Category Entertainment News

Aldi’s festive puff pastry slices contain seasoned turkey, stuffing, bacon, and cranberry sauce, encased in puff pastry and topped with beetroot red parsley breadcrumb

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Christmas brings joy for countless reasons – the chance to gather with loved ones, exchanging gifts, and naturally, the delicious food on offer. Every supermarket throughout the UK launches its own selection of seasonal delights in the run-up to the festive period, making it tricky to decide which treats deserve a spot on your plate.

A TikTok creator known as the Grumpy Northern Foodie has built quite the reputation for his straightforward recipes and honest food reviews from shops nationwide, amassing 351,000 followers on the platform. His website describes him as: “A dad of three and a home cook, creating simple and sometimes quirky recipes that your whole family can enjoy.”

The foodie recently put one of this season’s offerings to the test – Aldi’s festive puff pastry slices.

Sold under the discount retailer’s Crestwood label, these parcels contain seasoned turkey, sage and onion stuffing, cooked smoked bacon with added water, and cranberry sauce, encased in puff pastry and topped with beetroot red parsley breadcrumb.

They are priced at £1.69 for two, reports the Express. In his video caption, the father-of-three wrote: “Gotta love an Aldi dupe, but as we know they’re not always up to scratch, let’s see how this one does.”

He kicked off the clip by displaying the product, commenting: “They are Aldi Crestwood, not always the best, but we are going to give them a try.”

After listing the ingredients and baking them, he slices one in half and takes a bite. Savouring the flavours, he comments: “Tasting the sage in there, tasting the turkey, not so much cranberry, not getting much cranberry and bacon in there, but it does taste festive.

“It’s a quite decent amount of filling in there, nice and creamy. Yeah, pretty surprised with this one. Actually not that bad. £1.69 for two as well, nice little easy lunch. I do like ’em.”

He concludes his video by awarding the slices a respectable seven out of 10.

TikTok users were quick to share their thoughts in the comments. One remarked: “They look nice.”

Another penned: “Nice will look for them when I’m next in Aldi.”

And another user enthused: “Wow – these look good.”

However, not everyone was as impressed. One critic questioned: “Why put cranberry on everything, it’s not a British thing.”

Sir David Jason has insisted ‘the love for Only Fools has never faded’ after reuniting with cast members from the beloved sitcom for a new documentary series

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Only Fools and Horses stars David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst amassed millions of fans around the world playing brothers Del and Rodney Trotter.

The award-winning actors will forever be famed for their portrayal of the hapless, but loveable Trotter brothers from Peckham. And now fans can revisit all their capers in a new documentary series, to mark the show’s 45th anniversary.

It’s been reported that David is trying to get Nicholas onboard for Only Fools And Horses: The Lost Archive – which will air behind-the-scenes footage, -after insisting his love for the show – and its cast – “never faded”. It’s been a rocky road for the Trotter brothers stars, following feud rumours, family tragedy and the Touch of Frost icon sadly admitting that he and Nicholas ‘don’t see much of each other…’ these days, in a huge blow to fans of the beloved sitcom.

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‘Don’t see much of each other’

In 2017, Goodnight Sweetheart star, Nicholas, insisted he and David always ‘had each other’s back’ as he told Red Carpet News of his co-star “We had a very similar work ethic and ethos – that we wanted to do our best as quickly as possible. You didn’t have very long to record an episode […] We didn’t have much time to rehearse it so we had to have each other’s back.”

David, however, has been much more upfront about the reality of their relationship. Claiming the Rodney Trotter star was ‘much more self-contained’, he told the Mirror in 2022: “He’s much more, how can I say, self-contained, perhaps, than he used to be. So, unfortunately, we don’t see each other as much as I’d like to. But that’s how things work out sometimes.”

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Feud rumours

In his memoir, My Life, David addresses rumours of a ‘feud’ between the actors, which he suspects originated from an anecdote he once recounted.

He revealed that the so-called dispute between the Trotter brother star was actually a staged altercation aimed at amusing the pair during a lull in filming, which took the production team by surprise.

This prank reportedly later became misinterpreted by some as evidence of a genuine conflict. David directly addressed the mix-up, stating: “With Nick, I feel slightly to blame for some of this fake ‘feud’ news, because what’s often used as supporting evidence in these stories is a tale I told in an earlier volume of these memoirs, about Nick and me having an enormous fight during a location shoot for Only Fools.”

Insisting it was a “play fight”, he concluded: “It was a play fight, a wind-up, a practical joke we played on the rest of the cast and crew.”

Family tragedy

After the heartbreaking loss of his son, Archie, at just 20 years old, it was reported that David had been a pillar of support for Nicholas and his wife, Lucy.

An source told The Sun at the time: “He’s [David] been in regular touch [with Nicholas] ever since and like everyone else who cares for Nick and his family is just trying to provide whatever support he can.”

It was widely known that Nicholas had chosen to live quietly after the unexpected death of his 20 year old son Archie in 2020. The young man died after a brain haemorrhage brought on by acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Representing the heartbroken parents, Nicholas said in a statement at the time: “Lucy and I are utterly grief stricken and respectfully request privacy.”

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‘Genuinely good friends’

During a Channel 5 documentary, which celebrated the success of Only Fools and Horses over the festive period. David heaped praise on his former co-star.

Insisting the pair were ‘genuinely good friends’, he said: “You couldn’t have had a better co-partner than Nick. We liked and respected each other so much, we were genuinely good friends. You couldn’t have had a better co-partner than Nick.”

* Two-part series Only Fools and Horses: The Lost Archive will be airing on U&GOLD in 2026.

A iconic county singer has died months after announcing his crippling heath struggles.

Joe Ely, who toured with both The Clash and The Rolling Stones whilst being at the forefront of the 1970s progressive country music movement, has died at the age of 78, it has been announced. His family released a statement revealing the pioneer had passed away with his loved ones by his side.

“Legendary songwriter, singer, and raconteur Joe Ely died today from complications of Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s and pneumonia,” it read. “His beloved wife Sharon and daughter Marie were at his side at their home in Taos, New Mexico. Ely was born February 9, 1947, in Amarillo, Texas.

“He was a leader of the extraordinary parade of artists raised in Lubbock who later settled in the live music capital of Austin. Ely signed with MCA Records in the 1970s and spent more than five decades recording and performing around the world. A full obituary and more information will follow in the coming days.”

The musician died with his wife and manager, Sharon, and daughter, Marie, at this side. He had only announced his Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia diagnosis in September this year.

Alongside his work with greats the Stones and the Clash, he also performed with Bruce Springsteen, Uncle Tupelo, Los Super Seven, The Chieftains, James McMurtry, Lyle Lovett, and Guy Clark.

His heartbroken fans raced to social media to remember Joe and pay their respects. One wrote: “When I was deep in the Texas music scene in the 80s and early 90s, Joe Ely’s influence on everyone was just a given. The music he inspired is immeasurable. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones.”

Another posted on X: “”Rest in peace and light with the angels Joe. Condolences to his family and all those whom loved him. It was such a privilege seeing him play in Australia with The Flatlanders at a small intimate show in Melbourne. He was everything I thought he’d be, a gentleman, an incredible storyteller and musician. Thank you for the music.”

As the tributes flooded in, a third fan said: “He was such an amazing singer and songwriter. I loved his music and had the pleasure of watching him perform many times. I’m sending much love to Sharon and Marie…I’ll miss you Joe, and I like to think that you are up there with Joe Strummer and all of your musician friends in Heaven. Rest In Peace Sweet Joe. You were so special.”

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A-lister Angelina Jolie has opened up courageously about why she has finally decided to go public with the scars from her double mastectomy, which she had over ten years ago

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Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie has opened up courageously about why she has finally decided to bare the scars of her mastectomy 15 years after the life-saving operation.

The actress, 50, had a preventative double mastectomy in early 2013 – but has only now decided to publicly reveal her scars, in a powerful new interview.. She said, “I share these scars with many women I love. And I’m always moved when I see other women share theirs.

“I wanted to join them, knowing that TIME France would be sharing information about breast health, prevention, and knowledge about breast cancer.”

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The cover star poses on the cover of Time FRANCE magazine in a low-cut black jumper, subtly covering one breast with her hand. The full interview, published on December 18, is accompanied by photos of the mother-of-six’s surgery.

The Hollywood star had both breasts surgically removed before undergoing reconstructive surgery, after finding out that she carries a mutation in her BRCA1 gene – something which dramatically increases a person’s risk of breast cancer.

She was told after being tested that she had an estimated 87 per cent risk of breast cancer and 50 per cent risk of ovarian cancer. Following her double mastectomy, Jolie in March 2015 also had ovaries and fallopian tubes removed as a preventive measure against developing ovarian cancer.

Sadly, breast cancer has cast a shadow over the actress’s family. She lost her mother, French actress Marcheline Bertrand, to the disease at just 56 in 2007 – and her grandmother and aunt also passed away from cancer.

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Jolie revealed in 2020 that her mother’s untimely death had a profound effect on her life. She said, “I lost my mother in my thirties.When I look back to that time, I can see how much her death changed me. It was not sudden, but so much shifted inside.

“Losing a mother’s love and warm, soft embrace is like having someone rip away a protective blanket.”

In the new interview, Jolie, whose long and painful divorce from ex-husband Brad Pitt was finalised last year, makes a passionate plea for BRCA screenings available to every woman.

‘Every woman should always be able to determine her own healthcare journey and have the information she needs to make informed choices: genetic testing and screening should be accessible and affordable for women with clear risk factors or a significant family history.’

She added, “When I shared my experience in 2013, it was to encourage informed choices. Healthcare decisions must be personal, and women must have the information and support they need to make those choices. Access to screening and care should not depend on financial resources or where someone lives.’

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Jolie’s latest project, the upcoming film Couture, is one that is close to her heart, as in it she plays Maxine Walker, an American filmmaker diagnosed with breast cancer;.

Set for release next February, she said of it, “’Too often, films about women’s struggles especially cancer, talk about endings and sadness, rarely about life’.

‘Hardships, illnesses, and pain are part of our existence, but what matters is how we face them,’ she went on.

‘My mother was ill for years. One evening, when she was being asked about her chemotherapy, she became very emotional and told me she would have preferred to talk about something else; she felt as though the illness was becoming her entire identity.

‘I love this film because it tells a story that goes far beyond the journey of a sick person: it shows life. It was this luminous perspective that touched me and made me want to play this role.’

Loose Women panellist Linda Robson opened up about her “up and down” year which has included a health scare and adapting to Pauline Quirke’s heartbreaking dementia battle

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Loose Women star Linda Robson has shared an update about her health, amid her break away from the ITV show. Last year, while live on the programme, the 67-year-old said medics were “keeping an eye” on her after gallstones damaged her pancreas.

Discussing how illnesses can affect loved ones with her fellow co-stars, Linda revealed: “Well I’ve had a bit of a health scare myself.

“So, quite a few years ago I had gallstones and they damaged my pancreas, and they’ve been keeping an eye on me for a while now.”

The actress went on to say she was undergoing numerous MRI and other scans at the time as medics investigated a cyst.

“Because I had a cyst on my pancreas and it’s gone from 1cm to 2cm, so the kids have obviously been really worried about me,” she added.

In an update about her health, Linda said she was “alright now”, and looking forward to treating herself to a holiday in the new year.

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Asked about her 2026 plans, she told Bella Magazine: “At the moment, I’m just thinking about going on holiday as soon as the panto finishes.

“It’s been an up and down sort of year. I had a little health scare but I’m alright now. So I want to do my panto, and then a week or so after I’ll go away with my two sisters to Cyprus.”

Linda’s health admission comes amid her break from Loose Women, as she focuses on her current panto role in Aladdin.

In the same chat, she revealed that she prefers acting to being a panellist on the show.

“I prefer acting, really. I think once I started doing Loose Women you become more like a celebrity than an actor,” she shared.

“I did some acting this year with Lesley [Joseph], we did The Good Ship Murder, which filmed in Malta.

“I had to kill her, I enjoyed that because I said, ‘I’ve 30 years to strangle you!’ That was good fun.”

Birds of a Feather stars Lesley and Linda have continued working together since the sitcom came to an end, while their co-star Pauline Quirke has forced to retire from acting.

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Back in January, Pauline’s family announced she had been diagnosed with dementia in 2021, and now had to step away from “all professional and commercial duties”.

While discussing the heartbreaking news for the first time on Loose Women, Linda broke down in tears.

“We were at the same primary school together and we did everything together. We travelled all over the world, we went to amazing places. Because of Birds of a Feather, it opened many doors,” she recalled of their memories.

“We just had such amazing times and she was an amazing actress as well. She has got the most beautiful family, a loving husband Steve who was the love of her life. Her kids as well, she has got two kids and granddaughters as well.”

Linda added: “We sort of did everything the same. We were really naughty. We used our fame to get into so many different places.”

More recently, the Loose Women star said she had met up with Pauline at a private lunch. Issuing an update on her progress, she told The Mirror: “She was giggling and happy.

The beloved sister of reality star Holly Hagan died from multi-organ failure after taking an MDMA overdose during a night, an inquest into her death has heard.

Toxicology tests found “high levels” of the drug were present in 19-year-old Darci Rose Gibson’s body, Manchester Coroner’s Court was told as an inquest into her death was opened and adjourned.

Geordie Shore star Holly’s sibling died in October after mixing the drug into her drink during a night out at Manchester’s popular hotspot Warehouse Project nightclub. Further details have now emerged about that heartbreaking evening, with the provisional cause of death revealed during the brief hearing.

Teenager Darci was rushed to hospital after suffering a “cardiac arrest” during the night, but sadly died two days later in October this year, the inquest was told. Acting senior coroner, Zak Golombeck, said she died at Manchester Royal Infirmary on October 20 this year.

He read from a statement supplied by a police coroner’s officer. Mr Golombeck said Darci was admitted to the MRI on October 18 following the ‘cardiac arrest’. She remained in hospital for treatment but developed “multi-organ failure” and died there on October 20.

Mr Golombeck said he received a phone call from a GMP officer at the time. The officer, the coroner added, confirmed that Darci ‘had been present’ at the Warehouse Project ‘when she suffered a cardiac arrest’. “There was a suspicion at the time that she had taken illicit drugs,” the coroner said. “This was confirmed to the clinicians.”

A provisional cause of death, pending a full inquest, was given by the coroner as ‘multi-organ failure’ and ‘MDMA overdose’. Mr Golombeck said toxicology tests on Darci’s blood and urine confirmed ‘high levels of MDMA’.

Following her sister’s death in October, the TV star said she was “traumatised” after Darci “passed away peacefully holding my hand surrounded by my family and her best friends”.

A statement shared on Instagram at the time read: “Darci is so beautiful and she genuinely didn’t even realise it. She wanted to go into social work, after finding a passion for helping children. And I just know she’s looking after all the babies up there.

“I don’t know if I’m behaving in a way I assumed I would when grieving but I genuinely feel she has given me so much strength and is watching over us all as our guardian angel.
“We love you so much baby girl. Forever 19.”

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