Category Entertainment News

Thomas Markle Snr, the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has opened up about his daughter’s decision to put aside her maiden name of Markle.

Even though it’s been nearly seven years since she walked down the aisle at Windsor’s St George’s Chapel, the Duchess is still often referred to by fans as simply ‘ Meghan Markle ‘ – but behind closed doors, this apparently isn’t the case.

In the second episode of her new Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, the 43-year-old could be seen chatting away about fast food with actress Mindy Kaling, who remarked: “People wouldn’t believe that Meghan Markle ate at Jack in the Box”.

Gently correcting The Office US star, Meghan revealed: “It’s so funny, too, that you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know I’m Sussex now. You have kids, and you go, ‘ no I share my name with my children’…I didn’t know how meaningful it would be to me, but it just means so much to go ‘ this is our family name, our little family name'”.

Many fans struggled to get their heads around the idea of ‘ Meghan Sussex’, and this includes dad Thomas, whose relationship with his famous daughter has been strained since around the time of her May 2018 wedding.

In the show, Meghan fondly recalls memories of her grandmother making apple butter and her wish to continue this sweet preserve-making tradition for her own children. Meghan shared: “I think my kids will now connect this to coming home from school and smelling sweetness that wafts through the house when you are slow-cooking fruit”.

However, 80-year-old Thomas believes that Meghan’s grandmother Doris, who passed away in 2011 at the age of 91, would be “disappointed” to learn of Meghan’s name change.

Thomas told the Mail Online: “My mum loved Meghan very much but she would be so disappointed to hear that Meghan no longer wants to use the name ‘ Markle’. My mother was proud to be a Markle. So am I. Meghan never had a problem with the Markle name until she met Prince Harry”. He then sarcastically quipped: “Now I have to say, ‘ I am Meghan Sussex’s dad. ‘ ‘ ‘

Retired lighting director Thomas also took issue with Meghan’s claim that she was a” latchkey kid “who” grew up with a lot of fast food and also a lot of TV tray dinners”. He argued:” Like any single father who did a long day’s work, I’d occasionally put a TV dinner in the microwave. But most of the time we’d go out.

“After school, I would either pick her up myself and we’d go out to eat, or I’d send a car to bring her to the set. She grew up on the sets I worked on. She was never a latchkey kid.

” We lived in a great area, which was packed with restaurants. We ate out all the time. At weekends when I wasn’t working I’d take her to a dance class and then invite her and all her friends out for a meal. “

As detailed in the Netflix doc Harry &amp, Meghan, Thomas ‘ continued interviews with the press, including staged paparazzi photos of him preparing for the Royal wedding, causing the Duchess great distress. In 2019, excerpts of a letter Meghan wrote to Thomas begging him to stop was published in People magazine.

Thomas has never met his young grandchildren, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.

You can stream With Love, Meghan on Netflix now.

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia. banim@reachplc.com. Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

Kristina Rihanoff has been pictured looking weary as she breaks cover for the first time following the news of her split from Ben Cohen.

The former Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer, 47, looked deep in thought as she sported a black furry coat, black jogging bottoms and trousers. She accessorised her look with heart shaped drop earrings and dark sunglasses, which she wore on her head. Kristina clutched onto an iPad which had a pink cover on and had a bag hanging from the same arm.

Professional dancer Kristina stared straight ahead of her as she wore fluttering eyelashes for the outing, which marks the first time she’s been photographed since the news of her break-up from Ben emerged. She appeared to have minimal makeup on as she walked alongside her daughter, Milena Rihanoff-Cohen, who she shares with her husband Ben, who was born in 2016.

Milena wore a pink floral patterned top with a pair of washed denim jeans, pink trainers and a grey coat. The little girl appeared deep in conversation with her mum as her long mousey brown locks tumbled down.

The sighting comes days after it was revealed Kristina and Ben, 46, have split after their companies racked up debts of £1million. The split news was labelled the “curse in reverse” as a source claimed to The Sun that the “past six months has been hell” for the couple which has “torn the love they had apart”.

They added: “For the sake of their family, they have chosen to go forward as separate individuals. Those close to them who know them as a couple had hoped they would be able to work things out but for now it’s over and it looks like there’s no going back”.

It has been claimed their love life suffered after their health company Soo Yoga Group ran up debts of £488, 470. Cohen resigned from their firm last year and it is a year late with posting accounts. Another of their fitness firms – Yoga Wellbeing Limited – has debts of £63, 000. The firm has failed to file accounts for three years and Cohen resigned in September 2022.

Cohen quit Soo Greens Limited three years ago and the business has racked up £54, 000 debts. While fitness company Beyond Wellbeing was dissolved in 2022 with debts of £22, 000. Cohen also quit as a company director of struggling web firm Silicon Networks in 2020 – the company is in liquidation with debts of £275, 000, including a £98, 000 tax bill owed to HMRC. His anti-bullying charity the Ben Cohen Standup Foundation was dissolved last year.

The couple first met on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013 while Ben was married to Abby Cohen. They welcomed their daughter in 2016 and confirmed their engagement in 2022.

A few months before their split, the pair appeared in court where they said they were so in debt they are “fighting not to lose their relationship and their home”. They were in court after Kristina was caught driving her Audi Q3 without insurance. The court slapped her with six points on her licence but faced a ban for totting up 12 penalty points.

She had been to court to appeal the conviction for driving without insurance with her husband appearing as her witness. During the hearing, Ben said he had ignored a text from his insurance company. Ben said in court: “I get up every day and I fight not to lose everything to lose my cars and my house and my relationship. I’m so overdrawn… We’re still living together. We’re in it financially.

” We’re in business together so the problem is that we opened the business before Covid and we got the worst severities of it and in all honestly this is just another problem for me to deal with. I’ve got credit cards that are overdrawn. I’m overdrawn in both accounts. We have got a business debt because of Covid. It’s just another problem. “

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs onTikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTubeandThreads.

EastEnders star Lorraine Stanley has unveiled her new on-screen role since quitting Walford.

The 48-year-old is best known for playing the loud-mouthed Karen Taylor on the BBC soap. Her character was last seen leaving Albert Square after attending the funeral of her son, Keanu. Lorraine previously appeared on the soap before her stint as Karen, playing Thelma Bragg. It now seems the actress has left her soap opera days behind, after starring in a new steamy movie.

Lorraine appears in the flick Departures, alongside the likes of Coronation Street actress Kimberley Hart-Simpson and Hollyoaks hunk David Tag. The LGBTQ+ film – which features nudity and sex – follows the life of a young man named Benji, played by Lloyd Eyre-Morgan, as he struggles to move on after a tough breakup with his ex, Jake, played by Tag.

She plays Benji’s mum, Janet, while Kimberley portrays a sex worker named Nicky Wheatley. Speaking about her role in the film, Stanley told Digital Spy: “Janet is Benji’s mum and she doesn’t mince her words! She’s very, very old-school.

” She would probably have preferred her son to be straight. She’s bold and honest with her words and choice of language – that’s probably putting it mildly “she continued”. But she’s a lovely person. She wears her heart on her sleeve and ultimately she’s there for her son through his break-up. “

The actress continued to gush over the project, adding:” It’s a story of love and loss. It’s the yin and yang.

“It’s heavy at times, but there are funny moments too. That’s the kind of thing I enjoy watching, and I love being part of projects like that”.

Lorraine previously announced she had taken on a new stage role after leaving EastEnders. On her exit, she said that although she was “sad”, it was also “exciting” as she can now “go and do what I want”, telling The Sun: “You can get a bit relaxed there and a bit comfortable. So I want to be out of my comfort zone”.

The former soap star previously played Queen Rat in the 2024 Pompey Panto production of Dick Whittington. Sharing the exciting news with fans on Instagram, Stanley penned: “I can’t wait for this!!!! Panto in my home town with me old mate Jack Edwards is going to be epic!!! Ratty is coming to play Kings Theatre get your tickets early (link in bio) and I’ll see you after the show Xxx @stageyjackedwards @kingstheatre #pompey #pompeypanto #portsmouth #theatre”.

In her personal life, Lorraine also shared photos on Instagram after shedding an impressive five-stone.

Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTubeand Threads.

Lady Gaga is looking forward to the next chapter of her life as she has revealed her desire to become a mother, after confirming her engagement to Michael Polansky last year. The 38-year-old singer, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, says she would ‘ love ‘ to have kids after previously being worried about the prospect.

“I would love to have kids one day. I’m excited to be a mom. I used to have a lot of apprehension about it”, she admitted during a new interview with The New York Times. Continuining that she’s keen to ensure her future children will choose their own path in life, the singer explained, “If our children only understand Mommy’s job, that’s a very narrow view of life. There’s so much in the world, and I want them to be able to choose for themselves who they want to be”.

Typically private when it comes to her personal life, Lady Gaga rarely talks about her relationship and was first linked to tech investor Michael in late 2019. But at the time, her mental health had just picked up after a severe five-year dip. Recalling the tough time, she said, “Yeah, I mean, I had psychosis. I was not deeply in touch with reality for a while. It took me out of life in a big way, and after a lot of years of hard work I got myself back. It was a hard time, and it was actually really special when I met my partner because when I met Michael, I was in a much better place, but I remember him saying to me, pretty early on, ‘ I know you could be a lot happier than you are. ‘”

Lady Gaga – who appeared on Saturday Night Live this weekend – and Michael first stepped out as a couple in 2019, and they announced their engagement in July 2024. Michael is credited with inspiring his future wife to return to the recording studio and create her latest critically acclaimed album, Mayhem.

The Oscar winner’s seventh studio album, Mayhem, recorded at Shangri-La Studios near her home in Malibu, has 14 tracks including Disease, Abracadabra and Bruno Mars collaboration Die With A Smile. Mayhem is promoted as being about “embracing the fractured pieces of oneself and discovering how they come together to form something unexpected and beautiful”.

Lady Gaga says making the album was like assembling a shattered mirror to make up the different elements of her artistic life. She said: “Even if you can’t put the pieces back together perfectly, you can create something memorable and whole in its own way”. The record is produced by the New York-born singer alongside Andrew Watt – who produced the Rolling Stones ‘ 2023 return Hackney Diamonds – alongside the singer’s fiancé Michael.

Christine McGuinness is reportedly growing increasingly unhappy with her living situation as she continues to share a home with her ex-husband Paddy McGuinness, despite their divorce being finalised. The former couple, who announced their split in 2022, had initially agreed to remain in their £2.5 million mansion in Cheshire for the sake of their three children.

However, sources close to Christine claim she is now “desperate to sell up” and move on. The unusual arrangement, which saw both parties remain in their seven-bedroom home despite their separation, was said to be driven by Paddy. Friends of the pair suggest the former Top Gear host was reluctant to part with the property, which features a swimming pool, gym, and glass balcony.

In an interview with the Daily Mail’s Weekend magazine, Paddy, 51, gave a positive assessment of the living situation, stating that it could work if it was done in a “respectful way”. However, Christine, 36, has reportedly confided to friends that her reality is far from harmonious.

According to insiders, Christine is growing increasingly frustrated with the arrangement, feeling “utterly miserable” as she continues to share the space with her ex-husband. She is now preparing for a fresh confrontation, having made it clear to Paddy that she wants to sell the property and move into a new home with their children.

Despite Christine’s insistence, Paddy, who is currently on tour with his comedy show, is said to be resistant to the idea. In his interview with the outlet, he maintained that their plan was “still the same” and added, “It doesn’t feel tricky”.

Christine’s friends have raised concerns over his reluctance to sell, suggesting that he is stalling until he can afford a new home that meets his expectations. One insider stated, “Christine is at the end of her tether and can’t carry on living with Paddy…She is desperate to sell the house, split the proceeds, and buy a smaller property where she can live happily with their three children”.

The couple, who were married in 2011, share three children, 11-year-old twins Leo and Penelope, and eight-year-old Felicity, all of whom are autistic. Christine was also diagnosed with autism in 2021.

Adding to Christine’s frustration, Paddy reportedly made a joke about their divorce during his recent stand-up tour. Just over a minute into his show, Nearly There, he quipped, “Tonight, folks, we’re all here as human beings with one common goal – and that’s to help me pay for my divorce. I’ve had the pants down, me, the pants down”. The BBC Radio 2 host also added: “I’m thinking of getting Children In Need to do a bike ride for me next year, or come round to a bedsit in Bolton filming me”.

However, sources close to Christine told The Sun that she had been “horrified” that Paddy made jokes on their relationship on stage since she has “kept a respectful silence during their divorce proceedings”. A source also added that Christine had been “distraught” at the idea people were laughing at their split.

This led to him scrapping any mention of their break-up during his later show in Middlesbrough, according to Mail Online, with a source saying he only mentioned Christine in regards to her autism diagnosis. The source said: “Paddy performed two 40-minute sets with a half hour break in between but at no point did he mention his divorce or splitting from Christine”.

Following her participation in ITV’s The Games in 2022, speculation began to grow about the state of their marriage. Later that year, they announced their separation, finalising their divorce in December 2023.

They both released statements on Instagram at the time, saying: “This was not an easy decision to make but we’re moving forward as the best parents we can be for our three beautiful children. We’ll always be a loving family, we still have a great relationship and still live happily in our family home together”.

The Mirror has approached Christine and Paddy’s reps for comment.

Coleen Rooney and her brood are set to give fans an unprecedented insight into their lives with a brand-new fly-on-the-wall reality show. Disney+ has reportedly won a furious bidding war against fellow streaming giant Amazon in a whopping £10 million deal.

And the star of the show will no doubt be down-to-earth I’m A Celebrity campmate Coleen, 39 – who was runner up in the jungle, swiftly becoming the nation’s new sweetheart – with cameras set to roll inside the Rooneys ‘ £20 million super-mansion in Cheshire.

Thought to be in an ‘ at home with ‘ format, it is expected that former Premier League star Wayne will appear alongside his wife – as well as their four sons Kai, 14, Kit, 11, Klay, eight, and Cass, six. And following her stint down under, appetite for insight into the life of Coleen and her family has never been higher.

Sources close to the project is reported as saying that Liverpudlian Coleen will receive £5 million of the massive fee, with the rest going to Lorton Entertainment – the same production company which made the WAG’s previous show, Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story.

The ‘ at-home-with ‘ format is expected to see former England footballer Wayne Rooney appear alongside his wife – runner-up on last year’s I’m A Celebrity – and their four sons: Kai, 14, Kit, 11, Klay, eight, and Cass, six (pictured together on Christmas)

An insider revealed that bosses are hoping for a similar success to david Beckham’s hit Netflix documentary last year, which won an Emmy and was watched by millions.

“‘ The Beckhams documentary was the most-watched show on Netflix in the UK last year, and has racked up more than 200 million hours of viewing time globally.

” Coleen is loved by the British public, especially since she played a blinder on I’m A Celeb. It wasn’t surprising that Disney and Amazon wanted it and went head to head.

“It will make for compulsive viewing. It won’t just feature Coleen but Wayne and their children, too. It might be expensive, but the view is that it will be worth every penny”.

Coleen’s first major deal post I’m A Celeb, which she was reportedly paid £1.5 million for, was a collaboration with Applied Nutrition which she signed before heading to Australia and launched in January, following speculation about her beauty secrets from fans, who spotted her glowing skin in camp.

Now, with a huge Disney deal on the horizon which will see her and her family beamed into the homes of millions, it seems the proud mum-of-four, who went from WAG, to queen of the jungle, is set to become one of the most sought-after British celebrities.

* Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.