Category Entertainment News

The Little Britain star took to Instagram to update fans about his condition after abandoning his role mid-show. He is now resting but says he hopes to be “back on stage soon”

Matt Lucas has been supported by fans are revealing he was forced to pull out of Les Miserables mid-show over health concerns.

The 51-year-old is currently touring in the 2025 international arena tour of Les Misérables: The Arena Spectacular, which is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the original London production. The show, is currently in Australia where the incident occured.

He was forced to abandon his role of Monsieur Thénardier, and leave the theatre on May 14 while an understudy took over during the production in Sydney.

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Taking to Instagram on Friday he issued a health update to his 405,000 followers. It read: “I’ve been having a magical time in Les Misérables in arenas across Sydney and Melbourne,” he wrote. “In over 30 years, I’ve never had to bow out of a performance, but tonight, as I was singing Master Of The House, I could feel my voice deserting me. So if Thénardier looked very different in act two, that was because the amazing Connor James took over. I am now in bed resting up, and I hope to be back on stage soon.”

His fans rushed to the comments section to wish him well, one wrote: “Aw take care of yourself matt, rest yourself and come back strong again!” His former Great British Bake Off colleague Noel Fielding simply said: “Get well soon lovely,” while former EastEnders and Once Upon A Time star Sean Maguire commented: “I hope you feel better soon, my dear friend. X.” Brave and Doctors actress Gail McKinnion wrote: “Sorry to hear you are feeling poorly. Rest up, you’ll be fighting fit in no time x.”

Matt shot to fame with David Walliams with their hit show over 20 years ago, and now they are working together again. The two comedians revealed earlier this year that they would be unleasing their very first podcast together called, Making A Scene. They have since released regular episodes, some featuring interviews with big names including Simon Pegg, and Daisy May Cooper

Matt and David met at the National Youth Theatre in the early 90s and quickly bonded over their love of comedy and impressions. One of their first collaborations was on Rock Profile, which started in 1999. After other TV parts they finally made it big in 2003 with Little Britain.

The sketch show aired from 2003 until 2006 on BBC Three and eventually BBC One, however faced backlash in recent years, with some sketches being branded “explicitly racist and outdated” by Ofcom back in 2023.

Last year, David teased the idea of bringing Little Britain back, revealing that he thought that offence and shock “can actually be quite exciting”.

He said: “The comedy I grew up with, whether it’s Mel Brooks or Monty Python… I love being shocked. I mean, offence is a bit of a different thing, isn’t it, and as a white, middle aged man things don’t offend you in the same way as they might if you were a member of a minority group.

“But at the same time, I think comedy has got to be playful. And the thing is, if you’re worried every time you make a joke… You have half a second to decide with the thing you’re going to say, you should say or not.”

Mirror’s shopping writer Grace tested out Sol de Janeiro’s new limited-edition body cream that gives the skin a golden glow and smells like warm, toasty caramel

It feels like summer has officially landed in the UK with the glorious, sunny weather we’ve been having. And that can only mean one thing, it’s time to get our warm weather bodycare products sorted.There’s nothing better than coming off the beach or getting ready for dinner and taking a soothing shower, followed up with some luxurious products. And Sol De Janeiro’s latest limited-edition drop is literally summer in a tub.

If glowing, golden skin and dessert-sweet scents are on your summer wish list, theCheirosa 71 Body Cream is about to become your new obsession. This cream is somehow both a rich yet lightweight product packed full of nourishing ingredients that really makes your complexion glow.

It’s infused with macadamia nut oil to keep skin soft and nourished, while the golden mica leaves behind that luminous sheen that gives off that “I just got back from the beach” vibe.

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Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 71 Body Cream review

I’m a big fan of the Sol de Janeiro sprays, and I’ve tried out their Delicia Drench Body Butter before. So I went in expecting this new product to have a similar thick, buttery consistency and was pleasantly surprised to find it was a bit lighter and creamier. In the summer, I don’t like to use thick and heavy moisturisers, so this one perfectly fit the bill. I am also someone who wants to look ridiculously glowy and shiny. However, there’s a fine line for me between looking perfectly radiant and looking glittery, and I’m talking Edward Cullen in Twilight glittery. The latter is exactly what I don’t want.

Luckily for me, the finish was a gorgeous luminous sheen, and the subtle shimmer was the perfect level. I would 100% take this on holiday as a post-beach day/pre-dinner body glow.

Additionally, if you’re someone who shops for body care based on scent first, this cream will be right up your street. It has the same smell as the Cheriosa 71 Body Mist, and if you haven’t smelt that before, think rich caramelised vanilla, toasted macadamia nut, and a sweetness that lingers all day long.

For me, the scent just borders on being too sweet. I’m more of a sea salt, citrus, and cotton fragrance fan (like The White Company’s Sea Salt Lotion or Jo Malone’s Wood Sage & Sea Salt Body Creme) . However, I do appreciate how long-lasting the smell actually is, it’s one that you can still smell on your skin hours later.

Primark shoppers are loving the gym set that’s now available in a “stunning” new colour

Primark shoppers are heaping praise on a gym set they’ve spotted in a “gorgeous” colour. The retailer is well known for its affordable and fashionable clothing – and the new set might be a crowd pleaser.

TikTok user Aimee (aimeelynch11) shared a clip showcasing the Buttery Soft gym sets in a new coral colour. Featured in the video were the Buttery Soft Gym Leggings (£11) and the Buttery Soft Cropped T-Shirt (£6).

The video was captioned: “Primark gym sets.” The clip racked up 99.2k views, almost 10,000 likes and many comments from excited shoppers.

Among them, one person said: “Wow need a trip to Primark.” A second wrote: “SORRY WHAT” and a third added: “These are gorgeous.”

A fourth impressed viewer said: “Omg love these” and a fifth wrote: “Gorgeous.” A sixth commented: “They are amazing” while a different shopper just said: “Love.”

It was the colour of the set grabbing the attention of many people, who were quick to share their thoughts. One said: “The colour”, and a second wrote: “Perfect pop of colour for spring.”

A different shopper commented: “Gorgeous colour.” Another said: “Love this colour so much” and one wrote: “Oh wow! This colour is stunning.”

Keeping the love going, a shopper added: “Such a pretty colour.” A second called the set “lush,” while a third said: “So cute for summer with a tan!”

A fourth wrote: “Oh I love that” and a fifth said: “Ooh a need.” Another added: “Oh yes I need this.”

The set featured in the clip includes the Buttery Soft Gym Leggings, priced at £11 and the Buttery Soft Cropped T-Shirt, which comes in at £6. The video also shows off the £8 Butter Tennis Micro Shorts and a matching sweatshirt (£16) in coral.

Shoppers love New Look’s ‘really pretty’ dress for summer with its ‘flattering’ cut and lovely print

As spring turns into summer and fashion lovers update their wardrobes, expect to see lots of ‘trending’ milkmaid dresses throughout the warmer months. The popular style was everywhere last summer, and it’s set to return this season.

Shoppers looking for a new take on the style have lots of dresses to choose from. One contender is New Look’s £25.99 Black Berry Print Slit Hem Milkmaid Midi Dress. Other options include Next’s £42 Ditsy Floral 100% Cotton Puff Sleeve Milkmaid Mini Dress, ASOS’ £32 Esmee puff sleeve midi beach dress in black, and Boohoo’s £19.80 Cotton Milkmaid Mini Dress.

While each of the dresses could impress shoppers, New Look’s option might be a standout for shoppers looking for an “incredibly sexy” look. That’s how it has been described by an impressed customer.

New Look’s product description reads: “A berry print elevates this black milkmaid midi dress with a quirky spin”. Trimmed with frills and finished with neck ties, “it flows freely to a slit hem,” and shoppers love the “sexy” slit hem. Unfortunately, some sizes are already sold out, so some people may have to wait for a restock.

For shoppers looking for more sizes, New Look offers the Black Berry Print Milkmaid Midi Dress in sizes 18 to 32. There’s also a Maternity Black Berry Print Slit Hem Midi Dress.

Praising the Black Berry Print Slit Hem Milkmaid Midi Dress, one buyer wrote: “Lovely dress. This summer dress is great! It’s airy, has a very flattering cut, and the slit on the leg is incredibly sexy.” Another pleased shopper commented: “Beautiful. I fell in love with this dress when I saw it on a New Look Facebook advert.

“I went in store to look for it, I couldn’t find it so I ordered online. I’m so pleased with it.” Someone else praised: “Cute dress, really pretty.” A different reply read: “Beautiful fabric, nice and light for summer nights, leg slit shows off just enough, the tie around cleavage shows them off nicely and it is the perfect length and hugs in all the right places”

Unfortunately, there aren’t any other reviews yet for shoppers keen to read more feedback before making their purchase. However, shoppers could check out the retailer’s reviews on TrustPilot.

The retailer has a ‘great’ score on the platform, with an average score of 3.9, but there are some negative comments. For instance, one shopper claimed: “Not sure what is going on with New Look but quality and sizing have declined and price gone up.

“I buy from both the tall and regular section. I’m telling you the tall is actually regular. I ordered 3 tall denim dresses. Nearly £30 each for the thinnest material ever certainly not denim. All sizes totally off 18 just fit but not usual my 14 to 16. Dress barely covered my bottom.”

One Direction’s Liam Payne worked with Kelly Rowland and Nicole Scherzinger on Netflix’s Building The Band prior to his death last year and the show is set to be released this year

The late Liam Payne’s family are said to have given their blessing for his “final” TV show to be released this year. It comes following the news that Netflix will launch Building the Band, which features him as a judge, over the summer.

Liam filmed the reality TV show just months before he died, aged 31, in October last year. He was on the judging panel alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Rowland, with all three of the judges having been in bands themselves.

There had been some speculation about the show’s future following Liam’s death, and it was announced by Netflix earlier this month that Building The Band will air later this year. The show is now set to launch “later this summer”.

It has since been reported that Liam’s family have backed plans to air the show, which he’s said to have finished filming just two months before his death. Producers reportedly provided footage to some of his loved ones in advance.

A source told the Sun: “Liam was on great form at filming so everyone’s pleased fans will get to see the ‘real’ him one last time.” They added that it will be “bittersweet” when Building the Band is released by the streaming platform.

The source continued: “Netflix have gone out of their way to make sure his family are happy.” They concluded by saying: “Producers sent them the footage so they are fully aware of what to expect and they have given it their blessing.”

Building the Band was announced last year. It was revealed that Liam, who was a member of One Direction, would be joined by the Pussycat Dolls’ Nicole and Destiny’s Child member Kelly on the judging panel for the TV project.

They aren’t the only cast members with experience of being in the group, though, as the host comes from a similar career background. The show will be hosted by AJ McLean, who is best known as a member of the Backstreet Boys.

Netflix has teased that the show aims to put together a musical group “without any of the members ever seeing each other”. It’s said that the judges bring their “unparalleled expertise” and “personal band experience” to the competition.

The streaming platform said earlier this month that the show gives a group of “talented singers” the “opportunity of a lifetime”. It teases that they are given the chance to “find their perfect bandmates solely based on musical compatibility, connection, and, most importantly, merit”.

Last year, executive producer Cat Lawson described the show as “brave” and “bold”. They said: “Building the Band is a brave and bold undertaking for all involved as we hand over power to the singers themselves to form their own band based on chemistry first.”

Cat added: “With looks out of the equation, can they create a deeper connection with their bandmates? With limited bands, there are difficult decisions and heart-stopping moments along the way, but ultimately the outcome is truly amazing, with bands forming who, in my opinion, are worthy of the very biggest stage!”