Category Entertainment News

Coronation Street actor Melissa Johns says ‘I have never felt anything similar to this’ as she reveals she has given birth to her first baby with her husband Dan

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Coronation Street and Grantchester actress Melissa Johns has exclusively revealed to The Mirror that she has welcomed her first baby, a daughter who she ‘can’t take her eyes off’. Melissa, 35, welcomed her daughter with her husband, Dan Hampton, one year after they tied the knot in a romantic Hertfordshire ceremony.

The soap star, who is known for her role as Imogen Pascoe, gave fans a glimpse inside her baby bubble with her new daughter as they enter a whole new era of their lives. She shared one intimate photo of them walking down the hospital corridor with their bundle of joy snuggled up in a car seat, and another of a bassinet, which showed two tiny feet poking out of the top.

In a sweet caption, Melissa wrote: “Our baby girl is here. We can’t take out eyes off you”. Alongside the emotional post played the song Can’t Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli.

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The glowing new mum told The Mirror: “I thought I’d felt most emotions by this point in my life. Or at lease emotions I could compare to other experiences. But I have never felt anything similar to this. The love, the magic, the hormone dips. It’s a rollercoaster. And one I’m so so grateful to be on.”

Melissa, who was born with only one arm, added: “I’m so lucky to be doing this with Dan. He’s carried us both for 9 months and continues to do so now. He’s quite literally my right arm.”

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It follows after Melissa recently opened up on her pregnancy and gushed about how ’empowered’ and ‘limitless’ she felt when growing her daughter. She previously told us: “It feels so empowering to me. I’ve grown up not seeing people with body differences in bump photoshoots and I’ve spent a lot of my life with people telling me that my body is limited.

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Adding: “Having a limb difference, people have commented on it, judged it and put their own limitations on it. There’s something about growing and carrying a baby that makes me feel limitless. Growing up feeling people were limiting me to growing a child and feeling limitless, it’s a lovely feeling.”

The disability activist revealed her pregnancy to her online followers in June alongside a picture taken on the beach with husband Dan. Before giving birth, she explained that people would ask how she would cope, adding: “That just adds an extra layer of anxiety to the pressure that all first-time mums feel.

“We’re all worrying, how does this work? And on top of that I’m thinking, ‘What about when my husband is at work – will I be able to find a one-handed pram that I can collapse with one arm? How will I get the pram in and out of the car on my own? How will I drink a cup of coffee with my friends while holding the baby?’

“I feel like saying, ‘I don’t know yet, I haven’t worked it out, but I will find a way.’”

Living in a Box singer Richard Darbyshire has died aged 65.

The former singer from the 80s pop band passed away on Monday, his heartbroken family confirmed.

In 1985, Darbyshire became the vocalist/guitarist for the fledgling band, which included drummer, Anthony ‘Tich’ Critchlow, and keyboardist, Marcus Vere.

Formed in Sheffield, they scored a worldwide hit with their debut single – also called Living In A Box – in 1987.

He left the band in 1989 after personnel changes at the band’s record label caused artistic differences during the recording of their third LP.

In a statement on the band’s social media, Marcus and Tich wrote: “It is with immense sadness that we have to announce the passing of Richard Darbyshire, founder member and lead singer with Living In A Box from 1987-1990.

“Richard was an incredible talent – what a voice! His vocal skills knew no bounds, from the driving raw power of our first, eponymous hit song, to the tender heart-melting charm of Room In Your Heart, Richard, truly, could do it all. His guitar playing, though less recognised, was equally accomplished. As a songwriter, Richard was at the heart of everything we did; a pure craftsman and a master of his art.

“In some ways Richard was the most reluctant of ‘pop stars’, ‘ always eschewing the limelight that inevitably came with the success we had. He hated the photo shoots, the interviews, the tv appearances and thought it was all a bit daft. He was happiest in the studio, guitar in hand, working on the next song…

Richard, wherever you are, Tich and I will miss you dearly. The laughs we had, the wildcat ride we went on, will never be forgotten.”
The post was ended with the sign off: “Love you man, Marcus and Tich xx”

Richard went on to make solo music including his debut How Many Angels was released in 1994. Singer Lisa Stansfield co-wrote two of the songs titled “This I Swear” and “Tell Him No”, and sang backing vocals on the album.

How Many Angels also featured songs originally written for Living in a Box’s third album, and new songs written by Darbyshire and Frank Musker.

The musician died on Monday 10 November, his family confirmed to the BBC, adding: “We are all very sad but his memory and songs will live on.”

No cause of death was given.

Living in a Box reformed in 2016 with replacement vocalist Kenny Thomas, and are currently touring with their third singer Bryan Chambers.

Before his death, Darbyshire had been holding songwriting workshops in London. He is survived by his wife, the vocal coach Sonia Jones.

Tributes from fans on X, formerly twitter, included one fan who said: “Another sad loss for the music industry with the announcement that original Living In A Box frontman Richard Darbyshire has passed away. Give one of their hits a spin today. R.I.P. Richard Darbyshire.”

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Orange is the New Black star Ruby Rose has slammed Sydney Sweeney for playing queer boxer Christy Martin in the new biopic which was received badly at box office

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Sydney Sweeney is once again at the centre of online controversy as Ruby Rose has launched a fierce tirade against the actress, branding her a “cretin” and accusing her of ruining her new biopic, Christy.

This outburst is just the latest clash between Sydney and a left-leaning Hollywood figure, after many have criticised her over her political affiliations in recent years.

Ruby, 39, took to Threads on Monday evening to share her frustrations, claiming she had once intended to star in the film about legendary boxer and domestic abuse survivor Christy Martin.

The Orange Is the New Black actress said she was originally lined up for the project and alleged that the earlier version of the cast was largely queer before production took the project in a different direction.

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She wrote: “The original Christy Martin script was incredible. Life changing. I was attached to play Cherry. Everyone had experience with the core material. Most of us were actually gay. It’s part of why I stayed in acting. Losing roles happens all the time.

“For her PR to talk about it flopping and saying SS did it for the ‘people’. None of ‘the people’ want to see someone who hates them, parading around pretending to be us. You’re a cretin and you ruined the film. Period. Christy deserved better.”

The Mirror has contacted Ruby Rose and Sydney Sweeney’s publicity teams for comment.

Ruby’s blistering post came after Christy suffered one of the lowest domestic box office openings ever for a film showing on more than 2,000 screens.

Despite casting criticisms, Christy Martin herself has publicly supported Sydney throughout the promotional campaign. The biopic charts Christy’s rise as one of America’s most famous female boxers in the 1990s and her near-fatal escape from her abusive, controlling husband in 2010.

After surviving the attack, after which her husband was sentenced to 25 years in prison, Christy went on to marry her fellow fighter Lisa Holewyne in 2017 and became an advocate for domestic abuse survivors.

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When speaking about playing the trailblazing athlete, Sydney shared: “I felt like I had a whole new superpower when I was her…I just felt…invincible, almost.”

She added that Christy’s resilience shaped her performance, saying: “Christy has such an amazing strength to her…and I think it’s carried on into my personal life.”

But the film’s release coincided with growing scrutiny over Sydney’s political views. In recent years, she has been repeatedly criticised after confirming she is a registered Republican.

This information about her became public after 2022 backlash involving her mother’s 60th birthday party where guests wore “Make Sixty Great Again” hats and “Blue Lives Matter” shirts. At the time, Sydney insisted: “An innocent celebration…has turned into an absurd political statement, which was not the intention.”

This drama between her and Ruby Rose comes after the actress faced another wave of online outrage this August over her American Eagle campaign, which featured the line: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring…My jeans are blue.”

Critics branded the advert “tone-deaf” and “eugenics-adjacent”, while others argued the backlash was a symptom of an increasingly hyper-critical internet culture.

Hours before Ruby’s rant, Sweeney addressed Christy’s disappointing box office numbers, writing on Instagram : “I am so deeply proud of this movie…if Christy gave even one woman the courage to take her first step toward safety, then we will have succeeded.”

There have been health concerns about how the current labels work

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A major change to food labels could be brought in at UK supermarkets such as Tesco and Asda. Campaigners have launched a petition to Parliament urging for new laws so that labels for pre-packed coffee have to show their caffeine content.

The petition urges: “Recommended daily caffeine intakes are 400 mg for adults and 200 mg for pregnant women, but consumers cannot reliably use product labels to help track intake. Excess caffeine risks can include heart palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

“We think mandatory labelling would help empower safe, informed choices and protects public health. We want clearer caffeine labelling (mg per 100g and per serving) to help protect health.”

Under the current rules, bags of coffee do not have to include details of caffeine content. Drinks that have more than 150mg of caffeine per litre have to include the label: ‘High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women.’

This includes concentrated or dried drinks that will contain above this level once you have made the drink. However, this does not apply to tea or coffee drinks that have either the word ‘tea’ or ‘coffee’ in the name of the food.

Government guidance explains: “Where caffeine has been added to a food product (other than a drink) for a physiological purpose, you must put the words ‘Contains caffeine. Not recommended for children or pregnant women’ on the label.

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“You must put these warnings in the same field of vision as the name of the food and include the caffeine content in milligrams per 100 grams or per 100 millilitres in brackets after the warning.” The amount of caffeine in coffee can vary depending on the type of bean used and how it has been processed.

British R&B group FLO have scored a Grammy nomination for Best Progressive R&B Album. Marking a new era for British R&B, the London trio are putting UK girl groups back on the map

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Two decades after Floetry put British R&B on the map, another homegrown act is following in their footsteps. FLO have made history after landing their first ever Grammy nomination for Best Progressive R&B Album with their debut project Access All Areas.

The trio – Jorja Douglas, Stella Quaresma and Renée Downer – are the first UK girl group in 20 years to be recognised by the Recording Academy. Their nomination marks a significant moment for British R&B, putting them alongside global names like Sabrina Carpenter, Kaytranada and Justin Bieber.

Formed in 2019 and signed to Island Records, FLO burst onto the scene with their viral debut single Cardboard Box in 2022, a track that spread across social media and caught the attention of Missy Elliott and SZA. Their first EP The Lead and follow-up Access All Areas helped them carve out a sound that blends 90s and early 00s nostalgia with a modern R&B twist.

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It’s also a full-circle moment for UK R&B. The last British female R&B act to receive a Grammy nomination was Floetry – the London duo made up of Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart who earned several nominations in the early 2000s for songs like Say Yes and Floetic. However, despite Floetry’s success global recognition for UK R&B doesn’t come easy, as many artist have struggled to break through internationally

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Who are FLO?

Behind Flo’s harmonies are three distinct voices – Jorja Douglas was born in Hertfordshire and first gained attention after winning CBBC’s Got what it takes in 2017, a singing competition, she is known for her powerhouse vocals.

Stella Quaresma grew up in Kingston upon Thames, and spent some of her childhood in Mozambique allowing her to draw both British and African influences in her sound, she is recognised for her rich tone and creative direction.

Renee Downer is from North London has been singing since childhood leading her to performing in school choirs before working in retail while chasing her dream and she is known for her warm soulful tone.

The band was formed in 2019 and signed to Island Records, a division of Universal Music Group. Stella and Renée were old acquaintances from their early days in London, while Jorja joined the group following a successful audition.

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The trio spent several months honing their unique sound before releasing ‘Cardboard Box’ – the song that catapulted them into the limelight in 2022, their lyrics resonate with R&B lovers. While their work has drew comparisons they have kept their own image.

Like Floetry, FLO have captured worldwide recognition. The group previously won the BRITs Rising Star Award previously awarded to Adele and Sam Smith becoming the first group ever to take the title. They also were crowned BBC’s Sound of 2023, and now with a Grammy nomination under their belt, it’s clear that they’re making their mark in the music industry.

Their nomination serves as a reminder that the era of girl groups is far from over as the girl group has shown that there’s still plenty of room for R&B to flourish in the UK and two decades on from Floetry, British R&B is being heard again.

Adam Peaty has reportedly banned his once beloved mum Caroline from his wedding to Holly Ramsay – with a source claiming he feels ‘ashamed’ of his working class roots

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For years Adam Peaty’s mum Caroline would get up at 4am to drive him to training in Derbyshire, 40 minutes from their Staffordshire home. It’s a journey she would make every day – even though she hated driving – so her beloved son could fulfil his dream of becoming an Olympic swimmer for Team GB one day.

Nursery manager Caroline would then go and do her day job, before doing it all again in the evening. Money was tight at times for the working class family and the 59-year-old and her husband Mark, 65, are even said to have gone into debt to help fund their son’s career.

It paid off as at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Adam won his first gold medal. Such is his talent, the 30-year-old is now considered to be the world’s greatest breaststroke swimmer in history and has a total of three Olympic golds, eight world titles and a string of world records under his belt.

But since Adam met wife-to-be Holly Ramsay two years ago – the 25-year-old daughter of world renowned chef Gordon Ramsay – the relationship between him and his once tight knit family has reportedly soured.

READ MORE: Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Holly’s lavish hen do ahead of wedding to Strictly star

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Adam is said to have been “seduced by the fame and glamour” of the Ramsay clan and distanced himself from his doting parents – despite his coach Melanie Marshall once declaring that “without the support of his parents, Adam wouldn’t have gone to Rio”.

Yet a month before he is due to marry Holly in a lavish ceremony at Bath Abbey over Christmas, Adam has reportedly banned his parents from attending his wedding or having any involvement with his big day.

It’s even said he has threatened to stop them seeing their five-year-old grandson George, who Adam shares with his ex-girlfriend Eirianedd Munro, and any future children he might have with Holly.

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The rift worsened when Caroline wasn’t invited to Holly’s posh hen do at Soho Farmhouse, despite her own mum Tana Ramsay being there, as well as close family friend Victoria Beckham. The move is said to have left Caroline “heartbroken” after she had “opened her heart and home” to Holly.

A source claimed the change in Adam’s behaviour is “partly because Adam doesn’t feel his family is good enough for the new one he is now part of.”

They told MailOnline: “Adam has changed so much since he’s been with Holly. She comes from a celebrity world, while his parents do not, and his ego and self-importance have grown. He’s no longer the lovely boy next door we all remember.

“Caroline and Mark put Adam’s career above everything and supported him through thick and thin so for their relationship to have crumbled is so upsetting. They feel that Adam started to grow distant from his family after he met Holly and they started to become more serious.

“There is a feeling that money is an issue. His family are working class and proud – it’s a stark contrast to the Ramsay family, and some members of the family have said it feels like Adam is ashamed of them.”

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A “devastated” Caroline “doesn’t know what she has done wrong”, according to the source and “now she’s not coming to the wedding”. The only family member thought to be attending is Adam’s sister Bethany, as the cost of the hotel is reportedly too much for the rest of them to afford. This is despite Adam being a millionaire.

And if it weren’t for his mum, Adam might never have been offered a celebrity spot on Strictly Come Dancing, where he met his future wife Holly backstage as her sister Tilly competed on the same series as him.

Caroline’s sister – and Adam’s aunt – Louise Williams, has since vented her anger at influencer and nepo baby Holly, who she accused her of being “divisive and hurtful” in a public social media post.

She wrote: “@hollyramsayy I’m so glad that you had a great hen do. As a bride, you deserve that. However, as a person you were divisive and hurtful towards a woman, who I have loved and continue to love deeply.

“A woman who opened her home and heart to you. You decided, for whatever reason, not to invite her, your prospective mother-in-law to your hen night yet Adam invited his father-in-law, your dad, to his stag night. You invited your mum (quite rightly) and even your mum’s assistant, your sisters, your friends, my niece, but not my sister, your future mother-in-law.

“I have also seen messages passing between her and Adam about this and other matters and, quite frankly, I expected better of you and definitely of Adam. You have inflicted a hurt on my sister that will take a very long time to heal if ever.”

Caroline has responded to the fall out in her own Instagram post which said: “Crying is a way your eyes speak when your mouth can’t explain how broken your heart is.” The Mirror has contacted reps for Holly and Adam for further comment on this story.

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