3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Michael McIntyre reveals huge change to new series his Big Show – as stars face blasts from the past
MICHAEL McIntyre has revealed a huge change to his Big Show ahead of its new series.
The funnyman returns to the BBC with the fan-favourite show for its eight series.
BBCMichael McIntyre’s Big Show is back with a brand new segment[/caption]
BBCSam Thompson and Zara McDermott will appearance on the first episode in their last TV appearance as a couple[/caption]
And in a shakeup to the format, Michael, 48, has revealed fans will notice a brand new item involving famous faces.
Speaking to The Sun’s TV Mag, the comic explained: “The big news is that we have a new item called ‘Remember Me’ where a celebrity sits in the royal box and a person from any time in their past appears on stage and asks the question: ‘Remember me?'”
He continued: “It could be anyone from the midwife who birthed them, to a holiday romance, or the driver who brought them to the theatre. I play it with Miranda Hart, Alan Carr and Holly Willoughby, with hilarious results.
“We also have Michael Sheen, Judi Love and Tony Bellew playing Send to All.
“We have more amazing Unexpected Star stars who had no idea they were going to be on the series but are each sensational, including Heather Small, Marti Pellow and Justin Hawkins, and the TV Takeover item – where we make a bespoke version of Olly Murs’ Who Do You Think You Are? and play it into the house of one of his superfans – is one of the funniest things we’ve ever done.”
The BBC variety show features musical performances, comedy sketches and celeb guests.
One of its most famous segments is “Send to All” – which sees Michael temporarily take control of a celebrity’s phone.
He then sends awkward texts to the star’s equally famous contacts.
In a career spanning over two decades, comedian and presenter Michael McIntyre has become a familiar- and cherished – face on our screens.
Here is a look back at some of the star’s previous work over the years.
Live At The Apollo: Much like many other comedians, Michael appeared in this then-BBC One stand-up comedy series. While comics performed in front of a live audience in the Hammersmith Apollo, the show itself was recorded. He appeared in three episodes from 2007 to 2009.
Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow: Airing on BBC One, this programme ran from 2009 to 2011. It saw Michael host from different venues across the UK. In each episode, Michael himself performed along with three other comedians before a headline act. Some notable guests included Sean Lock, John Bishop and Sarah Millican.
Royal Variety Performance: Michael has hosted the prestigious show on two occasions; in 2010 and 2014.
Britain’s Got Talent: In 2011, Michael joined the long-running ITV entertainment series. He formed a new-look panel with Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and David Hasselhoff. However, he ultimately exited after one series.
Michael McIntyre’s Big Show: First introduced as a one-off Christmas special in 2015, the Big Show later became a full series. The BBC series features guest comedians, comedy sketches and musical performances – as well as fun surprises.
The Wheel: Debuting in 2020, Michael both created and presents this game show format. It sees seven famous faces on a spinning wheel, who are selected at random to help contestants answer questions from a select group of categories. The celebs pick their expertise beforehand but are not guaranteed to answer questions in their topic of choice.
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Emma Raducanu dumped out of Australian Open by Iga Swiatek as Brit suffers worst ever Grand Slam thrashing
EMMA RADUCANU admitted “I didn’t play very well” as was dumped out of the Australian Open in a crushing straight set defeat to Iga Swiatek.
The Brit went out following just over an hour of play after losing 11 games in a row as she was thrashed 6-1, 6-0.
GettyEmma Raducanu crashed out of the Australian Open in a crushing straight set defeat[/caption]
ReutersThe Brit was no match for No2 seed Iga Swiatek, who won 11 games in a row[/caption]
AFPDespite the defeat a bonus was Raducanu was not showing signs of physical discomfort[/caption]
The 22-year-old, who had made it to the third round for the first time Down Under, said it was “very clear” why she had suffered her heaviest ever Grand Slam defeat.
Raducanu said: “She played very well and I didn’t play very well, so… it’s just not a great combination.
“I’m very clear on what happened out there: if I’m not able to hold my service games or dictate, I feel like it seeps into the rest of my game.
“On my second serve, how the point is structured from then on, you feel a lot more pressure.”
Raducanu had beat No26 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in two tiebreak sets and Amanda Anisimova in straight sets to make it to the third round.
However, she had no answer against second seed Swiatek, who is looking to win her first-ever Australian Open.
Speaking about her next steps, Raducanu said: “Serving.
“The first two matches I got away with it against two top players because I was able to defend and move, use the rest of my game.
Raducanu has now faced the 23-year-old Pole four times, but is yet to claim a single victory.
On the matchup, she added: “I would say the difference between playing her today and playing her in Stuttgart, where I was pretty close, is I was serving really well in Stuttgart.
“I think the groundstroke aspects of my game are actually probably better now.
“I just don’t think I was able to be in that situation too often today where we were on level terms from the back of the court.
“I’d say I’m definitely improving. It’s just one big factor is not as good.”
The positive for Raducanu was she showed no signs of physical discomfort, having struggled with injury over the last couple of years, including a back spasm as recently as last month’s Auckland Open.
She said: “Three weeks ago when I was in Auckland I was doing pool rehab.
“To be on a tennis court playing matches and competing is something I have to be grateful for.
“I started hitting when I came here 18 days ago, I have to take it as a positive that I was able to beat top opponents in the first two rounds.
“Today, no excuses from the back or physically.”
The British No2 continued: “What’s next? I don’t know, my team will probably tell me to take it easy. But I feel like I’ve got things to work on, I just want to get into that as soon as possible.
“I feel like I’m speaking from a pretty rational place. I’m not necessarily too emotional either way. I think I’ll just get back to it pretty quickly.”
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on World Indoor Bowls Championships 2025: FULL schedule and results with huge event at Potters Resorts well underway
THE World Indoor Bowls Championships 2025 is UNDERWAY!
The greatest bowlers from around the world return to Potters Resorts for another huge year of action.
Times Newspapers LtdThe World Indoor Bowls Championship will take place in January[/caption]
Scotland‘s Stewart Anderson dominated the event last year, winning the third open singles title of his career and the open pairs alongside Darren Burnett.
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on The glamorous Traitors stars who could double up as Love Islanders… and the hunk who really DID enter the villa
THE Traitors cemented itself as the nation’s favourite cult reality show when it arrived on screen two years ago with the refreshingly ‘ordinary’ cast having no idea what they had let themselves in for.
Whereas in other shows like Love Island, contenders seemed more interested in fame, fortune, and brand deals than finding their soul mates, the unsuspecting Traitors contestants were truly in it for the game.
BBCThe Traitors has won over audiences with its down-to-earth casting choices[/caption]
InstagramStunning stars like series one’s Alex could pass for Love Islanders[/caption]
Here we look at the Traitors who could pass as Love Islanders too – including a couple who were even invited on to star on both shows.
Mollie Pearce
Mollie captured the hearts of the nation in series two when she discovered in the gut-wrenching finale that her best friend on the show Harry Clark had been deceiving her the entire game.
Mollie had believed Harry was a faithful like her – but in fact was a traitor and walked away with the entire £95,150 cash price.
Mollie, 22, was born without fingers on her right hand and has a stoma bag after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when she was 11.
She was already a successful disability model before her time on the show and said her main motivation for taking part was to raise awareness around people with stomas.
But with her stunning good looks and bubbly personality she was soon spotted by fashion brands and telly bosses as a future star.
She has since worked with Primark, Tresemme, and Schuh amongst other brands.
InstagramContestants like Molly wouldn’t look out of place on dating show Love Island[/caption]
He pledged to give his winnings to his mum so she could buy a house – prompting every other mum in the land to fall a little bit in love with him.
Since then, the 27-year-old quit his job as an estate agent and went working on yachts.
But it wasn’t long before his good looks caught the eye of TV producers. He appeared on an episode of First Dates before trying his luck Stateside in Love Island USA.
In the show, he was paired with Kaylor Martin but their relationship soured after he enjoyed his time in Casa Amor a little too much.
Last year, he was also a contestant on Celebrity Mastermind where he pledged his winnings to North Devon Hospice.
Claire Barratt
SuppliedFans couldn’t get over the mum’s sexy wardrobe when on the show[/caption]
The ex-police officer and mum from Hull was ‘murdered’ in episode three of the first series – but that hasn’t stopped her social media star from rising.
She runs her own personalised bag business, Claireabella, and her marketing team encouraged her to join TikTok. She has since clocked up a staggering 1.3million followers.
With her youthful good looks and sense of style, fans are shocked to discover she is a 45-year-old mum-of-four.
Many of her videos end up going viral, but Claire insists she’s not trying to sexualise herself.
She explains: “I’m not trying to be a sex symbol, I’m all about empowering and celebrating women.
“I’m free spirited, I don’t listen to the negative comments and I don’t conform to people’s expectations of how a mother should act or what I shouldn’t wear.
“I’m very self-confident and I try to encourage other women to be the same.
Some of Claire’s most popular videos include those of her saying she gets mistaken for her son’s sister, or going from “scruffy to glam” in seconds.
Alex Gray
Fans were shocked when Alex was revealed to be on the show with her boyfriendInstagram
TV presenter and actor Alex had a secret all of her own when she entered the Traitors’ castle – alongside her was her boyfriend Tom Elderfield, and they kept their relationship from the rest of the contestants.
Blonde Alex, 29, had already appeared in EastEnders before her stint on the reality show and with her stunning good looks had caught the eye of Love Island producers – but turned down a spot in the villa.
Alex was a faithful but was murdered in episode eight when she declined the chance to become a traitor.
But since then her presenting career has gone from strength to strength.
Charlotte Chilton
InstagramCharlotte wowed fans with her glamorous looks on the series[/caption]
With her trademark red lipstick and shiny brown bob, Charlotte instantly won an army of fans on series two of the show.
Recruitment manager Charlotte, 33, was a faithful who was banished in the ninth episode, just before the final week.
But her time on the show was going to bring her much more than money – she gained her longed-for daughter Penelope.
Series two winner Harry was dating singer Conor Maynard’s sister Anna – and introduced Charlotte to Conor at the show’s wrap party.
Charlotte, who had previously suffered miscarriages during IVF with her ex-wife Laura, fell pregnant after a one night stand with Conor.
She welcomed baby Penelope in October – but told OK! Magazine that her pop star dad Conor is not part of their lives.
Olivia Deane
InstagramFans reckon Olivia is the sexiest contestant ever on the game show[/caption]
Series three is still going strong, yet Olivia has already been billed as the sexiest contestant ever.
The 26-year-old beautician, from Horsham – who was murdered shortly after her bestie Tyler was banished – is a lingerie model and has appeared in Vogue.
Olivia has featured in a huge ad campaign for Primark after catching an agency’s attention by posting glamorous pictures online.
Olivia lost her eye to cancer when she was 15 and now wears a prosthetic eye, but bravely poses with her socket empty online and works as an influencer.
She has even appeared on Katie Piper’s Extraordinary People podcast.
Livi said: “You go through the struggles, you go through the hardest moments in your life and then you find out what you’re made out of, you find out how much fire you can go through in your life.
“It’s not easy. It’s never easy. It’s always hard.
“It’s always ugly. And to be honest, it’s what makes you you.”
Freddie Fraser
instagram/freddiefraserrFans hope Freddie would also be a faithful when it comes to romance[/caption]
Politics student Freddie has sent pulses racing since appearing in series three of The Traitors.
The 20-year-old wouldn’t look even slightly out of place in a line-up for Love Island thanks to his sexy poolside snaps.
Some fans are convinced that fellow contestant Francesca is his mum, as she has four sons and he’s said she’s been “like a mum”.
In a chat before heading into the castle, Freddie explained why he picked The Traitors.
He said: “I just think it’s such an interesting concept for a game, it’s very strategic and psychological, and it’s all about using your brain.
“I think I’ve got a skill set that makes me suited to being quite good at the game and I thought why not just give it a go and apply, and here we are.”
Elen Wyn
InstagramElen has shown off her stunning wardrobe outside the show[/caption]
Traitors fans were left heartbroken when Welsh beauty Elen was the second contestant to be banished from the castle this series.
Elen, 24, introduced herself to the group as a translator but she also has the voice of an angel and is an award-winning mezzo-soprano who trained at the Welsh College of Music.
The brunette beauty’s 17,600 Instagram followers get regular updates of her glam life, whether it be bikini shots of her topping up her tan, or jetting off for city breaks to Paris and Amsterdam.
Elen is fully aware of her attractive looks, and said she had planned to use her flirtatious side to get ahead in the game, saying: “I’m a very flirty person,.”
She added: “I flirt a lot. Depending on who’s in there, if I see an opportunity where having some boys on my side would benefit me, I might do it.”
It might not have worked out in the castle, but she’s certainly gained some fans on the outside.
Jazz Boatswain
Jazz wasn’t afraid to show off her sports honed body while on the showINSTAGRAM
Rugby-player Jazz appeared on the second series of The Traitors and avoided being banished until episode 11.
Since leaving the hit BBC show, Jazz has developed a strong social media following and uses her time to advocate for a positive online community.
It comes after she was left scared by the hate she received as a result of appearing on the game show.
She told Newsbeat: “Seeing what people had to say about me definitely did affect how I felt about myself, which I felt was a bit of a shame really, because it was an exciting time.
“It was exciting to be a part of such a great TV show and I kind of let that take away from the experience.”
In-between sports posts, she also shares sizzling bikini snaps and clubbing outfits with her followers.
How does The Traitors work and who hosts it?
The Traitors first launched in the UK in 2022, after the Dutch format was acquired by the BBC.
Claudia Winkleman is the show’s host, and has now hosted all three series to date.
How does it work?
It is a reality game show that involves 22 contestants, and some of them are chosen to be The Traitors.
The Traitors sees a group of contestants taking part in “the ultimate game of truth and deception”.
The group of contestants are competing for the chance to walk away with a huge cash prize.
While navigating through a series of challenges, the team are also tasked with figuring out who the Traitors are in the group (usually three contestants).
Each night, the Traitors gather to “eliminate” one of the Faithful, removing them from the competition
Meanwhile, the traitors can be “banished” if they’re successfully outed as a traitor by a faithful.
The winners of the show are either the Traitor who remains undetected or the Faithfuls if they successfully eliminate all the Traitors.
In other news, Real Madrid are reportedly eyeing up a summer move for Arsenal defender William Saliba.
Elsewhere, Manchester United have rejected Napoli’s bid for Alejandro Garnacho, according to reports – Chelsea are also reportedly interested in signing the Argentinian winger this month.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan are keen on Manchester United outcast Marcus Rashford, according to reports.
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on I left my fiance seconds into our wedding, I was ready for happily ever after, but it ended with 5 words at 6am
A MUM has revealed she jilted her fiance on their wedding day despite being ‘terrified’ everyone would hate her – but it was the ‘best decision’ she’s ever made.
Alexis Saya was due to marry her ex-partner on 16 April 2023 in Huntington, Indiana, but made the ‘hard’ choice to leave on the morning of their big day.
Alexis Saya left her fiance on the day of their weddingKennedy NewsShe says it wasn’t until the morning of her wedding that she realised she wasn’t happyKennedy News
The couple first met in high school and share a four-year-old child together, but had been on and off for years yet Alexis still remained in the relationship despite knowing she ‘wasn’t happy’.
Despite being faced with no job and being a single mum, the 23-year-old woke up on her wedding and just ‘knew she had to’ cancel the $40,000 (£32,000) celebrations her mum had forked out for.
She describes how she turned to her partner while still in bed on the morning of the wedding and said ‘we can’t get married today’ – before leaving him that day.
Taking to TikTok, the student nurse shared a photo from her wedding day compared to now, which has since gone viral with 144,100 views.
One photo shows Alexis looking tear-stricken at the camera captioned ‘the day I left my fiance on our wedding day’.
The next photo shows her beaming at the camera captioned ‘it’s now been 16 months’.
Many users took to the comments to praise the mum for her ‘brave’ decision while other users questioned, ‘why the wedding day?’
The mum wants to encourage others to leave a relationship if they are ‘questioning’ whether they should and she now ‘cannot wait to get married one day’ to the right person.
Alexis who lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana, said: “I don’t think that I’ve genuinely ever done anything harder. I felt like it was a decision I had just made but almost I didn’t have a say in it. I didn’t have control over it.
“It was about 6am. I said ‘I’m sorry, we can’t get married today’. He kind of looked at me and went back to sleep.
“I went into another room and called my mum. My sister was on the phone with other family telling them that I wasn’t going to go through with it.
“I wanted him to go grab our daughter so that I could leave because I didn’t really want to be there when everyone woke up and realised that I wasn’t going to get married.
“I woke him up again and said ‘I need you to go get her’. He was super confused and I said ‘we’re not getting married today’.
“He looked at me and was like ‘what are you talking about’. And I said ‘do you really think this is a marriage’. He went and got her and I left.
“I didn’t want to but I knew that I had to. I cried that whole day. It was awful. I took it harder than him. You’re giving up everything you’ve known.
“I was a stay-at-home mum at the time so I had nothing. I didn’t have a job, I didn’t have money of my own. Everything was his.”
The mum-of-one went and took daughter Avielle straight to her mum’s house before moving back into her old apartment.
While she got into a ‘bad place after the wedding’ she now believes it was the ‘best decision’ she’s ever made.
Kennedy NewsAlexis says it was one of the hardest decisions that she has ever made[/caption]
She says it was also the best decision she had ever madeKennedy News
Alexis said: “Right after I had wished that I’d gone through with it. I remember thinking, it was about 3pm, ‘I’d already be married now’. I got into a really bad palace after the wedding.
“I just couldn’t believe that I’d actually made the decision. I regretted it so badly for probably a while. Then it came to a point that I was really happy that I did it.
“I knew that I wasn’t happy in the relationship and I knew that. I just always tried to make myself believe that I was because I loved him.
“It’s something that I’ll always have with me and it’s a trauma that I think I’ll always carry but I’ve found a way to cope and deal with it better. But I think it was absolutely the best decision for me and my daughter.
“[My daughter] was probably the biggest reason I left. It came to a point where if I couldn’t do it for her, then it just isn’t fair. This is her only childhood and I’m in charge of it. That’s the best decision I’ve ever made even if it’s hard to accept.
“Everytime I see him it’s a reminder of why I left. I always wonder sometimes when it’s late at night and I’m in bed and I’m lonely and I’m just like ‘oh I wish I just had my family back’.
“I think of only the good times and then I see him again and it just reminds me all over again all of the bad that outweighs all of the good. And that’s why I left.”
The couple first met when they were just 16 years old and got engaged in 2020 after having their first child together.
She revealed the pair were on and off between 2019 and 2023 and things changed when they started planning the wedding but she will always be ‘thankful’ for their daughter.
t is the hardest thing to do to leave. I still can’t believe I did it
Alexis Saya
Alexis said: “The relationship wasn’t a good relationship. We were young, we were stupid.
“We purposely had a baby young, which I would never regret. He gave me the best thing ever in my life. I’m forever thankful to him for that.
“After my daughter was born we had broken up a few times and got back together a few times. I think I had in total three or four rings because of how many times we’d broken up.
“We’d finally in 2022 started planning the wedding. It was going to be a beautiful wedding. I was very excited. I think things kind of shifted for me.”
The parent admitted she never planned to end the relationship on her wedding day and feared the ‘terrifying’ decision would make everyone ‘hate’ her.
Signs your relationship is heading for a divorce
Persistent Communication Breakdowns Constant misunderstandings, arguments, or a complete lack of meaningful conversation can signal deep-seated issues.
Emotional Distance Feeling like roommates rather than partners, with a noticeable lack of intimacy or emotional connection.
Frequent Criticism and Contempt Regularly criticising each other and showing contempt, such as sarcasm, eye-rolling, or mocking, can erode the relationship’s foundation.
Unresolved Conflicts Recurrent arguments about the same issues without any resolution can indicate deeper incompatibilities.
Loss of Trust Trust is crucial in any relationship. If it’s been broken and cannot be rebuilt, it may be a sign that the relationship is in trouble.
Different Life Goals Significant differences in future aspirations, such as career goals, lifestyle choices, or family planning, can create insurmountable divides.
Avoidance Preferring to spend time apart rather than together, whether through work, hobbies, or social activities, can indicate a desire to escape the relationship.
Lack of Support Feeling unsupported, whether emotionally, financially, or practically, can lead to feelings of isolation and resentment.
Financial Disagreements Constantly arguing about money, spending habits, or financial priorities can strain the relationship.
Infidelity Whether physical or emotional, infidelity can be a major breach of trust and a sign of deeper issues in the relationship.
Changes in Affection A noticeable decrease in affection, physical touch, or romantic gestures can indicate a loss of connection.
Alexis said: “When you do make decisions like that you think everyone’s going to hate you. That’s how I felt. I thought I was going to lose my mum because she paid for the wedding. I was terrified.
“I feel like people think just because I say I left on my wedding day ‘she must just not care or be able to do whatever’. It was terrifying, truly. It was very hard.
“Even my own family said ‘well why did you wait’. I genuinely went to bed that night thinking I was going to wake up and get married. You also only see a snippet of the situation. I think it’s all situational.
“I would never have chosen it to be that day. I never did anything maliciously towards him. I never wanted to hurt him.
“We had talked on the phone that day after I left. Maybe 4pm. I was just crying ‘I didn’t want to do this to hurt you. I just couldn’t do it’.”
The mum encourages others to leave a relationship if they are having doubts and ‘cannot wait’ to hopefully getting married in the future.
Alexis said: “I would tell anybody that if you even have a question of if you should leave then you should. And you might go back but you might not and it might be the best decision you ever make.
“It is the hardest thing to do to leave. I still can’t believe I did it.
“There’s still times it’s hard but I have to remind myself I will find somebody that loves me and my daughter. I cannot wait to get married one day. I can’t wait to have more kids.”
Many users praised Alexis in the comments.
One user said: “You are so brave. So any people wouldn’t do this even if they felt it.”
Another user said: “Congrats on putting yourself first.”
A third user said: “That must have been so hard.”
Other users criticised Alexis for waiting until the wedding day.
One user said: “Why the wedding day?”
Another user said: “Why do people always wait for the wedding day. That’s so scary.”
Kennedy NewsAlexis says she hopes to marry one day when she finds the right person[/caption]
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on AI Brad Pitt scam victim left homeless & penniless after forking over £700k for ‘star’s cancer treatment’
A WOMAN who was scammed into giving nearly one million euros to a scammer posing as Brad Pitt has been left homeless and penniless.
The victim, known only as Anne, gave over £700,000 to a scammer posing as Brad Pitt for his cancer treatment as he wrote her poems and proposed to her.
XThe scammer posed as Hollywood actor Brad Pitt[/caption]
TF1The scammer sent the victims various fake pics posing as Brad Pitt[/caption]
TF1The divorcee tried to kill herself three times because of the ordeal, and has since checked herself into a mental health clinic[/caption]
TF1The fake Brad sent her poems and words of affirmation[/caption]
The woman’s lawyer has begged the public for mercy – as their client deleted all of her social media pages due to the scrutiny she faced, reports The Daily Mail.
Paris-based lawyer Laurène Hanna said: “It’s like people are discovering only now that people get scammed.
“Love scams on the internet are not new. Anne is really not the only one.
“What my client needs is to be given some sensible advice and to be treated with dignity.”
It has been reported that the scam victim has been left in a deep depression due to the online mockery after the truth was revealed.
She made headlines for sending over £700,000 to a scammer using AI to pretend to be Hollywood movie star Brad Pitt from a hospital bed.
The victim has since deleted her social media accounts after being viciously attacked by online trolls branding her “stupid” and “naïve”.
The divorcee heartbreakingly revealed she has tried to kill herself three times because of the ordeal, and has since checked herself into a mentalhealthclinic.
Anne, an interior designer, said the trouble started when she received a message on social media from someone claiming to be the actor’s mother after sharing photos of her lavish ski trip to Tignes on Instagram.
A day after that, she received a second message from an account posing as Brad Pitt, saying his mother had spoken a lot about her already.
Reportedly, the victim was going through a difficult period with her millionaire husband and struck up an unlikely friendship with the movie star.
The fake Brad sent her love poems and kind words of affirmation throughout their relationship.
According to BFMTV, she said: “There are so few men who write you this kind of thing.
“I liked the man I was talking to. He knew how to talk to women, it was always very well done.”
She revealed she did have her suspicions and thought the account was fake at first.
But, after messaging every day and receivingAI generated photos and videos of the star, she became more at ease.
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
Their relationship soon blossomed as her proposed tom her but said tat she would have to pay up to £7,566 to receive his gifts.
The Brad Pitt account appealed for help in funding urgent kidney cancer treatment.
‘Brad’ said that they could not access funds due to their ongoing divorce from Angelina Jolie.
The scammer reportedly began sending AI-generated photos of Brad Pitt apparently from the confines of a hospital bed.
The two communicated by text and with photos, but the victim said he was never free for a call.
Eventually, her suspicions were raised after she saw Brad with another woman in the press.
Anne knew something was up after she saw her lover ‘Brad’ pictured with his new girlfriend Ines de Ramon.
The victim went to the authorities with the story, who launched an investigation.
TF1The two communicated by text and with photos, but the victim said he was never free for a call[/caption]
GettyThe victim’s ;lawyer has asked trolls to be kinder to her client, who was bullied off of social media due to the ordeal[/caption]
Despite two petitions with hundreds of signatures from desperate film fans trying to save the cinema, its closure will still go ahead – while Starbucks follows suit.
A Starbucks spokesperson said: “Following Cineworld‘s announcement that they are closing, our store inside Cineworld Sixfields will also close alongside it on January 19, and we are in the process of working with our partners (employees) to offer them positions at nearby stores.
“We thank our customers for their loyalty over the years and invite them to find their nearest stores in Northampton Market Square and St James RP Drive, as well as to see others on the Starbucks Store Locator.”
The first petition to save Cineworld received over 800 signatures with locals calling its closure “another important staple of our town being taken away”.
The second petition, started on December 11 2024, claimed the cinema and its staff “provide a lot of love for a lot of people”.
Cineworld is one of six nationwide where the landlords decided to reclaim their properties after the “completion of our restructuring plan”.
It has also been revealed that an Odeon will soon replace Cineworld but a potential Starbucks replacement is yet to be announced.
Locals have taken to social media to air their thoughts and fond memories of Starbucks and Cineworld.
One person wrote: “That is my fave Starbucks. It’s cosy and welcoming. I’ll be sorry to see it go.”
Followed by a second: “Can’t believe Cineworld is closing down, I remember the first time I went to Cineworld my dad took me to watch Star Wars the Phantom Menace – we did had a great time.”
And then a third person wrote: “Good luck to the staff, including the Cineworld staff. You have all done an amazing job.”
Meanwhile a fourth said: “We’re living in changing times just like our parents went through. Amazing if you think about it.
“Loads of great times here though. Shame it’s closing even if it’s being taken over.”
And then a fifth person shared their hunch: “They will be opening a Costa as Odeon do with all there cinemas.
“Surely Odeon and Costa could take on all the staff working there at present?”
Starbucks lovers will have to venture miles to reach the next nearest branchgetty
Why are retailers closing stores?
RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: “The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025.”
It comes after almost 170,000 retail workers lost their jobs in 2024.
End-of-year figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research showed the number of job losses spiked amid the collapse of major chains such as Homebase and Ted Baker.
It said its latest analysis showed that a total of 169,395 retail jobs were lost in the 2024 calendar year to date.
This was up 49,990 – an increase of 41.9% – compared with 2023.
It is the highest annual reading since more than 200,000 jobs were lost in 2020 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced retailers to shut their stores during lockdowns.
The centre said 38 major retailers went into administration in 2024, including household names such as Lloyds Pharmacy, Homebase, The Body Shop, Carpetright and Ted Baker.
Around a third of all retail job losses in 2024, 33% or 55,914 in total, resulted from administrations.
Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes.
Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
“By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer’s household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020.”
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Towie’s Lauren Goodger rushes daughter, three, in late night A&E dash after terrifying ordeal
LAUREN Goodger has rushed her three-year-old daughter Larose to hospital last night after she “struggled to breathe”.
The Towie star, 38, shared a photo of her little girl in a hospital bed in the early hours.
Lauren Goodger rushed three-year-old daughter Larose to hospital last nightInstagramThe youngster initially developed a cold before it progressed into difficulty breathingInstagramLauren took to social media this morning at 8.19am of another photo of LaroseInstagram
Lauren shared the photo at 3.47am and wrote: “Not where I wanted to be with my little angel.”
The TV favourite explained that her daughter initially developed a cold before it progressed into difficulty breathing.
Alongside another photo of Larose attached to a ventilator, Lauren penned: The bravest unbelievably advanced and clever sweetest girl I’ve ever known. So proud of you.”
The Essex star explained: “For everyone asking, I think she has toddler asthma.
“She had a cough and cold ‘back to nursery’. And last night she was struggling to breathe.
“So we’ve had steroids and nebulisers x3 and it’s now 7am and I don’t know how we are still awake.”
An exhausted Lauren continued: “Last time I slept I can’t remember.
“Can’t wait to get us home, what a week this has been.”
Lauren took to social media this morning at 8.19am of another photo of Larose with her finger in a pulse oximeter, which measures your blood oxygen levels and pulse.
At the time, she revealed the youngster had been poorly, forcing them to seek medical help just hours before New Year’s Eve.
She told how she will be ringing in 2025 indoors as she gave a health update on her little one.
Lauren, who shared Larose with Charles Drury, shared a picture of herself on the sofa and explained: “NYE looking like this… which it does every year. I don’t drink on NYE haven’t for years… but this is my 2nd year completely sober Xmas and NY.
“My little love got tonsillitis so we been up private hospital yesterday and today is chill day cuddles and some good food. Wouldn’t want it any other way.”
GettyLauren rushed Larose to hospital just a few weeks[/caption]
