Category Entertainment News

Former EastEnder Maisie Smith has opened up on the rollercoaster ride she and boyfriend Max George have been through his harrowing health ordeal – but also how it’s totally transformed their outlook on life

Soap star-turned-musical theatre actress Maisie Smith has got a new outlook on life after witnessing her boyfriend Max George go through his harrowing health ordeal. The Wanted singer Max has undergone heart surgery twice over the past year after being diagnosed with an atrioventricular block, which caused his heart to beat abnormally.

Stopping for a chat with new during the Tric Awards at JW Marriott Grosvenor House hotel in London last month, Maisie, who turns 24 this week, exclusively tells OK! her boyfriend’s health struggles have not only strengthened their tight bond, but transformed the choices they make in life.

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“It has just made us realise how important life is and how much we’ve just got to live in the moment – you never know what’s around the corner,” says Maisie. “We’re definitely more impulsive now and we know that anything is possible. ”

Maisie, who rose to fame for her role in EastEnders, which she made her debut in at just six years old, has been in a relationship with Max since 2022. The couple met in 2020 while competing on Strictly Come Dancing, striking up a friendship during the show, which saw Maisie reach the final alongside her professional dance partner Gorka Márquez.

Max may not have been as successful on the dancefloor (he was voted out of Strictly in week four), but he did find lasting love with Maisie beyond the show and the pair eventually moved in together in Max’s hometown, Manchester.

However, in what has been an undeniably scary year for the couple, Max underwent surgery in December when his heart condition left him in need of a pacemaker.

Following the operation, Max, 36, described the pacemaker as the “best Christmas present” he could have received. But after complications from the first surgery, he was forced to go back for another procedure two months later.

Sharing that it was successful, Max said at the time, “It turned out that one of the leads was placed too far into my heart. The second pacemaker surgery took about two hours. So far, it seems to have been a success and they kindly let me listen to Oasis the whole time. It’s been a setback, but it’s just one of those things. I’ve had a few complications the last couple of months but I’m having loads of tests to make sure everything is all good. I’m sure I’ll be back on top form in no time.”

Maisie is clearly hugely relieved that everything is OK with him. “Max is good – he’s getting stronger every day,” she says. “I’m so proud of how he’s handled it too. ”

As we ask whether the situation has brought them any closer, Maisie laughs, saying, “It was pretty hard for us to get any closer to be honest – we’ve always been inseparable. ” Sharing that they’re heading to France for a getaway this summer, it seems things are finally looking up for the duo.

What began as a Strictly friendship, blossomed into romance after the pair grew closer on the show’s live arena tour. Their series of Strictly was broadcast during the height of Covid, with social distancing restrictions in place, but they both joined the first post-pandemic live tour in January 2022. In the summer of that year, they were spotted on holiday together in Crete and, as anyone who follows their Instagram accounts will know, they’ve been smitten with each other ever since.

Maisie is also busy in her professional life, which has seen her pursuing a musical theatre career, even working alongside Max. Most recently, she appeared in Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds with Max, where they play married couple Parson Nathaniel and his wife Beth, after Maisie played Belle in a pantomime version of Beauty And The Beast in Canterbury.

So, what’s next on the horizon? “I can’t actually tell you what I’m working on right now – I’m not allowed,” says Maisie. “But I’m still loving doing theatre and that’s my main focus. ”

As for the soap that propelled her to fame, she may have come a long way since playing Tiffany Butcher, but she maintains she still calls Albert Square home. “I always say with EastEnders, you never know,” she says. “Never say never about me returning. I grew up there and it is my home, but right now I’m loving doing my theatre work. ”

Maisie may not be planning her grand return to the soap any time soon, but she did get the chance to catch up with some former co-stars as EastEnders bagged the Soap Of The Year gong at the ceremony. With stars such as Emma Barton in attendance, she says, “It’s been great catching up with people. That’s why I love award shows and things like this – you see people you haven’t seen in about 10 years.”

Maisie says she’s also used the opportunity to spend a girlie day with her mum, Julia, who is also her manager. “I’ve brought my mum along today,” she says. “I take her everywhere. ”

Princess Andre just walked fans through her beauty routine as she got glammed up to celebrate her 18th birthday – and she revealed her ‘natural and fluffy lashes’ are from this top brand

Always one to watch for affordable and glamorous beauty tips, Princess Andre is back at it again as she just shared another must-buy product. Showing off her enviable lashes, Princess revealed to fans what brand she used to get her “natural and fluffy” look.

Acting as the crown jewel of her eye makeup ahead of her 18th birthday celebration, Princess showed fans that she’d been using lengthening eyelash clusters from Eylure, a brand touted as the UK’s No. 1 when it comes to fake lashes. And in case you’re wondering how to copy Princess’ look, these lashes are not just affordable – they’re also on Amazon.

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Normally retailing for £8 for a pack of 36 clusters, in measurements 8mm, 10mm and 12mm, this multipack is now available on Amazon for the reduced price of £6.60 thanks to this early Prime Day deal. If you prefer to shop elsewhere, you can pick up the same pack from Claire’s for £7.50, Boots for £7 or for £8 from Lookfantastic.

Promising to deliver a fluffed-up look, these cluster false lashes are reusable up to five times and come with an eighteen-hour hold glue, for even the most dramatic to simple looks that last all day or night.

Unlike full false lashes, these fluffy cluster lashes offer the chance to completely customise your lash look. They’re versatile in the styles they can create and are perfect for above or under-lash applications. Letting you design a style that’s uniquely yours, Princess’ loved lashes are perfect for a half lash or adding length to the outer corner, depending on the look you’re going for.

Touted as super easy to apply and comfortable to wear for long stretches, these lashes are sure to transform your eye makeup with ease. Whether you’re heading off to celebrate a grand occasion, going into the office or just running errands, these lash clusters can seamlessly complete any full-face and stick with you all day.

Handmade and reusable, every lash pack contains up to five applications and comes with latex-free lash glue, which is guaranteed to last up to eighteen hours and be gentle on your own lashes when it comes to removal.

And it’s not just Princess who’s loving these cult-favourite lashes, as plenty of 5-star reviews pour in. One buyer beams: “I’ve tried a lot of false lashes over the years, but Eylure has truly earned a permanent spot in my beauty routine. Whether you’re going for a natural daytime look or full-on glam, Eylure offers a wide range of styles that cater to every occasion. What I Love: Easy Application: The lashes come with a high-quality adhesive that makes application quick and mess-free—even for beginners; Comfortable Wear: They’re lightweight and flexible, so they sit comfortably on the lash line without poking or lifting; Reusable: With proper care, I’ve been able to reuse a pair up to 5 times, which makes them super cost-effective; Natural Look: Even the more dramatic styles manage to look elegant rather than over-the-top. “

Further praise comes from this customer who gushes: “Absolute bargain. These are really good quality, great style and easy to apply. The glue is good and sticks quick and doesnt dry up in the tube the second you use it. The lash style is more subtle than some but gives a really flirty / sexy eye look that i find looks good on most. “

The first supergroup of Black Sabbath’s Back to the Beginning festival were booed by some members of the event’s crowd yesterday due to one of its controversial members

The inaugural supergroup performance at the Black Sabbath gig yesterday received a polarised response, with a portion of the audience expressing their disapproval through boos. The concert saw some of the biggest names in metal and rock music come together to honour Ozzy Osbourne as he performed for the final time with Black Sabbath.

Huge music stars came together to perform a number of Black Sabbath’s hits at his Back to the Beginning festival – however as the first supergroup arrived on stage, some fans weren’t too impressed.

“We got our first supergroup of the day. Lzzy Hale is fronting it, one of the only – if not the only – woman on today’s bill,” Birmingham Live’s Kirsty Bosley reported.

“Members of Faith No More (Mike Bordin), Megadeth (David Ellefson) Ozzy Osbourne’s legendary guitarist Jake E Lee. They’re playing The Ultimate Sin by Ozzy. “

However, she noted that the entrance of a particular artist was met with negative reactions from the fans.

She continued: “David Draiman from Disturbed is now joining them to huge boos from the crowd. He’s caused controversy with his political opinions online and the crowd are not welcoming.

“Despite boos, hands are still up in the air to clap along to the Draiman-fronted rendition of 1986 Ozzy track Shot In The Dark. “

Disturbed, widely recognised for their sombre cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s The Sound of Silence, found their vocalist David Draiman at the centre of controversy post-Glastonbury earlier this week.

Draiman released a video in which he criticised Bob Vylan after they chanted “death, death to the IDF” during their livestreamed set at Glastonbury.

Posting on his Instagram page, Draiman said: ” I just wanted to speak my mind a little bit about the events of this past weekend.

“No one should ever use any stage at any festival anywhere in the world to incite hatred and violence against anyone. I think it’s disgusting. I think it’s irresponsible and contrary to the whole reason people get together at these festivals to begin with.”

He added: “More importantly, just from a human perspective, what exactly do you really think you’re going to achieve here? You know, death to the IDF. Every citizen of the state of Israel has to serve. Every citizen.

“So you’re saying that the majority of world Jews should die, should be killed? That’s what you’re saying. Good luck with that. Iran saw how easy that wasn’t so I’m not sure what you want, what you’re trying to achieve other than virtue signalling and instant fame that this selling of Jew hatred has seen to gift everyone with these days. “

The Mirror has reached out to David Draiman for comment.

Explosive claims have described Prince Harry as having a rocky bond with his grandmother the late Queen in the run-up to marrying Meghan Markle – and royal expert Jennie Bond says they are very telling

They may have tied the knot more than seven years ago – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have faced new explosive claims about tension in the lead-up to their wedding.

It is well known that the run-up to their nuptials in May 2018 was not all plain sailing, with Meghan’s dad dropping out of attending the ceremony at the last minute. But now a royal author has laid bare claims that behind the scenes, Harry had left the late Queen ‘dismayed’ with some of the wedding arrangements – even saying that he almost ‘blew’ his relationship with his late grandmother.

Sally Bedell Smith claims that before her death, Lady Elizabeth Anson, a cousin of Elizabeth II and a high-society party planner, told her that the former monarch had become “very worried” about her grandson and that Meghan’s intentions had been questioned.

Lady Anson, who is said to have made the comments, died in 2020 – and of course, the events leading up to the wedding were more than seven years ago now. And even though a significant amount of time has passed since the nuptials, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told the Mirror that in a recent move, it was Meghan who harked back to the past first.

She explained: “There have been too many reports about tensions in the weeks running up to Harry and Meghan’s marriage to discount them. I think the old saying ‘there’s no smoke without fire’ holds true.

“Lady Elizabeth Anson was certainly a very well-connected and informed source for these latest reports, which suggest that the Queen felt Harry was rushing into a marriage too quickly.

“Worse than that, it seems the Queen and other members of the Royal family doubted Meghan’s sincerity and found her very difficult to deal with.

“It’s extremely sad to think that the situation also soured the late Queen’s relationship with her very much loved grandson, Harry: a young man she had nurtured and guided through the very worst time of his life, the death of his mother.

“Is it fair that all this is being brought up so many years later? Maybe not, but then perhaps Meghan shouldn’t allude to lies being told about her eight years ago, which she did in a recent podcast.

“The fact is the royal story is always a source of curiosity and will sell books and papers, especially when there is a whiff of discord or scandal. “

One bombshell claim made in Bedell-Smith’s Substack is that the former monarch had been left shocked that Harry had asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to perform the wedding ceremony without asking the Dean of Windsor first and that the now Duke of Sussex thought his grandmother could just “do what she wants”.

And according to Bedell Smith, Lady Anson said that due to this, Harry had “blown” his relationship with his grandmother. She writes that Lady Anson told her several months before the wedding: “She [the Queen] said she was really upset. I was shocked when the Queen told me this, how she was so saddened. I had no idea about the conversation, that he was rude to her for ten minutes.

“They had tea with her the day before yesterday. She was trying to find out about the wedding dress, and Meghan wouldn’t tell her. “

However, the author later claims that several weeks closer to the nuptials, Lady Anson told her that Harry and his grandmother had “patched things up” after he let her into the details of what they had planned for their wedding. Bedell Smith says Lady Anson described Harry as “besotted and weak about women. “

And now Jennie believes the claims show how much of a change there had been in Harry. She added: “It does seem quite out of character for Harry to disrespect his grandmother and, if he did, it is a sorry reflection of how his relationship changed him.

“He always claimed they had something special, and that she could confide in him in a way she did not with other family members. He suggested he was in some way her protector…making sure ‘she had the right people around her. ‘

“The late Queen was meticulous about including both Harry and Meghan in statements she made about the situation and made it clear she would always regard them as part of the family. Whether she would still feel quite so magnanimous today is something we shall never know. I just hope Harry now feels it was all worth it. “

Presenter, Fiona Phillips, has bravely spoken out about being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, which she initially thought was menopause after suffering from ‘brain fog’

Fiona Phillips admits she had no idea she was suffering from Alzheimer’s before her diagnosis three years ago. The former Good Morning Britain star, 64, who shares two children with ex-This Morning boss, Martin Frizell, initially put her symptoms, including brain fog, anxiety and a lack of interest in her marriage down to menopause. However, three years ago she was tragically told that she had the neurodegenerative disease, which both her parents suffered with.

Opening up about her early symptoms, Fiona said she had frequent anxiety attacks, “which became almost hourly”. She also suffered from brain fog, a lack of confidence when driving and confusion, over the “simplest thing like opening a bank account”.

She writes in an extract of her book, Adapted from Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer’s, which is published in the Mail: “For me it was the sense of brain fog and a sense of anxiety that I could rarely shake off.

“The simplest thing, like going to the bank to ask about my account, would send me into a total panic, and there were mood swings too, which meant even I was finding my behaviour unpredictable. “

Meanwhile, Fiona’s marriage was coming under increasing strain. Blaming Alzheimer’s for “at least part of it”, she said: “I’m sure the disease was at least partly responsible, but at the time neither of us could see it. I just became more and more disconnected from Martin and the boys.

“‘You’ve totally zoned out of our family and our marriage,’ he [Martin] would say to me. “

Putting her symptoms down to menopause after a leading expert appeared on This Morning, Fiona was taken in for tests.

Martin said: “Dr Newson was lovely. She had a long chat with Fiona and took blood tests. She also put her on a course of hormone replacement therapy. If it was the menopause, then within a couple of months the brain fog and anxiety symptoms should start to ease.

But when Fiona’s condition failed to improve after a few months of the HRT treatment, the doctor read through Fiona’s notes again and then, says Martin, “said the words I’d been hoping for so long never to hear” – that it may be something more than the menopause.

After a series of tests, including simple subtraction and being asked to draw intersecting rectangles, Fiona had an MRI, which was inconclusive. But, after she had a lumbar puncture she was told she had early-onset Alzheimer’s.

Revealing that she and Martin went to the pub for a much-needed drink after the devastating news, Fiona writes stoically: “That afternoon in the pub it had seemed extraordinary that we could continue to live life ‘as normally as possible’, but that’s exactly what we did from that moment on. “

* More information and advice about Alzheimer’s can be found at the Alzheimer’s Society

Fiona Phillips has sensationally revealed that she had secretly split from her husband Martin Frizell as tension grew in their marriage before Alzheimer’s diagnosis

To the outside world, Fiona Phillips’ marriage was nothing short of perfect. But now, the former breakfast TV presenter has revealed that her relationship was anything but a happy one as Alzheimer’s disease was starting to take its toll on her and her family – unknowingly.

The relationship between Fiona, 64 and her husband – former This Morning producer Martin Frizell – had broken down beyond repair as she recalled the moment he announced he was moving out of their family home.

In a first person piece for the Mail On Sunday, the TV star, who was one of the main presenters of GMTV, opened up on the fact she was not aware she had developed the disease which had taken both her parents.

In the run up to their secret separation, Fiona explained that she was in denial over the fact she was experiencing the initial symptoms of the disease and put it down to the menopause instead.

Their marriage became more and more fractured as Martin felt Fiona was becoming increasingly distant from him and their children and their arguments were becoming far too regular.

Fiona explained: “Was I worried that there might be something sinister lurking beneath the surface? That Alzheimer’s could one day be coming for me too? “

She added: “On one level I did think I would get the disease, but there was also another part of me that was in a strange sort of denial about it all. This illness has devastated so much of my life already, surely it’s not going to come for me too? ‘ I’d tell friends. “

Fiona went onto reveal that she’s sure that the disease was “at least partly responsible” for her marriage breaking down but that neither she nor Martin could see that. She became “more and more disconnected” from her family, with Martin accusing her of zoning out of their marriage.

She said: “But, if I’m honest, I think he was right. I just didn’t seem to have the energy for any of it any more. I didn’t realise quite how seriously Martin felt about it all until one evening he announced he was moving out. “

In that moment, Fiona did not believe that her marriage was completely over, in fact she said that she felt he was simply “trying to shock me into behaving differently”.

They had separated for three weeks before they started to exchange text messages between each other and then arranged to meet at a hotel in Hampshire, in a desperate bid to save their marriage.

They reconciled their differences but Fiona recalled that she was still suffering with the same symptoms. In 2023, at the age of 62, Fiona revealed that she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

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