Category Entertainment News

After raising eyebrows by admitting she swerved her GCSEs in favour of pursuing a showbiz career, 16-year-old Scarlett has been spending time in the studio where she’s been showcasing her talent

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Teenager Scarlett Thomas has launched her music career after she ditched her GCSEs this summer. The 16-year-old, who is the daughter of former Coronation Street couple Ryan Thomas and Tina O’Brien, Scarlett has controversially swerved school for showbiz.

Having built up an impressive following on social media – with the help of her famous family – Scarlett has been spending time in the studio. Sharing a video of herself showing off her incredible talent, the teenager is hoping to forge a career in the entertainment industry.

She can be seen singing in the studio, where she looks a natural, covering Maybe, by British singer-songwriter Sienna Spiro. Lucy Fallon has commented on her post, writing: “stunning scarlett,” while her uncles, Adam and Scott, sent their own messages of support.

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As well as having Corrie royalty for parents, the Waterloo Road star’s uncles are also no strangers to the small screen. Her uncles, Adam and Scott, found fame on Emmerdale and Love Island, respectively. Meanwhile, Ryan’s current wif,e Lucy Mecklenburgh – Scarlett’s stepmum – found fame on reality show The Only Way Is Essex.

Scarlett, who is garnering attention for her performance as Izzy Charles on BBC soap Waterloo Road, caused concern when she admitted she didn’t bother with her GCSEs. On GCSE results day, she shared on social media that she would “forever wonder” what grades she could have got.

Over the footage on Instagram, she wrote to fans: “Watching everyone get there GCSE results today wondering if I could’ve had good results but I will forever wonder.”

Scarlett, who used Phoebe Bridgers’ song Sidelines as the soundtrack to it, congratulated students in the caption. She wrote on the platform: “Well done everyone you all should be beyond proud whatever results you got.”

But despite getting a bit of a leg up from her famous family, proud dad Ryan defended Scarlett amid ‘nepo baby’ claims from critics. His brother Adam appeared on Waterloo Road from 2006 to 2009, but Ryan explained how Scarlett had got the role on merit.

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He told the Sun: “She worked damn hard to get that job, and people need to recognise that she’s a talented girl – she’s up against other people and she’s not getting a free ride. She has to go through the same process as everyone else – it was between her and somebody else. It wasn’t like, ‘This is a Thomas, she’s going to get this job’.”

Scarlett has also had to defend herself over claims she couldn’t have got where she is on her own. Months before, she shared a video on social media, over which she typed out an apparent comment that she had received.

It read: “You only got these opportunities because of your family.” She then added a message to fans in response over the footage, which showed her riding in a car as Easy by the Commodores played. Scarlett wrote: “God forbid a girl takes the chances she gets.”

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YouTube icons Dan and Phil have opened up over the impact of boundary-pushing fan behaviour after finally confirming a longstanding rumour over their relationship

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Iconic YouTube duo Dan and Phil have delighted fans everywhere after confirming they were in a secret 16-year relationship. However, the pair also opened up over how their intense fandom had a detrimental effect on their personal lives – leaving many reckoning with the impact of parasocial behaviour.

Dan (34) and Phil (38) were YouTube sensations, snowballing in popularity throughout the 2010s as they posted vlogs, challenges and gaming videos together. They’ve been a little quieter over recent years, but their latest YouTube video has proved to be a bombshell.

In the 47-minute long YouTube video the pair came online to confirm a long-running rumour: they have been dating each other for the past 16 years. The Internet quickly rejoiced, as comment sections flooded with excited fans and some even claimed they were reaching out to friends they hadn’t spoken to in over a decade to share the news.

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However, segments of Dan and Phil’s video struck a darker chord. The pair admitted that the way a more rabid portion of their predominately young fanbase behaved put a strain on their career and relationship – to the point where it affected their mental health.

During the height of the pair’s popularity, the idea that the two were secretly dating became a popular fan theory. Viewers created a “ship name” for the duo known as “Phan” and drew sexualised artwork, penned lurid fanfics and flooded their comments sections with observations about their supposed relationship.

While Dan and Phil emphasised that they weren’t calling out all of their fans, they said that there were some who took the rumours way too far, leaving them feeling completely objectified. “It’s almost as if people are no longer interested in the real you,” Dan said.

Meanwhile, Phil described how “disheartening” it was to put so much effort into a video only for the comments to be speculating over his and Dan’s relationship.

But despite the intensity of the rumours, the pair kept their romance a secret. Dan explained that this was partly because they didn’t want to become known as the “gay couple show”. Nor did he want their relationship to become something they were selling to their audience.

However, it also ran deeper. Dan admitted that he grew up in a homophobic environment, which made it difficult for him to accept his own sexuality. “In my mid-twenties I felt like I had to hide the relationship because I was still hiding who I was to my friends, family and myself,” he said.

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“Which is why all of the digging from people online hit a nerve – because Phil was my safe space,” Dan said. According to Dan, many fans became hostile when he refused to admit to the rumours because he was ruining their “show”.

He said: “Having all of these people try to out us and being so hostile to me when I tried to hide it was so triggering. Honestly, it could have killed me.”

Their transparency over their experience with their crazed fanbase has left many online reflecting over their own parasocial behaviour. Amongst many comments saying “they knew” all along, others have acknowledged that the pair’s relationship really isn’t their business.

“You didn’t ever have to announce this. We aren’t owed anything. But clearly it’s something you’ve done for yourselves and it’s that much more special. Proud of you for taking care of yourselves first and setting a good example of boundaries,” one wrote.

“After all the internet has done to you guys, this was probably really scary to publish. So happy for you. I hope you guys get the peace and love you deserve,” another added.

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Cookery writer and TV star Mary Berry is looking back over career ahead of BBC series around her 90th birthday

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Dame Mary Berry thinks about her late son “every day” but insists she has been very fortunate in life.

The food writer, chef, baker and television presenter has enjoyed an incredible career and will be back on screen later this month in the BBC series Mary at 90: A Lifetime of Cooking. Looking back over her life and career as she promoted the show, the former Bake Off judge was asked about her son William, who was killed aged 19 in a car crash in 1989.

Mary said: “I think of William every day. Of course I do. And if he were to walk through that door over there, I would say, ‘Where the hell have you been?’ I’m still very proud of him. I think of the joy he gave us. He was a lovely child, but you have to step back and think – I had wonderful parents, I’ve got two more children, Annabel and Tom, and my grandchildren. I mean, it would be devastating if you only had one child. I am very fortunate. And I have a husband who is 93.”

Mary has been married to her husband Paul since 1966, and as well as William, they have a son, Thomas, and a daughter, Annabel, whom she remains close to. Annabel works with her mum and is an accomplished chef in her own right. Mary said the secret of her happy marriage was walking away when an argument was on the cards.

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She told Radio Times: “Paul always says that the secret to our long marriage is his saying, ‘Yes, dear’ to everything, and then going his own way. But we don’t argue. If any disagreements come up, I open the back door and just go out and maybe pick some flowers or get some apples. It’s amazing if you can walk away.

“Of course, if I was living in a top-floor flat, that would be difficult. But we respect each other. And I’m very lucky. He has mellowed in his old age and he’s become very appreciative of me.

“So I look after him, and it’s a great pleasure. That’s what I promised to do. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer. And we are very happy in our dotage.”

Mary has been working on screen long enough with food to remember when five spices and fresh ginger were exciting new ingredients to use and tin foil came over to the UK from America for the first time.

She says she has Delia Smith to thank for a pay rise when she was a young writer. “Delia was absolutely brilliant. She came to stay with her husband Michael and we chatted about all sorts of things. I mean, you should never discuss money, sex or religion. But we did discuss money.

“She said, ‘You’re not being paid enough for your writing. I know an agent, Felicity Bryan, and I’ll ring her tonight.’ And the next day I got a postcard from Felicity saying, ‘Can we meet?’ And I’m still with her agency for my books.”

Fast forward a few decades and Mary has more than 70 books and sold more than five million copies. She is also known for her loyalty, staying with the BBC when the Great British Bake Off moved to Channel 4.

She said: “I feel very cherished by the BBC, and it was quite right I stayed with them,”

* Mary at 90: A Lifetime of Cooking will be on BBC2 and BBC iPlayer later this month.

Molly-Mae Hague has been accused of being “too soft” with her two-year-old daughter Bambi after social media parenting experts accuse her of causing her toddler’s tantrums

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Former Love Island winner Molly-Mae Hague has once again drawn criticism from bitter mum-shamers after letting her toddler swap her drink when getting a drive-thru Costa. The 26-year-old Maebe businesswoman and social media influencer can’t do right for doing wrong when it comes to the watchful eyes of the internet’s parenting experts.

Her latest YouTube vlog saw the reality TV star hit the Costa drive-through to get a sweet treat for her and her two-year-old daughter, Bambi. Grabbing herself a Strawberries and Cream drink, she got her daughter a hot chocolate and handed it back to her.

The mum-of-one told her fans: “I really have a sweet tooth right now, I need to fulfil my sweet tooth, so that’s exactly what we’re doing.” She sat in the car, before passing Bambi a “yummy” hot chocolate, telling her: “Bambi, you are gonna love that…Wow, girl. You’re gonna love that.”

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Holding up her own drink, Molly-Mae said: “I got a Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino – I don’t know what came over me, I need something sweet.” But, in true toddler fashion, Bambi instantly wanted what her mum had.

The tot demanded: “I wanna try mummy’s.” Social media star Molly-Mae tried to reason with her daughter, offering: “Try yours first and you can try mine.”

Realising resistance is futile, she told the camera: “She’s seen mine and she’s like, ‘yeah, I think I’ll have a bit of that.’” Picking her battles with the drink situation, Molly-Mae gave in, swapping her “milkshake” for the hot chocolate.

Bambi laughed triumphantly, with Molly-Mae joking: “Girl, you’re gonna be bouncing off the walls after that.” When she asked Bambi for a sip of her own drink, she responded: “No! I want it!”

Elsewhere in the vlog, Molly-Mae admitted to committing a “cardinal sin” as a mum – a crime most parents would admit to after a hard day. She explained: “We’ve had a bath, we’re nice and calm, we’ve had dinner, we’ve got our milk and now we’re watching a little bit of Barbie with a sun hat on.”

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Predicting what her critics would have to say about it, Molly-Mae jumped in: “Screen time before bed probably seems a cardinal sin. I should be reading her a story.

“I did say to her before bed she could come and sit in my bed, so we’re watching a bit of Barbie on the phone, and then it’s bedtime. We’ve had a really, really long day today.”

As ever, her comments were awash with unsolicited parenting advice from viewers, with some telling her she shouldn’t be Bambi’s “best friend”. One wrote: “Stop spoiling her, that was your drink. She needs to learn she cannot have everything she wants, it’s ok to say no.”

Another added: “Being a parent is so important, stop being her best friend!!” Someone else said: “Everything about this is so so wrong.”

One fan typed: “She’s got her wrapped round her finger big time, no wonder she has tantrums.” Another warned: “You’re making a rod for your back girl.” One woman shared: “Feeding the kids Costa then wonders why the kid is wild.”

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Cliff Richard has enjoyed a life of fame and fortune and is still touring at the age of 85, with the legendary rocker showing no signs of stopping anytime soon

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Cliff Richard has heartbreakingly talked about the end of his life as he turns 85. The star hits the milestone age today but he has showed no signs of slowing down yet.

Despite this, Cliff has said that he is aware that as he gets older than he needs to be more careful. Earlier this year he said “I might be dead next year” in a sad admission.

Cliff has enjoyed a successful career making music and touring the world. He is still touring at the age of 85 and has managed to sell more than 250million records across his decades-long career.

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Speaking to Coast Radio in July: “The thing I would have to give up, probably, at some point is touring. It’s very wearing, and you never know when you wake up in the morning whether your voice is still there.” They then went on to ask if his 2025 Can’t Stop Me Now tour could be his last.

Cliff added: “I might be dead next year. So I don’t even think about it anymore. It’s one of those things. As I get older, maybe I’ll become less able to perform, so I can’t say.” He said he didn’t want to be an “85-year-old guy trying to be 18” as he explained that he likes to just sing now rather than acting and dancing.

The singer has reportedly been looking into how he is able to reach 100. Cliff follows a Blood Type diet, meaning he can’t eat dairy or wheat, red meat, crustaceans, mangoes, papayas, bananas, potatoes, tomatoes or aubergines.

Cliff landed 14 No.1s in the UK and is the only star to reach top five in the album charts in eight different decades. He became the first British musician to be knighted back in 1995, has two Ivor Novello awards and three Brit Awards, and has been wowing fans on stage and screen since 1958.

Over the decades, Sir Cliff has had huge hits including Move it, The Young Ones, Mistletoe and Wine and Millennium Prayer. Cliff discovered his passion for performing when he was just 15.

The A-lister was playing the role of Ratty in a school production of Toad of Toad Hall, and had reluctantly agreed to sing his first ever solo. He was nervous but found that on opening night he was left shocked by how much he enjoyed it.

This solidified his dream of working in showbiz and he made it happen. Cliff has been wowing fans on stage and screen since 1958 when he released his debut hit Livin’ Doll.

Former Premier League footballer Peter Crouch was slammed by wife Abbey Clancy after claiming he doesn’t ‘want to spend money’

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Abbey Clancy has slammed husband Peter Crouch’s spending habits, saying he’s “got cheek” after discovering his enormous clothing collection. The model and former Premier League striker have been wed for over 14 years now.

They regularly dish the dirt on married life through their podcast, The Therapy Crouch. In the latest episode, Abbey worried she might be battling Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

This led husband Peter to suggest the 39-year-old mum-of-four should “save up and go on a nice holiday”. He said: “I don’t want to spend money on anything, but holidays I do.”

Peter continued by claiming there’s “nothing he really likes to spend money on”.

But their podcast producer Ross cheekily fired back that he splashes cash on Abbey. This prompted Abbey to take a swipe at Peter’s wardrobe obsession.

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She said: “Did I tell you he’s got like 50 polo necks from Tom Sweeney, and that’s just on one rail. When I was cleaning out his wardrobe and they’ve all got the tags on.

“He’s got five of the same jumper in the same colour and he’s got the cheek to say, ‘I don’t spend anything’. I reckon there’s about £10 million of clothes in that wardrobe.”

Peter, who claimed the collection has accumulated over time, replied: “I didn’t know I had them.”

Abbey quipped the polo shirt salesman must “see him coming”.

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Abbey and Peter have been together for nearly two decades, initially meeting in a bar back in 2006. Their romance endured a rocky start when Peter managed to rub Abbey up the wrong way mere moments after they first crossed paths.

Looking back on their initial encounter during a Good Morning Britain segment, Abbey disclosed: “When we first met, he begged me for my number and then I went to the loo or the bar, and when I came back, he was talking to another girl. I was like, ‘How dare you?'”.

Peter later clarified he was “just talking” to the other woman, although Abbey insisted on having her contact details returned. He added: “I said, ‘You can’t give someone your number and then take it back’.”

Despite this rocky beginning, the couple’s relationship blossomed and they tied the knot in 2011. According to OK!, the family call a “magical” Surrey estate home, complete with its own cinema room and sprawling grounds.