Category Entertainment News

Ella Barnes was a contestant on season 10 of Love Island in 2023 where she coupled up with Mitchel Taylor. Since then, she has found romance with a new man – but he lives over 1, 000 miles away.

Love Island star Ella Barnes has confessed she only sees her boyfriend once every two weeks – as they live hundreds of miles apart. The 25-year-old reality star was a contestant on season 10 of ITV’s dating show back in 2023 where viewers saw her fall for fellow contestant Mitchel Taylor, 28.

Sadly, love did not last between Ella and Mitch, and they broke up soon after leaving the villa. However, full-time influencer Ella later found romance with Malta-born Neil Farrugia late last year.

The couple have seemed very loved up since they went Instagram official last October, but Ella has admitted she does not get to see her lover as often as she would like. This is due to the huge distance between them – consisting of 1,300 miles.

Ella and Neil did, however, get to spend a reasonable amount of time together as they spent a month travelling and enjoying each others ‘ company. Now that they have returned to their respective homes, they have reverted to seeing each other just once every fortnight.

The Love Island star shared details of her long-distance romance via Instagram, writing: “As most of you know he lives in Malta so we only see each other every 2 weeks! So spending a whole month together was so special and we had the best time and created so many memories!

” Now it’s even harder going from spending every day together to being back to long distance again. “She then added excitedly:” 2 weeks countdown is on. “

Ella went on to share details of her recent holiday in Thailand with Neil as she took on questions from fans. When asked where she stayed, the reality star replied:” We had a nightmare with the first villa as we ended up having no water because we were so high up in the hills. We had to go and check into a hotel instead which honestly was so much easier. “

She continued:” Our second villa was really nice and had no problems apart from again with it being so high up we struggled with taxis getting up the hills. “She then went on to share some insights and advice to fellow travellers.

She wrote:” Also, if you book villas in Thailand you have to pay extra for electricity on top of what you pay! So hotels are the better option in general. However our villa had the most incredible views and we loved having our own space and pool. “

Ella recently opened up about a medical issue that occurred in the Love Island villa which viewers never saw. She revealed in the Bombshell Briefing series:” There were actually a lot of people when they first went in, they couldn’t actually go to the toilet because you’re obviously sharing with boys, so a lot of the girls were constipated.

“The nurse would actually have to give them tablets to go because your body’s stressed as it is in a new environment. There could be boys waiting outside, you just wanna have a bit of you-time.

” You can’t go, your body’s stressed but once you get used to it and you’ve been in that environment, you just have to get on with it. It was definitely a shock for me when I went in. “

She added:” The girls in my series actually had a separate toilet upstairs and there was a main toilet downstairs, so we ended up saying that was the girl’s toilet and the boys had one downstairs. “

Joan Collins has celebrated Mother’s Day by sharing a touching throwback photo of herself with her rarely-seen children from the 1960s and praised other mothers

Joan Collins has shared a touching picture of her rarely seen children to celebrate Mother’s Day as she reflected on her life as a mother. The Hollywood star uploaded a black and white photo of herself alongside her daughter, Tara, and son, Alexander from the 1960’s.

Joan, 91 – who is a mum of three – captioned the post writing: “Sending love…and STRENGTH…to all mothers today…particularly those with #twoundertwo. I should know.” Joan’s youngest daughter, Katyana, was not present for the picture as it was taken before she was born.

Wearing a tailored coat and low-heeled court shoes Joan added a stylish baker boy hat to her look as she posed with the children who were sat on a luggage trolley joining their mother for a journey. Joan welcomed Tara and Alexander with Doctor Dolittle star Anthony Newley.

Tara, 61, was born on October 12, 1963, with Alexander following on September 8 1965. Talking about the children Joan told The Sunday Times in 2020: “I was already pregnant when I married Tony Newley. I was 29, I’d been an actress for ten years, and I was getting a bit bored and broody.

“I wanted a little girl, and I got my Tara Cynara — she was the centre of my world. Sacha came along when Tara was 13 months old, so I had two under two. I was a full-on, hands-on mother until they went to nursery.”

She added:” By then, we were living in Beverly Hills, and I started to get a lot of roles in television. That’s when I realised that I loved acting and I loved the business. I just wanted to get back to work. “

Joan and Tony eventually got divorced in 1971 but before long she found love again and by 1972 she was ready to walk down the aisle again, this time getting hitched to recording executive Ron Kass.

Joan has previously admitted she had no plans to ever marry again but when she met Ron things changed and she found herself deeply in love and agreeing to be his wife within weeks of them meeting.

She previously wrote in a MailOnline column:” I was 35 and determined never to get hitched again. But then I met a tall, handsome American called Ronald S. Kass through a mutual friend.

“Within weeks, he’d asked me to marry him. This was jumping the gun, to say the least, as he was still married himself, with three kids under six.

” We married, our darling Katyana – known as Katy – was born soon afterwards, and the next three years were among the happiest in my life. “However Joan and Ron eventually got divorced in 1985 after 13 years of marriage.

The iconic star went on to get married for a third time in 2002 when she tied the knot with movie producer and fellow actor, Percy Gibson. The pair live in London and often spend quality time with all three of Joan’s children and share photos of their time together on social media.

Former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson and her partner Zion Foster shared an update on her difficult pregnancy after the singer was rushed to hospital requiring surgery

Pregnant singer Jesy Nelson and her boyfriend Zion Foster took to Instagram to share a positive update regarding their unborn twins. It comes after the former Little Mix star was rushed to hospital and told she needed to have an urgent procedure to save her unborn twins.

Thankfully, the pair brought good news in the Mother’s Day post while Jesy remains in hospital. She explained her surgery was a success and the TTTS has cleared up. She previously revealed she was pre-stage twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), meaning her babies were at risk of developing the rare syndrome.

Jesy said on Sunday: “Basically, the situation that we’re in now is my cervix is very, very, short, so I can’t leave the hospital because my waters could break at any point and I’m still very, very, early”.

She went on to say the couple are praying their unborn babies “stay in my belly” but added: “we are just so grateful that they are still here and they’re still growing strong and we’re just so grateful”.

And Zion revealed fundraising plans to help others in a similarly precarious situation. He said: “One week at a time but we’re in such a blessed position to even be here”.

He went on to reveal: “So, I have decided to runt he London Marathon in the next four weeks. It was literally such an impromptu thing but the opportunity came through a charity called the Twins Trust”.

Zion explained how they had heard so many good stories about the trust that he felt he really wanted to help out, gushing how they “literally save lives”.

“With Jes going through what she’s going through, as much as I’m going through it too, I kind of feel like I’m not really carrying the babies so this is my way of saying I’m going to throw myself into it at the deep end. I’m going to run a marathon in four weeks”.

The duo explained they will be fundraising for the event, saying any donation will help. Jesy then acted like his cheerleader as she yelled: “Come on Zion”, before he rubbed her belly and added: “Come on twins, we need you to stay in there. Keep going”

Fans flocked to the latest update to send messages of support. One user wrote “Oh my. I’ve been really worried and scared. I’m so happy for you all! I’ve prayed every day, I’m so happy for you both my loves.

” I’ve been thinking of you ALL THE TIME. I’ve been so worried. I love you all so so much, I’m so excited for you both for what’s coming. I love you all so much and I’m so happy for you 4! “

Another fan praised Zion, writing:” Go Zion!!! You’ve been such a good papa and partner, you’ve been there for your JJ and your twins when they need you the most. “

Jesy shared that she was undergoing a procedure that will give her twins “the best chance of surviving” earlier this monthafter learning of complications around her high-risk pregnancy.

The singer, 33, from Romford, who previously revealed she had” pre-stage “twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), which affects identical twins who share a placenta, said her symptoms, such as shortness of breath, have become” worse”.

In an Instagram video, she said:” I’ve been feeling a bit poorly, like the past few days, been having a few of the symptoms that I need to watch out for, which is like my belly tightening, struggle breathing. So today we came into the hospital to just have a check-up, basically, just in case.

“And unfortunately the symptoms have got worse, so they have to perform the procedure, which is obviously not what we wanted to happen, but it’s necessary because it’s going to give our babies the best chance of surviving. We’re just waiting to go in and we’re just hoping and praying for the best really”.

She added: “I feel gutted. I feel absolutely gutted because I really was hoping that we wouldn’t even be in this position. That’s why they do this procedure, so that it literally gives you the best chance of your baby surviving, but it’s obviously just really scary, because there’s so many things that can happen”.

Jesy previously said her twins were monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA), meaning they share a single placenta but have their own separate sacs. TTTS affects 10 to 15% of identical twins who share a placenta, and it “can have serious consequences”, according to the NHS website.

The condition is caused by abnormal connecting blood vessels in the twins ‘ placenta which leads to an imbalanced blood flow from one twin, known as the donor, to the recipient twin, leaving one baby with a greater blood volume than the other.

Charity The Twins Trust says laser therapy is a possible form of treatment and works by separating the connections in the placenta. The imbalance can return, however, so the condition needs to be closely monitored until birth.

In Thorn Birds, Richard Chamberlain starred as conflicted priest Ralph who fell for Meggie played by British actress Rachel Ward. His love rival for Meggie’s affections Luke played by Bryan Brown

An enduring true love story lies behind one of the most romantic TV series of all time.

The Thorn Birds had at its heart a love triangle featuring English actress Rachel Ward as Meggie, Richard Chamberlain as conflicted priest Ralph and Aussie actor Bryan Brown as Meggie’s future husband, Luke.

As news of Richard Chamberlain’s passing at the age of 90, leaves fans in mourning, the Mirror looks at the love triangle his iconic role saw him at the heart of. ,

On screen, the passion was between Ralph and Meggie, while her marriage to Luke was not the stuff of fairy tales. But the actors playing them, Bryan and Rachel, did get their happy ever after.

On set they fell madly in love and wed months after filming ended in 1983.

In an exclusive Mirror interview in 2022 Bryan told us: “It’s amazing to think Rachel and I have been married almost 40 years. You cannot underestimate how huge the show was all over the world.

” But whatever work opportunities came from that, I will always be more grateful to it for my 40-year marriage and family. “

From the start, he says, there was an attraction between himself and Rachel. Playing around on set, he read her palm and accurately predicted she would have three children. He laughs:” Yes, I did say that but I didn’t say they would be mine! “

Bryan has enjoyed a long Hollywood career in a string of movies, including Cocktail, Gorillas in the Mist, Australia and Along Came Polly.

He also starred in 2019 movie Palm Beach directed by Rachel. It also stars Bryan and Rachel’s daughter Matilda as well as a host of veteran actors, including Sam Neil and Richard E Grant.

Rachel has carved out a career as a successful director having cut down on acting roles after The Thorn Birds.

Now 66, she’s spoken candidly about how publicity surrounding the show – the most-watched series after Roots – left her with a mass of insecurities.

Oxfordshire-born Rachel beat stars Jane Seymour, Kim Basinger, Michelle Pfeiffer and Olivia Newton-John to the Meggie role.

Bryan told The Mirror: “There was a lot of attention on Rachel – it wasn’t something she could handle. I doubt anyone really would.

“But we had a great time making the show and ultimately we each met the person we wanted to spend the rest of our lives with.

” There is always that balance of good and bad in life. Nothing is ever one thing or the other, is it? “

Rachel has previously revealed her initial attraction to Bryan was pretty” basic”… it was his pecs that won her attention. And how even co-star, legendary actress Jean Simmons who played Meggie’s mum Fiona had noticed Bryan’s charms and pushed the two to be together.

Richard Chamberlain, the fictional object of Meggie’s lust, said he had never seen” two people more in love”.

In typical Aussie-bloke style, Bryan is a bit cooler on the subject, saying only:” I could tell there was attraction on her part and the feelings were reciprocated. “

But their decision to tie the knot came in the most unlikely of circumstances”. I was in London to film Give My Regards to Broad Street with Paul McCartney. Rachel came with me, “recalls Bryan.

” We took a week off to go to Ireland and had this massive argument. I just thought if we’re gonna argue like that, we may as well get married. “

They wed that year at Rachel’s childhood home, Cornwell Manor, a Georgian mansion in Oxfordshire, before moving to Australia. The pair settled in Sydney and their children Rose, 38, Matilda, 35, and James, 30, now all live nearby.

In 2019 they became grandparents for the first time when Matilda had a son, Zan.

Unusually, Bryan was present at the birth, although it wasn’t planned that way”. No one in the delivery room told me to get out so I didn’t, “he explains. It was just supposed to be gran-to-be Rachel at the birth but it seems the labour caught Matilda’s parents off guard.

Bryan added:” We were having dinner with the now Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, when there were lots of messages from Matilda screaming ‘ Mum is supposed to be here. ‘ We both raced to the hospital and I sat behind Matilda, patting her head. I’d seen the births of all my children. I didn’t see why I should leave this one. “

Matilda now also has a four -year-old girl Anouk. At the mention of her and Zan, now six, Bryan’s eyes light up”. I just love playing with them – they are adorable. “

Becoming a grandparent meant the separation from family to film Acorn TV series Darby and Joan became more difficult.

” I did miss all of them terribly on this shoot, and it was also over Covid, which made things even harder, “says Bryan.

Bryan said:” I did miss all of them terribly on this shoot. “But with fewer responsibilities, he and Rachel are able to indulge more in their other great passion – horse riding. Bryan says:” I’ve been riding ever since Thorn Birds but Rachel grew up on horses. “

The pair have galloped off to the hills in Bulgaria, Israel and Canada and are planning a trip a little closer to home in New Zealand.

When not travelling, the couple spend some free time watching British telly via streaming platforms.

” We’re a big fan of Vera and Midsomer Murders, “Bryan revealed” They’re very easy to watch, and it’s why I was attracted to starring in Darby and Joan – it sits very easily among those kinds of series. It’s something I would want to watch myself. “

So, apart from having the same travel and TV interests, what’s the secret to a long-lasting marriage?

Bryan doesn’t miss a beat:” The main thing is to say Yes to your wife all the time and if anything goes wrong say ‘ It’s my fault’. If men understood that they’d be happier. “

Iconic Channel 4 competition The Great British Bake Off have welcomed a new judge in the form of Lady Caroline Waldegrave who is stepping in for her pal Prue Leith

Caroline Waldegrave, who is also known as Lady Waldegrave of North Hill, is stepping in for the beloved Prue Leith as a guest judge on The Great British Bake Off. Caroline, 74, is a close friend of Prue’s, has earned high praise from the seasoned judge.

“Caroline is absolutely ideal! She’s the kindest, most insightful teacher. Both the bakers and the audience are going to love her”, Prue gushed before her exit from the iconic Channel 4 competition.

Fans were introduced to Caroline last month when The Great British Bake Off revealed her role in an Instagram announcement, offering a sneak peek of the OBE honoree’s life behind the scenes.

At the time, the caption read: “Caroline is a former co-owner and managing director of Leiths School of Food and Wine, and a longtime friend of Prue’s. Her palate is among the best in the business”.

Looking back on her decision to appear on the show, Caroline admitted to Channel 4 that she was initially “terrified” about the idea but soon warmed up to the experience. “Everyone – from the crew to Paul – was incredibly kind and welcoming, so I eventually felt at ease,” she told.

She continued: “As a viewer, I’ve always loved watching people bake. But what I really enjoyed was seeing a competition that was so full of kindness”.

She also shared her thoughts on the nature of baking versus cooking: “Baking requires precision and following a recipe. Unlike cooking, where you can go by instinct, baking demands accuracy. If you stick to the recipe, you’ll succeed. I run my own cookery school, and we talk about Bake Off all the time. We’re all huge fans”.

Caroline’s current role is at Dudwell School, located on the grounds of the Waldegrave family’s estate, Dudwell Field Farm, which she shares with her husband, William Waldegrave, the British politician and former Cabinet minister, known as Baron Waldegrave of North Hill.

The couple has four children: Katie, Liza, Jamie, and Harriet. When she’s not teaching or baking, Caroline enjoys sharing photos of her scrumptious creations on social media.

While Caroline is quickly becoming a fan favorite, you may be wondering why Prue isn’t present for the special celebrity edition of the show. The reason is simple: she’s taken a step back from filming to enjoy some much-needed downtime.

“The filming schedule is non-stop, from April to the end of August, with hardly any breaks in between”, Prue explained. “I’m getting older, and there are places I want to visit”.

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The Wanted star Max George shared an emotional tribute to former bandmate and friend Tom Parker three years after he died following a grade IV glioblastoma diagnosis

Three years ago the world mourned the death of The Wanted star Tom Parker. Now, his bandmate, Max George, has shared an emotional tribute to his pal as he battles his own health issues. The singer recently underwent emergency heart surgery after being rushed to hospital over Christmas.

Max, 36, took to Instagram to share a touching message on the anniversary of Tom’s death, after he died following being diagnosis with grade IV glioblastoma – a form of inoperable brain tumour.

Max shared a black-and-white image of the pair smiling as he captioned the upload: “3 years… Love you all the same mate”, alongside a red love heart emoji.

His words follow a similar post by Tom’s widowed wife Kelsey. In a post that also marked Mother’s Day, Kelsey, 34, honoured Tom’s life. She shared several photos from their many years together.

She began by uploading two snaps of the duo smartly dressed for a dinner event. Kelsey then added a number of other uploads of herself and Tom while out and about. In them, the pair are seen smiling while holding hands and being silly during evenings out.

Further photos showed off the pair’s wedding day, as well as a shot of baby Bodhi laying against his dad. The final image was of Tom beaming as he held both Aurelia and Bodhi on his lap when they were little.

Kelsey wrote: “Three years without you. Energy can’t be destroyed only transferred. I can feel you with us everyday! We miss you so much baby. There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t miss you and don’t talk about you”. She added a heart and sparkle emoji.

She also shared her post on her Instagram Stories, where she added: “Three years without you. But I feel you with us every day. We miss you”.

Kelsey and Tom had started dating in 2009. The pair married in a stunning outdoor ceremony in July 2018 before going on to welcome daughter Aurelia and son Bodhi. Kelsey revealed in January that she and her new partner Will were expecting their first child.

Max, meanwhile, is dealing with the recovery process after needing heart surgery. He was rushed to the hospital in December after his mother noticed he had turned blue.

Tests showed his heart was dangerously weak, and he was quickly fitted with a pacemaker just before Christmas. After a period of rest and rehabilitation, Max has made a strong return to the stage.

He is currently touring the UK in Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds alongside his girlfriend, Maisie Smith, as the singer celebrated a major milestone this week.

He recently posted on Instagram, saying: “It’s been a long road since December… but we got here! Currently in rehearsals for Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds, and it’s gonna be EPIC. Another arena tour to tick off the bucket list… including the Co-op Live Arena in my hometown for the first time”.