Category Entertainment News

Queen frontman Freddie Mercury handed over unpublished notebooks which will form 2026 book

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Freddie Mercury’s former fiancé and dearest friend Mary Austin is bringing out a book about the music icon on what would have been his 80th birthday.

When Freddie passed away in 1991, he left to his former fiancé and dearest friend Mary Austin not only his house and possessions but also a creative archive spanning almost two decades. From his earliest works before Queen was formed, right through to the end of his solo career, his notebooks and doodlings contain previously unpublished material including alternate lyrics and abandoned verses for ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and multiple drafts of ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, as well as entire songs that were never recorded.

The new book will feature these accompanied by stories, memories, and anecdotes from his lifelong companion, and illustrated with photographs from Freddie’s personal collection, many of which have never been published before.

The book called A Life in Lyrics is being described as “the definitive creative record” of one of the greatest songwriters of all time.

Mary Austin said: “In early 2023, in the midst of cataloguing the contents of Garden Lodge, this wonderful home Freddie had left to me, I began to leaf through the papers my family and I had collected together from where they had lain, undisturbed and unseen, in the house for over thirty years.

“Here were the working drafts for Freddie’s lyrics, set down across loose sheets of paper and in simple, plain notebooks that entirely belied the wonders within. This reemergence of Freddie’s handwritten notes, offering a window into his brilliant, creative mind, stirred up many memories from decades passed, of conversations, occasions and emotions. Freddie’s songs continue to bring so much happiness, and solace, to so many.

“I hope that by sharing his manuscripts now, contextualised with fresh insights and a sprinkling of vignettes of our lives together, I will illuminate the remarkable creative force of my dear friend for the enjoyment of everyone he continues to delight and inspire, even after all these years.”

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The new book will follow on from a biography published this year. The Queen legend, who died in 1991 at the age of 45 after being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, fathered a daughter in the 1970s according to evidence gathered by his most prolific biographer.

According to the new investigation by Lesley-Ann Jones, Freddie kept private journals and notebooks in which he recorded his life story and innermost thoughts, and documented his relationship with his daughter over a period of 14 years.

Lesley-Ann learned about the personal documents when “B” tracked her down and contacted her. The two women developed a friendship over several years, which culminated in “B” granting Lesley-Ann permission to share the contents of the journals, as well as her own memories of Freddie, for a new book entitled Love, Freddie.

In it, Jones presents what could be a fresh understanding of Freddie’s private life and personal struggles. According to “B”, this will be the first and only time that Freddie’s true life story will have been told by his own flesh and blood.

* A Life in Lyrics by Freddie Mercury with Mary Austin will be published on September 1, 2026 by HarperNonFiction.

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The TV personality, 44, and Kanye, 48, tied the knot in 2014, but she filed for divorce seven years later, citing irreconcilable differences

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Kim Kardashian has revealed her struggles from her ‘toxic’ marriage to rapper Kanye West, with whom she shares North, Chicago, Psalm and Saint. The TV personality, 44, and Kanye, 48, tied the knot in 2014, but she filed for divorce seven years later, citing irreconcilable differences.

Their divorce was finalised in November 2022, with the two agreeing to share joint custody of their four children. Three years on, Kim has admitted she finds it hard to date and opened up about the difficulties she has with co-parenting. Speaking to Alex Cooper on the Call Her Daddy podcast, she said she was attracted to Ye because of his intelligence.

She said he was ‘larger than life’ and the two ‘had such a fun time’ together.

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However, their relationship soon crumbled, and Kanye soon started to publicly hit out at his family.

“When someone has like their first mental break, you want to be super supportive and you want to help figure that out and be there for them,” she explained.

“But when someone isn’t willing to make changes that I think would’ve been super healthy and beneficial, it makes it really hard to continue on in a relationship that can be toxic.”

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Having children made it difficult for her to leave, and she stayed with the rapper, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2016 but later claimed he was misdiagnosed, in hopes he would improve.

When things never improved, she decided to leave and show their kids a ‘good example of setting boundaries’.

“I had to save myself in order to be a better mum for everyone,” Kim admitted. “And I think when everyone’s older they’ll be able to understand it and see that all.”

When asked about what the ‘final straw’ was, she said: “There was just a lot of things that I wouldn’t deal with. I didn’t like the talking bad about my kids’ grandmother, aunts – if someone feels that way, then we shouldn’t be together. You know, airing out a lot of stuff, a lot of personal stuff.”

She didn’t feel safe ’emotionally or financially’, explaining: “I mean we had five Lamborghinis and I’d come home and they’d all be gone if he was in an episode. And I’d be like, ‘Oh, hey where’s all our cars? My new car.’ And it would be like, ‘oh, he gave them away to all of his friends.’

“And then I’d come home again and at a different point we had five more Lamborghinis and then he’d wake up in another episode and they’d all be gone again. But you didn’t know what you’re going to get [from Kanye] when you wake up. And that’s a really unsettling feeling. It’s a lack of stability.”

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Dame Mary Berry has opened up about her new cookery series, Mary at 90: A Lifetime of Cooking, and how she was left stunned by Alan Titchmarsh’s recent message after the show

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As Dame Mary Berry gears up to take the spotlight in her newest cookery programme, she has shared how she was taken aback to receive an email from Alan Titchmarsh 10 days after they filmed together.

In recent years, Dame Mary has remained at the heart of British cuisine, spearheading Great British Bake Off from 2010 until 2016 alongside fellow judge Paul Hollywood. She has also published numerous recipe collections, selling millions of copies worldwide.

Following the launch of her latest publication, Mary 90: My Very Best Recipes, she has been joined by several of her closest celebrity friends, who will feature alongside her in Mary at 90: A Lifetime of Cooking, scheduled to broadcast on the BBC later this month.

Among those appearing in the programme was popular gardening specialist Alan Titchmarsh, who she recently admitted “hadn’t a clue” while she guided him through making a spaghetti and salmon dish.

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Speaking to Radio Times magazine, she revealed that the former Gardeners’ World presenter remained “so keen” despite his culinary struggles during filming.

Much to her astonishment, 10 days after his appearance on the programme, she spotted a message in her email: “To me, the huge reward was that 10 days after we recorded the show, he sent me an email with a picture of a table, all laid with the pasta dish and a glass of red wine.”

Sharing Alan’s thoughtful message, she added: “I did exactly what you said, and I’m very proud of this.”

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Expressing her admiration for Alan’s efforts, Dame Mary remarked: “He gets the star. That is what I love.”

Also set to join Dame Mary in her new series are renowned TV chef Jamie Oliver, Match of the Day host Gabby Logan, and comedian and actor Tom Allen.

While she is now considered a national treasure, the 90-year-old honed her culinary expertise in her twenties when she trained at the world-famous Le Cordon Bleu school in Paris.

Following her return to the UK, she quickly embarked on a television career, appearing alongside Judith Chalmers on Afternoon Plus.

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Over the years, she began writing her own cookery books while simultaneously building her television reputation through appearances across numerous BBC programmes.

Just because summer has ended, doesn’t mean the lawn doesn’t need cutting through autumn and winter, and shoppers may have found the perfect budget-friendly gadget for the job

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Whether you’ve got a small garden or an uneven yard that’s difficult to keep trimmed with your average lawnmower, a strimmer could be your new best friend for keeping your garden maintained easily and effectively. Perfect for keeping borders looking neat, keeping your grass at a tidy level or smoothing over irregularly shaped lawns, a strimmer is a convenient choice for gardeners all year round.

And in case you’re worried, these come with the same hefty price tags as an actual lawnmower, you’re in luck. Argos is currently offering a cordless strimmer that’s already a firm favourite among green-thumbed shoppers, for under £50.

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The McGregor 18V 23cm grass trimmer is touted as an ideal choice for cutting anything from fine to coarse grass in any outdoor environment.

This little gadget allows you to adjust the angle of the cutting head, enabling you to edge your lawn, trim your grass, and reach under objects such as benches and garden furniture.

The trimmer comes equipped with a flower guard, allowing you to cut right up to the edge of your garden while protecting flowers and plants from the blades.

This Argos grass trimmer has been designed with comfort in mind, featuring an adjustable front handle and a telescopic shaft that allows you to adjust the trimmer to suit your height, making it an ideal candidate for any household.

Retailing for £45, this device currently boasts over 190 5-star reviews on Argos’ website. One thrilled buyer beams: “Does exactly what is says. Perfect for lightweight edge trimming.”

Further praise comes from this shopper who says: “For a basic, budget strimmer this McGregor trimmer is excellent. Ideal for smaller gardens or quick trim round the borders. It is lightweight, durable and the battery charges quickly and last for a considerable time before requiring recharge.”

And a third notes: “A very good strimmer assembled quickly and easily. Good cutting action, just the job for my garden. A very good product.”

The Duchess of Sussex has plans to further expand her brand, sharing details this week at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women summit. But the news might not thrill the royals…

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Meghan Markle has unveiled her future career plans – and it’s unlikely to impress her estranged in-laws.

Meghan, 44, spoke about her upcoming project during her appearance at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women summit in Washington, DC. During her time on stage, she touched on a number of themes – including her As Ever brand and her Netflix deal.

And it was while she was discussing her partnership with the streaming giant that the duchess revealed her intentions over the coming months. When asked whether her Netflix series With Love, Meghan will come back for a third season, she gave a cyrptic response.

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“The holiday special is coming out in November and that’s, it’s a really good one,” she said. “So we’re able to say eight episodes for two seasons, it’s a lot of work.”

She then revealed that her team is experimenting with ways to deliver content in different formats – from longer shows to bite-sized videos.

“I also recognise how much people want content in different sizes,” Meghan continued. “So part of what we’re testing out now is: it’s amazing to be able to sit and watch a show for 30 minutes, but how can I give you a recipe in two minutes, and where can I share that with you, and how that continues to grow As Ever. So, exploring all the options of what it could look like.”

Meghan’s hopes to release a series of social media videos to bulk up her business empire will likely cause something of a headache for the royal family.

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Harry and Meghan’s decision to continually speak out and criticise the Firm has left some royals wary of any future media projects, according to experts..

British royal expert Hilary Fordwich previously explained: “Persistent lack of trust is the main reason why senior royals remain reluctant to engage in reconciliation efforts.

“Their concerns are well-founded, that any private family discussions could become public or be used for commercial projects… [Meghan]… has no sense of duty toward the British public nor the institution.”

After losing his legal challenge over his security in the UK in May, Harry he spoke about their fractured bond with his father King Charles.

Busta Rhymes has countersued his former personal assistant Dashiel Gables, who accused the rapper of assaulting him during an argument the pair allegedly had in January

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Busta Rhymes has hit back at his former personal assistant by filing a countersuit, claiming the ex-employee “fabricated” allegations that the rapper assaulted him in January.

The 53-year-old musician, whose real name is Trevor George Smith Jr., submitted a counterclaim in federal court accusing his former assistant, Dashiel Gables, of defamation after the latter sued him for alleged assault and wrongful termination.

In the court documents, the Touch It hitmaker stated that the accusations significantly damaged his public standing and professional reputation.

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He claims he has suffered “damage to reputation, goodwill, and standing in the music and advertising industries”, as well as a loss of “advertising campaigns and other business opportunities”.

According to court documents obtained by People magazine, Busta is now seeking “special damages in an amount to be proven at trial”, and has added that in his opinion “Gables’ conduct was willful, wanton, and malicious, warranting an award of punitive damages”.

Gables, who worked for the hip-hop star from July 2024 until early this year, claimed that his employment ended after he reported an alleged assault to police.

However, Busta firmly denies the allegations, writing in his counterclaim: “Smith did not assault or batter Gables. Gables knew the statements were false, or acted with reckless disregard for the truth, including by fabricating allegations of criminal conduct and violence, omitting exculpatory facts and deliberately ignoring contrary evidence. At a minimum, Gables acted negligently in ascertaining the truth.”

The former assistant, who also goes by the name Divine, filed his own civil complaint on August 4, requesting a jury trial. He alleged that a confrontation in January 2025 escalated when Busta screamed at him to “stay the f*** off your phone” while he was trying to contact his daughter, before allegedly punching him twice in the face.

Gables claimed he suffered a swollen eye, filed a police report, and was subsequently fired, which he says “effectively blacklisted [him] from employment opportunities in his chosen field [in the music industry]”.

Gables’ lawsuit also alleges verbal abuse, wage violations, and discrimination, claiming Busta “routinely degraded and screamed” at him, used a homophobic slur, and mocked his hearing problems.

He is seeking compensation for lost wages, unpaid overtime, and damages under the Fair Labour Standards Act and New York Labour Law.

This court battle comes two years after Busta Rhymes went through a dramatic physical transformation. The rapper, who once weighed 340 pounds (24 stone) , told Men’s Health that he lost around 100 pounds (nearly 8 stone) after suffering a terrifying asthma-like attack during an intimate moment with his ex.

After his father died in 2014, Busta turned to “drinking, smoking and eating bad” to cope with grief. But after the health scare, he vowed to turn his life around.

“I felt like I was having like an asthma attack — but I don’t have asthma,” he said, adding that his ex told him he needed to lose weight for his own wellbeing.