Category Entertainment News

Zoe Ball has announced she is leaving her role as presenter of her BBC Radio 2 show. The broadcaster, 55, also confirmed that she will be replaced by telly star Emma Willis.

Confirming the news, Zoe told listeners: “I have loved being betwixt my dear friends Romesh (Ranganathan) and Rylan (Clark), and you know, I love you all to bits, but I’m not disappearing completely.

“Obviously, it’ll be Christmas Crooners, and I’m doing an eras show in the new year, more on that later. But I am thrilled to tell you that you will be in the safest of hands, because there is a superwoman who is no stranger to you all, but this does mean that she will officially become a member of the Radio 2 family.

“You’ll have loved her on The Voice, The Circle, Big Brother, Cooking With The Stars, Love Is blind, and delivering babies, she’s a gorgeous lass, so welcome to the BBC Radio 2 family and Saturday afternoons, Emma Willis.”

Speaking about her new role, Emma said: “I’m a huge fan of Radio 2, so I’m absolutely chuffed to be joining the family – and it’s a real honour to follow in the huge footsteps Zoe leaves behind, who’s someone I admire and adore.

“I’m very much looking forward to spending my Saturday lunchtimes with the Radio 2 audience, and I’ll happily be the filling to a Romesh and Rylan sandwich!” In a statement, she added: “It’s really exciting, and it’s quite nerve-racking as well, because you’ve got, you always have fantastic boots and shoes, but they are very big boots and shoes to step into Zoe Ball.”

Meanwhile, Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2 added: “Emma is one of the UK’s most popular broadcasters, so I’m thrilled that she’s joining the all-star Radio 2 family of presenters.

“I’m certain that our loyal listeners will welcome her with open arms. I can’t wait to hear Emma’s new show as a part of our Superstar Saturday weekend schedule, which features Tony Blackburn, Dermot O’Leary, Romesh Ranganathan, Rylan, Liza Tarbuck, Gary Davies and Fearne Cotton.”

In a statement, Zoe said that spending Saturdays with Radio 2 listeners had been “an absolute hoot”, hearing stories and her “weekly giggles” with Rylan and Romesh had been one of her highlights. She added that she was “over the moon” for Emma to be taking over from her.

The news comes after Zoe made the decision to step down from her Radio 2 breakfast show in December of last year, having spent almost six years as the voice of early mornings. She made her return to the station just shy of five months later, taking the 1pm to 3pm slot on Saturdays.

At the time of her departure, Zoe said she wanted to “focus on her family” as well as escape the “very early mornings,” citing her 4am alarm clock taking its toll on her. This had worsened following a string of personal issues, including the death of her mother, Julia, in April 2024, and health problems. Zoe has spoken openly about her temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) diagnosis, which causes her to suffer from headaches. She was the highest-paid on-air female presenter in 2023/2024, taking home between £950,000 and £954,999. This saw her place second on the top-earning talent, behind Gary Lineker.

Emma, however, is no stranger to radio, having previously hosted on the Heart network between 2012 and 2018. She later went on to become a cover presenter of Radio 2 in 2019. Zoe became the first woman to present the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show on her own after Kevin Greening left the programme in 1998.

Away from Radio 2, Zoe’s first project for the corporation will be the Eras for Radio 2 and BBC Sounds podcast, focusing on the life and career of Phil Collins. Listeners will hear Collins throughout each chapter, focusing on different parts of his life, with new interviews and contributions from the likes of Bob Geldof, Sir Richard Branson and Phil’s son, Nic Collins.

Reflecting on her new role, Zoe said: “Phil Collins’ music is woven into all our lives, those songs are time machines, full of heart, drama and joy. I’ve been a lifelong fan ever since discovering Genesis as a young teenager, and their Wembley gig in ’87 is still one of the best nights of my life.

“I’ve been lucky enough to chat with Phil a few times over the years, but to dive into his extraordinary story for Eras and sit down with him again for such a special, intimate conversation about music, family and everything in between is an absolute dream. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”

Meghan Markle has reached out to her father Thomas Markle, for the first time in years after he was rushed to hospital – but the move might not be enough to heal their rift

View 3 Images

Meghan Markle will need two things before any meeting to heal the rift with her hospital-stricken dad, according to an expert. The Duchess of Sussex has been estranged from her father, Thomas since 2018 when she married Prince Harry after he was caught staging paparazzi photos in the run-up to the big day.

However, it has emerged that Meghan has written a letter to her father, which has been delivered to him, after he was rushed to hospital where he lives in the Philippines. According to reports, he has been forced to undergo a leg amputation after suffering a serious blood clot and later gave an interview to a newspaper where he said he does not want to die distanced from his daughter, and wishes to meet Meghan’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, and her husband, Harry.

READ MORE: JENNIE BOND: ‘Prince Harry’s made a foolish mistake – but he’s right about one thing’READ MORE: Princess Beatrice celebrates daughter’s christening but Andrew and Fergie skip pub bash

View 3 Images

But despite the pair making initial contact, royal expert Jennie Bond believes Meghan will be wary of any potential reunion. The former BBC royal correspondent told the Mirror : “As I have often said, families are complicated. None of us truly knows what has gone on between Meghan and her father, but it is a very sad situation when a daughter cannot simply pick up the phone to her dad.

“It seems she has now contacted him by letter, and I’m sure that must be a great comfort to him as he lies in his hospital bed.

“But the Philippines is a long way away from Montecito. And, at the moment, it seems unlikely that Meghan is about to jump on a plane.

“She will also be wary because it seems that her father and brother are intent on giving their side of the story. So there would have to be a lot of trust and reassurance before any meeting.

View 3 Images

“I’m sure Harry will support his wife in whatever she chooses to do about her relationship with her father. It would be nice to think he could meet his grandchildren – and indeed his son-in-law – before it is too late, and be reconciled with the daughter he loves.”

Mr Markle has seemingly suffered a spate of health issues over recent years, including two heart attacks and a stroke that saw him needing speech therapy.

He was rushed to hospital earlier this month in the Philippines as his health took a worrying turn. The pensioner had to endure gruelling surgery to have his leg amputated, which resulted in his son Thomas Junior – Meghan’s half-brother – to plead with her to “reach out” and show “compassion”.

As the delicate situation unravels behind the scenes, family counselling expert Dr Jane Halsall also told the Mirror just how tough these types of strained relationships can be, especially when they are playing out on the public stage.

The chartered counselling psychologist explained that for adults like Meghan who are estranged from their parents, it can be challenging to navigate the delicate balance between self-protection and their fundamental care and concern for their parent, particularly if they become unwell, as Thomas has.

Lindsay Lohan has shared a brief teaser of her voicing grown-up Maggie Simpson, and it’s safe to say fans are excited based on social media reaction

View 3 Images

Lindsay Lohan has sparked a frenzy on social media after sharing a glimpse of herself voicing an adult Maggie Simpson in The Simpsons.

The brief teaser, posted across her social platforms, has given fans just enough to get excited about – whilst keeping the details of Sunday’s episode on Fox firmly under wraps. The snippet, lasting mere seconds, captures the historic moment when “Future Maggie” breaks her silence for the first time in the show’s legendary run.

Lohan, 39, shared the news with the caption: “What a dream come true to be part of this iconic family” before revealing the clip of her voicing Springfield’s notoriously mute toddler.

View 3 Images

The long-running animated series has previously dabbled with glimpses into the future, depicting Maggie as either a talented musician or a successful businesswoman yet her grown-up speaking voice has seldom been heard – until this moment.

Within moments of Lindsay’s announcement, social media erupted with responses though viewers will need to tune in to discover just how much dialogue Maggie delivers when the complete episode broadcasts.

Lindsay has been back in the spotlight this summer while reprising one of her most beloved roles alongside Jamie Lee Curtis in Freakier Friday, the long-awaited sequel to Disney’s 2003 hit Freaky Friday.

While opening up about her bond with her co-star Julia Butters, Lohan ended up admitting that they have a very different relationship than the one she had with the actresses she starred alongside in the noughties hit Mean Girls.

In an interview with The New York Times, Lohan gushed about the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star, saying: “She’s my best friend in the entire world. We see each other every single day. That’s not even an exaggeration.” This comes as fans have gushed over Lindsey Lohan’s youthful Freakier Friday premiere look which saw her ‘aging backwards’.

Reflecting on her time shooting Mean Girls in 2004, the then actress explained that the age gap between her and the rest of the main cast made it tricky to find her place socially.

“It was hard because Rachel McAdams was so much older,” Lohan revealed. “I was in school. [And] Amanda [Seyfried] and Lacey [Chabert] were all hanging out. It was hard for me to find where I fit in.”

At the time, McAdams, who famously played queen bee Regina George, was 25, while Lacey Chabert was 21. Amanda Seyfried was 17 like Lohan, but it seems Lindsey still felt there was a distance between them.

Mean Girls went on to become a defining moment in Lohan’s career, and certain lines from the romcom are still referenced in pop culture two decades later.

Even Freakier Friday included a clever nod to the iconic chick flick. Early in the film, viewers meet Anna’s new fiancé Eric, who is played by Manny Jacinto. Their whirlwind romance is shown in a montage which ends with with 3 October circled on the calendar as their wedding date. Mean Girls fans will instantly recognise the date.

View 3 Images

In Mean Girls, when Lohan’s character Cady Heron starts to have a crush on a boy in her class, she narrates their first interaction, saying, “On October 3rd, he asked me what day it was.” She then turns to him on screen and says, “It’s October 3rd.” The date is now celebrated annually by fans as ‘Mean Girls Day’.

Freakier Friday came out 22 years after the first Freaky Friday starring Lohan and she said she is grateful to be revisiting Anna at a new stage in life. The follow-up sees Lohan return as Anna Coleman, who once again finds herself swapping bodies with her mum Tess (Curtis). This time, the magical mishap also ropes in Anna’s teenage daughter Harper (Julia Butters) and soon-to-be stepsister Lily (Sophia Hammons).

Gavin and Stacey star, Sheridan Smith, has spoken candidly about her ‘meltdown’ in 2016 when she was forced to withdraw from the West End production of Funny Girl after being admitted to hospital

View 3 Images

Award-winning actress, Sheridan Smith, has heartbreakingly admitted she felt “ashamed” after suffering a public breakdown in 2016.

In an interview with The Times, the Gavin and Stacey star, 44, has shared how she had a “meltdown” following two family bereavements. Explaining that she was “double grieving” at the time, Sheridan had just lost her father to cancer after her brother, Julian, died from the disease, aged 18. Reflecting on that harrowing time, Sheridan toldthe publication she didn’t want the world to know what she was going through. She said: “I didn’t ever want it to get out so publicly. You’re embarrassed. I felt ashamed, and I still sometimes feel it, like, ‘Oh, I wish that part of my life hadn’t happened.’”

READ MORE: Fans raise concerns for Andrew Marr after he appears to break down and panic on airREAD MORE: Instagram model’s heartbreaking final post as she shared cryptic message before she was found dead in Thailand

View 3 Images

The mum-of-one is one of the country’s leading talents with a whole host of big name productions under her belt. However, nine years ago, Sheridan was forced to withdraw from Funny Girl in the West End – in which she starred in the leading role – after audience members claimed she was slurring her lines.

In 2016, while starring in the lead role for Funny Girl, Sheridan was drinking heavily and had become addicted to anti-anxiety medication. She was taken to hospital after having a seizure before taking an extended absence from the spotlight as her fans expressed their concern – and the rumour mill started to churn.On the night of the BAFTAs, host, Graham Norton, made a joke aimed at Sheridan’s drinking — “a few glasses of technical difficulties, as it’s known in theatrical circles” – after she missed three of the theatre shows in a row.

View 3 Images

The much-loved star, who is currently starring in Alan Ayckbourn’s Woman In Mind in the West End, got a number of tattoos during her ‘meltdown’ and admitted that she didn’t think she would work again.

Thinking it wouldn’t matter if make-up artists couldn’t cover them up as she was ‘probably not going to work again’, she reveals one of her tattoos says: ‘Daddy’s little girl’, another ‘C’est la vie’ – while a third declares: ‘Peace is my priority’.

Pointing out how perfect Sheridan is for the role of Susan, whose fractured reality is explored in Woman In Mind, director Michael Longhurst says: “She’s sort of translucent in her feeling. I think it’s really brave, but also really profound, because it is a reclaim.

“It’s using those experiences to show how grief or conditions at a certain moment in time create a storm for a period that we need to be good at as a society in catching and helping, not attaching stigma to.”

He also points out that the cast have access to Applause for Thought, a company that provides mental health support for actors and strategies for coping with the pressure of performing eight shows a week.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t available to Sheridan nine years ago.

*If you have been affected by this story, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk

Our Yorkshire Farm’s Amanda Owen, 51, and Clive, 70, split in 2022 after more than two decades of marriage but have remained co-parenting and running their farm together

View 4 Images

Our Yorkshire Farm’s Amanda Owen has had a tough time with her divorce, with friends and family fearing for her wellbeing amid the split. Amanda, 51, and Clive, 70, split in 2022 after increased public scrutiny following their successful Channel 5 documentary that explored life on one of the most remote farms in Britain.

Three years on, Amanda has opened up on the “dark days” she endured following the split after being married for 22 years. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Amanda revealed she battled an eating disorder, as well as anxiety and depression in the months following the breakdown of her marriage.

It was so bad that those close to her feared for her life. Clive recalls it as “the scariest time” and says there were nights when he feared he would not see Amanda the next morning. “I just shut down,” she told the publication. “Physical and mental health are intertwined and anxiety, depression, paranoia, agoraphobia and an eating disorder were all smooshed into one.”

READ MORE: Instagram model’s heartbreaking final post as she shared cryptic message before she was found dead in ThailandREAD MORE: Sharron Davies can’t afford to heat her home after facing financial ruin for her views on trans women in sport

View 4 Images

Her struggles only worsened when cruel trolls began noticing her weight loss and calling her names. While the divorce was rocky, Amanda said there is “no tension” between her and Clive, with the pair remaining close co-parents and owners of the farm.

Clive lives at Ravenseat Farm, while Amanda lives in their holiday rental The Firs that is close by. She added that the divorce took away toxicity in their relationship, allowing their friendship to blossom once again.

She explained: “It’s taken away the sharp edges of two people being together and not getting on. We’re both strong characters, belligerent and pig-headed and there was no one particular problem that needed ironing out. It was a clash of personalities.”

The pair share nine children, with their documentary series showcasing life on the farm raising them. In descending age order, their children are: Raven, 24, Reuben, 22, Miles, 19, Edith, 17, Violet, 15, Sidney, 14, Annas, 12, Clemmy, ten, and nine-year-old Nancy.

View 4 Images

Clive insisted they always put the children first, explaining how their children have grown up to be “independent” and “resourceful”. Their eldest Raven has flown the rural nest and is now working in Newcastle full time.

Reuben has his own heavy plant machinery business, which has spawned a spin-off TV show, Reuben Owen: Life In The Dales. Edith has a part-time job in the pub, while the remaining children are in full time education.

While Amanda dated soon after their split, Clive has now also begun seeing new people. “He’s had three,” she added, discussing how many women he had been with since her.

But for Amanda, there is no man currently in her life as she focuses on her health and wellbeing following a difficult few years. While the pair appeared to have the perfect set up in their show, behind closed doors their relationship was falling apart as fame became overwhelming.

Amanda began securing book deals and TV appearances, leaving Clive feeling left behind. While she once left the house in her wellies and muck-proof clothing, she found herself getting glammed up for major events in the city.

View 4 Images

“I didn’t want Clive to feel emasculated or make him into a house-husband,” she told the Daily Mail. But rows would often ensue, leading to the pair becoming distant.

Amanda said she had struggled with an eating disorder for years prior to her fame, explaining it was amplified after nine pregnancies changed her body. The media intrusion and public scrutiny became too much, and she found herself back and forth to the hospital seeking help.

“I’m out of the woods now”, she said. Despite occasional relapses and intrusive thoughts, Amanda said she feels more able to handle it with the increased awareness and support she has received.

Christmas Tales From The Farm by Amanda Owen, is out now (£14.99, Puffin)

READ MORE: B&M recalls mug due to ‘burn risk’ and urges customers ‘return it immediately’

Natalie Cassidy opened up about her home life and whether she plans to have more children or get married to partner Marc Humphreys.

View 3 Images

Natalie Cassidy has addressed ongoing speculation about whether she plans to have another child, admitting that the questions have followed her for years.

In a new interview with Candis magazine, the EastEnders star revealed that while people often ask if she might have a “late baby,” that isn’t on her agenda for now.

“People keep asking,” said Natalie. “Probably because mum had me late. But I’ve got two healthy girls, and, to be honest, I’m looking forward to when Marc and I can have some time on our own—the honeymoon period we’ve never had.”

Natalie, best known for her role as Sonia Fowler on the BBC soap, is a mother to two daughters. Eliza, 15, is from her relationship with transport manager Adam Cottrell, while her youngest, Joanie, 9, is with her partner Marc Humphreys.

View 3 Images

When asked about family life, Natalie spoke candidly about balancing motherhood with her long-running career in the public eye.

She joked about Eliza’s teenage years: “No, we went through that when she was 12 and 13. Horrendous. But she’s come out the other side. I think she’s quite proud of me now.”

Meanwhile, Joanie isn’t a fan of having a famous mum. “If we’re out and someone recognises me, she gets a bit grumpy. But it’s part of the job. I’ve never understood actors being rude to the public.”

Natalie has been engaged to cameraman Marc Humphreys since 2014 and credits him with helping her feel grounded and happy: “We’re friends and we laugh all the time. When he’s off working, I miss him. We like being together. He’s made me find who I am, the real me.”

View 3 Images

The couple have postponed wedding plans for years, but she says the event will happen “sooner or later.”

“We met ten years ago. In October, when Marc turned 40, it would have been the perfect time,” she said. “But I’ve been too busy with the book. It’ll happen sooner or later. Marc’s the one I want to grow old with.”