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Stars of China 2026 | Global Finance Magazine

Stars of China 2026 | Global Finance Magazine

Home Awards Award Winners Stars of China 2026

China’s Financial Sector Looks Abroad.

When the world thinks about China, it envisions dazzling cities, technological prowess, and the ubiquitous “Made in China” label. Less visible is the powerful financial industry that helps drive the nation’s economic growth.

But global awareness of China’s banks, asset managers, and other financial-sector firms is growing: driven by a government-led campaign called “baotuan chuhai” (“band together to expand overseas”), a sector-wide commitment to supporting domestic consumers in a challenging market, and the rapid adoption of pioneering digital solutions including AI.

The winners of Global Finance’s 2026 Stars of China awards play a key role in building the sector’s profile, often in more ways than one.

Trade finance, foreign exchange, and other services underpin the financial sector’s support for baotuan chuhai, which urges Chinese enterprises to work together to build industrial supply chains abroad. The campaign aims to establish overseas factories, warehouses, and logistics by leveraging Chinese financing and business-to-business collaboration. Consider three of the financial sector’s recent achievements in promoting Chinese business abroad.

Sustainable Finance Deal of the Year winner Bank of China sponsored a round-the-world roadshow this past summer to encourage internationalization of the renminbi and China’s CIPS system—an alternative to Swift—with stops in France, Chile, Kenya, and eight other countries.

Best Corporate Bank winner ICBC reported its international currency settlements volume grew 45% from January to June 2026. And Best Bank for Green Bonds winner China Merchants Bank issued $600 million in green bonds in September to fund a major expansion project at CATL, an international supplier of vehicle and storage batteries based in Fujian.

These efforts piggyback off long-running programs dominated by state banks, policy banks, and state-run corporations, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and China’s renminbi internationalization campaign. The Hong Kong Stock exchange and Southbound Stock Connect program have facilitated investments by qualified Chinese investors. Now, global payment and settlement services are expanding with guidance from the People’s Bank of China, whose Vice President Lu Lei laid out a goal in August for China to take the lead in elevating the world’s payments clearing industry. China is working with Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, and other jurisdictions to build a digital channel between the yuan and multiple other currencies for cross-border clearing.

Wu Wei, president of Hang Seng Bank (China), is among the bankers promoting a “global business layout” for Chinese companies. “More and more enterprises are moving toward a ‘going overseas system’ for assets to establish a complete supply chain for operating locally in target markets,” he told media outlet Sina Finance in August.

More foreign funds, meanwhile, are flowing into China. Last year, investors lined up for China’s first sovereign green bond, issued on the London Stock Exchange, and foreign bank-purchased panda bonds were expected to raise a record amount in 2026.

Yet, foreign investment levels pale beside the resources dispatched by China’s banks to support the homegrown science and technology sector, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the nation’s half-billion consumer households. Banks have also responded creatively to challenges tied to the AI race, a soft real estate market, and unstable trade relations with the U.S. and Europe. Consider two steps taken to bolster retail bank customers.

Best Consumer Bank award winner Postal Savings Bank of China is one of several institutions accommodating the accelerating movement of consumer funds from savings accounts into higher-yielding wealth management products. CITIC Group analysts predicted such products will grow 12% nationwide in 2026. And Best Consumer Lending award winner ICBC is encouraging home sales through mortgages arranged with property developers and real estate agencies.

“Meeting the needs of China’s consumers is a fundamental requirement for ICBC to uphold the political and people-centric nature of financial work,” a bank statement noted.

Digital tools, meanwhile, are streamlining financial operations across the board. China Construction Bank’s Huidongni app offers credit applications to its 11 million SME clients while YOUMY Family Office provides AI-powered advisory services. YOUMY Founder Song Ying said, “With risk management at the core, we leverage financial and legal tools to create value.”

Whether working abroad or at home, China’s value-building financial sector is getting more attention.

METHODOLOGY

Global Finance editors select the winners of the Stars of China awards using information provided in entries and independent research based on both objective and subjective factors. It is not necessary to enter to win, but an entry can provide details that may not be publicly available. The editors incorporate insights from executives, academics, and other industry experts. Judgments are based on performance from September 2025 to September 2026. We apply an algorithm to arrive at a numerical score on a 100-point scale. The algorithm incorporates criteria—including knowledge of local conditions and customers, financial strength and safety, strategic relationships, capital investment, and innovation in products and services—weighted for relative importance.

MEET THE WINNERS

A Chinese company with global reach and more than 1,000 upstream suppliers sought to strengthen its international competitiveness by overhauling its treasury department. Ready to help was ICBC, this year’s Best Corporate Bank award winner, a global treasury services provider for about 17,000 of its 14.4 million corporate customers. The bank resolved the company’s funds’ visibility, capital allocation, foreign exchange rate, and cross-border liquidity issues.

Treasury management is just one area of corporate banking where ICBC excels—and helps its clients grow, particularly Chinese companies expanding overseas. The bank has broadened its “Going Global” initiative by expanding credit support in trade finance; the volume of its international currency settlements grew 45% from January to June, underscoring its role in overseas corporate growth. As of June, ICBC’s corporate loan balance exceeded 18.5 trillion yuan. Last year, it disbursed corporate loans worth more than 10 trillion yuan and underwrote more than 560 billion yuan in corporate bonds.

BEST CONSUMER BANK

Postal Savings Bank of China (PSBC)

A retail consumer migration from bank savings accounts to bank-administered wealth management products has grown. The shift, promoted by government policy and encouraged by savings account rates hovering near zero, has helped drive growth and elevated customer service at Postal Savings Bank of China (PSBC), this year’s Best Consumer Bank.

PSBC serves the Main Street economy through some 40,000 outlets nationwide. It has about 681 million clients and that number is growing. Total assets increased 9% year-on-year to 18.6 trillion yuan in 2025 while assets under management climbed to 18.3 trillion yuan, due partly to wealth management expansion. That growth has been encouraged by PSBC’s development of urban wealth management and private banking centers for high-end clients. It also improved wealth management services for retail clients, addressing the bank’s mission to serve every facet of the income spectrum.

BEST BANK FOR SUPPLY CHAIN FINANCE

Guangfa

In China, a typical manufacturer’s supply chain includes geographically dispersed suppliers with a range of credit profiles that can lead to long waits for bank loan approvals. China Guangfa Bank has addressed this challenge by streamlining credit processing with timesaving, industry-leading techniques, earning it the Best Bank for Supply Chain Finance award.

The bank’s innovation dovetails with its mission to support industrial chain finance as a means of bolstering the nation’s economy. Guangfa has streamlined its credit process by setting credit limits according to groups of enterprise subsidiaries and affiliates, using fintech to slash loan processing to 24 hours from 72 hours. It also expanded cooperative links to all of China’s joint-stock commercial banks. Beyond credit processing, it offers a comprehensive supply chain finance platform, Guangfutong, and E-Chain Discounting, a settlements service, which cuts bill management costs for suppliers.

BEST AI STRATEGY IN BANKING

China Merchants Bank (CMB)

The strategy was simple: China Merchants Bank (CMB) set a course for excellence in digital finance by edopting an “AI First” philosophy. In doing so, CMB has promoted AI development and application at all levels to improve workflow, risk management, and retail finance, earning it the Best Bank in AI Strategy award.

The impact of AI First is reflected in, for example, a tenfold increase in average daily token throughput handled by CMB’s 80,000-plus staffers between 2024 and 2025. That was the result of giving 450 employees AI tools through the bank’s FinGPT Large Model Creative Center. A digital assistance system that streamlines communication between middle-office and public-facing staffers topped 3.79 million questions and answers in 2025 while improvements in risk management prevented more than 540,000 suspected telecom fraud transactions. Moreover, CMB credits AI with driving wealth management product growth, boosting bond underwriting, and increasing the value of the bank’s corporate wealth management business to an industry-leading 600 billion yuan.

BEST PANDA BOND ARRANGER

DBS China

Investor appetite for China’s foreigner-friendly panda bonds was expected to hit a record high in 2026; with analysts predicting that total volume would top 200 billion yuan. Supporting and benefiting from the feeding frenzy is DBS China, voted the Best Panda Bond Arranger.

With a quarter-century of experience in Chinese debt capital markets, the subsidiary of Singapore’s DBS ranked first among foreign banks in panda bond issues for financial institutions and sovereign governments. The business is healthy; last year, the bank participated in nine issues worth a total of 35 billion yuan for Barclays Bank, Malaysia’s CIMB Bank, and others. DBS China served as joint lead underwriter on a 5.5-billion-yuan bond issue for Deutsche Bank in March and a 7 billion-yuan bond issue for the Republic of Indonesia four months later.

It’s a mark of creativity as well as a sign of the times when a bank taps China’s data center buildout for debt instruments. ICBC has done exactly that by arranging the use of data center cabinet leases as underlying assets for asset-backed securities (ABS), helping the bank win the Best Debt Bank award.

The digital-age securitization project was launched last year as a new financing model and the first green, ownership-type real estate ABS for China’s fast-growing data center industry. Debt financing is an ICBC specialty. Between April 2025 and March 2026, it successfully closed 208 debt financing projects, including 26 ABS deals, in sectors including transportation, energy, local government, logistics, and tourism. ICBC has a special knack for adjusting to new markets; for example, it tapped into the value of intellectual property assets by turning intangible assets into financing capital. In another recent ABS project, it helped finance energy-saving upgrades for a heavy-equipment manufacturer.

BEST EQUITY CAPITAL MARKETS BANK

Shanghai Pudong Development Bank

A closely regulated equities trading arrangement lets international investors in China buy Shanghai- and Shenzhen-listed stocks and mainland investors buy Hong Kong-listed shares. To encourage this so-called northbound and southbound investment arrangement—and steer funds into science and technology firms—Shanghai Pudong Development Bank recently launched the Hong Kong-Shanghai Innovation and Technology Incubator, securing it the Best Equity Capital Markets Bank award.

With locations in Shanghai and Hong Kong, the project is designed to build a financial services system promoting science and technology innovation and investment road shows, with the goal of raising capital through markets on both sides of the border. The initiative is also a means of enhancing cross-border financial development. Appropriately, the kickoff gathering was timed to coincide with the opening of an SPDB branch in Hong Kong.

INVESTMENT BANKING DEAL OF THE YEAR

Unitree

Investors clamored for shares at the August stock-market debut of Unitree Robotics, whose humanoid robots famously boxed for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and played ping-pong at the recent World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. A key player behind the scenes of the highly successful IPO was lead underwriter CITIC Securities, winner of the Investment Banking Deal of the Year award.

The prospectus noted that Unitree, the international name for Yushu Technology Co., received its first CITIC investment in 2024. The bank then helped raise more than 6 billion yuan on the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s STAR Market, which focuses on technology stocks, exceeding Unitree’s 4.2 billion-yuan target. Unitree is one of many CITIC success stories in the tech sector; in the first half of this year, the firm reported equity underwritings totaling 20.7 billion yuan on the STAR Market.

SUSTAINABLE FINANCE DEAL OF THE YEAR

Bank of China

Investor demand vastly exceeded expectations for China’s first sovereign green bond issue on the London Stock Exchange’s International Securities Market. A key partner for the successful Ministry of Finance fundraiser—Global Finance’s Sustainable Finance Deal of the Year—was Bank of China.

Along with other institutions, BOC served as a joint bookrunner, joint lead manager, and green structuring advisor for the April 2025 issuance, which raised 41.58 billion yuan, nearly seven times more than expected. The oversubscription highlighted strong investor interest in supporting the Chinese government’s green initiatives as well as the bank’s skills as a green bond underwriter with global clout. BOC ranked first on the interbank market in 2025 for underwriting volume with more than 428 billion yuan in domestic green bond issues.

MOST INNOVATIVE ASSET MANAGER

Taikang Asset Management

Applying AI solutions to the financial challenges of an aging population is a skill in high demand in China and mastered by Shanghai-based Taikang Asset Management, winner of the Most Innovative Asset Manager award.

The firm, a subsidiary of Taikang Insurance Group, has adopted an AI-enhanced approach to research that has yielded efficiency gains deepened insight into the market. It has also injected real-time, AI-powered data analysis into fund settlement while integrating a fund clearing system and investment management platform, resulting in less risk and more accurate investment decisions. Beyond AI improvements, Taikang has embraced a central government call to shore up pension finance.

As of June, the firm was managing 1.4 trillion yuan in annuity funds and basic pension funds, serving provinces and municipalities across the country. Additionally, Taikang’s investments also support retirement communities and about 40 health care companies. Looking to the technological future, the firm recently announced a plan to apply AI tools to grow its pension finance business.

BEST BANK FOR OVERSEAS BRANCH SERVICES

CITIC

Given China’s cross-border capital controls, credit card purchases can be complicated for the hundreds of thousands of Chinese students attending universities and other schools overseas. That’s why China CITIC Bank recently upgraded a credit card program specifically for youths studying abroad and their families, garnering the Best Bank for Overseas Branch Services award.

When it was launched in 2023, the “Youth Bank” program offered a Visa card only. But in August, CITIC expanded the study-abroad program’s services to cover students aged 14 and up. It added American Express, Union Pay, and Mastercard, including cash-back schemes, foreign exchange fee waivers, and other perks. Moreover, parents can monitor and control spending. The international arm of CITIC Bank operates a limited number of overseas branches in New York, Los Angeles, London, Singapore, and Hong Kong, but Chinese students can swipe and tap anywhere their Youth Bank credit card is accepted.

STAR OF HONG KONG

China Construction Bank (Asia)

In areas from cross-border wealth management to renminbi internationalization, Hong Kong financial institutions have embraced the city’s first five-year plan for economic and social development, which formally launched in September. Leading the banking sector in support of the plan is this year’s Star of Hong Kong, China Construction Bank (Asia).

As the Hong Kong branch of a mainland giant, CCB (Asia) functions as a bridge between Chinese enterprises and international markets through automated cross-border settlements, by servicing Belt and Road Initiative projects. It is also the top payment agent and trustee for offshore bonds issued by mainland enterprises. The bank also boasts 17% of market share for mainland-to-Hong Kong wealth management investment flows, complementing the five-year plan’s goal of bolstering Hong Kong as a center for cross-border wealth management. CCB (Asia) reported a 91% year-over-year increase in total new retail customers in 2025.

BEST CONSUMER LENDING BANK

ICBC

Stabilizing the country’s wobbly property market and stimulating consumption are near the top of a state-directed list of priorities for banks across China. Leading the financial industry’s charge is ICBC, hands-down the Best Consumer Lending Bank.

The wide array of credit products and services offered by ICBC underscores its commitment in the consumer space. An example is the Housing Ecosystem-plus portfolio, which includes loans for home renovation, parking space, and property auction loan packages. The bank also supports property market stability by offering mortgages in cooperation with property developers and real estate agencies. Its retail finance products include an online- and offline-available digitized loan application tool that can generate an answer for a client in seconds.

ICBC is paying special attention to fresh university graduates, the elderly, and consumers who migrate to urban centers from rural areas. Working with auto manufacturers, it promotes loans to consumers who swap older vehicles for new rides. Between January and June, the bank’s total personal loans rose 100 billion yuan to more than 8 trillion yuan.

BEST BANK FOR M&A

China Merchants Bank (CMB)

By steering a home appliance manufacturer deep into the intelligent auto components business, China Merchants Bank (CMB) has proved its mettle as a leading driver of mergers & acquisitions, making it the winner of the Best Bank for M&A award.

Haier Group’s 2025 acquisition of a controlling stake in Autohome is just one of several high-stakes deals arranged by CMB in the past year. The flurry of activity, generating deal-making volume of more than 250 billion yuan, points to what the bank as a friendlier policy environment for M&A and a boom for business integration in China over the past year.

CMB arranged a syndicated loan for the privatization of Dongfeng Motor, an asset restructuring for coal giant China Shenhua, and Xinchao Energy’s takeover by Inner Mongolia Yitai Coal. Setting the stage for future deals, CMB this year upgraded its Investment Advisor platform to better facilitate equity financing roadshows. The platform serves as a communication channel for buyers and sellers, offering planning, transaction design, financing scheme building, and due diligence support.

BEST BANK FOR BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION

Bohai Bank

Eleven years have passed since the cities of Beijing and Tianj in joined nearby Hebei Province in a cooperative push to strengthen the regional economy, which boasts an 11.5 trillion-yuan GDP and a population of more than 100 million. In May, Bank of Beijing adjusted its focus and injected fresh impetus through an agreement with Tianjin-based Bohai Bank, earning it the Best Bank for Business Transformation award.

Bank of Beijing is the two-bank agreement’s big brother, with total assets of 4.7 trillion, more than twice that of Bohai Bank. At a signing ceremony in Tianjin, Bank of Beijing President Dai Wei reportedly said he “looks forward to comprehensively deepening multi-field business collaboration with Bohai Bank, deepening pragmatic cooperation, and achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.”

Together, the banks pledged to cooperate in areas including corporate finance, syndicated loans, transaction banking, and wealth management. The goal is to further develop the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region by collaborating on financing regional infrastructure construction, industrial upgrading, environmental protection, and public services.

BEST PRIVATE BANK

Bank of China

China’s private banking clients are on the move, traveling for business and pleasure around the world. Bank of China has them always covered through a mobile platform and related services, contributing to its profile as Best Private Bank.

BOC offers face-to-face interaction with its bankers and investment advisors at more than 200 private banking centers in mainland cities as well as Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, and London. Since January, it has offered worldwide access to services through its Global Personal Financial Services, which integrates the bank’s mainland mobile banking platform and a globally accessible platform linked to its Hong Kong subsidiary.

Services at the client’s fingertips include an overview of cross-border accounts and customized asset allocations, remittances, and localized services in more than 10 countries outside China. BOC’s private banking base has accordingly grown to 216,900 clients with a combined 3.4 trillion yuan in assets under management.

BEST PRIVATE BANK FOR SUSTAINABLE INVESTING

Bank of Communications

Private banking and China’s largest mangrove forest are growing together thanks to Bank of Communications, winner of the Best Bank for Sustainable Investing award. The bank is leveraging its 1.43 trillion yuan in assets under management to support marine protection projects in the Zhanjiang Mangrove National Nature Reserve, a refuge for hundreds of bird species in otherwise heavily developed Guangdong Province.

Conservation is one of BOCOM Private Bank’s six areas of charitable services, complementing rural revitalization, assistance for the disabled, support for the elderly and children, cultural and education grants, and medical assistance. These services contribute to the bank’s mission to support client aspirations both for wealth accumulation and giving back.

BEST PRIVATE BANK FOR ENTREPRENEURS

China Construction Bank

Given their grueling work schedules, dedicated entrepreneurs can use a private bank that addresses personal lifestyle as well as business needs. Over the past year, China Construction Bank has upgraded its integrated services for business owners with the pledge to cover “personal, family, corporate, and social needs,” winning the Best Private Bank for Entrepreneurs award.

The upgraded contributed to adding nearly 100,000 entrepreneurs as clients. Growth areas include credit products for entrepreneurs with mid-sized and large enterprises, controlling shareholders of listed companies, founders of tech start-ups, and owners of industrial chains. On the personal side, CCB offers various trusts, health management and travel services. On the business side are customized asset allocation, equity financing, and capital-markets investment support. CCB has also beefed up its digital platform with a dedicated e-Private Banking service for entrepreneurs that’s slashed the time needed for client solutions in areas including investment banking and trust data channels.

BEST PRIVATE BANK FOR ULTRA-HIGH NET WORTH INDIVIDUALS

Ping An Bank

The famous saying about wealthy families, “shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations” is now being tested in China, where younger generations are inheriting wealth earned after the reform-and-opening-up period began in 1978. Ping An Bank, winner of the Best Bank for Ultra-High Net Worth Individuals, aims to help families prosper well beyond the third generation through its network of family offices.

In addition to offering financial and lifestyle-related services, the family office division of Ping An’s private bank promotes family spirit and inheritance through a raft of personalized services. Wealth and health management, philanthropy, children’s education services, and tax planning are among the offerings. At the end of 2025, Ping An reported serving a substantial number of ultra-high net worth individuals among its 105,600 private bank clients, with more than 1.9 trillion yuan in assets under management.

BEST WEALTH MANAGEMENT PROVIDER

YOUMY Family Office

AI-powered advisory services driven by a buy-side mindset have contributed mightily to growth and performance for YOUMY Family Office, Global Finance’sj choice for Best Wealth Management Provider. The Shanghai-based firm serves thousands of clients from China’s so-called emerging affluent class along with some 500 ultra – high net worth families.

Assets under management at the Shanghai-based firm jumped 32% to $2.1 billion between 2024 and 2025. This propelled a 44% increase in total revenue over that period and including a jump in assets from the high-net worth and ultra-high net worth client categories. YOUMY’s proprietary advisory navigation system for its office consultants and clients—the so-called “C System”—integrates budget simulators and securities portfolio advice. The firm has also embedded AI into office teams.

BEST BANK FOR SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE

Bank of China

Waste-to-energy and recycling projects are gaining traction as part of China’s “zero-waste cities” initiative, whose goals include landfill waste reduction. Deeply involved in these and other, sustainability projects is Bank of China, recognized as Best Bank for Sustainable Infrastructure.

BOC participated in raising 300 million yuan last year for a company that builds end-to-end waste treatment systems and currently handles more than 13 million tons of urban waste annually. The bank’s sustainable infrastructure contributions range from Yangtze River and Yellow River conservation projects to emissions reduction efforts in the Greater Bay Area to the Yulin water diversion project. BOC’s total green lending balance surpassed 4.96 trillion yuan last year. Beyond China, it promotes global best practices in sustainable development and is working to facilitate international cooperation on sustainability in 64 countries.

BEST BANK FOR GREEN BONDS

China Merchants Bank

It’s been a big year for green bonds at China Merchants Bank, winner of the Best Bank for Green Bonds award. Highlights include the first-ever bonds supporting emissions controls at China’s seaports; a bond issue to facilitate the installation of low-carbon streetlights and sewer improvements in rural areas; and bonds to benefit the giant battery manufacturer CATL, aimed at expanding production, solid-state battery research, and battery recycling infrastructure.

Through the year ending March 31, CMB participated in 64 green bond projects with total issuance volume worth nearly 123 billion yuan. Its 41 corporate clients allocated the proceeds for wind power, pumped power storage, industrial waste recycling, clean urban transportation, and low-carbon industrial parks. Other projects reflecting CMB’s commitment to sustainability include a 2 billion-yuan Shanghai International Port Group bond issue, which supports a project to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 321,000 tons annually.

China Construction Bank

It’s been 16 years since China Construction Bank became the first among its domestic peers to formulate a complete strategy for social responsibility. Today, CCB continues to lead in serving the public, supporting environmental protection, and pursuing sustainable development, earning it the Best Bank for Corporate Social Responsibility award.

CCB has organized its head office and branch staff members to volunteer for a program that dispatches special healthcare vehicles and caregivers for pregnant women in poor, remote areas. Through the program, titled Health Express for Mothers, the bank donated 101 million yuan for 654 vehicles in 25 provinces last year. The bank financially supports environmental protection in the Sanjianyuan National Park as well as education programs for needy children. It has also been deeply involved in relief efforts following the 2025 Wang Fuk Court residential complex fire in Hong Kong. Each program is backed by a Social Responsibility and Consumer Protection Committee under the CCB Board of Directors.

MOST INNOVATIVE BANK

ICBC

Retail bank customers in China requiring human interaction often wait in long lines for turns at a teller window. But a high-tech solution to long waits, called Remote Teller Service, is providing an alternative at about 15,000 branches of ICBC, winner of the Most Innovative Bank award.

The system gives any customer who can operate a simple computer rapid access to an array of services. While seated at a branch outlet workstation, the customer can access their account through facial recognition and interact with a live teller through videoconferencing. It’s highly efficient; a single remote teller can cover up to eight outlets. Transfers, credit applications, corporate account adjustments, and access to more than 30 wealth management products are some of the services available. Processes that used to take hours are now completed in minutes, with no line.

BEST INNOVATION IN PAYMENTS

AsiaPay

China’s leadership in emissions control policymaking has the backing of the country’s financial sector, particularly from public-facing firms like payment services provider AsiaPay. The Hong Kong-based digital solutions vendor now offers thousands of retailers a way to offset their purchases’ carbon footprints, earning AsiaPay the Best Innovation in Payments prize.

The firm’s year-old GreenPay Ecosystem initiative offers a unique “carbon emissions API” that integrates sustainability metrics into payments, allowing merchants and consumers to track their contribution to carbon offsetting. The API calculates the carbon impact of a purchase and presents the data to the consumer at the point of payment. The consumer then has the option to make a carbon offset payment, such as a roundup, via credit card or digital wallet. To date, AsiaPay reports it has recorded a 28% user engagement rate, significantly higher than the industry average for carbon offset prompts.

BEST INNOVATION IN FINTECH

China Construction Bank

Strong innovation in digital finance begins with a strong foundation. China Construction Bank has built that by computing platform incorporating AI, big data, and cloud-native architecture. Adding to CCB’s digital strengths is a project backed by the People’s Bank of China that incorporates the AI operating system GraphBus into the bank’s fintech departments. In recognition of these achievements, CCB takes China’s Best Bank for Innovation in Fintech.

The platform’s advantages range from streamlining the work of CCB’s 12,000-member research and development staff to incorporating AI across the entire application-review-approval process for the bank’s corporate credit portfolio, amounting to some 57 trillion yuan. GraphBus works with CCB’s mature systems to keep business knowledge, control rules, and operational assets under one roof. Underscoring the bank’s leadership is an offer to fintech peers: CCB announced in its Stars of China entry that it is “willing to share its fintech innovation development ideas and large-scale practical experience with global peers.”

BEST TRANSACTION BANK

China Guangfa Bank

Proficiency at preventing bottlenecks in supply chain financing sets China Guangfa Bank apart as winner of the Best Transaction Bank award.

For clients up and down industrial supply chains, as well as state-owned enterprises, Guangfa builds financial ecosystems in cooperation with government authorities and clients. It has built interconnections with more than 10 mainstream third-party supply chain platforms and is working on further connections with the self-built platforms of major state-owned enterprises and leading industrial enterprises.

The bank’s Guangfutong service is a one-stop, comprehensive supply chain finance platform for enterprises and suppliers, integrating factoring, forfaiting, commercial acceptance bill discounts, and letters of credit. The service has cut the time needed for commercial bill discounting to three hours while a bill acceptance payment now takes only 10 minutes.

BEST SME SERVICES BANK

China Construction Bank

A manufacturer of industrial bearings. A commercial chrysanthemum grower. A printing plant. These are a few of the enterprises highlighted in a promotional video for China Construction Bank’s Huidongni mobile app, whose success story helps explain its selection as Best SME Services Bank.

Mobile business solutions supporting a wide range of small and medium-sized enterprises contributed to CCB’s outstanding credit balance of more than 12 trillion yuan as of March; more than 11 million SMEs use the app, accounting for about 23% of total loans to such businesses by China’s Big Six state banks.

Huidongni was a Chinese banking industry first when it was launched in 2018. Since then, the app has streamlined processing loan applications for up to 10 million yuan as well as the approval, disbursement, and repayment processes. Altogether, it currently serves about 16 million SMEs. Moreover, CCB serves its SME clients—particularly high-tech firms—with a comprehensive equity investment and financing service system to help raise funds through capital markets.

BEST ASSET MANAGER

SPDB International Investment Management

Navigating an intricate regulatory landscape is all in a day’s work for asset management firms doing business in China. Even more navigation falls to China’s offshore asset management firms, including SPDB International Investment Management, winner of the Best Asset Manager award.

A subsidiary of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, SPDBI has delivered outstanding returns while embracing complex cross-border programs such as China’s Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor scheme, Limited Partnership Funds in primary markets, and Open-ended Fund Companies in Hong Kong’s secondary markets. On the mainland, the firm manages equity investments and yuan-denominated industrial funds.

SPDBI’s segregated account mandates total US$930 million while its U.S.-dollar money market fund has delivered weekly yields of 4% and its mainland-Hong Kong equities investment fund posted a 29% annualized return rate in January.

BEST BANK FOR RMB INTERNATIONALIZATION

DBS Bank

DBS is this year’s champion in China’s ongoing campaign to accelerate acceptance of the renminbi, or yuan, as a go-to for international transactions. Together with DBS (China), its mainland subsidiary, and DBS Hong Kong, the Singapore-based bank has built strong onshore-offshore linkages to facilitate renminbi flows. These include seamless cross-border flows for Chinese companies with offshore entities, access to trade financing for financial institutions, clearing services, and foreign-investor access to Chinese markets.

Mainland clients benefiting from DBS’s commitment to renminbi internationalization range from a global e-commerce auto parts supplier to the offshore metals-trading arm of a Chinese state-owned energy group to a Chinese automation company’s subsidiary in India. DBS participates directly in the Cross-border Interbank Payment System (CIPS), the Chinese alternative to Swift, providing clients with flexible and efficient cross-border renminbi rails. For DBS, the reward is offshore renminbi cash deposits that grew 61% and non-resident alien loan balances that skyrocketed 259% between 2025 and 2026.

BEST BANK FOR BELT AND ROAD

ICBC

Green is the color of the financing engine powering ICBC’s success as Best Bank for Belt and Road. From a green intercity train line serving São Paulo to green construction practices for The New Capital office towers near Cairo, the bank supports environmentally friendly projects around the world through Belt and Road, China’s 14-year-old initiative to widen its reach in global trade and infrastructure.

ICBC has taken the lead in financing hundreds of Belt and Road projects in multiple sectors across 70 countries, making it the leader in total investment and financing through green loans and green bond underwriting. A standout example is a US$9.6 billion polyethylene complex under construction in Kazakhstan. The complex aims to help reduce emissions by utilizing gas that is currently flared at a nearby oil field and help Kazakhstan cut its imports of plastics. For the project, ICBC is leading a bank syndicate and working with Chinese contractors.

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SHOW BIZ

How stars like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley & Emily Ratajkowski are taking ‘less is more’ approach with eye-popping gowns

Nov 8, 2026 News Desk

Collage of four women in revealing gowns.

DARE to bare was the theme of the night for the planet’s sexiest women as they stunned in these eye-popping dresses.

A-listers left little to the imagination at the LACMA Art+Film Gala, where the biggest surprise of the evening was Kim Kardashian arriving in a Gucci gown which was uncharacteristically modest by comparison.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who last month parted ways with M&S lingerie after 14 years, chose a look that needed no undies at all.

The 39-year-old British model made a big impact in a backless, black Gucci gown with an ultra-high leg slit.

The raised collar gave the appearance of a demure floor-length dress from the front, but when she turned round, Rosie revealed her bum.

Never one to miss an opportunity to flash some flesh, model Emily Ratajkowski, 35, sizzled in a white halter-neck Gucci number, which was slashed on the thigh and across her chest.

ROO REVERSAL

Rooney’s move to prepare for jungle revealed – and it’s opposite of Coleen’s

BRA-VO

Celebs cashing in with Christamas lingerie from Sydney Sweeney to Maura Higgins

Also on the red carpet at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art was actress Amber Valetta, 52, in a backless gown complete with yet another thigh slit and a silver Gucci insignia.

Models Iris Law and Candice Swanepoel and US influencer Alix Earle all shimmered in silver at the charity gala on Saturday, which was sponsored by Gucci and co-chaired by Leonardo DiCaprio.

Iris, 26, was the boldest in a metallic mesh Amaramara dress, which had a thin strip covering her chest but had her rear end in full view.

Alix, 25, wore a Gucci thong halter bodysuit, draped in floor-length crystal tassels, to show off her bottom, back and sideboob.

And Candice, 38, went commando in a crystal Gucci design, which had two front slits so high that she was one gust of wind away from a paparazzi catastrophe.

Another head-turner — though not because of the amount of skin on show — was actress Anya Taylor-Joy, 30.

The Dune: Part Three star wore an off-white vintage Pierre Cardin gown with an extravagantly layered organza shawl.

Anya’s Style Queen

By Emily Regan Sun Stylist

AFTER a summer of near-naked fashion dividing critics, it seems the cut-out trend isn’t going anywhere despite the drop in temperature.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley proved she can push the boundaries in attention-grabbing Gucci.

With an almost entirely open back that revealed her toned physique and bottom, Rosie’s floral M&S collections suddenly seem a distant memory.

Fellow Victoria’s Secret Angel Candice Swanepoel also got the balance right. Her sparkly gown featured dramatic shoulder pads, which balanced out the plunging neckline and thigh-high slits.

A daring but sophisticated look.

Meanwhile, Alix Earle and Iris Law played a risque game in barely-there silver dresses.

But for me, the standout looks of the night came from the celebrities who chose to keep things a little more under wraps.

Anya Taylor-Joy brought the drama in a vintage floor-length column gown, by Pierre Cardin, which had a ruffled organza shawl.

The Queen’s Gambit actress made a big statement without a bum in sight.

Meanwhile, Nicole Kindman, 59, embraced the ballet-core trend, wearing a voluminous Chanel tulle dress with a taupe long-sleeved, open-back bodice.

Top Gun: Maverick star Monica Barbaro, 36, kept things tasteful in a white sequin Dior gown with a circular cutout back.

Proof you can still turn heads on the red carpet without flashing your flesh.

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Celebrity Traitors star reveals ‘military’ procedure BBC take to sneak stars out of Scottish castle

Nov 2, 2026 News Desk

JOANNE McNally has revealed the regimental methods used to remove banished players from The Celebrity Traitors castle.

Asked by Vogue Williams on their podcast My Therapist Ghosted Me, Joanne explained precisely what happens once they are asked to leave the round table.

“When you leave, what happens? You just left and go home?” asked Vogue.

“So you get off the podium, they rush you out the side door and you’re bundled into a van like Whitney Houston in the Bodyguard,” Joanne explained. “You have a little backpack there, it’s like an emergency backpack in the castle at all times so that if it’s the night that you do go you have your essentials.

“And then you’re taken to a different hotel.”

Joanne – who was banished on the penultimate episode of the second season of The Celebrity Traitors, after the other players wrongfully accused her of conspiring against the Faithful – explained that she was then sent back to the castle the next day.

TOP THREE

Maya Jama reveals which Celeb Traitors stars she would have picked to be Traitors

‘IT’S GIVING LOBOTOMY’

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“You actually have a full day’s work to do in the castle because you have to do all your B-shots and there was a video of me in the bath, so it’s all that stuff and your final interviews.

“I always wondered why in the castle if you needed to go to the bathroom or anything it’s this big kind of production.

“It’s because they have to make sure the castle is clear and there’s not people who’ve been banished the night before because they were in the castle doing all their extra last bits of work.

“So they were making sure no one crossed paths. It’s such a huge production and they run it so military!”

Meanwhile, co-star James Acaster has revealed the moment he “should have walked out” of the show before filming was halted.

The comedian left viewers shocked in the penultimate episode when he changed the whole game by outing himself as a Traitor in a tense round table – after Michael Sheen pointed the finger at him and Maya Jama.

James’ shock admission that he was a Celebrity Traitor on the show left him so distraught filming was halted.

Welfare staff checked on the comic before the Round Table vote but he crumbled as Faithful Michael Sheen finally rumbled him — forcing producers to step in.

Now, James has revealed that he had considered quitting the castle even earlier in the series, when the celebs took part in a mission that forced them to be buried alive in coffins.

James shared that he was “really scared” during the coffin mission and should have gotten out then.

He told Far Out Magazine: “I was lying there thinking, actually, I think I’m really scared of this. As soon as the soil was heaped on top, Bella did say, ‘Imagine if they can’t get us out.”

During the mission, Jerry Hall decided to quit the mission, and James said: “She didn’t like it. She didn’t like, well, none of us liked it.

“I respect Jerry the most because Jerry just went, ‘I’m not doing this.’ Like, are you kidding me? And the rest of us were just like, ‘We want to win Traitors in our coffins, idiots.’

“We should have just done what – as soon as I heard Jerry got out, I should have said to Bella, ‘I’m getting out, forget it.’ If it’s a free-for-all now, we should all get out. They can’t stop us all. We could all do it.”

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Maya Jama reveals which Celebrity Traitors stars she would have picked to be Traitors

Nov 1, 2026 News Desk

MAYA Jama has revealed who of her co-stars from The Celebrity Traitors she would select to be her fellow Traitor if she was in charge of choosing.

The TV star, who was paired with Richard E Grant, Hannah Fry, James Acaster and King Kenny as Traitors across the recent season, kept herself in the mix, as well as just one of the others.

The third may shock fans.

Speaking to Elle, she said: “If I could go right back to the beginning and pick my own three traitors, I would pick me.

“I think Richard I would keep and just delete the fact that he told everyone he was a Traitor.

“And Miranda I think would have been great if she was chosen from day one.”

‘IT’S GIVING LOBOTOMY’

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OH MAYA

King Kenny parties with Maya Jama at Halloween bash after secret stays over emerge

Some might be surprised to hear she’d choose Miranda Hart over King Kenny, who she grew close to on the show.

Kenny was spotted partying the night away at her Halloween bash with a host of other celebrities – hours after being spotted leaving her £1.5m flat.

The Sun exclusively revealed that Maya let her fellow traitor Kenny stay at her £1.5 million North London flat for two nights — including the tense finale on Friday night.

After wrapping up with his fellow contestants, Kenny was spotted arriving back at Maya’s pad in time to watch the show air on BBC1 at 8pm.

Pictures shared by both celebs on the same day appeared to show the same curtains in the background, believed to be in Maya’s home.

But despite Maya hosting Kenny at her home, a source close to Maya said that romance is “not on the cards”.

The source said: “Maya and Kenny are just friends. There is nothing romantic between them.

“Kenny has been firmly on the sofa this week and the pair find it hilarious that their relationship could be anything else.

“They’ve seen fans of the show talking about them online and find it really funny, but romance has not and is not on the cards.

“Maya has a group of friends staying with her at the moment and Kenny has also been coming to hang out with them.

“They’ve all been watching the Traitors final together, as well as getting their costumes ready for the Halloween party tonight.

“They are genuinely really good friends and built a stronger bond through being on Traitors together.

“Maya is single and enjoying spending time with her friends as well as working right now.”

Maya has been single since splitting from Portugal and Man City footballer Ruben Dias earlier this year after 18 months together.

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Stars of hit BBC sitcom Motherland to go head-to-head this Christmas as rival mums land roles in festive TV ads

Nov 1, 2026 News Desk

THEY rarely saw eye to eye at the school gates in hit BBC sitcom Motherland.

And now its stars Anna Maxwell Martin and Lucy Punch go head-to-head in a battle of the Christmas TV ads.

Line Of Duty actress Anna is the star of this year’s Tesco Christmas advert, while Lucy is set to be the face of the coveted M&S festive campaign.

Anna, who played beleaguered Julia in Motherland, is faced with a Christmas crisis playing Lizzie in the Tesco commercial, when she accidentally orders her food to be delivered to an old address.

However Tesco delivery driver Polly, played by Roisin Conaty, offers to help her old school friend make sure that Christmas dinner makes it to the table in time for the big day.

Anna said: “We’ve all been there. In the stress to get everything perfect at Christmas, suddenly you realise you’ve somehow only ordered one singular sprout, totally forgotten wrapping paper or sent a delivery to the wrong address.

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“I’m really pleased to be part of a production that acknowledges that while we can all strive for our ‘perfect’ Christmas, it is in fact human connection that truly helps to make Christmas magic.”

I previously revealed how Lucy — best known as Amanda in Motherland and its spin-off, Amandaland — is set to be the face of M&S’s first ever joint fashion and food festive promo.

She will replace comic Dawn French, who has featured in the chain’s TV food ads since 2022.

A source said: “Amandaland is one of the most popular shows on telly right now, and bosses thought it would be really fun to cast Lucy in their Christmas ad to promote both their food and fashion ranges.”

Comedian Roisin also has a link to last year’s Waitrose Christmas adverts, which starred Joe Wilkinson’s love-struck character Phil, who falls in love with Keira Knightley.

Roisin and Joe played couple Roxy and Pat in Ricky Gervais’s hit Netflix series Afterlife.

Never mind TV Christmas specials — it’s clear the ads are now the real stars of the show.

DOM’S TOUCH OF CLASS

DOMINIC COOPER has given an insight into the sizzling sex scenes on ITV series Adultery.

The Mamma Mia! actor and Romola Garai play the roles of Tom and Beth, who have an affair in the six-episode series after meeting through their teenage children.

Of the steamy scenes, Dominic praised the intimacy co-ordinators, saying: “They have helped tremendously in what are such difficult bits of the film, and they put them together beautifully.

“They really do understand it because they have studied it and a little touch can mean so much more.

“Before you used to see two actors go, ‘Well, this is what I do at home’. Then they just jump on.”

IT’S ALL FRIGHT ON THE NIGHT

BROOKLYN and Nicola Peltz Beckham gave Tarzan and Jane a run for their money as they dressed up for Halloween.

David and Victoria Beckham’s eldest son and his actress wife posed in matching leopard print.

Meanwhile, Pete Wicks and Olivia Attwood transformed into Gotham City baddies The Joker and his sidekick Harley Quinn in London’s Covent Garden this week.

Amanda Holden looked super-scary as she dressed up as Netflix axe “killer” Lizzie Borden from hit crime drama Monster.

Elsewhere Rita Ora paid homage to Dolly parton for a Halloween bash in New York and Fearne Cotton posed in a wacky brain costume.

Comic Leigh Francis did his best padded He-Man impression for a London party, while Kelly Osbourne looked unrecognisable in a catsuit as she joined pals at Annabel’s in the capital, where Sir Rod Stewart put his glad rags on to step out as a dapper Prince Charming.

X FACTOR TEEN FOR HARRYWEEN

HARRY STYLES went back to his roots on Friday as he recreated his X Factor audition for Halloween.

The As It Was singer transformed into his 16-year-old self, wearing the same grey cardigan and scarf, to go on stage during his 30-night residency at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Harry performed Stevie Wonder’s Isn’t She Lovely – the same song he used to impress Simon Cowell and Co at his audition in 2010.

And he delighted fans at his sold-out gig by using the same introduction he gave judges 16 years ago: “I work in a bakery. I’m 16.”

Harry was eventually put together with Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson to form boyband One Direction.

Harry’s actress fiancée Zoe Kravitz was seen in a red devil outfit in a nod to spooky season, dancing in the crowd alongside the singer’s mum Anne Twist, who was dressed as Disney’s Maleficent.

The pair were joined by Elvis Presley’s granddaughter Riley Keough.

THE Gentlemen star Michelle Morrone has joined a subscription site to offer fans an exclusive glimpse into his off-screen life.

The Italian actor shared topless snaps with his 16million online followers to announce he has joined the platform subs.com, in which he is an investor alongside beauty Megan Fox.

He wrote on Instagram: “Everyone thinks they know me. Through films, photographs, brands, music, social media . . . But the truth is, you’ve only seen one part of me. And I’ve decided to open that door for you.”

He added: “I want to create something different. A private space where we can be closer.”

Michele is currently starring alongside US actress Sydney Sweeney in sequel The Housemaid’s Secret, which is set for release next year.

PHOENIX’S NEXT STEP IS SCARY

SHE may want to shake off the nepo baby tag, but Phoenix Chi Gulzar Brown is following in the footsteps of her mum Mel B.

Speaking at the VIP night of Tulleys Shocktober Fest in Crawley, she said: “I’m going to be releasing music soon, I’m not just a DJ.” And she means business.

“This summer I decided to take it seriously, and I got in the studio and spoke to a few people and I like what I’m making,” she said. “It’ll be groovy and funky stuff.

“I’ll be doing a bit of producing and singing, there’ll be a few surprises in there.”

A collaboration with her mum might seem an obvious move, but getting Scary Spice to commit is proving tricky.

Phoenix said: “I’m going to do my best to get my mum in the studio for a collaboration but she’s a woman of her own. She says no to everyone – including me.”

But one person firmly backing her musical ambitions is her events executive pal Sofie Noah. Sofie said: “It’s f***ing epic.”

She then teased: “She’s got a good voice, with a bit of Autotune.”

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Ian McKellen pens tribute to Patrick Stewart after star’s death

Oct 30, 2026 News Desk

Ian McKellen is saying goodbye to his dear friend Patrick Stewart.

Stewart, the storied actor whose performances spanned comic book films, Shakespearean stage productions and sci-fi TV, died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. He was 86. While tributes from former co-stars across the “X-Men” films and “Star Trek” franchise poured in, fans of Stewart were keeping a close eye out for McKellen’s remarks, as the two had a famously close friendship, often on full display with red-carpet smooches and pally interviews.

On Thursday, McKellen posted a tribute to Stewart.

“Before everything else, Patrick was defined by being born and bred in Yorkshire, the proud county in the north of England which he loved to the end,” McKellen’s statement began. “You could hear it in his accented voice and in the stern honesty with which he told you what he thought and felt. Yorkshiremen have no truck with half-truths or avoidance of big issues. He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love.”

Although the two had known each other since they were young actors with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1970s, Stewart said he initially was too shy to approach McKellen, but was “impressed.” Stewart said the two had “X-Men” to thank for their close bond. On set, the two had trailers that were next door to each other, and with time to kill between filming, they would head next door and chat for hours.

“It was a delight for me to find that the enthusiasms and passions that I’d had all my life were shared by Ian,” the late actor said in a 2014 interview. When asked to write a hashtag that summed up their bromance, Stewart wrote #Aren’twelucky, and McKellen wrote #eternal.

In addition to playing rivals across multiple “X-Men” films, Patrick and McKellen starred together in “Waiting for Godot” and “No Man’s Land” on Broadway and London’s West End.

“We first met as ambitious young actors with the Royal Shakespeare Company half a century ago but we weren’t in the same productions,” McKellen’s tribute continued. “My first strong memory was a few years later, meeting him in the street in central London when he told me about an offer to take over a leading part in ‘Star Trek.’”

McKellen recalled saying, “But Patrick think of your stage career in the UK. Do you really want to risk—getting lost in Hollywood for years and years?”

“Well, he took the risk and thank goodness for us all that he did for not just his devoted Trekkies but film and theatre audiences, who marvelled at his using international celebrity to star in a string of cinema successes (‘X-Men’ of course) and in great classical plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, Arthur Miller, Peter Shaffer, Pinter and Beckett at Stratford-upon-Avon, in London’s West End and on Broadway.”

In 2014, Stewart admitted to Broadway.com that he was envious of McKellen for both his university education and his hair.

“Ian knows and he thinks I’m foolish to feel this way,” he said. “Ian went to Cambridge and my formal schooling ended when I was 15. I envy that, but I also envy your head of hair. If only because in the two plays you don’t wear a wig and yet you manage to make your hairstyle look completely different … I envy that whereas I have to stick on a wig.”

McKellen responded by telling Stewart that he was gorgeous with and without the wig.

In 2013, Stewart married longtime girlfriend Sunny Ozell in a Lake Tahoe ceremony that McKellen officiated.

“America was his adopted home, where he met his adored Sunny who has cared for him through sickness and health, through thick and thin. But he never forsook his origins: and the proudest achievement of the most respected and beloved actor of his generation on either side of the Atlantic, was his appointment as Chancellor of Huddersfield University in Yorkshire.”

McKellen and Stewart star together again in the forthcoming “Avengers: Doomsday,” which hits theaters Dec. 18.

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Good Morning Britain stars open show with sad news after death of ‘absolute hero’

Oct 30, 2026 News Desk

Good Morning Britain hosts Ranvir Singh and Paul Brand paid tribute to an acting legend on Friday

07:40, 30 Oct 2026Updated 07:57, 30 Oct 2026

The hosts of Good Morning Britain shared some heartbreaking news on Friday.

During the latest edition of the ITV morning programme (October 30), Ranvir Singh and Paul Brand announced the death of Sir Patrick Stewart. The legendary Star Trek and stage actor died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday (October 28) at the age of 86, following a “brief and poignant journey” with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Just moments into GMB, Ranvir said: “Sir Patrick Stewart, the star of everything from Star Trek to Shakespeare, has died at the age of 86. Born in Yorkshire, he conquered the world of acting.”

Ranvir went on: “I think there was a whole nation going, ‘Oh no,’ about Sir Patrick Stewart, what a giant of stage and screen. [He has] sadly died at the age of 86, following a short battle with dementia. Friends have paid tribute to the actor, calling him a titan of his craft.”

Paul added: “Sir Patrick’s talent saw him move effortlessly from performing Shakespeare, to delivering epic Hollywood performances, becoming one of the most loved performers of his generation.”

Philip Sime then looked back on Sir Patrick’s career in a pre-recorded segment. He began: “To millions around the world, he is Jean-Luc Picard, the calm and courageous commander of the USS Enterprise.”

Sir Patrick was born in Yorkshire, into a home marred by poverty and domestic abuse. Acting first on stage, then on screen, was his escape. He would go on to play Professor Charles Xavier in the blockbuster X-Men films, securing his position as one of Hollywood’s brightest stars.

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William Shatner said: “He brought intelligence, grace, and a deep sense of humanity to everything he did.” Hugh Jackman simply called the star “one of the greats of stage and screen”.

Philip went on: “Sir Patrick’s swansong, though, will be the upcoming Avengers film. One last appearance alongside a lifelong friend.”

Back in the studio, Ranvir said: “A remarkable man, an absolute hero… He was an ambassador for Women’s Refuge, because, of course, his mother suffered domestic abuse at the hands of watching his father attack his mother when he was young. He spoke about it so openly, and it definitely changed lives, especially for young boys growing up in those environments. So many people want to thank him this morning.”

GMB viewers were quick to pay tribute across social media, with one X user writing: “A Yorkshire legend who will be forever immortalised in Sci-fi, Shakespeare, and comics.” Another added: “Not just a sci-fi actor but brilliant comedy actor and his classical work would leave you breathless. I was SO affected by his role of Macbeth at Gielgud Theatre. I still have the framed poster on my living room wall.”

A third said: “I don’t think I realised just how much Patrick Stewart meant to me until I saw this news tonight. Been sitting here watching old clips with tears in my eyes. My childhood, my heroes, my Captain. Thank you for everything, Sir Patrick.”

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 6am

More information about dementia is available via organisations including the NHS and Dementia UK

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Two huge British stars ‘ruled out as James Bond’s mystery fourth actor in the running’ as 007 race heats up

Oct 28, 2026 News Desk

TWO major stars have been ruled out as the mystery fourth actor currently vying to be the next James Bond.

The coveted role has been up for grabs following the release of 007 blockbuster No Time To Die in 2021, Craig’s fifth and final outing as the Martini-swilling secret agent.

Final screen tests were held with four remaining hopefuls at London’s Bray Studios over the weekend, but an official announcement is yet to be made by new franchise owners Amazon MGM Studios.

It’s understood that three of those actors – understood to be Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor – were joined by a fourth, currently unnamed star, as decisive auditions got underway.

But two British actors, both previously linked with the role, have been ruled out as the final candidate – widely thought to be Jack Barton.

“We’ve heard, reliably so, that Harris Dickinson and Nicholas Hoult are not the 4th person. Testing is said to be occurring today and going into the weekend,” read an article shared by The Hollywood Reporter on Friday.

Why Friends cast WON’T appear in Matthew Perry Netflix doc as family members break silence on star’s tragic death at 54

Oct 27, 2026 News Desk

MATTHEW Perry’s five surviving Friends co-stars will not appear in a new Netflix documentary about the late actor, with the filmmaker behind the series confirming they were approached.

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer are all absent from The One About Matthew Perry, which arrives on Netflix on October 27.

The three-part series drops one day before the third anniversary of the star’s death.

Director Mary Robertson has now addressed their absence, saying the cast remain deeply affected by the loss of their longtime friend and co-star.

“We know the Friends cast loves Matthew and is grieving Matthew,” Robertson told The New York Times.

“We did approach them about participation. They decided not to participate.”

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Robertson also told Page Six there were no hard feelings towards the stars, or Perry’s family members who declined to participate.

“I think everyone grieves in their own way. And I understand why someone might feel that this isn’t the moment to talk,” Robertson told the outlet.

A source also previously told Page Six that the stars did not want to publicly revisit their grief over Perry’s death, with Aniston said to have found the prospect particularly difficult.

“She isn’t going to sit down and start crying on camera. She doesn’t want to relive it and have it be so public,” the insider said.

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Further reports suggested that feeling extended across the group rather than there being any objection to the documentary itself.

“It’s still too raw,” an insider told New Idea, which reported that Aniston and Kudrow were still struggling to discuss Perry without becoming emotional.

The source claimed LeBlanc and Schwimmer were also uncomfortable with appearing and said the stars wanted to honor Perry privately, on their own terms and in their own time.

However, the stars have all paid tribute to Matthew since his death and some have spoken about him in interviews.

Aniston told Vanity Fair of losing Perry, “As hard as it was for all of us and for the fans, there’s a part of me that thinks this is better. I’m glad he’s out of that pain.”

Cox also wrote in an Instagram tribute after his death, “I am so grateful for every moment I had with you Matty and I miss you every day,” adding, “He was funny and he was kind.”

While none of Perry’s five main co-stars appear in the documentary, his younger sister Mia Perry Bowick does take part and speaks about her brother on camera for the first time.

Bowick offers several intimate insights into Perry’s relationships, his addiction troubles and his time on Friends, including how much the storyline between his character Chandler Bing and Courteney Cox’s Monica Geller meant to him.

She says her brother had sometimes felt that Schwimmer and Aniston’s Ross and Rachel received more of the spotlight on the beloved show.

Bowick says Perry was therefore thrilled when Chandler’s relationship with Monica developed, giving his character a major emotional storyline of his own to get his teeth into.

“He was not just silly Chandler anymore,” Bowick says in the documentary.

She explains that the romance allowed Perry to move beyond Chandler’s familiar comedy and demonstrate a more tender, romantic and vulnerable side of his acting.

Bowick says the family also understood how much Perry himself longed for the kind of love and family life that Chandler eventually found with Monica.

But her most poignant recollection of the Friends cast comes as she describes seeing them together at Perry’s private funeral.

Bowick says in the documentary that it was a small affair attended by family and close friends and that the five Friends stars entered together.

“I hadn’t seen them in easily 20 years,” Bowick recalls.

She says Aniston was the first of the group to approach her, giving her a huge hug, before the other cast members embraced her.

Bowick then watched as they all walked towards Perry’s casket holding hands and stood around their former co-star crying together.

Bowick also recalls an unexpected moment of laughter during the funeral as Perry was being moved into a mausoleum.

She says she suddenly felt as though her brother was standing behind her shoulder and could imagine him making a joke.

The thought caused her to start laughing during one of the most painful moments of the service, and she says it was the first time since his death that she had strongly felt her brother’s presence.

Robertson told Page Six that Bowick’s account of the funeral was both “wrenching and harrowing”, but said the unexpected laughter was also true to Perry’s personality.

The documentary also features Perry’s close friends and former NBC executive Warren Littlefield who recalled being in the room when Perry auditioned for Chandler.

Perry was found unresponsive in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023. He was 54.

His death was ruled accidental, with the acute effects of ketamine listed as the primary cause and drowning among the contributing factors.

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Huge pop star nets £500k deal to front new ad for Deliveroo as she follows stars including Luke Littler and Danny Dyer

Oct 25, 2026 News Desk

IT’S officially cosy season and who better to have a girls’ night in with than Cheryl Tweedy?

So it’s fitting that she’s bagged a whopper of a campaign deal with takeaway service Deliveroo.

I can reveal the former Girls Aloud singer has netted around £500,000 to front the new ad, which will be unveiled later this month.

A source said: “Deliveroo bigwigs are delighted to have Cheryl on board, she is a dream to work with and has a huge fanbase.”

The star is the latest in a long line of celebs to have fronted the brand’s campaigns, including Luke Littler, Danny Dyer, Peter Crouch and Abbey Clancy.

Cheryl who is also the face of Nivea skincare, recently returned to TV as a mentor on The Voice.

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Despite her sleek physique, Cheryl loves a cheeky takeaway.

She previously said: “I have a really lovely local Thai — I love pad Thai. And coconut rice. My mouth’s watering.

“I also like Chinese food — I think that’s a childhood thing. Ooh, and Indian. I love all the bad stuff. Once a week or once every two weeks I get a takeaway.”

Geordie Cheryl put her childhood Chinese takeaway, Kwok Pao in Newcastle, on the map in 2014, when she was a judge on The X Factor.

She brought Simon Cowell along to pick up some of her favourite dishes, including salt and chilli ribs, when they were filming nearby.
I’m hungry now . . .

KAM ON CAM: I’D LOVE TO BE X FACTOR JUDGE

SINGER-SONGWRITER Kamille has revealed that she would love to be a judge on The X Factor.

She has previously worked on the ITV show as a coach. And following Little Mix’s win in 2011, she wrote songs for them including Black Magic and Shout Out To My Ex.

Kamille told me: “I was a coach on the show, so it would be such a full circle moment.

“I’ve always loved it. I love the way you are literally creating a new life for someone, every week.

“Simon Cowell knows how much I want to be a part of it, so we’ll see. I love Simon and everything he does.

“I’m always there to support him. He is such a good friend of mine.”

Meanwhile, Kamille is venturing beyond music with the launch of BBC podcast The Girls Are Talking.

On it, she stars alongside Sugababes singer Keisha Buchanan, content creator Tara Thorpe, presenter Issra Wiheba and comedian Sharifa Butterfly.

Kam added: “Girl therapy is the best therapy you can have.
“You’re basically getting an unpaid therapist to help people with their problems.

“Every single issue I might have had, they’ve all been through.”

SAM: MY GIGS TOO PRICEY

SAM FENDER has hit out at the sharp prices for his OWN tour tickets, insisting that he’s going to change them.

The Geordie singer is off around the country next year for his Proper Massive Stadium Tour, with tickets ranging from £64 to £130, leaving fans disgruntled.

Commenting underneath a post detailing the prices, Sam, left, wrote: “I’m not happy with these prices, they’re getting changed. It got inflated well more than I’d had in mind, it should only be inflated in relation to the cost of putting the show on.

“The standing will not be split as well, I had no idea about it.

“I have no idea how this was normalised in gigs. It’s b*****ks and it won’t be happening on this tour.”

Sam was referring to the fact that, in some venues, there are separate prices for regular standing tickets and “front standing” tickets.

Now that’s a man of the people . . .

IN THE FAMILY RAYE

RAYE may sing “Where Is My Husband?” but at least she found her grandad on a stage in London.

The star performed a show-stopping gig at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday night where she was joined by her songwriter grandad, Michael.

The pair performed their track Fields, from her hit album This Music May Contain Hope.

She arrived at the venue fresh from scooping the prestigious Mercury Prize for the record. Congrats, Raye.

TOOTHFULLY CRUZ

CRUZ BECKHAM has admitted that he used to bite his brothers when he was a kid.

The youngest son of David and Victoria asked fans on TikTok to send him questions when he and his girlfriend Jackie Apostel were stranded with a broken down car.

Fan Sara Dawson asked: “What’s the worst telling off you had as a kid and what was it for?”

Cruz replied: “I used to bite my brothers! My grandma once chased me round the house trying to bite me back as I drew blood through Romeo’s jeans.”

Well, fangs for that, Cruz.

DIAS’S NO DATES FOR 2027

MANCHESTER City fans have been left confused over why hunk Ruben Dias has been axed from the club’s official 2027 calendar.

Maya Jama’s ex is one of the squad’s highest profile members, one of the team captains in fact. So it’s a bizarre move by the club.

Ruben has always featured prominently on the calendar in previous years.

This year he was one of the main stars and was pictured for the month of March.

But next year’s edition has no sign of him.

And that’s sure to come as a blow to the footballing heart-throb, who rightly regards himself as one of the leaders.

At least the calendar will now be a safe stocking-filler for Maya.

CHLOE FERRY has sparked engagement rumours after sharing Instagram snaps.

The Geordie Shore star was seen cuddling up to property developer Alex Swinney on a romantic boat trip before heading out to dinner.

But eagle-eyed fans noticed her ring finger was hidden, obscured by her sleeve.

COUNTRY music duo The Shires are parting ways after 13 years together.

But Crissie Rhodes and Ben Earle hinted there could be a comeback, saying: “Maybe one day we’ll be making music and touring again.”

A longer statement on the split said Crissie will be “taking a break” for family life.

CELEBRITIES in fancy dress is always one of my favourite things – and here we have two doing it in style.

Doja Cat became Doja Bunny for the night when she threw a toy-themed 31st birthday party in Los Angeles on Friday night.

Meanwhile, Paris Hilton channelled Britney Spears’ I’m A Slave 4 U era with her Halloween costume.

The pair have been buddies for decades – and I’d love to see Brit return the favour by dressing up as Paris . . .

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Celebrity Traitors stars made zero effort and BBC bosses will be tearing their hair out

Oct 22, 2026 News Desk

REVIEW: After one big yawn in the castle, the most disastrous mission ever was followed by the least productive Round Table. What’s going on?

21:05, 22 Oct 2026Updated 21:19, 22 Oct 2026

A disastrous Mission – in which the Traitors failed to bank any money at all – was tonight followed by a terrible Round Table, in which the Faithful simply clammed up. The producers must have been tearing their hair out.

It all started to go wrong when James Acaster decided he simply wasn’t going to do anything asked of him in the Mission, because he was “too scared”. And outraged Maya Jama and King Kenny could do nothing about it – because he did’t even raise his blindfold to look them in the eye.

Freaked out by his refusal, the pair of them crept about a bit but never looked close to building their shield, and – spooked by the creaking floorboards – in the end just aborted the mission entirely.

What is staggering is they didn’t even bother to sabotage the shields that had been built, leaving three of the Faithful fully protected from murder that night. So marks for effort to all three – zero.

Emboldened after winning the shields, some of the Faithful realised that the Traitors were on the ropes. “They’ve been absolutely rubbish,” James Blunt said, as Michael Sheen agreed: “They’ve got scared.”

They were absolutely right. But as though their inertia was catching, the Faithful then decided they’d respond by giving up speaking at the Round Table. Theories? Nah, they decided, collectively. Miranda Hart had one, but then withdrew it.

Jerry was asked for her thoughts directly, but having banged on repeatedly about James Blunt since the start, refused to say his name. And that’s after she’d earlier made the astonishing claim that he must be a Traitor because: “His face is redder than a fox’s ass at gooseberry time.” Well, if you say so Jerry.

In the end it was the former model who got her marching orders, not because the others really thought she was a Traitor, but because Michael suggested the next best thing was to get rid of any unhelpful Faithful.

Hang on though, hadn’t they noticed that Jerry and Sharon Rooney were the last ones in to breakfast that morning? Which means – as EVERY self-respecting fan of the show knows – that they must have been the other two Faithful in contention for murder, along with Ross Kemp. Duh. Never even mentioned.

When night fell, James Acaster was fully braced for the backlash he knew he deserved in the turret, saying: “I know I’m going to get a dressing down, I’m aware of that.”

Sure enough Maya and Kenny were fuming that he’d hung them out to dry. “I was scared,” he argued, deflecting their anger by insisting he was getting better at being a Traitor, not worse.

“When I killed Ross Kemp in plain sight, I loved it,” he declared. “And I have enjoyed today more.” Maya said she was proud of him but loyalty-wise, he must be skating on thin ice.

Now Romesh Ranganathan is convinced he’s about to be bumped off and if it’s not him it will be Miranda or Sebastian Croft. (The other two will walk in last to breakfast, you mark my words.)

James picked Romesh saying that his popularity and authority with the other Faithful would make his exit a huge blow. Calling him the “deputy head” of the round table, James said: “Morale-wise, everybody loves having Rom around.”

His words were kind but was this his way of trying to get rid of the fellow comedian, who is said to have made his life tricky in the castle? As Romesh headed to bed, he was muttering: “I’m going to die tonight.” And he could be right.

But whoever goes might find they’ve have a lucky escape if tonight’s effort was anything to go by. If this was a school report it would contain just three words: Must. Try. Harder.

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Behind the scenes at Pride of Britain as real stars shine backstage

Oct 22, 2026 News Desk

The Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards honoured the nation’s unsung heroes, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house as the winners were honoured by a number of famous faces

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Ozzy knew his epic final gig might kill him, reveals Sharon Osbourne as she opens up about her grief over star’s death

Oct 22, 2026 News Desk

SITTING atop a bat-encrusted throne in front of me and 44,000 other screaming fans at Birmingham’s Villa Park last summer, Ozzy Osbourne took his final bow.

Just 17 days later, the music world was plunged into mourning as wife Sharon announced news of the Black Sabbath legend’s death at the age of 76.

Ozzy Osbourne took his final bow at Birmingham’s Villa Park last summer Credit: Supplied

Rocker Ozzy Osbourne with beloved wife Sharon Credit: Getty

Speaking to me for her only newspaper interview, Sharon reveals Brummie Ozzy — who she was with for 45 years — knew the epic performance might kill him.

“We never told anyone how sick Ozzy was,” Sharon says. “The doctors told him if he performed, he might die.

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“Ozzy asked how long he had left and they said it was months.

“He said, ‘I’ve had the most amazing life. What is a few more months going to do, with me in pain and being miserable?

Read more on Ozzy Osbourne

Shot in the Dark

Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell gig before death will finally come to big screen

SHARON’S PAIN

Jack Osbourne opens up on Sharon’s grief: ‘I worry, but it won’t end badly’

“I’d rather go my way’. And he did — on the greatest high.

“It was the greatest gift that he could choose this way out.”

Life without Ozzy has been far more difficult than Sharon and their children Aimee, Kelly and Jack ever imagined.

And they have poured all their energy into creating a feature-length film of last year’s Back To The Beginning concert, which is out in cinemas next Wednesday.

Bizarre’s Ellie Henman with Sharon Credit: Supplied

Sharon with Sabbath rocker Tony Iommi at the Back To The Beginning London premiere Credit: Carsten Windhorst & Gerard Hynes

“I am still learning to live with the grief, and that grief will be with me until the day I die,” Sharon says.

“I had counselling in the beginning. And when we watched the movie last week in LA, Aimee had to leave — it was too emotional for her.

“Jack stepped up and helped me with the business and Kelly is dealing with it in her own way.

“I told them we were lucky to have him, and it’s a blessing their dad was so beloved.”

For Sharon, who had Ozzy’s remains returned to their family home in Buckinghamshire, the Prince of Darkness is still very much with her.

“We kept his phone number on and do you know how many of his friends still text him?” she says, with a sad smile.

“Why should you wipe everything out because they have gone?

“I talk to Ozzy, too. I speak to him about everything that is going on.

“I ask, ‘What would you do? Tell me what to do’. We do whatever we can to take comfort. People I don’t even know have been so gracious — they come up to me to offer their condolences.

“The other day I was pushing my trolley around M&S and a lady approached to pay her respects. It really is touching that people thought of him so highly.

“The thing about Ozzy is that you didn’t even have to like his music, because people just loved the character.

“He was larger than life, a real softie and funny as f***. I mean, the f****** fights we had . . . but it always ended in love. “He’d come out with one line which would be so funny, I’d crack and go, ‘Oh, f*** it’. Life is too short.”

Ozzy knew his epic final performance might kill him Credit: Getty

Ozzy and Sharon with kids Kelly and Jack in 2015 Credit: Getty

Ozzy’s death saw an outpouring of grief all over the world, and Birmingham came to a standstill on the day of his funeral.

“I am blessed to have my husband’s friends. They are incredible and they have all been there for us,” Sharon says.

“We got so many messages, and we are still receiving letters, cards and flowers from fans all over the world.

“There was even one letter from King Charles.

“We had the honour of spending some time with him on a few occasions and he was just a normal bloke.

“The King loves to laugh . . . he’s really naughty, and Ozzy loved that.”

Ozzy’s farewell concert on July 5, 2025, saw the great and the good of heavy metal travel to Birmingham to perform, including Sabbath bandmates Bill Ward and Geezer Butler as well as Tony Iommi — who supported Sharon at the film’s launch in London on Tuesday.

It is two-and-a-half hours of unbridled rock ’n’ roll joy, with acts including Metallica, Guns N’ Roses and Slayer performing Sabbath’s biggest hits.

Sharon admits Ozzy was worried about being able to go the distance at the concert, which ran for more than ten hours.

“I was petrified because I didn’t know whether he could get through it,” Sharon explains.

“He was just praying his lungs would work and that he could sing because, along with everything else wrong with him, Ozzy had emphysema.

“He could be great for two days and then on the third day he’d wake up and couldn’t breathe. But it was mind over matter. He wanted to play with Sabbath one last time. He wanted to see his mates and the fans.”

Music legend Ozzy back in 1989 Credit: Getty

Ozzy on stage during his final concert Credit: Getty

Emotions aside, Sharon admits there was non-stop fun backstage.

She told how Hollywood actor Jason Mamoa called and asked for tickets to the show, only to be told on the day he had to compere the entire event.

“I said, ‘Just go and talk to the crowd and introduce the bands’,” Sharon recalls.

“He said, ‘I can’t do that’. So I said: ‘F**k off, you’re an actor!’.”

The concert, which raised more than £8million for local charities, has gone down in music history as the greatest gathering of heavy metal artists of all time.

And Sharon hopes Ozzy’s legacy will continue to inspire the next generation.

“People don’t understand how poor Ozzy was [as a child],” she says. “He was born in the Forties and a can of condensed soup and a white bread loaf fed him and his five siblings.

“They all slept on one bed. They didn’t have blankets — they wore coats.

“There was no bathroom, just an outside toilet in a shed.

“He worked so hard to change his life and achieve what he did.

“He was a true working-class hero, and his music will live on forever.”

GREEDY ROCKERS TRIED TO CASH IN ON CONCERT

LAST year Sharon told how one rock band – a household name – tried to profit from Ozzy’s Back To The Beginning fundraiser.

I gasped when she told me who the gutless group was.

Sharon asked me not to run the name of the band, who have a string of No1 albums, because it would make their name mud – and rightly so.

Sharon told me: “It was a charity event but everyone’s expenses were paid for.

“We asked this band for theirs and they came back with a sum over £800,000. I said, ‘F*** off’.

“I explained Metallica were bringing their whole stage set, everything, and their expenses were nowhere near that.

“For this band, it was about money. But this was not a concert to make a profit – it was for charity.

“They were taking the p***.”

If the band’s fans knew, they would be horrified. I hope one day she tells the world who it was.

Trust me, you’d be stunned.

GOT TIME FOR GLASTO, SAM?

Sam Fender is set for a huge 2027 Credit: Getty

SAM FENDER has announced his biggest ever tour, a new album and dropped a big hint that he could headline Glastonbury in 2027.

The Seventeen Going Under singer will hit the road for the first time in 18 months next summer, with stadium shows across the UK and Ireland.

He will play Newcastle’s St. James’ Park on June 3 and 5, followed by Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on June 10.

Then there will be two nights at London’s Wembley Stadium on June 18 and 20, Dublin’s Marlay Park on July 1, Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium on July 8 and Manchester’s Etihad Stadium on July 15 and 17.

The Proper Massive Stadium Tour will see Sam, right, perform to over 600,000 fans, and tickets go on sale at 9.30am next Friday, October 30.

Sam’s fourth album – a follow-up to 2025’s People Watching – could well be out by then, too, as fans who pre-order it will get access to tickets on Wednesday.

It’s hard not to see the clear gap in Sam’s schedule over Glastonbury weekend though – June 23 to 27.

I’ve heard some exciting whispers about next summer’s event and with Sam on board, it’d be a belter.

RYLAN: STRICTLY IS IN MY DNA

Rylan Clark missed out on a role in Strictly’s presenting line-up Credit: Getty

RYLAN CLARK says he’s thrilled his pal Emma Willis landed the Strictly job after he missed out on a role in the BBC show’s presenting line-up.

In an exclusive chat to celebrate Rylan teaming up with M&M’s to give away free Vue cinema tickets for Halloween, he said: “I love Emma to bits and I’m so over the moon for her. I think her, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe are doing a fantastic job.

“Being part of the show for four years hosting It Takes Two, it will always be a part of my DNA.

“I still love watching the show and long may they keep dancing.”

Rylan, inset, who has been going on secret missions for M&M’s by giving cinema-goers jumpscares before handing them free tickets, added: “I hid in a photobooth, a sofa and a ticket machine to give people spooks.

“There was one group that had quite an OTT reaction.

“They were very scared, even when it was revealed it was me, but maybe the teeth scared them off.”

TOM GRENNAN launches his bid to return to the charts tomorrow with new single, Wrapped In Gold.

Tom Grennan has launched his bid to return to the charts Credit: Getty

The emotional track will feature on his upcoming fifth album. But before that, Tom will take to the stage at London’s O2 Arena to perform at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball.

I previously told how John Legend, Jamie Miller and Becky Hill and will be part of the December line-up, with Queen of Christmas Mariah Carey also in talks to sing.

MUNYA CHAWAWA appears to be angling to become the first influencer to be cast as James Bond.

The funnyman looked dapper as ever as he enjoyed his new role as Oatly’s first-ever Diplomat of Taste.

Munya Chawawa in his new role as Oatly’s first-ever Diplomat of Taste Credit: Supplied

He was driven through London in a three-car motorcade to celebrate the opening of The Oatly Embassy in West London.

On Fridays and Saturdays, guests can enjoy free oat-based drinks and a tour of the Museum of Modern Oats.

Munya said: “If there are two things people say about me, it’s that I love oats and I’m great at diplomacy.”

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Strictly’s Shirley Ballas bags new role on Dancing With The Stars

Oct 20, 2026 News Desk

Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas looks set to fly the nest and follow the likes of Bruno Tonioli to the stateside version of the show, Dancing With The Stars

22:10, 20 Oct 2026Updated 22:56, 20 Oct 2026

Shirley Ballas is getting ready to quickstep her way stateside with a new role on Dancing With The Stars, according to reports. The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 66, is said to be ready to follow the likes of Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman to switch to the US version of the dance show.

It’s claimed she won’t give up her role on the BBC’s prime Saturday show, though. Instead, insiders claim she will fit filming in between the live Strictly shows.

“Shirley will fly to the US later this month after the Strictly live show finishes,” the source said. They added that, as DWTS is filmed throughout the week, she will then return in time for the live weekend shows.

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“It’s a whirlwind schedule, but she jumped at the chance to take part,” the source told The Sun. They went on to claim that, while it’s just a one-off for now, it could progress. They said: “If the US TV bosses think Shirley is a hit, they’re sure to see if she would come back.”

Shirley initially joined Strictly as head judge in 2017. But fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood recently joked she will never be able to fill the boots of late legend Len Goodman, who died in 2023 at the age of 78.

‘For me, he was Strictly Come Dancing, Craig said at the unveiling of a tribute sculpture to the legendary judge at the Goodman Dance Academy in Dartford in July. “His sayings… ‘A ten from Len’ was a huge one. Shirley has tried to replicate that one, but sadly, she failed.”

He also paid tribute to his genuine off-screen friendship with Len, saying viewers only ever saw one side of their famously fiery relationship. He went on: “I loved Len. If you looked at the TV, we were constantly fighting like cat and dog, but as soon as we came off stage, we’d have a pally drink together.

“‘We toured together. So I was stuck in a car with Len for hours and hours while he got out to look at another building, darling.”

The judge also revealed how Len helped him overcome his biggest fear when he first joined Strictly. ‘I am now the age Len was when he started Strictly.

“There was a twenty-year difference between us. I’ll let you into a little secret – when I started, I was having nightmares because I didn’t know ballroom and Latin.”

Len, who also appeared on DWTS, was given a huge tribute on the show following his death. The show announced in 2023 that they were officially renaming the famous mirrorball trophy to the Len Goodman Trophy.

Julianne Hough said at the time: “Len was on this panel for nearly all of our 32 seasons and although he’s irreplaceable we wanted to pay tribute to him… Len will always be going forward with us.”

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Strictly, EastEnders and Love Island stars look ready for bed as they leave boozy awards party in taxi

Oct 20, 2026 News Desk

CELEBRITIES attending last night’s Pride Of Britain Awards looked like they were ready for bed as they poured themselves out of the boozy after party.

Stars from big shows like Strictly Come Dancing, Love Island and EastEnders appeared to be all partied out, as they jumped into waiting cabs.

Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu looked like she had been enjoying herself at the Pride of Britain Awards boozy after party Credit: Smart Picturres

EastEnders star Lacey Turner was ready for bed after the party Credit: James Curley

Just hours earlier they had all looked perfectly groomed as they glistened and shimmered on the red carpet at the Pride of Britain Awards.

But fast forward to the end of the night, and the stars leaving the after party at JW Marriott Grosvenor House looked like they had been enjoying the free bar.

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Love Island icon Ekin-Su Culculogiu was in great spirits as she left the after party in her stunning gown.

The former Islander giggled, as she strutted out of the star-studded bash in London.

Read more Pride Of Britain

STARRY NIGHT

Helen Flanagan, Olivia Attwood & Zara McDermott wow at Pride of Britain awards

oh vorders

Carol Vorderman sparkles in figure-hugging black dress to host Pride of Britain

However, Strictly Come Dancing contestant Lacey Turner looked like she couldn’t wait to get into her PJs.

The EastEnders actress was seen heading to a waiting cab with sleepy eyes.

Christine McGuinness was spotted resting against a wall after the party Credit: Splash

But the star was later seen beaming as she headed home Credit: Smart Picturres

Fellow Strictly star Dani Dyer appeared to have been enjoying herself at the boozy bash.

The former Love Island champ left the party with a huge beam on her face as she waved out of her cab.

Katie Price‘s eldest kids Princess and Junior Andre were seen looking happy as they waved to fans in their cab.

The siblings are often spotted partying together, and it appeared they had enjoyed themselves last night.

Strictly and Love Island star Dani Dyer looked like she was ready for bed Credit: James Curley

Helen Flanagan still looked glam, although she appeared a little sleepy after her evening out Credit: Smart Picturres

Christine McGuinness was seen resting against a wall in her striking pink floral ball gown after enjoying the party.

But she later was seen beaming as she got into her taxi to head home to bed.

Despite looking a little sleepy, actress Helen Flanagan still looked glam in her shoulderless gown and long black gloves.

Strictly head judge Shirley Ballas was also spotted leaving the boozy bash and waved to onlookers as she headed home.

Prince and Junior Andre had enjoyed themselves at the VIP party Credit: Splash

Shirley Ballas waved out of cab as she left the boozy bash Credit: Smart Picturres

Hosted by Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo, Pride of Britain brings together royalty, world leaders, and hundreds of famous faces including music legends, sporting icons, Hollywood stars and TV favourites to celebrate the winners.

The Pride of Britain Awards 2026 will air on TV on Thursday at 8pm on ITV

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Academy Museum Gala: 10 best-dressed stars on the red carpet

Oct 19, 2026 News Desk

In a year chock-full of museum galas, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures’ Saturday night soiree was especially star-studded.

The sixth annual fundraiser honored Oscar winner Charlize Theron with the Icon Award, filmmaker and composer John Carpenter with the Luminary Award and Academy Award nominee Colman Domingo with the Vantage Award. Theron, who starred this year in presumed best picture frontrunner “The Odyssey,” and Domingo, who appeared in “Disclosure Day” and “Michael,” stole the red carpet spotlight. Other red carpet standouts included Kendall Jenner, Jessica Biel and Teyana Taylor.

The gala, which raised over $14 million for the Academy Museum’s exhibitions, screenings and education programs, also tapped one of the biggest entertainers in the world to perform: Taylor Swift.

Swift’s country ballad “I Knew It, I Knew You” from “Toy Story 5” is an Oscar contender for original song.

The gala was co-chaired by Tom Ford, Robert Rodriguez, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw. The host committee included Jessica Alba; Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann; Autumn Durald Arkapaw; Adrien Brody and Georgina Chapman; Jon M. Chu; Kirsten Dunst; Nicholas Galitzine; Ludwig and Serena Göransson; Regina Hall; Kate Hudson; Jessica Lange; Greta Lee; John Legend and Chrissy Teigen; Rami Malek; Demi Moore; Olivia Munn; Gina Prince-Bythewood; Questlove; Da’Vine Joy Randolph; Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen; Bird Runningwater; and Teyana Taylor. Chu was a co-chair for last year’s event.

Here are the 10 best looks from the red carpet.

Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner was decidedly absent from Sunday’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, but commanded the Academy Museum Gala on Saturday in a black-and-white polka-dotted Valentino gown.

(Emma McIntyre / Getty Images for Academy Museum)

Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter brought a pop of color to the beige carpet in a custom Giorgio Armani Privé gown with side cutouts and crystal tassels cascading down the back.

(Emma McIntyre / Getty Images for Academy Museum)

Jessica Biel

Jessica Biel brought sexy back in a black velvet halter gown with a thigh-high slit.

(Emma McIntyre / Getty Images for Academy Museum)

Alexa Demie

Alexa Demie is a goddess in another standout feather-trimmed look: a mint green custom Chanel gown.

(Emma McIntyre / Getty Images for Academy Museum)

Eiza Gonzalez

Eiza Gonzalez looked timeless in Ralph Lauren.

(Emma McIntyre / Getty Images for Academy Museum)

Kate Hudson

No one does Old Hollywood glamour quite like Kate Hudson, who was radiant in custom Armani Privé.

(Emma McIntyre / Getty Images for Academy Museum)

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift dazzled in Dior — her best look to date.

(Emma McIntyre / Getty Images for Academy Museum)

Colman Domingo

Honoree Colman Domingo sparkled in a Valentino sequin blazer.

(Emma McIntyre / Getty Images for Academy Museum)

Teyana Taylor

Teyana Taylor turned heads in a robin’s egg blue Schiaparelli bustier dress.

(Emma McIntyre / Getty Images for Academy Museum)

Adria Arjona

Adria Arjona looked elegant in a strapless black dress with a white neckline.

(Emma McIntyre / Getty Images for Academy Museum)

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Pregnant Samie Elishi’s ex in talks for Love Island All Stars after villa star’s baby announcement

Oct 19, 2026 News Desk

LOVE Island star Ciaran Davies has met with show bosses about a THIRD stint in the villa.

He won January’s All Stars’ series with Samie Elishi but they split three weeks later – and today the loved-up beauty announced she was pregnant with Aftersun panellist boyfriend Tyrique Hyde.

Love Island star Ciaran Davies has met with show bosses about a THIRD stint in the villa Credit: Instagram/ciarandaviesss

His ex Samie Elishi is now pregnant with Aftersun panellist boyfriend Tyrique Hyde Credit: Instagram/@samieelishi

Ciaran has held talks about returning for 2027’s legends run in Cape Town, South Africa.

A source said: “It’s early days but bosses have met with Ciaran who is considering a third try at finding love.

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“Execs have met with a variety of Islanders but the line-up won’t firm up until December.

“Obviously Samie has very much moved on and so has Ciaran and he hopes to find the same happiness too.”

NO DEAL

Love Island’s Fitzy forced to deny cheating on Lola on night out with girl

ROUGH PATCH

Lucinda Strafford says ‘things aren’t perfect’ with Love Island boyfriend Sean

Ciaran and Samie on All Stars earlier this year Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

Tyrique and Samie may not have been on the show together, but he’d always admired her from afar and consistently named her as his top Islander Credit: instagram./@tyriquehyde

Ciaran was a runner-up on Love Island’s 11th season, going on to win All Stars this year with Samie, following his second stint in the villa (pictured) Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

Samie is thought to be due to give birth in spring 2027 Credit: Snapchat

Ciaran – a 23-year-old former surveyor from Pencoed, South Wales – was a runner-up on Love Island‘s 11th season, going on to win All Stars this year with Samie, following his second stint in the villa.

Tyrique appeared on Love Island during the summer of 2023, with Samie’s first appearance coming on the winter version the same year.

While they may not have been on the show together, he’d always admired her from afar and consistently named her as his top Islander.

Despite Samie being crowned All Stars champion with Ciaran earlier this year – they split three weeks after February 23rd’s glittering final, prompting Tyrique to make his move.

Six months on, and the couple are expecting a child.

Posting online, Samie shared a sweet video of her getting an ultrasound.

Tyrique and Samie could be seen sharing a kiss as they held the sonogram pictures of their little one.

They both beamed with joy as the song Forever My Lady played in the background.1

Reposting the announcement on his Instagram story, Tyrique wrote: “Don’t make a scene. Can’t wait for this next chapter.

“Love you @samieelishi.”

In late March, Samie was seen out on a date with Tyrique at the Baller League then in May they told fans how they were officially boyfriend and girlfriend – and now they’re happier than ever.

Samie is thought to be due to give birth in spring 2027.

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SPORT

Challenge Cup: Melvyn Jaminet stars as Toulon beat Edinburgh

Oct 17, 2026 Sports Desk

Edinburgh: Piers O’Conor, Malelili Satala, Matt Currie, Mosese Tuipulotu, Darcy Graham, James Grayson, Hector Patterson; Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, Callum Hunter-Hill, Glen Young, Tom Currie, Freddy Douglas, Magnus Bradbury.

Replacements: Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, Jamie Stewart, Paul Hill, Grant Gilchrist, Euan McVie, Conor McAlpine, Geordie Gwynn, Rory McHaffie.

Toulon: Melvyn Jaminet, Seta Tuicuvu, Antoine Frisch, Jeremy Sinzelle, Apete Narogo, Mateo Garcia, Ben White; Jean-Baptiste Gros, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Beka Gigashvili, Swan Rebbadj, Corentin Mezou, Zach Mercer, Estaban Abadie, Patrick Tuifua.

Replacements: Teddy Baubigny, Samuel Jean-Christophe, Owen Sorhaindo, Luciano Asevedo, Lewis Ludlam, Joe Quere Karaba, Baptiste Serin, Luka Keletaona.

Referee: Ben Breakspear

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SHOW BIZ

Aaron Paul shares heartbreaking vid of RJ Mitte speaking about mental health after Breaking Bad star’s death by suicide

Oct 15, 2026 News Desk

AARON Paul has shared a gut-wrenching video of his Breaking Bad co-star, RJ Mitte, following his tragic death by suicide.

The actor best known for starring as Walter White Jr in the Emmy Award-winning show, died on Monday in Brownsville, Texas, aged just 34.

Aaron Paul shared shared a video of Mitte talking about the importance of mental health Credit: Instagram/@aaronpaul

The actor died in Texas aged 34, from suicide Credit: Getty

In an emotional tribute to his friend, Aaron said RJ’s strength and kindness was “blinding”.

Aaron shared a video of Mitte talking about the importance of taking care of one’s mental health.

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The late actor lived with cerebral palsy and used his platform to raise awareness and champion people with disabilities.

RJ said in the video shared by Paul: “I hope y’all are doing well today in this time of uncertainty but I would like to talk to you a little about mental health.

RAW TRUTH

Breaking Bad star’s devastating texts to friend reveal private struggles

Aaron Paul and RJ Mitte at the premiere of the third season of Breaking Bad Credit: Getty

RJ Mitte shot to fame in Breaking Bad but struggled to land roles after the iconic show finished Credit: Getty

“Its very important to take care of ones physical health but its equally as important to take care of one’s mental health.”

RJ said that “more often than not” people hide how they truly feel by saying “I’m fine” and “I’m good.”

He continued: “But its ok to not always be good.

“But its not ok to harbour that feeling, harbour those emotions.

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The actor made his final appearance at the screening of ‘Talking To Strangers’ on September 30 Credit: Getty

Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn and Betsy Brandt, writer-producer Vince Gilligan, R.J. Mitte and Aaron Paul, after winning Best Series at the Golden Globes Credit: Getty

“So I am hoping to inspire each and everyone that sees this video today.”

Aaron apologized for not realizing the pain his friend was experiencing.

He wrote: “I am so sorry you were hurting my friend. I wish we knew.”

“You constantly had a smile on your face and you took every single challenge that was given to you with such confidence and grace.

“I met you when you were a little boy and watched you grow into a beautiful young man.”

“What an absolute tragic loss.”

Aaron finished his post by encouraging anyone who is feeling lost, sad or uncertain about the future, to reach out for help.

He said: “We must suffocate the noise and focus on each other.”

The tribute from the star, best known for portraying Jesse Pinkman, followed the heartbreaking news that RJ was found dead by suicide at his home on Monday, as confirmed by his publicist.

RJ said in his final interview that he wanted to “keep living the dream” but added that “every dream could be a nightmare … just keep living it, just keep pushing forward”.

RJ’s on-screen dad, Bryan Cranston, 70, said he is in “deep despair” at the young actor’s death as he shared an emotional tribute.

Bryan said: “I met him when he was only 14 years old when he was cast as Walter White Jr., a part he played with such joy and enthusiasm.

“Born with Cerebral Palsy, he never – ever – allowed that challenge to be an excuse for anything. He met the demanding shooting schedule head on with great determination.”

The actor, like his character Walter Jr, had cerebral palsy and said his greatest achievement in life had been “giving back”.

He said: “That’s really the greatest thing that ‘Breaking Bad’ has given me, is to be able to lend my voice to causes that make a meaningful impact that changes people’s lives.

“I think that’s one of the greatest things that I have and it’s not the awards.

“It’s not all of these things people assume come with this. It’s literally being able to impact someone’s life in a meaningful way that without that, wouldn’t have it.”

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.

How to get help

EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
Heads Together,www.headstogether.org.uk
HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41

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SHOW BIZ

BBC sitcom Daddy Issues to air final series with Strictly and Celebrity Traitors stars

Oct 14, 2026 News Desk

BBC sitcom Daddy Issues will come to an end after the third series has aired but not before a star-studded lineup of guest stars has joined the cast for its final outing

22:21, 14 Oct 2026Updated 22:58, 14 Oct 2026

Daddy Issues will come to an end after the third and final series has aired, the broadcaster has confirmed. The BBC Three sitcom stars Aimee Lou Wood as Gemma and David Morrissey as Malcolm, following a pregnant party girl who moves into a flat share with her recently-divorced father.

The first series aired in August 2024, and a follow-up series was broadcast in August the following years but now the third run of episodes, which is currently being filmed in Stockport, will be its last.

But the programme, which is Danielle Ward and co-written with David Reed has confirmed a string of guest stars for its final outing. Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey will be amongst those joining the cast, taking on the role of as Malcolm’s new friend Ellis.

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Shobna Gulati, best known as Sunita Alahan in Coronation Street and Anita in dinnerladies, will play new neighbour Odette whilst former Peep Show star Sophie Winkleman will play campsite owner Mary.

Sarah Hadland, best known for her role as Stevie Sutton in Miranda and for her Strictly Come Dancing stint, will be back as Rita, joining fellow returning cast members David Fynn as Derek, Taj Atwal as Cherry and Celebrity Traitors star Sharon Rooney as Catherine.

The new run of six episodes will focus on Gemma’s newfound set of calamities as she tries to settle into her new promotion at the salon whilst daughter Sadie thrives at nursery. Chaos ensues when the flat she still shares with her dad floods, and a new romance leaves her stuck in a web of lies.

Over the last few years, actress Aimee, who the BAFTA Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance after making her screen debut in Netflix hit Sex Education, has enjoyed global success with US comedy drama The White Lotus.

Through her role as Chelsea, she earned Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Aimee has also hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live UK, starred as Sally Bowles in the West End production of Cabaret and is due to appear in a string of Hollywood films including The Beatles, Anxious People, and The Idiots.

Speaking about the series coming back, Aimee shared nothing but excitement as she expressed her joy at being part of the comedy series.

She said: “I’m so happy to be back with David and the brilliant Daddy Issues cast for one final time. Gemma and Malcolm are one of the funniest and sweetest comedy double acts on TV, and I’ve loved being a part of it.”

Meanwhile, David Morrissey added: “I love doing Daddy Issues so much, such a great cast and crew! So I’m delighted to be coming back to have more adventures with Gemma, Malcolm and the gang!”

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BBC sitcom Daddy Issues will come to an end after the third series has aired but not before a star-studded lineup of guest stars has joined the cast for its final outing

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