Category Entertainment News

BBC Radio 2 star Jo Whiley discussed the family’s tough decision to place her sister Frances into a Mencap-run home, as well as her worries about Frances’ wellbeing

BBC Radio 2 star Jo Whiley shared a positive update with fans after her sister was moved into a residential care home. She said her sister, Frances, who has a rare genetic disorder called cri du chat syndrome, is in the best place of her life after moving into the home.

Jo discussed the family’s tough decision to place Frances into a Mencap-run home as well as her worries about Frances’ wellbeing. She revealed: “So many people who were carers or had children or siblings in care said it was such a relief to see that, because it is so hard relinquishing someone you love to somebody else’s care.

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Speaking to Saga Magazine, the radio star continued: “You worry so much. The one constant throughout my life is whether Frances is happy, and that awful feeling of, ‘Oh God, is she being looked after? ‘”

“We’ve tried many different homes. Frances doesn’t sleep easily – she won’t sleep in her bedroom, she has tantrums, so you need a place that’s very tolerant of challenging behaviour and knows how to manage things like her running away.

“But right now she’s probably the best she’s ever been. “

Earlier this year, Jo took to her Instagram page to share a video one of the care staff took of Frances listening to Jo’s BBC show while sitting at the dinner table with a couple of Furby toys on the table.

Jo captioned the post: “I just wanted to share this because it’s so lovely and brilliant on many levels. My sister Frances lives in a residential care home. One of her brilliant support workers, Sarah sent me this film of Frances listening to my radio show last week.

“She heard me say it was Peter Gabriel’s 75th Birthday and then play ‘Don’t Give Up’ so you can hear her say ‘Happy Birthday Gabriel! ! ’ and then she sings along to the song accompanied by her beloved day-glo Furbies who look like they’re really going for it!

“Fantastic heart-melting stuff that I just wanted to share. Glimpses of life like this is invaluable to anyone who has a family member living in the care of others. “

The star continued: “If you do work in the care system – please know you are massively appreciated and the role you play in the lives of families is huge.“Also the power of music and radio to bring joy and connectivity – never to be underestimated.”

Fearne Cotton, Davina McCall, Rachel Pridmore, Gaby Roslin and more took to the comment section to share their support for Jo, with Gaby writing: “This is beautiful.”

“I work in the care industry, and feel it’s a pleasure and honour to work with the people I do! ! I love the feeling, some days, of going home and feeling I’ve made a difference to someone’s life,” one person commented.

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John F. Kennedy’s grandson has bizarrely claimed US Vice President JD Vance is responsible for the death of Pope Francis. Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced the sad news the Pope passed away at around 7. 30am. The 88-year-old has suffered health issues for several months after being admitted to the Gemelli hospital in Rome for treatment for bronchitis on February 14 which developed into double pneumonia.

JD had met with the late Pontiff on Easter Sunday, just hours before he tragically died on Easter Monday. But in a bizarre social media trend, Vance has been dubbed the “anti-Christ”. In post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Jack Schlossberg said: “Okay JD killed the pope. “

His post which has been viewed over 283,000 times was soon flooded with messages of criticism. One user said: “Your words are shameful. ” A second added: “Are you kidding with this? Just not funny – total disrespect. ” A third fumed: “No, Johnny. Maybe it’s time to back off. “

For round the clock updates on the death of Pope Francis, click here to read our live blog.

“Insensitive. You should know better,” commented another. JD, who converted to Catholicism as an adult had a private audience with Pope Francis on Easter Sunday, having attended mass earlier in the day. Their meeting was not part of Vance’s schedule for his trip to Italy but sources have claimed that having a few moments with the Pontiff was a personal goal for him.

The pair sat with one another for a “brief” chat and a photo opportunity on Sunday. During the brief meeting, video of which showed polite but subdued greetings on behalf of Francis, Mr Vance thanked him for agreeing to see him.

He told him: “I know you have not been feeling great but it’s good to see you in better health. Thank you for seeing me. ” The Vatican said the two met “to exchange Easter greetings”, with the Pope offering three big Easter eggs for Mr Vance’s children, who were not there, with the Vice President’s motorcade spending a total of 17 minutes on Vatican land.

Before he left, Mr Vance could be heard saying: “I pray for you every day. God bless you. ” Following the news of Francis’ death, JD has since taken to X to share a statement. The controversial Vice President said: “I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.

“I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I’ll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful. May God rest his soul. ” He shared a moment of prayer given by the late head of the Catholic Church on Friday, March 27, 2020 – when the world was gripped by the coronavirus pandemic.

Confirming the death of Pope Francis, Cardinal Ferrel released a statement. It read: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7. 35am, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.

“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God. “

In his last post on X, the Pope gave the message people are not made for death – but for life. He wrote on Sunday: “Christ is risen! These words capture the entire meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death but for life. “

Earlier this month Pope Francis, whose birth name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, met with King Charles and wife Queen Camilla who enjoyed a surprise private meeting at the Vatican and were “delighted” he “was well enough to host them”. They met for around 20 minutes, with Royal sources saying the Pope took the opportunity to wish Their Majesties a happy anniversary on the day marking their 20 years of marriage.

Francis was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936. At high school, he earned a chemical technician’s diploma before entering the Jesuit novitiate in March 1958. He became a Catholic priest in 1969. Four years later, he was appointed superior of the Jesuit province of Argentina. In 1992, Pope John Paul II – who was pope from 1978 until his death in 2005 – named him an auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires and then in 1997, he was promoted to coadjutor archbishop. He became head of the archdiocese in 1998 and three years later, Pope John Paul II named him to the College of Cardinals.

On March 13, 2013, he became pope at the age of 76, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI, the first pope in 600 years to resign from office.

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Love Island stars Lochan Nowacki and Whitney Adebayo called it quits over the weekend, but fans think he has shown chemistry with another islander in a recent upload

Fans of Love Island believe they spotted Lochan Nowacki show great chemistry with another contestant just days before his shock split from Whitney Adebayo was confirmed. Lochan and Whitney, both 27, were a fan favourite couple from the ITV series following their runners-up spot in 2023.

However, almost two years on and the pair’s relationship has come to a dramatic end. They announced the surprise news to their Instagram followers on Friday. They both shared the same statement, which read: “Hey guys, unfortunately Whitney and I’s relationship has come to an end.

“Thank you for all the love and support that you’ve show us through our journey, we’re forever grateful. ” Whitney, however, added: “I am broken. “

It comes after Whitney had appeared to end weeks of speculation by saying they were a strong couple earlier in the month.

Now, however, with their time together over, fans think Lochan could have a spark with another villa contestant. He welcomed Samie Elishi to his cooking show on YouTube earlier in the week, getting fans talking about their chemistry.

The duo were tasked with creating a chicken curry and fans quickly caught on to their flirtatious banter. They were seen giggling and even hugging in the interaction, with some going as far as calling them the “perfect couple”.

As well as cooking, the reality TV stars discussed how to best get over a breakup. Samie confessed: “It depends what kind of hard time you’re going through. Like, if you’re going through a heartbreak, for example, which I’m sure so many people are. “

It led to Lochan joking: “She’s got a book coming out. ” Samie admitted it was a good idea, saying she is “so good at this now”.

Fans were quick to comment on their appearance together. Taking to the comments section on the platform, one user wrote “Loved his episode! You two have great chemistry. ” Another added: “So much better suited. “

A third thought it was obvious that Lochan “likes her. ” They added: “So bubbly his energy is up. Whitney is just a placeholder. “

Ahead of Lochan and Whitney’s split, fans were convinced Whitney had hinted infidelity was a contributing factor. Whitney posted a TikTok video that said: “I wish I could tell you there was someone else, something that would make it easier to understand. Maybe it was just one of those heartbreaking moments of ‘right person, wrong time’. “

It added: “I’m strong, but for the first time in a long time I can admit that I’m broken. I thought I had everything figured out, the future seemed so certain. “

She went on to reveal she has moved into a new property, explaining: “Now I’m 27, standing at a crossroads and questioning everything that I thought I knew. So many memories, so many plans, so many ‘I love yous’ that had their last day – I just didn’t know it. “

Whitney continued: “Now I’m here in my new apartment, surrounded by the quiet echoes of him. ” However, there is no indication that Lochan had cheated on Whitney.

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In this Monday’s Mirror Daily Digest, we’ve pulled together the biggest stories of the day from the sad passing of Pope Francis to Prince William’s rift with his uncle Prince Andrew

Welcome to the Mirror’s Daily Digest, where we’ll be pulling together all the best stories of the day from our News, Showbiz, Royal teams and more. This Monday, we’re bringing you inside the newsroom with coverage on the tragic death of Pope Francis to Prince William’s “incredibly strained” relationship with his uncle Prince Andrew.

Our Showbiz team has reported on Katie Price’s heartbreak after her son Harvey saw his weight reach dangerous levels. Meanwhile, our Data Unit team has created an interactive map highlighting the average house price in each area of the country, as prices soar by a staggering 5.4 percent. And we’ve also got a clever optical illusion which could reveal intriguing details about your personality.

Pope Francis dies aged 88

This Morning, our News team broke the sad news that Pope Francis had died aged 88 after suffering from health issues for several months. Earlier this year, the pontiff was admitted to the Gemelli hospital in Rome after suffering from bronchitis, which developed into double pneumonia.

After a 38-day stay in hospital, he was discharged on March 23, and blessed Easter crowds on Sunday from the Popemobile. But just hours later it was announced by Vatican officials that the leader of the Catholic Church, whose birth name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, had passed away.

Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, revealed the sad news at the Casa Santa Marta, close to St Peter’s Basilica. He said: “Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7. 35am, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.

“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God. “

Read the full story here.

Katie Price shares ‘heartbreaking’ update on Harvey

Meanwhile, our Showbiz team reported on Katie Price’s recent heartbreak after her son Harvey saw his weight rise to dangerous levels. The 22-year-old has battled health issues throughout his life, including a condition called Prader-Willi syndrome, which provokes a constant feeling of hunger.

While Katie has been trying to help her son lose weight, she has been saddened by the results of a recent weigh-in, which flagged that Harvey is almost 30 stone. Speaking on Snapchat over the weekend, Katie said: “I’m so heartbroken and gutted that his weight is just going up. I just googled it in stones, 188kg is just a few kg of being 30 stone.

“It’s so life-threatening now, I’m still waiting for the doctors to get back to me starting on the mounjaro and his journey to a healthy life. It’s so sad his quality of life at the moment where he’s so big, he just can’t really do much. It’s just another thing I have to deal with because he’s at high risk of having a heart attack, he struggles to put his trainers or struggles to walk anywhere but I love him and I’m going to help him through this. “

She continued: “So sad, obesity and his condition is sad, it’s sad to see someone go through it and he doesn’t understand. ” Earlier this year, the former model revealed that she had turned to weight loss jabs in an effort to help Harvey control his weight.

Read the full story here.

UK house prices mapped – see if your local area is rising or falling

As UK house prices leapt by a whopping 5.4 percent in the year up to February, our Data Unit team created a new interactive map highlighting the average property price in each area of the country. It comes after Office for National Statistics figures revealed the average house price in England has risen to £292,000 – a 5.3 percent increase from the previous year.

In Scotland, house prices climbed by 5.7 percent to £186,000, while in Wales, they increased by 4.1 percent to £207,000. Data covering October to December 2024 showed a notable nine percent surge in property prices across Northern Ireland, with the average cost working out as £183,000.

Whether you’re planning a move or just curious about local property prices, our interactive map shows the house prices in each area of the country. Just enter your postcode below to find out whether property prices near you are rising or falling.

Enter your postcode here.

William’s relationship with ‘toxic’ Prince Andrew

Following Prince Andrew’s surprise appearance at the annual Easter Sunday church service yesterday, our Royal team has taken a closer look at his “incredibly strained” relationship with nephew Prince William. Despite seemingly being welcomed back by the family, William is understood to be reluctant to spend time with his uncle at any gathering after the Duke has heaped shame on the Firm.

He was reportedly instrumental in Andrew’s banishment from royal life, after his disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019 which exposed his relationship with the late billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. A royal source said: “William has no time for his uncle. This Easter was about spending time with his own family, but he would far prefer a situation where he doesn’t have to spend time with him.”

However, reports suggest that the longstanding ‘grudge’ dates back to the early days of William’s relationship with the Princess of Wales. Richard Kay’s column in the Daily Mail said: “William has long held a grudge against Andrew for being unwelcoming when he first introduced the then Kate Middleton to the Royal Family and feels that his father has been too soft on him.”

Read the full story here.

Optical illusion shows if you’re ‘closed off’ or ‘social’

With the Bank Holiday festivities well underway, there’s no better time to challenge your mind with this clever optical illusion. The mind-bending image shows both a snow-covered tree and a lion’s face, but what you see first could reveal intriguing details about your character.

If the tree was your initial sighting, TikTok creator Mia Yilin suggests this could indicate that you come across as “cold” when meeting new people, but become “become super fun and friendly” once you get comfortable with them. She also noted that in romantic relationships, you’re not someone who “likes to chase” and typically wait for others to make the first move.

If the image produced an initial impression of a lion for you, it indicates that you have an “outgoing personality and social nature” qualities that Mia deems as being “the best thing about you. ” She added that you usually steer clear of conflict and tend to concede to others to keep the peace, yet you’re “super dependable” and build strong relationships with those around you.

Read the full story here.

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As Katie Price issues a heartbreaking update concerning the health woes of her eldest son Harvey, the Mirror takes a look at the worried mum’s crisis health plan, following a recent alarming weigh in

Mum-of-five Katie Price has long spoken candidly about the challenges of raising a child with complex health concerns. Now she faces another heartbreaking hurdle.

The former glamour model’s eldest son, Harvey Price, is partially blind, autistic and also lives with the rare genetic disorder, Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS).

Symptoms of PWS include learning difficulties, behavioural challenges, muscle weakness, and an insatiable appetite. The 22-year-old has to contend with constantly feeling hungry, and concerned mum Katie fears his rapid weight gain could take a serious toll on his health.

Taking to Snapchat following a recent worrying weigh-in, Katie, 46, revealed that Harvey is now nearly 30 stone, and is at risk of a heart attack. The OnlyFans creator now hopes that Mounjaro jabs could be Harvey’s ticket to a healthier, happier life.

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She shared: “I’m so heartbroken and gutted that his weight is just going up. I just googled it in stones, 188kg is just a few kg off being 30 stone. It’s so life-threatening now, I’m still waiting for the doctors to get back to me starting on the mounjaro and his journey to a healthy life. ”

Mounjaro is the brand name for tirzepatide – a medicine that helps to lower blood sugar. It is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes, but since December 2024, it has also been approved for treating obesity on the NHS. This drug is currently available within specialist weight management services across England and will be rolled out via GPS for some eligible patients starting in June 2025.

Opening up about some of the additional day-to-day struggles Harvey currently has to deal with, Katie explained: “It’s so sad his quality of life at the moment is where he’s so big, he just can’t really do much. It’s just another thing I have to deal with because he’s at high risk of having a heart attack, he struggles to put on his trainers or struggles to walk anywhere, but I love him and I’m going to help him through this. “

She continued: “So sad, obesity and his condition is sad, it’s sad to see someone go through it, and he doesn’t understand. ”

Back in February, Katie told fans that she had decided to pursue weight loss jabs in a bid to get Harvey’s weight under control. She told The Sun: “The good thing about starting him on the drug is, if it has any effect, you can stop it because you do it weekly.

“We’ve tried food, he’s had ­dietitians, it’s just the way he is. And he’s on a lot of medication, which the drug won’t affect. They want to try him on it for at least one or two years, which is a long time, but they’ll control what level he needs, then up it as they assess it. ”

CEO of Prader-Willi Syndrome Association UK, Jackie Lodge, told the Mirror: “PWS is a rare genetic condition causing an overwhelming and uncontrollable drive to eat that can be life-limiting, as well as learning and physical disabilities. We know that some adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome have been prescribed weight loss medications under close medical supervision, often for diabetes and on an individual basis.

“There is currently no clinical evidence confirming the effectiveness for weight loss for individuals with PWS. These weight loss medications may pose serious health risks for people with PWS due to potential adverse side effects, and treatment would always require close medical supervision.

“These medications are becoming increasingly available and should never be purchased online for people with PWS. The Prader Willi Syndrome Association UK (PWSA UK) can provide advice and information about supporting someone with PWS, including managing diet and clinics for people with PWS. “

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Model and TV personality Chrissy Teigen and John Legend’s six-year-old son, Miles, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes last summer after falling ill at summer camp

Chrissy Teigen revealed what her six-year-old son, Miles, asked her after learning of his Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis last summer. The model and TV personality, 39, shares eight-year-old Luna, Miles, Esti, two, and 22-month-old Wren with Ordinary People singer John Legend.

Miles was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes last summer after suddenly falling ill at summer camp. The first-grader, who Chrissy said ‘is very active’, was taken to the hospital after getting an intestinal infection but doctors soon discovered Miles also had Type 1 Diabetes – which is a condition where your body cannot make insulin leading to high blood sugar.

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In a new interview with People magazine, Chrissy discussed her son’s condition and revealed his reaction to the news. “He asked, ‘Why, why me? How come not Luna? ‘,’ she said.

“And to not have an answer for that is really weird.” She also discussed the lead up to the diagnosis, explaining how he was going to football camp “like he does every summer”.

The TV star continued: “Somehow, during the camp, they all had gotten this infection. And for some reason, it really took Miles down harder than a lot of the other kids.

“His pain was incredible. He ended up in the hospital at Cedars for three full days. It was just, blood test after blood test. I’m not a doctor so I don’t really know what they’re doing. I’m just thinking they’re helping him with this infection that he has. “

However, the doctors started realising ‘something else was up’ with Miles. She and John ‘were thrown into this world of chaos’ as they navigated learning about the condition.

Chrissy explained: “Our whole life is going to be dedicated to learning as much as we can to make sure Miles feels confident with the team he has around him. “

Last year, Chrissy shared a snap of Miles and Luna holding up signs at the Paris Olympics and fans couldn’t help but notice the insulin monitor on his arm.

Alongside the snap she penned: “A lot of you noticed something a little special about a photo I posted a few days ago — Luna, Miles and I celebrating Simone and team USA. Miles had his arm up, and soooo many of you reached out to say the most beautiful and incredible words I have ever witnessed on this platform. “

She went on to reveal: “A couple weeks ago, our Miles was sick, in the hospital, with a terrible case of shigella, an intestinal infection caused by bacteria in food or water. A lot of his friends were also sick with it, as they went to the same camp and well, it happens!

“But the doctors knew something else was off about his blood tests. I’ve learned since then that this is how so many young children end up being diagnosed with type-1 — going to the hospital for something completely different.

“After more testing, we learned he is in the ‘honeymoon period’ of a lifetime of T1. Last night we gave him his first shot of insulin and here we go! A different, new world for us and we are certainly learning so much on the fly. “

Chrissy then concluded: “This post is to thank you so much for your kindness. It helps Miles so much to know so many other people are going through the same thing and he is not alone. “

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