Category Entertainment News

An X Factor star has been flooded with well-wishes and messages of congratulations from her celebrity friends, including a Hollywood A-lister as she shared the happy news online

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An X Factor star has announced she is expecting her first child with her new boyfriend, months after her split from her co-star husband was revealed.

Lucie Jones took to social media to announce the happy news that she and boyfriend George Hersey were set to become parents in a few months. The singer, 34, shared a smiling selfie of her and boyfriend Georgie holding up a sonogram image on Instagram – and revealed they were expecting a baby girl in July.

She also shared a few other snaps of herself and George together – including one on a beach and another of them hiking during her pregnancy, before sharing a final stunning image of herself showing off her blossoming bump. Lucie then wrote in the caption: “We’re so excited and beyond happy to tell you we’re having a baby! Nothing comes close to this feeling… we feel like the luckiest people in the world.

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“She’ll be here in July and we cannot wait to meet our little girl,” Lucie wrote. She was soon flooded with messages of congratulations from celebrity friends including Amber Davies, who wrote: “Ahhhhh congratulations this is so wonderful xxx”. While Giovanna Fletcher added: “Huge congratulations!!!! Xxxxx”. And Claire Sweeney said: “Huge congratulations xxxxx’. While Hollywood star Jennifer Garner also commented as she said: “Talk about thriving!!! Congratulations, @luciejones1!!!!”, in reference to Lucie’s starring role in the stage adaption of 13 Going On 30.

Lucie’s happy news comes just a few months after she went public with her new romance with George. The pair were spotted together at Glastonbury Festival, shortly before she took to the stage and performed her debut gig at the festival. Lucie’s new romance came as it was announced she had split from her fellow X Factor star husband – however it was insisted there was no crossover between the relationships.

Lucie and Ethan married in 2017 after meeting during auditions for The X Factor in 2009. The pair were said to be going through a divorce quietly in June last year, after the pair grew apart.

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A source said the duo realised they were “young when they married” and now Lucie’s focus has changed. Speaking to The Sun, an insider said: “She has been busy focusing on pursuing her career on the West End stage and travelling the globe, they’re moving on with their lives. Lucie’s in a really good place and has already moved on and met someone else and has loved performing at Glastonbury.”

They added: “Ethan is no longer in showbusiness and their lives were headed in different directions.”

Meanwhile, she later told the publication in November of her new relationship: “It wasn’t an easy decision to be together when we knew each other before.” She added: “We chose to do this together, and it was informed, and it was purposeful to be together. We had to make those decisions together. So we’re going to bloody enjoy it now.

“And now that we are where we are in terms of, like, we are now boyfriend and girlfriend, we are moving forward together, I feel zero shame about that.” Lucie was a favourite when she appeared on The X Factor in 2009 and has remained in the spotlight ever since. She represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017 and also has appeared in a string of West End shows.

‘It’s like giving your skin a big drink, full of hydration that cocoons your face and stays with you’

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January is the time for ‘new year, new me’ but between the blistering cold outside and the near constant need for heating I know I’m not the only one who has skin that’s feeling a little parched. Rihanna’s skincare line Fenty has launched a new product that might be the solution.

The Fenty Skin Dew N Plump Hydrating Slushie Face Mask has launched at Boots for £26, £4 cheaper than the listed price on Fenty Beauty’s own website. The face mask is said to lock in moisture for an impressive 72 hours while improving the skin’s moisture barrier.

It also claims to ‘instantly’ hydrate and improve skin elasticity. There are a number of ingredients included but the most notable might be the ‘SuperQuench Juice Complex’ which is a custom blend of fruit juices (cherry, melon and starfruit) which alongside polyglutamic and hyaluronic acids gives a real hit of hydration.

The mask also uses panthenol to lock in moisture and strengthen the skin barrier and niacinamide (vitamin B3) to brighten the appearance of skin and even out tone. The formula promises 30% smoother skin in just one week.

The product has encapsulated bursting oil bubbles which give an interesting application experience that adds a sense of novelty to the experience. Fenty claims the end result is ‘radiant, glowy’ skin and since it’s noncomedogenic there’s no concerns about it causing spots from clogged pores.

Dew N Plump Intense Hydration Slushie Overnight Face Mask

£30.00

£26.00

Buy Now on Boots

There are lots of hydrating face masks on the market. As someone with dry skin I’ve tried a fair few, one that I’ve loved in the past is Sand & Sky’s £29 Tasmanian Spring Water Intense Hydration Face Mask which smells incredible.

Recently I’ve been a big fan of the Biodance Collagen-Real Deep Mask, which costs £13.55 for a pack of four at Sephora. These are the viral glass skin K-beauty masks that turn clear overnight, I’ve found my skin is massively hydrated after using these although I wish I got more in a packet.

Speaking on the new Fenty mask, Rihanna said: “Some nights my skin just feels thirsty and that’s exactly why we made this mask. It’s like giving your skin a big drink, full of hydration that cocoons your face and stays with you. I use this to prep my skin before a night of glam. I just put it on in the morning and leave it on all day. When it’s time to get glam, I wash it off and my skin is ready for makeup—it’s glowing and super hydrated.”

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It’s not just the Fenty founder who is a fan though, it’s also pulling in glowing reviews on the Fenty website. One shopper said: “This is such an amazing face mask! It has a pretty scent, but it’s not too overpowering. It has a smooth consistency, but also has these cool bubbles that burst onto your skin. It comes with a little silicone part to help spread it on your skin as well. Overall, highly recommend this to anyone looking.”

Another wrote: “This Fenty hydration mask feels like a tall glass of water for my skin. I put it on after a long day and instantly feel plump, calm, and cozy. My face looks juicy, rested, and softly glowing the next morning. It’s become my little self-care reset.”

Fans know Stacey Solomon’s a keen gardener, but she’s just shared the artificial products she relies on in winter to bring life and colour back to her outdoor space

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Stacey Solomon is always sharing her home and garden buys with fans via her social media, giving her followers an insight into what furniture and DIY products she’s shopping for. And this week is no different, as Stacey shared with fans the one product she’s been filling her garden with to keep her outdoor space bright and colourful, even in the dreary and wet months of winter.

Telling fans: “They last forever, and when there’s nothing growing in the garden, they’re the biggest mood booster for me,” Stacey shared the exact products she’s been filling plant pots with in her garden, and they’re still available to buy on Amazon.

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Finding good quality fake plants that don’t cost a fortune can be difficult, that’s why Stacey has compiled a shopping list of all her affordable favourites for fans to shop too. Included on that list are the LOMOHOO Artificial Flowers. This set includes 8 Bundles of flowers in the colour of your choice. Stacey opted for blue, as seen above.

These flower bundles include 7 large flexible stems, 35 small leaf branches, and 21 detachable flower heads per bustle. With measurements of 14″/36cm length, 6″/16cm width and 1.5″ /4cm flower head diameter.

Suitable for various vases, pots, and flower boxes, these flowers are made of high-quality plastic and soft silk cloth, ensuring UV resistance, preventing fading or withering, and being durable, making them easy to decorate both indoor and outdoor spaces, like Stacey.

Boasting brilliant colours, natural shapes, fresh green leaves and full-blooming flowers, these bundles are said to be hardly distinguishable from a bunch of real flowers, compensating for the lack of colour found in gardens throughout the winter period.

Eight bundles of these flowers currently sell for £13.99 on Amazon. If you prefer to shop elsewhere, Dunelm is offering these Artificial Million Star Gypsophila Stems for £15. Or, head over to Debenhams to find this Scottish Everlastings 50cm Blue Hydrangea Bouquet for £22.

Stacey’s artificial flowers also come with the love of shoppers, as plenty of 5-star reviews pour in. One thrilled buyer beams: “These flowers look like real plants in my garden borders and keep some bright colours when the real plants are fading. They blend in well with the real plants. Ideal too for colour in the garden during the winter months.”

Another shopper shares: “Looks amazing in my baskets and neighbours have commented on them.”

The Princess of Wales has been wearing her Penelope Chilvers knee high boots for over two decades, and the brand just slashed a huge 50% off the price in one colourway

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We can always rely on Kate Middleton to pick a timeless classic that never goes out of style. Case in point, her Penelope Chilvers Long Tassel Boots , which she has been wearing for over two decades.

She most recently wore them in her birthday celebration video whilst out and about in the British countryside, opting for her beloved Conker-coloured pair to fit her country chic style. Whilst her brown pair are still full price at £485, fans of the style can get their hands on the black pair with a huge 50% off, slashing the price to £242.

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The boots are made from sustainably sourced Spanish leather, and are created in London and crafted in Europe, so they should withstand years of wear and tear. The Long Tassel Boots come in European sizes 35 up to 42, with half sizes available – although some are beginning to sell out thanks to the huge discount.

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However one of the biggest advantages of the Penelope Chilvers boots is that they also come in two leg lengths, regular and tall, as well as standard and “generous” calf widths, making it easier to get a perfect fit. The boots have a slim-fitting style that are cut close to the ankle for a more feminine, flattering silhouette, which would make it tricky to get the perfect fit if you didn’t have options for different sizes.

The zip panel on the boots has a scallop trim, whilst the zip pull features a leather tassel which gives them their name. The Long Tassel Boots are also partially lined in deerskin for warmth and have a rubber tread sole which gives them great grip even when it’s icy, making these the perfect practical boots for the winter.

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You can also get similar styles of boots at Duo Boots, which also offer a vast range of calf sizes. Not only do you choose your shoe size – with sizes UK2 to UK10 available – but you can also pick from calf widths spanning from 30cm to 50cm, which go up in 2-3cm increments, giving you plenty of options to get a perfect fit.

Jones the Bootmakers also have a great selection of wide calf boots, many of which are on sale at the moment with as much as £130 off. There’s everything from heeled leather boots to suede flat soled ones, so you can find a style to suit your wardrobe.

However, considering Princess Kate’s Long Tassel Boots have been her go-tos for more than 20 years it’s safe to say these are an investment that will last you a lifetime. And now they have 50% off, you’ll get even more for your money.

Kerry Katona, who is a mum of five and has her own OnlyFans account, has weighed in on Sammy Winward’s fallout with her daughter Mia, which is said to have sparked over OnlyFans

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Kerry Katona has slammed Sammy Windward over the ex Emmerdale actress’ two year feud with her daughter Mia – who this week announced she is pregnant.

Former soap star Sammy’s sad fallout with her daughter was revealed in August 2024 – as Mia’s parents Sammy and ex-footballer David Dunn are said to have cut contact with her after she signed up to adult site OnlyFans. Earlier this week, Mia announced she was pregnant, and sadly revealed she’s yet to share her baby joy with her parents, due to their ongoing fallout.

Mum of five Kerry, who is an OnlyFans model herself, has now weighed-in, revealing she would never stop talking to her own children – even if they were to make a decision that she didn’t agree with. Writing in her column with new! magazine, Kerry revealed: “Sammy Winward’s daughter Mia recently announced she was pregnant – but hasn’t told her mum yet because of their fallout over OnlyFans two years ago.

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“I don’t think you should fallout with your child because they’re doing OnlyFans, life is too short. Everyone is doing OnlyFans and she’s not breaking the law. If one of my children were to do OnlyFans I’d be devastated but I’d never not talk to them.

Pointing out a conflicting detail in Sammy’s sad fallout with her daughter, Kerry said: “All the Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks actresses all did sexy photoshoots at one point for FHM so there’s not much difference in that.” Actress Sammy, 40, posed for FHM during her time on Emmerdale, and was even voted number 73 on FHM’s list of top 100 Sexiest Women in the World in 2006.

It comes after Sammy’s daughter Mia announced she was expecting her first child this week – but sadly revealed she it yet to tell either of her parents. Revealing she is yet to share her happy baby news with her parents, Mia said: “I haven’t reached out to them yet and they don’t really know how to contact me.

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“I am emotionally vulnerable while I’m pregnant and I really don’t want a big, stressful situation,” she told The Sun. Mia has a much more low-key life now – as she decided to stop her career on the adult site ‘the minute’ she found out she was expecting her first child. The former ‘party girl’ now lives in a rural home in the Lake District with the father of her unborn child, who she has been in a relationship with for a year but has decided not to name.

Meanwhile, Mia hinted at hopes to mend things with her parents – which got to such a low point that her former Blackburn Rovers player dad called her a “w***e” for joining the adult site. However, she revealed her pregnancy has made her wonder how her parents could cut ties with her. She said: “Now that I have my own baby inside me, I just couldn’t imagine not speaking to my child.”

EXCLUSIVE: Soon to turn 61, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh is a solid mentor and confidante to Kate, Princess of Wales – with the bond seen as one of the monarchy’s biggest strengths

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With her 61st birthday just around the corner, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh’s growing bond with the Princess of Wales is a sign of her soaring importance within the royal family.

Sophie and Kate’s close affinity is now seen as one of the monarchy’s biggest strengths, and former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond tells OK!, “They have a lot in common, and I’m sure that Sophie was an invaluable mentor for the princess as she learned about royal ways of life. I think they’re now much more like friends than aunt and niece, and the two of them have established a very solid friendship which will serve our future Queen well in years to come.”

Kate, 44, is said to have called Sophie a “tower of strength” during her cancer ordeal and subsequent recovery, and Jennie adds, “I’m sure it’s been a comfort for the princess to know that Sophie was on hand during the last difficult couple of years. After all, Sophie had her own serious health problems with an ectopic pregnancy and then a very difficult birth.”

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To coincide with her birthday earlier this month, Kate released a “deeply personal” video discussing the healing powers of nature during her cancer treatment. During the film, which is the final instalment of her Mother Nature series, Kate reflects on how “deeply grateful” she is to “discover what it means to be alive”.

“Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience and quiet consideration. Where the stream slows just enough for us to see our own reflection,” she says, adding, “To discover the deepest parts of ourselves. Alongside the whispers and the pulse of every living thing. I find myself reflecting on how deeply grateful I am.”

Although Sophie is 17 years older than Kate, the two women are similar in that both came from non-aristocratic backgrounds before marrying into the family. Sophie wed Prince Edward, 61, in 1999, while Kate tied the knot with Prince William, 43, in 2011. “Life has thrown these two women together quite randomly, and landed them on what must have seemed like an alien planet at first,” says Jennie. “The rest of us can only imagine what it must be like to find yourself suddenly inside palace walls.”

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Living just a few minutes’ drive apart – Kate at Forest Lodge in Windsor and Sophie at Bagshot Park – the pair have been snapped joking together at events, including the annual Order of the Garter service and Wimbledon. At Royal Ascot in 2017, they were seen laughing as Sophie lost her footing in their carriage. With both also being busy working mums – Kate to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and Sophie to Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex – they no doubt swap parenting tips, too.

“Sophie has been able to give her children as normal a life as possible, while bringing them up in the public eye,” says ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship. “The spotlight they’re under is not as great as the one on Kate’s children, but it’s nice to see Kate and Sophie have that rapport. Whenever they’re at an engagement together, you can see the close bond between them.”

Set to celebrate her birthday on 20 January, Sophie has been called the royal family’s “secret weapon”, but Jennie believes she has now exceeded that. “Sophie is not so much a ‘secret’ weapon these days: she’s an outright star of the royal family,” Jennie says.

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Sophie and Edward have both taken on bigger workloads in recent months to support King Charles, 77, through his continued cancer treatment, with the duchess increasingly seen as a go-to representative on home soil and overseas. “It must be of great comfort for the King to know that the duke and duchess have been on hand to carry out extra duties whenever necessary,” adds Jennie. “The warmth of the relationship between Charles and Sophie is obvious. She is completely relaxed with her brother-in-law and they often seem to share a joke together.”

Over recent years, Sophie has also developed a close rapport with her nephew Prince William. “They occasionally carry out engagements together which, of course, is a double win,” says Jennie. “At the Royal Cornwall Show last June, they toured the stalls together laughing and joking as they tried out local produce. They’re obviously extremely comfortable in one another’s company and seem more like cousins than aunt and nephew. It’s always good to see members of the family getting along so well.”

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On the global stage, Sophie regularly champions survivors of sexual violence in conflict zones, and was the first royal to visit both the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2022 and Baghdad in Iraq in 2023. “Sophie has established herself as a champion of incredibly difficult causes,” adds Jennie. “Her work has taken her to a number of dangerous countries, but she has never flinched and often goes under the radar. She speaks with authority and confidence – frequently without notes. She is immersed in the detail of her campaigns and her passion shines through.”