Category Entertainment News

Thomas Skinner, who is a contestant on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, admitted he has made “big mistakes,” including cheating on his wife Sinead just weeks after their wedding

Thomas Skinner’s mistress has claimed the salesman told her she “was the love of his life” during their fling.

But Amy-Lucy O’Rourke, 35, has also insisted she was the one who told his wife about his affair – and not the former The Apprentice star himself as he has alleged. Thomas, who is a contestant on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, confessed to cheating on his wife Sinead just weeks after their wedding.

And Amy-Lucy has today again stressed the three-month fling was far more meaningful than Thomas, 34, had made out in his interview with reporters. Amy-Lucy, who lives near Brentwood, Essex, said: “Thomas told me I was the love of his life and sold me an absolute dream. He told me that he was in a loveless relationship of convenience.”

Thomas, who was on series 15 of The Apprentice in 2019, has claimed his wife has forgiven him, and the salesman said he and Sinead, who share three children, have “moved forward together”.

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Amy-Lucy, though, has spoken out this week, claiming Thomas’ account of thing hasn’t quite been accurate. The beauty clinic boss told the Daily Mail she and Thomas were often out in public together and acted like a couple besotted with one another.

She added: “It makes me really angry that his narrative is that he told her. He did not tell her. I can’t believe he’s trying to make out that he did the honest thing. He did not, he tried to keep the lie up for weeks and was torturing me emotionally. He was playing me and Sinead off against each other. Telling me one thing, telling her another.”

The fling is understood to have lasted several months, beginning just six weeks after Thomas married Sinead in May 2022. Now, the timing of the revelations are awkward for Thomas as he is set to make his Strictly Come Dancing debut on Saturday.

And the dad of three has said he has become a “target”, and is “being portrayed a public enemy number 1” following the affair bombshells. In a lengthy statement on X, he wrote: “My life ain’t perfect…..far from it. I’ve made big mistakes, I’ve let people down, and done things I’ll always regret in my past.

“The worst was what I did to my wife three and a half years ago…..one stupid moment I’ll carry forever. It was nothing more and nothing less despite what is being said. I told her straight away. She had every right to leave me back then, but she forgave me…….and that forgiveness changed my life.

“Since then, we’ve built a new home, had two more beautiful children, and moved forward together. We are stronger. Family is everything to me. It’s what I do everything for.

Owen Cooper became the youngest male winner of an acting Emmy award on Sunday night when the young Brit was recognised for his role in Netflix drama Adolescence

Adolescence star Owen Cooper won’t take his Emmy to school – because he fears it will get pinched.

The teenager, who became the youngest male winner of an acting Emmy award on Sunday night, proudly held the gong at a press conference yesterday. When asked by a reporter if he would be showing the award off to his classmates, Owen said: “This will get robbed in my school. No chance. I am definitely not taking it to school.”

Yet fans chuckled on social media, with some pointing out it reminds them Owen is just 15 – and like any other British teenager – despite the resounding praise he and Adolescence has received. One internet user posted: “He seems like a nice grounded boy. I hope he does well in life, whether or not that includes acting.” Another shared: “This young man is super special and humble.”

And Owen is due back at school in Cheshire this week after flying back from Los Angeles with his parents. He posed with IT worker Andy and Noreen, a carer, following his triumph at the Peacock Theatre’s glitzy ceremony on Sunday night.

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Andy, 45, and 52-year-old Noreen live in the terraced home in Warrington, Cheshire, which they raised their family over the past two decades. Owen’s brother Ollie, 21, and 31-year-old half-brother Connor – both electricians – also joined the actor at the event.

Neighbours, meanwhile, stayed up late to watch the glittering ceremony. June Shingler, 77, said she let out a cheer when Owen’s name was announced. She said: “We watched it on TV… I was like ‘Oh my God, he only lives next door but one.'”

Speaking to the Daily Mail yesterday, she added: “I’m really pleased he has won. I don’t think success will change him but I’m hoping he goes on to do other things. Owen is really nice but it is not just him, all the family are nice. His mum and dad have both worked hard.

“They are a lovely family, they really deserve it. At the end of the day all you want is the best for your children. It is marvellous. Everyone is pleased for them. His mum is absolutely wonderful. I am so happy for them. They have brought up a lovely young man. He is very lucky.”

Another neighbour Madeline, 79, said: “I’m delighted for him. He is such a lovely boy. I have known him since he was born. He used to call me ‘Nan Mad’ when his mum brought him over. They are a beautiful family. They are brilliant and he is so well grounded.”

The Emmys In Memoriam pays tribute to major television and entertainment figures who have recently passed away and this year it featured Ozzy Osbourne, Vince Gill and other stars

Fans of Gene Hackman were left fuming after the Hollywood legend was omitted from the In Memoriam segment at the 2025 Emmy Awards on Sunday night.

Hackman, 95, died in February after a journey with Alzheimer’s disease. However, the veteran actor was not featured in the Emmy tribute which honours major television and entertainment figures who have recently passed away. The montage was played during the ceremony in Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, and included nods to the likes of Vince Gill, Lainey Wilson, Ozzy Osbourne and David Lynch.

Viewers were puzzled – and outraged – at the omission of Hackman, as well as other major stars, such as Jonathan Joss, Connie Francis and Val Kilmer. They took to X, which was known as Twitter, to express their ire.

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One fan asked: “Where was Gene Hackman in the In Memoriam?” Another posted: “Did they leave out Gene Hackman? Ugh.” A third said: “Did I miss GENE HACKMAN? Was he included?” A further tweet stated: “Only turned it on to see the In Memoriam and they left out way too many people.”

While he wasn’t part of the broadcast tribute, Hackman is part of a more comprehensive list of fallen stars on the Emmy’s website. Other actors, including Polly Holliday and Graham Greene, are on that list.

But Hackman had an extensive career, which included significant TV credits such as the 1965 series I Spy. He won two BAFTAs and three Golden Globe Awards, including a latter for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his role in The Royal Tenenbaums in 2002.

The performer, born in San Bernardino, California, was also in blockbusters, such as Bonnie and Clyde (1967) and The French Connection (1971), and is considered one of the greatest actors of his generation and had a career that spanned over four decades.

READ MORE: Chilling new detail in Gene Hackman wife’s autopsy after she was killed by rat-borne virus

Hackman and classical pianist wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, were found dead and partially mummified in their Santa Fe mansion in February. It was revealed Arakawa had died from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in their bathroom days before Hackman passed.

Arakawa also had fluid accumulation in her chest and mild hardening of the vessels that supplied blood to the heart and body at the time of her death, per her autopsy report obtained by The Associated Press.

The actor and presenter Joanna Page has a plan and wanted to stick to it to get work done

Joanna Page feared fans might spot her and think she was dogging – when she was actually writing her autobiography in her car. New book Lush comes out on September 25 and, Gavin & Stacey star Joanna said the writing process was not completely straightforward at home. She said: “I’d go and sit in our garage to write, and my husband would be like, ‘I’ll look after all of them’ – but that apparently involves him popping in every five minutes to ask me something.

“So then I started going to car parks to write, just sitting there in my car trying to get it done in the middle of the night until I thought ‘This is getting a bit dodgy’ – or maybe a bit dogging-y – so I’d go back and park outside my own house, not daring to go inside in case I woke the kids, and keep writing in my car till five in the morning.”

Joanna is best known for playing Stacey Shipman in Gavin & Stacey who was prone to using the word lush in episodes of the hit sitcom. In the acknowledgements pages she admits “When I realised I was going to write a book, I got over-excited, thought I was Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City and went straight out to buy a handbag I could carry my notepad and pens in. Then I realised I was going to have to actually write the thing and s**t myself.”

Readers will be taken “from Swansea To Stacey” behind the scenes of her most iconic roles and introduces readers to a colourful cast including Ruth Jones, James Corden, Richard E. Grant, Johnny Depp, Liam Neeson and Emma Thompson.

Joanna had given up on acting after a failed audition and was back to her job in a shoe shop when the Gavin & Stacey script turned up.

“It completely and utterly changed my life. It’s given me amazing opportunities, wonderful experiences and a whole new family,” she told Radio Times. The cast are still close and have a messaging group that is regularly updated.

She added: “We’ve got a WhatsApp group, called ‘ Christmas is occurring’, and we send messages all the time. When Rob was doing Destination X, he’d send us photos and James would zoom into them and try and work out the locations.

“We’re always sending each other messages of support or arranging to see each other. And I’ve got a secret little chat with just me and Ruth, too.”

Gavin & Stacey: The Finale is the UK’s most-watched scripted show across all broadcasters and streamers since current records began in 2002, with ratings of over 19.3 million. It has smashed the show’s own record from the 2019 Christmas special which reached 18.5 million viewers in 28-days.

The last ever episode of the hit British sitcom took the top spot on Christmas Day last year and was watched by a staggering 12.3 million viewers, beating their 2019 special and making it the biggest Christmas Day overnight since 2008.

It has since added over 6 million to its total, a number that will only continue to grow when the 28-day figures are published, which is well on track to reach over 20 million.

* Lush by Joanna Page is out on September 25.

Reba McEntire has opened up about how her grandchildren, Brandon Blackstock’s children are doing following his tragic death just weeks ago

Reba McEntire has opened up about how her step-grandchildren are coping following the death of their father. Brandon Blackstock, who had children with Kelly Clarkson, died in August, aged 48.

The country singer opened up about how Brandon’s children are handling the death whilst she was on the red carpet at the Emmys.

“The kids are doing well, they’re all bonding together and hanging out with each other, and taking it one day at a time,” she said. “We know God’s got this.”

Brandon had four children in total, two – Savannah, 23, and Seth, 18 – by his first wife Melissa Ashworth and two – River Rose, 11, and Remy, 9 – with Kelly, whom he was divorced from before his death.

He was Reba’s stepson when she married her father, Narvel, from 1989 to 2015. According to his mother, Reba’s son and Brandon’s brother, Shelby Blackstock, is also “doing great.”

Brandon, who was a talent manager, died on 7 August after living with melanoma for over three years. A rep for his family announced the death with a prepared statement that read: “It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away.

“Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”

While Reba did not make her own tribute to Brandon, she commented an emotional Instagram post from her son with: “Very well said Shelby. Yes, we will miss him so much.”

The family will soon have something to celebrate as Reba quietly confirmed she was engaged to her long-time boyfriend Rex Linn during an interview on the Emmys red carpet, where she chose not to correct an interview when she referred to Rex as Reba’s “fiance”.

The couple have been together since 2020, when they both guest-starred on Young Sheldon.

Lil Nas X was charged with four felonies after allegedly assaulting police officers when he was found wandering the streets of Los Angeles in his underwear

Lil Nas X wasn’t in attendance for his pre-trial hearing in Los Angeles on September 15 after entering an inpatient treatment program. Last month, he was charged with four felonies after he allegedly ran from police officers when he was found wandering the streets of Los Angeles in his underwear.

The 26-year-old was hospitalised from a suspected overdose after he was found wandering around Ventura Boulevard in his underwear early in the morning. In footage filmed by a passerby, the star was seen wandering down the street yelling out: “Hey, don’t be late to the party tonight.”

Later in the video, Lil Nas was seen reciting lyrics from Nicki Minaj’s verse on Kanye West’s song Monster. He was later seen telling the man recording the video of him to put his phone away.

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On Monday’s pre-trial hearing, his lawyers confirmed the singer is currently ‘in treatment’ at a facility in another state, as reported by Rolling Stone.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Shellie Samuels said: “Defendant is allowed to remain out of state as long as he remains in treatment,” with the judge also stating that “we’ll talk” if the rapper’s “treatment changes, and he becomes outpatient”.

Lil Nas X’s lawyer, Drew Findling, said to reporters after the hearing: “We’re doing what is best for [Lil Nas X] from a personal standpoint and a professional standpoint, but most importantly, for his well-being.”

Findling continued: “He is surrounded by an amazing family, an amazing team of people that care about him and love him. And we’re just addressing those issues. It’s really as simple as that.

“He’s had a great life, and he’ll continue to have a great life. This is a bump that he’s going to get over.” In court documents filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, it states he is facing three counts of battery on a police officer and one count of resisting arrest.

At the time of the musician’s arrest, a spokesperson from the Los Angeles Police Department told The Mirror US: “Yesterday, around 5:50 am, officers responded to the 11000 block of Ventura Boulevard for a nude man walking in the street.

“Upon arrival, the suspect charged at officers and was taken into custody. He was transported to a local hospital for a possible overdose and placed under arrest for Battery on a Police Officer. He was ultimately booked for 69 PC – Obstructing/Resisting an Officer.”

They later added: “With that charge 69 (a) PC, the arrestee (Hill) cannot be cited out. It is mandatory that he appears before a judge before he is released.” He pleaded not guilty to the charges. The next hearing is set for Tuesday, November 18.

The Mirror have reached out to Lil Nas X’s reps for comment.

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