Paloma Faith says women should realise it’s not their ‘duty to stay and suffer’

Despite having a successful musical career, Paloma Faith has also been open about the breakdown of her first marriage and co-parenting.

As she urged other struggling partners to leave unhappy marriages, Paloma Faith referred to leaving her husband Leyman Lahcine as “the best decision I ever made.” The popular singer and her husband got engaged in 2017.

Before making the announcement that they would end their union in 2022, the couple had two children together. However, Paloma claims that their relationship has improved since they are no longer romantic partners but can still co-parent.

Many women feel they must “stay and suffer” to guard their children, according to Paloma. She claimed that choosing to be friends with Leyman as opposed to remain married was the “best choice.”

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Women feel it’s their responsibility to stay and suffer for their children, Paloma said in a podcast titled Mad, Sad and Bad. I think it’s amazing how close we are now that we’ve broken up with my children’s father.

In retrospect, I think it was the wisest decision I ever made to leave the relationship in favor of a friendship and co-parentship with him because I believe our relationship is now better as a result.

According to Paloma, Leyman’s breakup was due to her having two daughters, and she needed him “for more than nothing.” Paloma claimed she was no longer able to put her husband before them, and their animosity escalated.

After welcoming their second child, the couple eventually parted ways in 2022. With her new boyfriend Stevie Thomas, Paloma has since moved on and is expecting a third child.

In March of this year, Stevie and she made headlines at the Sony Music BRITs afterparty by putting on a loved-up display.

According to a source at the time, “Stevie and Paloma are absolutely in love with each other, but she’s been telling people that their relationship is also the healthiest ever.”

She loves how tall he is, according to them, and he is 6’6″. He’s a great communicator and has a lot of feelings, which makes it sexy and exciting. They appear to be close friends and will stay that way for the long term.

Paloma made her pregnancy announcement in October on social media as made the the big reveal to the public she posed alongside her pet dog and proudly showed off her bump.

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In the images, she was wearing a sports jersey rolled up to show her stomach. She paired it with a polka dot skirt by Taylor Dorry and a matching sports cap as she clung to her dog.

Before adding the hashtags #morethangeriatricpregnancy #oappregnancy #oapmilf #18weekspregnant, she captioned the upload as “Plot twist, mother is mothering (again).”

Popular British clothing store to close 32 stores in January 2026 – full list

In January 2026, the British fashion house will shut down 32 of its stores as part of a restructuring plan following a pre-tax loss of £32.3 million.

British fashion label River Island has announced plans to shut down 32 of its stores in January 2026, as part of a restructuring strategy aimed at rescuing the iconic retailer. The brand suffered a pre-tax loss of £32.3 million last year, reports the Express.

Currently, River Island operates over 200 outlets across the UK and employs more than 5,000 staff members, putting many of these jobs in jeopardy. This year has seen the closure of numerous high-street shops, including big supermarkets like Marks and Spencer, which shuttered its Wolverhampton store on Dudley Street a few months back.

Morrisons also closed over 100 cafes, florists, and pharmacies this year, while Poundland is reducing its 800 stores to 650, with further closures anticipated in 2026.

list of River Island retailers closing in January.

  • Buckinghamshire, Aylesbury
  • Northern Ireland’s Bloomfields, Bangor
  • Devon’s Barnstaple
  • Greater Beckton, Greater London
  • East Sussex, Brighton
  • Derbyshire town of Burton-Upon-Trent
  • Scotland’s Cumbernauld
  • Oxfordshire’s Didcot
  • Scotland’s Edinburgh Princes Street
  • Scotland’s Falkirk
  • Gloucester, Gloucestershire
  • Great Yarmouth
  • Lincolnshire’s Grimsby
  • Staffordshire’s Hanley
  • County Durham, Hartlepool
  • Hereford, Herefordshire
  • Scotland’s Kilmarnock
  • Scotland’s Kirkcaldy
  • West Yorkshire’s Leeds Birstall Park
  • Northern Ireland’s Lisburn
  • Cheshire’s Northwich
  • Norwich, Norfolk
  • Oxford, Oxfordshire
  • Scotland’s Perth
  • Dorset’s Poole
  • Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester, Rochdale
  • Merseyside town of St. Helens
  • Greater London, Surrey Quays
  • Warwickshire and Sutton Coldfield
  • Somerset’s Taunton
  • Cumbria’s Workington
  • Wales’ Wrexham
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The Mirror has contacted River Island for comment.

Torvill and Dean hail damehood and knighthood as ‘perfect’ end to careers

As they approach retirement, world ice skating champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have called their inclusion on the New Year’s honours list the “perfect” way to wrap up their careers.

Torvill and Dean have said the news that they will get OBEs was the “perfect” end to their careers. The Dancing On Ice judges were included in this year’s New Year’s Honours list for their services to ice skating and voluntary service.

Ice skating duo Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have had a decades long career, first taking to the ice together for a junior competition 50 years ago. During their career, they went to several Olympic games, taking gold in 1984 and bronze in 1994. They said the timing of their damehood and knighthood was “perfect” as they are hanging up their skates.

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Torvill referred to the knighthood as “our final tour this year, and that was a big deal for us.” We had a great time, and we were so pleased with our tour and how far it was.

It was important for us to mark our career before retiring, and when we received this award at the end of the year, everything has just come to an end. It is flawless.

Dean added that they were “happy now” and “retired”. During 2025, the pair released Torvill & Dean: The Last Dance, a documentary marking their 50 year career, culminating in one final dance. This year, their long running competition show, Dancing On Ice, was “rested” by ITV and there are no further plans for another series at present.

The 68-year-old Torvill added that she “could not believe it” when she received the letter declaring her intention to be a dame, especially during a brief period of ostensibly unmarried status. When Torvill and Dean described how Dean called her ex-Olympian partner and pressured him to check the letterbox, only to discover nothing there.

Thankfully, the letter arrived three days later. Dean said he thought it was “wondrous” to be “really humbled” and “to receive an OBE.”

After wrapping up their skates, Torvill and Dean kept saying they were “ready to pass the mantle on” to the upcoming British Olympic hopefuls. Lewis Gibson, who first ice skated after watching Dancing On Ice, and Lilah Fear will travel to Italy for the Winter Olympics next year. It would be the first time the GB had won a figure skating medal since 1994’s Torvill and Dean won the bronze medal at Lillehammer.

Dean claimed that he had “hope for the best” and that Gibson and Fear had a chance of winning. He added that Gibson’s inspiration from Dancing On Ice was viewed as a part of both he and Torvill’s ” legacy.”

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Idris Elba, who was given a knighthood for her contributions to young people, Meera Syal, who received a damehood for her contributions to literature, drama, and charity, and Richard Osman, who received an OBE for contributions to literature and broadcasting, among others, were also given the New Year’s Honours list.

Fears for heartbroken Dolly Parton as friends left ‘very worried’ by behaviour

Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s husband, passed away on March 3rd, leaving a “hole in my heart” for the singer.

Friends have reportedly expressed their grief for Dolly Parton after her husband Carl Dean’s passing. On March 3, 2018, her devoted partner Dean passed away at the age of 82.

After being married for so long, it has been said that Dolly’s heart has been “holed” by the sudden loss. Some people think she’s trying to get past the devastation, and friends worry about the beleaguered Country star.

Parton recorded a pre-recorded segment during her acceptance speech at the Governor’s Ball, which some attendees also found troubling. The actress had planned to give the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the ceremony, but she made up her mind and ended up accepting it almost entirely.

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She’s desperately trying to get herself back to work, according to a source, according to Radar Online, but it’s very challenging. She is suffering terribly from the loss. Her friends are concerned very much.

They continued, noting that her husband’s passing “knocked the wind out of her.” Due to her own health issues, which required her to go through a number of medical procedures, Dolly also delayed her Las Vegas residency.

The star, who claimed she needed to recover from a kidney stone, also had to cancel a pre-scheduled trip to Dollywood in September due to health issues.

Dolly described their relationship when Dean passed away, stating that they “spent many wonderful years together.” She remarked, “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for more than 60 years. I appreciate your sincere and compassionate words.

In 1964, Dolly and Dean first met at a laundromat in Nashville. After their initial encounter, they tied the knot two years later.

However, both of them later claimed in later interviews that their fateful 1964 encounter was “love at first sight,” and they renewed their vows to honor their 50th wedding anniversary in May 2016 at their Nashville residence.

Parton outlined how their relationship has endured over time in a statement on Zoe Ball’s Radio 2 Breakfast Show two years ago.

She said, “We’ve been together for 59 years, we’ve been dating for two years, and then we just celebrated our 57th anniversary on May 30.”

“But I believe that the fact that we are open and honest and have a warped sense of humor contributes a lot to this.” He is crazy, funny, and wise. And since both sides of my family laugh at me, I believe the humor has always been good.

She continued, “I just like him and there is the love and respect”! If he wasn’t my husband, you know, I would have liked him. If he were someone else’s husband, I would say, “You know that Carl Dean, ain’t he funny? ” He’s not a good man, is he? So I believe it simply is that we both respect one another and we both like one another.

When I ask him if he likes my hair, he says it’s too stringy for me, or that it looks too important, or that it’s too stiff; he always says, “It looks too important,” but I’m sure he won’t just accept it if I ask him, but he will tell me the truth.

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Best rated films for New Year’s Eve and number 4 will amaze viewers

As you relax in front of the TV and watch a movie marathon, these five top-rated movies should definitely make it on your list this New Year’s Eve.

If you’re someone who has decided to trade in the wild night outs and glitzy parties for a cosy night in front of the television this New Year’s Eve, we’ve got just the film recommendations for your movie marathon.

The search for the perfect NYE movie lineup is over, with IMDB’s ‘100 Best New Year’s Eve Movies of All Time’ list. While the extensive list of reccos has a little bit of everything from different genres across the board, we’re bringing you the absolute best of the best from the list — the Top Five rated New Year’s Eve films to close out 2025. It’s no surprise that romantic comedies are at the forefront of this collection, because let’s be honest, everyone can do with a little love and laughter at the end of the year.

However, there is a surprise addition to the list at number four that will give (film) marathoners a nice little crime-and-killing break, just to spice things up. What are the top five movies that should be on your list for New Year’s Eve?

5. The Diary of Bridget Jones

The timeless British classic Bridget Jones’s Diary is number five on the list. Do we really need to list all the reasons you want to watch this incredible rom-comedy, or have you already been doing it year-round?

Sharon Maguire, the director

Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Gemma Jones, Celia Imrie, James Faulkner, and Jim Broadbent as the stars.

The movie’s summary reads: “At the start of the New Year, 32-year-old Bridget decides it’s time to take control of her life — and start keeping a diary. Now, the most provocative, erotic and hysterical book on her bedside table is the one she’s writing. With a taste for adventure, and an opinion on every subject — from exercise to men to food to sex and everything in between – she’s turning the page on a whole new life.”

4. Part II of The Godfather

Who are we to question the greatness of Coppola, Pacino, De Niro, Duvall, and Keaton when it comes to the shock entry on this list, The Godfather Part II?

No one . So we settle in for 3 hours and 22 minutes of the best movies ever made into lighthearted holiday murders.

Francis Ford Coppola as director

Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall, John Cazale, Talia Shire, and Lee Strasberg as stars.

The film’s official title reads, “The compelling sequel to The Godfather, contrasting the life of Corleone’s father and son. traces the issues involving Vito Corleone and Michael Corleone in his 1958 film Hell’s Kitchen from 1917. Vito is introduced to a life of crime, and Michael survives many misfortunes.

3. About Time

This absolute tearjerker of a movie has made it to the Top Five, so it’s no surprise. Even the most emotionally stunted person can still cry because of it. What else can you anticipate from a romantic comedy, witty banter, friendship, family, and some wacky time travel? Disclaimer: It’s best to have the tissues close at hand.

Richard Curtis, the director

Richard Cordery, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Lydia Wilson, Lindsay Duncan, and Domhnall Gleeson as stars.

The movie’s official plotline reads, “When Tim Lake is 21 years old, his father tells him that the men in their family can travel through time. Tim chooses to get a girlfriend to make changes to his life, even though he can’t change history. Through time-travel and some wit, he meets Mary, falls in love, and eventually win her heart. Tim discovers, however, that his unique ability cannot shield him and those he loves from the difficulties of everyday life as his unusual life progresses.

2. New Year’s Eve

Unsurprisingly, New Year’s Eve made the list of movies to watch on New Year’s Eve? (Were you really expecting not to see it on here?) It features the timeless NYE chaos and madness that we’ve come to love and adore in abundance as well as a brand-new Hollywood A-lister at every dialogue.

Garry Marshall as the director

Michelle Pfeiffer, Ashton Kutcher, Jon Bon Jovi, Josh Duhamel, Sarah Jessica Parker, Katherine Heigl, Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, and Sofia Vergara are the stars.

On the occasion of the film’s official plot summary, the movie’s official statement reads, “Intertwining stories promise love, hope, forgiveness, second chances, and more for a number of New Yorkers on the celebrated night. A rock star and his ex-lover clash at an exclusive party, a singer is stranded on the way to a New Year’s gig, and a nurse stays with a dying patient for one more time to allow the ball to drop in Times Square.

1. When Harry Met Sally

When Harry Met Sally is the top choice for the top spot on the list. This one consistently occupies a top spot among Hollywood’s best romantic comedies, and for good reason. Who doesn’t love themselves in some star-crossed lovers action, if you ask me?

Director: Rob Reiner

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Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby, Steven Ford, Lisa Jane Persky, and others.

The movie’s official plotline reads: “Harry Burns and Sally Albright debate whether men and women can ever be truly platonic friends in a contentious car ride from Chicago to New York in 1977. Harry and Sally reunite in a bookstore ten years later, and Jess and Marie, their two closest friends, make an effort to stay friends without having sex again.

Prince William ‘has shrewd plan for Harry and Meghan and their royal futures’

A royal expert has revealed the one reason the future King would never do that in the wake of recent speculation that Prince William might one day remove Harry and Meghan from their royal titles.

Since Andrew and Sarah Ferguson were stripped of their titles, speculation has increased that one day Harry and Meghan could meet the same fate. Prince Harry, 41, has retained his titles despite having some strained relationships with the Royal Family, and spending the last five years living in California with his wife, Duchess Meghan, 44, and their two children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.

Relations might have somewhat thawed with King Charles in recent months, but it’s well known that Harry and his older brother, Prince William, have not seen eye to eye for a long time and aren’t in contact. Some significant diary clashes between the two siblings have seen them go head-to-head for the front pages in the last year, with royal watchers speculating that this might not help improve matters between the brothers.

With Andrew’s titles unceremoniously removed by the monarch in October amid ongoing public outcry over his connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – some royal experts have claimed that Harry and Meghan are equally as “vulnerable” to losing their official royal status when Prince William takes the throne.

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Harry and Meghan are on “borrowed time,” according to royal author Tom Bower, and royal expert Tom Sykes agrees with this theory. When William is ready to appoint the throne in what would be a “dramatic change,” Sykes, for the Daily Beast, stated that he believes William will quickly issue “letters patent” to remove princely titles from non-working royals.

A similar scenario could exist when Danish Queen Margrethe II removed four of her grandchildren’s prince and princess titles in 2022. She claimed at the time that she wanted to “future-proof” the monarchy but apologized for the upheaval it caused, saying she “underestimated” how her son Prince Joachim and his children would react to the choice. It’s never fun to watch your children being treated like that, Joseph once said. They find themselves in a difficult situation.

The idea of a “slimmed down” monarchy is something that King Charles himself has put forward for many years, keen to cut the costs for the taxpayer and ensure the longevity of the institution. Despite all of this, one royal expert tells the Mirror that in her view, it isn’t likely at all that taking Harry and Meghan’s titles away would be anywhere close to the top of William’s agenda when the time finally comes for him to take the throne.

Even though they haven’t been able to get along in recent years, William has much bigger fish to fry than finding a personal score with his younger brother. Afua Acheampong-Hagan, a renowned expert and commentator, explains that William is essentially not that “petty” and expertly understands how it would look.

Instead, the future King concentrates solely on pressing social issues and is working on ambitious, high-impact projects to improve people’s lives. For instance, William’s Homewards project, which aims to demonstrate that the UK’s homeless population can be eradicated, and the Earthshot Prize, which supports those who have developed creative solutions to the climate crisis and provides a framework for scaling them up, are two examples.

The expert claimed that removing his brother and sister-in-law’s titles as a top priority would only “make him look petty.” He doesn’t believe he has the time to do that, and he also doesn’t want that to become the focus of his time. Oh, I’m going to take my brother’s titles away first, because “for what?”

What would be the purpose? It’s really ridiculous to think about whether or not he might act in that way when he comes into power. The Royal Family needs to do so many other things to modernize, including removing people’s titles for living their own lives, which will seem silly and petty, so I don’t believe he will. “The expert adds that in her opinion.”

Given that William’s prominent initiatives to implement significant change are “absolutely his priority,” the expert explains, something that is incongruent with what we know about his personality and focus.

The expert continues to speculate about the ongoing speculation by saying, “I genuinely don’t think he is that petty, and I think he knows if he did that, that’s how he would come across.”

In the last five years, the couple has lost 11 advisors, with Meredith Maines, their most recent victim, being their PR director. In a quick statement, Ms. Maines stated that she would be “pursuing a new opportunity” in 2026.

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With her departure likely to be a blow to the Duke and Duchess, who will be the fifth important member of the publicity staff to leave Harry and Meghan’s shoes alone in the wake of persistent claims that the couple are “difficult to work with.”

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