Category Entertainment News

Ashely Banjo recalls receiving a touching phone call from Prince Harry at a much-needed time as he opens up about preparing for his most emotional job to date

View 4 Images

As Ashely Banjo prepares to host the 26th Pride of Britain Awards later this month, he reveals that as a father himself, some of the inspiring yet heartbreaking stories hit him hard. The 37-year-old joined long-time host Carol Vorderman back in 2021 for his first Awards as presenter, and says tries ‘to hold in’ his emotions on the night, but it’s not always easy.

Each year, he tells OK!, the Awards are supported by an array of celebrities from the worlds of stage and screen, as well as some high-profile members of the Royal Family. One of his standout memories is receiving a special phone call from none other than Prince Harry, who now lives in the US with Meghan Markle and their two children.

READ MORE: Price of cheapest pumpkins at Tesco, Asda, Aldi and Lidl ahead of Halloween 2025

View 4 Images

Ashley described the younger royal brother as “lovely”, adding: “He’s very supportive and he had really good things to say to me. The call was in a quite needed moment for me.”

Ashely shares his six-year-old daughter Rose, and five-year-old son Micah, with his ex partner Francesca Abbott, and says being a dad makes him “relate to situations in a completely different way”.

“It definitely makes you more emotional. I think, in general, having children does that to you. It changes your perspective and makes you more knowledgeable. You realise how fragile life can be and how deep your love is for your kids. It humbles you.”

View 4 Images

Prince Harry was recently in the UK himself to attend another big date in the charity calendar, the annual WellChild Awards. The Duke has been a patron of the charity for 17 years, and his association is widely regarded as one of the areas in which he shines most brightly.

Just before the ceremony kicked off at the Royal Lancaster Hotel on 8 September, Harry delighted some of the children being recognised on the night by engaging in a balloon sword fight and graciously accepting gifts for his and Meghan’s children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.

View 4 Images

In one cute moment shared to the charity’s Instagram stories, Harry met with a young girl named Gwen, nine, who showed off her fancy trainers to the royal before engaging in the playful balloon battle.

The youngster also presented Harry with gifts Archie and Lilibet – purple football jersey, belonging to Brighton Hove & Albion team, with his children’s names and ages on them.

“Best gift ever, thank you so much,” Harry responded. “This is so cool, it’s going to make them so happy.”

Former EastEnders actress Cheryl Fergison has been forced to sell her personal items at a carboot sale in order to make ends meet after accountant left her ‘broke’

View 2 Images

Former EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison became a national treasure among soap fans playing Heather Trott in the BBC soap. So you’d assume she has been living a comfortable life on the back of her earnings.

But sadly not. Cheryl, 60, was recently spotted at a carboot sale in Blackpool selling personal belongings for as little as 33 pence an item, after she was left penniless due to the unethical practices of her accountant.

According to the star, she believed the money she had been sending to her accountant was being used to pay off HMRC – but that wasn’t the case. Instead, he had been “pocketing” the money for himself, leaving her with a mountain of debt.

READ MORE: Coronation Street’s Helen Flanagan issues cryptic warning after ‘digging’ up secrets she’d ‘rather leave buried’READ MORE: EastEnders icon Cheryl Fergison shares health update after suffering severe stroke

View 2 Images

Dressed causally in a fleece jacket and a pair of black leggings, Cheryl found herself selling her wares alongside her devoted son, Alex Saddiqi. Despite finding herself battling hard times, fans of the actress flocked to her for a selfie.

Cheryl’s character was killed off in 2017 and has since found it difficult to land sustainable acting roles since her exit. In her autobiography, Behind The Scenes, the actress recalls the moment she found out she had been a victim of theft.

She wrote: “For five years, I paid him. For five years he pocketed the money and didn’t pay a single penny to HMRC. Everything I had built, saved and worked for was gone. I don’t use the word hate very often. It’s a heavy word, one you can’t always take back, but in this case, I meant it. I hated him.”

She continued: “Going broke when you’re famous is the worst, because everyone expects you to have lots of money. People assume that you’re minted. They don’t imagine you’re juggling overdrafts, maxed-out credit cards, payday loans and mountains of bills. But that was exactly where I found myself.”

The former TV star lives with her second husband Al-Jermoni in Blackpool who she married in 2011. Soon after the couple tied the knot, their life had already hit a curveball as he found it difficult to get a visa as a Moroccan national.

In an interview with OK! magazine she explained: “We try to keep our business private but yes financially it can be a strain to get these visas. But we’re here now, we’re in Blackpool – the Vegas of the north! – and we’re settled.”

Through steely determination, Cheryl has been doing her best to recover from her financial blows. In another chat with The Sun, she said she does not want to be judged for her current situation.

Cheryl explained: “My finances will take a long time to recover. Until I have steady work, I’m not rich or comfortable – I’m just surviving. I’ve been saying yes to everything for no money, but I need to start valuing my work and asking for fair pay. Even my agent insists on it. “

She added: “Still, I’ll never give in. I want to keep singing. If people criticise me for singing in small restaurants, so be it.’

At the end of the day, I’m an entertainer. Community has always been important to me, and I’ll perform no matter the crowd. If only two people show up, I don’t care – I’m still being paid, and I’ll still give it my all.”

READ MORE: Advent calendar gives couples ‘weekends to remember’ and it’s not chocolate

Ozzy Osbourne’s wife and two of his children have unexpectedly showed up at a UK farm to see a pumpkin patch that 16 workers spent hours making to commemorate the rocker

View 4 Images

The family of the late rock legend Ozzy Osbourne have paid an emotional visit to a stunning pumpkin mural created in his honour. Sharon, Jack and Kelly Osbourne surprised visitors at Sunnyfields Farm in Totton, Hampshire, on Saturday evening as they arrived to see the spectacular tribute to the Black Sabbath frontman, which was made from more than 10,000 pumpkins and squashes.

The mural, which has been on display since October 4, was made in the likeness of Ozzy’s face. Workers crafted it from thousands of gourds in various shades of orange, yellow, and green.

It was created to honour the music icon, who died in July at the age of 76. Sharon had taken a step away from the spotlight following Ozzy’s death as she grieves her husband of more than 40 years.

READ MORE: Sharon Osbourne ‘figuring out what to do’ without Ozzy as she prepares for big moveREAD MORE: Kelly Osbourne’s thoughtful surprise for mum Sharon on her first birthday after Ozzy’s death

View 4 Images

The Osbourne family were greeted by the farm’s owners, Tom and Ian Nelson, who personally gave them a tour of the display. Sharon and Jack even hopped aboard a cherry picker to admire the artwork from above, while Kelly was joined by her fiancé, Slipknot’s Sid Wilson, and their son, Sidney.

Tom Nelson explained how Ozzy was chosen for this year’s design, saying: “Even though we think something is a good idea, it might not be, so we put it out to the public. So 70% of the people said ‘it’s got to be Ozzy this year.’ So we let the public decide.”

Sunnyfields Farm was founded by Tom’s parents in 1990, and has hosted its annual pumpkin display for a decade now. It earned a place in the record books in 2023 for the world’s largest mosaic made from cucurbits — the plant family that includes pumpkins and squashes.

View 4 Images

This year’s artwork, which took 16 people over four hours to complete, will remain on display until the end of the month.

Ozzy, otherwise known as the Prince of Darkness, died on July 22 following years of health battles. His death certificate later confirmed he died from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest brought on by a heart attack, coronary artery disease and complications related to Parkinson’s disease.

He had his wife, Sharon, and their children around him when he died. Just days before his death, Ozzy had been determined to make it to Villa Park in Birmingham for what would become his final performance.

After his death, tributes poured in for the rock star from fans and fellow musicians around the world. His daughter Kelly Osbourne shared a moving message online, writing: “I’ve sat down to write this a hundred times and still don’t know if the words will ever feel like enough…but from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

View 4 Images

“The love, support, and beautiful messages I’ve received from so many of you have truly helped carry me through the hardest moment of my life.”

In August, thousands of fans lined the streets of Ozzy’s hometown, Birmingham, to pay their respects as his coffin passed through Broad Street.

Earlier in the week, Jack revealed Sharon is “OK but she’s not OK” following her husband’s death. And in a new interview, Jack added that “it’s ups and downs.” Jack explained to Rolling Stone that he is “bringing her back to LA” after flying to England for Sharon’s first birthday without Ozzy.

READ MORE: ‘I’m a wine connoisseur and this wine advent calendar is the best I’ve found’

Convicted paedophile Ian Watkins was killed in prison yesterday morning as his Lostprophets bandmate Lee Gaze has issued a five-word message following the news

View 3 Images

Ian Watkins’ former bandmate has spoken out following the news of the paedophile’s death behind bars. The disgraced Lostprophets singer was stabbed to death in prison in an alleged knife attack.

He is said to have had his throat slashed at Wakefield Prison yesterday morning. A Prison Service spokesperson said on Saturday: “We are aware of an incident at HMP Wakefield which took place this morning.

“We are unable to comment further while the police investigate.” A statement from West Yorkshire Police added: “At 9.39am this morning (Saturday), police were called by staff at HMP Wakefield reporting an assault on a prisoner.

READ MORE: What happened to Lostprophets? Lives of the bandmembers betrayed by Ian WatkinsREAD MORE: Chilling reasons Ian Watkins escaped justice as ex-girlfriend says ‘four years too late’

View 3 Images

View 3 Images

“Emergency services attended and the man was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. Detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are investigating and inquiries remain ongoing at the scene.”

In 2013, the 48-year-old pleaded guilty at Cardiff Crown Court to 13 child sex offences. He also admitted to the rape and sexual assault of a child who was under the age of 13.

Watkins also admitted conspiring to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving taking, making or possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a sex act on an animal.

Lostprophets guitarist Lee Gaze has since broken his silence following the news with a simple message. A fan had wished him and his bandmates well last night, and Lee responded: “Thanks for the kind words.”

Back in July, Lee had spoken out against Watkins in a post on social media after years of staying silent. He said it was “painful” to reflect on the past as he revealed the deep impact Watkins’ crimes had on him and the devastation of how the band’s journey ended.

He wrote: “It’s been 13 years since my band ended in the most unimaginable circumstances and it’s still painful to think about. Things could’ve been so different.

“I don’t talk about it much, but I put everything into that band, and it should’ve lasted a lifetime. I never really wronged anyone my whole life so it seemed like the ultimate punishment.”

Lee has since joined forces with No Devotion, sharing the stage with American singer Geoff Rickly from Thursday and fellow ex-Lostprophets mate Stu Richardson. Former bandmates Mike Lewis, Luke Johnson and Jamie Oliver were once part of the band before their departure.

West Yorkshire Police said two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after Watkins’ death. The suspects, aged 25 and 43, are currently in police custody.

The force said in a statement: “Detectives have launched a murder investigation after the death of a man in HMP Wakefield. Officers were called by staff at the prison at 9.39am this morning (Saturday October 11) to reports of a serious assault on a prisoner.

“A man aged 48 was found with serious injuries. Despite medical attention he was pronounced dead at the scene. Two men aged 25 and 43 have been arrested on suspicion of murder and are currently in police custody. Detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are investigating and enquiries remain ongoing.”

Former Corrie favourite Brooke Vincent details the highs and lows of parenting in a hilarious new podcast as she opens up on being a mum – and returning to the cobbles…

View 4 Images

Former Coronation Street star Brooke Vincent, who has two young sons with ex-footballer Kean Bryan, 28, is the first to admit she’s still “winging” it with parenting. In an exclusive interview with OK!, the 33-year-old opens up about juggling work with taking care of Mexx, who turns six on 23 October, and Monroe, four, admitting that “every day is a bit different”.

Brooke also tells us about You Don’t Know You’re Born – her hilarious new parenting podcast she co-hosts with Emmerdale’s Danny Miller and Capital FM’s Wingman – and teases a possible return to Weatherfield…

Hi, Brooke! How’s life? Busy, we’re guessing, with two little ones?!

Oh, as any parent will tell you, kids, school, uniform, which child has which hobby, is a different dynamic. Sometimes it’s like juggling in the dark; you have no clue if you’ve got through the day! I literally just wing it. Every single day. Some days I win at it, and some days I don’t. That’s the reality of life now. My job isn’t necessarily a job where I know where I’m going to be, what time I’m going to start, or what time I’m going to finish.

READ MORE: Copy Molly-Mae’s £60 slippers this autumn with ‘so comfortable’ £20 alternative

View 4 Images

How would you feel if Mexx and Monroe wanted to be actors or footballers?

It’s quite daunting when you’re a parent and they want to go into the profession you’re familiar with. Acting and football, those two professions are about constantly proving yourself, picking yourself up after rejection and growing with that. The thing I love about them getting older is their personalities are coming out now – you get to see what they enjoy and are good at.

So any hints on where their talents lie?

One of my little boys is a real performer; it’s nice to see them growing up and choosing what they want to do. I don’t know how I’d feel, though. I’d be super supportive but there’s also a deeper level of understanding of what you sometimes have to go through, mentally, with these jobs. You want your kids to have the easiest life.

View 4 Images

You often post videos of your boys laughing at your outfits…

The kids are very funny because they’ll always tell the absolute truth. There have been times when I think I look really good, I go downstairs and they go, ‘What have you got on?!’ They don’t let you off with anything. Or if I’ve got a spot, they’ll be like, ‘Mum, what is that spot?’ They don’t have any filters; it’s just so funny.

And what of Corrie – would you go back to the cobbles any time soon?

I feel like Corrie is home. Whenever, if ever, they ask me, I’d love to go back. I’ve got a lot of friends there, it’s like family. It’s such a lovely place to work, so definitely. I’ve had such a long time off and I’ve been able to enjoy my children without the tough schedule, which can be hard sometimes.

Now they’re a bit older and a bit more independent, there’s obviously the opportunity to take on more work. I have gone off and worked in different environments, with different people, but Corrie is a huge part of me.

One of those gigs was the 2024 stage adaptation of The Syndicate. How was it?

It was fab! It’s a play by the late Kay Mellor, so I felt incredibly lucky to be working with Gaynor [Faye] and her son, Ollie. It was a family production and we embraced our roles.

It was hard, working away, navigating what the boys need… there’s a lot that goes into being a parent. And when it’s paired with something that is also quite hard, sometimes, juggling it all can be difficult. But no, on the whole, I had a ball. I absolutely loved it.

View 4 Images

You’ve also got a new podcast, You Don’t Know You’re Born, with Danny Miller and Nigel Clucas. Can you tell us about it?

It’s something we’d been talking about for a while and, finally, it’s out there, which is a bit surreal. It’s about being parents, and very tongue-in-cheek. There’s a lot of laughs, it’s just getting together and having a good giggle.

How does it differ from other parenting podcasts out there?

I feel like ours is refreshing; we have an absolute ball and it shows. It’s fun to see how one conversation starts and the next minute, we’re off on a tangent. It’s not super polished at all – we’re just being nuisances, constantly. It’s a real feel-good podcast.

You Don’t Know You’re Born is available to stream on all podcast platforms

A TikTok star has shared an emotional message from their hospital bed as they confirmed they’re HIV positive and. Mainly Mannie uploaded a video to the social media platform where he shared his diagnosis and revealed he was unable to walk.

Speaking from his hospital bed, the TikTok star said: “I’m a lucky person. Blessed. I just wanna tell you guys a few things. Life has been trying to take me out lately.

“From the accidents, the sicknesses, and stuff and then me finding out I had AIDs and HIV. I couldn’t walk after the summer.” Mannie revealed he received his diagnosis in the summer after he was unable to walk.

It came after a number of other struggles he had been dealing with. The social media star claimed he contracted the virus from an ex, but said he is “not the victim”.

He said: “Yes, my ex gave me this and I didn’t know, he hid a lot of things, but i’m not a victim because I had signs.” Mannie said he is “happy to be living life” and is “feeling a lot better” after taking on his treatment.

However, he said the medication he needs costs $4,000 a month, leading him to set up a GoFundMe page. He said he had a $12,000 goal and has already managed t raise over $8,400.

Mannie went on to say how he plans on donating some of the money to charities which support people with HIV. According to the NHS, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that weakens your immune system and increases your risk of serious illness.

There’s currently no cure, but with treatment most people with HIV can live a long and healthy life. AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the name for a collection of serious illnesses caused by the HIV virus, it is now often called late-stage or advanced HIV.

He said: “I do plan on giving some money to charities that support HIV and people that can’t afford. I have great support and I’ll survive. I do this go fund me to help others because it’s the right thing to do!”

The TikTok star then shared an emotional message on Instagram where he tearfully thanked supporters and explained that, while he is struggling to walk, he can stand.

The social media star was met with huge support from his followers as one person commented on his video: “you’re always going to be our boss and CEO. love you, proud of you for always being so transparent.”, while another added: “You will get through this, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Happy belated birthday”.

A third wrote: “I’m so sorry to hear this manny wow I’m praying healing over your body and wishing you a full recovery”.

A fourth added: “My sweet strong funny amazingly talented mainly, stay strong. We miss you. There’s no one like you. You burst on the scene and drew us in. Please thrive.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTubeand Threads.