Category Entertainment News

Sheridan Smith is set to grace the screens in another BBC drama as she plays the role of Leanne for the five-part series called The Cage that is set in a Liverpool casino

Sheridan Smith has had a dramatic image change for her latest role with the actress looking worlds apart from her usual style. The new look comes as BBC released first-look images of its new drama The Cage.

The former Two Pints of Lager, Cilla and Mrs Biggs star has morphed into a character called Leanne in the production, that has been written and created by BAFTA nominated Tony Schumacher. The series, which will be shown on BBC One and iPlay follows a high-stakes, high energy crime story that has been set within the world of a Liverpool Casino with two unforgettable characters at its heart.

In the new images, Sheridan is seen in a casino worker’s uniform. She can be seen standing next to co-star Michael Socha, who takes on the role of Matty. While Sheridan’s character is seen donning the golden waistcoat and bow-tie, Michael’s is in a black suit and tie combination.

The duo will be joined in the five-part series by House of the Dragon’s Barry Sloane, and Dope Girls actor Geraldine James. Also featuring will be Anton Bibby, Freya Jones and Sophie Mensah.

Abby Mavers, Shaun Mason, Louis Emerick, Ian Puleston Davies, Julia Papp, Katy Carmichael, Dave Hart, Eileen O’Brien, Eithne Browne, and Mona Goodwin also star.

In the series, characters Leanne and Matty find they are both robbing from the safe at the casino they both work in. It sets their lives on a collision course with both themselves, the local gangster they’re stealing from, and the police.

As viewers get ready for the new series, Sheridan’s impressive appearance on ITV’s Cilla is once again gaining plaudits. The series was initially aired back in 2014, but has recently been added to Netflix, much to the delight of her fans.

The three-part series sees Sheridan play the part of the legendary singer Cilla Black. The series looks back at the early stages of the icon’s career and explores how her life was transformed upon meeting Brian Epstein, the manager of The Beatles.

The official synopsis for Cilla reads: “‘Cilla’ tells of her rocky rise to fame and will capture the essence of 1960s Liverpool, the atmosphere of promise and excitement as the Merseybeat music scene was on the verge of exploding in a blaze of tight-fitting skirts, stiletto heels, and beehives.”

It continues: “A young, unknown Cilla works in the austere environs of the typists’ pool at a local company, dreaming of stardom. The drama looks at how she met the two men who came to love her and ultimately fought over her – future husband Bobby Willis and legendary manager Brian Epstein, the tragic young businessman who also guided the career of The Beatles.

“We learn how Cilla’s burgeoning friendship with John, Paul, George, and Ringo – the four young men who went on to conquer the music world – shaped her career.

“It was family friend Ritchie Starkey (Ringo), the teddy-boy with a greasy quiff, who helped her to cross paths with Brian Epstein and producer George Martin, who were to launch her career with recording sessions at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

READ MORE: ‘I’m a fashion writer and found an unlikely retailer selling glitzy festival-ready outfits’

The Only Way Is Essex star Chloe Meadows has recalled the time she was rushed to hospital from filming after ignoring some worrying symptoms

The Only Way Is Essex star Chloe Meadows has shared how she was rushed to hospital after ignoring some worrying health symptoms. Chloe has had a chronic inflammatory bowel condition for a decade but she avoided going to the doctors.

She had had some tests at the age of 26 after losing a lot of blood. She wasn’t keen but her mother insisted she should go to the doctors and she did, where they gave her a blood test.

Whilst filming for the hit show, she missed several calls from her father who had said that her blood was “so low” and doctors had advised her to go to accident and emergency immediately.

Speaking on podcast Bedside Manners with Dr Oscar Duke, she said: “I went to the hospital. I had to have all of these checks and these iron infusions and that was where it started.”

Chloe also explained how she first discovered the symptoms of ulcerative colitis when she was 16 but didn’t do anything about it.

“I went to a college where I boarded when I was 16. I was staying away from home and I was living in a student house and there was blood down the toilet. I remember I told my mum and I was like, there’s quite a lot of blood down the toilet,” she said.

“I’m not really sure what’s going on. She was of course like, go to the doctors. I went to the doctors, and they said that I would have to have a colonoscopy, which is a camera into the bowel.”

Chloe then said she hadn’t been to the hospital a lot and was “never sick” so she never went to the appointment as she was terrified.

“The doctor referred me and I got this letter, and this is awful, but I got this letter and I just never went to the appointment because I was terrified. Then I ignored it and what would happen, which is what I realise now, is that I can go into remission, I can go into a flare-up in remission. It would stop for periods of time so that the blood would go away,” she said.

“I’d be like, ‘Oh, cool, it’s gone away, I’m better. There’s nothing wrong with me’. I’d go through years where it wouldn’t happen and then it would happen again, and then it would stop again. I would probably lie to my mum about how much it would happen because she always pestered me about it and I was like, ‘No, it’s fine.'”

Marks & Spencer has finally announced that online orders are back up and running following April’s cyber attack, meaning shoppers can now shop the new summer collection online – but there’s one catch

If you’ve been trying to place an online order with Marks & Spencer recently and found yourself out of luck, you’re definitely not alone. M&S has been battling with the fallout from a major cyberattack that hit over the Easter weekend, forcing them to pull the plug on their UK online orders since April 25. But this week brings plenty of good news, as Marks & Spencer has just announced their online orders are back up and running as normal, except for one small caveat.

M&S have just warned that due to last month’s debacle with online ordering, delivery times are now expected to be longer than Marks & Spencer’s shoppers have been used to. It’s expected that deliveries may now take up to 10 days. There’s been no indication for how long these longer wait times will last, but dedicated M&S lovers will no doubt just be grateful to return to online shopping like old times.

It was revealed that the hack, carried out by a group known as DragonForce (also sometimes called Scattered Spider), exposed customer data like names, addresses, and order histories. Thankfully, card details and passwords stayed safe. Still, it’s been a bit of a digital disaster, with even in-store services like contactless payments and click-and-collect being affected.

READ MORE: Amazon flash sale slashes price of Google Pixel Pro that’s ‘much better than iPhone’ by £300

READ MORE: Oodie sale sees price of its poncho towels reduced by £26 just in time for the next heatwave

Jayne Wall, operations director for M&S, wrote on the matter a few weeks ago: “To proactively manage the incident, we immediately took steps to protect our systems and engaged leading cyber security experts. We also reported the incident to relevant government authorities and law enforcement, with whom we continue to work closely. Unfortunately, the nature of the incident means that some personal customer data has been taken, but there is no evidence that it has been shared.”

It’s said that the retailer’s been losing around £4 million a day in online sales, and while their physical stores are still open, there’s been little hope of a confirmed date for when the website will be back in action – until today. M&S has been working closely with cybersecurity experts and has already asked customers to reset their passwords as a precaution. It’s clear they have been taking the situation seriously, and now the wait is finally over, as you can return to shopping online at M&S to your heart’s content.

So, what have we missed and what is there for you to shop today?

Since the cyberattack first started, Marks & Spencer has released its summer wardrobe collection, which is now available to shop online. It is worth noting that since we’ve all been suffering from M&S online shopping withdrawal, many products have been scooped up at near record speed, meaning there’s a lot that’s already sold out. But we’ve found our top five things to shop that are still stocked in most sizes.

Check out this Pure Cotton Denim Mini Shift Dress (£35) which comes in two colourways, blue denim or Ecru beige, and sizes 6 to 18 in petite, regular and tall measurements. That said, some size options are sold out, so you’ll need to act fast to grab yours before its gone. One shopper who bought this number shared in their 5-star review: “Fits lovely, flattering, 5ft3 and not too short. Great spring to summer dress, maybe a bit thick for full summer.” If you’re looking for a similar item and don’t mind the price tag, or don’t want to wait the ten-day delivery time, Nobody’s Child has this Blue Denim Ned Pinafore Mini Dress for £69.

For other dress options, this Halter Neck Mini Beach Dress (£59) is a hit with shoppers as it’s touted as a popular item. Still available in sizes 10 to 18, this piece is selling like hot cakes, so you’ll want to hurry.

Marks & Spencer is offering this 360 Tummy Control Plunge Swimsuit (£35) to cover all of your summer and holiday needs. Also named a popular piece, this swimsuit is available in a range of colours and sizes to ensure the best fit on all body types, making it a must-have for your summer holiday abroad.

A trending pick for summer 2025, shoppers can’t go wrong with a solid pair of linen trousers. These Pure Linen Palazzo Trousers (£45) are loved by online and in-store shoppers alike, as well as celebrities, and they’re selling like hotcakes, so you’ll need to be quick to secure yours before it’s gone. If your size has already sold out, Boden is offering these Islington Linen Trousers for £98.

With King Charles’ official birthday celebrations set to kick off on Saturday, here’s everything you need to know about Trooping the Colour 2025 – including what royals are expected to attend, how to watch, and where the longstanding tradition comes from

One of the most-loved royal events of the year is fast approaching – Trooping the Colour. The sovereign’s birthday parade is set to take place in London at Horse Guards Parade on Saturday, with thousands of royal fans expected to flood the Mall to celebrate the important event.

With a huge military event and procession kicking off the celebrations, the day will be topped off with a balcony appearance by the royals and a stunning flypast by the RAF. Here’s everything we know about Trooping the Colour 2025…

What is Trooping the Colour?

The annual event of Trooping the Colour has marked the official birthday of the King or Queen for more than 260 years. The ceremony involves hundreds of horses and soldiers carrying out complex battlefield drill manoeuvres to military music. More than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together for the impressive display.

During the parade, the royals will travel from Buckingham Palace down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade in a procession – either on horseback or in carriages. At Horse Guards, they then watch the military display before joining the procession back to Buckingham Palace once it is over.

After the parade, the royals then gather on the Palace balcony for a march-past and the fly-past by the RAF, which includes the Red Arrows, and will conclude the day’s celebrations.

What is the significance of Trooping the Colour?

The very first Trooping the Colour is believed to have been performed during the reign of King Charles II, who was Monarch from 1660 to 1685. However, it wasn’t until 1748 that it was decided for the parade to mark the official birthday of the Sovereign, becoming an annual event after George III became King in 1760.

Guards taking part are drawn from the Regiments of the Sovereign’s Household Troops, which has become the practice for Regiments of Foot Guards to troop their Colour in turn.

Although King Charles’ actual birthday falls on November 14, the practice was established long ago of marking an ‘Official Birthday’ of the Sovereign in the summer to stand a better chance of good weather for the parade.

When will Trooping the Colour take place, and how long will it last?

Trooping the Colour will take place on Saturday, June 14, 2025, with the royal family first expected to make an appearance in the procession to leave Buckingham Palace at approximately 10:45am.

The end of the celebrations will be marked with the RAF flypast which is expected to take place at 1pm. King Charles is one of many monarchs whose Trooping the Colour celebrations has not coincided with their actual birthday.

Edward VII, who reigned from 1901 to 1910, was also born in November – not the best time of year for a huge outdoor celebration – so held it in the summer instead.

The monarch after Edward VII – George V – helpfully had a birthday in June, but the Queen’s father, George VI, whose birthday was in December, reintroduced the tradition of an official birthday, which Elizabeth II, who had an April birthday, continued.

Which royals be at Trooping the Colour 2025?

Nearly all members of the Royal Family appear at Trooping the Colour – it’s usually one of the rare public appearances made by young royals Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Royal sources said other members of the Royal Family are expected to attend in line with last year, where only working members of the family were present. It has not been confirmed as yet by Buckingham Palace which royals will appear on the balcony for the RAF flypast.

In years gone by, the late Queen used to invite all members of her extended family onto the balcony at Trooping the Colour. However, at the last Trooping, the balcony was limited to working royals only, with the same happening at King Charles’ Coronation. This meant there was no place for the King’s younger disgraced brother Prince Andrew nor his estranged son Prince Harry.

This means the likes of Princess Beatrice and Eugenie as well as Zara and Mike Tindall and Peter Phillips have not been seen on the balcony in recent years. However, at the 2024 Trooping, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh and Lady Louise Windsor all made an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

Will King Charles or Prince William ride a horse at Trooping the Colour?

At last year’s Trooping the Colour, King Charles opted to ride in the royal carriage with Camilla: a choice that was made to make the King more safe and comfortable after his cancer treatment.

While it has yet to be officially confirmed, it has been reported that the King will once again join Queen Camilla in a carriage for the procession up the Mall.

Despite the King opting to ride in the carriage, Prince William, as Colonel of the Welsh Guards, is expected to join Princess Anne and Prince Edward on horseback for a second year.

What time will the RAF flypast by the Red Arrows take place, and where will I be able to see the planes?

The flypast by the RAF is set to take place at 1pm while members of the Royal Family watch from the Buckingham Palace balcony.

The route for the flypast, which includes the Red Arrows, is yet to be officially confirmed, but the Military Air Shows has revealed an air restrictions map which shows the expected official route.

The proposed restrictions are in the vicinity of the North Sea, East Anglia, Essex and London, before flying over Buckingham Palace at 1pm.

Can anyone go to Trooping the Colour?

Tickets to watch Trooping the Colour from the grandstands at Horse Guards Parade were allocated by ballot, with those lucky enough to receive tickets having already been informed.

While it is now too late to get tickets to this year’s event, there are still ways to watch Trooping the Colour. For those wanting to see the action in person, spectators can gather near Buckingham Palace and on The Mall to see the royals in the procession and on the balcony.

The event kicks off at 10am and anybody wanting to watch from the side lines is encouraged to get there by 9am. Meanwhile, Trooping the Colour is usually broadcast live on BBC1 from 10:30am.

If you want to know how Molly-Mae achieves her glowing skin, you’re in luck as she’s just shared her current favourite moisturiser and it’s under £15

Finding the perfect moisturiser you skin needs can be a pretty difficult task, but Molly-Mae says this affordable oat moisturiser is one of her all-time favourites.

And with Molly’s forever glowing skin, it’s hard not to trust her on this. Alongside Molly-Mae’s fashion credentials (we’re talking being the founder of Maebe and the former Creative Director of Pretty Little Thing), she also knows a thing or two about beauty and skincare.

The moisturiser we’re talking about here is the Aveeno Face Calm and Restore Oat Moisturiser, priced at a very wallet-friendly £13.50.

Designed for those with sensitive skin, the lightweight formula is packed full of skin-loving ingredients, such as antioxidant-rich feverfew and calming prebiotic oat.

These ingredients help to hydrate dry skin and lock in moisture for up to 24 hours. The result? Visibly radiant, glowing and hydrated skin. Just look at Molly-Mae.

READ MORE: River Island just launched a £46 version of Kate Spade’s sold out £450 bedazzled pizza bag

READ MORE: Love Island’s Megan Clarke takes inspiration from Michelle Keegan with nameplate necklace

Talking to her fans on her YouTube blog, Molly-Mae describes the Aveeno Oat Moisturiser as one of her “top three favourite moisturisers of all time” and states that she’s been using the hydrating product for “coming up to a year”. And what she loves is that it’s not “crazily priced”. Sometimes we can think spending more will lead to better results, but Aveeno is proving that’s not the case.

A year is pretty long time to commit to a skincare product, especially for someone like Molly, who likely receives hundreds of products on a monthly basis, so it’s clear to see this has the Molly-Mae stamp of approval.

The oat moisturiser is not the only Aveeno product loved by the influencer, Molly is also a huge fan of the Calm+Restore Foaming Cleanser, available for £12.99.

When talking about this cleanser Molly said it makes her “skin feel unbelievably clean” whilst “maintaining the moisture”. She’s been using this one consistently in the warmer months as it doesn’t dry the skin out, and is ideal for sensitive complexions.

Victoria Beckham is reportedly ready to ‘fight back’ as her son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz grow closer to Meghan Markle amid the bitter family feud

Fashion designer Victoria Beckham has reportedly been left shaken over Nicola Peltz and Meghan Markle’s budding friendship. The former Spice Girl is said to be ready to “fight back hard” as the bitter family feud rumbles on.

Victoria and David Beckham have been left heartbroken over recent weeks as their eldest son Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola continue to distance themselves from the family. Rumours of Beckham-Peltz fallout emerged in April when Brooklyn and Nicola snubbed David’s 50th birthday celebrations and things have only got worse since.

Amid the drama, Meghan Markle is reportedly eager to strengthen her bond with billionaire heiress Nicola, as she and Prince Harry aim to form a ‘US Fab Four’ with Nicola and Brooklyn.

A source confided to Closer magazine about the burgeoning friendship: “The Sussexes are looking to really build on this friendship, and all of them see huge potential for it to evolve into a ‘US Fab Four’.”

“Creating this new power alliance is a big slap in the face for David, Victoria and the royals – but the four have zero qualms or regrets about that because they all feel like they’ve been so badly wronged.”

Not only have Brooklyn and Nicola buddied up with Meghan and Harry, but the pair have also hired the same lawyer as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. It’s now been claimed that Victoria’s patience has finally worn thin with her son and daughter-in-law and she is reportedly ready to fire back.

“Vic is well aware of how well Nicola and Meghan have been getting on recently. It’s more than a little annoying, but mostly she finds the whole situation quite sad. She’s not going to take the bait – but if they want a war, she’s ready to fight back. She won’t tolerate their games, but ultimately, she’s more concerned about rebuilding her relationship with Brooklyn.”

The insider goes on to tell Heat magazine that Victoria is “100% secure in herself” and is unbothered by Nicola and Meghan’s possible “scheming” as she knows she is a powerful player in her own right.” The Mirror has approached Victoria for comment on this story.

Victoria isn’t the only one in her family having a rocky time with the former royals. The relationship between David and Prince Harry is reportedly strained, with the Duke of Sussex having previously asked David to serve as an ambassador for the Invictus Games.

However, it was alleged that Harry didn’t see David at the Sydney event in 2018, and rumours circulated that Harry was keeping his friend at a distance due to Meghan’s concerns about Victoria leaking stories about her.

It was later reported that Brooklyn and his wife Nicola were guests at a dinner party at Meghan and Harry’s Montecito mansion just days after Brooklyn missed his father David’s 50th birthday celebrations in London.

Sources claimed the invitation was “unexpected”, but it was gratefully accepted by the couple who felt “battle-wounded” from the family feud with the Beckhams. Meanwhile, Victoria and David are said to have “shuddered in horror” over this “new friendship”.