Category Entertainment News

The Masked Singer star Davina McCall revealed the truth behind her tears after winning the Special Recognition Award at last year’s National Television Awards

Davina McCall admitted she ‘didn’t think she’d be here’ as she opened up about her difficult year. The beloved presenter, 57, underwent surgery to have a benign brain tumour removed last year – an ordeal that’s got her thinking about what comes next in life.

In April, the former Big Brother presenter confirmed her “final MRI” had shown a colloid cyst, which she had removed in November 2024, is “not coming back”, after it was found when she was offered a health check-up as part of her menopause advocacy work.

Weeks before her surgery, Davina was in tears as she accepted the Special Recognition Award at the 2024 National Television Awards.

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She told the audience at the time: “This means so much I can’t even begin to tell you…”

And now, Davina is back at the event, healthier than ever and took to the winners’ room to reveal the backstory behind her tears the year before.

Reflecting on her journey, she said: “Last year, I knew I had a brain tumour and I knew I was being operated on six weeks later and I picked up the award, which meant so much to me.”

The star was speaking through tears as she continued: “Everybody else knew why it meant so much to me. It just meant the world to me because I wasn’t sure where I was going to be six weeks later. You know, what my life would look like.”

Last month, The Masked Singer star revealed how her brain tumour affected her life and personal relationships.

In an interview with Good Housekeeping UK, Davina opened up on her earlier fears: “I’ve been terrified of dying my whole life – my mum died quite young, my dad died quite young, and my sister died very young.

“I thought: ‘I have to come to terms with the fact that I might not make it, so what do I have to do to make that OK?’ I had to let go of the outcome and be able to go to sleep without the abject horror of the idea of dying.

“I said to Michael (Douglas, her partner): ‘If I go, I really need you to keep plugged in to the kids (Holly, Tilly and Chester, who she shares with her ex-husband Matthew Robertson) and stay in their lives.’

“We were both scared, but we were honest and told each other that. It made the whole thing less daunting, knowing that everything was out on the table.”

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Ancestry has uncovered which Downton Abbey actors’ real-life family stories mirror their characters ahead of the hit ITV show’s upcoming third and final film

New research shows some of the cast of Downton Abbey have real life similarities in their families compared to their on screen roles

With a new third and final film about the ITV period drama released into cinemas this week on September 12, the results from family history site Ancestry uncover which actors’ real-life family stories mirror their characters and which tell a very different story.

Michael Fox who plays butler Andy Parker has a three-times-great-grandfather who was a butler and great-great-grandfather a chauffeur. It seems he was almost destined to play a loyal footman. This was uncovered using marriage and census records.

Allen Leech is well known as Chauffeur turned Estate Manager Tom Branson. Like Branson, Allen comes from a family of principled public servants. Using an obituary from the Drogheda Independent in 1962 it can be revealed his great-grandfather Thomas Leech was an Irish peace commissioner known for his honesty and integrity, and may well have inspired one of Branson’s iconic speeches.

Lesley Nichol’s character Mrs Patmore had a loveable role in the Downton kitchen, in real life her ancestors were shepherds, butchers and wine merchants showing a real-life passion for food and drink that mirrors Mrs Patmore.

The 1911 Census of England and Wales record shows Henry Thomas Isaac, butcher.

Harry Hadden-Paton was Bertie Pelham in the ITV series and Bertie is an expert at estate management.

This is similar to Harry’s three-times-great-grandfather, a banker called Henry G Marquand involved in major railroad interests who might have been able to save the Crawleys from financial ruin. This was discovered via a report in a copy of a Chicago Tribune newspaper from 1902.

Laura House, DNA and Family History Expert at Ancestry, said: “Downton Abbey has captivated audiences with its stories of class, conflict, and connection.

“These real-life discoveries show just how closely some of the cast’s personal histories align with the roles they play. From wartime heroes to world-travelling diplomats and hardworking cooks, it’s a reminder that fascinating stories lie in all of our family trees waiting to be discovered.”

The new third film follows the much-loved Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s.

Lady Mary finds herself at the centre of a public scandal going through divorce, the family faces financial trouble, and the entire household grapples with the threat of social disgrace.

The Crawleys must embrace change as the staff prepares for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future and off into the sunset.

Princess Andre wowed on the NTAs red carpet in a statement metallic dress, finishing off her look with an on-trend Pandora charm bracelet stack

Princess Andre definitely turned heads on the NTAs red carpet, rocking a grey and silver sequin ball gown, complete with chiffon detailing and a thigh high split. But it was actually her accessories that caught our attention.Matching her silver dress, Princess paired an array of glitzy bracelets and bangles with the look, including a £55 Pandora Charm bracelet. The perfectly stacked look proved that accessories can make all the difference.

Charm bracelets, once seen as a nostalgic throwback, are making a major comeback, and Princess has shown us exactly why. From delicate, meaningful charms to bolder statement pieces, the trend is all about showing off your personality and creating a story on your wrist.

Millenials will remember just how popular Pandora’s iconic charm bracelets used to be, sparking a major trend in the late 2000s. And now it appears Princess has revived the trend again.

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Pandora has a huge selection of different clasp bracelets to choose from, but we reckon Princess is wearing the Barrel Clasp Snake Chain Bracelet in Sterling Silver, priced at £55.

Of course, £55 is just the price for the bracelet itself, with the charms as additional add-ons. The best part about this trend is the ability to purchase charms of your favourite things and filter your personality through your jewellery. Pandora has charms for everyone, from birthstones to Disney characters and milestone moments. It’s not just the charm bracelet we’ve spotted on the TV personality’s wrist. Princess has appeared to layer her charms with a selection of silver bangles, bracelets, and watches, tapping into another huge jewellery trend.

Stacked bracelets are currently enjoying a resurgence, with fashion fans and influencers embracing the mix-and-match approach to accessorising. Layering multiple bracelets not only adds an element of interest to your look but can also give outfits a statement and modern edge.

Princess’ NTAs outfit choice perfectly nailed this trend, combining elegance with a fun, youthful trend that looks completely glam.

Billy Ray Cyrus and Liz Hurley shared a kiss as the pair continued to showcase their budding relationship at the National Television Awards in London

Billy Ray Cyrus and Liz Hurley showed the strength in their relationship as the pair hit the National Television Awards red carpet. The Hollywood couple were joined by Liz’s son Damian Hurley for the glitzy showcase.

For the occasion at London’s O2, Liz wore a low-cut silver gown which had a thigh-high slit up the front. Country icon Bill Ray showed his usual rocker style as he paired an all-black suit with a large black cowboy hat. He also wore sunglasses at the outing.

Actor and model Damian, who Liz shares with ex Steve Bing, looked stylish in a white suit and low-buttoned shirt. And while they all smiled on the carpet, Liz and Billy Ray are thought to have shared a smooch backstage.

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According to The Sun, the duo were stood outside Liz’s dressing room and was heard saying: “You’ve made it.” Billy-Ray is said to have replied: “Of course I made it, I wouldn’t miss it.”

Liz took to the stage with Robert Rinder to dish out an award at the ceremony. During the speech, Robert cheekily praised her appearance and “defying gravity”. “Rob Rinder having a good luck there #ntas,” one Twitter/X user wrote.

Another joked: “Liz Hurley even had Rob Rinder questioning his own sexuality!! #NTAs”

Billy Ray and Liz’s duo’s surprise pairing first became public knowledge at the start of the year. Earlier in the year Liz expressed her excitement about her budding relationship with Billy Ray and said she is hoping they’ll have a “great life” together.

She left fans surprised with her revelation earlier this year and despite admitting she found their romance “unexpected”, she revealed she is optimistic about what lies ahead as they go from strength-to-strength.

Speaking to E! News, the actress said: “It was unexpected. But we’re very happy together. And hopefully we’ll have a great life.”

It came as the pair celebrated her 60th birthday. She was keen to celebrate the significant occasion with her new partner by her side, explaining: “I always leave things to chance, I like birthdays though.

“I like getting presents, I like getting flowers, I like everyone being nice to me for a day. So, whatever we do will be fun.”

The comments came after 63-year-old musician Billy Ray hailed Elizabeth as a “great human being”. He spoke warmly about their connection in an excerpt from The Ty Bentli Show, reflecting how they bonded during the shooting of their 2022 film, Christmas in Paradise.

Details of David Bowie’s famous Major Tom from Space Oddity and Ashes to Ashes have been unearthed in a treasure-trove of 90,000 objects from the late Starman singer’s archive

This is Ground Control to Major Tom….just who are you exactly? David Bowie’s fictional astronaut may be part of rock folklore but we’ve never known his surname….until now.

Amid a treasure trove of 90,000 objects from the late Starman singer’s archive now housed in V&A’s new East Storehouse, a handwritten synopsis for a film called Young Amercians sheds new light on his identity.

The two-sheets of A4 paper tell the story of “British jet-ace…..Major Tom Brough” who is involved in a ruse to fake the Moon landings. Bowie appears to reference his famous lyric in 1969’s Space Oddity at one point by writing: “Ground Control are tense and alert as Tom descends his ladder.”

The proposed film – which is unrelated to the 1975 album of the same name – was never made. In Space Oddity, Major Tom’s doomed space exploration ends with him drifting around in space after losing control with Ground Control. Bowie sings at the end: “Here am I floating ‘round my tin can, far above the moon. Planet Earth is blue, and there’s nothing I can do.”

The character makes a reapperance in 1980 in Ashes to Ashes in which Major Tom has succumbed to drug addiction and is drifting in space. Bowie is said to have partially based the lyrics on his own experiences with drug addiction in the 1970s.

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In 2015, Major Tom appears for the final time in Bowie’s Blackstar video, as a corpse in an astronaut suit.The fascinating new document will be available to view by anyone when the archive becomes open to the public on September 13.

Items in the archive include Bowie’s first ever instrument, a saxophone brought for him by his father in the early 1960s, Jim Henson-designed life-size puppets of Bowie’s many personas for a music video that was never released, and one of his final Ziggy Stardust ensembles, never seen before in the UK.

Fans can request to look at any item in the huge archive for free. The centre has already had more than 150 requests for items related to the Ziggy Stardust period alone. “There have been many new discoveries, and we have an entire section specifically about unrealised projects of Bowie’s, many of which have never been seen before,” Dr Madeleine Haddon, the curator at V&A East said.

This includes the musician’s notepad, index cards, and a series of sticky notes, used to prepare The Spectator, a musical set in 18th century London, which was discovered in Bowie’s office after his death in 2016. The musical would open with the dramatic real-life public execution of the notorious criminal, Jack Sheppard, on 16 November 1724.

Some of Bowie’s famous looks can be discovered by fans including Bowie’s 1992 Thierry Mugler wedding suit, and his outfit for his Bowie’s 50th birthday concert in 1997.Also available to order is the clapperboard used for the 1976 film The Man Who Fell To Earth and Bowie’s original cover designs for albums Hours and Lodger, among others.

Items relating to the creation of Bowie’s final albums, The Next Day and Blackstar are also available to book, including costumes, posters and props for The Next Day such as the origami birds Bowie made for his October 2013 NME cover shoot.

Blackstar items include Bowie’s own sketches, a costume Bowie decorated by hand for the 2016 ‘Lazurus’ music video referencing an 1975 photoshoot shot by Steve Schapiro, alongside Bowie’s own artwork and awards.

Dr Tristram Hunt, Director of the V&A, said: “One of the greatest performers, musicians, artists and innovators of all time, David Bowie’s impact continues to reverberate nearly a decade after his death – while his influence on design and visual culture and his inspiration on creatives today is unmatched. We are thrilled to care for Bowie’s incredible archive, revealing new insights into his creativity and legacy, and open it up for everyone at V&A East Storehouse, in dialogue with the V&A’s collection spanning 5,000 years of art, design, and performance.”

Spotted on Molly-Mae at the NTAs, Nars’ multi-purpose blush stick is the beauty must-have of the moment with 1.2k on the waitlist when it launched

Molly-Mae has yet again proved she is the ultimate trendsetter. Her latest NTAs beauty look involved a sought-after blusher with a 1.2k waiting list. Attending tonight’s award show thanks to her documentary series ‘Molly Mae: Behind It All’ being nominated, Molly stepped out wearing NARS’ new blurring blush that thousands of fans were virtually queuing up back during its launch.

The product in question is The Multiple from NARS, priced at £33. Promising 16 hours of wear, this multitasking genius is perfect for everything from red carpet moments to everyday glam.Since launching, it’s already become a must-have product for so many beauty fans, racking up hundreds of five-star reviews in its first week. So what exactly makes this product so special? Available in 12 different shades, this multi-purpose stick comes in a cream-to-powder formula and has been designed to be used across cheeks, lips and eyes, making it the ultimate all-in-one product. And with the price of luxury make-up now, a one-and-done stick is truly a game-changer.

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It also features a creamy, buildable formula that packs a lot of pigment with minimal effort. Not to mention the soft-focus finish helps create that visible blurring effect, much like Molly-Mae’s flawless NTAs base.

The exact shades Molly’s MUA, Hollie Flynn, used on the TV personality were Behave and Swing. Behave is a soft, rosy-looking pink that adds a natural flush to the cheeks, while Swing appeears to be a more cool-toned lighter pink that adds a subtle pop of colour.

For the rest of the look, Hollie used a combination of affordable and high end buys, including L’Oreal’s True Match Tinted Serum for the base and Benefit Cosmetic’s Bad Gal Bang mascara for the lashes.

Judging by the buzz around The Multiple upon its launch, it looks like it could be another sell-out success thanks to receiving Molly-Mae’s seal of approval. The ‘Molly-Mae’ effect, as it’s known, often sees products selling out after being worn or spotted on Molly, so we suggest snapping one up before it’s back to the waitlist.