Ali Bastian, who has been in soaps Hollyoaks and Doctors, had a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy following her stage II breast cancer diagnosis last year
Ali Bastian, pictured at the BAFTAs in May, said earlier this year she was cancer free(Image: Getty Images)
Former Hollyoaks star Ali Bastian said her body is “under construction” as she opened up about her cancer journey.
After Ali was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer last year, the 42-year-old actress underwent gruelling chemotherapy and had a mastectomy. However, she delighted fans in March this year by revealing she had overcome the disease, statistically the most common cancer in the UK.
Speaking in a podcast this week, Ali said: “I couldn’t have a reconstruction at the time because we always knew I’d have to have radiotherapy. At some point there’ll be some kind of something.
“Initially I was like 100 per cent it’s happening. But now, I want to have the conversations and talk through what the options are, but I’m not actually married to any of them at the moment.”
READ MORE: Hollyoaks’ Ali Bastian reveals she’s cancer free after surgery in emotional update
The actress was diagnosed with cancer in September last year(Image: alibastianinsta/Instagram)
Article continues below
Ali, 42, said she found it challenging to always feel like a ‘fighter’(Image: alibastianinsta/Instagram)
The actress, who portrayed Becca Dean in Hollyoaks from 2001 to 2007, gave the update on the Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast, presented by Giovanna Fletcher. Giovanna, 40, asked Ali how she handled her recovery so far, to which Ali said: “In some ways better than I would have imagined actually, even the sort of gearing up for a mastectomy. I’ve got a really good prosthetic that makes a big difference. It means in clothes I feel normal. It’s bright pink. It makes me happy.
“It’s just very different to the lump of silicone that you get handed in the hospital, which is a hell of a moment. This is a lot lighter and easy to wear. I quite like that it doesn’t look like a chicken fillet, like a pretend boob. It’s something that I could show the kids as well because it’s so visually appealing.”
Article continues below
Ali had a regular role in BBC soap Doctors in 2019 but left to have her first of two children, both of whom are girls. Since starting a family, she hasn’t had a majpr acting credit but she told Giovanna she is looking to the future. The star, from Windsor, Berkshire, added: “I just keep saying to myself really ‘I’m still under construction, I’ve been through a lot, I’m healing at the moment.'”
The soap star, who came third in the 2009 series of Strictly Come Dancing, lost her mum in 2023, one year before the cancer journey started. Earlier this year, Ali, who has also been in The Bill, told fans her mum had a short illness.
Nigerian singer Ayra Starr marked a career milestone at the 2025 BET Awards, taking home the Best International Act award, her first-ever win at the event on Monday night.
The 21-year-old Afrobeats star, who had led all African nominees with three nominations, was up for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, Best New Artist, and Best International Act. While Starr lost in the first two categories to SZA and Leon Thomas respectively, her win in the international category signalled growing global recognition for her sound and rise in the music industry.
Her victory was a standout moment on a night where other Nigerian nominees were left disappointed.
READ ASO: [Ojude Oba] When Culture Meets Style, Connects Generations
Tems captivates audience at Aston Martin F1 Livery unveiling in London. Photo: @astonmartinf1/Instagram
Tems, another strong Nigerian contender, was nominated twice in the BET Her category for her tracks Burning and Hold On from her debut album Born In The Wild. The award was ultimately claimed by Summer Walker for her emotional single Heart of a Woman.
Shallipopi, known for his street-hop sound, was nominated for Best New International Act, while Rema was also in the running for Best International Act, but neither artist clinched the win.
The ceremony, held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles and hosted by comedian Kevin Hart, was dominated by U.S. acts particularly hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar, who swept up five major awards.
Lamar won Album of the Year for GNX, Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Video of the Year for the viral Not Like Us, Best Collaboration with SZA on Luther, and Video Director of the Year, shared with longtime collaborator Dave Free.
WInner of Album of the Year with “GNX” US rapper songwriter Kendrick Lamar speaks on stage during the 2025 BET Awards at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on June 9, 2025. (Photo by Michael Tran / AFP)
Chris Brown was named Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, while The Best Group award went to Future and Metro Boomin for their joint album.
Rapper Doechii won Best Female Hip Hop Artist and used her acceptance speech to highlight ongoing protests outside the venue.
“As much as I’m honoured by this award, I do want to address what’s happening right now outside of the building,” she said. “There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order.”
She concluded to a standing ovation: “We all deserve to live in hope and not in fear… and we protest against it. Thank you, BET.”
And in one of the night’s most talked-about wins, the daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Blue Ivy Carter received the YoungStars Award
On the film and television front, Cynthia Erivo won Best Actress, and Denzel Washington added another accolade to his long career as Best Actor. The musical biopic Luther: Never Too Much took home Best Movie.
Meanwhile, Angel Reese claimed the Sportswoman of the Year award, while NFL quarterback Jalen Hurts took home Sportsman of the Year honors for his standout season.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS – BET AWARDS 2025
Album of the Year
$ome $exy $ongs 4 U — Drake & Partynextdoor 11:11 Deluxe — Chris Brown Alligator Bites Never Heal — Doechii Cowboy Carter — Beyoncé Glorious — GloRilla WINNER: GNX — Kendrick Lamar Hurry Up Tomorrow — The Weeknd We Don’t Trust You — Future & Metro Boomin
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Ari Lennox Ayra Starr Coco Jones Kehlani Muni Long Summer Walker WINNER: SZA Victoria Monét
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Bruno Mars WINNER: Chris Brown Drake Fridayy Leon Thomas Teddy Swims The Weeknd Usher
Best Group
41 Common & Pete Rock Drake & Partynextdoor Flo WINNER: Future & Metro Boomin Jacquees & Dej Loaf Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist Maverick City Music
Best Collaboration
“30 For 30” — SZA feat. Kendrick Lamar “Alter Ego” — Doechii feat. JT “Are You Even Real” — Teddy Swims feat. Givēon “Beckham” — Dee Billz feat. Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo, KJ Swervo Bless — Lil Wayne, Wheezy & Young Thug “Like That” — Future & Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar WINNER: “Luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA “Sticky” — Tyler, The Creator feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne “Timeless” — The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B WINNER: Doechii Doja Cat GloRilla Latto Megan Thee Stallion Nicki Minaj Rapsody Sexyy Red
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
BigXthaPlug Bossman DLow Burna Boy Drake Future WINNER: Kendrick Lamar Key Glock Lil Wayne Tyler, The Creator
Video of the Year
“3AM in Tokeyo” — Key Glock “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” — Shaboozey “After Hours” — Kehlani “Denial Is a River” — Doechii “Family Matters” — Drake WINNER: “Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar “Timeless” — The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti “Type Shit” — Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott & Playboi Carti
Video Director of the Year
Anderson .Paak B Pace Productions & Jacquees Benny Boom Cactus Jack Cole Bennett WINNER: Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar Dave Meyers Foggieraw Tyler, The Creator
Best New Artist
41 Ayra Starr BigXthaPlug BossMan Dlow Dee Billz WINNER: Leon Thomas October London Shaboozey Teddy Swims
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
“A God (There Is)” — Common & Pete Rock feat. Jennifer Hudson “Amen” — Pastor Mike Jr. “Better Days” — Fridayy “Church Doors” — Yolanda Adams feat. Sir The Baptist & Donald Lawrence (Terry Hunter Remix) “Constant” — Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore & Anthony Gargiula “Deserve to Win” — Tamela Mann “Faith” — Rapsody WINNER: “Rain Down on Me” — GloRilla feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music
Viewer’s Choice Award
WINNER: “Residuals” — Chris Brown “Denial Is a River” — Doechii “Nokia” — Drake “Like That” — Future & Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar “TGIF” — GloRilla “Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar “Luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA “Brokey” — Latto
Best International Act
Any Gabrielly (Brazil) WINNER: Ayra Starr (Nigeria) Basky (UK) Black Sherif (Ghana) Ezra Collective (UK) Joé Dwèt Filé (France) MC Luanna (Brazil) Rema (Nigeria) SDM (France) Tyla (South Africa) Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)
Best New International Act
Abigail Chams (Tanzania) Ajulicosta (Brazil) Amabbi (Brazil) Dlala Thukzin (South Africa) Dr Yaro (France) KWN (UK) Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa) Merveille (France) Odeal (UK) Shallipopi (Nigeria) WINNER: TxC (South Africa)
BET Her
“Beautiful People” — Mary J. Blige “Blackbiird” — Beyonce feat. Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy & Reyna Roberts “Bloom” — Doechii “Burning” — Tems “Defying Gravity” — Cynthia Erivo feat. Ariana Grande WINNER: “Heart of a Woman” — Summer Walker “Hold On” — Tems “In My Bag” — Flo & GloRilla
Best Movie
Bad Boys: Ride or Die Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F WINNER: Luther: Never Too Much Mufasa: The Lion King One of Them Days Rebel Ridge The Piano Lesson The Six Triple Eight
Best Actor
Aaron Pierce Aldis Hodge Anthony Mackie Colman Domingo WINNER: Denzel Washington Jamie Foxx Joey Bada$$ Kevin Hart Sterling K. Brown Will Smith
Best Actress
Andra Day Angela Bassett Coco Jones WINNER: Cynthia Erivo Keke Palmer Kerry Washington Quinta Brunson Viola Davis Zendaya
Young Stars Award
Akira Akbar WINNER: Blue Ivy Carter Graceyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth Heiress Harris Melody Hurd Thaddeus J. Mixson Tyrik Johnson VanVan
Sportswoman of the Year Award
A’ja Wilson WINNER: Angel Reese Claressa Shields Coco Gauff Dawn Staley Flau’jae Johnson Juju Watkins Sha’Carri Richardson Simone Biles
Blake Lively initially launched a sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni – who has strongly refuted the claims – after the pair worked together on It Ends With Us
Blake Lively was snapped at the Tribeca Artists Dinner in New York City on Monday(Image: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Blake Lively has spoken out for the first time since she was cleared in the $400million (£294million) defamation and extortion lawsuit filed by her It Ends with Us collaborator Justin Baldoni.
The actress’ powerful statement comes just hours after a judge dismissed Justin’s case. Blake, 37, said on Instagram: “Last week, I stood proudly alongside 19 organisations united in defending women’s rights to speak up for their safety.
“Like so many others, I’ve felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us. While the suit against me was defeated, so many don’t have the resources to fight back.”
Blake initially launched a sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin – who has strongly refuted the claims. However, he hit back with the $400million defamation claim against her, her publicist and husband Ryan Reynolds, all of whom have dismissed the accusations.
READ MORE: Blake Lively blasted for being ‘rude to staff’ in New York shop – ‘so entitled’
The pair worked together on film It Ends With Us
But after the judge chucked out Justin’s claims, a source close to the Los Angeles-born actress said: “Today’s opinion is a total victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively, along with those that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties dragged into their retaliatory lawsuit.”
Article continues below
The row happened after Blake and Justin, 41, starred together in It Ends With Us, a romcom released last year. The alleged sexual harassment occurred during production for that film, which Justin directed.
But now, speaking after the dismissal, Blake added she was “more resolved than ever to continue to stand for every woman’s right to have a voice in protecting themselves, including their safety, their integrity, their dignity and their story”.
The Gossip Girl actress, who has four children with Ryan Reynolds, “With love and gratitude for the many who stood by me, many of you I know. Many of you I don’t. But I will never stop appreciating or advocating for you.”
Article continues below
Last month, Blake’s pal Taylor Swift was dragged into the scandal when she was officially subpoenaed to appear as a witness. The pop star was delivered a legal notice by Justin’s lawyer Bryan Freedman – a decision which had been slammed by her team as a tactic to create clickbait.
In a move that appeared to please Blake and Taylor, it was confirmed Justin would no longer be calling on the Bad Blood hitmaker to appear as a witness. Bryan Freedman had claimed Blake had called on “her high-profile friends” including Taylor to “manipulate Justin at every turn.”
Mark Labbett, best known to The Chase fans as quizmaster “The Beast”, was reportedly spotted committing the faux pas during a date with a mystery woman while filming Celebs Go Dating
“The Beast” from The Chase, real name Mark Labbett, found himself in an amusing pickle on Celebs Go Dating after reportedly dozing off during a date.
Labbett, 58, well-known for his sharp intellect and straight-talking on the hit ITV quiz show, seemingly succumbed to sleepiness while the cameras captured the moment mid-date.
The latest series of Celebs Go Dating, which was filmed last month, saw an insider reveal that there wasn’t much spark between the quizzing legend and his suitor.
An anonymous tipster dished:
“Mark was yawning a lot and drifted off briefly. It was a bit of an awkward moment. It’s safe to say there wasn’t much of a spark between them.”
Article continues below
READ MORE: Scooter Braun reflects on Taylor Swift feud as he reveals ‘shock’ over situation
Previously weighing as much as 29 stone, Mark Labbett tied the knot with second cousin Katie in 2014 but called it quits after six years.
He then dated TV host Hayley Palmer in 2023; however, the couple split after just one year together, reports the Express.
A source said: “Mark was yawning a lot and drifted off briefly. It was a bit of an awkward moment. It’s safe to say there wasn’t much of a spark between them.”(Image: IG)
Discussing his break up with Hayley, 43, Labbett confided in The Sun:
“She’s a lovely lady and I was very lucky to date her for a year, and as I said: it’s me, I got old.”
He continued: “There’s been no one since Hayley. I’m not saying there won’t be another one. But I’m certainly not looking.”
Delving into his love life, Labbett reminisced:
“I was single, not coincidentally, for a long, long time when I was a 29st maths teacher who knew it was quite hard to attract a partner then. So I’m quite comfortable without a partner.”
Mark’s representative quipped a witty retort when questioned about the drowsy date:
Article continues below
“If his date was as boring as you have suggested, I’m surprised he didn’t take a pillow with him!”.
Mark Morrison, whose song Return of the Mack topped the UK charts in 1996, was taken into custody on Saturday but denied that any battery occurred at Le Bar à Vin in Palm Beach, Florida
Mark Morrison’s battery charge has been dismissed
A battery charge against British singer Mark Morrison – best known for his 1996 hit Return of the Mack – has been dropped.
The musician, 51, was taken into custody on Saturday after an alleged altercation at Le Bar à Vin in Palm Beach, Florida. However, the star’s lawyers have today confirmed he was at the restaurant to talk to the manager and attempt to collect payment on behalf of a local singer who had performed at the venue.
Although the “conversation escalated”, Mr Morrison’s lawyers said no physical altercation happened and now police have been able to dismiss the battery charge. In a statement, King Legal Group said: “The decision to nolle prosse (formally decline prosecution) ends what should never have been a criminal matter in the first place.
“Mr Morrison has consistently and unequivocally denied that any battery occurred. There was no physical altercation—only a demand for fairness and accountability. The evidence never supported criminal intent or conduct.”
READ MORE: Sly Stone dead: Sly and the Family Stone singer dies, aged 82
The musician, who grew up in Leicester, had attempted to help a singer collect money they were owed for a performance
Article continues below
The legal team explained how Mr Morrison, whose track Return of the Mack spent two weeks as UK number one in April 1996, values standing up for what he believes in. However, they suggested race may have played a role in how the singer was treated.
“While we are relieved the State has dismissed the charge, the underlying context cannot be ignored. The refusal to pay — coupled with how quickly the situation was criminalised — raises legitimate concerns about whether race played a role in how Mr Morrison was treated. It’s not lost on us that advocating for fair pay, especially as a Black man in a position of leadership, can be met with suspicion instead of dialogue,” the statement added.
“Mr Morrison has spent years supporting local artists and standing up for what’s right. That won’t change. He is grateful for those who stood by him, and he remains committed to uplifting the artistic community in Palm Beach County and beyond. Towards that end, and in furtherance of Mr Morrison’s commitment to his community, he is donating the $1000.00 (£730) bond used to secure his appearance, to Little Smiles, a local children’s charity.”
A US judge on Monday rejected a $400 million lawsuit that actor Justin Baldoni filed against former co-star Blake Lively and The New York Times after she accused him of sexual harassment and other misbehaviour.
Back in December the Times reported that Lively had filed a complaint against Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath for allegedly inappropriate behavior and comments during the shooting of the movie “It Ends with Us.”
The complaint said Baldoni — who also directed the film — had spoken inappropriately about his sex life and sought to alter the film to include sex scenes that were not in the script and had not been agreed to.
READ ALSO: Two BTS Megastars Released From South Korea Military
It also said Heath had watched Lively while she was topless, despite having been asked to turn away. It further said Baldoni waged a PR campaign to wreck Lively’s reputation.
A lawyer for Wayfarer, the studio behind the film, said in a statement released to the New York Times at the time that neither the studio, its executives, nor its PR team did anything to retaliate against Lively.
“These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media,” lawyer Bryan Freedman wrote in December.
Baldoni filed suit in January against the actress, her husband Ryan Reynolds and the Times, arguing that an article the paper ran in December defamed him.
On Monday, Judge Lewis Liman of the US District Court in Manhattan dismissed the lawsuit filed by Baldoni.
The judge said the Times had simply reported on Lively’s original legal filing alleging harassment on set and a retaliatory smear campaign, and that it had taken the trouble to seek a reaction from Baldoni to the actress’s allegations.
The judge also rejected allegations by Baldoni that Lively, whose Instagram account has more than 43 million followers, had tried to seize control of the film and its promotion. Baldoni accused her husband, Reynolds, of wrongly describing him as a sexual predator.
In a statement carried by US media, Lively’s lawyers celebrated what they called a “total victory” over Baldoni’s “retaliatory lawsuit.”
Baldoni’s lawyer did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.
