Category Entertainment News

Women in Wales, a charity based in Cardiff, have reportedly been left ‘horrified’ and ‘outraged’ after disgraced opera singer Wynne Evans was announced as the ‘surprise’ performer at their fundraising lunch

Ambassadors for a children’s charity in Wales were reportedly left shocked and appalled when scandal-hit opera singer Wynne Evans was unveiled as the ‘surprise’ act for their fundraising lunch despite his controversial stint on Strictly Come Dancing.

The announcement was made on the Women in Wales Facebook page on Wednesday. It revealed that the 53-year-old, best known for his appearances in the Go Compare adverts before competing on the BBC dance series, would be performing at the event today.

Wynne stepped back from the Strictly Come Dancing tour and his BBC Radio Wales show in January, after being caught on camera making a lewd sexual joke aimed at co-star Janette Manrara during a press call. The incident came just weeks on from an awkward moment between the singer and his professional partner Katya Jones during the live Strictly shows.

In a Facebook post shared on Wednesday night, the Women in Wales Luncheon page announced: “SURPRISE PERFORMANCE! We are delighted to announce that the incredible Wynne Evans will be performing live at this year’s Luncheon!

“Wynne will be filling the room his breath-taking vocals an unforgettable performance for you all this Friday. Diolch, Wynne – We are looking forward to Friday.” Wynne shared the announcement to his own page, adding: “Thank you so much.”

Wynne’s booking didn’t attract much backlash on the Women In Wales Luncheon Facebook page, with one fan commenting: “Looking forward to the day and it will be great to see Wynne Evans performing at the event.”

However, supporters of the charity – which raises funds for children’s charities and projects across Wales – have reportedly said they had no prior knowledge of Wynne’s performance at the fundraising luncheon and have distanced themselves from the event.

A woman associated with the charity, who wished to stay unnamed, expressed her shock, stating to the MailOnline: “I had no idea and I am absolutely horrified and outraged Wynne Evans is performing. It flies in the face of everything we have been campaigning tirelessly for and puts our hard work back. This is unacceptable.I want nothing to do with it.”

Another voiced her disappointment, saying: “We are a women’s charity, and I am so upset we would be associated with him.” The Mirror has approached representatives for Wynne Evans and Women In Wales for comment.

In January, Wynne said he was “deeply sorry for the pain my inappropriate actions have caused”, as he announced he would be taking some time out from his BBC Radio Wales show and the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour to prioritise his wellbeing.

The Welsh opera singer said in a statement: “I’ve agreed with the BBC that I’ll take some time out from my radio show and the Strictly Live tour, as well as my other public commitments, to prioritise my wellbeing.

“I am deeply sorry for the pain my inappropriate actions have caused, and plan to take this time for self-reflection. Apologies to those I won’t get to see at the remaining performances and I’m grateful to my fellow tour gang for all the amazing support they have given me.”

Strictly Come Dancing professional Katya Jones, who was partnered with Wynne on Strictly, reposted the message and wrote: “Let’s show humanity and consideration.” She added that she would miss Wynne in the post to her Instagram stories.

During their time on Strictly, Wynne and Katya had to apologise for a “joke” in which she moved his hand from her waist during the BBC show. In another moment, Katya appeared to not want to high-five her celebrity partner, which they called “a running joke”.

Former glamour model Katie Price opened up about her time on the Loose Women panel from 2015 to 2018 and admitted she ‘hated doing that show’

Katie Price revealed the real reason she hated doing Loose Women as she confessed she will ‘never do it again’. The former glamour model, 46, was a regular on the ITV daytime show between 2015 and 2018, but Katie said it was actually a tough time for her and admitted she ‘didn’t like’ being on it.

The Mucky Mansion star took part in a Q&A session at The University of Cambridge’s Student Union, where she revealed she ‘hid’ her personal issues while appearing on the programme. She said: “I hated doing that show. The interesting thing about Loose Women, I presented on it for two years, believe it or not, and it was around the start and during my breakdown and no one knew.

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“I hid it very well on there. The only thing I didn’t like about Loose Women was, you had these in-ears and you’re told when you can speak, when you can’t, or if someone is talking, ‘Kate, don’t interrupt, Kate don’t say this, Kate don’t say that’, so it’s quite hard.”

The star said everything was ‘very different’ behind the scenes of daytime television and insisted she would ‘never, ever do it again’.

However, she said she did have fun and ‘got to meet a lot of people’.

“I wasn’t really well, but no one really knew, it was the start of my breakdown, horrible days,” Katie explained. “But I liked the women I did it with, we had fun, but yeah, I wouldn’t do that show again.

“Maybe I should have my own presenting show, that’s something I haven’t done, but it would have to be late night because there’s no filter with me.”

Katie has been open about her mental health struggles and previously revealed she suffered a mental breakdown after being robbed at gunpoint and sexually assaulted in South Africa in 2018 as well as being arrested on suspicion of drink driving after crashing her car.

In her autobiography, she explained how she tried to suppress everything that happened in South Africa but it eventually got too much for her and she attempted to take her own life and ended up being treated for PTSD in the Priory.

She wrote in her book: “My memory is a bit fuzzy with it all, if I’m honest. It happened so quickly, but at the time it seemed like it went on for ever. It was surreal. I kept thinking, ‘Is this happening? Is this actually happening? Am I dreaming?’

“I could make out two men, who I now know to be hijackers, trying to get into the other car, where the film crew were, while the rest of them were around our car.”

*If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch

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Bargain Hunt star Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53, has arrived at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London, England after being charged on charges related to “terrorist financing”.

The TV personality has been charged with eight charges of “failing to make a disclosure during the course of business within the regulated sector”, following an investigation into alleged “terrorist financing”. The Metropolitan Police have stated that these offences are believed to have taken place between October 2020 and December 2021.

Known also as Ochuko Ojiri, the Bargain Hunt star is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday. This marks the first charge of its kind under section 21A of the Terrorism Act of 2000, according to the force.

The investigation was conducted by the Met’s specialist arts and antiques unit, in collaboration with the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) and HMRC. The BBC, in a statement, said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings.”

In a statement, the Met said: “Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53 (05.05.72), of west London, has been charged following an investigation into terrorist financing by officers from the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit (NTFIU), part of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

“Following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service, he has been charged with eight counts of failing to make a disclosure during the course of business within the regulated sector, contrary to section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000. The charges relate to a period from October 2020 to December 2021.”

They added: “The investigation has been carried out in partnership with the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) in HM Treasury, HMRC (the organisation that regulates the art sector), and the Met’s Arts & Antiques Unit.”

Mr Ojiri, who is listed as one of Bargain Hunt’s experts on the show’s website, works as a freelance presenter and is not a BBC staff member. He has also featured on Antiques Road Trip and Channel 5’s Storage: Flog the Lot!

He has not worked on any BBC programmes since 2023. Mr Ojiri is also the founder of the Ramp Gallery, a contemporary art showroom now known as the Ojiri Gallery, based in east London, which specialises in emerging and contemporary artists.

He grew up with a love for the arts and eventually started a career in antiques. Ojiri said: “No other industry would accept my rare mixture of sarcasm, cynicism and passion. Ha-ha!”

The antique expert opened his own vintage shop and art gallery called Pelicans & Parrots with Juliet Da Silva on Stoke Newington Road in Dalston, London. It sold contemporary furniture, houseware and gifts.

They were able to get the right to serve alcohol on the premises to support pop-up events. Ojiri told the local council about his business’s success in 2019: “We’ve been trading since 2010, and have been integral to the regeneration of the area. We’re very proud of what we’ve achieved in those nine years. We’ve taken risks and we’re proudly part of the community.”

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The brand features heavily in her new Amazon Prime reality series

The second half of Molly-Mae Hague’s much-anticipated reality series has just been released, with the star dropping some major bombshells about future baby plans and the status of her relationship with Tommy Fury.

Released in two parts, the first half of the series followed the influencer as she came to terms with her shock split from boxer Tommy, while the concluding three episodes out today (May 9) chart the pair’s efforts to rekindle their romance.

An ongoing thread throughout the series has been Molly-Mae’s journey in launching her fashion brand Maebe, all while juggling being a mum to baby Bambi.

The fresh instalments follow the star as she looks to expand the brand beyond clothes, with her first step being a pop-up coffee van in Manchester that attracts huge crowds.

While viewers may not give the brand name a second thought, there is actually a lot more to it than first meets the eye. The Maebe website reveals its founder hid a secret message in the title.

The brand name is actually formed from Molly-Mae’s name, and also her daughter Bambi’s. The Maebe website reveals: “Molly consults with her friends group chat to brainstorm names.

“She wanted something that felt meaningful to her and resonated with the journey she was on – with Bambi solidifying the need to start this, it only felt right to take inspiration from her. Molly-Mae, meets Bambi – Mae-be.”

Watch Molly-Mae: Behind it All on Prime Video

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Following its launch in September 2024, Molly-Mae faced some major scrutiny over the quality of the clothes. Buyers had complained their items bobbled within days of purchase, which prompted the businesswoman to issue a swift apology.

She addressed the backlash in part one of Behind It All, explaining the quality issues were her “worst nightmare”. She claims to have worn the samples “for a year” to road test their quality before release and they hadn’t bobbled, explaining a production error had led to the wrong materials being used in the final product.

Things appear to be going much more smoothly today for the brand, with the biggest hiccup documented in part two being that the coffee lids don’t fit the cups at the Maebe pop-up.

Molly-Mae Hague is a self-proclaimed moisturiser expert as she tells fan she’s tried ‘so many over the years’ – and she’s just discovered ‘one of the best’ body lotions she’s ever tried

If you’ve been on the hunt for a top-notch body lotion that’s set to leave your skin nourished and hyrdrated, coming with Molly-Mae Hague’s stamp of approval, look no further. The Love Island star has shared with fans one of her top favourite moisturisers, which she rated “11/10” – and where to shop your own.

Since revealing to fans where they too could pick up a bottle of her beloved body lotion, this gem has started vanishing from virtual shelves. Now sold-out at Lookfantastic and Sephora, Molly-Mae’s go-to Fenty Skin Body Milk is still available to shop directly from Fenty’s own site, Selfridges and Boots for the reasonable price of £28.

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The Butta Drop Hydrating Body Milk is a milky moisturiser that leaves the skin feelig hydrated, but not heavy. Infused with the signature Fenty Fresh scent, Molly-Mae’s favourite body lotion is lightweight and takes the best of Fenty’s award-winning Butta Drop body cream and turns it into an ultra-smooth hydrator that sinks in fast.

Promising to plump the skin with hydration instantly, while boasting nourishment that lasts all day, this body lotion instantly improves and strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier to prevent dry and dull textures and appearance in the future. The lightweight, milky texture absorbs quickly and effortlessly into the skin, letting you wave goodbye to sticky or greasy residue left by some moisturisers.

Reviving and renewing thirsty skin, this body lotion leaves the skin with a satin finish that’s never sticky or heavy, so no more irritating textures left behind or transfering onto clothes.

With a light scent that features accords of fresh bergamot, jasmine and white orchid, Molly-Mae’s go-to body lotion is up for grabs from Boots, Selfridges and Fenty’s own site for £28.

And it isn’t just Molly-Mae who’s in love with this moisturiser, as it amasses plenty of 5-star reviews. One happy buyer beams: “I am obsessed with this lotion! The smell is so light and fresh. It’s kind of pricy, but I want to use it morning and night.”

Another shares: “Love the light scent and hydration for my skin lasts all day!”

Further praise comes from this Fenty customer who gushes: “Will be a perfect body lotion for the summer.”

Loose Women star Ruth Langsford has opened up on her relationship with son Jack and how it’s changed over the years as she admits he ‘hates’ going shopping with her

Ruth Langsford admits “I just can’t leave it” as she recalled an awkward moment while out shopping with her son Jack Holmes.

Loose Women panelist Ruth, 65, shares 23-year-old Jack with her ex-husband Eamonn Holmes. The famous couple however split in 2024, calling time on their 14-year marriage.

During an appearance on the There I’ve Said It podcast, Ruth admits her family “hate” going to the shops or restaurants with her. This, she admits, is because she gets frustrated at slow or poor service, reports Devon Live.

Ruth said: “This is why my family hates shopping or going to restaurants with me. I can’t leave it, so I was in a very well known store and saw this really nice pair of trousers. It was quite a while ago so Jack was a teenager, and I saw this really nice pair of trousers and I wanted them in black, they were in blue or something.

Recounting her encounter with a shop assistant, she said, “I saw a member of staff, if you can find one, and then I go, ‘Hi, excuse me’, I was very polite, ‘Do you do these trousers in black? There’s navy there but have they got them in black’.

“He just looked and he went, ‘No’, so I went ‘Oh, okay’. Walking around the store, I found them in black. Can I leave it? No I can’t.”

Highlighting her determination, Ruth added, “Jack’s going, ‘Mum, leave it’, and I went, ‘No, I’m going to search the store for him’, it wasn’t an easy find, I got the black ones and I was like, ‘Where is he? Where is he?'”

“I found him and I went, ‘Hi’, and I’m really sarcastic, ‘So it’s me again, just to let you know, you do do these trousers in black, and they’re just there’. They don’t care.

“He went, ‘alright’ and I went, ‘Just in case anyone asks you, they’re just here’. I can’t leave it.”

Ruth recently confessed to experiencing a “sudden shift” in the dynamics with her son. She recounted the turning point when she noticed that her status as the “fun mum” had expired.

Explaining the transition, she said: “You’ll find this, when they are little, they adore you, they love you, they want to be around you all the time.”

Always ready for a laugh, Ruth shared one of the jokes she used to share with Jack: “You know like Rizzle Kicks? I’d come in and I’d go, ‘Ah, I love Twizzle Sticks, they’re great’.”

She fondly remembered how Jack would be amused by her antics at the supermarket: “Jack thought I was hilarious right, and then we’d be in the supermarket and I would dance and he thought I was hilarious.”

Yet, suddenly, the mood shifted: “And then suddenly, I can’t remember what age, I was in the supermarket, it came on and I was like, ‘Twizzle Sticks, Jack!'”.

The way he responded marked a new phase: “He was literally like [squirming] ‘Mum!’ and then it suddenly happens and it’s like, oh he doesn’t find me amusing anymore and if you talk about sex, like no!”.