Category Entertainment News

Comedian Ricky Gervais will go down as a legend one way or another.

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Cheeky Ricky Gervais has revealed he is set to call his next stand up show ‘Legend’ – so people have to call him that in the future whatever happens. The announcement comes off the back of his previous show Mortality touring globally and reaching number one on Netflix after its release on December 30 with millions streaming it.

The Office creator Gervais, 64, said: “I’m starting warm-ups already. Just in case it’s my last tour, I want to call it Legend. It’s like I’m forcing their obituary, ‘he was known as legend’, no, he said that! I think the idea will be that it’s about me but obviously I’m going to fall on my face. I think it’s a funny thing to say about yourself.”

The last tour Mortality , saw him play over 80 arena shows across the globe throughout 2024-2025, taking in LA’s Hollywood Bowl, NYC’s Radio City Music Hall, a 14 night run at the London Palladium, 3 massive shows at OVO Wembley Arena, and sell outs in Europe’s capital cities, breaking the box office record for English speaking comedy shows in Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland & the Czech Republic. Afterwards he donated £2.5million to charities from extra profits made by the Platinum Ticket sales.

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Speaking to Romesh Ranganathan on his podcast, Gervais added: “Stand-up is the thing I love the most, it’s the thing I love being the biggest part of my career now. When I started out I was a writer and director, I wanted to let people know that was the real deal.

“I didn’t want to be a celebrity, I didn’t want to do the red carpet, I didn’t want to be in stuff I hadn’t written. I tried to convince the world and myself that was my job.

“I did that and then stand up was, ‘oh I like that, let’s have a go’. I think with Humanity it turned around. I thought, ‘no I’m a stand up who occasionally writes and directs stuff’. I love this, I travel the world and it feels like the last bastion of free speech.

“Outside of the novel, it’s the only thing where there’s no filter, you don’t need 60 people to create your vision, it’s you and I love that.”

Gervais is nominated at this weekend’s Golden Globes in the best stand-up category. But speaking last week he said he was unlikely to attend.

During the appearance on BBC Radio 4’s This Cultural Life, Gervais – who has hosted the Golden Globes five times – said: “I didn’t have any joy watching my fat face on screen. I just want peace and quiet.

“I’m probably not going to the Golden Globes … It’s too far to go. It takes a lot to get me off the couch with my cat and my girlfriend watching Netflix. I love the work, I love writing, I love creating, I love stand-up, but all the other stuff I could really do without.”

As well as The Office he has other hit shows including After Life on Netflix and Extras and Derek but in recent years has tended to concentrate on his stand up comedy.

If you’re thinking of popping the question this Valentine’s Day but don’t want to spend a fortune on a diamond ring, you won’t want to miss out on this post-Christmas sale

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With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, anyone planning on making a grand romantic gesture on a more affordable budget may want to take advantage of the post-Christmas sales still taking place at jewellery retailers. For instance, Ernest Jones is currently offering a massive deal on a solitaire diamond ring, saving shoppers over £1000.

Slashing its price by a whopping 45%, this Vera Wang 18ct White Gold Solitaire Certificated 0.50ct Diamond Engagement Ring has landed on sale with a huge £1500 price cut, making now the perfect time to pick one up for your special someone without spending a fortune. Plus, as of the time of writing this, there’s also an extra 15% off available when you use the code EXTRA15, saving a further £225.

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Created by iconic bridal designer Vera Wang, this ring is said to emulate the legacy of timeless romance. This beautifully crafted ring features an 18ct white gold band in a wide range of sizes and is adorned with round and baguette diamonds, complemented by diamond-set shoulders. This ring also features a blue sapphire accent, symbolising everlasting love.

With a total diamond carat weight of 0.50ct, this solitaire ring would normally cost £2750, but can currently be picked up for the much more affordable price of £1275 thanks to Ernest Jones’ current deal.

Elsewhere at Ernest Jones is this Engagement Ring Vera Wang Platinum Emerald Cut Halo 0.69ct Diamond Ring, which would normally cost a steep £3500, but is now up for grabs for the much lower price of £1500 (not including the further 15% off).

If you’d prefer to shop elsewhere, H.Samuel is running a sale that has seen this Engagement Ring The Forever Diamond Platinum Halo 0.50ct Diamond Ring plummet from £2199.99, down to £879.

The Olympian reportedly has a promising career as an influencer following his wedding to Gordon Ramsay’s daughter

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Newlyweds Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay are reportedly set to bank £5m as they embark on their mission to become the “new Posh and Becks”. According to a source, the Olympian wants to follow in the footsteps of his wife – daughter of Gordon Ramsay – and can launch the next step of his career as an influencer.

But it’s thought his family – who were all uninvited to his wedding with the exception of his sister Bethany – are less than impressed by the Olympian’snmove. Adam’s December wedding was overshadowed by a huge family fall out, in which his aunt Louise hit out at her nephew in a scathing text message, which he didn’t receive, as he had blocked his family.

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It’s thought Adam will turn to former footballer David and fashion mogul Victoria for advice, after they replaced his own parents in his recent wedding pictures. Adam began paving the way for a change in career even before their wedding by signing with Holly’s talent management agency Hypesight.

PR Expert Lynn Carrat, director of E20 Communications, told The Sun that the decision was “a thoughtful pivot” towards becoming “a new power couple, echoing the path of their friends, the Beckhams.”

She predicts the couple will earn around £5 million over the next year, and once he retires from swimming, will follow “a trajectory similar to Brand Beckham”.

A source told The Sun: “His own family find the whole thing pretty loathsome; it’s certainly not the Adam they once knew.”

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Earlier this week, The Mirror reported was facing a ‘huge risk’ by joining Holly’s agency. Some questioned whether the Britain’s Olympic swimmer is drifting too far from his sporting roots.

But according to PR expert Mayah Riaz, the move is far from the disaster some have suggested, and could, if handled carefully, mark a smart evolution in Adam’s career as he cashes in on his wedding to Holly Ramsay. “This move has raised eyebrows, but I don’t think it is the PR car crash some people are framing it as. From a brand perspective, Adam Peaty is not ‘ditching’ his family so much as professionalising his next chapter.

“Elite athletes often outgrow informal management structures, especially when their career is evolving beyond medals and into media, partnerships and long term brand building. Adam Peaty is at a crossroads many athletes face.

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“The medals are secured, now the legacy is being shaped. I believe if it’s done well, this could be a masterclass in reinvention. Done badly, it of course risks diluting one of Britain’s most respected sporting brands.”The 31-year-old has long been associated with a close-knit family support system, but his recent wedding sparked divide amongst his family, with only his sister Bethany in attendance.

Stepping into a more polished, commercial setup inevitably changes that narrative but does come with a risk. “The risk, of course, is perception. Family narratives sell because they feel authentic and the public can relate to them, so stepping away from that can look cold if it is not handled carefully.

“But the public is far more forgiving when the story is framed as growth rather than rejection. If Adam communicates gratitude and continuity, this becomes a smart evolution, not a betrayal.”

The choice of agency is particularly noteworthy. Holly Ramsay’s growing presence in the influencer world brings both opportunity and intense scrutiny, thanks in part to the weight of the Ramsay name.

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In his description on the website – Hypesight – they referred to the wedding and said that Adam was stepping into a “new era” where his sports background meets a “quietly elevated sense of modernity”. They also said Adam’s family was “central to his narrative”.

“Joining Holly Ramsay’s agency is interesting because it blends credibility with commercial savvy,” Mayah adds. “The Ramsay name opens doors, but it also comes with scrutiny. Adam has to be careful not to look like he has swapped sporting excellence for celebrity by association. The golden rule here is simple. His achievements must always come first, the influencing should feel like a by product, not the main event.”

Love Island host Maya Jama has publicly asked Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok not to modify her photos, revealing she was previously targeted by explicit fake images

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Love Island host Maya Jama has directly appealed to Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok, requesting it stop altering or manipulating her images after several followers told it to make ‘deepfake’ bikini images of her, saying: “The internet is scary and only getting worse.”

It follows regulator Ofcom making “urgent contact” with the billionaire’s platform X, which developed the integrated AI tool, after reports emerged that users had been prompting it to create sexualised imagery of individuals, including children.

Jama, who boasts nearly 700,000 followers on X, wrote: “Hey @grok, I do not authorise you to take, modify, or edit any photo of mine, whether those published in the past or the upcoming ones I post. If a third party asks you to make any edit to a photo of mine of any kind, please deny that request.”

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In another message, the television personality expressed hope that people possess the common sense to distinguish between genuine content and AI-generated material, particularly after deepfakes of her surfaced several years back.

She revealed: “Before ‘grok’ someone photoshopped bikini photos I had on my Instagram to nudes and they went around, I only found out because my own mum sent them to me worried. The internet is scary and only getting worse smh (shaking my head).”

Grok responded acknowledging her concerns and confirming it would honour her request not to use, alter or manipulate any of the presenter’s photographs. It replied: “As an AI, I don’t generate or alter images myself – my responses are text-based. If anyone asks me to do so with your content, I’ll decline. Thanks for letting me know.”

This follows a statement from an online safety group confirming the presence of “criminal imagery of children aged between 11 and 13 which appears to have been created using the (Grok) tool”.

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The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) revealed that this disturbing content was being shared on a dark web forum, with users bragging about their use of Grok and its ease of use.

On Wednesday, the Women and Equalities Committee, a group of MPs, declared they would cease using X. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall supported the regulator’s stance, emphasising the urgent need for action on this matter. Downing Street also weighed in, stating that “all options were on the table”, including a potential boycott of X.

After being approached for a comment, the communications team from X referred The Mirror to a post from the Safety account which reads: “We take action against illegal content on X, including Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), by removing it, permanently suspending accounts, and working with local governments and law enforcement as necessary.

“Anyone using or prompting Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content. For more information on our policies, please refer to our help pages for our full X Rules and range of enforcement options.”

Jama will shortly be seen on ITV as the host of Love Island: All Stars. The series, which will start airing it’s third season on 12 January, sees former Love Islanders head to South Africa for a second (or third, and even fourth in some cases) chance at finding love. This year’s series will see big names such as Whitney Adebayo and Millie Court return.

Marks & Spencer shoppers can get three of its bestselling fragrances for £5 each thanks to a handy, travel-friendly gift set

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Marks & Spencer isn’t just nailing the fashion game; it’s also got a range of bestselling fragrances that smell just as good as expensive perfumes for a fraction of the price.

And shoppers can try out a selection of three scents for £16 thanks to the Fragrance Trio Set Eau de Toilette set. This works out as £5.30 per 30ml perfume.

Included in the set is Warm Neroli, a fresh, citrus scent with a warming musk base. Velvet Amber brings the floral notes combined with neroli and amber. Last up is Soft Oud, a luxurious and comforting smell based on gourmand vanilla and tonka bean.

The 30ml size makes these fragrances perfect for travel or keeping in your daily handbag. Whether worn alone or layered together, these distinctive scents are ideal for adding to your current fragrance collection.

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One shopper praised the set for its handy sized bottles, and the chance to test out fragrances from M&S’ Discover collection. They wrote, “Scent…sational set. Lovely set enabling me to test out various scents for different occasions. Ideal size to put in your handbag or travelling.”

While a second added, “Excellent purchase and quality perfumes. My daughter loves these perfumes”. However, one shopper criticised the perfumes for being “Over hyped dupes” of luxury scents.

For those after more fragrance savings, LookFantastic has slashed 40% off the Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau de Parfum 50ml Gift Set (Worth £124). Featuring a 50ml Libre bottle, and a mini Lash Clash mascara, this luxe duo is now £66 down from £110.

The songwriter, best known for working with Reba McEntire and Alan Jackson, “unexpectedly” died after falling.

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Country music icon Jim McBride has passed away at the age of 78. The songwriter, who worked with the likes of Reba McEntire and Alan Jackson, “unexpectedly” died on January 6 after falling. Jim wrote Alan Jackson’s hit tracks Chattahoochee and Chasing that Neon Rainbow.

His friend and fellow songwriter Jerry Salley wrote: “I never dreamed when I woke up this morning that I would receive the shocking news that I received. My closest and longest friend I’ve ever had passed away unexpectedly this morning from a fall that he took last Monday, late afternoon.”

Jim will forever be remembered for the impact he made on the Nashville music scene. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1995.

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The Alabama Music Hall of Fame wrote in a statement: “Our condolences go out to Jeanne and the entire McBride family on the passing of Mr. Jim McBride. Jim was a beloved Alabamian, songwriter, friend, mentor, and so much more.”

Jim’s talent led to five Grammy nominations for Song of the Year and a CMA Song of the Year award for Chattahoochee. Jerry reflected on his long-time friendship with his “best friend”.

He said: “Jim McBride wasn’t just a close friend, he was a true, lifelong Brother to me. My best friend We talked or texted every few days right up until the end.

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“We met at my very first publishing company back in the early 1980’s. He was already a big hit songwriter, having had hits with Conway Twitty, Johnny Lee and others.

“I’ll never know why he took a chance to write with me, but man, we hit it off, became instant friends, and loved being in the writing room together. He always brought out the very best in me.”

Salley explained how the duo had supported each other through life’s ups and downs, including family deaths, divorces and career challenges. He also said Jim had sent him a meme just two days before his tragic fall.

He ended the post: “Rest In Peace my Brother,” adding, I love you, and will miss you, our conversations, our adventures and all the laughter we shared till then.”

Speaking about being inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017, Jim told Billboard: “I was totally in shock, and got a little misty-eyed, if you want to know the truth. If you’re a songwriter in Nashville, that’s it — you don’t have anything to prove after that.”

Talking about the success of his song Chattahoochee, he added: “I think that there’s a Chattahoochee River in almost everybody’s history, where they used to go fishing or the family went for picnics or stuff. I really think that had a lot to do with it.”