Category Entertainment News

With Helen Flanagan’s new warts-and-all book months away from for the shelves, she has taken a poke at her ex Scott Sinclair – but that could be the least of his problems

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Scott Sinclair is bracing for Helen Flanagan’s new book after she gave him a little taste of what might be ahead.

The former Coronation Street star has announced she’s writing a no-holds-barred tell-all – and vowed to reveal all, with no “airbrushing” of what really happened in her life. That puts footballer Scott firmly in the firing line, especially after she offered a fresh poke this weekend.

Scott and Helen, who share three children Matilda, 10, Delilah, seven, and Charlie, appeared to be keeping things friendly. The pair separated in 2022 after 13 years together and had been co-parenting under the same roof earlier this year – despite the actress previously claiming they “don’t like each other”.

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She made a fresh dig on Sunday when she shared a post from @pettycoparenting101 which read: “You can’t just go around calling your kids’ dad a b*****” – it was paired with a meme of rap star Usher putting a knowing face. It left fans wondering if the pair had fallen out again.

Last year, it was revealed Scott was dating an old family friend, Lauren Davies, 34, and had been for “several months”. During a rocky few years, Scott even blocked Helen’s number – but the pair managed to put their differences aside in March, when they came together to celebrate son Charlie’s fourth birthday.

“Don’t get me wrong, sometimes we still end up telling each other to f**k off. But we’ve managed to keep things quite nice and we’ve been fair to each other,” Helen said in April. “It’s helped that our families get on and I have a good relationship with his mum.”

Helen’s new book was announced last week and will hit shelves in January. It’s available to pre-order now. She says it’s vital for her to show the person she really is – not the one we first saw on our screens as the 10-year-old face of Weatherfield’s Rosie Webster.

“I’ve made mistakes, I’ve been hurt and I’ve had to rebuild from rock bottom, but I’ve also learned, grown and come out the other side a better, stronger person,” she said. “Telling my truth meant no hiding – no glossing over or airbrushing.” The actress joined Corrie as Rosie in 2000 and stayed for 12 years, before going on to become a lads’ mag favourite in the early 2010s and has never left the limelight since.

Now diagnosed with ADHD, Helen, who lives in Bolton, has also faced money troubles and, earlier this year, was banned from driving for six months after twice failing to disclose the identity of the person behind the wheel of her car when it was caught speeding.

The book is one of the latest releases from Mirror Books, following the likes of Amanda Barrie’s I’m Still Here and EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison’s Behind the Scenes, which were both released last month. Helen will detail the highs and lows of her life in the spotlight – and it’s put her exs on red alert.

Mirror Books Commissioning Editor Clare Fitzsimons says: “Helen Flanagan has grown up in the public eye, having played Rosie in Corrie for 12 years, and documents her life to her million-plus followers on Instagram.

“But for the first time, Helen will share her full, unedited story, from truly difficult struggles to fighting back for her beautiful family. We’re thrilled to be releasing Helen’s powerful, frank and moving memoir.”

Prince Harry’s potential reconciliation with his estranged father, King Charles, after their long-awaited meeting last month, could be at risk following a move by the Duke of Sussex

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Prince Harry’s latest move concerning his UK security risks derailing any reconciliation with King Charles as it “complicates things”, according to a source.

An insider close to the Duke of Sussex said that he wrote to the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood shortly after her appointment to the role and submitted a formal request for a risk assessment to the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), overseen by the Home Office. It comes after Harry lost an appeal in May challenging the dismissal of his High Court claim against the Home Office over the decision of Ravec that he should receive a different degree of taxpayer-funded protection when in the country.

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He is not automatically entitled to police protection since he quit his royal role and currently receives ‘bespoke’ protection on a case-by-case basis.

But now a source has told The Sunday Times that his letter to Ms Mahmood, will make the King ‘wary’ of speaking to his younger son, saying: “It’s not going to help matters. We’re back to where we were.”

Last month, Harry and Charles had their first face-to-face meeting in almost 20 months when father and son had tea together at Clarence House during Harry’s trip to the UK.

Sources close to Harry had previously suggested that the King could have intervened in the case, but palace sources have shut this down.

The Sunday Times reports that the King and his advisers had hoped the Court of Appeal ruling would draw a line under the issue – and help get his relationship with Harry back on track. But following this latest move, a source added: “The King cannot and will not lobby, that’s inappropriate. His representatives cannot advocate for policy outcomes, particularly in relation to his own family.

“The royal household representative on the Royal and VIP executive committee [Ravec], overseen by the Home Office, is not there to advocate a position for a member of the royal family. They are purely there as a liaison to the household.

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“If you put yourself in the mind of a father who is repeatedly told he should and could intervene, that is not very helpful, complicates matters and shows a lack of understanding about the reality of the situation.”

It comes after during Harry’s last visit to the UK in September, a “known stalker” came “within feet” of him on two occasions, it was reported. A source close to Harry said the duke’s letter to Ms Mahmood was sent prior to the two incidents during his September visit.

After losing the Court of Appeal challenge in May, Harry said in a TV interview he “can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK”.

The 41-year-old told the BBC he would ask then-home secretary Yvette Cooper to “look at this very, very carefully”, and warned that the royal family’s power over security means it “can be used to control” family members. He also said he would ask Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to “step in”.

The legal challenge came after Harry and the Duchess of Sussex left the UK and first moved to Canada, and then California, after announcing they wanted to step back as senior royals.

In a summary of the ruling, judge Sir Geoffrey Vos said Ravec’s decision was “understandable and perhaps predictable”. The duke said the Court of Appeal decision meant it is now “impossible” for him to bring Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet back to the UK safely.

A Government spokesperson said: “The UK Government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.”

Watching The Inbetweeners made me feel better about being an blundering teen in the 2010s – now that it’s set to make a comeback I hope the show sticks to its relatable roots

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For a socially maligned teenager growing up in the early 2010s, The Inbetweeners was the ultimate equal-parts comic and cathartic watch – now I can only hope its comeback can do it justice.

Debuting on E4 in 2008, the dry irreverent comedy quickly gained a cult following due to its realistic depiction of the misadventures of an unpopular group of British school friends. It smashed ratings records and became a cultural institution, which means it’s probably little surprise that the award-winning series might be returning.

Banijay UK and Fudge Park Productions, the company founded by show creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley, have struck an agreement which they say “paves the way for the return of the hit comedy title.” However, what exactly this will look like, they haven’t said – though they have suggested it will still revolve around the original characters.

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As a massive fan who still quotes the show over 10 years later (“bus w**kers”, anyone?) and who felt bereft when its third season ended, I’m absolutely excited. My only ask is that the franchise doesn’t lose the relatable edge that allowed disjointed teenagers like myself to see themselves in it.

I first discovered The Inbetweeners at 14 years old, when I was condemned to spend the summer stuck in a temporary home out in the sticks of Ireland. It was my twelfth time moving house (which comes with moving countries several times) and I was about an hour away from any form of transport that might let me see my friends.

I was bored, isolated and the WIFI barely worked – just enough that if I angled my laptop just right I could stream the show that would become the awkward symphony to my cringey teenage life.

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As a chronic new kid, I related right from episode one. The show follows the story of Will, a bespectacled socially unaware posh kid who is forced to move from his private school to a public one in the suburbs. After getting shoved around in the hallways for a bit, he manages to get himself adopted by the school’s ‘inbetweeners’, hapless friends Jay, Simon and Neill, who haven’t quite managed to land themselves in popular circles.

While thankfully I hadn’t been put through some of Will’s worse tribulations (getting photographed by school bullies while on the toilet), there was something about watching a blundering character free-float in an unfamiliar social eco-system that resonated deeply. His painful attempts to make friends and obliviousness to his own ‘uncoolness’ were deeply cringe, but also all-too understandable.

But that is the beauty of the show. No matter what your school experience was like – whether you had an unreciprocated crush or embarrassing parents or you did bizarre things to impress your mates – there isn’t a quintessential teenage gaffe that The Inbetweeners hasn’t managed to capture.

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Plus, unlike stereotypical high school movies, where bullies ruthlessly harass nerds for their lunch money, in The Inbetweeners, you can see how, often, the ‘losers’ kind of ostracize themselves.

Doubtless to say, much of its success comes from the show’s authenticity. In an interview with the iPaper, Iain Morris, the show’s writer, admitted that three of the main characters are based on him and co-writer Damon Beesley as teenagers, while several scenes in the show emulate real situations they both ended up in.

Morris said: “Ultimately I suppose The Inbetweeners made all the failure and embarrassment worthwhile. If we hadn’t written the show it would have been a very tragic but funny life, but an undocumented one. And the same goes for Damon, who I should point out also has a lot of his life failures in the show.”

In a way, The Inbetweeners has become a document for my own teenage experiences. I remember cry-laughing with my laptop held up to the ceiling as Will excreted himself in an exam hall after drinking too many energy drinks (“I thought it was safe sir”). The show made me feel like I wasn’t alone in my own teenage cringe – after all, no matter what, it’s hard to top that.

All I can say is I hope Iain and Damon still have some hysterical memories to draw on for their potential new series.

Sabrina Washington is reportedly involved with her former Mis-teeq band members after becoming estranged from her co-stars when she sued one of them in 2020

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A comeback could soon be on the cards for one of the UK’s iconic 2000s girl groups, as Mis-Teeq star Su-Elise Nash has revealed the trio are back in touch.

The Scandalous hitmakers were one of the biggest names in British R&B between 2001 and 2005. Now, 20 years after their breakthrough success, fans may finally see Alesha Dixon, Su-Elise Nash, and Sabrina Washington reunite on stage.

Su-Elise, 44, has teased that the group’s once-rocky relationship has healed in recent years. The news will delight fans who had feared the group’s rift was too deep to mend.

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Alesha and Sabrina are said to have fallen out over royalties, which at the time dated back 15 years. The pair were also said to have fallen out after management reportedly blocked Sabrina from appearing on Strictly Come Dancing — only for Alesha to join the BBC show the following year and win it before landing a spot on the judging panel.

But now, it seems the three singers have put their differences behind them. Su-Elise has told MailOnline: “Sabrina’s back in the fold. We do like catch up every now and then and we have a little Mis-Teeq WhatsApp group so we can get in touch and talk about business stuff because there’s always stuff going on in the background, but also just to see how we’re all doing, and I think that that’s quite nice, you know, it doesn’t have to be an everyday thing.

In regard to a possible musical comeback, the singer added: “We definitely have always said we would never say never, and it would always just have to be when the time felt right.

“We are speaking on a fairly regular basis, but there is nothing set in stone as yet. I think for us if the right opportunity presented itself, it’s definitely something we would look at, but we don’t have anything in the works at the moment.

“I think that we’re at a point now where if we did decide to do something, it would be for the fun and the giggles.” Meanwhile, Alesha Dixon, 47, also hinted that talks of a reunion had been progressing behind the scenes.

While on Hits Radio with hosts Fleur East, Will Best, and James Barr, the Britain’s Got Talent judge teased that next year could be a big one for the group.

When asked if there had been “any advances” on reunion discussions, Alesha smiled: “There might be. Well, next year is the 25th anniversary of Lickin’ On Both Sides, our debut album…So we are thinking. Thinking doesn’t mean we are doing — but we’re thinking. Which is more than we’ve done.”

Mis-Teeq were formed in 1999 and started making music that was a mix of garage, R&B, and pop. Their debut single Why? reached number eight on the UK charts.

This was followed by a string of Top 10 hits, including One Night Stand, All I Want, and Scandalous. The group split in 2005 as each member pursued solo ventures.

Despicable sex offender Ian Watkins left a witness sickened when she saw a group of young fans visit him in prison, with one kissing the disgraced Lostprophets frontman

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Depraved rocker Ian Watkins was allowed to have three ‘groupies’ visit him in prison on a regular basis before his death, it has been claimed.

The paedophile Lostprophets frontman, 48, was killed at HMP Wakefield, also known as ‘Monster Mansion’ in West Yorkshire, on Saturday morning. He was found severely injured in his cell but staff could do nothing to save him and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Watkins was serving 29 years from a slew of child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a baby and attempted sexual assault of a child under the age of 13.

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The vile abuser may have been attacked because he refused to pay protection money, according to a source. They told The Mirror: “There was no prior beef between them there was no prior knowledge between them. It looks like it was because he was who he was or would not pay any cash up.

“It looks like it happened just after unlock, they have walked into his cell and he ends up dead. He got attacked in 2023 and that was because he refused to pay [protection].

“He has always paid for protection but every so often people just reminded him that he needed to pay it so they gave him a good hiding. The guys that have done this are no heroes. It is not like they are some kind of shining Knight.”

Before his violent end, Watkins left an onlooker sickened when he was seen holding hands and giggling with a group of young fangirls during his stint in prison.

In 2017, it was revealed that the sex offender was permitted to have three ‘groupies’ regularly visit him while he languished in jail. He was even seen kissing one of the fans.

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And a witness said at the time that she was repulsed by what she saw. The visitors sat in the corridor and held hands with the convicted paedophile, it was claimed.

The source – a school worker who visited the prison three times a month – said Watkins was the most hated inmate in the prison.

She said in 2017: “I have been visiting there for about six months. Over the course of that, he has probably had three different ladies visit him at different times, regularly. They are all quite young. They all have the same look – they all look like goths.”

Paedo Watkins was attacked with a knife by another inmate, sources confirmed. West Yorkshire Police said detectives from the homicide and major inquiry team are investigating after prison staff reported the assault on Watkins, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two prisoners who were arrested for the alleged murder of Lostprophets paedo Ian Watkins have now been charged. Samuel Dodsworth, 43 and Rashid Gedel, 25, will appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court today.

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The fatal prison attack came just weeks after inspectors warned of growing violence towards paedophiles on the wing where he was locked up. Less than two weeks ago a report into the facility was published that found violence there had “increased markedly”.

The report from the chief inspector of prisons said: “Many prisoners told us they felt unsafe, particularly older men convicted of sexual offences who increasingly shared the prison with a growing cohort of younger prisoners.”

The death of Watkins has not been met with sympathy from the former girlfriend who exposed the sick rock pervert. She said she was shocked it took lags so long to kill him.

Jo Mjadzelics, 48, is the whistleblower that first told cops about the singer’s dark fantasies with children, but was repeatedly ignored. In 2014 we revealed how Miss Mjadzelics gave evidence to police at least five times, but they failed to act until up to four years later.

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Jo had an on-off relationship with Watkins from 2006 after the rocker sought her out on MySpace and confessed his dark sexual fantasies. She tried to warn the authorities about his lust for young children for four years but was repeatedly ignored. He was only finally arrested when police raided his Pontypridd home using a drug warrant in September 2012.

Jo told The Mirror: “I was shocked having the news out of the blue as I would with anyone who’s died, there were tears but only because of the shock, not tears for him.

Less than one month after the US state visit, the King and Queen have confirmed that another international leader will be heading to UK shores later this year

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It has confirmed that King Charles and the rest of the royal family will host the President of Germany for a state visit in December, marking such visit to the UK this year.

The King and Queen confirmed the visit in a post on social media, writing: “The President of Germany, accompanied by Frau Büdenbender, will pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom, hosted by His Majesty The King, from Wednesday 3rd December to Friday 5th December.” The trip will be the first time a German president has been hosted on a state visit in 27 years, and only the fifth state visit from Germany since 1958.

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President Steinmeier has visited Britain on several occasions – most recently to attend Their Majesties’ Coronation in May 2023.

Charles and Camilla also met with him and the German First Lady following his Accession to the throne, when the King became the first British Monarch to address the Bundestag, Germany’s national parliament, where he received a standing ovation when he told a packed chamber he wished to “renew the pledge of friendship between our nations”.

They also attended a glittering state banquet hosted by President Steinmeier at the Schloss Bellevue Palace in Berlin.

Following their visit, the King and Queen issued a statement where they said the country was “so close to our hearts” as they thanked the people of Germany for their “touching and warm welcome”, as they added: “We hope to return again soon!”

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Before he took the throne, Charles visited Germany more than 40 times, with the King saying of their many visits: “Remarkably, I realise I have visited Germany more than forty times – a measure of the importance of this relationship, of course, but also, I fear, of just how long I have been around!”

He continued: “Over all these years, and in so many ways, I have been struck by the warmth of the friendship between our nations and by the vitality of our partnership in countless areas.”

The German state visit in December marks the third inward state visit hosted by the King and Queen this year, after French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte were hosted in Windsor in July, and US president Donald Trump and First Lady Melania received an invitation for a state visit in September.

No official schedule for the three-day German state visit has yet been released by the Palace, but are set to include a ceremonial welcome, a grand state banquet in the castle’s St George’s Hall, and talks with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.