Category Entertainment News

Toni Laites, Yasmin Pettet and Shakira Khan formed a friendship whilst in the Love Island villa together over the summer and the trio all ended up reaching the final

Love Island runner-up Shakira Khan made a dig at other islanders from the reality TV show whilst discussing her friendship with Yasmin Pettet and Toni Laites. The trio met in the villa over the summer and have become close pals.

Shakira, 22, reached the final of the latest series of the ITV2 show in August with her partner Harry Cooksley. Although she clashed with some co-stars whilst in the villa, she had grown close to Yasmin and Toni, who were coupled up with Jamie Rhodes and Cach Mercer respectively.

All three couples made it to the final, with Yasmin and Jamie placing third together. Shakira and Harry were announced as the runner-up couple by host Maya Jama, with Toni and Cach named the winners of the most recent series.

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Shakira spoke about her friendship with Toni and Yasmin whilst discussing her Love Island experience on Capital XTRA earlier this week. At one point in the interview, she was asked what makes them “different from the rest”.

She described the trio as “real” in her response and said that they found a “sense of sisterhood” together. The former islander added that the three pals “keep it real” and said in the recent radio interview that they are “outspoken”.

Shakira said: “We’re real. I think people will have their opinions but I feel like we’ve always said it how it is and we always found like a sense of sisterhood with each other. We always think the same things – like we always have the same opinion.”

She continued by sharing on the radio show: “And yeah, I just think we keep it real. I don’t think we’re the sort of people you would stereotypically put on Love Island either. Like we’re all quite outspoken, strong females.”

Shakira concluded her response to the question by addressing the reaction to the trio. Sharing her thoughts, she said: “And yeah, it didn’t land with some people but the girls who get it, get it, and the girls who don’t, don’t!”

She had been an original islander on the latest series of Love Island, which ran from June to August. She had initially coupled-up with Ben Holbrough but he was then ‘stolen’ by the first bombshell, Toni, in the launch episode.

A twist then saw Shakira pitted against her co-stars as she was told that she had 24 hours to get a different boy to couple up with her or she would be dumped from the show herself. It appeared to lead to some tension in the villa.

Shakira ended up recoupling with Harry, which meant that Sophie Lee, who had been coupled up with him, had to leave the villa instead. Shakira, who clashed with other islanders at time during her stint in the villa, and Harry had an on-off romance throughout the series, including as part of a long-running love triangle with Helena Ford, whom Harry also pursued.

Shortly before the final, Shakira and Harry reunited after being a part and ended up becoming the runner-up couple. Shakira took the opportunity to thank her pals Yasmin and Toni in a post after leaving the villa beside them.

She wrote last month: “To be in the final with my two babies was definitely not on my Love Island bingo card!! Toni and Yas, I genuinely couldn’t have lasted a single day in that villa without you. I’m forever grateful I get to call you my friends.”

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Former The X Factor star Olly Murs has revealed the sweet meaning behind his son’s name a week after he announced the arrival of his second child with wife Amelia

Olly Murs has revealed the adorable meaning behind his son Albert’s name, a week after announcing the arrival of his first son.

Last week, the former X Factor finalist announced the family has become four as his wife Amelia had given birth to their second child. The couple are already proud parents to a daughter, Madison, who was born in April 2024.

“Walking out as four. Welcome to the world, our little Albert,” he captioned his social media post last week when announcing the happy news. Ever since, the Dear Darlin’ singer has been asked why he decided on the name, which he has now answered.

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Taking to his official Facebook page, he penned: “A few people been asking why we chose the name Albert… It’s after my great-grandad Edward ‘Albert’ Murs.

“Me and Amelia loved the name after I was on BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? and now our little man gets to carry that bit of family history in the future… love you son.”

Olly appeared on the BBC ancestry show in 2024. The Troublemaker singer revealed his family hails from Latvia, so he wanted to find out what happened to his grandad Eddie, and how he managed to escape to England.

While exploring his grandfather’s Latvian roots on the show, Olly discovered his great-grandparents were circus performers – and learnt more about a wartime decision that led to a tragic family estrangement.

The star travelled to the Salamonska Circus building in Riga hoping to track down his great-grandmother Veronika Jankovska. There, he discovered that his great-grandfather Edward Murs had cheated on his wife Katrine with Veronika.

He learnt that she had given birth to Olly’s grandfather, Eddie, but handed him over to her parents as she struggled to raise him. She then went off to work at the circus.

When Nazi Germany took over Latvia, Eddie fled as a refugee with his father and Katrine, while Veronika stayed in Latvia. Olly also found out that Veronika was imprisoned in a Soviet work camp and passed away in 1988, leaving viewers in tears.

Olly and his dad Peter were left in tears when they visited Veronika’s grave as the singer expressed: “It was quite emotional to see dad cry and get upset – I’ve never seen my dad cry, actually.

“I think seeing him emotional felt like I’d done something really special for him and the family, to find some peace for him – to feel connected to Latvia.”

Incredible new detail about the life and loves of Prince has come to light in a new book on his career

Until now it was known as a brief fling, one of Prince’s many love affairs with beautiful women.

But iconic music star Prince and Hollywood actress Kim Basinger were like “teenagers in love” during their relationship, and the pair almost ended up a long term couple who could easily have married. The pair are known to have dated in 1989 but the strength of the relationship is only now emerging in a new book about the life and career of Prince, featuring interviews with over 200 people from his life and inner circle.

The book details how Prince would have first met Kim on the set of Batman where she was playing Vicki Vale and he was to provide an album of music.

He later sent a sample of his LP on cassette by FedEx to lead actors Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton and Kim Basinger to get their approval and feedback.

Prince’s PA Therese Stoulil recalls: “Michael didn’t get back, Jack asked for money because we sampled him and Kim called the office to thank him. I put her through to his office. They had a very short conversation.”

Whatever happened on set and in that brief phone call was enough to start a relationship that would last for a year or so.

Prince told his assistant ‘she’s coming to Minneapolis for a visit – get a really nice hotel room’.

The best suite at the city’s Sofitel was duly booked and on top of that it was filled with extra flowers, candles and cushions.

But in reality Kim never enjoyed any of the lavish settings. She went straight to Prince’s home and rarely left in the months to come except to join him in the studio. Minneapolis became her new base and the pair were inseparable.

Within a few days, Kim’s peach Mercedes was parked on the drive and bag and boxes of her stuff arrived soon after. Kim fell deeply in love.

At this stage she was on the brink of superstardom herself and Prince was a global star thanks to hits including 1999, Purple Rain, When Doves Cry and Little Red Corvette.

In the book Sign O’ The Times, Prince’s PA Therese says of Kim: “She was the nicest person on the planet. Everybody loved her. She went out that Christmas [1989] and bought us all presents [Stoulil received a perfume decanter].

“Very beautiful, very sweet. I don’t think, in ten years, I had ever seen Prince happier. They would go shopping together. Prince never went out shopping. They would stop in all the little shops. It was actually very adorable. It looked like a couple of teenagers in love. They were just taken with each other. It was fabulous”

Prince’s then make-up artist Terra Hinrichs agrees that Kim “was madly in love with him. I couldn’t figure it out. She is stunning.”

Things escalated to the point that Kim had her assistant flown over to field calls from Hollywood about her future roles. Engineer Tom Garneau recalls Kim “drank rum and coke [and] made us popcorn and sweet potato pie”.

And then she even got involved in the music side of Prince’s life too. Kim and Prince collaborated on a remix of the ballad from the Batman soundtrack, ‘Scandalous’. The pair’s private recording session may have been apt for the track’s title too as engineer Sal Greco recalls finding honey all over the mixing desk when cleaning it up the next day.

After their own raunchy studio time, Kim was also put in charge of recording “sexy women singers” for Prince too.

But Hinrichs explains: “She seemed almost trying too hard. She’s telling these girls to ‘be nasty’ and it seemed out of character for her. She was crazy about him. I loved Kim.”

The new book says at this point Kim was looking to buy property in the area as things escalated in 1990. Stouli recalls Kim saying “I just want this beautiful farmhouse”.

But just when it looked like they could be a Hollywood power couple, Prince got cold feet.

Stoulil says they split up because “things were promised. Things didn’t happen. I remember it.”

Others recall a cooling on Prince’s side. “We had a photoshoot,” says guitar tech Michael Soltys, “and she was directing it. I could tell it was not rubbing him right.”

Kim for her part in the relationship, has always stayed silent about their romance. When asked in 2016 about their affair and trysts in the studio, her spokesman said: “We must kindly pass on this request.” She also didn’t offer any comment for the new book either.

There were many other notable relationships for Prince although these are better known.

He has married Mayte Garcia in 1996 and they had a child Amiir who was born in October of that year but died six days later. The relationship deteriorated a couple of years later after she had a miscarriage but they did not officially divorce until 2000.

The singer went on to marry Manuela Testolini in 2001, who was working for a charity he was involved in, and they later split in 2006.

Although Prince was single at the time of his death, both of his ex-wives were on good terms with him, and each issued statements about his passing in 2016.

Another female singer Elisa Fiorillo had her second album produced at Prince’s Paisley HQ in 1990 by Ricky Peterson and Prince took a professional and then romantic interest.

She recalls: “We were very good friends and it turned into something else which was funny for me.” Her understanding of Prince’s split with Kim Basinger “was that he didn’t like that she drank”.

Fiorillo says she dated Prince between 1989 and 1991, but the lack of exclusivity eventually wore her down.

She tells the book: “I felt very loved, but I felt I wasn’t the only one and I couldn’t do that. I grew up in an Italian family and my brothers and my dad were very much ladies’ men and that’s the first thing I’m not attracted to in a man.”

Fiorillo also recalls a “one arriving in Minneapolis as another leaves” principle of girlfriends when it came to Prince.

“I remember leaving and I saw Susannah Hoffs coming in. One time I was in LA and I was hiding and Sheena Easton came in. I saw those two – I’m sure there were others.”

Other women who Prince dated include drummer Sheila E. Who dated in the late ’80s when she was a drummer for his band and Carmen Electra who he dated in the 90s.

Looking back, the Kim romance may be the most surreal chapter in Prince’s romantic history. But the pattern is unmistakable.

A number of women were attracted to Prince and drawn into his orbit and then spun out again when he turned to a new muse. He was never alone for long, if at all.

Prince seemed to be forever in search of someone to share the music with, but always open to changing the record.

* Prince: A Sign o’ the Times By John McKie is published by Bonnier Books on September 18.

The opera singer, radio host and former Strictly star has launched a fan club where you can pay to support him – but you might just win a free holiday

Wynne Evans is offering fans the chance to stay at his house for the weekend. The former Strictly Come Dancing star has launched a supporters club where the unusual prize was on offer.

For £4.50 a month – or £6.50 for a couple – fans of his new Wynne Evans show can stay at his Llansteffan house.

Members will also get discounts to his shows, a mention on his online radio show and the right to call themselves a ‘Wynner’. Evans describes ‘Wynners’ on his website as “a community of people bound by kindness, courage and shared stories”

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Sharing a message to those on his site, WynneEvansShow.com, the ex Strictly star said: “Welcome one & all. Yes you can just listen, or you can get really involved in keeping the show going & growing by joining the Supporters Club.

“One Club. Many ways to join. The same benefits for everyone – that’s what being a Wynne is all about. Wxx.”

The star shot to fame in 2009 when he starred in the Go.Compare adverts as Gio Compario, a stereotypical Italian operatic tenor.

He later appeared on Strictly before being axed from the live tour after being accused of an inappropriate remark, which he denied.

After losing his BBC job, Wynne returned to the spotlight by launching his own digital radio show in July. Answering fans’ questions in his first broadcast, Evans revealed that he’s no longer in touch with former partner Katya Jones.

When asked whether he was in contact with any of the Strictly stars, he said: “No I’m not. I’m not in contact with any of them.

“I think that when I was released from the tour, I heard – although this may not be true – that they were told not to contact me. I’ve had a few messages from them since – but not really, now today I’m not in contact with any of them at all.”

When contacted by the Mirror yesterday, Wynne said: “I asked the Wynners what they wanted as perks for joining the Wynne Evans Show Supporters club, and their answer floored me: nothing.

“Just keep the show free for everyone who needs it. That generosity speaks volumes about who they are, and this is my way of saying thank you.

Cynics can be cynical. What I’m building with the Wynners goes far beyond what traditional radio offers. We’re creating something listeners describe as ‘their daily tonic’, a morning of fun and friendship.

I’m committed to creating a daily dose of joy, every weekday from 8:25 at wynneevansshow.com.”

Another Saturday Night Live star has announced that they are leaving the late-night sketch show. They are said to be the fifth cast member to be departing, with the news coming ahead of the new season launching next month.

Ego Nwodim, 37, has revealed that she won’t be returning to the NBC show after having joined the cast in 2018. The comedian said in a statement that it was her decision to leave and, after seven seasons on the show, expressed her gratitude to creator Lorne Michaels for the opportunity.

Sharing the news with fans, Ego wrote in the statement posted on Instagram earlier today “The hardest part of a great party is knowing when to say goodnight. But after seven unforgettable seasons, I have decided to leave SNL.”

She continued: “I am immensely grateful to Lorne for the opportunity, to my castmates, the writers, and the crew for their brilliance, support and friendship. Week after week on that stage taught me more than I could have ever imagined, and I will carry those memories (and that laughter) with me always. Now invite me to your weddings please!!!”

The news was met with well wishes from fans, some of whom expressed disappointment over her departure. One person reacted: “You will be greatly missed but can’t wait to see what’s ahead.” Another said: “Gonna miss you so much ughhhh.” A third wrote: “You’ll be very very missed!!!!!”

Ego is the latest star to have announced their departure. The news of a shake-up among the cast began with Devon Walker, 34, revealing last month that he won’t be returning after having joined the show in 2022. He teased that he’s hoping to appear in a “prestige drama” following his exit.

Days later, co-star Emil Wakim, 27, announced that he’s leaving SNL after having joined last year, with him describing it as a “gut punch of a call” to receive. Later that same week, Michael Longfellow, 31, shared that he won’t be back either, after joining in 2022, saying: “Wish I was, but so it goes.”

It has also been reported that Heidi Gardner, 42, who has been on SNL since 2017, is leaving the show. The news was shared by outlets including Variety last month, though she has yet to confirm her departure ahead of the new season.

It’s also been reported that the Please Don’t Destroy segment won’t be returning, after the trio behind it – consisting of John Higgins, Martin Herlihy and Ben Marshall – joined the show in 2021. John has revealed that he will be leaving the show, sharing his excitement to pursue acting opportunities.

According to Vulture, Martin will become a writer, whilst Ben is confirmed to be joining the main cast for the new season. Last week, SNL announced four other new cast members. It’s been revealed that Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane, Kam Patterson and Veronika Slowikowska are joining the show.

The new season of SNL is due to begin on October 4 in the US.

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Ryan Thomas has issued a further update on the pigeon he has claimed could be the reincarnation of his father, who died in 2020

In the latest twist between Ryan Thomas and the pigeon he believes is his dad, the actor has decided to bring the bird inside. The Coronation Street star took to Instagram to tell his followers of his latest move to bring Dougie James the pigeon in out of the thunderstorms battering the country.

Ryan has been keeping fans updated with the situation regarding the animal who he thinks is a reincarnation of his father, who sadly died in 2020. And now the 41-year-old has claimed he doesn’t want to let the bird out in the bad weather.

On his Instagram Story, Ryan shared a clip of the bird in a cage next to a bowl of food. He captioned the post: “I’ve never seen him lying down I’ll let him back out for fly in the morning don’t want him out in this weather.”

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The latest update comes after fans were left gobsmacked by Ryan’s claim. He was seen in tears last week as he took to Instagram, cradling the pigeon. He said the pair had a newfound connection as he broke down and told his followers he believed the bird was the reincarnated spirit of his late father, who was a well-known soul singer.

The actor’s father died in 2020. But with the pigeon regularly flocking to his garden, he said he believed it to be his dad visiting him.

He later insisted the bird was trying to communicate with him and kept sharing snippets of his feathered friend.

Earlier in the week, while he was nursing a cup of tea in his garden and wearing a beanie hat and sunglasses, the dad-of-three told fans that Dougie had disappeared with a solemn look on his face.

“Every morning Dougie was in the garden,” he said downbeat. “Every evening, Dougie was in the garden.

“I’ve come down this morning and Dougie’s not there. I’m thinking to myself. He’s not coming back, it’s over.”

After taking a heavy sigh, Ryan added: “Every morning, I feel like ‘that’s it, he’s going to leave’ and then…”

Then he laughed and panned the camera up to the roof of his house. The clip showed Dougie the pigeon happily perched on a TV aerial.

Ryan then exclaimed: “You’ve no idea how happy this makes me. Go on Dougie!”

Despite his regular updates, Ryan has asked his fans if he is “losing the plot”. He admitted his friend had shared their concern about him.

“My mate said: ‘Looking from the outside in, it looks like you’ve lost the plot a bit.” Chuckling, Ryan then addresses his followers, saying: “Whether it’s a yes or no, I don’t care, but do you think I’ve lost the plot?”