The Sun on Sunday

LOOKING to save on holidays on the high seas?

Cruise companies are going all out to get you booking, with their January Wave campaigns offering discounts and upgrades.

Lisa Minot looks at the savings to be made if you book in New Year sales . . . 

MARELLA

There are savings of up to £300 per booking on select departures between April 1, 2026 and April 30, 2027.

Deals are on sailings of seven nights or more to over 100 destinations including the Caribbean and Canaries.

An 11-night Captivating Coasts repositioning cruise from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, on Marella Explorer will sail from the Canaries on April 26, 2027, to include calls in Tenerife, Lanzarote, Morocco, Malaga, Menorca, Sicily and Corfu.

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Dream trip of Miami Open and then luxury Caribbean cruise from £2,399pp

Prices from £1,941pp all-inclusive cover flights from Gatwick, 20kg luggage and transfers. See tui.co.uk/cruise/deals.

P&O

This very British cruise line now has all-inclusive packages for the first time on trips of five nights or more.

Departures are from March 2026 and include all drinks, wifi and speciality dining credit.

A Classic package is from £49pp per day and the Deluxe is from £59pp, with a wider range of spirits, ultimate wifi and up to £80 dining credit.

Deals include a seven-night all-inclusive Canary Islands and Madeira fly-cruise on P&O Azura from £972pp, including drinks, wifi, speciality dining credit, flights and transfers, departing March 6. See pocruises.com.

MSC

The company has reduced the price of drinks packages on select sailings to just £196pp (previously £250) so you can enjoy beers, wines and cocktails from just £28 per day on seven-night cruises.

Other incentives in their Wave campaign include fly-cruise packages to the Mediterranean with flights from just £99 or low £100 deposits to secure the cruise of your choice.

Deals include setting sail from Southampton on MSC Virtuosa on October 31 for a seven-night voyage that calls at Brest, Lisbon, Vigo and Cherbourg. From £494pp.

To book, see msccruises.co.uk.

PRINCESS

There are savings of up to £800 per Stateroom and low deposits of £99 in the cruise line’s Value Is Princess VIP sale.

Book before March 2 and save up to £75pp on sailings from six to eight nights; £150pp on sailings from nine to 16 nights and up to £200 on cruises of more than 17 nights.

The promotion includes all 17 ships in the fleet, including the latest addition, Star Princess, with fares on the new ship on seven-night Western Caribbean cruises from £494pp.

And sister ship Sun Princess is also included, with seven night sailings from Barcelona from £774pp. See princess.com/en-uk.

CELEBRITY

Save up to 60 per cent on the second guest, with £500 in savings or $600 on-board spend.

On European sailings from May 1 next year, guests can upgrade to Celebrity’s All Included package, which combines the classic drinks package with wifi from only £50pp, per day.

In 2026, the premium cruise line will offer even more ways to explore Europe with three Edge-class ships, the latest Xcel, Ascent and Apex sailing to more than 100 European destinations with 59 overnight stays, including Madeira and Istanbul.

See celebritycruises.co.uk.

THERE is more to Portugal than its beaches – as its picturesque northern region of Douro proves.

This proudly kept secret centres around the Douro River that flows for 850km from the mountains of northern Spain to the city of Porto and serves up gastronomic, wine and cultural delights in equal measure, as well as stunning countryside.

Its peaceful green vineyards, beneath blue skies, are a world apart from the crowded beaches of Portugal’s southern Algarve region, but just a short flight away from the UK.

Here, Lauren Clark offers a guide to what to do in Douro . . . 

WHY SHOULD I GO? First and foremost, for the wine. It has been produced on the banks of the Douro River for more than 2,000 years, and this is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world after being officially established in 1756.

Its produce includes its most famous export of all — port.

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But while any trip to the Douro should take in the idyllic terraced vineyards, the cobbled streets and port cellars of Porto — Portugal’s second-largest city — are not to be missed.

It is to here that barrels of wine and port have traditionally been transported down river.

STREETS ARE MADE FOR WALKING: Porto is easy to explore on foot.

Some of its medieval streets are rather steep but you can rest your legs with a ride on the Gaia cable car.

Or for yet more fabulous views, head to the train station to explore the Linha do Douro — a 99-mile rail line considered one of Europe’s most scenic, which runs close to the river for much of its route.

Hop on at Porto and disembark at Pinhao after a couple of hours.

ANYTHING FOR THE BUCKET LIST? You can take in most of compact Porto’s sites within a day or two — from its ornate tiled churches to the famous Livraria Lello bookshop.

Head across the river on the grand double-decker Dom Luis I Bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia, where historic port cellars offer tastings. At Taylor’s you can have a tour and enjoy three wines for £22.

Wine-making links are everywhere, from the 19th-century Palacio de Bolsa — a former a stockmarket built to impress potential European investors — to the merchant houses along the quaint Rua das Flores.

WHERE SHOULD I EAT? Stop off at a no-frills local favourite, the Lado B Cafe for traditional treat francesinha — a sandwich featuring layers of bread and meats, covered in melted cheese and smothered in a spicy tomato-and-beer sauce, sometimes topped off with a fried egg.

It’s more than enough for a main meal and just £11 a go.

For more regional snacks, head to the new Time Out Market, next to the grand Porto Sao Bento train station and try traditional dessert pastel de nata — a yummy custard tart. Laid-back restaurant Adega Sao Nicolau, just off the river bank, is perfect for a more relaxed dinner.

For a special occasion, make a reservation at Le Monument, where the menu takes you on a culinary journey through Portugal.

I FANCY A DRINK: While in Porto, enjoy a sunset tipple at Restart by Vila Foz, north of the river, or Esplanada Teleferico on the south bank — both places offer stunning city views.

Or take in the sights while sipping on a glass of wine during a one-hour Six Bridges river cruise, with prices from £15.60pp.

In the Douro Valley, stop off at one of the region’s famed vineyards, Quinta da Pacheca, near the town of Peso da Regua. It offers a tour, followed by four-glass tasting, for £21 a head.

WHERE SHOULD I STAY? Five-star hotel The One Monumental Palace is handy for all of Porto’s key sites and has rooms from £169 per night in its historic, neo-classical building.

For a more value option, the Altis Porto hotel has breathtaking views of the Douro and is near the city’s Ribeiro area, featuring a riverside promenade and colourful houses. Rooms from £102 per night.

OASIS star Liam Gallagher is facing a new court order to reveal how much money he has earned from the band’s hugely successful reunion tour, The Sun on Sunday can reveal.

A court hearing is set to be held in New York this month after the mother of the singer’s love child filed a fresh legal motion to access his latest finances.

Liza Ghorbani is trying to obtain the singer’s bank records, tax returns and credit card statements to show how much he is now worth, say experts.

It will be the first time the band’s tour finances — which are estimated to be more than £350million — face being exposed to public scrutiny.

Ms Ghorbani wants to use the fresh information to prove he should stump up the £500,000 a year she’s claiming for the care of their daughter Gemma, 12, who was born in 2013 after an affair.

Liam, 53, and his brother Noel, 58, are expected to have raked in millions of pounds for last year’s sell-out Oasis Live ’25 reunion world tour.

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The band, whose 1994 debut album Definitely Maybe has sold 15million copies worldwide, is estimated to have made £303million from ticket sales alone — with another £40million from sponsorship deals and merchandise.

More cash to come

Last week The Sun on Sunday told how Liam treated himself after the tour, splashing out on Arsenal star Tony Adams’s £4.25million Cotswolds mansion.

And there could be more cash to come as he has been teasing fans about new tour dates in the next couple of years.

It is understood that Ms Ghorbani, 51, is trying to access details on all of their tour-related income.

We can reveal that lawyers for the US music journalist have filed an application for an Order to Show Cause in New York’s Supreme Court.

The judge hearing their case, Mr ­Jeffrey Pearlman, has been asked to consider a motion to compel both sides to answer further questions and provide more information to help him make a decision.

He has set a date later this month for a fresh court hearing.

Ms Ghorbani has filed various documents into the court, including 15 exhibits setting out her specific requests on what she wants from Liam’s lawyers.

Details of her exact demands have not been disclosed.

But top New York family lawyer Morgan Mazer said Liam will have to hand over the documents relating to tour earnings during a process in the case called discovery.

Ms Mazer said: “Ms Ghorbani can get access to the tour merchandise sales, if it’s a side thing Mr Gallagher is earning money from.

He has been more than generous over the years and is standing firm with his legal team

Source close to Liam

“Ms Ghorbani will want to look at any employment and income, any perks that Mr Gallagher has.

“Credit card statements are relevant because some people don’t always show all their income on their tax returns.

“With the credit card statements you can glean what somebody is making based on their lifestyle. The powers to determine what you should pay in child support are broad.”

Yesterday a source close to the singer told The Sun on Sunday: “Liam has been focused on enjoying Christmas with his family and not letting this court case get to him.

“He has been more than generous over the years and is standing firm with his legal team.”

In March we revealed Ms Ghorbani had filed a lawsuit demanding more money despite the case being settled in 2015.

The rocker responded by slamming her on X as a “gold digger”.

He also posted a link to the 1963 Beatles song Money (That’s What I Want).

His tax returns will be sophisticated so you will likely want a forensic accountant to review them

Dror Bikel, New York family lawyer

Ms Ghorbani claims she needs more money because Gemma is autistic and her needs have changed.

Liam’s lawyer Judith Poller has called it an attempt to cash in on the Oasis tour.

Dror Bikel, another respected New York family lawyer, said the examination of Liam’s finances could be extensive.

He added: “When the accountants sink their teeth into it, people are in for a ride.

“His tax returns will be sophisticated so you will likely want a forensic accountant to review them and you can find out what investments he has, what property he owns.

“You start with the tax returns and go from there.”

And he said Liam could be held in ­contempt of court if he refuses to hand over more information.

Mr Bikel went on: “He could face financial penalties and the severest ­punishment is incarceration.

‘Could be consequences’

“If he doesn’t hand over his financial details there could be consequences.”

Mr Bikel also chided Liam for insulting Ms Ghorbani and said that it was “never a good idea” because “courts don’t like those kinds of things”.

In June the New York court heard Liam has paid out more than £750,000 since 2015. His lawyers said he later agreed to pay £180,000 towards Gemma’s school and autism-related expenses.

But Ms Ghorbani is demanding £510,000 a year to cover child support and expenses.

She and her daughter live in a £3,300-a-month Manhattan apartment. Her new demands include £22,500 a month for a home with a pool, £75,000 a year for a live-in nanny and a £5,000 holiday budget.

Liam, who has three other children, is said to have had a fling with Ms Ghorbani in 2011 soon after she interviewed him, while he was married to singer Nicole Appleton.

Additional reporting: Hannah Hope

MANCHESTER United midfielder Mason Mount has found love.

I can reveal that the England international was seen with his arm around marketing executive Jordan Porter on a family trip to Lapland in Finland over the Christmas period.

It is understood that the couple met through Mason’s pal Ben Harris who is engaged to Jordan’s sister Jodie.

A source said: “Mason and Jordan have been friends for a long time after being introduced through Ben.

“Family is important to Mason so having Jordan on the Lapland trip meant a lot.

“Mason’s performance on the pitch has also improved so it looks like Jordan is a keeper.”

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Mason shared a snap of himself with his arm around Jordan at Lapland with his 5.6million followers last month.

The footie ace also posted a glimpse of two red stockings under his Christmas tree, embroidered with an M for Mason and J for Jordan. His brother Lewis also shared a picture of their family to his 16,600 Instagram followers.

Mason was pictured next to Jordan and with his arm around his dad Tony.

The pair were first linked in February 2024 when they were both pictured with a group of friends at the v.

Mason and Jordan also joined Ben and Jodie on their trip to Ibiza in July.

Jordan is Head of Experiences for London-based event planning service, GP Management, and grew up in South East London.

Mason confirmed that he had split from model Chloe Wealleans-Watts to Tatler magazine in 2022, following a five-year romance.

Asked about his relationship status, he said: “Football is my priority.”

It sounds like Jordan is his new No1.

Tim’s scored Ad

MOVIE star Timothee Chamalet is a huge football fan, supporting both Chelsea FC and French club AS Saint-Etienne – and now I can reveal he has been signed up by sports giant Adidas to film a huge World Cup ad.

The actor, who is dating Kylie Jenner, shot a top-secret campaign last month in Barcelona alongside Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, ex of Kylie’s sister Kendall, and British Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham.

A source tells me: “Adidas bosses were chuffed to bring Timothee on to the ad and paid a lucrative fee.

“It is believed the film will drop during the lead-up to the World Cup.”

Timothee has recently been on an epic press tour for his latest flick Marty Supreme, while mostly donning movie merch.

He’ll have to mix that up once the ad drops.

Jossa is strong for family

JACQUELINE JOSSA is determined to start 2026 in strong spirits, despite a probe into online death threats against her.

I revealed last month how the EastEnders actress had been sent menacing messages on social media, and had reported them to her BBC bosses.

But Jac who shares two daughters with husband Dan Osborne, is focusing her energy on her family and work.

A source said: “She trusts the police to investigate. She is not changing her routine and she is still fulfilling her commitments with family and work.

“She is very calm and content in the knowledge the police are dealing with it.”

Jacqueline posted Instagram snaps with the children and Dan in London’s Covent Garden last month.

She wrote: “I love this time of year so much. I love the age the kids are now. They are older but the magic is still here, it’s just different.”

It comes as the actress, who plays Lauren Branning in Albert Square, feared for her character when the soap’s top boss called her in for a meeting last year.

Of the flash-forward episode that aired on New Year’s Day, she said: “It’s always scary when you get called up to a meeting.

It’s either, ‘You’re going to be thrown off the roof of the Vic’ or it’s just a catch-up.”

Tina will Corrie on

CORRIE star Tina O’Brien has signed a new contract keeping her on the cobbles for another year.

The star, who began playing Sarah Platt in 1999, had a tough 2025, splitting from her husband Adam Crofts – father of her son Beau – after seven years of marriage.

Tina who also has daughter Scarlett with her former co-star Ryan Thomas, then revealed in November her beloved dad Steven had died.

A Corrie source said: “Tina had a very difficult 2025, so bosses wanted to reassure her there was nothing to worry about where her job was concerned. She put pen to paper just before the Christmas break.

“Obviously, there have been a lot of changes over the last few months and the last thing they wanted was for her to worry about her role on Corrie.

“She is very much adored on set and her character has got some big things coming up this year.”

Hopefully, 2026 is off to a better start . . . 

Hannah Hope’s annual 2026 showbiz calendar

JAN: Dust off your sequins as 2026 season kicks off with the 83rd Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles on January 11.

Comedian Nikki Glaser will return as host, with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the running for gongs for their roles in Wicked: For Good, while Kpop Demon Hunters are up for their catchy track, Golden.

Rock band All Time Low will begin the UK leg of their Everyone’s Talking Tour on January 20 in Glasgow.

Love Island beauty Maura Higgins and Real Housewives star Lisa Rinna join the line-up for The Traitors US, which starts on Peacock on January 8.

FEB: For the first time in its history, The Brit Awards will be heading up north to Manchester on February 28.

Jack Whitehall is back as host with pop star Tate McRae rumoured to perform at the star-studded show at the city’s Co-op Live Arena.

Fresh from the Strictly final, West End star Amber Davies will return to the stage as Elle Woods in the Legally Blonde musical at Leicester’s Curve Theatre on February 7.

The 2026 Grammys will hit Los Angeles on February 1 at the Crypto.com Arena.

Britain’s brand new boyband December 10 will release their debut single. The band consists of Cruz 19, Danny, 17, Hendrick, 19, John, 17, Josh, 17, Nicolas, 16, and Sean, 19.

MAR: After the success of her album West End Girl, Lily Allen is set to kick off her album tour in Glasgow on March 2.

The album is believed to be inspired by the breakdown of her marriage to Stranger Things actor David Harbour.

Wolf Alice and Manic Street Preachers form part of the line-up of the Teenage Cancer Trust Gigs at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Elbow will kick off the concert series on March 23 with special guest Mrcy.

APR: Olivia Dean truly made 2025 her year with The Art Of Loving album.

The British pop star will continue her tour in the UK in April. She is set to play the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on April 22.

Noughties boy band Blue will kick off their 25th Anniversary Tour at Oxford’s New Theatre on April 7.

Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber and Karol G are the headliners of Coachella festival, in California, which kicks off on April 10.

MAY: Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals returns in dazzling style.

Fans can see 11 pros – including Vito Coppola and Nancy Xu – take to the dance floor for the ultimate night out.

The nationwide tour, which travels around the country throughout May, kicks off at the Globe Theatre in Stockton-on-Tees on April 29.

Meanwhile, the glamour of the South of France will come alive with the 79th edition of The Cannes Film Festival on May 12.

JUN: A Glastonbury-shaped hole will be filled with the Isle of Wight Festival.

Lewis Capaldi, Calvin Harris and The Cure form the incredible line-up for the four-day festival which starts on June 18.

Following the global success of Wicked, pop star Ariana Grande will return to the stage for The Eternal Sunshine Tour, which begins on June 6 at the Oakland Arena in California.

JUL: Michael Bublé proves he does not just defrost for the festive season – as he headlines Blenheim Palace Festival in Oxfordshire on July 4.

Rapper Pitbull – aka Mr Worldwide – returns to the UK with special guest Kesha on July 10 for BST Hyde Park in London.

Lewis Capaldi will also be performing at the festival on July 11 and 12.

AUG: All Points East in London’s Victoria Park will see our favourites Zara Larsson, PinkPantheress and Lorde headline the festival on August 22.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs for three weeks from August 7, filling the city with the best theatre, comedy and music.

SEP: The 31st National Television Awards will see your fave soap stars battle it out to be crowned the winner on September 8 at London’s O2 Arena.

Meanwhile the 2026 Emmy Awards are set to take place on September 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The nominations will be revealed on July 8.

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ANNE HATHAWAY and Meryl Streep return in The Devil Wears Prada 2 on May 1.

Valentine’s Day just got even more romantic as Margot Robbie stars alongside Jacob Elordi in a new adaptation of Wuthering Heights, which is out on February 13.

Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow starring Milly Alcock will hit cinemas on June 26.

Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the gang return in Toy Story 5 on June 19.

Cillian Murphy stars in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple which is out on January 14.

SIR David Beckham’s Hollywood star ceremony could be overshadowed if son Brooklyn snubs it despite living nearby.

A date is being fixed over the next few months for the Walk of Fame unveiling, less than five miles from the house Brooklyn shares with wife Nicola Peltz.

And things could get awkward — as it comes after he ignored a loving New Year’s message from his football star father amid their ongoing family feud.

A source said: “Brooklyn snubbing David’s special day will be a very public humiliation as he lives in Hollywood.

“Of course, David is hopeful the family will have mended their relations by then, especially after he has offered an olive branch to Brooklyn. The rift has been a great cause of heartache.”

David, 50, was included in the Hollywood Walk of Fame class of 2025 after the success of his Netflix documentary. His engraving will include his title “Sir” after he was knighted by King Charles.

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Nominees have two years to schedule their ceremony, and his is set to take place before the summer World Cup in the States.

Other honourees include rockers Green Day, actress Jessica Chastain and ­rapper Busta Rhymes.

On New Year’s Eve, Sir David posted a series of pictures on Instagram showing him with his four children. It included a shot of him and his eldest Brooklyn smiling cheek to cheek, with the caption: “I love you all so much.”

However, he got no response from Brooklyn, 26, who lives with actress Nicola, 30, in an £11.8million villa in Beverly Hills.

Last month, the wannabe chef skipped childhood pal Holly Ramsay’s wedding to swimmer Adam Peaty and spent Christmas with his billionaire in-laws in Miami.

David’s spokeswoman declined to comment. 

THEY have barely aged in 20 years and can still fit into the hotpants that turned them into overnight stars.

Now, Cheeky Girls Monica and Gabriela Irimia, who first ­wiggled their way into the public eye on 2002 TV show Popstars: The Rivals, have revealed their secret to defying time at 43.

Gabriela said with a laugh: “People always ask us our secret to looking good. We have a few strict rules — no eating after 7pm, exercise every day . . . and lots of sex.”

Gabriela was famously engaged to ex-Liberal Democrat MP Lembik Opik, prior to meeting partner Adam Zubek seven years ago.

She said: “I’m really happy in my life now. Lembik was a ­genuine guy, we had a great relationship. But there was a lot of pressure from all sides, including from his party.”

Monica married building contractor Shaun Taylor in 2016.

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Their catchy Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum) co-written by their mum, Hungarian former midwife Margrit, was voted the “worst pop record of all time” in a 2004 Channel 4 poll.  

Yet it sold 1.2million copies worldwide, reaching No2 in the UK charts.

And bookings are hotter than ever for the twins, who also work in the motoring trade, due to the famous track ­taking off on social media and TikTok.

Monica, who is younger by ten ­minutes, said: “People ask us if we’re now ‘cheeky women’ but no, we’re still cheeky girls.

We haven’t had any work done — except our boobs and our teeth, which were a 40th ­birthday present to ourselves.

“We’re proof that, at 43, you can still be sexy, have two successful careers and also have fun.

‘Best of both worlds’

“We’ve performed at some of the biggest festivals, tiny gigs and at old people’s homes and student unions, and we love every minute of it.

“Our smallest gig was for three people at a hunting lodge for a multi- millionaire on a shooting weekend. Our strangest was for a room of deaf people who danced to the vibrations.”

As for those shiny silver hotpants, two years after Kylie Minogue rocked hers in Spinning Around?

Monica said: “The hotpants still fit. I think the bums have got a tiny bit bigger. We’re a little bit curvier, but in a good way.”

The hotpants still fit. I think the bums have got a tiny bit bigger. We’re a little bit curvier, but in a good way

Part of the siblings’ appeal these days is they cock a light-hearted snook at woke cancel culture.

Gabriela said: “Society is now becoming so serious. You can’t say this, you can’t do that . . . Where’s the novelty? Where’s the fun?

“But you can’t cancel us for being cheeky or you’d have to cancel Kylie Minogue and her hotpants, too.”

At the height of their fame, the girls mingled with A-list celebs and ­Gabriela claimed Robbie Williams once tried to charm her when they were both single.

She said: “Robbie was my teenage crush and I was privileged to meet him at an after-party for the Ant And Dec TV show.

“He chatted me up and I chatted him up. He was single, I was single. He told me, ‘You’re beautiful’. I ­fancied him. But it stopped there, unfortunately. Nothing happened.”

And they revealed their biggest celebrity fan was none other than heavy-metal legend Alice Cooper.

Monica said: “When we met Alice Cooper, who is our idol and an iconic artist, he said ‘Oh my god, girls. I love you!’ We were like, ‘Alice Cooper, a fan?’ That made our year.”

We’ve still got it and we are loving every moment

Now, 23 years on from their breakthrough hit, the Romanian twins both work in Audi car showrooms by day — Gabriela in York and Monica in Boston, Lincs — and insist: “There’s always a cheeky deal to be had.”

But people still sing the lyric, “We are the Cheeky Girls” at them in the supermarket or shout, “Cheeky, cheeky!” on the street.

Senior car saleswoman Gabriela said: “By day, we are suited and booted working for Audi cars, but we perform as the Cheeky Girls in ­hotpants by night.

“So we have the best of both worlds. We’ve still got it and we are loving every moment.”

Monica revealed that when customers come in, some do a double take, while others struggle to place how they know the pair.

She revealed: “All the time, customers say to us, ‘Do I know you from somewhere?’. We joke, ‘Do you want a cheeky deal?’.

“You see them frantically scrolling on their phones to check if it’s really us. Others say, ‘Oh, I don’t want to be cheeky, but can I have £1,000 off?’ — then you know they know!

“I’ll joke, ‘Maybe that’s a little too cheeky, but I can definitely offer you a great deal . . .’

“Both of us are petrolheads who love prestige cars, so we love our career as much as we love being pop stars.

“The only thing that could top it would be if we were invited to present Top Gear or appear on Strictly Come Dancing.”

To celebrate the release of their new song Drive, inspired by their day job, they have performed a tongue-in-cheek version of the Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum), instead singing “touch my bumper”, exclusively for Sun on Sunday readers to watch online.

The twins revealed that Love Island bosses had begged them to appear on the show — but they refused.

Gabriela said: “We did get an invitation to go to Love Island but it’s not our thing.

“We wouldn’t want to be seen ­having sex on camera or kissing boys. It’s tacky. If we were to go to Love Island, we’d be boring!”

We are available, 23 years on! We reckon we’d take Britain to glory again

They also insisted they will never do OnlyFans.

Gabriela said: “Twenty years ago, we did magazine covers, including FHM. We’d still be up for that. But you’ll never find us on OnlyFans. If anyone claims to be a Cheeky Girl on there, it’s not us.”

One gig the girls would love to land is Eurovision.

Louis Walsh, who was a judge on the show that shot them to fame, wanted the duo to represent ­Britain in the contest with a version of ­Baccara’s 1977 hit, Yes Sir, I Can ­Boogie.

Gabriela revealed: “At the time, we had the dilemma: would we represent Romania or the UK? But we’d do it now for the UK.

“So Louis, call us. We are available, 23 years on! We reckon we’d take Britain to glory again.”

‘Loss of control’

As well as the highs that come with scoring hit singles, including Take Your Shoes Off and (Hooray Hooray) It’s A Cheeky Holiday, there have been crushing lows.

It all nearly came crashing down as their record label, Telstar, collapsed — reportedly owing them more than £1million. They were declared ­bankrupt in 2009.

Monica recalled: “We are ­talking huge bills. Where do you go? What do you do?”

The pressures led them to spiral into an eating disorder. At one point, they each weighed just 6.5st.

Monica added: “It started with loss of control over everything. You feel like you want to take control of something and the only thing you can control is what you put in your mouth and do with your body.”

While both have now recovered, they are open about their battle to let other sufferers know there is hope.

Monica said: “We recovered many years ago. But we speak openly about this to raise awareness because of the pressures young people feel, ­particularly with social media.

“It also taught us a really important lesson — to stay positive.”

The twins both felt pressure to have boob jobs, after being sidelined for a bustier woman in their music video for Cheeky Holiday.

Gabriela’s first operation was a ­disaster, and she said: “My body rejected the implant. One boob was up, one boob was down.”

She has had a series of operations to correct it.

In 2017, one of her sister’s implants ruptured in two places.

But Monica said they now love their bodies, adding: “When I was in my 20s, you’re not that confident.

“I’ve now reached a stage where I feel I’m completely confident. I feel really sexy. We both feel that way.”

The twins hope to continue juggling their day jobs and singing careers.

Gabriela said: “Due to social media and TikTok, a whole new generation is coming to see us. It’s amazing.

“As long as the phone keeps ringing, the Cheeky Girls are going to be around.

“It’s worked for 23 years, we hope it will work for another 23. Who knows, we may even end up performing one day as the Cheeky Grandmas!”

WE’VE had a corker of a year, travelling far and wide to hunt the best bargain getaways, newest spine-tingling attractions and hottest resorts to share with you, our wonderful readers.

From a behind-the-scenes look at the first new theme park to open in Orlando in 25 years, to discovering secret speakeasys on board the world’s largest cruise ship, here are The Sun Travel’s top trips from 2025.

EPIC UNIVERSE, FLORIDA

Lisa Minot, Head Of Travel

UNIVERSAL’S hugely anticipated third theme park opened this year and I was among the very first to get a sneak peek.

I can definitely say the reality surpassed my high expectations. The attention to detail, sheer scale and truly immersive nature of the five new “worlds” that make up the £7billion park are astonishing.

From the breathtaking recreation of 1920s Paris in the Wizarding World Of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, to the technicolour dreamscape of Super Nintendo World, there is something for every age and interest.

SANDS GREAT

Little-known pink beaches & turquoise lagoons you won’t believe are in Wales

ICE COLD COOL

From lagoons & sauna to divine dishes – the perfect quirky weekend break

Families with younger kids will love How To Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, a whimsical recreation of the movie ­franchise’s Viking village, complete with colourful longboats.

And thrill-seekers will enjoy Dark Universe with its Monsters Unchained and Curse Of The Werewolf attractions as well as the Stardust Racers dual-launch coaster in Celestial Park.

In 2025, visitors were restricted to one-day tickets to the new park, to manage capacity and give as many people the chance to visit as possible.

But from next year, Epic will be included on 14-day multi-park tickets, meaning you can pop in and out as many times as you like.

BAHAMAS CRUISE

Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

IT has been my year for cruising, from sampling a knock-out cheese souffle on board Oceania’s new Allura to sipping frozen margaritas on the glossy sun deck of Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess.

However, none of these ships were as mindboggling as Star Of The Seas. Royal Caribbean’s newest colourful giant shares its title of “largest cruise ship in the world” with sister ship, Icon Of The Seas.

You need a whole week at sea to sample all the non-stop activities and to sink a beer or cocktail in every one of the 19 or so bars (save room for a punchy boulevardier from the coffee-themed Rye & Bean).

Much of what is on board has already been seen on Icon, including the thrill ride Crown’s Edge that sends passengers free-falling towards the ocean, their plummets saved by a harness as they dangle from the edge of the 16th deck.

What’s unique to Star, though, is the Lincoln Park Supper Club, an all-singing immersive dining experience that takes passengers back to the jazz boom of Chicago in the roaring Twenties.

It is costly for speciality dining but, my word, you’ll be well fed and watered. If you like martinis, you won’t regret booking this.

OSEA ISLAND, ESSEX

Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital)

PICTURE a private island with two outdoor pools, white clapboard houses and a huge sandy beach and you are more likely to be imagining somewhere exotic in the Caribbean than Essex.

But Osea is a private island linked to the mainland by a causeway you can only drive over for a few hours every day – which means you are marooned for most of the day and night.

Osea has several houses available to rent, from one-bedroom studios to 12-bedroom mansions, the largest featuring a recording studio that has been used by everyone from Stormzy to Rihanna.

It also has a tiny pub, a yoga studio, a bar and a huge event space where people can hold parties for up to 200 people.

I was there for a friend’s 50th and we spent a glorious 48 hours swimming in the sea, going on walks, eating, drinking and generally considering ourselves incredibly lucky to be in such a magical place.

You can only go to Osea if you are booked to stay in one of the properties but they are available to the public, with rooms from £60pp a night.

INDIA

Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

INDIA has long been on my wish list to travel to, but as a young woman, I was always extremely wary.

However, Intrepid’s Women Expeditions meant I could tick off all of the top bucket list attractions while staying safe with a local female guide.

So I could visit the famous pink palace of Jaipur, and the stunning Taj Mahal in Agra.

But it also meant we got to experience this vast country like a local, meeting female rickshaw drivers and staying at the rustic Chandelao Garh – a 17th century former fort which is now a hotel with 20 rooms.

And, with Virgin Atlantic launching more flights to India in the New Year, it’ll be easier to get there than ever before.

SARDINIA

Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter

ITALY is full of stunning, historic cities and hidden gems, but one island destination, thought to be a top spot to visit in 2026, offers a serene escape in the Mediterranean Ocean.

Sardinia is closer to Africa than mainland Italy, so boasts warming breezes and the smell of olive trees in the air.

If I am heading to a hot country, I prefer to be somewhere where everything I could want is at my fingertips – and Hilton’s Conrad Chia Laguna Resort achieves this.

Many of its stylish, sprawling rooms have small private ­gardens looking out to Chia Beach, surrounded by cream-coloured limestone.

The Conrad also has relaxing pools ideal for a refreshing dip before stretching out on one of the sun loungers.

For a touch of indulgence, the spa has a circuit of saunas, hot tubs and steam rooms ideal for a rejuvenation session.

The plush Hilton resort is just an hour from Cagliari – the island’s vibrant capital – which boasts a rich ­history and is the ideal spot for a day trip.

Return flights with British Airways in January start from a bargain £35 per person.

FINLAND

Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter

I’VE always been a fan of a hot holiday and since I live in the UK, who can really blame me?

But after heading to ­Finland for a winter adventure, I now think chilly getaways could be the way forward.

After a variety of activities from hiking through a snowy blueberry farm in outer Jyväskylä to taking a dip in a frozen lake in the city of Tampere – after a hot sauna, of course – I came to appreciate and love the cold.

One of the most special nights was at Revontuli Lakeland Village, in Hankasalmi, Jyväskylä Region, where I was able to get all cosy and enjoy a beautiful snow-scape from the comfort of a pretty igloo.

WHOEVER or whatever chiselled Chesil Beach did a mighty fine job.

The XXXL sandstone cliffs and 12 miles of shingle on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast are a treat for fossil hunter, swimmer and rambler alike.

But for a winter getaway, whether you like a bracing seaside walk, or brooding, storied villages like from the Thomas Hardy novels, Dorset is your wonderland.

First stop on our recent break was the latter — the village of Cranborne, inspiration for Hardy’s Tess Of The D’Urbevilles with its Norman church, coaching inn and thatched cottages.

But our Victorian hotel-restaurant La Fosse was as worldly as it was olde-worlde — chef-patron Mark Hartstone’s cuisine as classy as the interior design by his French wife Emmanuelle and the dining area’s woodland mural with REAL branches.

The menu proudly lists Mark’s local suppliers and our three-course feast, £75 for two, included treats such as anchovies and rhubarb compote, pork tenderloin in apple sauce, and braised quince with praline ice cream. Our bedroom was then just as sumptuous, with church view.

‘timeless classic’

Ex-England star puts Dorset mansion with sea views on market for £12m

FIRE FEARS

Dorset Wildfire ‘may last days’ as major incident declared & blaze spreading

Our next stop, Portland Peninsula in the English Channel off Weymouth, could not have differed more — the full windsock, this wild outpost, but great for blowing away thoughts of the annual tax return.

Our home, though, was the height of comfort — literally so, for the Pennsylvania Estate’s luxury Clifftop Apartments lord it high over the Channel with grandstand terraces.

Hewn of the same Portland Stone as Buckingham Palace, these glass-fronted superpads with James Bond-style kitchen-lounge, two bedrooms, and your own telescope for whale-watching, are quite the treat for two couples sharing or a family.

We swam in nearby Church Ope Cove, named for a now ruined 11th- century chapel with pirate graves — and it was a fine appetiser before bussing into Weymouth for dinner.

Star of the town’s bouji harbour is seafood restaurant The Catch, hailed recently by one posh critic as “the best restaurant in the world”.

Again, you are in treat land — the tasting menu and wine flight for two costs several hundred. But our fare, from oyster with fermented chilli and pickled shallot, and pickled mackerel with beetroot and salted plum, to chocolate, pear and hazelnut praline choux, was of the gods.

The harbourside Ebike Cafe, in a former grain warehouse, is also foodie heaven — its power porridges, buddha bowls, smoothies and fine wines as hipster-trendy as anything East London could serve up.

Across the harbour is Bennett’s Fish & Chips — top spot to meet the locals and admire old photos of the town — before the posh eateries then spill out on to nearby Chesil Beach.

Walk the epic shore, famed for TV drama Broadchurch, and The Watch House, Hive Beach Cafe and The Club House all offer premium bites.

At the first, we had the best beer-battered haddock, with craft cider, and at The Club House sea bass in seaweed butter sauce, and oysters.

If all that makes you lazy, The Island Sauna, overlooking Portland Harbour, is just the place to flop.

Another trip highlight, literally, was a tour of the Edwardian Portland Bill Lighthouse. As you climb its stair, you hear a haunting recording of the foghorn, at a polite fraction of full might, before being regaled with Spanish Armada tales.

Offshore is the Portland Brace tidal race where currents collide to create perilous turbulence, and our guide told how Sir Francis Drake suckered the Spanish into it before turning his guns on them.

Dorset get more exciting? Surely not.

FORGET the Oscars, these are the gongs that matter: The Biz on Sunday Awards for 2025.

It’s been another epic year in showbiz, and today we look back at the best, and worst, of it.

From Katy Perry’s space voyage to Alan Carr winning The Celebrity Traitors, here is our round-up . . .

REUNION OF THE YEAR

WHEN Noel and Liam Gallagher walked out on stage together for the first time in 16 years, Oasis fans around the world breathed a huge sigh of relief.

The brothers finally put their long-running feud behind them and took us back to the Nineties with their Live ’25 Tour.

After 41 dates, spanning 13 countries on five continents, it is safe to say that their reunion will be talked about for years to come.

MR AND MRS

Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay wed with his sister as bridesmaid amid feud

CHRISTMAS CRACKER

Rhian Sugden looks incredible in knickers and ‘naughty but nice’ crop top

Here’s hoping that 2026 holds even more for Oasis.

MOMENT OF THE YEAR

POP star Katy Perry proved she was out of this world when she soared 62 miles above Earth in April.

The American singer went into space on Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket with an all-female crew, and promised that a song inspired by the trip was on its way.

But critics branded her part in the mission “tone deaf” in light of the world’s economic struggles.

FALL OF THE YEAR

McFLY singer Danny Jones and Love Island beauty Maura Higgins certainly had a rocky start to 2025.

After both appeared in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here! in 2024, they were spotted together at a Brit Awards after-party in March – and married guitarist Danny was filmed kissing single Maura.

Luckily for Danny, his loyal wife, model Georgia, later forgave him.

Hopefully he will be on his very best behaviour next year.

SPLIT OF THE YEAR

LILY ALLEN proved that revenge is a dish best served cold – following her split from Stranger Things star David Harbour.

The British pop star laid bare her marriage breakdown through 14 tracks on her album West End Girl, which was released in October.

Lily’s tell-all lyrics came after months of hints about her toxic split with American David last December, amid rumours she caught him cheating.

If the album is anything to go by, her West End Girl tour will be one to remember.

TV TWIST OF THE YEAR

THE Celebrity Traitors was the year’s biggest TV show – with 12million viewers tuning in to watch Alan Carr win.

The comedian became the standout star of the series after “murdering” his best mate Paloma Faith – and having the worst poker face at the round tables.

Alan will be forever remembered as the best and worst Traitor in BBC history.

COUPLE OF THE YEAR

TAYLOR SWIFT and Travis Kelce broke the internet in August when the announcement of their engagement scored 37million likes on Instagram.

In a joint post, US hitmaker Taylor was pictured surrounded by flowers, with her American football star boyfriend on one knee, and a cryptic caption quipped: “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.”

The couple, below, first sparked rumour of a romance when Taylor was spotted watching a Kansas City Chiefs game in 2023.

If the engagement is anything to go by, this is going to be the wedding of the century.

UNLIKELY NEW ROMANCE

HE is Britain’s most eligible pop star – so when Harry Styles stepped out with Catwoman Zoe Kravitz in Rome in August, fans went wild.

The As It Was singer was seen walking arm-in-arm with US actress Zoe through the streets of the Italian capital.

Could we see a diamond ring in the new year?

ARIANA GETS A GRANDE HOTEL

ARIANA GRANDE seems to be planning a Wicked time during her rumoured West End stint — including a £1million hotel stay.

I hear the US singer and actress, who is tipped to star in a revival of hit musical Sunday In The Park With George, has included accommodation at the 5H Mandarin Oriental among conditions for her potentially taking the role.

Penthouses at the Hyde Park hotel start from £40,000 a night.

The three-bedroom suite is almost 5,000sq ft, with a walk-in wardrobe and grandstand private terrace.

If the play runs for six weeks, Ariana’s hotel bill would run to more than £1million.

Fans believe she is set to star in a revival of Stephen Sondheim’s 1984 musical Sunday In The Park With George at London’s Barbican Centre in 2027.

If so, she would line up alongside Jonathan Bailey, who played her Wicked character Glinda’s love interest.

A source said: “Ariana wants to stay at the Mandarin when she stars in the play.

“She really appreciates her downtime when she is working on productions and is a huge fan of the hotel.

“Ariana loves London and believes that the Mandarin Oriental has the city’s best views.”

Meanwhile she is nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Wicked: For Good at the Golden Globes in January.

She will then start her The Eternal Sunshine Tour in June, in Oakland, California, to support her album of the same name.

Sounds like she deserves some five-star R&R.

GET READY FOR A HARRY NEW YEAR

HARRY STYLES has given his most telling clue yet that he is preparing for a comeback.

He put on his YouTube channel a clip from his final Love On Tour gig, in 2023 in Italy – and the post was cryptically titled, “Forever, forever”, with text declaring: “We belong together.” He is at the piano, sparkling in gold.

It comes amid rumours of a fourth solo album – and a stage return.

The former One Direction star released his last album, Harry’s House, in 2022.

Looks like 2026 will be his year.

SPOTTING yet another shark, my sister Hayley shouts: “Quick! There are loads over here,” pointing towards the edge of the reef.

We’ve only just jumped into the sea on our 90-minute guided snorkelling trip, £53 each, so I decide to closely follow the guide instead, who points out moray eels, box fish and spotted eagle rays, plus the aforementioned reef sharks, which are thankfully harmless.

There is coral aplenty, and it’s teeming with sea life in every colour of the rainbow, as if I’ve swum straight into a scene from Finding Nemo.

Water View

Staying in a water villa at Oblu Xperience Ailafushi – complete with an outdoor rainfall shower and deck with a ladder straight into the turquoise water below – offers the classic Maldives experience.

The sound of the waves lapping beneath us is more calming than any white noise track I’ve listened to.

Thankfully, this all-inclusive resort on Ailafushi island is not solely aimed at couples, unlike many luxury getaways in the Maldives.

ROCKIN’ AROUND

Moment TORNADO hits Spain as Xmas lights destroyed amid weather red alert

COSTA LITTLE

This is Spain’s cheapest island with £169pp holidays – and it’s still 23C

Even better, it’s just a 15-minute speedboat ride from the capital Malé, which works out much cheaper than a sea-plane transfer.

The main restaurant, Element X, is a buffet eatery, which also helps keep costs down.

Here, we find dishes from all over the world, but it’s the Indian selection with rich, buttery paneer masala, spicy lentil daal and fresh roti, that most hits the spot.

All the action on Ailafushi centres around the main pool, the X360 bar and the neighbouring beach, where water shoes prove handy for the coral.

Daily activities include aqua Zumba, water polo and volleyball, plus a DJ hits the decks at sunset.

There’s even a twice-weekly foam party, which reminds us of teenage trips to Ibiza.

After a few frozen piña coladas, the nightly karaoke proves entertaining, and there’s a games room complete with pool tables, board games and huge screens playing live sport.

But it’s the water slide that drops you straight into the Indian ocean that becomes our favourite activity.

Beach Happy

At the other side of the island – a 10-minute stroll away – we find the Elena Spa And Wellness Centre, one of the Maldives’ largest spas, with landscaped tropical gardens that blend indoors with outdoors.

My treatment room overlooks the beach, and beneath the spa soundtrack I can hear the gentle sound of the waves.

The Balinese massage, £57 for 60 minutes, melts away tension from our long flight, while Hayley’s detoxifying lymph massage leaves her abs looking super-sculpted.

As well as treatments, there’s a steam room, sauna and salt water infinity pool, £8 for an hour, plus a juice bike which you can pedal to blend your fruits of choice.

Later, on the 90-minute dolphin cruise, which costs £53 each, we camp out on the bow of the boat, and are soon fortunate enough to spy a pod complete with a calf leaping out of the water just as the sunset turns the sky orange.

We celebrate with a delicious five-course lobster-themed beach dinner from The Copper Pot food truck, £60 each, that includes brown butter lobster tortellini, poached lobster, fennel and mango salad and a gigantic lobster thermidor.

Another ray in paradise

Our most memorable evening is spent at Oblu’s underwater restaurant Only Blu.

At 6.8m below sea level, we tuck into three courses with wine pairings, and marvel at the marine life on the other side of the super-sized windows.

As we’re feasting on scallops with pickles and cauliflower, and Maldivian yellowfin tuna poke, a 5ft-long nurse shark glides past and hundreds of tiny fish quickly dart into the reef to camouflage themselves among the coral.

It’s not long before we spy a similar-sized blacktip reef shark, and I lose count of the number of rays that appear alongside brightly coloured trigger and lion fish, before my main course of melt-in-the-mouth, pan-fried reef fish with corn mash and an olive and caper emulsion arrives.

A gulab jamun cheesecake and rich deconstructed banoffee pie don’t disappoint either, and the night proves well worth the extra £95 each.

With the fish still entertaining us just a few feet away, if we could, we’d both happily stay here until sunrise.

ISLE BE BACK

Meanwhile, writer Samantha Rea found joy on the island of Sark.

The “toast rack” – which is basically a row of benches on a trailer pulled by a tractor – is chugging me uphill from the harbour.

With no seat belts or doors, I hold on for dear life.

But seeing as only tractors and horse-drawn carriages are allowed on the tiny isle of Sark (yes, there are no cars!), this is the best way to reach The Avenue, Sark’s main street.

And at £1.80 a ride, it’s worth a go.

Sitting in the English Channel, just off the French coast, Sark is 3.5 miles long and 1.5 miles wide with some fab foodie gems.

At Caragh Chocolates, I decorate truffles and a huge slab with hazelnuts, fudge and cranberries alongside owner Caragh, before leaving with my delicious creations.

Ninety-minute workshops cost £45 (Caraghchocolates.com).

While at cosy Nova’s Bistro, portions are generous and the rich beef stew with pastry lid, £26, and treacle tart, £9.50 (@Novas. bistro) are well worth the 20-minute walk from Stocks Hotel, where I’m kipping

I walk off some of my indulgence the next day on a one-hour tour of La Seigneurie House and Gardens, with its gorgeous fountains, bridges and chapel. It’s owned by a family who are like Sark’s royals and has a fascinating history. Entry costs £8 (Laseigneurie desercq.uk).

Sark is also great for wild swimming – the best spots being Dixcart Bay, Les Fontaine Bay and La Grande Greve.

Meanwhile, if you want to see the Milky Way once night falls, head to Sark Observatory, £10 (Darkskyisland. co.uk).

And just like the song, you’ll hopefully soon be counting stars. . .

UK flights to Guernsey cost from £100 return. Ferries to Sark cost from £38.50 return (Sarkshipping.gg).

Double rooms at Stocks Hotel cost from £250 B&B (Stockshotel.com).

SCOTLAND’S peaks are known for drama, beauty and inaccessibility.

As a wheelchair user, for years I thought they were off limits to me, unless I fancied freezing, struggling or staying behind.

But then I heard about the Cairngorm Mountain Railway, which reopened in February.

A step-free funicular that climbs right into the clouds? I had to try it.

Access is built in from the moment you arrive – a lift to the platform, a small threshold ramp, and level boarding into the front of the train.

I wheeled straight on with no fuss, no faff, and no feeling like I was the exception.

WAIL OF A TIME

I drove Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

The train climbs from 635 to 1,097 metres in less than ten minutes.

As we rose through pine forests and heather, the view just kept opening.
Mist clung to the glens below. Ridges curved into the distance.

It was smooth, and completely surreal – like floating uphill. Ptarmigan Station is right at the top.

From the lift you roll straight into a warm cafe, an exhibition space, and a huge outdoor viewing terrace with the kind of panoramic views I never thought I’d access without help. (You can’t go beyond the terrace unless you’re part of a guided walk, but honestly, I didn’t need to.)

The restaurant serves hearty food and sweet treats.

I had a Baileys hot chocolate – totally earned – and sat soaking up the sunshine at 1,000 metres up.

Now I don’t get to do that every day.

I stayed about half an hour away at the Grant Arms Hotel in Grantown-on-Spey – a traditional Highland property with helpful staff and a calm, cosy vibe.

My accessible room was easy to navigate, meals were relaxed and the whole place had that lived-in charm.

It’s worth saying the access isn’t perfect – there’s a small service lift with manual doors – but the team were happy to help me, and I never felt like I was causing a problem.

This part of the Cairngorms has a few hidden gems that are surprisingly accessible.

Loch Garten has level paths and a great wildlife viewing area.

Countryside accessibility can be tricky for disabled travellers

Anagach Woods offers some forest trails you can wheel through, best in dry weather.

And a few local spots like the Highland Folk Museum and Wildlife Park advertise step-free access and accessible toilets – always worth checking ahead.

Countryside accessibility can be tricky for disabled travellers.

I’ve had to turn back more times than I can count.

I’ve scrolled past places that were “not suitable for wheelchairs”. So when a mountain made space for me, it meant something.

I made it to 1,097 metres above sea level.

No compromises, no apologies.

Just clear skies, fresh air, and the kind of joy that lasts long after you come back down.

WE all know that reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh – but did you realise his entire fleet of magical-hooved creatures is female?

“We know this because of their horns,” Diego Osorno tells me, pointing towards Vixen, one of Grouse Mountain’s resident herd.

At that moment, she decides to depart her hay-filled lodge and gently plod off through the snow, tilting her antlers towards the shimmering Christmas lights in a well-timed performance.

Males shed their antlers in the winter months, while females cast theirs in summer, the knowledgeable Diego shares. He is one of a few rangers here at Grouse Mountain, a 4,100ft tall peak that towers over the city of Vancouver, on Canada’s western coast in British Columbia.

This magnificent landmark will be celebrating its 100th birthday next year, and for those already planning their 2026 wintry getaway, few places offer more Christmas cheer, aside from Santa’s home in the North Pole.

A small “skating pond” sits just beyond the reindeer shelter, where kids can twirl on ice in front of snow-topped fir trees listening to festive music echo between the trunks.

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Elsewhere on the peak, you can trudge through fresh white powder on a snowshoe experience, weaving through the frosty woodland which, at this time of year, is dripping in twinkling lights.

These lights are almost as magical as the ones glimmering up from the city of Vancouver at night.

Birds-eye views of the city are spectacular from the cliffside restaurant, The Observatory, and you can soak them up while you dive into fondue — a bubbling pot of rich, gooey cheese served alongside thick slices of charcuterie, pickles and hunks of bread for dipping.

Of course, there’s skiing and snowboarding, too. In fact, visitors will have their pick of three mountains for snowsports when staying in Vancouver, which is partly what makes this region one of the best in the world for night skiing.

You can hit the slopes in a mere 25 minutes from the city centre, including the cable car journey. And Vancouver’s breathtaking nature doesn’t end with its mountains. At the foot of the snow-capped cliffs lies a huge harbour, filled with ships, fishing boats and humming seaplanes — and plenty of wildlife, too.

Winter isn’t the season for spotting whales, but you’re still in with a chance of catching something emerging from the waters, especially if you decide to take a stroll around the seawall of Stanley Park.

This is Vancouver’s answer to Central Park in New York, except it’s roughly 20 per cent larger, boasting 1,000 acres of lush green space bang in the centre of a skyscraper city.

A pal had spotted seals here only a few days earlier, but during my morning run, I only spied black squirrels (cool, nonetheless) and a seagull cracking into a crab that it had plucked from the water for breakfast.

Messy but fun

That sight hammered home just how fresh the grub here really is.

With a huge body of water on its doorstep, wild salmon is, unsurprisingly, very popular in Vancouver. It’s also a staple in the diets of the indigenous communities around these parts. Sushi is big, too. In fact, it turns out Vancouver is where the California roll was invented, supposedly by Japanese-Canadian chef Hidekazu Tojo, although there is some debate over this.

One of the best places in the city to sample this is Miku Waterfront, near the cruise port. This restaurant has rightly earned a place in the Michelin guide for its extremely high-quality dishes at prices that won’t break the bank.

I polished off clean plates of oshizushi, a sushi block made from layered rice and slabs of fresh tuna or mackerel, dolloped with a smattering of saffron as well as perfectly-crafted nigiri, which I was instructed not to dip in soy sauce as the seasoning had already been meticulously balanced.

Right they were.

An extremely filling lunchtime Shokai consisting of ten pieces of traditional sushi, rolls and nigiri with appetisers and miso soup, will set you back just under £25, in a swish setting.

Asian influences can be seen throughout a large number of restaurants in Vancouver due to a wave of Cantonese and South Asian communities immigrating to the city over recent years. Anh And Chi at the northern end of Main Street serves immaculately executed Vietnamese classics, including DIY rice paper rolls that you construct at the table. Messy but fun.

During the festive period, however, you can’t go wrong with a slap-up Christmassy meal within a sparkling globe-style dome at H Tasting Lounge.

Order the 24-hour braised beef shank, which is lit on fire tableside, the smoky smell of rosemary and meat engulfing the dome.

Cold plunge pools

If you simply can’t decide what tickles your fancy, book on to a food tour with foodietours.ca around the public markets of Granville Island.

This industrial area has become a hub for arts and food, and more than 50 independent vendors flog their homemade delights to not just tourists and locals, but A-list celebs, too.

Pop star Harry Styles once bought Hobbs Pickles’ entire stock of sweet pickles in one day. I had to resist doing the same after sampling their dill flavour.

Vancouver-born actor Seth Rogen, on the other hand, regularly makes a beeline for Lee’s Donuts, which sells the classic ring-shaped bake in all manner of flavours, from cinnamon to honey-dip.

For more snacking with a festive twist, there are two Christmas markets in the city. The main Vancouver Christmas Market (entry from £3.80), offers a more commercial atmosphere with wooden stalls selling all the classics.

Meanwhile, the Shipyards markets on the North Shore are a little more crafty and free to visit, serving quirkier titbits like pickled spruce tree tips.

They taste like capers, if you’re wondering.

I was also grateful for the city’s emphasis on wellness after gorging one too many poffertjes (mini Dutch pancakes).

Spas have become a large part of the culture here and the two-hour thermal circuit at Circle Wellness will ensure every ounce of stress is extracted from your body through specially designed hot pebble floors, Himalayan salt chambers and cold plunge pools.

From my private shipping container, I watched the steam billow from my cedar tub, clashing with the air’s chill.

Some things are just made for winter. And Vancouver is one of them.

WHEN there’s no snow anywhere else, there’s still a bit of powder in Obertauern.

This tiny Alpine town has more snow than anywhere else in Austria, and its season lasts from November until May.

So it’s no wonder when The Beatles were looking for a snow-sure location to film scenes for their 1965 movie Help! they opted for the once-unknown village 56 miles from Salzburg.

Body doubles were hired to perform the band’s action shots on skis — and Paul McCartney’s stand-in still lives here today.

This year marks the 60th year since the filming took place — transforming a previously quiet mountain village into the centre of pop culture for a few unforgettable days.

The global attention sparked by the Fab Four’s visit marked a turning point for Obertauern.

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Beatles fans still make pilgrimages to the village, and scattered throughout the village are three monuments to commemorate the band.

And if, like The Beatles, you aren’t much of a skier, you can still catch a gondola to the peaks to enjoy the restaurants, with deckchairs overlooking the mountains.

But, of course, Obertauern is all about the snow, which reaches a maximum depth of 8½ft.

In the evenings, I’d watch snowfall from the cosy window seat in my room at Kesselspitze Chalet & Hotel, on the edge of town.

It fell so heavily I couldn’t see beyond it — not lights in the windows of nearby buildings, nor the mountains behind. It was everything a winter wonderland should be.

I hadn’t skied for a while, so I booked beginners lessons, and it is true what they say about teachers — the good ones make a massive difference. Mine made it look a doddle.

I may have stuck to safety on the nursery slopes while I practised my turns, but my classmates got the hang of it in no time.

Leg massage

It meant they could graduate to tougher challenges on the blue, red and black routes, including the Gamsleiten 2 — a scary 45- degree ski-run.

Back in town, the Eurobeat was booming in the apres-ski bars.

Still in full gear with skis parked against railings, people downed beers, wine and cocktails while they stomped to the beat.

A pint of beer costs an average of €6 while a glass of good Austrian wine is around €4.30.

If you’re not partying or skiing, there are shops to browse, plus restaurants and cafes to enjoy.

A highlight of the trip for me, however, was the hotel and its facilities.

The 4*+ Kesselspitze is one of three in the town owned by Croatia-based Valamar.

It is everything I expected from an Alpine hotel: Lots of wood, stone and rich colours, with a real fire in the bar, while the decor in my room was luxurious yet homely.

The food, a combination of help-yourself buffet and a la carte, was amazing, and there was so much of it that I always felt well-fuelled before and after hitting the slopes.

I loved the hotel’s Balance Spa. Tired and aching, I recuperated in the sauna, steam room and Finnish sauna (much hotter) and booked in for a leg massage to soothe my throbbing calves.

There’s something spectacular about relaxing in an outdoor Jacuzzi while it is snowing — the heat of the bubbles clashing with the cold, and the mountains right in front of you.

It is the perfect way to soak away any aches and pains, ready for another day on the slopes.

AS a headstrong leading lady in Bridgerton’s ­second series, Simone Ashley’s character Kate Sharma found her happy ever after.

But it seems that in real-life, the actress is still searching for The One after her brief romance with businessman Tim Sykes ended.

The couple had been spotted ­kissing at the US Open tennis tournament in September, and holding hands as they sat courtside during a match at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

However, Simone has since unfollowed Tim on Instagram.

It’s not quite the fairytale love story her alter ego Kate enjoyed after marrying Anthony Bridgerton in Netflix’s Regency romp.

A source said: “Simone and Tim enjoyed spending time together during the summer.

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“They have since decided that they want different things, so have ended their romance.”

It comes after Simone revealed she had split from her long-term boyfriend Constantin “Tino” Klein in February.

Chatting on BBC’s Woman’s Hour the following month about her new film, Picture This, she said: “It’s kind of ironic I’m promoting a romcom and, as of January this year, I’ve been entering my single era.”

Simone met former lawyer Constantin at the Grand Prix in Monaco in May 2022.

She later told Vogue magazine there was someone special in her life, but didn’t name him, explaining: “I’m very happy. We haven’t gone public yet.”

They went Instagram official soon after, with Simone sharing a snap of Constantin on his birthday in December 2022, captioned: “The best birthday surprise for the best person.”

Let’s hope she will be lucky in love in 2026.

A MERRY LIL’ XMAS

LILY ALLEN gives her best Mrs Claus impression during her Christmas party.

The West End Girl hitmaker posed in white stockings and suspenders with a red fur gown at London gentlemen’s club, Stringfellows, on Friday.

Lily was joined by model Lottie Moss along with fellow pop stars Olivia Rodrigo, Ella Eyre and Lola Young.

Lewis Capaldi was also spotted at the famous nightspot.

Lily performed Roll The Dice at the party and encouraged a singalong of West End Girl.

LIZZO IN SPIRITED QUEST

POP star Lizzo is swapping showbiz for the drinks biz after necking tequila live on stage.

It comes after the US star appeared at the 2019 Video Music Awards clutching a gem-encrusted bottle of the spirit.

Lizzo called the drink “chaquila”– which means a chug plus tequila.

But now her firm, Lizzo LLC, has applied for a global trademark to use the word Chaquila to sell drinks.

Papers filed with the UK Government’s Intellectual Property Office reveal she wants to use the term to market “alcoholic seltzers; alcoholic carbonated beverages, except beer; alcoholic beverages, except beer”.

The legal documents were lodged just days ago and are yet to be rubber-stamped.

Lizzo has even sung about her favourite tipple on the track Love In Real Life.

She sings: “Tequila, do your job, girl, help me change my mind. How many shots this time? (One, two, three, four).

“Tequila, do your job, girl, give me salt and lime. To help me fix my life (one, two, three, four).” Drink it all in, Lizzo.

GORDON AD IS A BIT ‘MEH’

GORDON RAMSAY already has a couple of Super Bowl adverts under his belt.

Now the telly chef has filmed a YouTube campaign for next year’s event alongside magician David Blaine and former NFL ace Jason Kelce.

The concept is how “Meh” the world would be ­without YouTube, and Ramsay’s role involves serving up a “meh-nu”. Geddit?

An insider tells me: “Gordon and David filmed their roles in London last week and Gordon was incredibly charming.

“David insisted on performing magic tricks for everyone.”

February’s Super Bowl is set to be star-studded with performances from Bad Bunny, and Charlie Puth.

BEYONCE TOUR TOP GROSSING

BEYONCE has spoken of her struggle to be taken seriously as an artist.

Her comments come as the US superstar saw her Cowboy Carter Tour named the No1 highest-grossing tour of 2025, according to US mag Pollstar.

The Texas Hold ’Em hitmaker saw the 32 stadium concerts gross a total of $407,600,113, (around £305million), with an average ticket price of £191.

She told Pollstar: “I’ve been touring since the age of 15, nonstop. I have slowly built my legacy brick by brick.

“This show is a testament to the power of consistency and the dedication put into any craft.”

On believing in herself when some of the industry did not, she continued: “I’ve learned at a young age that nobody invests in you like you invest in ­yourself. I’ve slowly built with every tour.”

Beyonce rose to fame in Destiny’s Child alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle ­Williams.

She added: “The first tour Destiny’s Child did with Wyclef Jean, we toured in a minivan.

“On a later tour in the late ’90s, we did our quick changes in a muddy tent in the rain because we didn’t have proper dressing rooms, designing our own clothes because designers would not.

“A decade of visiting every radio station on Earth, advocating for ourselves. Slowly building into being able to tour with a small band.

“More building until we could tour with dancers.

“Finally, selling out my first arena as a solo artist. The decades of fighting with the promoters, convincing them that an R&B artist could sell out a stadium.

“I continued to invest in myself and stay focused on the vision.

“I’m beyond grateful for my fans that have been a part of my journey.

“It’s important to me that they leave the show reinvigorated and inspired, feeling more in love with themselves, and closer to the people they love.”

I was lucky enough to be at the tour this year and Queen B rules.

TIM RAPS RUMOURS

HOLLYWOOD actor Timothee Chalamet has quashed rumours he is masked rapper Esdeekid – by joining the Liverpudlian in a video for a remix.

Fans speculated the Wonka actor was the mysterious drill artist as they were said to have similar eyes.

But in a 99-second video for EsDeeKid’s track 4 Raws posted online on Friday night, Timothee danced with the balaclava-clad bad boy in a cramped kitchen.

Timothee also referenced his rapper alter-ego Timmy Tim and his make-up mogul girlfriend Kylie Jenner.

The Oscar-nominated actor, right and below in the video, raps: “It’s Timothee Chalamet chillin’, tryna stack a hundred million, girl got a billion.”

While the full remix has yet to be released, the video clip has already received nearly two million likes, along with comments from UK rapper Central Cee and US rap star Rich The Kid.

Timothee is now promoting his upcoming movie Marty Supreme, in which he plays ping-pong prodigy Marty Mauser.

It’s a white laugh for Kyran

Snow White Drag Panto

★★★★☆

FORGET kids’ panto – this adults-only Snow White in London’s West End is packed with innuendo and belly laughs.

Drag Race UK champ Kyran Thrax slays as the venomous Wicked Queen, left, serving glorious­ glamour and killer one-liners, while newly-svelte Kitty Scott-Claus sparkles as the sassy Fairy.

The massive cast at the Emerald ­Theatre delivers outrageous comedy and audience banter, poking fun at everyone from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to Nigel Farage.

It’s pure festive filth – definitely not for snowflakes or prudes.

Grab your tickets quickly before it vanishes on January 4.

A proper cracker.

UNA TO HAM IT UP FOR CRIMBO FEAST

THE SATURDAYS’ beauty Una Healy is shunning traditional ­turkey this Christmas.

The Tipperary star explained: “We’ve got the bird flu in Ireland so we’ll have to have ham.”

It’s not the first time turkey has been off the Crimbo menu.

At last month’s Irish Post Awards she recalled: “My mum came to visit me and she bought the turkey. But it was so bad we had to throw it out. Even the foxes wouldn’t eat it.”

The Ready For Christmas singer says the glamour of life in the girlband – on hiatus since 2014 – is gone and she now drives herself to gigs, adding: “It’s back to basics. I do my own hair and make-up.”

What a trouper . . . 

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The Challoners, East Sussex

Deputy Editor Gayle Schoales, husband Nick and their Jack Russell Dixie cosied up in an idyllic rural retreat.

THE PAD

It’s hard to imagine a more romantic setting than The Challoners: two timber-clad cabins in a lush walled garden festooned with fairy lights, buried deep in the rolling fields of the East Sussex Weald.

Beautifully decorated and stocked with everything you could think of (from torch to telescope), this adults-only, dog-friendly bolt-hole is brimming with rustic-chic charm.

The shepherd’s hut sleeping quarters – with roll-top bath and luxe bedlinen – is more boutique hotel than glamping spot, while the second hut has a fully equipped kitchen, the comfiest of corner sofas and separate shower room.

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Both huts have underfloor heating to keep you toasty in colder months, plus there’s a firepit in the garden for stargazing.

EXPLORE

You’re in 1066 country – where the Battle of Hastings was fought – so there’s no shortage of history around these parts, and 14th-century Bodiam Castle, three miles away, is well worth a visit.

Climb the battlements and spot medieval graffiti before posing by the moat for the perfect Insta shot.

Adult entry costs £12 (Nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/bodiam-castle).

Eleven miles away, the pretty market town of Tenterden has a tree-lined high street full of independent shops and tea rooms – pick up hand-crafted toffee-cream vodka for £26 in the kitsch Mr Taylor’s Drinks Emporium, and quirky art and beauty bits from local creatives in Ethel Loves Me (Ethelloves.me).

Fancy a ramble?

You’re spoiled for choice, but the stunning Bedgebury National Pinetum And Forest, seven miles away, is hard to beat.

Entry is free (Forestryengland.uk/bedgebury).

REFUEL

Country pub of dreams the Salehurst Halt is a leisurely 25-minute stroll across the fields, with a buzzy atmosphere, live music on weekends and top-notch seasonal grub.

We loved the corn and manchego hash browns, £8, and The Double Buck burger with two venison patties, brie, blackberry hoisin and caramelised onion, £19 (Salehursthalt.co.uk).

Sunday lunch at The Abbey Hotel in the nearby town of Battle is a local institution – and for good reason.

Our thyme-roasted beef with all the trimmings was the stuff of legend, £21, while a Dixie-approved doggy roast is £5 (Abbeyhotelbattle.co.uk).

Afterwards, take a 30-minute drive to Rye’s medieval cobbled lanes to browse the boutiques and customise your dream hot chocolate at Knoops.

The 70% cocoa blend with orange, cinnamon and whipped cream will blow your mind, £6.50 (Knoops.com).

DON’T MISS

Chug your way back in time on the Kent And East Sussex Railway’s lovingly restored steam train, which runs between Tenterden and Bodiam.

Adult tickets cost £29.50 (Kesr.org.uk).

BOOK IT

Stays for two at pet-friendly The Challoners, Robertsbridge, cost from £119 per night (Cottages.com).

The Terrace Rooms & Wine, Ventnor

Assistant Editor Claire Frost and her partner Steve found a foodies’ delight on the Isle of Wight.

THE PAD

Husband and wife team Tom and Ashley have created a sea-view haven that might be even better in the off-season, thanks to its cosy lounge where you can curl up with a book and house pooch Ronnie.

The six individually designed bedrooms all feature a wine fridge and a decor of soft greens, dusty pinks and wood panelling, plus super-king Hypnos beds and La-Eva toiletries.

Every evening, sommelier Tom leads a super-interesting tasting where you can learn about some of the 900-plus bottles lining the walls of the wine room.

Later, sip your fave, along with a cheese and meat platter, £12, in front of the fire.

Come morning, breakfast is a four-course (and super-pretty) affair including poached fruit topped with yoghurt and home-made salted coconut granola, and local MasterChef-worthy egg, bacon, tomato and mushroom.

EXPLORE

With the shingle beach just across the road, you can stroll along the coast on a 20-minute amble to the cute village of Bonchurch and pop into tiny Bonchurch Pottery for a unique mug, £14.95.

Or hire an ebike from Route Fifty 7 through The Terrace for £25 a day, and speed your way up and down the isle’s hills, stopping at the awe-inspiring 22-acre Botanic Gardens.

Entry costs £13.50 (Botanic.co.uk).

Later, reward yourself with a Winter Warmer session at Slo-mo, 30 minutes’ drive away at Tapnell Farm.

Sweat it out in the wood-fired Nordic sauna, before a bracing dip in the lake.

Recover (and warm up again!) in the hot tubs and “floating” sauna.

Hour sessions cost £15 (Slomo.me/slomo-tapnell-winter-warmer).

REFUEL

Pop into London House bakery for pillowy chocolate and strawberry muffins, plus to-die-for sausage rolls, both £3.50.

For dinner, make a beeline for Pan-Asian Smoking Lobster and its insanely good glazed yellowfin tuna, £15, char-siu Iberico pork, £14, and moreish peanut noodles, £6 (Smoking-lobster.co.uk).

Or try Stripped for a Med-inspired menu that includes a huge sharing platter, £54, piled high with chicken skewers, lamb kebabs and garlicky home-made Romanian sausages (Stripped-brasserie.co.uk).

The best thing? All are within easy walking distance of your room.

DON’T MISS

Stop by Harvey Browns farm shop en route to the ferry for delicious Briddlesford Farm cheese and Godshill Orchard chutneys (Harveybrowns.co.uk).

BOOK IT

Double rooms at The Terrace cost from £250 B&B, including wine tasting (Theterraceventnor.co.uk).

Ferry crossings with Wightlink from Portsmouth to Fishbourne cost from £81 per car (Wightlink.co.uk).

LOVE Island star Lucie Donlan is shockin’ around the Christmas tree in a saucy low-cut Ann Summers dress.

The model, 27, helped the raunchy retail chain launch its Styles range, including this red All Wrapped Up festive number with a giant bow.

She has also been seen sleighing it in the company’s Sexy Santa Basque set.

In July Lucie enjoyed a spectacular break in Abu Dhabi which she received free of charge in exchange for an advert to her 1.5m Instagram followers.

In her caption, Lucie wrote: “This week I’ve had the pleasure of staying at @erth.uae.

“A breathtaking and unique Hotel located 15 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi.

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“When I first arrived it felt like stepping into nature as the whole hotel has been beautifully designed with sandy warm colours inspired by our planet and aspects of rich cultural Emirati heritage.

Lucie has been in a relationship with her former co-star, Luke Mabbott, 29, with the pair going on to become engaged in 2021.

Back in December the loved-up pair got accused of ‘getting engaged for likes on Instagram’ when they celebrated their proposal on holiday.

Luke shared a snap from their special moment with the caption: “2 year’s engaged…”

Some took to the comments section to share how confused they were by their engagement.

One user commented: “I’ve always said that an engagement isn’t real unless they’ve set a date for a wedding.

They continued: “Otherwise, it’s just like my plan to be a millionaire: it’s it’s vague goal without any realistic “when” or “how”.”

The couple shot to fame on different series of Love Island.