Category Entertainment News

Sean Maguire has shared his heartbreak after his cousin Jack Ryan passed away, just months after the former EastEnders actor lost his brother Darren

View 4 Images

EastEnders star and pop sensation Sean Maguire has opened up about his double tragedy following a second family loss within months.

The 49-year-old actor, who disclosed in June the sad news of his brother’s passing, is now grappling with another heartbreaking blow to his family. Sean, currently residing in LA, announced the tragic news that his cousin Jack Ryan has passed away.

The distraught star expressed his grief in a poignant Instagram post. Sean, who shot to fame in the late 80s on Grange Hill, posted a photo of his dearly departed cousin. He revealed that Jack sadly passed away on December 7, with the funeral taking place yesterday.

Alongside the photo, Sean penned: “It completely breaks my heart to share this news. But today we say goodbye to my young cousin Jack Ryan. So kind, so talented, so handsome and far, far too young.

View 4 Images

“Catherine & Shane, we love you so much, and we’ll all do our best to help you through this incredibly difficult chapter. He was such a credit to your & our family. Our loss is heaven’s gain. Rest in peace, cousin.”

The latest sorrow follows the passing of Sean’s brother in June. At the time, the star penned: “I’ve struggled to find the words or even choose the pictures for this. Because it means that it’s real but for those who don’t already know our beloved brother Darren Maguire passed away on Saturday, 11th January.

“He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family. He was a truly remarkable man, friend, son, brother, and father. He was so loved by everyone that knew him. I’m still in so much shock.

“I can barely form a sentence, but I know the world has lost one of its most beloved people and I have lost my best friend. We love you Darren and we’ll never stop loving you. Now go make them laugh and dance in heaven.

View 4 Images

View 4 Images

Sean first graced our screens in 1999 in the children’s show, Grange Hill. Following this, he made his way to Albert Square to portray troubled teen Aidan Brosnan. Joining the soap as a 17 year old in 1993, Sean tackled hard-hitting storylines centred around homelessness and drug abuse.

After leaving EastEnders, Sean transitioned into pop music, chalking up eight top 30 hits including Good Day which peaked at number 12 in the UK. In 2012, he joined the cast of Scott & Bailey. In 2000, Sean traded the British drizzle for sunny California and became a US citizen just in time to cast his vote in the presidential election.

His career has flourished across the pond. He played the lead role in the 300 parody Meet The Spartans, starred alongside Kevin Hart in the fantasy comedy Krod Mandoon, and took over the part of Robin Hood in ABC’s Once Upon A Time. Besides his acting career, he also mentors budding actors through his venture, The Players Conservatory.”

It was reported in 2022 that Sean ‘begged’ BBC bosses not to kill off his beloved character by suicide. Sean recalled the time he pleaded with EastEnders bosses not to kill Aidan off during an explosive Christmas Day episode. Scriptwriters had planned to write the actor out of the show by making his character take his own life in tragic scenes.

Lifting the lid on his character’s fate, Sean appeared on Celebrity Catch Up podcast, where he admitted that he felt it was ‘completely wrong’ for Aidan to be killed off in such a triggering manner.

The former soap star explained: “I got quite a lot of letters from young people, especially young people that were having a tough time, and when they told me the character was going to commit suicide, I said to them, ‘Please don’t.

“‘I’m happy to leave in any fashion you want, but please don’t have him commit suicide’. Because inevitably there are suicides around Christmas – sadly sometimes they’re young people and I know that the tabloids will say it’s a copycat death and they copied me or something, that’s possible – and I couldn’t deal with that.

“My conscience couldn’t deal with that. That would break me if I felt in any way responsible for something like that.” Unfortunately, Sean’s pleas fell on deaf ears as BBC bosses insisted the suicide was the only way his character was going to die.

Victoria Beckham could be the first in her family to earn a damehood, just months after her husband, David, was honoured with a knighthood – in a ceremony that went unacknowledged by Brooklyn

View 5 Images

Victoria Beckham has been tipped to follow her husband on the New Year’s honours list. Posh Spice is one of the favourites to be honoured with a damehood at the end of the year.

The King’s New Year honours list is usually released in the final days of December, and several people will be honoured with damehoods and knighthoods. Recent odds have predicted that Victoria, who was previously awarded an OBE, will be among those people, given renewed interest in her and her family following the release of her Netflix documentary and David Beckham’s knighthood.

At the beginning of November, David was awarded his knighthood in a ceremony at Windsor Castle. Victoria, along with his parents, attended the ceremony, as did all of the Beckhams’ children – bar their eldest, Brooklyn.

READ MORE: David Beckham sends emotional message to son Brooklyn amid family feudREAD MORE: David and Victoria Beckham’s masterplan to deal with ‘ghost of Brooklyn’ by Christmas

View 5 Images

View 5 Images

Brooklyn also snubbed the announcement of David’s knighthood in June and his 50th birthday in May. For much of this year, Brooklyn and his wife, Nicola Peltz, have been in a feud with his parents and siblings.

However, in the run-up to Christmas, Victoria and David appear to be sending olive branches out to Brooklyn. The former Spice Girl, who would be the first in the group to receive a damehood should she be on the honours list, recently posted a picture from her mother’s house, where decorations dedicated to Brooklyn were out, along with all the other grandchildren.

A source told The Sun that the famous couple were trying to show their son “how missed” he is and were using the decorations to show that Brooklyn “does have a family that loves him”.

View 5 Images

View 5 Images

Cruz Beckham also appeared to be reaching out to his brother. The singer posted two Instagram stories where he seemed to show a desire to see his brother again. In one, he shared a picture of him, Brooklyn and their father, where he wrote “Love you guys” over the top. He also shared a cryptic post, saying: “Life is too short, at least talk it out.”

But a source told The Mail that while Brooklyn and Nicola are open to mending the rift with Victoria and David, they require a “public apology” from the pair before considering it.

“There is an obvious first step,” the source said. “Which would be a public acknowledgement [by David and Victoria] of what they did, and an apology. It cannot be a performative thing. There is no realistic chance of a reconciliation without that happening first.”

Alongside Victoria, Rory McIlroy has been tipped by AceOdds for a Knighthood. Lionesses Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton were also favourites for awards, as were darts stars Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, whose odds are set to climb should they perform well at the World Darts Championship.

The Only Way Is Essex star Sophie Kasaei has given a candid update into her pregnancy with Jordan Brooks, and fans think they know what she’s having because of one key symptom

View 5 Images

Sophie Kasaei has left fans convinced they know the gender of her unborn baby after she opened up about her first-trimester pregnancy symptoms. The Geordie Shore-turned-The Only Way Is Essex star and her partner Jordan Brook are currently expecting their first child together after a difficult two-year IVF journey.

The 34-year-old reality star and Jordan announced the happy news on Sunday (December 7), describing it as “the most magical gift” in an emotional video on Instagram, which also involved their beloved pet dog Bella. The montage of clips included footage of them looking at their positive pregnancy test before unwrapping a “Baby Brook Coming 2026” blanket gift-wrapped in Christmas paper.

READ MORE: Which? expert says common cleaning product is ‘not allowed’ in her house

View 5 Images

View 5 Images

In a new video posted to her TikTok this week, which she filmed when she was six weeks pregnant, Newcastle-born Sophie discussed some of her early symptoms – leaving many fans convinced they now know the gender.

After explaining that she was still very early in the pregnancy and was “so grateful”, Sophie told her 680,000 followers, “My symptoms are so bad right now. My skin… you can see the breakout. I can’t eat, I look in the fridge… I just want beige,” adding that she was craving “chips and curry sauce” from the chippy.

“I feel so nauseous. But, obviously, I’m just so over the moon that this is happening, so all the symptoms are just such a blessing to us right now. But it’s hard and I am struggling because nobody ever talks about this bit. And nobody ever speaks about this bit, because everything is kept so secretive until obviously about 12 weeks. My life right now is just sitting on the sofa trying to not vomit, thinking about what I can eat but not hungry.”

She also said she was struggling to sleep at night and experiencing intense thirst, and as a result was “going to the toilet for a wee every second”.

View 5 Images

View 5 Images

Writing in the comments, one fan said: “Deffo having a little girl! Feel like nausea is always worse with girls!”, and another added, “I was so sick with my daughter I really went off food like meat. My go to was coco pops. I think your having a little girl.”

Although not everyone voted pink, with many others adding comments such as “Mine was worth with boys”, and “Mine worse with boys and I loved chippys and curry/gravy.”

Speaking exclusively to The Mirror at the summer’s National Television Awards, Sophie and Jordan, who started dating in November 2022, spoke about how badly they wanted to start a family after going through their difficult fertility journey.

“This Christmas is all about family and we’re actually going to be spending it abroad for the first time in a long time,” Jordan told us, before Sophie added “Our dream is just to wake up on Christmas Day and just have a little bump. That is all I really, really want in life. So I’m praying it happens this year. And it will, it will.”

Nemo became the first non-binary performer to win the Eurovision Song Contest last year, but has now said they are returning their trophy in protest over Israel’s continued participation in the event

View 3 Images

Last year’s Eurovision Song Contest champion, Nemo, has announced they are handing back their trophy in protest at Israel’s ongoing participation in the competition.

The 26-year-old Swiss performer claimed there was a “clear conflict” between Israel’s involvement and the contest’s proclaimed values of “unity, inclusion and dignity”. Eurovision Song Contest director Martin Green expressed that the organisation was “saddened” by Nemo’s choice whilst acknowledging their right to hold such views.

Israel’s participation in Eurovision has become an increasingly contentious issue due to the Gaza conflict and voting disputes that emerged during this year’s competition. Five nations – Iceland, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands – have declared they will shun next year’s contest in response to Israel being permitted to take part.

View 3 Images

Israel has previously hailed the decision to retain its place in the competition as a “victory” against detractors who sought to silence the country and promote animosity. Nemo made history as the first non-binary artist to claim the Eurovision crown with their track The Code, which chronicles their journey to understanding their non-binary identity.

Following their triumph, Nemo spoke to the BBC about the difficulties they encountered during the contest and their belief that organisers had fallen short in supporting contestants embroiled in the controversy surrounding Israel’s 2024 inclusion.

“I felt very alone. I really hope they have things in place for the next year,” Nemo remarked at the time, leading to the introduction of several new safeguarding measures to protect participants’ mental well-being. The well-being of Eurovision’s artists and staff has been called into question.

In a statement shared on Instagram, Nemo expressed their disappointment with the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) decision to allow Israel to participate in the event, stating it contradicts its core values.

“Israel’s continued participation, during what the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry has concluded to be a genocide, shows a clear conflict between those ideals and the decision made by the EBU,” they said, referencing a report released in September.

“Even though I am immensely grateful for the community around this contest and everything this experience has taught me both as a person and artist, today I no longer feel this trophy belongs on my shelf.”

Nemo also shared a video of them packing the trophy into a cardboard box, ready to be returned to the EBU’s headquarters in Geneva.

Responding to Nemo’s actions, Martin Green told BBC News: “We’re saddened that Nemo wishes to return their trophy which they deservedly won in 2024. We respect the deeply held views Nemo has expressed and they will always remain a valued part of the Eurovision family”.

View 3 Images

The controversy surrounding Israel’s inclusion has sparked the biggest crisis Eurovision has ever faced. This year’s competition was further marred by voting controversies and allegations that Israel’s government attempted to sway the public vote.

This led to some competition rules being revised and tightened, after which a “large majority” of members agreed there was no. The EBU has confirmed that there is no need for a further vote on participation and that Eurovision 2026 can go ahead as planned.

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has lauded the decision to let the country compete, describing it as an “appreciated gesture of solidarity, brotherhood, and co-operation”.

Addressing the boycotts, Nemo clarified that their decision to return the trophy was not about “individuals or artists”, but rather what they perceived as the use of Eurovision to “soften the image of a state accused of severe wrongdoing”.

“When entire countries withdraw, it should be clear that something is deeply wrong,” they added. “If the values we celebrate on stage aren’t lived off stage, then even the most beautiful songs become meaningless.”

Matt Wright, star of Outback Wrangler and Wild Croc Territory will serve time behind bars after being found guilty of tampering with evidence following a fatal helicopter crash

View 3 Images

A Netflix star dubbed the ‘real life Crocodile Dundee’ has been jailed for 10 months for tampering with evidence after a helicopter crash in Australia that killed his co-star and left the pilot paraplegic.

Outback Wrangler and Wild Croc Territory host Matt Wright – whose shows have been shown on both Netflix and Amazon Prime – was found guilty of lying to the police about the amount of fuel in the helicopter when it plummeted to the ground in a remote part of Darwin in February 2022.

He was also convicted of trying to pressure a witness and asked pilot Sebastian Robinson, who survived but now has life-changing injuries, to falsify flying hours.

Prosecutors argued this was because Wright was worried investigators would find out that he regularly changed the official flying hours of a chopper to avoid costly maintenance.

View 3 Images

The jury could not agree on a verdict for a third charge that alleged 46-year-old Wright asked someone to “torch” the helicopter’s maintenance record after the crash, which cost his fellow presenter Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson his life.

Multi-millionaire Wright was not in the helicopter at the time it crashed but was one of the first on the scene. The court case does not relate to the cause of the crash, the death of Mr Wilson or Mr Robinson’s injuries, only the tampering with evidence.

The maximum sentence for the charges he faced was up to 15 years behind bars. But Justice Alan Blow handed Wright a 10-month prison term, which will be suspended once he has served half of it. So effectively, he will only be in prison for five months.

Justice Blow said Wright had “shown no remorse” but was “very unlikely to reoffend in any significant way in the future.” He was also fined £2,500 by the Supreme Court in Darwin.

View 3 Images

It is thought that Wright’s legal team may try to appeal the guilty verdicts and sentence. Deceased Mr Wilson was just 34 when he died and left behind wife Danielle and their two sons. His devastated wife said her boys would soon spend their fourth Father’s Day without their father, adding: “Once again there will be an empty seat at the table, a constant reminder of all that has been taken from us.”

Injured Mr Robinson’s brother Zac Chellingworth read out a statement on his behalf saying the verdicts had brought some closure for the family, adding: “But the scars of the defendant’s conduct are huge and permanent.”

He said the trauma for his family had been relentless as he learned to live in a wheelchair with his recovery made worse by the trial, the defendant’s cover-up and failure to tell the truth.

Mr Robinson shared: “I also faced a malicious and sustained campaign of lies aimed at destroying my reputation and that of my family. The jury saw the truth.”

Ms Wilson is now reported to be pursuing a civil case against Wright and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority over the crash that killed her husband.

READ MORE: Ted Baker necklace that’s an affordable alternative to Kate Middleton’s pearl jewellery is on sale

The comedian, 59, explained how he ended up in such a state in broad daylight on Hollywood Boulevard as his worried friends rushed to his side to try and revive him

View 4 Images

Earlier this week, in truly shocking scenes, famous comedian Andy Dick was spotted collapsed on a Hollywood pavement following an apparent drug overdose.

Jarring footage showed the star, 59, slumped over and seated on steps outside his building in broad daylight on December 9. Dick, wearing checked pyjama trousers and black Crocs, was seen with his glasses lying on the ground before him alongside a yellow can of drink.

Andy’s friends rushed to his aid in an attempt to rouse him, shouting “wake up!” One of his concerned friends then says he’s going to “call an ambulance.” While one witness said Andy was given Narcan on the scene, a nasal spray often used to counteract opioid overdoses.

The clip, shared on TMZ, was followed by another video showing Dick being interviewed the day after his ordeal, along with his two friends. In it, he explained how he met a “depressed” guy a similar age to him who was sat down on the pavement.

View 4 Images

After sitting with the stranger, Dick said: “He whipped out some crack and I’m like, you know what, I might need a little bit of that. I wanted to see what he was doing, and also, I don’t mind doing a little bit of crack every now and then.”

One of his friends clarified that he had been livestreaming that day when the incident unfolded and wanted to keep on filming so it “was on record because that doesn’t usually happen”. Dick, dressed in black suit and tie, then refused the suggestion of going into rehab.

Drug struggles

View 4 Images

Dick has been candid about his battle with addiction. Despite his words this week, in 2016 he revealed he had sought rehab more than 20 times for his drug dependency. He told Vice: “I would always say that I didn’t have a problem with drugs and alcohol. But I would drink when I was happy, when I was sad, when I was anxious.

“Without drugs or alcohol, I was depressed, frustrated, angry. Honestly, it just stopped being fun when I was crawling around on the floor to find the phone, not able to dial because both my hands were shaking.

“When I would get ahold of one of the recovery centres, they would hang up when they found out it was me. No one wanted to help me because I was unhelpable. Why would they bring me in just to have me die in their bed?”

Groping allegations

Back in 2019, he was required to sign the sex offenders register after inappropriately touching an Uber driver in the genitals. Dick entered a not guilty plea but was found guilty and spent 90 days banged up.

Along with registering as a sex offender, he was ordered to compensate the victim financially and attend mental health counselling, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Sexual Compulsives Anonymous. Then in 2021, he was arrested for felony assault with a deadly weapon and walked free from jail the following day after posting bail.

He was arrested on two occasions in 2022, first for felony sexual battery and then for felony burglary. Last April, he raised alarm bells in Los Angeles after a witness claimed the actor “was sitting and talking to himself” and “seemed incoherent.”

While January 2023, he was nicked in Lake Elsinore, California after allegedly causing a scene at a local bar. He was booked into the county jail for alleged public intoxication and failing to register as a sex offender, which he was required to do due to his earlier groping conviction.

Jon Lovitz feud

View 4 Images

The comedian also has a long-running feud with fellow comic and actor Jon Lovitz. Once castmates on the hit sitcom ‘NewsRadio’, their friendship soured after the death of performer Phil Hartman in 1998.

Lovitz was close to Phil and has long been frustrated with Dick’s role in events leading up to the tragedy. According to long-established reports, Lovitz believed Dick gave Phil’s wife cocaine at a Christmas party in 1997, leading to a relapse after she had been sober for years.

In 1998, she fatally shot her husband while he slept following an argument between the pair. Soon after she shot and killed herself, leaving their two young children without any parents.

Tensions between Dick and Jon first exploded publicly years later when, in early 2007, the former allegedly confronted Lovitz at a Los Angeles restaurant, saying he had put a “Phil Hartman hex” on him and that he would be the “next to die.”

Lovitz was left stunned by the remark. The simmering resentment finally boiled over on July 10, 2007, at Hollywood’s Laugh Factory comedy club when he demanded an apology for the hex comment.