surprise

Cheryl has made a surprise early return to The Voice UK and is set to appear in Saturday night’s episode for the Battle Rounds, joining long-time friend Will.i.am as his assistant coach

Cheryl has made her debut on The Voice UK as a guest mentor. The chart-topper has given fans a first glimpse of her new role as a coach ahead of the show’s 2027 series.

The Girls Aloud star, 43, appeared in the latest episode as the ITV singing competition continues its Battle Rounds, joining her longtime friend Will.i.am to help him decide which contestants deserve a place in the semi-finals.

Cheryl was confirmed as a coach for the next series last month, replacing Sir Tom Jones on the panel. Her appearance this weekend will give viewers an early taste of what to expect when she officially takes up the role. The singer arrived alongside Black Eyed Peas star Will.i.am, 51, looking stylish in a red tasselled leather jacket and light blue flared jeans.

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The pair embraced as they reunited for filming, having worked together on music projects over the years. Will revealed that he had been trying to have Cheryl join him for the last 13 years. Cheryl knows exactly what it takes to make it in the music industry, having found fame after being selected for Girls Aloud on Popstars: The Rivals in 2002.

Speaking to Team Will, the Call My Name songstress said: “I’m so excited for you. You couldn’t be in better hands than you are with my man Will. Will and I have collaborated a lot over the years, so we know what it’s like for two very different artists to come together. I wish you all the very best for what you’ve got today, and I’m excited to see you all!”

Reflecting on her own experience, having found fame on Popstars, Cheryl said during a solo interview: “I have stood in the shoes that the contestants are standing in, and I know what it feels like to perform in this environment. You’ve just got to know that you’re good, or you wouldn’t be here.”

And fans were overjoyed to see Cheryl back on screens. One said on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Cheryl looks amazing, oh my gosh.” “CHERYL ON #TheVoice Saturday night TV is SO back,” said a second. “Ah I’m buzzing,” commented a third. A fourth exclaimed: “So excited.” “I’m excited to see Cheryl and Will back together,” commented another.

Her appearance marks a return to television after a lengthy break from the spotlight following the death of her former partner, Liam Payne, in October 2024.

The singer had largely stepped back from public life in the wake of the tragedy, making her new coaching role a significant career move. While Cheryl once dominated the music industry and became the first female artist to have five records debut at Number One, her last single, Let You, was released in 2019 and peaked at Number 57 on the Official Charts Company.

Prior to this, her last album, Only Human, which peaked at Number 7, boasted the singles Crazy Stupid Love and Only Human, and was released in November 2014.

Cheryl’s appointment is part of a wider shake-up for The Voice UK, with Stacey Solomon and Alesha Dixon confirmed as the show’s new presenters. The pair will take over from Emma Willis, who is moving on after landing a presenting role on Strictly Come Dancing.

The Voice Australia coach and current Strictly Come Dancing contestant, Delta Goodrem, is helping Kelly after spending eight seasons on the Aussie edition of the programme.

Also, Danny and Tom were joined by their McFly band members Dougie Poynter and Harry Judd as they tried to win The Voice UK two consecutive years in a row following their success with AVA in 2024.

Last Saturday (October 3), the final round of the blind auditions aired, and the coaches finalised their teams, which consist of eight acts each.

Team will.i.am is made up of Diogo Ferreira, Sonna Rele, BMG, Triple Threat, Teodora Sava, Naná Aldrin-Quaye, Ardú, and Bella Popera. Team Kelly has Monique Nicholson-Porter, Ray Gelato, Lascel Wood, Aaren James, Cris Quammie, Samantha Udeke, Turah Sadiq, and Jessica Beth.

Cate McHugh, Vadé Amãlia Estradas, Harry Linacre, Eric & Jensen, Dakari Love, Molly J, Robbie McMinn represent Team Sir Tom and Ellie Harney, Ross McGuire, Ciiara Nyx, Finlay McKillop, Jack Algar, Frank Raven, Regan Preece, Adam Tucker have joined Team Tom and Danny.

The coaches and their advisors will now work with the acts to try to help them secure their place in the competition but not every act can progress.

The Voice UK returns to ITV1 and ITVX on Saturday, October 17 at 8.35pm

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Major bridges in Kyiv have been hit by Russian drone strikes for four consecutive days, as Moscow ramps up attacks on critical infrastructure in Ukraine’s capital.

Two people were injured when the Pivnichnyi (Northern) Bridge was struck on Sunday morning for the second day in a row, while the Pivdennyi (Southern) Bridge was hit multiple times earlier in the week.

The latest attack came as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made a surprise visit to Kyiv in a show of support against Russia’s continuing full-scale invasion.

Russia’s military said it would be intensifying strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions. It earlier said it had hit the two bridges used to transfer Ukrainian troops.

Video footage of Sunday’s strike, verified by the BBC, shows cars moving on Pivnichnyi Bridge as a drone crashes into it before exploding, creating a ball of fire. A cloud of black smoke can be seen rising above the bridge.

Other videos and pictures have emerged on social media showing a gaping hole in the middle of a traffic lane on the bridge.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said two people were injured in the latest Russian attack. He earlier said that the Pivnichnyi Bridge’s roadway was hit.

Kyiv’s eight bridges across the wide Dnipro River link the western (right) and eastern (left) parts, and many of the capital’s estimated three million residents rely heavily on the metro lines and trains to travel across the city.

Some 500,000 vehicles use the bridges every day.

The two struck bridges are still standing – but the damage and restrictions to traffic and public transport have caused gridlock in parts of the capital at times.

“To get from the left bank to the right one and back – it’s just hell,” Kyiv resident Roman told the BBC on Sunday.

Large numbers of commuters cross the river, especially on weekdays. Repair teams are working to fix the damage and officials say they are planning temporary pontoon bridges, ferry services and even a tunnel under the river to keep Kyiv connected.

Klitschko also said a separate Russian drone strike had damaged a heating main, adding that there would be a temporary lack of hot water in the north-eastern Desnyanskyi district as a result.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy said on Sunday morning Russian drones had also attacked a warehouse in the north-eastern region of Sumy, killing one person.

Meanwhile, in the central city of Dnipro, six people were injured after a communications facility was struck, he said.

Ukraine’s Air Force said that overnight Russia had launched 135 drones, including 52 jet-powered ones. It said that 125 projectiles had been shot down.

As emergency services responded to the incidents, Germany’s Merz met Zelenksy in Kyiv. They laid wreaths to Ukrainian soldiers who have been killed in the war.

Merz reaffirmed his country’s support for Ukraine, writing on X: “Ukraine is facing decisive weeks. That is why I travelled to Kyiv today with the message: You can rely on us.

“Germany’s security also depends on the outcome of this war. That is why we are helping out of our own self-interest as well.”

Sheedy played his part in the victory in Llanelli before being replaced in the second half by Jarrod Evans, who has returned to Cardiff from Harlequins this season.

With Ioan Lloyd, who is currently injured, also in the Cardiff ranks, head coach Corniel van Zyl has three Wales fly-halves to call on.

“All I can do as a player is try my best and perform the best I can,” said Sheedy.

“We all want to be number one, so how we go about that is going to be challenging because we’re all going to want to play.

“I’m sure it’ll be healthy competition.”

Cardiff return to the Arms Park to face Zebre on Friday night, where they lost only one home game last season.

“It does make a big difference,” said Sheedy.

“Hopefully we get a big crowd because I remember last season there were a lot of close games, and in the last 10 minutes, the crowd got us over the line.

“Corniel speaks a lot about making the Arms Park a fortress and we managed that last season.”

TAYLOR Swift debuted Patient Zero music video at the MTV Video Music Awards after accepting a massive honor.

The Fate of Ophelia singer accepted the first-ever Artist Director Honor at the annual awards ceremony on Sunday.

Taylor’s good friend, Dakota Johnson, who also stars in the music video for her new single Patient Zero, presented her with the award.

The global pop star kept her acceptance speech short and sweet before introducing the world premiere of the highly anticipated music video.

She shared a teaser of the video, which also stars Colin Farrell, on Friday, before announcing that all will be revealed during Sunday’s ceremony.

Fans were taken aback by the video’s grim twist, as she portrayed Colin’s character’s deceased former partner, but it overall received rave reviews online.

Read More on Taylor Swift

HOLY SMOKES

Nirvana’s Pat Smear lights a cigarette ON STAGE at VMAs

“Taylor really wanted to team up with MTV to do something to celebrate the release of Patient Zero,” a source told Page Six about Taylor’s VMAs appearance.

“They created this award just for her. It’s their first time handing out this award.

The insider also said that the “timing made sense,” given the release of Taylor’s latest single, alongside three other new tracks.

The four new songs are a part of The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, an extended deluxe edition of her 2025 album, The Life of a Showgirl.

“She really wanted to be there, and the network wanted to figure out a moment in the show that was special to her where she wasn’t just in the background, so MTV made this moment happen,” the source added about the collaboration.

Taylor, 36, was one of the last to arrive on the red carpet at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles in a stunning black and silver gown.

Her husband, NFL tight end Travis Kelce, 36, skipped the event to play with the Kansas City Chiefs in their game against the Miami Dolphins in Florida earlier in the day.

While Taylor has supported her man on the sidelines since the football season began, she couldn’t miss this night as she was the first recipient of the Artist Director Honor.

This marked the singer’s 31st Moon Man trophy, breaking her tie with Beyoncé for the most VMA wins.

The vocalist was also nominated for nine other awards – the second-most of the night behind Madonna, who had 11 nominations – and won the Video of the Year award.

Taylor has kept a lower profile since her and Travis’s extravagant July 4th wedding.

MOST AWARDED ARTISTS IN VMA HISTORY

Since the iconic MTV Video Music Awards first premiered to shake up pop culture in 1984, artists across all genres have tried their best to score the coveted Moonman trophy. Here are the top 10 musician’s who have taken home the most hardware:

• Taylor Swift – 31 wins: Taylor is now the most-awarded artist in VMA history. She has won Video of the Year five times, including for her hit All Too Well, and picked up a record nine awards in one night for Midnights in 2023.
• Beyoncé – 30 wins: Beyoncé’s haul includes six wins for Formation in 2016, plus Video of the Year for Single Ladies in 2009. Her total also includes two wins with Destiny’s Child.
• Lady Gaga – 22 wins: Gaga dominated the 2010 VMAs, taking home seven awards for Bad Romance. She has also won Artist of the Year twice.
• Madonna – 20 wins: The original VMA powerhouse has collected wins for Vogue, Ray of Light and Express Yourself, as well as the Video Vanguard Award.
• Eminem – 15 wins: The rapper is the most-awarded male artist in VMA history, with wins including Without Me, The Real Slim Shady, Not Afraid and Houdini.
• Ariana Grande – 13 wins: Ariana has collected 13 Moonmen, including Video of the Year and Best Pop for Brighter Days Ahead and three wins for Rain on Me with Lady Gaga.
• Peter Gabriel – 13 wins: Peter holds one of the biggest records in VMA history: 10 wins at the 1987 ceremony, including nine for Sledgehammer.
• R.E.M. – 12 wins: The rock band swept the 1991 VMAs with six wins for Losing My Religion and later added four for Everybody Hurts.
• Justin Timberlake – 11 wins: Justin’s haul includes Video of the Year for Mirrors, multiple wins for Cry Me a River and the Video Vanguard Award.
• Green Day – 11 wins: Boulevard of Broken Dreams powered Green Day’s VMA haul, winning six awards in 2005. 21 Guns added even more to their collection in 2009.

She showed her love for her husband last week while celebrating his touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts.

The Out of Style singer was caught on video screaming and clapping as Travis darted across the field to score.

She could also be heard yelling, “That’s my husband!” while pointing at her $1 million wedding ring.

Did Justin Bieber perform at problem-plagued MacArthur Park? Never say never.

An impersonator may have tricked a Las Vegas nightclub last year, but those at the park Tuesday appeared convinced of their brush with Bieber. L.A. County’s district attorney was too.

According to social media posts, the singer and a few band members set up on a grass lawn near a Central American fried chicken shop on 6th Street. He reportedly performed several songs, including the 2025 hit “Yukon.”

L.A. County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman on Tuesday night pointed to the “Yukon” clip as proof that park conditions were improving.

L.A. D.A. Nathan Hochman, center left, walks with First Assistant U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli on June 4 as L.A. police and federal agents conduct an operation targeting narcotics use at MacArthur Park.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Bieber’s performance, he said in a post on X, was a “testament to the progress we are achieving to take back the park from drug dealers and enliven it for families.”

“[He’s] definitely on the invite list for next year’s Labor Day weekend picnic!” Hochman said.

The Times reached out to Bieber’s representatives to confirm the pop singer’s appearance but did not immediately hear back.

The pop star has been leaning in to more intimate performances, notably appearing on the Grammys for a stripped-down rendition of “Yukon” (while wearing boxers and black socks).

In April, he made his Coachella headlining debut, playing a nearly 90-minute set. For a large portion of the set, he took Beliebers — as his fans are known — down memory lane, sitting behind a laptop and singing along to his old music videos.