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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“My family finances have been exhausted.”

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

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

“Wow. I wasn’t expecting that.  

“I sent Louis a text personally saying thank you.

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

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

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

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

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

DUA Lipa helped music boost the UK economy to the tune of £8billion last year. 

The singer — whose hits include New Rules and Levitating — was one of the industry’s biggest money-makers as its contribution to the country’s coffers leapt by five per cent. 

She saw album Radical Optimism debut at No1 in the charts, while dates in Singapore, Japan and Malaysia took export revenues to a new high of £4.8billion. 

Tours from Taylor Swift, Liam Gallagher, Take That and Bruce Springsteen also drove the figures, along with Charli XCX’s global success with album Brat. 

Of the £8billion total — up from £7.6billion in 2023 — £1.49billion came from physical sales, downloads and streaming.  

A record £1.02billion was paid out in songwriting royalties while merchandise sales rose too.  

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The findings are in UK Music’s annual economic report This Is Music 2025.  

It said the industry employs 220,000 people here, but warned growth was slowing down after taking off immediately after the pandemic. 

UK Music’s Chief Executive Tom Kiehl welcomed the figures but issued warning signs amid the challenges faced by the sector. 

He said:  “In recent years UK Music has reported that the music industry has enjoyed double-digit annual growth. 

“That growth has now halved indicates a levelling off of the immediate post-pandemic boost that we experienced, as well as other underlying issues set out in this report.  

“This points to the need for urgent action. If problems are not addressed then future growth cannot be guaranteed.” 

Dua, 30, is in Argentina on tour.  

She shared a snap of her with sister Rina at River Plate’s match against rivals Boco Juniors after two gigs at the Buenos Aires stadium.   

GEMMA Collins has raked in a seven-figure sum ahead of her I’m A Celebrity comeback.

The reality star, 44, has gone from strength to strength since rising to fame on The Only Way Is Essex.

According to new accounts from her company, Gemma Collins Limited, she has brought in a near £1 million profit in the year to September 30, 2024.

Meanwhile, earnings show £230,134 in corporation tax is due within a year.

This reveals Gemma has pocketed a £950,000 profit – based on the 2023/24 corporation tax rate -working out at £2,600 per day.

The firm was set up in 2012 and is run by Gemma’s dad Alan, although she is reported in accounts as the “ultimate controlling party”.

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She channels her earnings from TV, various branding and business endeavours into the company.

As well as her performing arts firm, Gemma has also run four other companies.

These were Gemma Collins Boutique, Gemma Collins Clothing, Gems by Gemma and GemmaCollagen.

However, they would ultimately all have mixed fortunes.

Gemma Collins Boutique went into liquidation owing £76,215.

As for Gemma Collins Clothing, it was in the red as per its last accounts.

Elsewhere, Gems By Gemma held £41,505 at its last accounts and GemmaCollagen was set up in 2020 but closed in 2021 without filing accounts.

Other ventures

After over a decade, Gemma is set to make a return to the I’m A Celebrity jungle for the second All Stars series.

In April, The Sun first exclusively revealed bosses were in talks with her for a jungle comeback.

She originally competed in the 2014 series, only to memorably quit after just three days.

A source said at the time: “She hated it first time round but knows it would be TV gold for her fans if she gave it another go.

“The discussions could go either way but signing her would be a huge win for execs.”

The Sun later revealed her in the full line-up – which also includes Gemma’s 2014 campmate Craig Charles.

Continuing in her reality TV roots, she is set to front her own upcoming Sky series titled Gemma Collins: Four Weddings and a Baby.

The Sun revealed this eight-part series will follow Gemma’s life over the course of a year – including domestic moments, glamourous events and her IVF journey.

In September 2024, Gemma revealed the secret side hustle that has made her a millionaire.

PROPERTY QUEEN

Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Gemma revealed she has been quietly investing in property for the past few years.

This means snapping up properties before flipping them – then renovating and reselling them within a year.

Gemma told The Sun: “I’ve put money into property.

“I don’t worry about my future because I’ve put everything in place -but I’ve done it late in life.

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“I had normal jobs and I’m not sure there were pension schemes then, I am self-employed, so I did it late in life.

“I was 40 when I started to [invest], I wish I had the knowledge that I have now in my 20s.”