Category Entertainment News

Pals Amanda Holden and Alan Carr were called on to front the 2024 Royal Variety Performance

Amanda Holden and Alan Carr have been replaced as hosts of the Royal Variety Performance after just one year at the helm.

Comedian Jason Manford will present this year’s star-studded spectacle at the Royal Albert Hall in front of members of the Royal Family.

Jason said: “The Royal Variety Performance is always such a spectacular night, so I’m genuinely chuffed to be asked back as host. The last time I did it was in 2020 – which, if you remember, was during the pandemic. I had a virtual audience… was like doing a gig in front of a Curry’s window! Nothing says showbiz quite like getting heckled by someone who’s accidentally left their mic on while eating crisps. So I’m very excited to see some actual real-life human faces in the audience this time!”

Pals Amanda and Alan were called on to front the 2024 ceremony, taking over from Bradley Walsh. King Charles was in attendance but Queen Camila was a no-show due to illness.

Alan kicked off the show by joking about Amanda’s choice of dress and her numerous run-ins with Ofcom complainers.

“You look fabulous, just on the right side of an Ofcom complaint,” he told her.

READ MORE: Jason Manford hits out at rumours he quit Waterloo Road with hilarious tweet

He went on: “I feel a great sense of comfort and security sharing a stage with you, well it’s a high profile event and if Just Stop Oil come at the stage, I can use you as my human shield.”

They were joined by Sir Elton John, BGT winner Sydnie Christmas and Brit Award winner James Bay. Eurovision champ Nemo and popstar Sophie Ellis-Bextor were also called upon to perform.

Amanda said she was delighted to be a part of the historic night calling hosting the show “an honour”.

“I’m still pinching myself! This is a dream job and Alan is a true friend, we are already bursting with ideas and excitement, it’s going to be such a fun night!

“I’ve worked on Britain’s Got Talent for 18 years and have been so proud watching all our winners perform for the Royal Family. This year will be no different, so in the words of Sydnie Christmas, let’s av it!”

Ricky Hatton’s family hailed his ‘kindness, humour and loyalty’ in an emotional statement following his death and his ex Claire Sweeney says they remained friends after their split

Ricky Hatton and Claire Sweeney went from being friends to lovers and back to being friends again following a whirlwind eight-month relationship.

Soap star Claire is no doubt coming to terms with the sudden death of her ex-Ricky, who was tragically discovered dead at his home on Sunday morning. They dated last year before things cooled between them just before Christmas – but it is clear they stayed close, with the Coronation Street star cheering on his boxing return just weeks before he died.

Despite knowing each other for many years, it was only after their stint on ITV ‘s Dancing On Ice last year that rumours of a budding romance began to swirl, following a series of pub dates spotted in Manchester. Their first public appearance as a couple came in May 2024, when they graced the red carpet at the grand opening of the £365m Co-op Live Arena in the city they both loved.

READ MORE: Ricky Hatton’s dating history – from Claire Sweeney romance to ‘brutal’ engagementREAD MORE: Ricky Hatton’s final pictures with daughters and granddaughter before his death emerge

Ricky, a former light welterweight champion, met Claire during rehearsals for the ITV reality show and quickly began to win her over. A source told the Mirror at the time: “The chemistry was electric. Ricky went out of the show early on but he contacted her afterwards and let’s say he started wooing her. They’ve been out on several dates.”

They added: “They’ve been seeing each other quite a bit. He is completely besotted. It seems like an unlikely match but he’s always had a way with women. They fall for his personality, and Claire has. He knows her number one priority is her son so they are being very careful. Let’s watch this space.”

However, in the New Year reports emerged suggesting Ricky and Claire had parted ways. The split occurred prior to Christmas and when questioned about the separation a red carpet event earlier this year, Claire informed MailOnline: “I’m great – we’re still friends, we were friends, we dated and now we’re friends again. It’s all good!”.

But the former couple maintained their public backing for each other. Prior to Ricky’s devastating passing, it had been revealed that he was scheduled to take on UAE fighter Eisa Al Dah at middleweight in December in Dubai.

The Stockport-born boxer was meant to travel out for a press conference to publicise the match, but was forced to stay at home following an eye injury he suffered during an Oasis reunion gig in Cardiff.

Although he couldn’t be there physically, he joined via video link, stating: “I’m very much looking forward to it myself, to be honest with you. What you’re trying to do there for boxing in Dubai is fantastic.”

At the time, showing her backing, his ex-partner Claire posted a video of the announcement on Instagram, writing alongside it: “This is brilliant.”

Ricky, who was one of British sport’s most popular athletes during his prime, was crowned world champion when he stunned Kosta Tszyu on what was a defining night in 2005. He went on to be involved in two of the biggest fights involving British fighters when he took on Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed a body had been found at Hatton’s address and that the death was not being treated as suspicious. A spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we have found a body at an address on Bowlacre Road in Gee Cross at 6.45am today, Sunday, September 14. The death is not being treated as suspicious.”

Ricky grew up on a council estate in Hyde in Manchester and after having trials for Rochdale football club, he joined a boxing club in order to defend himself from bullies at school. After a short amateur career, he made his professional debut in a leisure centre in 19897, a far cry from the dazzling lights that would follow.

The Duke of Sussex has offered a closer glimpse inside his relationship with Meghan Markle in a telling interview, noting what he ‘always falls back on’ thanks to his wife

Prince Harry has spoken about his wife, Meghan Markle’s pivotal role and her “efficient way to live” he “always falls back on”.

The Duke, who is celebrating his 41st birthday today, visited the UK last week and met with his father, King Charles, for the first time in 19 months. The private meeting is said to have lasted around 50 minutes and hinted at a suspected reconciliation between the father and son.

Afterwards, Harry went on to visit Kyiv, Ukraine, to champion the work of his Invictus Games Foundation (IGF), and to honour the recovery and rehabilitation of the thousands of veterans there who have endured life-altering injuries since the conflict with Russia commenced three years ago.

READ MORE: Prince Harry teases dark family secrets after painful discovery that ‘really hurt’READ MORE: Prince Harry takes thinly-veiled swipe at Prince William in explosive chat

During his trip, he had a telling interview with The Guardian, where he divulged a closer insight into his relationship with Meghan. While he only mentioned his wife by name once, Harry recalled how she told him that telling the truth “is the most efficient way to live”.

He said: “She said ‘just stick to the truth’. It is the thing I always fall back on. Always.

“And if you think like that, who would be stupid enough to lie? It takes up too much time and effort.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Harry reflected on his explosive memoir, Spare and Netflix programmes. He maintained that these were attempts by him and Meghan to correct a “one point of view”.

He told the publication: “I don’t believe that I aired my dirty laundry in public. It was a difficult message, but I did it in the best way possible. My conscience is clear.

“I know that [speaking out] annoys some people and it goes against the narrative. The book? It was a series of corrections to stories already out there. One point of view had been put out and it needed to be corrected.”

In addition, Harry declined to discuss his father in the interview but dropped a mysterious hint about the King’s health. He revealed that in the year ahead, “The focus really has to be on my dad.”

The remark implies that Harry is eager to spend more time with his father, which appears to reference the King’s condition. But this isn’t the first occasion he’s made such a statement.

Jamie Oliver’s new cookbook, Eat Yourself Healthy, is paired with a Channel 4 TV show of the same name

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has unveiled a fresh cookbook designed to show that proper nutrition doesn’t have to be complicated or unattainable. The latest publication, Eat Yourself Healthy, comes alongside a Channel 4 programme bearing the identical name, and highlights how we can all seize greater control over our personal wellbeing.

“So many of us have good intentions to eat healthier, but time and time again, convenience always rules and it’s never been easier to just order a takeaway,” Jamie said. “And it’s totally understandable when so many of us have never been taught to cook at home or at school, so at large, people have lost their confidence – and life is busy! But convenience only wins if you don’t know how to cook.”

The 50-year-old culinary star has crafted 120 vibrant recipes within Eat Yourself Healthy. Below, we’ve included three of these dishes to help kickstart your journey.

Chopped rainbow salad

Scrumptious on its own, or served alongside couscous or a piping hot jacket potato.

Ingredients:

(Serves one)

Total time: 11 minutes. Ten of your seven-a-day.

• One lime
• 80g each pomegranate seeds, yellow pepper, ripe tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, tinned chickpeas, radishes, ripe avocado, little gem lettuce
• Half a bunch of mint (15g)
• 30g dried mango
• Extra virgin olive oil

Method:

1. Leave the chickpeas and pomegranate seeds whole, but trim, peel, or de-seed the other vegetables and fruits, and finely chop them, along with the dried mango and mint leaves. Then, dress with the lime juice and one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil.
2. Season to taste with sea salt and black pepper, then serve.

• Sugars: 45.6g
• Sat: Fat 4.4g
• Protein: 12.2g
• Carbs: 66.6g
• Fat: 26.2g
• Fibre: 11.8g
• Energy: 539kcal
• Salt: 1.2g

READ MORE: What ‘1257L’ means on your payslip and how to know if HMRC owes you a refund

Easy prawn curry

Prawns cook up quickly, making them ideal for this speedy, fragrant curry.

Ingredients:

(Serves two)

Total time: 10 minutes. Four of your seven-a-day.

• 250g ripe cherry tomatoes
• 165g raw peeled king prawns, from sustainable sources
• One x 250g packet of cooked wholegrain basmati rice
• 250g frozen mango
• One x 400g tin of chickpeas
• Olive oil
• One onion (160g)
• Two tablespoons of your favourite curry paste
• 30g Bombay mix
• One x 50g sachet of creamed coconut
• One bunch of coriander (30g)

Method:

1. Place a large non-stick frying pan on high heat. Peel and very thinly slice the onion, then add it to the pan to dry fry with the tomatoes, tossing regularly for four minutes. Meanwhile, put the creamed coconut in a blender with half the chickpeas and their juice, half the coriander leaves and all the stalks, along with a splash of water. Add half of the onions and tomatoes from the pan to the blender and blend until smooth to make a sauce.

2. Mix the curry paste and half a tablespoon of olive oil into the pan, followed a minute later by the frozen mango and remaining chickpeas, then the sauce. Toss over a medium heat for two minutes, then add the prawns and let it bubble away until the prawns are just cooked, loosening with splashes of water, if needed. Season to perfection.

3. Cook the rice following the packet instructions, then divide it between the plates. Chop and stir most of the remaining coriander leaves into the curry, spoon it over the rice, then scatter the last few coriander leaves on top. Crush and crumble over the Bombay mix for extra crunch to finish.

• Fibre: 14.4g
• Protein: 30.9g
• Energy: 600kcal
• Carbs: 79.5g
• Sat fat: 6g
• Sugars: 27.7g
• Fat: 17.8g
• Salt: 1.2g

READ MORE: Love Island’s Dr Alex George given ‘life-changing’ diagnosis after years of struggle

Golden cheese and jammy berries

In the Mediterranean, fried cheese is often paired with fresh or jammy fruits – a delightful combination.

Ingredients:

(Serves two)

Total time: 12 minutes. Two of your seven-a-day.

• One teaspoon of balsamic vinegar
• 320g mixed berries, such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries
• Two sprigs of basil
• 80g halloumi or paneer cheese
• Olive oil
• One teaspoon of runny honey
• Two slices of wholemeal sourdough bread

Method:

1. Place a non-stick frying pan on medium heat with one tablespoon of olive oil. Slice and add the cheese. Cook until golden on both sides, then remove.
2. Hull and halve any strawberries, then place all the berries in the pan. Cook for three minutes, or until soft, stirring gently now and then. Drizzle the balsamic over, add most of the basil leaves, and stir gently just until they are wilted.
3. Toast the bread, divide it among your plates, then top with the jammy fruit. Choose the best remaining basil leaves, add the golden cheese, drizzle with the honey, and dig in.

• Fibre: 3g
• Sat fat: 6g
• Fat: 15.1g
• Sugars: 20.9g
• Protein: 11.7g
• Salt: 0.8g
• Energy: 330kcal
• Carbs: 37.1g

Prue Leith’s son Danny Kruger has defected to Reform UK, the first sitting Conservative MP to do so. The East Wiltshire MP’s defection was unveiled at a press conference in Mayfair on Monday, where Nigel Farage said Mr Kruger would head up Reform’s efforts to prepare for Government.

Describing his move as “personally painful”, Mr Kruger condemned the Tory party as “over”.

Kruger’s famous mum – The Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith – has previously been very vocal about their own clashes over opposing political views.

Prue said she often disagrees with her son and has even come under fire herself over his divisive opinions. Throughout his political career, Kruger has been outspoken about his views on subjects including assisted death, women’s right to bodily autonomy and the role of marriage in society.

At the 2023 National Conservatism conference, he stated that marriage between men and women was “the only basis for a safe and successful society”.

When asked whether she got attacked for her son’s beliefs, Prue said: “All the time. Especially on evil Twitter. ‘How could you raise such a monster?’ He’s a Tory for goodness’ sake. Half the country are Tories – actually, not any more I don’t imagine,” she added.

The TV chef and son Danny confronted their different views on assisted dying during the filming of the Channel 4 programme, Prue and Danny’s Death Road Trip.

In the documentary, the mother and son visited Oregon, on the US West Coast, where doctor-assisted suicide is legal.

Prue, who is in favour of assisted dying, accused her son of scaremongering on the topic. Prue has been a long-time campaigner for legalising the service in the UK for the terminally ill, after her brother died “in agony” of bone cancer in 2012.

Kruger hit back at his mum saying she was the one who was “scaremongering” by saying people are “facing a terrible, agonising death”. “They’re not,” he argued. “We do not have to have terrible, agonising death.”

The pair visited a doctor who helps people undergo assisted dying, and Prue told the camera: “I’m feeling a bit sorry for Daniel because, frankly, Stephanie made such a good case that I think he should change his mind.”

Asked if she thought he will, Prue aid: “No, he won’t. I’m sure he won’t. I think fundamentally, Daniel thinks it’s wrong. And I think he so believes in the ‘sanctity of human life’, if you like, and it’s a genuine belief… But I’m not asking him to do it, I’m just asking him to let me do it.”

In a conversation with her son, Prue asked him: “You don’t think that behind your personal and your faith’s objection is the belief that suffering is part of life, Jesus suffered on the cross, suffering is good for the soul?”

He responded: “I think suffering is a part of life, but I don’t think we should suffer unnecessarily. Certainly, we should be putting all our efforts into stopping suffering at the end of life.”

Today Kruger appeared alongside Nigel Farage as he announced he had moved to Reform UK. He said: “We have had a year of stasis and drift and the sham unity that comes from not doing anything bold or difficult or controversial and the result is in the polls.

“And those voters aren’t coming back, and every day, more and more people are joining them in deserting the party that has failed.”

Turning to his new job, Mr Kruger said: “Our mission is not just to overthrow the current system, it is to restore the system we need.”