The Sun Newspaper

SYDNEY Sweeney bares her soul — finally breaking her silence over her American Eagle advert backlash. 

The 28-year-old US actress said she is against hate and divisiveness after she came under fire from critics who said the “great jeans” campaign fuelled racial tensions. 

It comes as she shared topless behind-the-scenes pictures while promoting her upcoming movie, The Housemaid, and appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in the US. 

Speaking out about the ad, which saw her backed by President Donald Trump, Sydney said: “I was honestly surprised by the reaction. 

“I did it because I love the jeans and love the brand. 

“I don’t support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign.” 

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The star added: “Many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren’t true. 

“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m always trying to bring people together. I’m against hate and divisiveness. 

“I have come to realise my silence regarding this issue has only widened the divide, not closed it.

“So I hope this new year brings more focus on what connects us instead of what divides us.” 

It comes after her £20million boxing biopic Christy bombed at the UK Box Office, taking just £54,360 in its opening weekend in British cinemas. 

It raked in less than A Paw Patrol Christmas, which made almost double at £103,000 in its second week.

It also failed in the US, opening with just $1.3million (£975,000). 

ED SHEERAN has set the record straight amid fears for his marriage – insisting he just wanted to put out honest music.

The chart-topper, who headlined the first night of Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball with Barclaycard at The O2, sparked concern with brutally candid album tracks.

His deluxe edition of Play dealt with juggling life as a superstar and dad of two.

At a Spotify pop-up ahead of the ball, Ed said: “Sometimes people listen to records today and assume that what that song is, is their world 100 per cent at the time.

“It’s very much like heightened emotions. You never write a song on a ‘meh’ day.

“You always write songs like, ‘This is the most loving I’ve ever felt, this is the happiest I’ve ever felt, this is the angriest I’ve ever felt’.

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“They’re all like big extremities and that’s what inspires the song.

“And then that’s where the song exists and that’s why people connect to the song as people have these big feelings.

“I think the only time the songs will ever be created, for me at least, are in those moments of big extremes.”

During his set on Saturday night, Ed paid tribute to Cherry after adding the Play album track Heaven to his performance — because it’s her favourite.

Ed told the packed London crowd: “I told Cherry I was singing this tonight and she told me to make sure that someone filmed it.”

He added: “I think Cherry knows that she has songs like Heaven and Perfect.

“It’s good to be honest, and she knows that I am writing songs like Don’t Look Down and Wargames.”

CELEBRITIES joined crowds at the South London venue to watch Ed headline night one of the weekend music spectacular.

We spotted famous faces including Fifty Shades actor Jamie Dornan, ex-footballer Peter Crouch and former PM Rishi Sunak.

Rishi previously outed himself as a huge Taylor Swift fan. But given how much he was jiggling his hips, he didn’t seem to miss her too much.

LEIGH-ANNE GOES DEEP PURPLE

LEIGH-ANNE PINNOCK stole the style show at the Jingle Bell Ball with these incredible feathered trousers.

In an all-purple outfit, The former Little Mix singer nailed her five-song set, with a mash-up of the group’s Sweet Melody, Touch and Power.

She finished the night with her highest-charting single, Don’t Say Love, and had every Mixer in the O2 Arena up on their feet.

Bravo, Leigh-Anne. That was a show to remember.

WHAM! STILL KYLIE’S No1

KYLIE MINOGUE is a hot contender for the festive No1 – but wouldn’t mind being pipped to the post by Andrew Ridgeley and the late, great George Michael.

She is already at No5 in the Official Charts this Friday with new track Xmas.

The bookies told us it’s a two-horse race between Kylie’s release and Wham!’s 1984 banger Last Christmas.

In an exclusive chat ahead of her headline slot last night, the Aussie star said it was her favourite festive song, adding: “Last Christmas – it’s always a classic.”

Kylie is heading back home to celebrate the festive season with family, including her sister Dannii.

But her tree might not win any prizes for style, as she told Bizarre’s Jack: “Maybe the initial concept is tasteful but it can very easily just become ‘that’s it’. Look, it’s got personality.”

Kylie, pictured with our Jack, decorates her tree with second-hand finds.

She said: “I tend to have a collection of decorations, a lot of proper vintage ones. I don’t know their history but I just know I have had them for a long time.”

MUTYA’S £15K ON TAXI RIDES

MUTYA BUENA says being in a girlband is not as fun as people think – and that her spending got out of control.

The Sugababes singer writes in her autobiography Real Girl: “Some of the adults we dealt with cared more about our worth than our wellbeing.

“As long as we were making money for them, they couldn’t give two s**ts about what was going on in our heads or our hearts as children.”

Mutya was in the original line-up with Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy. She said pressures led to her spending money like water, including £15,000 on taxis after getting mates to join her partying.

She added: “I went all out, chasing as much fun as I could find, trying to make up for the youth I was missing out on.”

ROBERT NEW TRUST PILOT

THE CURE’s Robert Smith is stepping into Roger Daltrey’s shoes as the “Cureator” of next year’s concerts for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The Who legend stepped down after 24 years and now Robert has announced his first the line-up.

They begin at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday, March 23. Kicking off the week are Elbow and MRCY, followed by comedy the next night from Jack Dee, Maisie Adam and Dara O Briain.

For the Wednesday, Robert has Mogwai to headline, with Manic Street Preachers the next evening. They will be there alongside The Joy Formidable, who mark their 150th show for the trust.

My Bloody Valentine and Chvrches appear on the Friday, with Garbage headlining Saturday, along with Placebo.

The final Sunday concert will see Wolf Alice performing.

Tickets go on sale at 9am this Friday and Robert, left, said: “I wanted to make it a truly unforgettable, unmissable week.”

HAIR-OBSESSED JORDAN IS ‘BIGGEST DIVA AT O2’

IF you ask Capital FM presenters Sian Welby and Chris Stark, the biggest diva at the O2 this weekend wasn’t actually a singer . . . 

Speaking to us backstage, the pair said their Breakfast co-host Jordan North can be the most high maintenance.

Asked who is the most demanding star, Sian said with a laugh: “Oh, no question, it’s Jordan North.

“First of all, the conversation about his hair will be going on for a month.”

Chris added: “I spend my life having to entertain and witness conversations about Jordan being self conscious about his hair.

“I know he’s specifically asked for slightly higher heels on his trainers as he always has to be taller than me.”

Sian continued: “But he’s a good diva, in the nicest way.

“If you see him in the street, just give him a wink and a nod and say, ‘Your hair looks all right mate’.”

Smiling, Chris added: “On a serious note, he is a diva but only in character.

“He is the most down-to-earth, kind and considerate person, which is mega really, when you consider how well he is doing.

“You cannot fake what this show is and I have been in situations where you get involved and you are forced with people – and you can tell.

“But this is the first time since I was with Scott Mills at Radio 1 where I honestly feel so excited and happy about where the show is going.”

THE I’m A Celeb campmates have been tucking into camel, even gnawing on the odd hoof or two.

Well, I suppose there’s enough of the beasts Down Under, with 1.2million roaming the wild.

As hosts Ant and Dec told the reality contestants, there are more of the grumpy humps in Australia than in any other country in the world.

They are regarded as a menace there, destroying vegetation and fouling waterholes, but they were once treasured by Afghan traders.

They used them to carry goods across the outback — and the desert trail they used became the route of the famous tourist train, The Ghan, named in honour of the cameleers.

The 2,540ft-long train (that’s 77 London buses lined up) has 36 carriages and trundles along for 1,850 miles between Adelaide in South Australia to Darwin in the Northern Territory.

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It’s an amazing bucket-list trip — which my husband and I went on through Journey Beyond.

You can book two or three-night breaks with off-train experiences, do the marathon trip in reverse or go halfway to the town of Alice Springs.

Alice, the spiritual home of the Aboriginal people, is the gateway to the majestic MacDonnell ranges and the breathtaking phenomenon Uluru, or Ayers Rock.

My adventure began by taking Journey Beyond’s overland service from Melbourne to Adelaide, a comfortable ten-hour journey.

It got me into practice for 54 hours on The Ghan.

Uluru was our target, so we split the trip and hopped off at Alice, boarding a four-wheel coach to join an Outback Spirit tour.

For the next eight days, brilliant guides Glenn and Colin brought the area’s history to life through sensational sights, stories and songs.

Our group was a bit like the I’m A Celeb campmates — a bunch of all ages with bossy leaders and faithful followers.

We bonded on our first night, while tucking into juicy steaks and salmon and singing along to Waltzing Matilda at the Original Outback Bush Barbie.

We were up early the next day to visit nearby Simpsons Gap, where the blue sky peeps through rocks, creating beautiful reflections in the nearby watering hole, home to black-footed wallabies.

Alice to Uluru is about 300 miles so we broke the drive at Kings Canyon Resort.

Time for another early morning walk.

And the witchetty grub — often gulped down on I’m A Celeb, which has its final tonight — made an appearance. Fortunately, no Bushtucker Trial

But I chose not to do the 500 uneven steps to the top of the 330ft high canyon followed by four miles round the rim.

Instead, I opted for one-and-a-half miles through the creek on the canyon floor.

In true Bear Grylls style, we learned about bushtucker and medicines used for healing, at the Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience.

And the witchetty grub — often gulped down on I’m A Celeb, which has its final tonight — made an appearance. Fortunately, no Bushtucker Trial.

Finally it was time for Uluru itself.

The giant sandstone monolith rising from the scorched earth is staggering in size. At 1,142ft it’s taller than The Shard and twice as old as the dinosaurs.

What’s even more incredible, is that there’s another one and a half miles underground.

The name change from Ayers Rock was made in 2002 to show respect for the Anangu people and acknowledge their ownership of land.

Six years ago, visitors were banned from clambering up it.

But you can still walk or cycle round it, touch it in places, go into caves and peer through others to see Aboriginal rock art.

Besides Alice, The Ghan made two stop-offs.

The first was in Marla for a spectacular outback sunrise, accompanied by a bacon butty and coffee.

After a full-on expedition, we relaxed in 30C temperatures by the pool at the lovely Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Esplanade

And then in Katherine for a tranquil boat tour through the gorge to see crocodiles and rock art before The Ghan finally reached Darwin.

After a full-on expedition, we relaxed in 30C temperatures by the pool at the lovely Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Esplanade.

We explored the tropical city on the Timor Sea by taking the hop-on, hop-off Big Bus and visiting its brilliant museum and art gallery.

We also went to Mindil Beach market and the bustling waterfront.

But it was soon time to swap a train for a plane and head home.

Like the cameleers, our Australian outback adventure had, sadly, come and Ghan.

SHE may be tipped for an Oscar with her new film Hamnet, but one thing you will never see Jessie Buckley doing is appearing in a superhero movie.

The Irish actress says she would end up looking like a Smurf if she tried to squeeze into the skin-tight costumes worn by comic-book heroes.

Jessie, 35, joked she could never pull off the look, especially compared to Hollywood star Jennifer Lawrence, who played blue-skinned mutant Mystique in Marvel’s X-Men films.

She said: “I just don’t think I should be in a catsuit. Like when they painted Jennifer Lawrence blue and she looked amazing. I would look like a Smurf.

“It would just be like one of these little stubby Irish blue things.”

Hamnet, which hits cinemas in January, sees Jessie play Agnes, the wife of William Shakespeare, who is played by Paul Mescal.

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It tells the story of the couple’s heartbreak after the death of their 11-year-old son Hamnet, a tragedy some believe inspired Shakespeare’s play Hamlet.

Jessie’s fearless performance has seen her hailed as an Oscars front-runner, but at the New York premiere in November, she said of the speculation: “I’m just trying to be present in the moment.

“I’m really proud to be putting this film out in the world. I mean, to make anything at all is a triumph. The other stuff is extra.”

Forget Marvel though — Jessie’s real superhero duties are currently happening at home.

The actress splits her time between London and Norfolk with husband Freddie, a mental health worker, whose surname she has not revealed.

The couple became parents earlier this year but have not made their child’s name public as yet either.

She said: “I’m also a new mum so most of the time I’m changing a nappy.”

She met Freddie, from Islington, North London, after being set up on a blind date.

Jessie previously dated War & Peace co-star James Norton for two years until 2017.

She described their break- up as “acrimonious” and put it down partly to the fact they were both actors.

They kept their split secret for several months and he was then seen kissing another co-star, Imogen Poots, who he was briefly engaged to.

She’s like a Trojan farter and a burper

Jessie on Olivia Colman

Talking of her husband, Jessie told the Table Manners With Jessie And Lennie Ware podcast: “He’s English. I moved to London when I was 17 and anytime I brought an English boyfriend back to Ireland, my granny would call him Seamus, whatever his name was.

“It was just, ‘Seamus. How are you Seamus?’.”

Jessie burst into the spotlight aged 18 when she came second on BBC talent show I’d Do Anything.

She then forged a career in theatre and indie films, making her movie debut in acclaimed thriller Beast in 2017.

The following year she starred as a single mum fresh out of prison in Wild Rose.

When filming 2021’s The Lost Daughter she became good friends with co-star Olivia Colman.

She said: “She’s great, such a great human. We’ve become good friends and it just feels so fun. And she is the naughtiest person. You don’t know what she’s going to do. She might fart or burp in the middle of a scene.

“She’s like a Trojan farter and a burper.”

But over the years, Jessie’s relentless workload has often pushed her to breaking point.

A gruelling six-month West End run in Cabaret alongside Eddie Redmayne in 2021 left her so stretched she could barely speak outside the theatre.

And it was not the first time Jessie had pushed herself to the brink.

She once said of a time before she found fame: “I had depression and I wasn’t very well and I wanted a lot from life. I was really hungry for it. And I felt like there was no place for that.

‘Cow’s tongue’

“And I think that’s when it imploded in on me, and when I got sick and lost myself. I got help, I got therapy. Singing . . . I honestly think it’s kind of saved me. Something wasn’t alive then, let’s just say, like it is now.”

So when Jessie was filming Hamnet she made sure she took care of herself.

Before some of the most gruelling scenes, she went away for two weeks and swam each morning at Hampstead Heath, North London.

She said: “I just needed to be in nature and start my day and wake up that way, and then go to set.”

Jessie, the oldest of five, describes her childhood as “mayhem, but with loads of love and sometimes terror.”

She and her brother and three sisters would put on shows for guests staying at her parents Marina and Tim’s guesthouse.

I just don’t think I should be in a catsuit. Like when they painted Jennifer Lawrence blue and she looked amazing. I would look like a Smurf

Jessie

Jessie said: “My dad used to own a guesthouse and we lived in the shed at the back.

“We would all be involved, because we’d make the beds and then if there were American tourists, part of our job as kids was to serve the food.

“And then we’d all put Irish dancing dresses on and have to give them Irish dancing performances.

“We were the evening entertainment.”

But she says the food her dad made was sometimes a bit too “exotic” for her.

She told the podcast: “Sometimes when you’re a kid, you just want a tuna sandwich.

“So we get like an aubergine sandwich or something, which in Kerry was quite a bold thing.

“And at one point I started to steal poor Shona Madden’s lunch box, because she did have tuna sandwiches. And things like, there’s this great food market up in Cork, and we come home for Christmas dinner and there’d be a cow’s tongue in the fridge.

“I don’t know if I ate it, but it was kind of like Charlie and Wonka’s . . . anything could happen.”

She has inherited her dad’s kitchen skills and loves to spend time in the countryside cooking for her husband.

Jessie said: “I love cooking. I’m crap at cooking when I’m in London and I love going out to eat when I’m in London, but when I’m at home in Norfolk, I don’t see anybody and I just love cooking.

“It’s our heart home. We were originally going to move to Suffolk. Then friends of ours had moved to Norfolk and bought this old place for like nothing on an auction.

“And then they showed us this house that we live in, which is 1500s and falling down and orange, and it’s a really amazing old house that’s been there forever.”

A far cry from the Marvel universe, but it is exactly the world where Jessie feels most herself.

GINO D’Acampo’s former restaurant empire failed to pay a £4.2million HMRC debt after plunging into administration.

The Upmarket Leisure chain of businesses was saved from closure this year in a £5million buyout — but has failed to repay the huge debt.

Administrators for the firm say it is unable to pay the money back.

They said: “Based upon estimated future realisations, we do not anticipate that a distribution will be available for HMRC.”

HMRC had issued a court petition to wind up Upmarket.

In February, Gino was accused of sexually inappropriate behaviour over 12 years, which he denies.

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Last month D’Acampo, 49, was hit with fresh allegations of bullying and intimidation, days after his TV return — claims he also denies.

ITV said that since their initial investigation was launched, they had not commissioned any further shows featuring D’Acampo.

He recently visited Toronto and Montreal to plug An Italian In Canada.

D’Acampo was contacted for comment.

AFTER 41 dates, spanning 13 countries on five continents, Oasis have certainly earned a rest over Christmas.

But instead of putting his feet up in front of the fire here in the cold, wet UK, Noel Gallagher is heading to the Maldives over the festive season.

I can reveal that the guitarist, who is expected to earn £50 million from ticket sales alone, is whisking his family away to the tropical island to celebrate the end of the Live ’25 World Tour.

And he has told pals that he is heading off to the sunshine this month.

A source said: “Noel has loved spending time with his family on tour, but this trip will allow him to fully recharge.”

“He has put everything into making the Oasis reunion a success and is now looking forward to pressing pause over Christmas.”

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“Noel will also make sure to spend time with mum Peggy and brother Liam Gallagher over the Christmas period.”

Noel was accompanied on the tour by his girlfriend Sally Mash, daughter Anais and her actor boyfriend Callum Scott Howells.

His two teenage sons Sonny and Donovan — from his marriage to ex Sara Macdonald — were also spotted backstage on a number of the tour dates.

Meanwhile, Noel has been telling pals he is working on new music. The insider added: “Noel is enjoying getting back into the studio after the whirlwind of the tour.”

Liam sent fans into meltdown with a post earlier this week on X, titled: “Big announcement imminent”.

It comes as whispers of dates at Knebworth House and the Etihad Stadium — home of their beloved Manchester City — have swirled.

Hopefully, Noel and Liam will put some extra tour dates in our stockings this year.

Liam’s mud for it

LIAM GALLAGHER shifts life down a gear after months on the road – by taking a ride on his bike.

The star, sporting a beard, was seen for the first time since the Oasis Live ’25 Tour ended as he cycled through London.

And the splatter of mud up his back suggests he’s had a run-in with a few mucky puddles.

Meanwhile, I can reveal Liam’s son Lennon Gallagher has split from his model girl­friend Isobel Richmond.

The pair have unfollowed each other on Instagram after “growing apart” during the summer.

A source told me: “They have a lot of respect for each other, but realised they are better off single.”

It comes after they posed for a British Vogue photoshoot in June.
Sounds like the romance has gone out of fashion.

Freddy and Princess keep mum

THEIR mums Jade Goody and Katie Price were pals back in the day, and Freddy Brazier and Princess Andre are now chums, too.

I’m told the duo have exchanged messages online, with Princess revealing that she and Freddy have bonded.

Speaking at the Winter ­Wonderland launch in London last month, ­Princess said: “Me and Freddy are friends. I see him at events all the time.”

Meanwhile, newly single Freddy, who recently split from his pregnant girlfriend Holly Swinburn, has been messaging Princess regularly.

A source said: “Freddy thinks Princess is beautiful and has got her head switched on.

“A lot of their pals see them becoming an item.”

Princess has just landed another series of her ITV2 reality show The Princess Diaries – so maybe she can give Freddy some tips, as I hear he is keen to get into telly after appearing on Celebrity Race Across The World with his TV presenter dad Jeff last year.

Hopefully, he will settle down a bit after being accused of drug-fuelled antics by his ex and being barred from star hangout Sheesh for boozy behaviour last week.

Princess sounds like a good influence . . . 

Deadline looming for Raye

HER single Where Is My Husband! has soared to No2 in the UK charts.

But I hear Raye, who performed at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball at London’s O2 last night, is still working on the final tracks for her upcoming second studio album.

I am told the collection is weeks behind schedule and bosses want it finished ahead of her tour, which begins in Poland on January 22.

A source said: “Raye is a perfectionist and will not be rushed if she is not happy with a track.

“There has been a lot of back and forth over tracks, but Raye will not rest until she is completely happy.

“The success of her single has been overwhelming and Raye wants every other track to be as good.”

Raye poked fun at her perfectionism on TikTok this week, saying: “Album isn’t ready yet but it’s brewing like a cup of tea.”

In September, she told fans to “trust the process”.

Raye always delivers and I expect this album to be no exception.

Ab’s fab trip back in time

RISING star Absolutely has revealed she tapped into her childhood to create new album, Paracosm.

I was lucky enough to get the first listen of it at Sony’s HQ in London on Thursday.

Absolutely – real name Abby-Lynn Keen – told me: “Someone commented on my YouTube, ‘She is my paracosm’. I was, like, ‘What is that word?’.

“I connected to it as I’d been feeling that child­­like wonder in the creative process.”

The term means an imaginary world that was created in childhood and develops into adulthood.

And Abby, whose sister is singer Raye, added: “I have always loved fantasy, movie Alice In Wonderland and Tim Burton.”

Kim’s magic treat

KIM KARDASHIAN turned heads with her glam look at mum Kris Jenner’s 70th birthday last month – but it wasn’t her make-up that caught my attention.

I spotted a peculiar bar of PolkaDot “magic mushroom” chocolate on the table as she got ready for the party.

Makers say the treat contains fungi but not psilocybin, the psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms, though they warn it’s not for kids.

At £37 a bar, I’d agree with that.

Rita’s sheer elegance

C-ORA blimey! Rita Ora leaves little to the imagination in a transparent silver gown.

The Hot Right Now singer dazzled at a Red Sea International Film Festival function in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, wearing this eye-popping Elie Saab number.

And in another bejewelled dress, Rita treated the audience at Friday night’s Women in Cinema event to an acoustic version of her 2014 hit, I Will Never Let You Down.

Revealing she enjoys expanding her skills, the hitmaker said: “I see myself an amateur everyday as I’m constantly learning.”

Sign me up to the School Of Rita.

Billy: No preach speech

AMERICAN filmmaker Billy Bob Thornton has slammed actors for virtue signalling during awards acceptance speeches.

The Bad Santa actor made the dig as Hollywood gets set for a string of awards ceremonies, including the Golden Globes next month and the Oscars in March.

He said: “They should just stick to what the honour is and thank the people who helped them win.”

Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, he added: “Don’t go up there and talk about saving the badgers in Wisconsin or something. You know what I’m saying?

“People might argue and say, ‘Well, no, because I have a voice and because everybody knows me. This is a great platform for me to put this out there’.

“If you have a billion dollars and you want to save the badgers, f***ing save them.

“I mean, you’ve got plenty of money to save the badgers, trust me. That’s barely going to cut into your budget.”

I couldn’t agree more.

ZIPLINES, dolphins and unforgettable food – the island delivers one fine family hol, says Lifestyle Editor Catherine Bennion-Pedley.

It’s 8.03am when my phone buzzes on the bedside table with a message that will lead me to one of the most breathtaking experiences of my life.

Dolphins have been spotted nearby, so it’s now my mission to wake my husband and kids and get them all to the boat as soon as possible.

Luckily, from our beachfront family suite at Le Méridien Ile Maurice on Mauritius’ north-west coast, we’re less than a 30-second walk to the golden sands and our waiting skipper (Marriott.com).

It means it’s not long before we’re out on the ocean with everything crossed, and soon enough, we catch our first glimpse of fins.

“Wanna jump in?” shouts the captain, cutting the engine, and I don’t need asking twice.

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I’m straight into the water, snorkel gear on, and gasp as I spot a pod of 19 spinner dolphins swimming right below me.

As I follow them, I spy a mother suckling her baby and soak up the sound of their squeaky chatter before they return to the surface, gracefully leaping out of the ocean right in front of me.

Special? The word doesn’t even come close. And it’s £120 well spent.

Winter Wins

Swimming with wild dolphins hadn’t crossed my mind when I booked our flights to Mauritius.

I just knew there were great August deals because of it being the island’s winter.

Winter here, of course, means temperatures in the mid-20ºCs and possible rain showers, but the chances of spotting dolphins where we are staying are actually higher during these off-season months.

Le Méridien Ile Maurice was given a swish makeover three years ago, and spacious, nautical-chic family suites come with freestanding baths and rain showers.

Giant, colourful bean bags are dotted along the beach – water shoes prove handy for the kids as it’s a little rocky – and paddleboard and kayak hire is free on the generous all-inclusive package.

As is waterskiing from the pier which, as my husband Andy finds out, is way harder than it looks.

The main pool still feels a tad tired, but the second family pool, with its giant flamingo inflatables and water hammocks, hits the spot.

As does the excellent cocktail menu.

Each of the three à la carte eateries offers signature creations with interesting ingredients, such as timur berry and tumeric syrup.

Shaking up our own watermelon and rum tipples (mocktails for the kids), while the sun sets and a DJ mixes chilled beats, certainly brings the happy to the Happy Monday sesh at beachside spot Waves.

It also serves up superb seafood, such as red tuna with strawberry gazpacho and sticky rice, while Kumin offers decent Indian cuisine and Jade nails pan-Asian dishes, such as beef lok lak alongside mouth-watering sushi.

One night, we feast at Jade’s teppanyaki table, sipping cocktails of tequila, plum sake, yuzu, chilli and ginger, as chef Edgar crafts a feast of Japanese soup, duck gyoza, lobster, black Angus steak and flambéed pineapple.

Edgar is soon declared “the coolest chef ever” as he throws up a raw egg and catches it in his hat.

But when he then pulls out a wind-up chick as a souvenir of our evening, he’s definitely secured fans for life, and the meal is worthy of the £32 supplement.

A lot to lychee

Of course, there’s a kids’ club, which is handily next to the beach volleyball court, so as the kids get kitted out with braids and henna tattoos, Andy joins fellow dads for a game.

Another day we take a cooking class and learn how to whip up a flavoursome Mauritian curry and rotis, before digging into the fruits of our labour with glasses of very gluggable, locally made lychee wine.

Our visit to Mauritius coincides with the Hindu festival Ganesh Chaturthi, so we jump in a taxi to the white sands of Mont Choisy beach, 15 minutes away, to enjoy the celebrations.

Locals carry incredible clay idols of the elephant-head god to the turquoise waters and the air is filled with the scent of incense and the beating of huge drums.

The feeling of joy and togetherness is all-encompassing.

Flying high

A few days later, I’m trying to hide my nerves from my six year old, Poppy, as we clip on to a zipline that will hurtle us across a river to the top of a waterfall.

When we land at the crest of the frothy, white water, we realise the only way back to solid ground is ziplining again across the ravine and I fear we may be in trouble.

But her confidence grows on the second ride and she begs to try more.

Sadly, she’s not old enough for many of the adrenalin-filled activities here at Vallé Advenature Park, which includes Mauritius’ longest zipline and the longest suspended bridge in the Indian Ocean, so I guess we’ll have to return one day.

But racing Andy and our son Raffy, four, down the mountain on a luge not long after gets more megawatt smiles from both kids, before we take snaps of the hill of 23 colours, a geological phenomenon of volcanic sands formed over millions of years.

Experiences at Advenature cost from £11 per person (Adventure.vallepark.com).

We can also hardly believe our eyes when we spot the number and size of the giant tortoises at nearby La Vanille Nature Park, and we all adore feeding them their favourite snack, scaevola leaves.

One even mistakes Andy’s leg for a twig and gives him a nip – ­much to the kids’ delight.

Later, having swung by the lemurs, iguanas and monkeys, the croc-feeding show feels a bit outdated, but there’s no denying the real crocodile nuggets at the cafe make a tasty lunch, £8, with Raffy wolfing them down, just like their chicken counterparts.

Entry costs £17 for adults and £12 for under-13s (Lavanillenaturepark.com).

Meanwhile, one thing is for certain – if I were to ask the kids if they’d like to repeat this adventure, they’d snap up the chance!

AS a golf buggy whizzes past me,  blaring festive tunes and with a fully decorated tree tied to the rear, it occurs I might be in possibly the most Christmassy place this side of Lapland.  

I am with my family on our first visit to the popular Kingdom Of The Elves experience at the five-star Bluestone Resort — seen by many as like a Center Parc, but ­better value. 

Every year the holiday park nestled in the breathtaking scenery of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park goes crazy for Christmas.  

And if you have ever wondered what it feels like to live inside a  snow globe then look no further than  Bluestone this winter. 

At the heart of the resort’s Christmas-themed experience is the Snow Dome — a huge glass- covered area transformed for the winter into a life-sized snow globe, complete with snowstorms several times a day, festive tunes, glittering lights and white dusted trees.  

It’s a breathtaking sight by day and night,  when it is lit up and has giant snowflakes projected on the side. 

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Even the resort’s year-round Blue Lagoon swimming dome gets a Christmas makeover, with candy-cane-coloured covers on the flumes, decorations and festive tunes pumping out on a loop. 

I was there with my husband, children aged 11, eight and four  and my parents. And we weren’t the only multi-generational family making the most of the Christmas spirit. 

Secret location 

Regulars arrived armed with their own festive decorations to dress up their holiday lodges. I even saw a large Christmas tree in one window. 

But the most fun is spotting the Christmas pimped-up golf buggies that guests use to zip around the eco resort’s 500 acres of beautiful Welsh countryside. 

Some accommodation, like our Platinum Carningli Lodge, comes with the use of a buggy but they can be hired for those that don’t. 

Our comfortable lodge had two en-suite master bedrooms and two twin rooms for the children, plus another bathroom. 

They are tastefully decorated and have fully equipped kitchens. Arranged in an “upside down” style, the large living area is upstairs, making best use of the tranquil views — especially from the glass-walled sun lounge.  

Kicking off our break we took my youngest to the charming Elf School experience. 

  Youngsters are ushered through a wooden door from The Hive soft-play and activity area to a delightful interactive theatre experience. 

Children move through a series of rooms helping some friendly elves along the way.  

Tasks include collecting letters to Santa, exploring a giant advent calendar and helping feed “belief balls” into a madcap machine. 

My daughter Estella was captivated. She was even given a special cape as an Elf School “uniform” (which she refused to take  off for the duration of our trip) and a graduation certificate at the end. 

But of course no Christmas weekend would be complete without a visit to the big guy himself. 

We headed to the Snow Dome for the all-important appointment at Santa’s Lodge.  

An elf in a decked-out golf buggy whisked us to a secret location where we wound our way through a wicker maze to a charming cabin. There, we met an extremely authentic Santa who surprised the children by dropping personalised details about them into their conversation — wonder how he knew those! 

It was a lovely experience and the kids were each given a gorgeous Christmas keepsake. 

Also a must is the resort’s Christmas panto. It’s Jack And The Beanstalk, but as you have never seen it before.  

Kids will love the silly jokes and parade of current pop hits with the lyrics tweaked for Christmas. 

Other special seasonal offerings at the resort at this time of year include the Elf or Reindeer Breakfast, where guests start the day by being serenaded with festive hits. 

These Christmas experiences do come at an extra cost, but there is plenty on offer for free, including a Reindeer Village Light Show, Jingle Jive dance party and Polar Postal, where Santa himself tours the resort on a tractor collecting kids’ letters. 

And of course Bluestone’s usual array of activities is on offer including the huge indoor soft play featuring the biggest bouncy castle I have ever seen. 

My eldest son also loved the Woodland Warriors laser tag, which comes at an extra cost. Zip wires, climbing towers and archery are also among the activities offered to keep kids busy. 

And when you need to refuel, there are lots of options, many found in Bluestone’s charming village area, with its quaint winding streets decked out for Yuletide. 

We enjoyed a delicious barbecue meal at the Farmhouse Grill. Also excellent was The Knights Tafarn pub. 

Everything from waffles to crepes and of course hot chocolates is available at the quaint wooden snack stands. 

And if you are able to give your little elves the slip for an hour, there is even a spa for grown-ups. 

With lovely surroundings, immaculate accommodation, yummy food and more Christmas spirit than you could shake a candy cane at, Bluestone really does feel a ho ho home from home. 

I’M LYING on my belly, strapped into a hammock-like harness, with twinkling lights ahead and carols drifting in the frosty air.

It would be relaxing if I wasn’t about to be launched face-first along England’s fastest zipline.

This is the Hangloose Adventure Night Flight – the UK’s only in-air Christmas light trail – at the Eden Project in Bodelva, Cornwall.

Most of us experience festive light shows on foot, but Hangloose Adventure has been raising the game – quite literally – since 2023.

Between November and January, thrill-seekers and families (children must be over eight) can soar above the illuminated biomes of the Eden Project at speeds of up to 60mph.

With a route 660 metres long and 96 metres high – roughly the height of London’s Big Ben – it’s not for the faint-hearted.

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Keen to check out this combination of adrenaline, festive magic and bird’s-eye-views of the eco-attraction, I check in at the Hangloose Adventure Centre.

I’m joined by my husband, while our four-year-old twins are keen to watch mummy “fly through the sky”.

Family and friends have a viewing area, complete with a TV showing the launch, and free hot chocolate.

My kids run off to see how many marshmallows they can cram into their cups, and I get kitted up.

First, I’m weighed. My instructor writes something down on a sticker and tells me to attach it to my coat.

It doesn’t show my actual weight but a code (“A19” for me) for staff on the launch tower to decipher.

He explains that everyone gets their own instructions for what to do with their arms during the flight.

I place my trust in the team as they pull the harness over my head and arms, wrap straps round my legs and fix on my helmet.

After a safety briefing, I’m good to go.

The wind hits my face and my heart lurches as I coast through the sky, picking up speed and whooping wildly

I jump into a van for the two-minute journey to the tower. I meet Zara who will be clipped in beside me – the double line set-up means you can take a friend, or meet someone new.

With her fear of heights, Zara has signed up as a personal challenge, and her hands tremble as proof.

Out of the van, we climb some stairs – dramatic music playing as we approach the launch deck.

I try to take my mind off what’s about to happen by focusing on the view – a transformed china clay pit now home to two massive biomes housing rainforest and Mediterranean plants.

They look like two huge igloos glowing red and blue under the night sky.

Lying prone, I’m given my arm instructions: “Arms out wide like a bird, all the way.”

Beside me, Zara is taking deep breaths. I take a giant gulp of oxygen, hear the countdown “3-2-1” and the click as we’re released.

The wind hits my face and my heart lurches as I coast through the sky, picking up speed and whooping wildly.

The hexagonal tiles of the biomes are beneath me, changing from green to pink with supersized snowflakes spinning through them.

I feel like an eagle, spotting lit-up Christmas trees and gleams of gold.

Soon I’m past the lights, gliding over a dark forest then finally come to a stop.

It’s over too soon – but I’ll be riding on this festive high for days to come.

WE’VE all seen the £99 Wowcher mystery holiday deals – with return flights and a hotel to a surprise destination – but is the gamble worth the money?

CYANN FIELDING finds out by putting the Mystery Christmas Market Trip for £99 to the test . . . 

IT could be a trip to Lapland or New York, but I was not kidding myself, it was more likely to be Europe.

Wowcher’s Christmas Market Trip costs £99 per person and you have to book for a minimum of two.

Your mystery holiday is then revealed and a travel agent contacts you within 72 hours to discuss your trip.

My destination was Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Having never been before, I was excited to hear back from my Wowcher agent.

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But when I got the call, I discovered a major catch.

The flight out from London would be late afternoon on November 25, returning very early on November 27 — giving me just a day in the city.

And to make matters worse, the hotel was two miles from the city centre.

But it was OK, the agent told me, because I could upgrade.

This was my “Ah-ha” moment — Wowcher had revealed themselves.

In order to get decent flights and a hotel close to your destination, you need to upgrade, and this came at an additional £43 per person.

Let’s say you were happy with the flights, but wanted a closer hotel, well you can’t just upgrade one element, you have to do both.

This is where the deal clearly makes its money. Keen to make the most of my holiday, I upgraded.

So now the two-night break was coming in at £142 per person, that’s £284 in total.

Flights were with Wizz Air, but when checking in you need to go through the travel agent check-in section, which took me a while to figure out.

Wowcher does a good job of sending you all your documents well in advance, as well as tips on how to check in for your flight.

The Rixwell Viru Square Hotel in Tallinn was fine, clean with a comfy bed.

Breakfast wasn’t included, which is probably the same for most hotels in the offer.

As this was specifically a Christmas market trip, we went to the market, and while it was small, it really did feel like a fairytale.

Wish come true

Set in the town square, it was nice to see stalls selling handcrafted gifts, and there was glogi — Estonia’s take on mulled wine — for sale.

The market’s Christmas tree steals the show, though.

Tallinn is home to the world’s first publicly displayed festive fir, which appeared in the town square in 1441. Traditionally, young unmarried people danced around it.

And it is believed that if you make a wish under the tree, it will come true.

While the trip was a lot of fun and the price with the upgrade did not seem excessive, when I broke down the costs, it was not the deal it first appeared to be.

When I checked on the day I spoke to the agent, if I had booked return flights myself for the same dates they would have cost £45pp, so £90 in total.

The hotel would have been £93.25 for two of us for two nights. So if I had done it all myself, it would have cost £183.25 for two people — more than

£100 less than I spent on the Wowcher trip.

Ultimately, most of the Wowcher mystery holiday experience is about the surprise, which, admittedly, is fun.

However, I am not sure it’s worth an additional £100.75.
Would I do it again?

Probably not. I think I would rather roll a die across a map and travel to wherever it lands.

That would more than likely be enough to give me the same thrill of the surprise Wowcher reveal. And for probably far less.

Wowcher said: “Our trips have the added reassurance of ATOL protection, rather than the lowest-priced alternative to booking everything separately.

“Flights are chosen from a set selection, and customers on two-night stays are guaranteed 40 hours in resort.

“Travelodeal has acknowledged the flight arrangements for this booking didn’t meet expectations and is offering a refund for any supplements, as well as taking steps to en­sure this does not happen again.”

DURING these cold, dreary months, I can’t get enough of the exotic escapism so many TV shows provide. 

Death In Paradise? I’d risk my life to be on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe right now. 

The Good Ship Murder? Pfft, it’s not real killing, so get me on that cruise liner. 

And all I could think while watching Channel 5 drama The Sunshine Murders was, “Yes, I need to know who the culprit is, but would you look at that sunset!”. 

Sure, Nina Wadia’s character was whacked with a cricket bat off a cliff, but did you see that stunning white sand she landed on?  

The slaying took a back seat as I was seduced by the sights, scenery and shoreline. 

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So, lucky me, because I’ve been dispatched — with the cast — to the five-star Asimina Suites in Paphos, the hotel where the main characters stayed during their filming in Cyprus.

I hoped to see for myself why, of all the luxurious locations to pick from, this was such a killer setting. 

For starters, if you’re going to have “Sunshine” in a show’s title, it needs to be guaranteed. And 340 days of sun a year is as close as you can ask for.

Just ten miles from Paphos airport, which is a four-hour flight from London, the hotel overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. 

The water is Caribbean-like in colour and comfort — 24C in October means I can enjoy a sunrise swim without my nether regions feeling like they’ve just met a grisly end. 

It’s the ideal way to work up an appetite before turning cereal killer and slaughtering a mammoth breakfast buffet. 

The Asimina is a luxurious, adults-only (16+) resort, and my accommodation had a balcony, king-sized bed, en suite shower and bath, living area, two TVs, espresso machine and mini bar.  

With 111 suites — some with swim-up pools — four spacious bars and four restaurants, it never feels crowded.

Star of the show is the beachside, fine-dining-quality Kymata restaurant. Trust me when I say the food here is so good, you’ll be in mourning for your beach body. 

Ease the overindulgence guilt by chasing an ace at the onsite tennis court, visiting the decent-sized gym or joining the joggers on the beautiful coastal path. 

The Asimina takes a particular pride in its swanky alcohol offerings and it holds complimentary gin tastings and cocktail-making classes.  

With live music every evening and themed nights with the likes of Elvis tribute acts, there’s no shortage of entertainment, either. 

But it’s all geared to pure tranquillity. 

The heaven-sent Elixir Spa offers a variety of massages. 

And you can kill time in the free-to-use sauna, steam bath and heated indoor pool. 

The real gem is the hospitality, though. I’ve never met such attentive staff. 

There are B&B, half-board and full-board options, but the Ultra All-Inclusive means as soon as your glass is empty, it is quickly topped up. 

From the beachside cabanas to the poolside sunbeds, everywhere is peaceful. Everything and everyone is relaxed.  

Even the breakwaters in the bay mean the waves only very gently lap at the shore. 

But between the bliss of annihilating the cocktail menu, you can’t come to this Unesco World Heritage city without digging into its history.

The concierge can arrange taxis to the Archaeological Park, Paphos Castle and the Tombs of the Kings. 

And because Paphos was named European Capital of Culture in 2017, huge investment has brought an alluring contrast of modern alongside historical. 

The charming Paphos Old Town is a hub for shopping and dining; contemporary restaurants and bars sit comfortably beside authentic Mediterranean tavernas. 

Swim naked 

When you enter any of the homely eateries, you’re treated like royalty and served mouth-watering meze with mind-blowing meat platters. 

It was a revelation to me just how good the wine is in Cyprus. Take my word for it and head into the peaks of the Troodos Mountains for a tour of the modern Oenou Yi Winery. 

Sipping their rosé while looking out across the vast vineyards is as good as it gets. 

And you can’t go to Cyprus without seeing Aphrodite’s Rock. 

Legend has it that if you swim naked around it three times during a full moon, you’ll have eternal youth. 

But I hadn’t necked enough rosé for that. An eye-opening fact I learnt is that Cyprus is a hidden gem for golf.

The island boasts four sensational courses, with Elea Golf Club’s Par-71, overlooking the Mediterranean, designed by golfing legend Nick Faldo. 

And here’s something you won’t get in the Algarve — book for the right time of year (January to March), and you can go skiing up Mount Olympus in the morning, tee off at lunchtime, then sunbathe on the beach at sunset. 

The curtain comes down on my idyllic island break over dinner with The Sunshine Murders stars Peter Andre, Emily Corcoran and Dora Chrysikou. 

It’s clear — OK, Peter’s biased as his ­parents are Cypriot — that they’ve been just as wowed by Cyprus and the Asimina Suites as I have. 

Emily said: “The locations are very important in television and particularly in cosy crime. They almost become a character in the show. 

“We needed to find somewhere that gave that really great level of escapism for the audience, and we definitely found that.” 

Thankfully, Emily, who also writes the show, has plans for a second series. 

That is dead-good news, because I could murder a sequel to this trip. 

WITH the alpine breeze whipping at my cheeks, I make my way to the bottom of the slope.

After clicking off my skis, I barely take two steps before I am greeted by the warming scent of fondue.

I am staying at Club Med Serre-Chevalier in the heart of the French Alps.

This eco-friendly resort is located at the foot of a stunning ski area featuring 250km of runs, 80 per cent of which are above 2,000 metres.

And Club Med’s ski-in, ski-out access feels like a little slice of ­luxury after working up an appetite on the slopes.

Each guest has their own locker in the ski room, which is decked out with a snowboard or skis, poles, ­helmets and boots, to make for a seamless transition from the breakfast bar to the snow.

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But in this all-inclusive resort — where even your lift pass and lessons are included — the food is the jewel in the crown.

Unlike many all-inclusive hotels that serve up beige buffets and cold platters, Club Med has perfected alpine dining.

The hotel boasts two restaurants, Le Vauban and Le Meije, which are guaranteed to satisfy the tastebuds.

Le Meije prides itself on traditional dishes — and its wild garlic fondue is a Club Med staple.

Our host Nicholas guides us through the rules of fondue as it bubbles away under the stove on the table.

We are told that white wine is the best pairing and that any bread lost in the cheese will earn a forfeit.

Fortunately, all the bite-sized pieces of bread made it into my mouth — perfectly accompanied by the salty charcuterie board and a crisp, dressed lettuce salad.

Meanwhile, Le Vauban offers all-day dining with dishes to suit every palate and desire.

It is not unusual to see whole swordfish being freshly sliced or melting raclette cheese being poured on to steaming hot potatoes at lunch.

Given we are in France, the dessert station certainly lived up to my expectations.

The chocolate fountain was jewelled with bright red strawberries and the miniature mille-feuille looked almost too good to eat.

After learning to ski as a child, I was banking on the fact that skiing was like riding a bike.

But I eased myself in gently with a beginner lesson run by the French Ski School (ESF).

I was greeted at the ski room by my English-speaking instructor Carolina, who took a small group of us on to the nursery slope.

Luckily, my muscle memory kicked in and the plentiful snow gave me the perfect conditions to get my confidence back.

By day three, I headed up the mountain with the intermediate group to put the lessons to the test.

Carving my way through the snow, I definitely caught the bug again and ended the day by skiing down to Club Med — weaving through the forests under a bright blue sky.

With tired ski legs, I was ready for my treatment at the Club Med Spa by Payot.

Nadia Payot is the woman behind facial gymnastics — 42 movements that are designed to sculpt and lift every muscle.

Fortunately, it does not require any more cardio.

I checked into the spa and headed straight to the steam room to open my pores and relieve my muscles after a day on the slope.

Following a herbal tea in the relaxation room, I was greeted by my therapist, who sources sensitive skin products to tackle the dryness caused by the crisp alpine air.

The 30-minute treatment included layers of oils, creams and balms which left my face suitably revived for my journey home.

But Club Med is truly the resort that never sleeps.

After all, the Alps’ microclimate means it boasts 300 days of sunshine a year.

Following a dinner of cheese and meats, we headed outside for what Club Med describes as just one of its “magic moments”.

The sky illuminated with fireworks as Champagne towers were covered with the gold liquid of Laurent- Perrier.

Toasting a week of snow, cheese and good company, we headed back into the warmth of Club Med — and swapped our skis for our dancing shoes to party into the early hours.

ANA De Armas and Olga Kurylenko give 007 fans A View To A Thrill as they reunite at the Red Sea International Film Festival.

The pair, who both played Bond Girls, were joined by Naomie Harris – who starred in Skyfall, Spectre and No Time To Die as Eve Moneypenny.

Ana, who played Paloma alongside Daniel Craig in No Time To Die, wore a black dress with a split down the side.

Olga, 46, who played vengeful Camilla Montes in Quantum Of Solace, chose a sparkly silver gown with a low-cut back.

Naomi, 49, Bond’s Moneypenny in Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time to Die, opted for a demure black gown with a large bow.

The trio got together for the opening night of new film Giant, at the film festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

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Ana, 37, previously waded into the row over whether the next Bond should be a woman.

She said: “There’s no need for a female Bond.

“There shouldn’t be any need to steal someone else’s character, you know, to take over.”

The next film is being made by Amazon MGM Studios.

Dune director Denis Villeneuve is in place to direct it.

He said: “I’m a die-hard Bond fan.

“To me, he’s sacred territory. I intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come.

“This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honour.

KATY Perry ditched her sexy stage outfits for a demure “First Lady” look alongside new love Justin Trudeau.  

The pop star, 41, and former Canadian prime minister, 53, were guests of Japan’s ex-PM in Toyko.  

Katy has recently been dressed in blue armour on her Lifetimes Tour. 

But she wore a smart two-piece to meet Fumio Kishida, 68 — premier from 2021-24 — and his wife Yuko, 61.

Fumio wrote: “Former Canadian Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau visited with his partner and joined my wife and me for lunch.” 

Resharing the image, Trudeau wrote: “Katy and I were so glad to have the chance to sit down with you and Yuko.” 

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One X user replied: “Katy Perry doing international diplomacy.

“Did not have this on my top risks 2025 list!” 

In June, it was revealed her relationship with actor Orlando Bloom, 48, with whom she has a daughter, Daisy, five, had ended after almost a decade. 

Weeks later, she sparked rumours of a romance with Justin. 

They were spotted on a dinner date in Montreal although it wasn’t confirmed they were an item until October when they were seen passionately kissing on a yacht in California. 

Later that month they were photographed together in Paris after he flew in to celebrate her birthday. 

THEY say you can judge a person by the company they keep.

In the case of Nick Cave, look no further than his band of 40-plus years, The Bad Seeds.

Although the cast has changed/evolved over that time, extraordinary people have walked every step of the way with the Aussie on his wild sonic adventure.

In a recent instalment of Cave’s Red Hand Files, for which he answers questions from all corners of the globe, he writes: “I think of them all — The Bad Seeds, so deft, so expressive, so anarchic, so bloody awesome.”

It’s fair to say that their latest exploits together, the Wild God album and subsequent tours, have taken their studio and stage craft to exhilarating new heights.

‘Anything can happen’

In another post, Cave shares his thoughts on the transcendent recent live performances with his beloved Bad Seeds, which he calls “an antidote to despair”.

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“The shows are outstanding, feel deeply musical, and we are enjoying them immensely,” he affirms.

“Those couple of hours on stage are intense and concentrated and there is a feeling of supreme metaphysical possibility where anything can happen, and frequently does.

“When performing, I experience an aliveness where I feel close to the living and to the dead.

“It seems that the show affords both band and audience moments of acute spiritual intimacy and communion, unlike anything that can be found outside of our own particular cathedrals — sex, nature, religion, identity, whatever.

“The new songs seem purpose-built for the live experience. Frogs, Wild God, Song Of The Lake, Cinnamon Horses and Long Dark Night become massive, emotional gestures, reaching a dimension way beyond the album versions.

“We play furiously as if our very lives depend upon it (which they do), but around that the reins of our time together are lightly held.

“We don’t take ourselves too seriously. We eat and drink together nightly, and we laugh a lot — these are times of good humour.”

This brings me to Live God, an 18-track live double album, recorded last year and at the start of this, combining Wild God songs with back catalogue classics such as Into My Arms, Red Right Hand, Tupelo and Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry.

To celebrate its release, I’m speaking to two Bad Seeds, lead guitarist George Vjestica, a Brit of Croatian descent, and American multi-instrumentalist Jim Sclavunos, who both share illuminating insights into their profound, frequently joyful experiences.

But to set the scene, here are more of Cave’s singular musings about his bandmates.

He says: “I think of Jim Sclavunos, the dynamic force around which so much of the music revolves; Larry Mullins, our not-so-secret weapon and George Vjestica’s gorgeous guitar playing.”

He praises Radiohead bassist, “the brilliant Colin Greenwood, who stepped into Martyn Casey’s illustrious shoes with such dedication.”

There’s Canadian keyboardist Carly Paradis, “who changed everything — free and wild and wonderful — and Warren Ellis, gloriously and deliriously destroying himself each night.”

Then there are the gospel singers who send Cave’s songs soaring to the heavens.

‘Extremely attuned’

He salutes “the great Wendi Rose, who leads our brilliant vocalists, and who has collaborated with me on and off for over 20 years”.

And he spares thoughts for “Miça Townsend, our newest member, a stunning presence on stage; the monumentally magnificent T Jae Cole; Janet Ramus and her powerful racked vocals, especially on Henry Lee — such a poignant moment.”

In return, let’s hear what Vjestica has to say about the mercurial Cave: “He’s amazing! He’s so true to what he does as an artist, as a singer and musician.

“He’s very creative and extremely attuned to what’s happening musically with the band.

“He’s very open to ideas — some might not work but he’ll always give it a shot.

“He has a fantastic sense of humour but he’s deadly serious about his work, too.”

Like those of us who have listened to Cave’s songs over the years and watched him perform live, Vjestica agrees that he’s a true one-off. He says: “Nick is a captivating songwriter. Unique. As soon as you hear his voice, you recognise that it’s him.

We don’t take ourselves too seriously. We eat and drink together nightly, and we laugh a lot — these are times of good humour

Nick Cave

“There’s poetry and soul in his songs that connect in a very human way.

“If you listen to Long Dark Night or go back to songs like Sad Waters or Far From Me, they’re incredibly sensitive and beautiful — but the flip side is a song like White Elephant.”

A highlight of the Wild God tours, White Elephant first appeared on Carnage, the 2021 album Cave made in lockdown with his chief collaborator, Warren Ellis, a fellow Aussie noted not just for his musical prowess but for his wildman hair and beard.

The song finds Cave in demonic form, spitting out lines like, “I’ll shoot you in the f***ing face/If you think of coming around here.”

Salvation comes in the form of a euphoric, gospel-infused coda, the whole song making for a thrilling, visceral live spectacle.

Vjestica says: “There’s a thing about people like Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Nina Simone — they’re all charismatic and fearless — and Nick has it too. You can hear it in his songs.”

Another song from the live set, I Need You, from 2016’s Skeleton Tree, is almost too painful to watch.

Just Cav­e solo at the piano with extreme emotion etched into his face, he once dedicated it to his two living sons, Luke and Earl, but you just know that the two he has lost, Arthur and Jethro, are also on his mind.

Sclavunos describes what it’s like seeing the singer up close, performing I Need You.

“I often am asked which song in The Bad Seeds’ repertoire is my favourite to play live,” he says. “As you might imagine, my personal favourite changes from night to night, especially depending on how that night’s performance has gone.

“Then again, sometimes my favourite song is one that Nick performs on his own, such as I Need You.

“For that song in particular, usually situated in the middle of our set, I have a ringside seat. My position on the percussion riser gives me a uniquely intimate view of Nick at the piano for that number.

“Although I’ll have heard him perform I Need You night after night — and it’s always great and moving — every now and then he surprises me with an exceptional delivery, further exploring the emotional depths of the song.”

‘Audiences can be rowdy in Poland’

The inclusion of fan favourites Into My Arms and Red Right Hand into the live set is another reason why the Wild God tours receive rapturous receptions.

Sclavunos says: “One of the wonderful things about both those songs is that they have somehow evolved into audience participation numbers.

“Into My Arms often prompts a spontaneous singalong. That is no real surprise as it is a very touching song which means a lot to many people.

“But the singalong which erupts in the formerly instrumental middle section of Red Right Hand is a wholly unexpected and very welcome development.

“It has transformed the way in which we and the audience participate in that song, which I reckon is very much for the better at this point.”

So, I venture, do audiences in different parts of the world react differently?

Vjestica answers: “In Mexico and South America, it’s crazy! London, Paris and New York are always exciting to play.

“In northern Europe, people are generally more respectful but they can be quite rowdy in places like Poland, Greece and Croatia. You never quite know what to expect.

“I loved playing in Minneapolis on the last US tour — it’s such a great music city — and I can’t wait to go to Australia next year, for obvious reasons.”

Next, I ask Sclavunos and Vjestica to give me a brief outline of their Bad Seeds journey.

First, big, bearded Jim: “In the current touring line-up, I’m technically the longest-standing band member after Nick, which is strange as it still feels so new to me in some ways.

“My role as a live performer with The Bad Seeds has always been fluid.

“When I was first enlisted for the band’s 1994 European dates, an extra set of hands was needed to play parts that had been overdubbed on the Let Love In album — such as tubular bells on Red Right Hand and Loverman, plus various other percussion and organ parts.

Nick is a captivating songwriter. Unique. As soon as you hear his voice, you recognise that it’s him

George Vjestica

“From my very first album with them, Murder Ballads, I was occasionally stepping in on drums for songs like Stagger Lee.

“Drums are, after all, the primary instrument I’m known for — with The Cramps, Sonic Youth and, more recently, The Pogues.

“For quite a few tours, I was the primary drummer in The Bad Seeds (not to mention Grinderman).

“But since our friend Larry Mullins accepted Thomas Wydler’s seat for touring, I’ve come full circle, back to my original set-up.

“Essentially, it’s still keyboard and loads of percussion, and still jumping onto the drum kit for classics like Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry.

‘I still feel like a newcomer’

“But my current set-up is a greatly expanded and more sophisticated version, built around key instruments like the vibraphone and tubular bells — rather unique elements for a rather unique rock band.”

And Vjestica remembers his introduction to the world of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.

He says: “I first came in during the recording sessions for Push The Sky Away in 2012, subsequently joined the band the following year and have been on all of The Bad Seeds albums and tours since.

“Nick, Warren and Jim are the old guard. I still feel like a newcomer and I’ve been around for 13 years!

“I guess I bring a certain energy and a subtle but somewhat valuable musical element to the band.

“For Wild God, Nick wanted it to be more of a band album than the previous album Ghosteen so I was able to contribute more.”

Nick, Warren and Jim are the old guard. I still feel like a newcomer and I’ve been around for 13 years!

George Vjestica

Vjestica also gives his verdict on the rest of his bandmates, aside from Cave, with special attention reserved for Warren Ellis, who plays violin, viola, accordion, flute, bouzouki, among other instruments with such panache.

“They’re all super-talented musicians but at times can be completely crazy,” he says.

“Everyone is slightly unhinged. You just have to watch us play From Her To Eternity live and you’ll see what I mean!

“Warren is a force of nature — the wild man of Ballarat [a city in Victoria, Australia]. At times, it’s like he’s on another planet but in the next breath he’ll be the most earthy musician you could ever meet.

“He’s totally connected to some kind of musical higher power that never switches off.

“They’re all beautiful and amazing people to be in a band with.”

Finally, I ask Vjestica and Sclavunos where they hope their Bad Seeds journey will take them.

The guitarist goes first: “I’ve been all over the world and I’m very fortunate to be able to do other projects when I’m not on tour.

“I recently worked on the music for the new Jennifer Lawrence film Die My Love, directed by Lynne Ramsay, which was amazing.

“Being a Bad Seed has given me so much and for that I’m extremely grateful.

“We’re playing loads of European festivals next year and it would be great to make a new record — that’s down to Nick really.

“I hope as a band that we may continue to live long and prosper.”

And what better way to end than with this response from Sclavunos?

“Onwards and upwards — where no mallet-thrashing, bell-ringing, snare-whacking, tambourine-twiddling musician has gone before.”

NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS

Live God

★★★★★

FOR decades, he was the heart and soul of the rap world, a God-like figure in the music industry whose name alone opened doors.

But since last year, Diddy — the man who once bragged he could make anyone a star — has been behind bars.

In October, he was jailed for just over four years for transporting prostitutes across state lines for “freak-off” sex parties at his mansions, but acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking.

More than 100 civil cases have been filed alleging sexual assault or related misconduct by Diddy, whose real name is Sean Combs. Currently, 77 cases are pending.

Seemingly oblivious to his fate, and apparently cocky enough to believe he would get away with his crimes, in September last year, Diddy, 56, had a videographer follow him around New York while he was under investigation as part of his PR campaign.

Things are happening and I’m going to fight for my life. I am going to fight for justice. Not guilty. I want to be able to have a life to live

Diddy

Controversially, the footage of his last days as a free man was obtained after his arrest and now features in new Netflix four-part documentary, Sean Combs: The Reckoning.

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He is seen holed up in a room at the five-star Park Hyatt Hotel in the Big Apple, lashing out at his team as scandal after scandal engulfs him.

The egomaniac insists he has handled the allegations against him with “complete honour” and been the perfect client for his lawyer, before vowing to “fight for justice”.

Pacing the room like a caged tiger, he is a world away from the power and privilege he once enjoyed.

‘Dirty business’

Diddy’s label, Bad Boy Records, has sold more than 500million albums, while his own debut record, No Way Out, sold 7million in the US alone.

In never-before-seen footage, Diddy — worth over £300million — rages, ”we are losing the war” as he watches his former fans turn on him on TikTok and Instagram.

In the remarkable recording, Diddy also rants on a phone call to his lawyer: “Things are happening and I’m going to fight for my life. I am going to fight for justice. Not guilty. I want to be able to have a life to live.

“It’s really going to be hard for me to take more hits than I’ve taken if, God forbid, I get in front of a jury and have a chance.

“We have to find someone — whether it be in this country or another — who has dealt in the dirtiest of dirty business of media and propaganda.”

Close to losing his temper, the three-time Grammy winner fumes: “I have taken eight nuclear bombs to the head, and I am tired of going back and forth. I am not a referee. Listen to me. I am going to get off the phone right now and let you professionals come back to me with a solution. No matter what anybody says, you are not working together the right way. We are losing.”

He later adds: “It’s just a bunch of silly bulls**t noise. But now the legal system is doing it legally. “I’ve got to go and spend money to get rid of this bulls**t. They aint breaking me, though.”

When cops raided his room at the Hyatt last September, they found a prescription bottle in the name of Frank Black, thought to be a pseudonym, that contained Clonazepam.

My mum always raised me for the real world

Diddy

The drug is used to treat ­everything from panic disorders to psychosis.

A bag with $9,000 inside was also retrieved, as were packets of a pink powder which later tested positive for Ketamine and MDMA.

It’s a far cry from the clean-cut Catholic schoolboy who grew up in Mount Vernon, New York, and actively despised drink and drugs.

Recalling Diddy’s rise to the top, Kirk Burrowes, who co-founded Bad Boy Entertainment with him in 1993, said: “In our early days, Sean was clean as a whistle. He did not drink alcohol and he did not like drugs. He didn’t want any of that around him.”

Diddy was raised by his mother, Janice Combs, after his father Melvin was shot dead in his car in 1972, when Diddy was just three years old.

In an old clip used in the documentary, Diddy boasts: “My mum always raised me for the real world.

“She taught me if someone hits you, make sure you hit them back harder. Make sure they never hit me again. Make sure I f*** them up.”

The documentary claims Janice would hold lavish dos at their home — hinting Diddy’s later love for partying hard was learned at a young age.

Recalling their early years, childhood friend Tim Patterson said: “His beatings made me scared.

Recalling their early years, childhood friend Tim Patterson said: “His beatings made me scared. I got ­beatings, but when he got his beatings, it wasn’t normal, it wasn’t a normal thing.”

‘I’m not sorry’

He added of the rapper’s ruthlessness in getting one up on his rivals: “Sean didn’t fight like this [with his hands]. He is going to bite you, bite your ear, cut open your neck with his mouth. He’s not losing.”

His brutality and desire to win at all costs stretched into his relationships.

The rapper — previously known as Puff Daddy — reportedly saw no issue with going after any woman, even if she wasn’t single.

An ex-employee recalls: “One thing about Puff is he is like a cat. You know how a cat sneaks up, but only a cat knows what he is going to do? He takes his time.”

Diddy’s relationship with singer Cassie Ventura, from 2007 to 2018, was equally fraught.

She was just 19 when they first met in 2006, having moved to New York to become a singer the year before.

A leaked video from 2016 showed Diddy beating and dragging Cassie down a hotel hallway as she tried to escape the building via the lifts.

He said last year, when the footage emerged: “My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video.

“I was disgusted when I did it. I’m disgusted now. I went and I sought out professional help.

His beatings made me scared

Childhood friend

“I got into going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry. But I’m committed to be a better man each and every day. I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m truly sorry.”

Prior to the leak, he had denied Cassie’s claims of assault.

Speaking in an unearthed clip in the ­documentary, Diddy admitted he had “never been a good boyfriend”, but bragged: “I just wanted to have a girlfriend and just have maybe some girls on the side — you know what I’m saying? I like to have my cake and eat it too, I’m sorry . . . but may I add, I’m not sorry.”

Those close to him, including Kalenna Harper, a member of the rapper’s trio Diddy — Dirty Money, claimed the rapper became warped by drugs and alcohol.

When I first worked with Sean, I liked him as a person as I didn’t know him. I began to see the ugliness in him, in his nature, as a human being

Roger Bonds

She tells Netflix: “Puff had this 14 day cycle where he would go hard for like 14 days, as he was like a baby he didn’t want to go to sleep. It was like get in that motherf*ing zone. The motherf*ing zone was cocaine, strawberry cocaine, purple cocaine, pink cocaine, designer drugs . . . that’s the bad boy way.”

Clayton Howard, a former male sex worker who was hired by Diddy to spice up his relationship with Cassie, added: “He was always high. I don’t think I ever encountered Puff at a time when he wasn’t.”

‘Ugliness in him’

Throughout his career, Diddy became one of the most lauded stars of all time. And behind the scenes, he was feared.

And as his power grew, the awards and accolades rolled in.

In 2022, he received the Lifetime Achievement gong at the BET Awards.

In September the next year, he scooped the Global Icon Award at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York alongside his family.

Both times, he was treated like a king — openly enjoying the adoration and being in the spotlight.

Speaking for the first time, his former bodyguard, Roger Bonds, said it quickly became clear that all Diddy cared about was himself.

He explained: “When I first worked with Sean, I liked him as a person because I didn’t know him. I began to see the ugliness in him, in his nature, as a human being.

“That came from me seeing the only thing he cares about is himself and from me seeing the way he treated Cassie.”

In exclusive footage shot by Diddy’s team days before his arrest, he can be seen visiting his old neighbourhood of Harlem.

The bizarre trip reveals a man going back to his roots for support as the world closes in on him — a PR move to show everything was fine.

But Diddy was captured on camera arrogantly branding his supporters dirty, as if he was better than them.

He says: “Oh my god I need some hand sanitiser. I am out on the streets amongst the people.

“I gotta go under the water. The water got to boiling hot, and put some rock salt in it.”

Netflix is plainly desperate to sensationalise every minute of Mr Combs’ life

Diddy’s lawyers

Roger reckons Diddy only returned to his roots when he wanted to further his career — or save his skin.

He said: “I began to see him use the culture that he came from only when he needed it.

“Sean was uncomfortable around so many black people. It was only when he needed them that he felt capable enough.”

Diddy’s lawyers have slammed Netflix for using the footage, claiming it was stolen.

In a statement, they said: “Netflix’s so-called ‘documentary’ is a shameful hit piece . . . Netflix relied on stolen footage that was never authorised for release.

“Netflix is plainly desperate to sensationalise every minute of Mr Combs’ life. If Netflix cared about truth or about Mr Combs’ legal rights, it would not be ripping private footage out of context, including conversations with his lawyers never intended for public viewing.

“No rights in that material were ever transferred to Netflix or any third party.”

Netflix has not responded to a request for comment.

But the documentary’s director Alexandria Stapleton, has previously said: “We obtained the footage legally and have the necessary rights.”

•  Sean Combs: The Reckoning is on Netflix now.

WITH Christmas around the corner, could a Calais booze cruise still save you money in this post-Brexit era? Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham – alcohol experts known as The Thinking Drinkers – went on a trip to find out . . .  

The booze cruise has long been a British tradition – we’ve been benefiting from lower French alcohol taxes for decades. 

Before Brexit, you could fill your boots.  

You could also fill your backseats and roof-racks because — providing you could prove all the cases in your car were for personal consumption — you could bring back up to 160 bottles of wine, 110 litres of beer (nearly 200 pints) and ten litres of spirits (around 14 bottles).  

However, when the UK left the European Union in 2021, these allowances shrank severely and booze cruises sobered up.  

Five years on, the number of thirsty Brits crossing the Channel is on the rise due to decent ­discounts in duty free and — helped by a little-used VAT ­loophole — genuine bargains in French wine shops.  

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Of the three ferry companies operating from Dover to Calais, we found DFDS offered the best duty-free drink deals, both on-board and at its huge port shop, where ­shoppers can enjoy up to 50 per cent off UK High Street prices. 

If you spend £150 on the ferry, or €150 in the port shop, you get a free day trip to use in the future.  

Spend €250 and you get a ten per cent discount, while those who stretch to €350 can claim 20 per cent off their booze bill — AND receive a day trip to use another time. 

The duty-free shop sells loads of recognised brands available in the UK, ranging from Whispering Angel and 19 Crimes to Guinness, Birra Moretti and Captain Morgan.  

Packing our trolley with a single person’s allowance, including ­several premium brands, the bill came to £921, but the DFDS 20 per cent discount reduced that to £736.80 — a saving of £184.20.  

When compared with the cheapest prices at UK supermarkets and online retailers, the cost represented a saving of just over 43 per cent — and that was before the discounts on perfume, toys and tobacco. 

The company’s Reserve & Collect service meant we could pre- purchase everything online from home, days before we left Dover, then pick up the cases before embarking on our return journey.  

It’s a wine lover’s paradise, with aisle after aisle of Bordeaux, ­Burgundy, Champagne, Sancerre and rose wines ranging from a £2.46 bottle of basic red to Premier Cru Champagne costing more than £1,200. 

This freed up plenty of time for us to explore some of Calais’ ­specialist wine shops, one of which is Calais Vins, a ten-minute drive from the ferry port. 

It’s a wine lover’s paradise, with aisle after aisle of Bordeaux, ­Burgundy, Champagne, Sancerre and rose wines ranging from a £2.46 bottle of basic red to Premier Cru Champagne costing more than £1,200. 

Nearly all the wines are French, but there are English-speaking sommeliers instore to guide ­bamboozled Brits towards some superb value-for-money “vins”. 

They’ll even open bottles for ­customers to taste. 

Calais Vins co-founder Jerome Pont says: “We’ve worked with some of our vineyards for more than 20 years.

“These aren’t wines you’ll find in British supermarkets — but the prices are around 40 per cent cheaper than wines of equivalent quality in the UK.”  

Jerome has seen a steady rise in British customers. 

“It’s a different traveller than before,” he said. “They come for a day or a weekend, to enjoy the city and pick up wines they can’t find at home.”  

Our cart, packed with still and sparkling wines, came to just under £390. But before we left, Jerome took a further 15 per cent off the price — because Brits don’t have to pay VAT in France.

After taking our names, passports and credit card details, Jerome handed us a tax-free form, ­complete with barcode, that we later scanned at a special kiosk located at the port. 

If customs officials find you’ve bought even one more bottle than you’re allowed to, you must pay the duty on your entire haul rather than just the excess amount. 

It took less than five minutes to do and the refund, worth £59.78, was back on our credit card within five days.  

With the VAT reclaimed, we spent £330 at Calais Vins on 24 bottles of wine and a six-bottle case each of Champagne and sparkling wine — by no means bargain-basement booze, but great value for money for top-notch wines.  

What’s more, up until the end of the year, Calais Vins are sweetening the deal further with a “Grape Escape” day trip offer. 

Spend €300 online and pay a credit card deposit of €60, and the store will send you a booking ­reference code for a free return ferry trip with P&O. 

But however you do it, be careful not to go above your allowance. You can bring back up to 42 litres of beer, 18 litres of still wine and either four litres of spirits or nine litres of sparkling or fortified wine. 

But if customs officials find you’ve bought even one more bottle than you’re allowed to, you must pay the duty on your entire haul rather than just the excess amount. 

So is the modern-day booze cruise worth it?  

Absolutely — whether you’re a cork-sniffing wine buff or bargain booze hunter. 

There are still substantial steals and deals to be had, particularly if you factor in ferry company and Calais wine shop offers, plan the trip properly, pre-order . . . and pack the car with military ­precision. 

TELLY presenter Melanie Sykes has said she is now “two thirds bald” after losing her hair due to illness.

Mel, 55, added in an Instagram video she was “in so much pain” and had been unwell all year.

She said: “I’ve got an autoimmune condition, I am losing my hair, I keep having crazy inflammation all over and I am working on healing.

“In the last three months, I’ve done a meditation teacher training course.

“I was too ill to finish it like. The last two days of it I couldn’t do.

“It’s meditation teacher training, I don’t necessarily want to teach, but I can do…

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“Mostly I’ve been living a very, very very spiritual existence.”

Mel and chef Gino D’Acampo co-hosted ITV show Let’s Do Lunch with Gino and Mel from 2011 to 2014.

Last April, she revealed she had been diagnosed with alopecia and also had a heart condition — and linked her suffering to allegations of inappropriate and intimidating behaviour against Gino, which he “firmly denied”.

Speaking on her YouTube channel, Mel said: “I went into the New Year with so much energy.

“I’ve slowed things down because I got a heart problem, which I developed during the whole Gino D’Acampo bull**** that happened in the news.

“Suddenly, the stress levels in my life shot up because I left that industry years ago but it won’t leave me alone.”

“It’s all been triggered – and everybody’s agreed with this – by my PTSD from the industry.”