Category Entertainment News

Soap star Lisa Riley has opened up movingly about her grief after losing best friend Robin Windsor last year, and for the first time reveals how having therapy has helped her through the heartache

Lisa Riley, who has played larger-than-life soap icon Mandy Dingle on Emmerdale for almost 30 years, has opened up in an exclusive chat with OK! about the death of Robin Windsor – and the toll that loss has taken on her mental health.

The star, 48. who is an ambassador for Breast Cancer Now, with whom she has recorded a moving podcast, lost her Strictly Come Dancing pro partner and best friend, Robin, who was found dead in a London hotel on 18th February 2024 – and for the first time, reveals her mental health struggles led her to having therapy, to cope with her grief.

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Opening up about his untimely death at the age of just 44, she said, “I lost my best friend. I’m so lucky with our dressing room crew at work. Without those girls, some days, I wouldn’t be able to carry on. I put the wig on, the make-up and the costume and be funny, but my heart’s hurting. My husband-to-be Al has been amazing, but yes, I lost my gay best friend. He and I were Velcro together”.

Asked how she is coping now, just over one year on she admits, “I’d never had therapy since losing my mum in 2012. However, with Robin, I had to start having therapy. It really does work. I lost mum, then Robin, and two and half months after Robin we lost my aunt suddenly when she was on holiday. She died having dinner. It was awful”.

She admits that, looking back now, she wonders if she should have taken some more time off work after Robin’s shock passing – but knows that throwing herself into the job she loves is the way that works for her. “I put Mandy Dingle’s lashes on and kept going – that’s exactly what I did with my mum. That was my coping mechanism”.

Heartbroken Lisa was one of the many celebrities to pay tribute to the dancing star when the shock news broke last year. Writing in an emotional post in Instagram, she penned: “My bestie, my robin, my angel … now our forever angel, who is loved, will always be loved, forever in my heart … my very broken heart.”

Speaking last June, as she presented the Posthumous Award at the British LGBT Awards to Windsor’s family on his behalf, she said in his tribute: “I wish he was here, he should be on my arm covered in sparkles and having a ball, but the energy he had is imprinted on my heart.

” He would be shining down and laughing at us. His vibrancy, energy, and zest for life was out there for everyone to see. He wasn’t a hidden gay man, he was a proud, proud gay man. “

Hollywood icon Pierce Brosnan has opened up about his grief after his wife Cassandra and daughter Charlotte both died after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, with the star calling it “overwhelming”

A heartbreaking double tragedy struck Pierce Brosnan after he lost his daughter and wife to the same disease two decades apart. The 71-year-old is known for his beaming smile and infectious positivity, but away from the spotlight Pierce has nursed the pain of immense personal loss following the death of his first wife, Cassandra, and daughter, Charlotte.

Prior to marrying his second wife Keely, who he has been married to for 24 years, the Hollywood icon was in a relationship with actress Cassandra Harris. The pair tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in 1980 and the pair welcomed their son, Sean, into the world three years later. The pair also raised Cassandra’s two children, Charlotte and Christopher, from a previous relationship. When their father sadly died in 1986, the 007 actor adopted the siblings and they later took his last name.

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However, the family were struck by another tragedy just one year later when Cassandra was diagnosed with an aggressive form of ovarian cancer. Speaking about her diagnosis, Pierce recalled the impact it had from day one of her diagnosis. “From day 1, we really had a fight on our hands,” he told People magazine in 1992. “This wasn’t a shadow or a small tumour – this had invaded Cassie’s being.”

For four years, the mum-of-three underwent treatment. Heartbreakingly, she died in December 1991 at the age of 43. “There is an incredible cruelty in it all”, Pierce explained, adding, “losing a person you shared everything with. This is the first time in my life I’ve ever experienced bereavement, and it’s overwhelming”.

Tragically, almost 22 years after Cassandra’s death, Pierce faced yet more devastation when his 41-year-old daughter Charlotte died from the same disease in 2013. At the time of her passing, Charlotte was surrounded by her husband Alex, her children Isabella, who was 14 at the time, and Lucas, who was eight, as well as her brothers Christopher and Sean.

“Charlotte fought her cancer with rare grace and humanity, courage and dignity”, the Mamma Mia star said in a statement. “Our hearts are heavy with the loss of our beautiful dear girl. We pray for her, and that the cure for this wretched disease will be at hand soon. We thank everyone for their heartfelt condolences”.

In 2014, Pierce opened up about his grief during a Stand Up To Cancer telethon. “To watch someone you love have his or her life eaten away bit by bit by this insidious disease, that part of your sorrow becomes an indelible part of your psyche,” he said, reports Entertainment Tonight.

“I held the generous, strong, beautiful hand of my first wife Cassie as ovarian cancer took her life much too soon. Just last year, I held the hand of my funny, wonderful daughter Charlotte before she, too, died from this wretched inherited disease”.

Pierce more recently made headlines this week when he was spotted with his granddaughter, Isabella, while at the afterparty of the MobLand premiere. Pierce rocked a black two-piece suit and a black scarf as he guided his granddaughter – Charlotte’s daughter — through the crowd.

Following the loss of Cassandra, the James Bond star feared he’d never find love again. While starring in the Danish romantic comedy Love Is All You Need, in which he played the role of a heartbroken widower and father-of-one whose life changes after he meets cancer survivor Ida, he opened up on the parallels the film had with his own life.

“As a man who has gone through the rigours of loss and dealing with family, I guess there was something there I could draw on,” he told The Mirror in 2013. “I know what it is like to be a widower and what it is like to find love again. So I know there’s hope and that you have to learn to get on with it. Ups and downs are what life is all about. But the memory of Cassie and her fight against cancer is never forgotten.”

In 1994, Pierce met his now-wife Keely Shaye Smith in a Mexican bar. The pair have two children, Dylan and Paris, and the actor calls her his ‘North star’. He added: “We met when I was like Philip, adrift. I’d lost my wife and been a widower for three years. Keely is the backbone of our family, of my life, and I tell her that I love her every day. I tell her that she’s beautiful and I couldn’t have done it without her. We look forward to the time now when the boys go off to college and my darling will be able to travel with me on these movies.”

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US rapper Sean Kingston and his mum Janice Turner were found guilty fraud after swindling over one million dollars together. Now the pair have been convicted, the rapper had three words for the Marshalls

After being convicted of a $1 million wire fraud, US rapper Sean Kingston and his mum could face up to 20 years in prison for the crime. The pair were found guilty after falsely claiming to pay for luxury goods such as cars and jewellery, as well as swindling several banks, all by pretending to make bank transfers that were never processed.

The trial, which lasted a few days from March 24 to March 28 in Broward County, Florida came to an end when the jury reached their guilty verdict after three and a half hours, which then saw the rapper breaking down in tears and crying out for protection for his mother, Janice Turner.

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While the Beautiful Girls singer did not testify during the trial, he cried out “protect my mother” as US Marshalls took Turner into custody, as reported by The New York Post. The pair were convicted of all five charges they faced stemming from their May 2024 and federal prosecutors allege Kingston and Turner attempted to defraud their victims by using fraudulent documents in exchange for over one million dollars worth of luxury items.

The 35-year-old rapper, whose real name is Kisean Anderson, was reportedly crying with his hands clasped as the jury read its verdict inside the Fort Lauderdale federal court, WPLG reported. He was placed under house arrest with bond conditions of a $200, 000 surety bond in cash and also had to put up a relative’s $500, 000 house as part of the bond requirement.

Both Kingston and Turner are set to be sentenced in July 2025, and each could face up to 20 years in prison on each charge. However, the final sentences could be influenced by factors like their cooperation and prior criminal history.

The arrests came from a civil lawsuit filed against the rapper by Ver Ver Entertainment LLC in February 2024 that sought payment of damages for breach of contract and fraud after Kingston ordered the 232-inch Colossal TV and a sound system for his home. The Post further detailed that to lower the price of the $111,000 purchase, Kingston supposedly promised to make promotional videos about the products with his friend, Justin Bieber, the suit said, however, the commercials were never made and Bieber was never involved.

Some of the charges show that the rapper and his mum are accused of defrauding a car dealership out of $160, 000 (£123, 000) for a Cadillac Escalade, stealing nearly $500, 000 (£386, 000) worth of jewellery, and obtaining other goods like a custom bed valued at $86, 000 (£66, 000) without paying for them.

Both Kingston and Turner have had legal problems in the past. Turner had been convicted of bank fraud back in 2006 and served almost 18 months in prison. Kingston, who is 35, was already on probation for a previous crime when he was arrested in this case.

Sean rose to fame due to his 2007 debut single Beautiful Girls, which reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart at the time. He then went on to release a number of singles, Tomorrow (2009) and Back 2 Life (2013). Fire Burning, and is also known for his Beat It, featuring Chris Brown and Wiz Khalifa.

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Sturdy leather boots are a must-have, especially in autumn and winter, but they can also be versatile shoes that carry you through the year for various occasions. I first got my beloved pair of Docs Martens over five years ago, as they match my style at any time of year—and most importantly, because these beauties add height.

As someone who is relatively short (5’3) but doesn’t like wearing heels daily, I wanted a shoe that could make me at least an inch taller without discomfort or pain in my feet by the end of the day. That’s when I found these gems.

The 1460 Pascal Max Leather Boots from Doc Martens are a platform variation on the original Doc Martens boots that have transcended fashion trends since their inception in the 1960s. With roots set solely in workwear when they were first released, these boots have become an iconic, statement shoe for various styles – from grunge to cottage core, Doc Martens has something for everyone. And these 1460 boots suited me to the core.

Right now, my beloved boots are hosting a massive discount—their steep price tag is plummeting by nearly £100 as Doc Martens slashes prices in their spring sale.

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The 1460 Pascal Max boot stands on Doc Martens ‘ tallest platform, which boasts the standard bouncing sole you’d find in any Doc Martens shoes, but these are higher than ever.

Crafted from supple Pisa leather, with a black and yellow heel loop and silver branded eyelets for an understated and versatile finish, these boots stand out as Docs with the unmistakable yellow welt stitching and distinctive marked grooving pattern.

Though Doc Martens are renowned for being tough to break in when you first get them on your feet, these boots didn’t take long to become a go-to in my (fairly large) shoe collection. They’re comfortable enough to wear all day while working or to a concert without the aches and pains you can experience with overly sturdy shoes.

Doc Martens ‘ insoles are designed to mould to the shape of your foot over time, meaning that after five years of wearing them, these Docs are uniquely mine—perfectly fit to my feet for ultimate comfort with every wear.

The only fault I will note with these shoes is that the platform is fairly heavy, so it took some time to get used to. Unlike the original 1460 Boots, which feature a thinner and more flexible sole, these shoes may make you feel like you’re being weighed down, but after wearing them for some time, I can say now that the added weight doesn’t phase me anymore.

Normally retailing for a hefty £220, my go-to shoes are now available for the majorly reduced price of £132 while this sale lasts. At the time of writing, they are currently fully stocked in sizes 3 to 13, including half sizes for the best possible fit.

For those who prefer to shop elsewhere or don’t fancy making the most of this sale, similar styles are available from ASOS for £140 or Ssence for £185.

Rebecca Adlington shot to fame at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, winning two gold medals before going on to have a successful punditry career with the BBC

It’s been 17 years since Rebecca Adlington became a household name after her stunning performance at the Beijing Olympics. At just 19, the Mansfield-born swimmer clinched gold in both the 400-metre and 800-metre freestyles, smashing the world record in the latter.

She made history as the first woman to bag swimming gold for Team GB in nearly half a century and the first British swimmer to secure more than one gold medal at a single Olympics in 100 years. Adlington’s star continued to rise as she added Commonwealth, European and World Championship golds to her collection, along with two bronze medals at the London Olympics in 2012.

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However, at the tender age of 23, she decided to retire from competitive swimming in 2013. Since then, she has carved out a successful career as a BBC pundit and dabbled in reality TV, featuring on shows like I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Celebrity MasterChef and The Jump, reports Wales Online.

Despite her professional success, Adlington has faced personal challenges in recent years, including a divorce, two heartbreaking miscarriages, and a life-altering diagnosis. Here’s what you need to know.

Adlington tied the knot with her first husband Harry Needs in 2014, five years after they first crossed paths as budding professional swimmers.

In less than a year, the couple welcomed their daughter, Summer, but their marriage ended 18 months later in an “amicable” separation.

In a statement on her website, Adlington announced, “It’s after much thought and sadness that we confirm our separation. It is on amicable terms and we still remain close friends”.

The couple prioritised co-parenting their daughter, stating, “We move forward with respect for one another and our focus and commitment is on parenting our gorgeous daughter Summer”.

Four years later, Needs publicly revealed his bisexuality, explaining that he hadn’t explored his sexuality before marrying Adlington. This secrecy led to anxiety and depression, and he shared with GuysForYou, “I didn’t say a thing. For me personally, my journey with Rebecca was a destination to love”.

Needs found it difficult to acknowledge his bisexuality, especially with no same-sex experience. He committed to his relationship with Adlington, saying, “I think as an unconfident bisexual man it was extremely difficult back then to admit it even to myself, especially considering I had zero experience with the same sex. Once I knew I loved Rebecca, I was committed to that relationship and its journey for the rest of my life”.

After coming out to Adlington a year post-separation, Needs said she was very supportive. He clarified, “I never felt I deceived her, because I loved her and like I already said, I never had the time to discover my full sexuality”.

Adlington eventually found love again with facilities manager Andy Parsons, whom she met on the dating site Bumble. During a stint on Loose Women, Adlington opened up about the beginnings of their romance, admitting: “I was like Oh God, I don’t want to do online dating. I was just terrified by all my friends’ stories.”

She added: “I just got to the point where I thought that’s how you meet people nowadays, it’s very rare that you just bump into somebody and meet them”.

“So, I decided ‘ Oh I’ll give it a try to see how it goes ‘ and literally I was on the app two weeks, matched with Andy, my partner, and we just clicked”, she said. “After another two weeks of chatting, we met up for a date and the rest is history”.

The couple enjoyed three years of dating before tying the knot in 2021, and they welcomed their son Albie in the same year.

Despite being blessed with two children, Adlington has also endured the heartbreak of two miscarriages, the first of which happened in 2022.

The miscarriage was detected during a routine 12-week scan at the hospital, leading to emergency surgery and sepsis treatment for the former swimmer.

“It’s such a devastating time but important in times like these we remember we aren’t alone and have so much support,” she shared with her Instagram followers. “After a day of treating sepsis, a kidney infection and a fever, I’m slowly on the mend. Long way to go but I’m in the right place,”.

However, a year later, Adlington and her husband were dealt another devastating blow when she suffered a miscarriage at 20 weeks. Their daughter Harper was stillborn in October 2023, leaving the couple “truly heartbroken”.

They released a statement expressing their eternal love for their lost child.

Adlington shared the heartbreaking news, writing: “I don’t really have the words right now but unfortunately we went for our 20-week scan this week and they found no heartbeat”, She continued, “I gave birth to our angel, Harper, on Friday at 7pm. We held her, and had time with her. We will forever love her and remember her always”.

She admitted her struggle to share the tragic news, saying: “I don’t have the strength or words right now and don’t feel ready to share this news. However, I can’t pretend to be ok or fake a smile. I can’t have people ask me how pregnancy is or when I am due as I still look pregnant. I don’t have the strength to tell this news individually.

” We are so truly heartbroken, “she added”. Our beautiful girl. Rest in peace. “Following the tragedy, Adlington confessed to the Times that she” hated]her] body “and couldn’t help but blame herself, admitting:” It was very hard for me to accept.

“I’m very logical so I wanted to find out why this had happened. But the post-mortem showed there was no reason, sometimes things just happen. I have to come to terms with that somehow and stop obsessing about it”.

In other recent news, Adlington has been lauded for her bravery after disclosing her diagnosis with coeliac disease.

The beloved Team GB legend has shared candid details about her recent health struggles in a heartfelt video on Coeliac UK’s Instagram page, prompting her legion of fans to rally for the cause of maintaining gluten-free prescriptions.

Anyone with this auto-immune disorder experiences their immune system mistakenly targeting their own body when ingesting gluten, resulting in damage to the small intestine accompanied by stomach pains, bloating, indigestion, constipation, fatigue, and diarrhoea. For these individuals, steering clear of gluten is a must, making access to gluten-free prescriptions an essential element of managing their health.

Faced with the potential loss of this critical support, Adlington made a powerful plea: “Hello everyone. As someone newly diagnosed with coeliac disease, I have definitely quickly learnt how vital gluten-free prescriptions are for managing this condition.

” But in some areas, these prescriptions are totally being cut. Coeliac UK is handing a petition to Number 10 to make sure we’re heard, so please sign and share the petition today. “

The advocacy efforts bore fruit as the petition secured a stunning 22, 826 supporters, successfully being presented at Downing Street earlier this month.

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Love Island icon Maura Higgins appears to have moved on from the Danny Jones kiss drama, which took place earlier this month, as she focused on her endless work projects

Love Island icon Maura Higgins looked out of this world as she rocked a classy outfit for an event with L’Oreal. The reality star took to her Instagram page to share behind-the-scenes clips from the shoot, which had her posing on the step of a train as a waiter walked behind her carrying a tray of Prosecco.

The star took a ride on the British Pullman – private luxury train offering a unique travel experience for passengers. She was treated to drinks and a full meal on the journey and the TV personality made sure to take some time to show off her modelling skills as she posed for a number of gorgeous photos.

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Maura rocked a button-up short black dress with a white collar, black tights, black heels, a tiny bag and a hat for the occasion. She added a Louis Armstrong audio to the clip and shared it with her 4.1million followers.

Fans immediately took to the comment section to compliment the star. One user said: “Different class..different gravy! Love this Maura.”

Another added: “You look stunning and I love the Pullmans.. so special!” and one commented: “You really was made to shine, stunning photos.” One said: “Giving off luxurious vibes – having a luxurious ride – enjoyed by a top end Queen.”

Maura captioned her post: “And she was what mother called “New Money”. Thankyou for the most special day @lorealparis.”

Her recent work events come after she was caught locking lips with married Danny Jones while at a late night BRIT Awards afterparty.

They have been wrapped up in scandal since video footage emerged as the kiss put strain on Danny’s marriage to former Miss England Georgia Horsley. Danny and Maura, who met on the latest series of I’m A Celebrity, were seen looking close at a glitzy party before heading onto the five-star Nobu Hotel in London for more drinks.

Danny recently apologised for what happened in a grovelling apology shared on social media while his wife moved out of the family home temporarily to spend time with her friends and “get away” from all that is going on.

Meanwhile, Maura has been lying low and focusing on work and opted to flee the UK and fly out to Los Angeles and Texas for work.

She took part in a huge shoot for fashion brand Oh Polly and shared snaps from her getaway on social media. Despite painting a picture she has brushed off the scandal, sources have told The Mirror it has been a tough few weeks for the star.

Maura recently gave her own insight into her thoughts on being involved in the scandal as she ‘liked’ a fan comment on her recent post. A follower supported Maura and wrote: “You are unreal. Don’t listen to the haters. U are a diamond.”

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