Meghan Markle’s dad Thomas has revealed that he refused to change his phone number in the desperate hope that she would be able to contact him when she was ready
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Meghan Markle’s father Thomas says he has not changed his number in the hope his daughter gets in touch
Thomas Markle has revealed that he has kept the same telephone number in the hope that Meghan would be able to reach out to him when she felt ready to reconnect. The 81 year old father of the Duchess of Sussex was recently hospitalised after having his left leg amputated in the Philippines. Before the surgery, his foot had become discoloured and swollen, restricting his mobility.
According to reports, had Thomas not had the “life or death” surgery, the infection in his foot could have reached his heart. In an interview with The Mail On Sunday, Thomas explained that he has never changed his phone number so Meghan “could always get in touch with me.”
The pair have been estranged since 2018 when it came to light that he had reportedly staged paparazzi photographs ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry. From that moment on, relations between Thomas and his daughter became so tense, he pulled out of the wedding, claiming to have health problems at the time. Instead, King Charles walked her down the aisle.
During the height of their tense relationship, Thomas spoke to the press once again and cast doubt over their decision to step away from the public eye.
In an interview at the time, he reportedly said: “I think they’re both turning into lost souls at this point. I don’t know what they’re looking for. I don’t think they know what they’re looking for.”
One of his wishes before he dies is to reconcile with his daughter, meet his grandchildren and her husband Prince Harry. Meghan and Prince Harry have two children together, Archie and Lilibet.
He told the publication: “I’ve always said I am open to reconciling with my daughter. I have never stopped loving her. I don’t want to die estranged from Meghan. I want to meet my grandkids. It might be nice to meet her husband too.”
According to reports, a source close to Meghan said the Duchess’ team had not been contacted before the publication went to print. But according to the BBC, a spokesman for Meghan said: “I can confirm she has reached out to her father.”
The source went on to say that had Meghan had prior knowledge of the article, where Thomas spoke openly about desperately wanting to reunite with his daughter, they would informed hospital staff, to tell Thomas to read his email, a detail Meghan’s team wanted to remain private.
Meghan’s half sister Samantha has also denied hearing from Meghan. She took to X and described quotes from sources close to Meghan as “PR b********t.”
With the permission of Thomas, his surgeon spoke to the publication and confirmed: “It was life-or-death surgery. Had the infection in the foot moved to his heart, it would most likely have been fatal. He is doing well but he is not out of the woods yet.”
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Heartbreak and tragedy have plagued the legendary Doctor Who actress’s private life
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Jemma Redgrave will return as UNIT’s Kate Lethbridge-Stewart in Doctor Who spin-off(Image: BBC)
Doctor Who star and fourth-generation actress Jemma Redgrave is notoriously private when it comes to her personal life.
As she reprises her role as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart in Doctor Who spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea, we take a look at her life away from the cameras.
Famous parents
Jemma was born to actor Corin Redgrave and fashion model Deirdre Hamilton-Hill on 14 January 1965.
“There was so much freedom,” she recalled of her childhood to the Telegraph, with kids games in their spacious garden and music always playing. It had been a very bohemian upbringing.
But at age seven her parents divorced and she believes politics had been behind the split: her father was an outspoken leftist and co-founded the British Marxist Party with his sister, Vanessa. Her mother, by comparison, was more removed and kept her distance.
Jemma reflected: “It was a game of two halves.” But through the turbulence, she remained close with her paternal grandmother and matriarch of the family dynasty, actress Rachel Kempson, who cultivated Jemma’s love of the theatre and set her down the family trade.
Divorce
In 1992, age 27, Jemma married Tim Owen, a famed English barrister. Together, they had two children: Gabriel, born in 1994; and Alfie, born in 2000.
Jemma and Tim stayed together for over 20 years until a quiet and characteristically unpublicised divorce.
Jemma blamed their busy work schedules for the separation, citing the constant pressure of her acting career and his law practice.
She joked: “Tim is a brilliant barrister but would have been a terrible actor. He is very argumentative – trained to demolish opponents – scorched earth!”
Family heartbreak
Heartbreak struck Jemma’s family when in March 2009, her cousin Natasha Richardson – and wife of Liam Neeson – was killed in a freak ski accident in Quebec.
In April 2010, her father Corin lost a long battle to prostate cancer and passed away. A month later, Jemma’s aunt, legendary actress Lynn Redgrave, died due to her own breast cancer, as well as complications arising from bulimia.
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In a deeply personal interview with the Guardian, Jemma reflected that grief “is like a tsunami. The waves come from nowhere and shake you to the core”.
A new book has unearthed the dark side of drug taking at Keith Richards’ former home, Villa Nellcote on the Cote D’Azur.
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(Image: Getty Images)
The Rolling Stones were on the Cote D’Azur in 1971, escaping high taxes under Harold Wilson’s Labour government. Now a 2025 version of the book The Curious Chronicles of Villa Nellcote, reveals how heroin and cannabis were used by Keith Richards, his first wife Anita Pallenberg and The Rolling Stones’ late saxophonist Bobby Keys, while recording there.
Author Geir Hornes has seen a 1,000 page French police report claiming that a group of young French men – nicknamed Les Cowboys – delivered drugs to Nellcote each week.
Marshall Chess, former president of Rolling Stones Records, says in the book: “Drugs were part of the backdrop. Some nights, Mick Jagger was disgusted.”
Former model and actress Gretchen Parsons Carpenter recalls her summer visit to Nellcote. Gretchen, 73, whose husband Gram – a former member of The Byrds and friend of Keith Richards – died aged just 26 in 1973 following an overdose, says: “We did not think in terms of consequences. The concept of “rehab” hadn’t even been invented yet. The problem was, those fun drugs quickly turned into not-so-fun.”
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Author Geir says the French police report is still shrouded in secrecy, but tells of a police raid on December 14, 1971 – by which time The Stones had moved on to LA. Hornes says: “In the staff house, the police claim they uncover narcotics – enough to constitute a serious drug case.
“The detainees are young, aged between 19 and 24. Referred to as “Les Cowboys”, they are suspected of procuring, transporting, offering, and acquiring drugs for Keith Richards, Anita Pallenberg and saxophonist Bobby Keys. When Les Cowboys are released, Richards is warned about a trap awaiting him if he returns to Nellcote.”
Five French locals were later convicted for bringing drugs to Nellcote. Stones saxophonist Bobby Keys, who died in 2014, was handed a four-month suspended sentence and fined for procuring hashish.
Keith Richards and Anita Pallenberg were convicted in absentia for illicit drug use and received one-year suspended sentences plus fines. After an appeal, Richards, Pallenberg and Keys were handed a two-year ban from entering France.
It’s certainly not the first time that Keith Richards has been associated with drugs. In 2007, Richards confessed to mixing his father’s ashes with cocaine and snorting them, saying: “It was the strangest thing I’ve tried to snort. But it went down pretty well”.
And earlier this year a rock promoter revealed secrets about The Rolling Stones during their wild days – comparing sharing a private jet with Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood to a chemical factory with an “endless” supply of drugs.
Paul Rappaport was senior vice-president of rock promotion at Columbia Records, and during his thirty-three-year career he played a big role in the careers of some of the biggest stars in the business.
Rappaport recalls doing lines of cocaine with Richards within minutes of meeting him, but things went up a notch when he flew on their private jet. Recalling those days, he says: “It was total debauchery.
“They would take these large chunks of coke, put them into professional green plastic laboratory grinders, and crush the stuff into extremely fine powder. A couple of tray tables could be seen piled high with weed, blow, and all kinds of liquor. Didn’t sleep much for seven days and nights straight.”
The updated version of The Curious Chronicles of Villa Nellcote can be purchased via www.nellcotechronicles.com
As Angrygine, Shona McGarty and Tom Read Wilson battle it out for the jungle crown, we take a look at the I’m A Celebrity stars who negotiated the highest fees ever from ITV – and those who were happy with a lot less
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(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
I’m A Celebrity is a real leveller for the famous faces in camp who battle the elements to live live al fresco in the Australian jungle, existing on bare rations and enduring hair-raising trials.
Despite the camaraderie in camp, not everyone is paid the same for their services to the brutal series. While some stars take home a small fortune from appearing on the show, others are happy to settle for a lot less.
Last year ITV bosses splashed a huge amount of cash to get WAG Coleen Rooney on board. The wife of Wayne Rooney negotiated a fee in excess of £1.5million to appear in camp, according to reports. The amount is even more than Reform party leader Nigel Farage demanded the previous year – and notably around 15 times higher than what rival WAG Rebekah Vardy picked up in 2017.
The pay cheque makes Coleen one of I’m A Celeb’s highest paid stars ever. Ahead of tonight’s nail-biting final, we take a look at how her rivals fared…
Highest earners on I’m A Celeb
Nigel Farage
The politician and media personality, best known for his role campaigning for Brexit, and for leading UKIP and later The Brexit Party, is reportedly getting a huge £1.5 million for his time on the show, according to the Mail Online. This makes Farage the highest-ever paid I’m a Celebrity contestant of all time.
Noel Edmonds
The former Deal or No Deal host walked so Farage could run – all the way to the bank. Noel entered the jungle in 2018 for a reported fee of a whopping £600,000. Despite demanding a huge fee and being someone the production team had been chasing for years, the TV star spent very little time on the show and was the first person to be voted off.
Boy GeorgeHarry RedknappCaitlyn Jenner
Three very different celebs, Boy George, Harry Redknapp, and Caitlyn Jenner, reportedly all walked out of the jungle with a cool £500,000. Culture Club singer Boy George ended up in eighth place during his stint in 2022. Caitlyn Jenner faired slightly better, coming in at sixth place during her time in 2019, but it was football legend Harry Redknapp who really earned his keep, coming in first and winning the nation’s hearts in 2018.
Katie Price
It’s not clear how much Katie got for her first stint in the 2003 series, but the mum-of-five was reportedly paid a then record-breaking £450,000 for her second round in 2009.
Although she finished in third place during her first time, she ended up leaving the show on day nine during her second go in the jungle after a brief headline-grabbing comeback.
Ian Wright,Amir KhanMatt Hancock
Out of these three celebrities, it was former Health Secretary Matt Hancock who ended up lasting the longest on the show when he appeared in 2022. Finishing in third place behind runner-up Owen Warner and winner Jill Scott. Boxer Amir Khan spent 20 days in the jungle, coming in fifth, while former football player Ian Wright managed 18 days and came in eighth place.
Lowest earners on I’m A Celeb
Georgia Toffolo
Little known at the time, Made in Chelsea cast member Georgia Toffolo was paid just £13,000 to enter the jungle in 2017. However, the public quickly fell in love with the adorable star and helped her win the series. She returned six years later for I’m a Celebrity…South Africa.
Malique Thompson-Dwyer
The Hollyoaks star went into the show in 2018 and was reportedly paid £15,000 to appear. Unfortunately, the Prince McQueen star was the second person to be voted out of the jungle.
Jordan BanjoMyles Stephenson
Jordan Banjo and Myles Stephenson, who both found fame on other ITV reality shows – Britain’s Got Talent and X Factor, respectively – both commanded a crisp £25,000 for their stints on I’m A Celebrity. Myles entered the jungle in 2019 and was eliminated sixth from the competition. Meanwhile, Diversity dancer Jordan Banjo went on the show in 2016 and was the fourth person to be eliminated.
Emily Atack
The Inbetweeners’ favourite went on the show in 2018, the same year as Harry Redknapp. While the former footballer was paid £500,000 to appear, Emily reportedly got £40k.
Holly Arnold MBE
Paralympic javelin thrower Holly Arnold MBE, unfortunately, didn’t get to go to Australia as her time came during the extensive Covid-19 lockdown. Reportedly paid £50,000 for her time in the Welsh castle, she ended up being eliminated first.
Cuffs has just been added to Netflix after it initially aired in 2015
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Cuffs star Alex Carter(Image: BBC)
Cuffs is now on Netflix amongst some other classic dramas, and the crime drama series depicts the lives of front-line police officers within Brighton and Sussex.
The series aired on BBC One back in 2015 and fans were disappointed to learn the show had been cancelled after just one season.
The announcement was criticised by many of the stars and a petition was created in an attempt to sway the BBC, but it was unsuccessful.
Alex Carter stars as PC Lino Moretti, an out-of-shape cop who is proud of his Italian heritage.
Carter is a 43-year-old actor from Oldham who is mostly known for playing Jamie Hope in Emmerdale and Lee Hunter in Hollyoaks.
He has a brother called Bruce, who is in the band The Whip, and both brothers attended the Blue Coat School, Oldham.
The Whip are a rock band from Manchester, with Bruce being one of the founding members.
One of their tracks appears in the soundtrack for FIFA 09, the video game by EA Sports. Their song Trash gave the band wide exposure after it featured in a national TV advertising campaign for Coors Light Beer.
Away from showbiz, Alex Carter presented the Saturday afternoon sports programme Latics Live on The Revolution between 2008 and 2011, being a lifelong fan of Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
In the early Noughties he joined the cast of Hollyoaks as Lee Hunter, staying for four years before his character left to embark on a world tour.
Carter announced his decision to quit the soap in 2005 “to have more free time”, but after a five-year hiatus, his character returned.
He joined Emmerdale in 2006 as Jamie Hope – the eldest son of the established character Bob Hope (Tony Audenshaw).
In 2010 he announced he was leaving the soap after four years, in order to pursue new projects.
He told BBC 6 Music at the time: “I’m getting thoroughly depressed because I’m in work every day for about four hours.
“It’s like they’re teasing me because I’m leaving and I’ve got one line. I’m in work every day. It’s driving me mental.”
His latest role was as Jeff in the comedy series So Awkward Academy.
Penny Lancaster became emotional after Rod Stewart revealed heartfelt details of their 26 year love story during a BBC festive documentary presented by Anita Rani
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Penny Lancaster breaks down in tears as Rod Stewart make huge revelation(Image: BBC)
Penny Lancaster broke down in tears as she learned a secret about how one of Rod Stewart’s friends tried to prevent them from dating – for a moving reason.
Rocker Rod revealed to his wife that a close friend withheld her phone number from him until he felt he was ‘fully healed’, following his bitter divorce from model Rachel Hunter. Rod has said his second wife Rachel’s decision to leave him had left him in physical pain and he finally knew what it meant to have a broken heart.
Rod and Penny, who have been together for more than two decades and share two children together, first met when Penny, 54, was a student at Barking College and he was performing.
In the aftermath of Rod’s split from Rachel, the singer, 80, met Penny but his close friend at the time, Carmine Appice thought Rod was not in an emotionally healthy place to be dating again – and so didn’t pass on her number.
The revelation was made during the first episode of Anita Rani’s My Life At Christmas for the BBC. Recalling the story with Penny sat beside him, Rod told Anita: “He was an absolute gentleman, he was band leader and bass player and he kept her telephone away from me.”
He continued: “He didn’t think I was in the right position because I had just got a divorce and didn’t know if I was coming or going and he said I will give it to you when I think you are ready.”
He jokingly added: “I should have fired him but I couldn’t!” And it was at this point in the clip that Penny started to become emotional as she said: “Carmine had kept that telephone number away from him. He said ‘You are going to go a bit crazy over the summer and let your hair down and Penny seems like a nice girl.'”
Believing that she was not going to see the legendary singer again, she continued: “I really thought that was the last I would see of Rod. I remember processing those photos I took of Rod [at his concert] and thinking, ‘what a lovely memory’ and that was that.”
But Rod finally made the leap himself and contacted Penny and their relationship has since gone from strength to strength. The couple welcomed their first son together in 2005. Two years later, the pair tied the knot in a lavish ceremony before the arrival of their second son in 2011. But it seems they had to carefully navigate their way around Rod’s other children from previous marriages and relationships.
Penny candidly described what it was like entering into an already blended family. She explained: “I tiptoed very lightly. Because there were lots of personalities, and more important there were children ranging from all ages. From Liam who was five when we first met through to teenagers to Kimberly who was just about to turn 21 so it was delicate and they were children from different mothers.”
She went on to add: ” It was a scenario I had never faced before and I thought I need to stay in the background but be present and there if they want to approach me. I just wanted to take my time and it took a long time,’ attempting to hold back her sobs she continued, ‘but we got there and we have got to a place that I never thought I would get to with them.”
Rod then chimed in and said: “I must admit the kids adore her now, they look for her for advice.”
Rachel Hunter was Rod’s second wife. Model Rachel was just 21-years-old when she met the Maggie May singer and despite their 24-year age gap, they married and had two kids – Renee and Liam.
The pair stayed married until 1999 when Rachel walked away, stating she’d “lost her identity.” She later admitted: “I’ll take to the grave the pain I caused Rod. I hurt the one person I loved and cared about.” Rod did not take the break up well, saying: “I took to lying on the sofa in the day, with a blanket over me and a hot water bottle against my chest. I knew then why they call it heartbroken. You can feel it in your heart.”
Penny’s tears didn’t end there as the interview swiftly moved on to when they met the Pope in 2018. They had won the chance to meet Pope Francis on the back of a charity bid. Penny said: “As the Pope Francis came along the eye contact that we got was very powerful.
He spent quite a time with us and he placed both our hands on top of each other and placed his hand on top of ours.” Anita asked what that moment mean to her, to which Penny said: “It sort of cemented all the wishes that Rod and I had for one another. “
She added: “All those sort of prayers that we had had quietly. He gave us two rosary beads too and he blessed us as well and it made us feel like… it was all our destiny.”
But it wasn’t just Penny who found the interview emotional, as Rod also shed a tear when asked the secret to a 25 year relationship.
Through tears he said: “I think the age difference, there are downsides to it, but there is a maturity I may have taught Penny and there is an honesty she has taught me. We do not argue before we go to bed and we do not argue after a glass of wine and if we do have arguments it is over real quick. “
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He continued: “I try to teach my kids, all of them, that real men say sorry, that’s what they do. There is a wonderful honestly between us and long may it last.”
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