Former England and Manchester United footballer Sir David Beckham assumed the role of guest editor of Country Life after King Charles and Anne, Princess Royal, and Prince Charles, both previously took the role.
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Sir David Beckham posed for an outdoor photoshoot(Image: Millie Pilkington / Country LIfe Magazine)
He is often sharing photographs of his tranquil life in the beautiful Cotswolds.
But now England legend Sir David Beckham has illustrated just how much he values the countryside – with this neat photoshoot in rural Oxfordshire. The 50-year-old star also spoke about his favourite view, best-loved recipe and his relationship with the glorious countryside in a moving interview this week.
It appears in Sir David’s guest edited version of today’s Country Life magazine. Through his friendship with rural Hertfordshire director Guy Ritchie, the father of four, the father of four expressed his “fellowship” to the countryside.
In describing Guy, Sir David said, “He’s a contemporary caveman who has made me fall much more in love with the countryside and gained me even more insight than I did before.” Sometimes we talk late into the night around a fire with just the two of us.
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The former Manchester United midfielder donned a tweed blazer, and had dark green corduroy trousers tucked into a pair of wellies for the shoot. The star also wore a blue gingham shirt along with a dark tie as he carried a cane through a field near his Cotswolds home.
However, he spent his early years in east London, frequently visiting Epping Forest to get away from the hustle and bustle. When I was a cub, then a scout, and we used to camp in Epping Forest, sir, David said, “(My) earliest memories of doing anything in the countryside were when I was a cub, then a scout.”
King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla and Anne, Princess Royal have been guest editors of the publication over the years. The editor-in-chief described Sir David’s edition, available in shops until Tuesday, as “an outstanding issue”.
He discusses his favorite traditional British dish with Tom Parker Bowles, the son of the Queen’s son. There’s something so nostalgic about mashed potatoes, liver, bacon, and a lot of gravy, according to Sir David, a businessmanman. It’s also my grandad’s favorite dish, one of those British comfort classics that my mother made for me.
“My gran was a great cook, and visiting the pie and mash shop in Chapel Market was always a treat.” Pie, mash, liquor, and jellied eels would be my last meal if I had to choose my last meal.
Sir David lives with Victoria, also known as Posh Spice, in the Cotswolds. Since buying the property nine years ago, Sir David has spared no expense turning the grounds into a lush haven – complete with vegetable patches, chickens, bees, and a selection of roses planted especially for Victoria and their youngest daughter, Harper, 14.
Despite rumors that they had split, Heath Skelton and Gethin Jones both appeared cosy together during their photo op on the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain red carpet this week.
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Helen and Gethin’s love story and split as they reunite at Pride of Britain(Image: PA)
BBC bosses reportedly want popular duo Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones to come clean about the true nature of their relationship – for the sake of the viewers.
More than 1.5million people tune into Morning Live every weekday on BBC One, and see Helen and Gethin discuss topical issues. It was understood they had embarked on a relationship since working together on the programme, but speculation of a split swirled a few months ago.
But on Monday night, Gethin, 47, put his arm around 42-year-old Helen on the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain red carpet in London. The cosy photographs led to further speculation the couple had rekindled their romance, but the “confusion” has reportedly irked some management at the BBC.
One boss told the Daily Mail, “There’s a common feeling among them]BBC bosses that Helen and Gethin should clarify their positions and stop playing around with the viewers.” It’s time for more details.
Standing together on the red carpet only has confounded viewers, who genuinely believe they are an item, and it’s inappropriate to continue the speculation. They’re really leaning into it, so it’s starting to feel on purpose.
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When Morning Live first aired five years ago, Gethin was one of the original hosts, and Helen followed him in 2023. She left her husband and three children with former rugby league player Richie Myler about a year after splitting up in the household.
Chatter emerged Gethin and Helen’s friendship had become a relationship in May this year after the presenters were seen leaving the BAFTAs together. Though neither confirmed a relationship, they were spotted again with each other off-set several times in the spring. Similar gossip spread this week after the pictures at the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain event, which the stars reportedly left within minutes of each other.
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Yet neither Helen nor Gethin have confirmed or refuted their relationship, despite splitting in 2011 with fellow Welsh opera singer Katherine Jenkins.
The BBC believed that the pair would form a strong relationship once Gethin, a former Blue Peter host, was hired to continue its success in its time slot.
When Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan were chosen to launch This Morning on ITV in 1998, it quickly became a success and, though the pair were long married by then, it is believed their strong charisma together drew in the viewers. The BBC, it is understood, felt that a similar onscreen chemistry was exactly what it needed to win the daytime ratings war in 2023 – and it was undoubtedly worked onscreen.
Kathy Burke is a TV legend, and her book is full of touching and honest tales about her family and career.
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Kathy Burke has celeb and TV tales galore in new memoir(Image: FILE)
One of Britain’s best loved stars Kathy Burke has gone through the highs and lows of the first 40 years of her life for a brilliant new book A Mind Of My Own. Although Kathryn has made strides in her roles as an actor, theatre director, comedian, documentary presenter, podcaster, and director, she did not receive all of it favorably.
Her mother died when she was just two years old, leaving her and her two brothers with their abusive father, who was known for his binges and verbal abuse.
Food and money was often tight but she got big break when she studied at the Anna Scher Theatre School in islington and landed a role in the 1982 film Scrubbers, directed by Swedish actress Mai Zetterling and featuring the likes of Pam St. Clement, Robbie Coltrane and Miriam Margolyes. Here are just a few of her many highlights, which she has since lived to the fullest.
Meeting John Lydon
Kathy, who was 13 years old, would ogle the Hope and Anchor pub to avenge her idols. She spotted Johnny Rotten one day.
He looked over from the crowd and said: “Hello, little girl”. Kathy was adamant and determined to impress, but she had to give in before saying, “F*** off, Johnny!” He and his pals laughed at her as a result.
Persuading Ray Winstone
Before becoming a household name, Kathy planned to stage the play in a theater above a bar she frequented in 1990. Even though Ray sat in front of her and told him to read the script, she later discovered him and gave him a pint.
He called her the next day, saying: “Did you write that? All by yourself”
He consented, and Mr. Thomas was successful, rejuvenating Ray’s career. He and Kathy starred in film Nil By Mouth later in the decade.
winning actress of the year
After being informed that she had won the Cannes Film Festival’s Best Actress award for Nil By Mouth and only had a short time to travel from London, Kathy told her agent, “F***ing hell, I don’t have a passport.”
Someone was able to work some magic and her agent called back to say Kathy would be picked up in an hour.
The pinstripe suit Kathy wore to Harry Enfield’s wedding was thankfully fresh from the dry cleaners.
She remarked, “F*** it, it will work.” “It’s not a frock, but f*** it,” she said. The film’s producer, Luc Besson, provided a private jet from London City Airport, and Kathy and her agent got a helicopter the rest of the way.
Kathy said, “It’s a little different from our digs in Westcliff, love,” while greeting director Gary Oldman on the red carpet.
She recalls that Hugh Grant gave a speech at the ceremony, Sean Penn held a press conference, Kylie Minogue inquired about joining our group, Harvey F. Weinstein gave a cocktail to her, and we took a stroll through the hotel’s grounds with actor David Thewlis, who had been talking to me on the phone hours earlier, and he was in shock when he saw me on the red carpet. I think that’s what they call a whirlwind”.
On Absolutely Fabulous
Jennifer Saunders contacted French & Saunders to ask if she would play fashion boss Magda in a new sitcom they were writing after working on their sketch shows. When she eventually entered the rehearsal room, Jen was known for putting things off until the last minute, and the scripts were still in print.
Kathy didn’t know much about the fashion world but was told to say her lines quickly so they would be harder for ‘the TV police’ to cut them. A few weeks after filming Kathy received a card from Jen which said something along the lines of “Who knows what people will make of Ab Fab, it’ll probably be a flash in the pan but thanks a million for taking part.”
On Kevin and Perry
This iconic comedy duo played by Kathy and Harry Enfield from 1994 only came about thanks to a chance meeting of Kathy and pal Paul Whitehouse, as she hadn’t intended to return to Harry’s latest show with just the old character she played. In order to convince her to sign up for the new series, Paul remembered Kathy had previously performed as a teenage girl on a Jonathan Ross TV show. He suggested combining it with one of Harry’s characters, giving her a new sketch and other characters, and getting her to like the character. The rest is history, Kathy chose it. Other hit characters around this time included The Slobs.
As well as the Kevin and Perry movie, arguably their most famous gags is around Oasis, which is down to Kathy. She explains: “A favourite sketch I did with Harry involved my character Perry turning up at Kevin’s house after visiting Manchester, where he developed the walk and talk of Liam Gallagher from Oasis. I told Harry and Paul about the times when I’d arrived home from Wigan as a kid sporting the accent. They thought this was great, so turned the story into a sketch. We had to record Perry’s entrance a few times as a roar from the studio audience was too much for our sound engineer to bear. This sketch still does the rounds on social media now and then, especially if Oasis are in the news.
Upon “spliffing”
At a daytime party in the Nineties she took an “inviting-looking spliff” from Shaun Ryder as he rambled at her and she thought “that northern grass tastes off”. Feeling really weird she then put a lit cigarette near a woman’s bum, called her friends “c**ts” and then went home and was violently sick before suffering hot and cold shakes.
Shaun responded to her with “Back then” years later. That would not have been weed; instead, it was either smack or crack.
On kissing Dougray Scott
In 1999, Cathy enjoyed the movie This Year’s Love, and she even received David Gray’s singing advice. However, that wasn’t the best part. She says:” As the film was about trying to find love we all had a few smoochy scenes. One involved me and Dougray’s character getting drunk on Waterloo Bridge, and despite that, the gorgeous man still claims in interviews that his screen kiss was the most enjoyable. Baby, too! What a dreamboat! “
Gimme Gimme Gimme Gimme
Although this sitcom from 1999 to 2001 wasn’t widely acclaimed, it had a real cult following, and Kathy and James Dreyfus had a lot of fun working on it.
She says: “I loved playing Lindy alongside James’ Tom. They were such ridiculous, deluded characters with a mix of sweet ignorance and acid awareness. We really enjoyed breaking the fourth wall and so did our audience, and as its script editor I wanted as much of this as possible, but it frightened the powers that be so we were only allowed to indulge in this so much. It is funny that a few years later one of the BBC’s biggest comedy hits, Mrs Brown’s Boys, was encouraged to fully embrace this concept.” The show ended after three series, Kathy deciding to call it a day with a fourth wall scene that got a big laugh getting cut being the final straw.
On life off the stage
She claims she prefers directing, especially in the theater, despite having only recently performed one acting performance.
She continues, “I used to love acting a lot, but the energy I would feel when I played certain roles was waning.” When asked about the difference between acting and directing, the best analogy I came up with was acting was like being a footballer and directing was being the coach. “
Kathy, who has never had children, recalls that she frequently considered having one. The clock was ticking because I was in my late 30s, but I wasn’t crying out for it. I]had] a short broody spell in my early 30s, but wasn’t interested in having a child with the person I was with at the time. “
She explained a previous miscarriage and discovered that a blood condition prevented her from having children in her 40s. She continues, “Having a baby has never been my true calling.
“I’ve had lovely relationships with the kids in my life, but I’m always happier once I hand them back. Similar things can be said about romantic relationships as well.
* Gallery Books will release Kathy Burke’s A Mind of My Own tomorrow (Thursday).
Vicky McClure, an actor, claims that something happened on their first date that led to their reconciliation that led to a “conned of the minds” relationship.
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When Vicky and Jonny connected, Vicky McClure described it as a “mingling of minds.”
Vicky McClure claims that on one of their first dates, her husband Jonny took her on a “sausage cob” to prove her love.
The no nonsense Nottingham actor, is known for hit cop series Line Of Duty and Trigger Point, which is returning for a third series on ITV. Away from the cameras she married husband Jonny Owen, a writer and director, in August 2023.
Looking back Vicky said: “So when me and Jonny first met he took me for a sausage cob. And I was like, here we go. This is it. This is love. And then at the wedding night we didn’t have like a sit down meal.
Everyone was so happy because Jonny is Welsh, and we received sausage cobs and Welsh rarebits. It was simple: go and grab. There is no time to fuss around; get some food and return to the dance floor. So, yes, we kept things simple. Line your stomach with. “
The 42-year-old actress played DI Kate Fleming in the hit BBC crime drama Line Of Duty alongside actors Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar and earlier this week admitted she had “no updates” about another possible series.
She continued, “When we did the sixth series of Line of Duty,” in a conversation with Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett on the Dish podcast. We shot in 2020. And so it is with Martin and Adey, who, you know, enjoy having a good social time while filming and all that kind of stuff that was lost.
We’d love to go back, if anything, just to make sure we can sort of feel like we’ve…had that again, as it goes without saying.
She also recalled that she was a young actor who was working on the 2008 film Filth and Wisdom, which also had Eugene Hütz and Holly Weston as stars. Juliette, who lived with her two flatmates, was played by Vincent as a pharmacy assistant.
She chose to purchase some clothing for the premiere but didn’t really understand what was happening, so she “just went to H&, M” and ended up wearing something on the red carpet.
Looking back she said: “I go to H&M, buy a dress that’s awful. And just got these big circles on it, with these brown saggy boots, leggings. Big silver hoops. You should Google it, it’s actually hilarious.
“And then everyone else, like Madonna looks banging, Eugene looks cool as a f***, and Holly looks fantastic, I’m just there like, “I just went to H&, M. ” These old baggy brown boots.
“But it was amazing, yes. I mean, I look back and say, “Wow, that was a moment.”
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*All podcast providers have access to Dish from Waitrose. On October 26, Trigger Point will be on ITV1.
Love Island winner Sammy Root, who rose to fame on the dating programme with Jess Harding, has ‘hard launched’ his new romance in a recent TikTok video
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Love Island winner debuts new girlfriend months after shock split from co-star(Image: ellaburke/TIKTOK)
Love Island winner Sammy Root appeared in a video with his new girlfriend, Ella Burke, months after his shock split from Elma Pazar. Sammy, 24, who is known for his appearance on the ITV2 series with Jess Harding, found love with Elma when he appeared on the All Stars version of the show.
After heading home from the Love Island villa, the pair were welcomed back by their TOWIE castmates as fans watched their new relationship unfold on camera. However, a few months after getting together, they went their separate ways and their “raw and emotional” split was filmed for TOWIE over the summer.
In shock scenes, Sammy was seen telling Elma that he ‘would have done anything’ during an intense conversation during their split.
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While their breakup seemed emotional, Sammy has seemingly moved on with Ella Burke, 23, and was seen in her recent TikTok video.
The video showed Ella discussing her love for a specific chocolate lava cake found in 7/11, which she became obsessed with while travelling in Thailand.
She brought a few packaged cakes back with her to heat up for herself as the two filmed a taste test video.
After heating up the cakes in the microwave, Ella and Sammy unwrapped the cake to ‘try at the same time’ as they stood in the kitchen.
Sammy said it was ‘really hot’ as Ella giggled while he struggled to cool it down. “Unbelievable but it’s very hot. I’ve got third degree burns in my mouth,” he joked as he went for another bite.
She wiped some chocolate from his mouth before he jokingly smiled to show the cake that was stuck over his teeth.
Fans immediately rushed to the comment to ask about their new relationship, with one user writing: “Soft launch,” and another posting: “Omg yes I’m here for this.”
“Oh damn hard launch,” one said while another confirmed the romance by posting: “About time, mum and dad.”
Earlier this summer, Sammy discussed his relationship with Elma with The Mirror, revealing: “It’s going well. We’re just doing our own thing, staying as private as we can. Once you’ve been in the public eye, you’ll always get people’s opinions so we keep ourselves to ourselves really.”
“I’m very good at blocking outside noise, I don’t let it get to me,” he said. “I think Elma probably lets it get to her a little bit more, which is why I’m here to bring her back down to Earth.”
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Sammy continued: “You’re always going to have people saying stuff whatever you’re doing, that’s just part of life. You’ve got to get used to outside noise and block it out really.”
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Ellen Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres have no plans to return to the country after a more than 40-year career in broadcasting in the US.
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Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi left the US for the UK(Image: ellendegeneres/Instagram)
Ellen DeGeneres has shared a rare glimpse into her personal life with wife Portia de Rossi.
The former talkshow host, 67, has posted candid photographs on Instagram taken inside her new home in the Cotswolds, an estate thought to be worth around £20million. The couple left the US last year following Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election.
Ellen was one of many stars – including Cardi B, Lili Reinhart and Christina Applegate – who hit out at Mr Trump supporters for their beliefs in the run-up to the election. She and her 52-year-old wife became so disappointed after the vote they expressed their desire to leave the country for a fresh life in England.
The couple has moved into the stunning pad, which has an open-floor plan in the kitchen, dining room, and living room, according to the Instagram photos. In the photos the comedian published, the comedian’s cartoons feature a large view of the lush green back garden.
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Ellen and Portia, who got married in 2008, reportedly had the property’s ivory and matte mocha latte beige color scheme updated. Eight leather chairs, a glass coffee table, and a lounge chair all set against muted grey and ecru rugs complete the minimalistic design.
The modest approach contrasts hugely with Mr Trump’s style, as photographs show he has had part of his own home demolished in the US. The US President plans to have a lavish ballroom built at the White House.
However, Ellen’s more than 40-year career in the US surfaced as content to display her minimalistic aesthetic. The former actress claims in a video posted on Instagram that “Sport has brought so much joy into the house and it makes us so happy to see Kid play again, despite his very unique style of play.”
Sport and Kid are the couple’s dogs, seen chasing each other in the footage. There are animals everywhere too, as the estate is home to Ellen and Portia’s horses, chickens and wandering sheep which help cut the grass in the rural Cotswolds. The area is popular with celebrities looking to avoid the hustle and bustle of London.”
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Ellen recently stated, “We knew that Portia couldn’t live without her horses,” when we made the decision to live here permanently. We needed a place to house them with a stable and pastures.
