. The Bruins have featured six different leading scorers across all games this season.
But it still always comes back to Betts, who has been UCLA’s top scorer a team high 14 times.
“Lauren is one of those players that is always so dominant,” Leger-Walker said after the win over Oklahoma State. “I didn’t even know until she came out that she had 30-something [points.] I was like, ‘Yeah, what the heck?’ That’s just her, you know, she’s a bucket. And she’s gonna always be dominant in that fashion and she is just such an impact player for this team.”
Betts’ 27 minutes, 17.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game are slightly down from last season. Her 3.2 assists per game are slightly up. Her role, like many other UCLA players, has evolved to fit the star-studded lineup.
In the same way Leger-Walker went from a three-point sniper to a point guard or Rice went from a distributor to a shooter and Jaquez from a hoop driver to a three-level scorer, Betts transformed from a post-up only scorer to the conductor of the Bruins’ office in the middle of the floor.
“She anchors us on both ends, down in the paint, especially defensively,” Rice said. “Her ability to switch out on guards and play on the perimeter and help us out is really, really big. And obviously offensively, she’s such a big offensive player.”
If the Bruins do win a national title, it’ll be on the back of their star. Sure, UCLA is a team full of them, but Betts is still, as Jaquez describes her, “that girl.”
For one last run, Betts can be that for a community and team where she’s found not just acceptance, but true celebration.
“I think she’s found a really deep purpose,” Close said. “And when you can use your pain for great purpose and other centeredness to have an incredible legacy in the lives of others, that’s an incredible gift. But it’s a gift that she’s worked really, really hard for.”
Jeremy Spake became a firm favourite on the BBC series Airport, which first aired in 1996, and has since gone on to enjoy a successful media and aviation career before alleging workplace issues
Jeremy Spake first catapulted to fame an astonishing 30 years ago on the BBC series Airport(Image: BBC)
Jeremy Spake, who was first catapulted into the limelight an astonishing 30 years ago on the BBC series Airport, is now almost unrecognisable. The programme, similar to ITV’s own successful Airline, gave viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the daily workings of Heathrow Airport and the aircraft departing from there. Now 56, Jeremy was featured on the show in 1996 during his stint as a ground services manager for Russian airline Aeroflot.
He swiftly became a viewer favourite during his time on the show, which subsequently paved the way for additional television opportunities. He went on to host Toughest Jobs in Britain, a documentary series that followed workers in some of the UK’s most challenging and physically demanding roles, as well as the medical programme City Hospital.
He also authored two books, titled Jeremy’s Airport and The Toughest Job in Britain. Jeremy’s Airport drew from his experiences working at Heathrow, guiding readers through a typical week on the job, while The Toughest Job in Britain saw him reflect on some of the incredibly tough jobs he tackled while presenting the show.
While pursuing his media career, Jeremy was also steadily ascending the corporate ranks in his day job. Proficient in Russian, Jeremy eventually climbed to the position of services manager for Aeroflot before being promoted to Deputy Director of Isle of Man Airport.
Nevertheless, Jeremy chose to resign from his position at the Isle of Man airport, describing ‘bullying, harassment and mobbing on an almost industrial scale’ via his LinkedIn profile. Reports emerged in 2023 that he was pursuing legal action against the Isle of Man government for personal injuries, alleging damage to his mental wellbeing.
He subsequently fronted a six-episode documentary series aired on the BBC, The Airport: Back In The Skies. The fresh series witnessed Jeremy returning to his roots, reuniting with former colleagues, and examining closely how the sector was recovering following the coronavirus crisis.
Production for The Airport: Back In The Skies kicked off in October 2021, after approximately eighteen months of lockdown measures, travel restrictions, and vaccine passport requirements, while the airport was working to rebuild operations and restore full capacity.
Thankfully, Jeremy has never been one to stand on the sidelines and pitched in by helping to prepare a Boeing 737 for departure and lending a hand to holidaymakers stranded during the turmoil.
The television personality has also released his own audio book, Jeremy’s Airport Audio Book, which recounts the Airport narrative with extra commentary and fresh anecdotes that didn’t feature in the original BBC television programme. Adding another dimension to Jeremy’s repertoire, he now presents daily aviation updates on Instagram, for Air News Daily.
However, Jeremy now has a dramatically different look. His brown hair has disappeared as the star is now completely bald and he has swapped his smart goatee for a clean-shaven look. The website for the channel says: “Jeremy is a seasoned broadcaster and aviation professional with 40 years experience of working with some of the largest airlines and airports around the world and brings his unique insight to every show.”
