Category Entertainment News

Indie-folk band Kawala have shocked their fans by announcing the very sudden breakup of their group.

North London-based Kawala was formed from childhood friendships, and went on to sell out venues and bag millions of streams for their songs. Despite recently promoting their tour across the UK and Europe, they revealed that they were at the end of their journey together on Instagram on Thursday.

In their split statement, the band shared: “Right, where do we begin… After a near decade of Kawala, we have decided to make the truly heart-breaking decision that after our February tour, we will be hanging up our boots. There’s a world of reasons why we’ve landed here and believe us when we say we haven’t taken this decision lightly.

“Whilst there’s plenty of time to touch on all of those reasons, truthfully we just feel tired, a little burnt out & desperately in need of a break to work out what the future holds.” They added: “We leave behind us truly the best years of our lives. 100s of millions of streams, sold out tours all over UK, IRE & EU including our no.1 dream of selling out Kentish Town Forum and a 29th-in-the-UK (perfectly sandwiched between Adele & Dolly Parton) debut album. But most importantly, the absolute best community of fans anyone could ever ask for.

“‘The Kawala Collection’ will be dropping on 31st of Jan and the massive tour kicks off from 1st Feb. This does mean next year will be the last time you’ll get to see us tear up the stage, so let’s make it the biggest, most joyous send-off anyone could ask for. Biggest love, Daniel, Jim, Reeve, Dan & Ben”

Kawala also shared their statement on Twitter, where fans rushed to share how much they’d miss the group’s music, while still respecting their decision to end on a high. “NOOOOOOO!!! Absolutely gutted. You’re simply one of the best, such a tragic waste. Those beautiful harmonies! Will miss you so much, but wish you all the best for the future,” one fan wrote, with another adding: “So sad to hear this but hope it’s the right decision for you all and brings you the well needed rest!”

Alongside their written post, founders Jim Higson and Daniel McCarthy also shared a video giving a bit more detail about their decision to call it a day. The duo jokingly opened: “Hello, we’re Kawala. Well we were Kawala!” They continued: “This is an incredibly difficult video for us to film. If you’re watching it you’ve probably heard the news that we will be hanging up our boots after 10 years of making music together after our February tour – that will be the last thing we do. It’s incredibly sad, but we feel like it’s probably the right time.”

The musicians assured their fans: “It’s been an incredibly difficult decision to make. We don’t take this lightly at all,” but added, “But it’s come to the time where we are just a little bit burnt out. Being an artist has felt more difficult in more recent times and we’ve found it a lot more challenging and a bit more tiring.”

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Actor Will Mellor shared his powerful feelings about the death of his sister, 12 years on from losing her.

The beloved actor has become an important figure in his advocacy for prioritising mental health, particularly among men who often feel the need to stay silent and thus suffer the most. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Will opened up about both his sister and father passing away, and described how he learned to process the grief.

Will’s sister, Joanne, died in 2012 aged just 44. The Broadchurch star admitted that he felt “guilty” about Joanne’s death, explaining how he felt it could have been preventable if only someone had been with her to speak up when it mattered most. Will also explained that taking Joanne’s case to court offered no solution, despite his belief that more could have been done for her.

When asked about missing loved ones, particularly over Christmas, Will shared: “It’s really tough. Grief has a way of surprising you, it hides away. I thought that I was okay, I grieved the loss of my sister not too well. I turned to drink and gambling and all the things that I would advise against. But I didn’t know what to do.”

The musician recalled: “My sister was disabled and she died in circumstances that I think were preventable, at the hands of a care person who didn’t give her her medication. We took him to court and they ruled that because she had a disability her heart had an issue anyway, so we couldn’t prove that was exactly what had happened. But she died in fear because of that.”

Will admitted: “And I felt guilty because I was her brother, and I couldn’t help her. She looked at me – even though I was her younger brother – because she was mentally disabled and physically disabled she was always like a child to me. And that killed me.” After the loss of his sister, Will also dealt with the death of his dad, Bill, in April 2020. Bill’s passing occurred just a few weeks after he was diagnosed with cancer, and during the introduction of stringent Coronavirus restrictions.

Will shared his support for others experiencing such difficult grief, saying: “The advice I’d give is when I lost my dad I just cried when I felt like crying, I let it out. I didn’t hold it in, I just let it out. And I think with my sister I held it in, I tried to protect everybody else from grieving. I pretended I was okay when I was dying inside. I think talking is massive, you have to talk. If you’re struggling it’s okay not to be okay – and I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but I’ve said it a lot about mental health awareness. It’s okay not to be okay.”

The Strictly star added: “Everyone has down days. Everyone has down hours! You can feel crap for a few hours a day, and it’s okay talking about it. More often than not, the more you open up and say that, someone else will open up to you and they’re probably going through stuff. Talking is massive.”

Will concluded with a comforting message: “It’s okay to cry because it means you loved them, and that’s what grief is – it’s a pain and ache of a love that’s gone and lost, but they’re not forgotten. So when you think about them and you get emotional, it’s because you miss them and you care.”

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Strictly Come Dancing’s Anton Du Beke has praised the show’s 20th series as “magical” and ranking among the “best ever”

As the BBC dance contest approaches its grand finale on Saturday, celebrities including JLS’s JB Gill, comedian Chris McCausland, Miranda’s Sarah Hadland, and Love Island alum Tasha Ghouri will each strut their stuff through three dances in a bid to claim the coveted glitterball trophy.

Fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood is thrilled with the lineup of finalists, dubbing them all “worthy winners” and anticipates that the final showdown will be “so rewarding”. Anton, delighted by this season’s sparkle, said ahead of the climax: “It’s been such a magical series this year, up there with the best ever.”

Emphasising his feelings of privilege, the former professional dancer who turned to judging cherishes being part of Strictly from the very start, along with Revel Horwood and their colleague Tess Daly. Craig Revel Horwood couldn’t resist sharing his own excitement about the talent in the finals, particularly expressing how “so pleased” he is to see McCausland in the last leg, celebrating the comic’s “fantastic rhythm and joy to watch.”

McCausland, noted as Strictly’s first blind contestant, teams up with Dianne Buswell and they find themselves as the bookies’ top choice for clinching the 2024 series title. Alongside praising McCausland, Revel Horwood applauded Ghouri as an “exceptional dancer” and lauded Hadland’s “amazing” presence on the show. He went further to comment on how Gill has blossomed throughout the competition, now “delighting absolutely everyone” with his routines.

Head judge Shirley Ballas praised the 2024 series of Strictly Come Dancing as “utterly remarkable”, expressing her honour at having a front-row seat to the performances. “The cast have been truly wonderful and the dancing has been off the chart” she said, adding, “I’ve loved being with my fellow judges and getting involved in the fun. It’s been a blast.”

Motsi Mabuse, another judge on the panel, described the series as “one of the most exciting ever” and felt that all the finalists brought “something so unique to the competition”. She continued: “It’s been a joy to watch them grow. They really raised the bar this year. Heading to the final, it’s going to be a tough decision because each finalist brings magic to the dance floor. It’ll be a celebration of their talent and hard work and I can’t wait to see what they all deliver on Saturday night.”

Reflecting on the series, host Tess Daly noted the unique bonds formed on the show. She said: “The secret behind them I believe is laughter – our couples have had so much fun this year – not only on the floor, but with the Judges too and up in Claud’s area. ” “The judges have been amazing once again this year – highlights include the brilliant costumes on theme weeks, who can forget Anton as Rod Stewart on our debut icons week and Shirley flying in as Mary Poppins for movie week. I love them all for their uniquely different viewpoints.”

Claudia Winkleman shared her excitement about this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, saying: “This feels like it’s been an amazing year for Strictly. The cast are simply spectacular.” She gushed, “They’ve worked so hard and they do it with real wit and enthusiasm. Our professionals are extraordinary and all four couples are outstanding.”

The beloved host is eager for the upcoming show, noting, “All our dancers are back together this Saturday and I can’t wait to see them.” The audience can look forward to a treat as the professional dancers will accompany singer-songwriter Raye for a special performance, while the cast of 2024 will make a grand comeback to the dance floor for one final number. Launching in September amid controversy about some former dancers’ alleged teaching methods, the 20th anniversary series has gripped the nation.

‘Strictly Come Dancing: The Final’ is set to air live on Saturday from 6pm on both BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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After Kyle Walker was the subject of vile racist abuse this week, Lauryn Goodman has written a eminently rare letter of support for him.

After Manchester City lost 2-0 to Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday night, the 34-year-old footballer was subjected to racist abuse. On Thursday, he posted the message he received on Instagram, reading: “Bro you can f*** around and die you stupid a** n****”.

Alongside the post, Walker wrote: “No one should ever be subject to the sort of vile, racist and threatening abuse I have received online since last night’s match. In order for all who are subject to this abuse to stop, both @instagram and the authorities must do so. It is never acceptable. To our fans, we will continue working as a team to do better, to improve, and to turn the corner together”.

Now, 33-year-old Lauryn, who shares son Kairo, four, and daughter Kinara, 16 months, with Kyle, has spoken out to defend him while also accusing him of abandoning their two children. She wrote: “I’ve just seen the vile racial abuse that my children’s father has received. There is no place for racism in this world because it is abhorrent. I’m raising our two biracial children without their heritage, which saddens me.

She later claimed in a follow-up message that Kyle had abandoned their two children and that he had been abused, but she claimed in a subsequent message that she had wished he had had the same compassion for them. It ceases to amaze me how the industry has ignored this because Kyle can kick a ball “well” and knowing how much Kairo is suffering.

Then, she shared a fan-written message of support, which read, “Exactly what I thought when I read about it.” Yes, they’re terrible, but what about his abandoned children? Lauryn added: “I’ll leave this here for tonight but that’s exactly my thoughts. It’s an outrage”.

The footballer was also subject to racist abuse, according to Manchester City, who also expresses his condolences. Whether it is in the stadiums or online, we will not tolerate discrimination of any kind. Following the abhorrent treatment he has received, we will be forever supporting Kyle.

Additionally, the FA stated in a statement that it was “extremely disappointed that Kyle has been the subject of such abhorrent abuse on social media.” Discrimination of any kind is completely unacceptable. We support the authorities and social media companies taking decisive action.

Lauryn mentioned earlier this month that she wanted Kyle to strengthen his bond with their children and to rebuild her relationship with him. She told Closer: “I hope we can all just move forward and do what’s right by all the children. Because we have two wonderful children together and life is too short, I have faith and hope that bridges will be built for Kairo and Kinara.

She continued, “I’m hopeful their father will return to them and continue to grow their relationship.” For the love of Kyle, I hope sooner rather than later, because Kairo is now starting to comprehend. He asks for his daddy and he’s starting to realise that maybe it’s his choice]not to be around]. I always say that Daddy is busy playing football, but he’s not believing my excuses anymore”.

Lauryn previously shared that her son frequently asks to see Kyle, saying: “He asks for his daddy and he’s starting to realise maybe it’s his choice… I always say that Daddy is busy playing football, but he’s not believing my excuses anymore”. Lauryn added her hopes that “all” involved could “move forward and do what’s right for all the children”, and said she had “faith” that the right thing could be done for her kids.

The Mirror has contacted Kyle Walker’s representatives for comment.

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Fearne Cotton, a TV presenter, isn’t having a particularly festive season this year.

The 43-year-old host of the Happy Place podcast shocked viewers on Friday night when she revealed her 10-year marriage to husband Jesse Wood. The mother-of-two underwent surgery to remove two tumours just days after making the surprise announcement.

Fearne shared a message to followers of her Instagram accounts, telling them, “It is with a heavy heart that I am terminating our marriage. Our priority has been, and will always be, our children. We ask that you keep our family’s privacy a minimum at this time.

In July 2014, Fearne and Jesse, the son of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, wed. After making their engagement announcement in 2013, they tied the knot at the Richmond Register Office in south-west London. They share son, Rex, and daughter, Honey, together, while Jesse also has two kids from a previously relationship. In 2011 on Ibiza, Fearne and Jesse first met.

Fearne revealed she had surgery to remove benign tumours just days after the announcement of her marriage was ending. She announced earlier in the month that she was having surgery to remove two benign tumors from her jaw and that she would be resting after “to get better before Christmas.” A benign tumour is a large number of non-cancerous cells that can be safely removed during surgery.

She confirmed the surgery had went well, but explained she felt “wiped out” last week. Fearne shared an update with her Instagram followers following the operation, telling them that she is recovering well and is still taking it easy. She gave the camera a thumbs up after posting a picture of herself lounging on a couch in a pair of pyjamas.

Alongside the image, she wrote: “Resting at home. Feeling somewhat wiped out but “on the mend” O’Flynn did the most amazing job of making me feel at ease throughout the entire process. Any good TV recommendations, the actress said as she revealed that she would pass her recovery time watching binge TV.

Fearne started her career as a kids ‘ TV presenter in the late-1990s on shows such as GMTV, CITV and CBBC. She also served on ITV’s Celebrity Juice panel and on The Xtra Factor and Top of the Pops. She started hosting her own weekday 10am show on the station in 2007 as the first female regular host of the Radio 1 Chart Show.

She stepped down from her mid-morning slot in 2015, stating” family and new adventures “as her reasoning. She had earlier made the announcement that she was expecting her second child. She later made her debut on BBC Radio 2 with the soundtrack of her Sounds of the 90s music nostalgia programs in 2016. Currently, Fearne hosts the Happy Place podcast where she has interviewed a host of celebrities. Following her surgery, she claimed the podcast would carry on as normal.

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In a video from his hospital bed, singer Max George, 36, provides more information about his medical condition.

The Wanted star, who had been hospitalized on Thursday with alleged heart issues, shared two video clips on his Instagram Stories late on Friday afternoon. In a hospital gown and fitted with a tube over his right pectoral, Max recorded himself as he lay in bed.

“Hey, everyone, hope you’re good. A little update. So, had a bit of a rough day today. My heart rate dropped a bit this morning, which was – yeah, it was a little bit scary. But everyone is amazing, so I was able to stabilize it a little bit and get it back, he said to his supporters.

The singer explained: “The reason I’m not – a lot of family and friends are asking why I’m not just going in and having, you know, anything done yet – because there’s so many tests that need to be done before we do anything. So I just need to pass until, I suppose, next week, complete the tests, and then they’ll be ready to tell me what to do. Because of this, it’s obvious they’ll be able to do something, but doing it with all the necessary information will be much more beneficial.

Max openly admitted: “But yeah, it’s sh**e, but still here and staying positive. And a big thank you to everyone who sent such lovely messages. I see you all and thank you for your continued support, friends and family. Have a wonderful Friday night, everyone.

The musician recently revealed that he might need to spend Christmas in a hospital this year, with doctors reportedly confirming that a heart condition might be present. Max’s mum, Barbara, also shared some details about the terrifying situation. She continued, “Max is in the hospital right now, and he’s being very well cared for.” This week, I took him to A&amp, E to be examined.

“He’s in the best position in the world right now,” he declared. He is very appreciative of all the fans’ well-wishes, and he has family and friends all around him. They have conducted some evaluations to determine the future direction of the best management, she explained.

When Max first revealed his health scare on Thursday, he described: “Yesterday I felt really unwell and was taken into hospital. Unfortunately, some tests revealed that my heart has some issues. To figure out what surgeries I will need to have to get back on track, I will need to take a lot more tests. It’s gonna be a difficult few weeks / months… and Christmas in a hospital bed wasn’t exactly what I had planned! But, as always, I’m surrounded with love and support by my wonderful partner Maisie, her family, my family and friends.. and I’m 100% in the best place”.

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