Category Entertainment News

There’s nothing like getting stuck into some Christmas crafts, and Stacey Solomon has found the perfect under-£7 way to make personalised Christmas crackers for the family

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This time of year we love nothing more than a cosy afternoon inside, avoiding the rain and spending time with family. It’s also the perfect time to try out a new craft – especially one that helps you get ahead of your Christmas to-do list.

The undeniable queen of DIY Stacey Solomon has shared her latest rainy day activity, which involves putting together some personalised Christmas crackers for her whole family. The TV star shared on Instagram that they’d become part of her yearly festive traditions, and they’re easy to do yourself at home for under £7.

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In her Instagram stories, Stacey shared that every year she takes a DIY cracker kit – this year she used the £6.50 Make and Fill Your Own Christmas Party Cracker Kit from Amazon– and uses them as the base for her one of a kind crackers. The set includes everything you need, including the crackers, snaps and ribbon ties to assemble them.

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You also get the obligatory joke and paper party hat to include inside your crackers. However, the kit doesn’t come with an item to ‘win’ inside, which is where Stacey takes the opportunity to personalise them. Rather than the usual plastic toys or countless nail clippers you usually get, she fills them with things she knows her family or guests will love.

In her how-to video, Stacey included things like Charlotte Tilbury lip glosses inside the set she was making “for her girls” and wrote the names of each recipient on the outside of the crackers. This makes them perfect for doubling as place settings around the table, or placing as decorations on your Christmas tree as extra presents to open on Christmas morning.

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Although Stacey opted for the Amazon Make and Fill Your Own Christmas Party Cracker Kit which has 12 different designs, you can also pick up other versions elsewhere. Dunelm has a Set of 6 Make Your Own Gingerbread Man Christmas Crackers for just £4, which feature cute illustrations of gingerbread men.

You could also head over to & Keep, where the DIY Cracker Kraft Boards are £3.25 for a pack of six, although they come without any of the extras like hats, jokes or snaps inside. They do however have a more minimalist design, which lets you leave them as they are or decorate them yourself for an extra bit of fun crafting.

However, the Make and Fill Your Own Christmas Party Cracker Kit from Amazon that Stacey used are perfect for making sure you have everything you need for a fun, simple and straightforward Christmas craft that the whole family can get stuck into. Now all you need to do is decide what to put inside them!

TV chef James Martin has opened up about his recent surgery, admitting that his colleagues on ITV’s Saturday Morning are now “scared” of him because he can “see stuff a mile off”

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TV star James Martin, 53, has confessed that his post-surgery transformation has left his ITV Saturday Morning colleagues terrified of him.

The telly chef, who presents the weekend show from his own kitchen alongside fellow cooks and famous faces, was grilled about his obsessive attention to detail across every element of his career.

Speaking on Good Housekeeping’s My Life In A Biscuit Tin podcast, presenter Liz Moseley observed that James couldn’t be substituted on his ITV programme, since the show is so intrinsically tied to the chef’s own character, questioning: “There’s obviously a real aesthetic to everything.

“You’re obsessed with the way you do your garden, your house, you’re very particular about it all. Are you a bit of a nightmare to be around?”.

James chuckled at the inquiry before disclosing that this fundamental trait of his personality has actually intensified in recent months, as his vision is so much sharper now after surgery, meaning he can “see stuff a mile off”.

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Discussing his health, he responded: “Not really, I think I see everything… worse now because I’ve had my eyes done! So, you know you have laser surgery? I had full refractive lens surgery, so I had the lenses taken out and new ones put in.”

Revealing the outcome of the operation, James declared: “Oh my God, I can see round corners now, it’s scary! People are now scared at work because I can see stuff a mile off. I can see veins on a tree, I can now read without glasses, it’s amazing.”

According to Nuffield Health’s website, refractive or clear lens surgery, also known as ‘lens replacement surgery’, involves a consultant ophthalmic surgeon replacing the eye’s natural lens with an artificial one.

The new lens is specifically designed to correct common focusing or ‘refractive’ conditions.

Despite singing praises for the benefits of the surgery, James stressed that his career as a professional chef has also honed his attention to detail, stating: “But the attention to detail to me comes from the fact that you work in an industry where detail is everything.

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“So can I stop that attention to detail in terms of the industry, always wanting to be better every single day, and can I, when I go up into TV production, do the same?”.

“I think you can still have that attention to detail, because it still matters to people watching.”

James further explained how his culinary skills translate into the world of television, revealing that he and the Saturday Morning team hold regular meetings to discuss potential improvements for the show.

The star shared: “We all have a meeting afterwards at the end of the day – what worked, what didn’t work, what could be better, what couldn’t be better, and we all have a meeting in the morning [to discuss] what’s coming up.

An iconic drummer from a huge band has died. Hilly Boy Michaels of Sparks fame was honoured in a moving tribute from his bandmates, Ron and Russell Mael.

No cause of death has been announced. In a tribute, the brothers said: “We are saddened by the passing of Hilly Boy Michaels. He was Sparks’ drummer during the Big Beat (1976) era, but stayed in the ‘Sparks realm’ throughout the years. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.”

Fans have since paid tribute, with one writing: “So sad to hear. He was a lovely unique guy and rock solid musician.” A second penned: “Such a hidden gem of a musician. It shouldn’t need to be mentioned, but Calling All Girls is so good.”

While a third went on to write: “Condolences and LVX to Hilly, and all family and friends. He was a great drummer musician.”

“So sad about the passing of my dear friend Hilly Michaels. Remembering all the fun we had in the Hunter/Ronson days, and with Sparks. Also remembering Sal Maida and Jeff Salen… Rock In Peace friends,” a fourth expressed.

“His music was awesome and very sparks esque ! Really saddened to hear this,” a fifth mourned. Meanwhile a sixth remarked: “His ‘Calling All Girls’ disc is wonderful! Sorry to hear he left the stage.”

Another noted that they still play his music now, saying: “I still play his two albums!” While another compared the star to David Bowie: “Oh that’s sad brilliant drummer so accurate as the mix was drum orientated hence big beat so groundbreaking: Bowie was to do the same thing on low.”

Before joining Sparks for the recording of their 1976 album Big Beat, Hilly’s first professional music experience was with a band called Joy, which also featured a young Michael Bolton.

He was a New York -based session drummer when he was hired to work with Sparks on their album and was the only session musician subsequently invited to join the North American tour with the group.

He also made an appearance with Sparks in the film Rollercoaster, where they performed the songs Big Boy and Fill’er Up from the album.

Some of Michaels’ other songs from throug his career can be heard in the films Caddyshack and Die Laughing. Throughout his career, he collaborated with artists such as The Cherry Vanilla Band, Peach & Lee, Sparks, Ellen Foley, The Hunter/Ronson Band, Dan Hartman, John Mellencamp, Ronnie Wood and Marianne Faithfull.

He and Marianne, who passed away in January this year at the age of 78, also had a brief relationship in the 1980s, living together in New York City.

In addition to his collaborations, he gained recognition as a solo artist for his two solo albums: 1980’s Calling All Girls and 1981’s Lumia.

He joined Sparks during the 1970s which is when he was involved in some of the band’s biggest hits. The star worked as a producer and manager of marketing and development since being slightly less involved in music. He lived in Connecticut.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex took aim at the whole Royal Family in a sharp statement, according to a royal author, as a secret internal battle unfolded

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Meghan and Harry ‘offended’ the late Queen with a statement that ‘barely hid their resentment’ towards other family members, it has been claimed.

The Duchess has faced fresh scrutiny for using her royal cipher in branding for her lifestyle company, As Ever, but it’s not the first time debate has erupted over the couple using their royal status in commercial projects.

In promotional material for new Christmas collection, Meghan can be seen at her workspace with a notebook displaying her royal cipher in gold lettering. The monogram – showcasing the letter M topped with a coronet – was revealed before her 2018 marriage to Harry.

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She has also launched a fresh candle – No 519 – commemorating their wedding anniversary. “This signature candle is inspired by the ease and joy of a day that holds Meghan’s most cherished memories – her wedding day, May 19th,” the product description stated.

The move has sparked backlash from royal supporters who question why Meghan continues to use the royal cipher despite her grievances about her time within the institution, the Express US reports. And royal author Tom Bower claims senior royals and Buckingham Palace officials have long held worries about “monetizing the monarchy.”

Tensions reportedly became evident when Harry and Meghan were forced to drop their “SussexRoyal” brand ambitions. The Duke and Duchess stepped back from Royal duties in March 2020, achieving financial independence.

Two months prior, the couple expressed their dissatisfaction with the decision-making process and their treatment compared to other royals in a statement on their official website. The Sussexes maintained that the monarch had no authority to prevent them from using the term ‘royal’.

“While there is not any jurisdiction by the monarchy or cabinet office over the use of the word ‘royal’ overseas, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use ‘Sussex Royal’ or any iteration of the word ‘royal’ in any territory (either within the UK or otherwise) when the transition occurs spring 2020,” the statement read.

Bower claimed the statement was “spiteful” and “offensive to the Queen.” Speaking to the Daily Mail, he suggested that the announcement barely hid the Sussexes’ “simmering resentment” towards other family members, and included a subtle dig at “minor royals” Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

“While there is precedent for other titled members of the Royal Family to seek employment outside of the institution, for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a 12-month review period has been put in place,” it continued.

Harry and Meghan initially adopted the Sussex Royal brand in 2019 when they separated their household from Prince William and Princess Kate’s, known as Kensington Royal. Their Instagram page, @sussexroyal, had amassed 11.2 million followers at that time, matching the supporter base of William and Kate’s account.

But the following year, it emerged that the Queen and senior officials had determined that the pair would need to relinquish their title. A source told the Mail: “In many ways, this is inevitable given their decision to step down. But it must surely come as a blow to the couple, as they have invested everything into the Sussex Royal brand. The Queen would have had little choice, however.

A Netflix star has been shot dead on a college campus. John Beam, who first found fame as a football coach before starring on Last Chance U, was 66 when he was killed.

He was hit by a bullet while at the fieldhouse at Laney College in Oakland, CA, on Thursday. He was reportedly shot in the head and rushed to hospital. Beam’s family said in a statement that he was a “loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, coach, mentor and friend.”

“Our hearts are full from the outpouring of love,” the family said, requesting privacy. Sadly, John died on Friday morning at around 10am, police officials have confirmed. Police have confirmed it was a targeted attack. Police have credited technology, including cameras at the college, as well as those on private residences and public transport, for helping to identify the suspect.

Cedric Irving, 27, was arrested at a commuter rail station in Oakland on Friday morning at around 3am and police recovered the firearm. He was being held at a local jail on charges of murder and carrying a concealed weapon, according to Alameda County’s inmate locator. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday morning. It wasn’t immediately clear if he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

The suspect’s brother, Samuael Irving, told the San Francisco Chronicle that he was stunned to learn of the arrest and that his brother excelled academically and athletically in high school, where he ran track and played football.

Samuael said Cedric grew distant from the family in recent years after an argument with their father. Irving recently lost his job as a security guard after an altercation, his brother said, and then was evicted from his apartment.

“I hope it isn’t him,” Samuael Irving said. He added: “The Cedric I knew wasn’t capable of murder — but the way things had been going, I honestly don’t know.”

Assistant Chief James Beere said on Friday that the suspect was on the campus for a “specific reason,” but didn’t disclose what this reason was. He added: “This was a very targeted incident.”

Beere didn’t say how John and the suspect knew one another, but said that the suspect had been known for hanging around the Laney campus. He had played football at a high school where John had worked at, but not while John was working there

Mayor Barbara Lee described Beam as a “giant” in the city who mentored thousands of young people, including her own nephew, and “gave Oakland’s youth their best chance” at success. “For over 40 years, he has shaped leaders on and off the field, and our community is shaken alongside his family,” she said.

Beam, who was serving as athletic director, joined Laney College in 2004 as a running backs coach and became head coach in 2012, winning two league titles. He retired from coaching in 2024 but stayed on at the school to shape its athletic programs. According to his biography on the college’s website, at least 20 of his players went on to the NFL.

Beam’s shooting came a day after a student was shot at Oakland’s Skyline High School. The student is in stable condition. Beam had previously worked at Skyline High School, and the suspect had played football there after Beam had already left for another job. The mayor said the back-to-back shootings on Oakland campuses demonstrate “the gun violence crisis playing out in real time.” She gave no indication that they were connected.

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BFFs Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks open up on whether they could take on the mantel from Claudia and Tess as Strictly co-hosts, as rumours swirl about who could be taking over

Besties Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks have opened up on whether they could take over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as co-hosts of Strictly, following news of the winning duo’s shock departure from the BBC show after this series. As they’re asked the question during a fun, banter-filled exclusive shoot with Notebook, Sam pipes up, “Pete has to be the new presenter. He has to do it!”, as he shoots a mischievous look at his pal.

But in typical fashion when it comes to the friends’ dynamic, former TOWIE star Pete is less enthused than Sam about the prospect of becoming the nation’s new Tess and Claud. “I’m not ready to cut in a fringe,” he laughs. “Tess and Claudia are so brilliant and so professional, and we’re useless.”

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He adds, “It would be the most chaotic thing in the world, me and Sam doing it. I don’t think Strictly will be asking us any time soon.” But Sam’s as enthusiastic and optimistic as ever. “I’d be very shocked if we got the phone call, but I’d give it a go if we were asked,” he smiles.

The pair’s hilarious podcast Staying Relevant is a huge chart-topping success, with a new book now on the shelves too, and a massive show recently at London’s 02. Pete, who made it to the semil-finals on Strictly last year with Jowita Przystal, also opened up about ‘that’ kiss with his former dancing partner during a routine in the show which garnered instant headlines.

“I brought her out for a dance,” he insists simply. “Part of that was because we didn’t make the finals and I feel like I hadn’t completed the whole Strictly thing.

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“We did a dance that she had choreographed in the first two weeks of us doing the show, the dance she wanted us to perform in the final. And I wasn’t good enough to get her there. But I promised her, one day we’d do it. And where better than the O2?”

Asked if he misses getting on his fake tan and sparkles for the nation, Pete says, “I’ve been to a couple of live shows to support Vicky Pattison, who’s one of my best friends. I love the show and I do keep up with it.

“I miss the routine of it. I threw myself into something that was so far out of my comfort zone, something no one thought I’d do and yeah, I do 100% miss it. It was a very humbling experience and a huge part of my life.”

Was he shocked to see Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman quit? “It was a big surprise,” Pete admits. “I’m gutted to see them go. I adore both of them, they’re so good at what they do. They are Strictly. They were always so warm to me. I’m sure whoever they replace them with will be fantastic.”

Staying Relevant: The Book by Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks (Sphere) is out now