Weekend Content

FORGET Santa in Lapland or skiing in France – when winter rolls around you’ll find me sunning myself abroad, trying to find some last-minute warmth to break up the UK’s long, grey months.

Having visited 58 countries as the Deputy Travel Editor, I’ve found some fantastic places that tick all the boxes of a winter sun break, without costing a fortune.

By that, I mean warm weather, direct flights (keeping them under seven hours, for any long-haul flight haters) and some very big bargains when it comes to hotels and beers.

So here are my favourite winter sun spots, some of which aren’t that far – and with hotels from £35 a night.

Marrakech

One of my favourite spots for winter sun that doesn’t break the bank is Morocco.

I’ve explored the Hassan II Mosque of Casablanca, and visited the beaches of Agadir.

But I think the best bargain is found in Marrakech.

Not only is it perfect for some pre-Christmas shopping – I found fantastic dupes of expensive branded candles and curtains in the souks – but you can still get temperatures just above 20C in winter.

Food is cheap too, as you’ll pay just a few pounds for a freshly-made tagine meal.

For an affordable hotel stay, skip the big name chains and go for a local riad – small traditional Moroccan hotels – which you can find for as little as £35 on websites such as Booking.com and Airbnb.

These are usually fantastic locations, and usually with some free mint tea or breakfast thrown in.

Flights are cheap too – Ryanair fly there from £14.99.

We found a deal for a seven-night stay at Aqua Mirage Club from November 26, with return flights from Manchester, for £379pp on Loveholidays.com.

Cape Verde

African island, no jet lag and flights under seven hours – enter Cape Verde.

Where else can you get all-inclusive holidays from £586pp, where you’ll be basking in 27C heat?

While lots of people head to the island of Sal, I much prefer Boa Vista.

Most of the TUI hotels are right on the beach, with swim-up bars and waterparks.

But leaving the resort is worth it too.

I found white sand beaches like Santa Monica with barely anyone on them, making me feel like I was on a Maldives private island instead.

My favourite was Praia Carlota, where you can lose the days in the hippy Morabeza beach hut with fried fish and local Strela beer.

Sand-boarding, kite-surfing, boat trips; visit in February and you can go whale-watching during humpback mating season too.

We found a deal for a seven-night stay at Hotel Pontao from November 30, with return flights from London Gatwick, for £430pp at On The Beach.

El Gouna

When it comes to Egypt, one of my favourite destinations for winter sun is El Gouna.

Flights there are around 5hr30 which go to Hurghada, with a short transfer.

The gated community means it is extremely safe as only people staying at the hotels can enter, and its still around 25C in December.

Hop on a boat to explore the man-made lagoons, or go on Sunset Desert Safaris, with hiking and stargazing with El Gouna Mountain Goats.

If you don’t mind going further afield, you can even book day trips to Luxor (just expect a very early start).

When it comes to choosing a place to stay, I highly recommend Cook’s Club.

The four-star resort has it all – fantastic restaurant, lagoon-front pool, live DJs, and rooms are super chic.

And seven night stays are as little as £509 each with your flights and breakfast with loveholidays.

We found a deal for a seven-night stay at Doubletree By Hilton Mangroovy El Gouna Resort from December 9, with return flights from London Gatwick, for £379pp at Loveholidays.

Tenerife

If you’re keen not to go much further than Spain for your winter holiday, your best bet is to head to Tenerife which is often considered the warmest of the island (due to its location off the African coastline).

Temperatures are around 22C – not hot but warmer than the UK highs of 9C.

Holidays are a bargain – loveholidays has December seven-night stays for under £200 – but I highly recommend The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife.

The dusty pink building looks like something from a fairytale, complete with beautiful suites and a hidden beach you can get to by funicular.

Seven night holidays here can be found for £797pp with flights and breakfast thrown in.

If you can drag yourself away from the hotel, there are some fantastic outdoor adventures on the island such as whale watching and hiking.

Otherwise get ready for a night out on the town of Playa de las Américas, where you will find the best bars and restaurants.

Try Spain’s cheap chain 100 Montaditos, called the Wetherspoons of Spain where sandwiches are €1 (80p) and beers are €1.50 (£1.29).

We found a deal for a six-night stay at BLUESEA Interpalace from November 15, with return flights from London Stansted, from £349pp at Lastminute.com.

Dubai

Forget the idea Dubai has to be expensive – I have the best tips on how to do it affordably (while still having fun and soaking up sun).

The United Arab Emirates is currently on the safe to travel list, with Emirates still offering daily flights from the UK.

First, the hotels – I was blown away by the Premier Inns here, which are just as cheap as the UK at around £30, but some come with rooftop swimming pools. Yes, really.

Beach clubs can also be done on a budget.

Some, like DRIFT, can cost a little as £30 midweek, which can be used against your food and drink (with Ladies Days costing just £20 instead) while others like Lucky Fish are currently free to visit Monday to Thursday.

And lunch deals let you visit some of the famous restaurants without the price, like Ce La Vie offering a three-course meal for £28 rather than their dinner menu which has £30 dishes alone.

But my favourite place to go was the Grand Souk, where you’ll find breads stuffed with cheese or Nutella for £1.22, or Iranian falooda — a sorbet-like dessert made of thin rice noodles and syrup — for £1.

Return flights from the UK can currently be found for around £500.

We found a deal for a six-night stay at Ibis Styles Dubai Jumeira from November 11, with return flights from London Gatwick, from £867pp with TUI.

Doha

Similar to Dubai yet often overlooked, Doha makes for a great winter sun destination without too long of a flight.

Flights from the UK are with Qatar Airways – often being named one of the world’s best airlines – and take around 6hr40 (and around £530 return).

It is a great ‘luxury on a budget’ for some royalty without the riyal.

My favourite hotel to go for is The Ned; while not ‘cheap’ it is much cheaper than the one in the UK and feels much fancier than it costs.

As little as £102 a night (compared to London’s £330), it’s retro glamour with gorgeous interiors and an outdoor swimming pool.

If you just want a base, there are also Premier Inn hotels for around £28 a night.

Taxies are cheap, it feels very safe as a woman travelling around and one of the best attractions is affordable – go to the National Museum of Qatar (currently around £5 entry).

Otherwise head straight to the beach clubs – for example, Doha Beach Club is around £12 each (or ladies visit on Tuesday for free). What more could you want?

We found a deal for a seven-night stay at Steigenberger Hotel Doha from January 17, with return flights from London Stansted, from £705pp with On The Beach.

ONE coastal road in Wales which is nicknamed Millionaire’s Row has been compared to the Hamptons in New York.

The houses on the rocky headland have epic sea views – but it’s also right next to one of the cheapest seaside towns where you can book a room for less than £20.

Marine Drive on Great Orme, which is a headland on the north coast of Wales, and it’s considered one of the country’s most expensive streets.

Currently, a home called Plas Craig is on sale for £2.5million – perched high up on the cliff the five-bedroom house has incredible views of the coastline.

The Hamptons is a celebrity hotspot where stars like Beyonce and Jay-Z, and Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick own homes.

While Great Orme isn’t home to any celebrities (that we know of) it was recently visited by Sigourney Weaver and Miles Teller to film a new movie called The Gorge.

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Interestingly, Marine Drive is just minutes away from one Wales‘ most budget-friendly seaside resort’s Llandudno.

Hotels are super cheap , looking at dates in October, a one-night stay or two adults on the beachfront can be as little as £23pppn.

This is the case at the Hydro Hotel which is across the road from the beach and half-a-mile from the town centre.

The Marine Hotel which is also on the promenade can be booked from £32pppn in October.

This hotel also has an indoor swimming pool, restaurant, bar and it’s a very short walk from the door to the pier.

Staying at the local Travelodge can cost £19.50pn in November.

Llandudno itself is well-known for its beautiful promenade which has multi-coloured hotels and palm trees.

It also has two main beaches, North Shore which is the town’s main and busiest beach and then West Shore, considered its ‘quieter sister’.

Last year, Llandudno in Wales was also voted one of the most affordable places for a beach holiday and one of the best too by Which?.

One popular seaside activity is to ride the Great Orme Railway which heads along the Great Orme cliffside.

Return tickets for adults start from £11.25 with tickets for children (3-16) starting from £6.80.

For anyone wanting a more varied view of the hills and seascape, you can always head up on the cable cars, which are the longest in Britain.

Catch them from Happy Valley where they travel 679 feet up into the air all the way up to the summit of Great Orme.

By visitors, Llandudno has been called one of the “very best of British coastal resorts” to a “very grand old seaside town”.

IF you’ve ever wanted to stay in a holiday home that has a touch of the celebrity about it, look no further.

These country cottages and glamping stays are all owned by TV stars including an Emmerdale actor as well as presenters of Countryfile and Escape to the Country – and you can actually stay in them.

Stag Cottage Sykes Holiday Cottage

Any fan of Emmerdale will know Kelvin Fletcher for playing Andy Sugden for 20 years.

Since then, he’s also appeared on Fletchers’ Family Farm following his new venture since leaving the ITV soap.

Also on the site of the farm is Stag Cottage, on the site of the Fletcher farm near Wincle, and you can book it on Sykes Holiday Cottages.

Inside, the cottage has been renovated into a cosy rental that sleeps up to six, there’s a sitting room with a woodburning log fire with squishy sofa and chairs.

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The kitchen has a central island and is fully-equipped with everything visitors need to make home-cooked meals.

The cottage sleeps six people and upstairs are three bedrooms all with king-size beds with plush bedding, and one has an en-suite.

There’s also a snug and conservatory, and outside is a garden with lawn, patio area, decking, furniture and hot tub.

Stag Cottage has 89 reviews all of which are five-star, one called it the “absolute chicest luxury retreat in the Peak District.”

Some even said they had met their hosts: “We loved our stay made all the more special meeting Kelvin and Liz who are both lovely genuine people, they made us feel so welcome and nothing was to much to ask.”

The cottage is largely booked up for the rest of the year, but if you wanted to book a break in January 2028, a seven-night stay starts from £1680 – or £40pppn.

Cotswolds Farm Park

Did you know that Countryfile presenter Adam Henson has his very own attraction called Cotswolds Farm Park?

It is a farm and petting zoo with animals like donkeys, cows and sheep for kids to see.

When it comes to playing, there are indoor and outdoor play areas with soft play, sand pits, Bouncy Pillows, swings, a zipwire, ride-on tractors, quarry play and a sensory garden.

For a peaceful experience, families can head on the wildlife walk or longer Woodland Walk through surrounding farmland.

Some decide to visit for the day – but it can be easily turned into a weekend getaway thanks to its range of stays from luxury lodges, cabins, safari tents, glamping pods.

There are also pitches to pop up your own tent which starts from £29.96pn.

Glamping pods start from £50 per night, it sleeps four people and has a private decking, electric BBQ along with a communal kitchen area and a shower block.

For a more glam stay, opt for a luxury lodge with a hot tub like the Exmoor and Ronaldsay.

These lodges both sleep up to six people, have a private bathroom and shower, fully-kitted out kitchen and with an upgrade come with a wood-fired hot tub.

A two-night stay from October 13 for four people starts from £654.50 – or £81.80pppn.

Mole Hill Hut

Hidden away in the rolling hills of Herefordshire is a glamping site owned by Escape to the Country‘s Jules Hudson.

Presenter of the BBC show used his skills to handcraft his very own bespoke shepherd’s hut that you can book.

On Jules’ own land near the Wye Valley, the hut is tucked away in a private meadow – the hut is designed for two people as a secluded, off-grid retreat.

Inside is a cosy double bed, a functional kitchenette, and an adjoining lounge area called “The Trough.”

Guests can spend their evenings around the outdoor wood-burning stove enjoying panoramic views of Herefordshire’s rolling hills.

Also provided are books, magazines, maps and board games and guests will find luxury toiletries.

The hut cost £150 per night (for two) with a three-night minimum stay – anyone who books a seven-night stay can get 15 per cent off.

MICHELLE Keegan may have gripped the nation with her new ITV drama The Blame, but there’s one surprising TV appearance that has been doing the rounds on social media again.

It’s not the actress fronting a Netflix mini-series or portraying a soldier in Our Girl, but a forgotten stint on The Jeremy Kyle Show.

Michelle was technically on the now-axed chat show – but as her Coronation Street character, Tina McIntyre.

The soap hilariously did a crossover with Jeremy Kyle’s eponymous show for a special episode back in 2010.

The show tackled family and relationship issues and saw members of the British public work out their drama on air.

And who has more drama than the Platt family?

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During the crossover episode, Michelle’s character Tina appears on the show as her boyfriend, David (Jack P. Shepherd) is accusing her of having a relationship with his brother Nick (Ben Price).

In a clip from the episode, which has been unearthed by TikTok users and is now being circulated around the app, the trio are seen at loggerheads.

“Shut up David,” Tina is seen shouting over the stage as the pair go back and forth, with Jeremy getting involved.

Later, Nick and David are seen fighting over Tina as Nick slams: “She doesn’t like him. She doesn’t fancy you, she doesn’t, it’s over!”

“You think you can fly in, Nick, and take a piece of her,” hits back David, as Tina breaks down into tears and he slams her “waterworks”.

A crying Tina then tells Jeremy: “I’m sick of him, he ruins everything. Even the thought of accusing me of sleeping with Nick, it’s not important to me right now.

“And he’s got a cheek to actually question it – you’ve got a cheek David.”

The hilarious crossover, which was to celebrate the 1000th episode of the Jeremy Kyle Show, came in the middle of Michelle’s time on Coronation Street, which she joined in 2008.

As the clip has been circulating around Tiktok, many users on the video streaming app were confused as to whether it was real or for a skit.

One user said: “If I didn’t know this was a special episode with actors, I would’ve thought this was real, it’s well good 👏😂”

“I would not have recognised her…what year is this???,” said a second of Michelle.

A third praised: “Corrie was on another level creating this with JK, it makes it look so more real.”

Michelle was just 23 at the time of filming the scenes.

She eventually left the soap in 2014, as Tina was killed off.

A MAJOR UK airport has announced a £2 billion ‘Master Plan’ that it hopes will land 30million passengers a year.

The expansion will create 50,000 jobs, including 3,800 on site.

Birmingham Airport‘s 15-year plan makes the best of its existing runway with major upgrades to passenger facilities.

It currently has around 13 million passengers travelling through it a year, so the 2041 goal of 30 million annual passengers is more than double.

As early as next year, flyers will see improved baggage facilities, additional aircraft stands and better public transport access.

The terminal area is a main fixture of the expansion, and is set to become 60% larger.

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Parking will be vastly improved, too – in the first five years there will be two new car parking areas for flyers.

Nick Barton, Chief Executive Officer at Birmingham Airport Limited, said: “The £2bn proposed investment is unprecedented at Birmingham Airport and will take our airport close to 30m passengers.

“This level of ambition sends a strong signal of support and confidence in our airport and wider region.”

Birmingham Airport has assured local residents that in 2041, the noise impact will be similar to how it is today because of quieter aircraft.

They have also said they will be net zero by 2033; they list energy efficiency, alternative fuels and renewable electricity as a few reasons why.

The West Midlands Mayor, Richard Parker, said: “It’s set to bring thousands of new jobs, better international links, and unlock vital backing for local businesses and supply chains.

“This consultation gives local people and business owners a chance to have their say and help shape the airport’s expansion so that it brings lasting benefits for our communities.”

THEY soared up the charts in the early noughties with an impressive rap cover of Bananarama’s We’re Really Saying Something.

Over two decades later, girl group Buffalo G may be a distant memory to the music industry, but one star has become very successful in her own right.

Formed of duo Naomi Lynch and Olive Tucker, Buffalo G were an Irish duo who disbanded shortly after the success of their rap hit.

Their song reached the UK top 20 Charts and peaked at #13 in the Irish charts.

Naomi is the sister of Boyzone’s Shane Lynch and B*Witched singers Edele and Keavy Lynch, but has disappeared from the spotlight herself since rising to fame in 2000.

However, her bandmate Olive has become a success in another sector – swapping rap for the hair industry.

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Olive is now a multi-award winning hairdresser and educator – often sharing snippets of her hair career online.

With 10K followers on Instagram regularly updates her fans with family and work life snaps.

She also has her own podcasts with her two sisters, dubbed Tuck In Sisters.

When it comes to her personal life, Olive shares 12-year-old daughter Lola – a budding dancer – and son Sonny, nine, with her husband.

Olive was just 17 at the time of her fame with Naomi, and the pair still follow one another on social media 26 years later – suggesting they are still in touch.

Naomi now works as a fire dancer and choreographer, travelling around the world for work.

She shares two sons with her TV producer husband, Rowland French.

BRITAIN’S railways continue to see a major overhaul as operators continue to be nationalised – with more to follow in the coming year.

Last week, the Government announced that Avanti West Coast would be taken into public ownership next spring.

Britain’s railways continue to see major changes as four rail companies are set to be nationalised in the next year.

The decision to take the majority of British train operators into public ownership formed a major part of Labour’s manifesto in 2024, believing the reforms would make trains more reliable and cheaper.

It laid out plans to bring all major railways out of the private sector by 2027.

Great Western Railway is set to be taken into public ownership on December 13, 2026.

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This is expected to be followed by East Midlands Railway at some point in the latter months of 2026.

The next to be nationalised will be Avanti West Coast, following the announcement last weekend revealing Labour will take control of the private operator from March 7, 2027.

The Government revealed it would be taking Avanti into public ownership “at the earliest opportunity” with Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, saying that the service had been “underperforming”, leaving customers “paying the price”.

CrossCountry is the final operator set to be nationalised.

A date for this is yet to be confirmed, however reports indicate it is expected to take place in autumn 2027.

• Great Western Railway – December 13, 2026
• East Midlands Railway – expected December 2026
• Avanti West Coast – March 7, 2027
• CrossCountry – TBC (expected autumn 2027)

Many rail companies have made their way into public ownership more recently, as private contracts with the Department for Transport ended.

The following services were all renationalised from 2025:

• South Western Railway (SWR) – May 25, 2025
• c2c – July 20, 2025
• Greater Anglia – October 12, 2025
• West Midlands Trains (including West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway) – February 1, 2026
• Govia Thameslink Railway (including Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink) – May 31, 2026
• Chiltern Railways – September 20, 2026

LNER, Northern, Southeastern, TransPennine Express, ScotRail and Transport for Wales Rail are already in the public sector.

At the end of last year, it was also announced that Britain’s renationalised trains were set to be rebranded in a design that split public opinion.

While nearly all passenger train operators are set to be taken into public ownership, some services, including private open-access firms, rolling stock companies and rail freight, will not be nationalised.

WHETHER you’re a plane enthusiast or simply like being in the heart of the action, at these airside cafes and pubs you can see it all.

Some visitors say you can feel rumbling beneath your feet and smell jet fuel in the air as they watch planes and helicopters take off in front of them.

The Aerodrome Café

At The Aerodrome Cafe in Elstree, you can sip on a coffee while watching planes take off in front of you.

The small cafe sits next to the Elstree Aerodrome which dates back to World War II and now serves light-aircraft and helicopters.

Inside the cafe, is a cosy log burner and as for the food, the kitchen is actually led by a Michelin-trained chef.

You can munch on all-day breakfasts and hot meals, including freshly made pizzas and Sunday roasts – or opt for an afternoon coffee with homemade cake.

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For those wanting to see the airfield, head outside for the best views where passengers say you can hear “plane noises” and actually see them land and take off.

The Airport Pub, Manchester

You’ll practically be on the runway at this pub (not really), but it’s only 50 feet away from where the planes take off at Manchester Airport.

Grab a pint, burger or pizza, take a pew and watch the jets take off. One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: “Kids loved watching the plane land and take off, even spotted a 787!”

Another said: “The location is great, right next to the runway which makes this pub excellent for plane spotting, if you’re an avid plane spotter or if you just want to watch planes take off or land while you’re having lunch.”

For kids, there’s even an airplane shaped playground with slides and monkey bars.

Quite often the pub holds events over bank holidays, and family fun events with face painting and glitter tattoos.

The Lookout, London

Aptly called The Lookout, this community cafe sits just outside of Biggin Hill Airport in London.

While you won’t see the landing of jumbo jets, the airfield is used for smaller planes and private charters.

In The Lookout Cafe, they serve up hot breakfasts – you can get pancakes or waffles with a choice of topping for £7.25.

For kids, there’s a Little Flyers menu which includes a lunchbox deal where you can get a sandwich, juice carton, small chocolate bar, a piece of fruit and packet of ‘Pombears’ crisps or popcorn for £5.45.

One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: “Be prepared for a whiff of aviation fuel and noise with your coffee but that’s part of the setting if you sit outside.

“Look out for the fancy jets, helicopters and, of course, the Spitfire – you can hear that coming before you see it.”

Hangar 9, Surrey

Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey has been a working airfield since the 1930s.

Its historic hangar was originally constructed and began operations in 1934 as part of the aerodrome – now inside it is Hangar 9 Cafe which serves breakfast and lunch.

Visitors have said not only does it serve up a tasty food, but it also has “brilliant views of the light planes and helicopters taking off on the field beyond”.

The airfield sees action with helicopter operations, charter services and even flight training schools.

The Apron Cafe and Bakery, Retford

Just outside of Retford, you can get a front row seat to see planes take off at Gamston Airport.

Rather than commercial planes, it’s an airfield for light private planes, flight training aircraft and small helicopters.

You can watch all the action next to the runway at The Apron Cafe and Bakery, which is open from 9am until 5pm every day for breakfast, and lunch from sandwiches to main meals.

On Sundays, you can even opt for roast dinners, and if you’re really hungry, enjoy the full three courses.

One visitor said: “The planes kept the children amused between courses.”

Another added: “Amazing breakfast. When you have the weather it’s nice to sit outside and watch the planes and helicopters.”

SHE’s the nepo-baby that has already got everybody talking – now Scarlett Thomas’ bid for fame continues and this month proves to be her most pivotal yet.

The daughter of soap’s most fractious real-life couple, Ryan Thomas and Tina O’Brien, Scarlett, 17, has been hellbent on using her parents’ fame and status to turn herself into a star ever since she became a teenager.

Keen to soak up the spotlight and be more well-known than her parents could ever be, Scarlett has taken on various public-facing jobs since her early teen years – first as a TV actress on Waterloo Road and now she’s determined to make it as a popstar.

But the young star has already seen herself embroiled in plenty of controversies.

Having decided not to take ANY GCSEs in hopes of pursuing a showbiz career, she has also found herself at the centre of plenty of teenage TikTok drama that has seen her relationships questioned and even seen the star accused of being at the heart of a cheating scandal with a member of Simon Cowell‘s boyband, December 10.

But all this talk is secretly being used by Scarlett and her savvy team in order to give her career a major boost – and The Sun can reveal why October 2026 is pivotal for the budding fame wannabe as she looks set to make her biggest career move yet with a series of music singles.

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Whilst Scarlett has been teasing a music career for the majority of the year – we can tell how she has been waiting until this month as she turns 18 years old before unleashing herself to the world.

Scarlett is due to enter adulthood on 26 October and is expected to go full-throttle – especially after dropping her first single, Onezies.

Our insider said: “Scarlett and her team have come up with a well-crafted plan.

“She knows she gets people talking – the plan is to capitalise on that as soon as she hits 18.

“Scarlett’s plan is to be more famous than her parents and has been keen to get a head start.

“She wants to be more than a cosy Brit TV star – she wants to be worldwide and eclipse that of the success of her parents.”

Our insiders have revealed that Scarlett’s 18th birthday will be a turning point for the star and she is aiming to have a full Miley Cyrus-esque rebrand from child star into a pop performer.

They tell The Sun: “Scarlett is planning to go fully wild when she hits 18.

“She wants to get everyone talking and is hoping to carve out something like Miley did when she left Disney behind.

“Scarlett looks at these popstars going all out and desperately wants a piece of the pie.

“Sabrina Carpenter is another inspiration of hers. She plans to emulate her showgirl-esque outfits and dance moves to help propel her career.

“Scarlett has never been a shy girl.

“She knows she can hold her own and crucially does not care what anyone says.

“She knows a lot of people will say she is acting beyond her years but she is laser-focused on her career goals.

“Controversey sells and Scarlett could care less what anyone thinks.

“Some may call it selfish but ultimately she does not care how she is viewed to the world – as long as people are talking about her, that is all thar matters to her.”

Already, she has bragged about having no GSCEs and underage drinking in one of her tracks.

Appearing at a gig last weekend, Scarlett’s lyrics included: “Baby do you like having no GCSEs in the alpha, but you’re gonna listen to it one more time.

“We’ve got buzzballs swimming in our tummy.”

She has also previously hit back at suggestion that she does not act her age in an appearance on her father and uncle’s podcast, The Thomas Bros.

Scarlett said earlier this year: “It’s a weird thing, people say you can pass for like 21 and like 12 at the same time.

“I’m 17. And I don’t know. I think my fan base is a little bit weird.

“People think I’m a lot younger than I am and I don’t think many people are ready that I’m growing up. It’s a bit weird.”

When directly asked if it frustrates her, Scarlett’s facial expression says everything as she rolls her eyes.

“It’s so frustrating. But a lot of like influencers my age, which is still the same kind of topic, don’t get the same kind of comments as I do.

“Like “why are you growing up so fast?

“But it can be a bit frustrating because, you know, I want to be taken seriously. I’m not a child.”

And it seems she mostly has the backing from her family when it comes to chasing fame and her dreams.

Our source says: “The Thomas side of the family have always backed it.

“They see Scarlett becoming famous and well-known a boost for their own brand anyway.

“The brothers have always had a very relaxed approach when it comes to parenting and family life.

“Ryan and his brothers back her completely – they are always cheering her on from the side.

“On the other hand, mum Tina has always been a bit more reserved.

“Whilst she does want Scarlett to be famous – she would have probably rather her stuck to the Waterloo Road and small scale TV circuit like her.

“Tina does not post about Scarlett as much as Ryan but it is a conscious decision.

“But she will always support her daughter and encourage her to do what makes her happy.”

The Sun has reached out for comment.

JOEY Essex’s most explosive TOWIE brawl has resurfaced 14 years on as he prepares to step back into the boxing ring.

Back in 2012, the reality star was filmed grappling with co-star Ricky Rayment in the street as their castmates screamed for them to stop.

Footage of the showdown has recently gone viral, with one fan posting it alongside the words: “The moment Joey Essex lost his head on TV.”

The row erupted at the relaunch of Lauren Goodger’s salon after Joey became convinced Ricky had been talking about him behind his back.

Confronting his co-star, Joey snapped: “You’re chatting s**t behind my back mate.”

Ricky insisted he had been “off his nut” and tried to apologise, but the argument continued.

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Joey’s sister Frankie Essex stepped in, only for Ricky to tell her: “No one’s talking about you and no one ever will talk about you.”

The pair then headed outside, where cameras caught them grappling and throwing punches as the women shouted for them to stop.

The fan who shared the clip wrote: “This was crazy.”

Another commented: “Even celebs who are meant to be cut crease perfect lose their cool sometimes.”

A third said: “I’ve never seen this before. Respect to Joey for sticking up for his relatives.”

The explosive showdown can still be watched on ITVX in series four, episode nine of The Only Way Is Essex.

It comes as Joey, 36, is now preparing to headline a Misfits Boxing show against controversial comic Dapper Laughs, whose real name is Daniel O’Reilly.

The pair will meet at London’s Copper Box Arena on Saturday, October 10.

It will be Joey’s second bout for Misfits after he beat Portuguese influencer Numeiro on points in Manchester last August.

Misfits have confirmed that Joey has three fights planned with the promotion, making the Dapper Laughs clash the next step in his boxing run.

AN 80s rock icon, who was once in a love triangle with Hollywood A-listers Brad Pitt and Christina Applegate, looked unrecognisable as he strolled through an airport.

This famous singer, now 58, passed by fellow travellers unnoticed – but can you guess who it is?

The rock star in question is none other than Sebastian Bach, known for the heavy metal band, Skid Row.

The group shot to fame almost four decades ago with hits like Youth Gone Wild and 18 and Life.

With his trademark long locks tied back in a ponytail, Sebastian strutted through LAX Airport with his haul of luggage in tow.

The rocker is currently on tour with Skid Row and fellow heavy metal band Twisted Sister, and was jetting into Los Angeles after playing in Oklahoma.

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Sebastian was dressed down for his flight and was wearing a black t-shirt and matching jogging bottoms.

The singer went unnoticed in the airport as he got ready to head home, before his next gig in Washington at the end of the month.

During his heyday, the rock legend was famously caught up in a love triangle with two of Hollywood’s now-elite stars.

The twice- married singer, who is currently wed to wife Suzanne Le, got in the middle of Brad Pitt and Christina Applegate‘s romance.

Known for his heartthrob status, back in 1989 Sebastian, who was 21 at the time, caught the eye of a 17-year-old Christina – who was dating rising star Brad Pitt, who was 25.

Things kicked off when the young couple attended the MTV Video Music Awards together that year.

However, despite having hunky Brad on her arm, Married With Children star Christina found her head had turned in the direction of Sebastian – and she ditched her date for the rocker.

Speaking in her memoir earlier this year, the actress told fans exactly what happened.

“I had spent all night staring at Bach, who was then a long-haired hunk fronting the band Skid Row,” she penned in her book, You With The Sad Eyes.

“I hate to put it like this, but Brad back then was still making his way as an actor, and he wasn’t yet THE Brad Pitt, the man of so many people’s dreams.”

Continuing, Christina wrote: “And it gets worse: Brad was left to sullenly drive my mom … home.

“Apparently, at a gas station on the way, Brad almost got into a fight with a bunch of gang members, and, not surprisingly, was subsequently very mad at me.”

The Dead To Me star also revealed that Brad didn’t speak to her after the incident for many years. – but added that they are “friends again” now.

“Eventually, we agreed that I’d been a kid, and though he deserved much better, it was time to forgive the child who dumped him for the lead singer of Skid Row,” Christina said.

“Of course, Brad is now THE Brad Pitt, and Sebastian Bach … well, he still has long hair, I guess.”

Sebastian also reflected on him stealing Christina, now 54, from Brad, now 63, and told Billboard earlier this year: “I was a single guy on tour, in a band, and I met a lot of girls and Iapologisee if I hurt her…If I hurt anybod,”.

“When you’re young you get thrown into the whirlwind of rock ‘n’ roll, meeting a lot of people and you’d better hold on tight.

“It’s like being on a roller coaster.

“It was a long time ago. If I hurt anybody, I apologise for it.”