Liz Hurley snogs Billy Ray Cyrus as pair join her son at National Television Awards

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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Robert Rinder, Damian Hurley, Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus(Image: Mike Marsland/WireImage)

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.

Damian and Elizabeth Hurley, and Billy Ray Cyrus arriving for the National Television Awards
Damian and Elizabeth Hurley, and Billy Ray Cyrus arriving for the National Television Awards(Image: PA)

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.

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“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.

Banksy mural of UK judge hitting protester scrubbed from London court wall

Anonymous street artist Banksy’s mural showing a judge hitting a protester with a gavel has been removed from the wall of a court building in London two days after it was revealed, in what appeared to be a response to a crackdown on protests in solidarity with the Palestine Action campaign group.

Images shared by AP news agency on Wednesday showed a worker removing the new artwork by Banksy, which shows a bewigged judge bringing down a gavel on a protester sprawled on the ground, clutching a blood-stained placard, after it appeared at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, the United Kingdom on Monday.

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According to PA Media, work began to remove the image on Tuesday and resumed on Wednesday.

The mural appears to be a commentary on the mass arrests of people protesting the ban on the campaign group Palestine Action.

In July, Britain designated the activist network a “terrorist organisation” after its members stormed a Royal Air Force base and damaged military aircraft. Supporting or belonging to the group now carries criminal penalties.

An undated photo released by Banksy shows his new artwork portraying a judge beating a protester with a gavel at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, the UK [Banksy via AP]

But rights groups and campaigners have accused the British government of criminalising pro-Palestinian activism, saying the ban threatens the right to peaceful protest.

Lawyers and civil liberties advocates argue that proscribing Palestine Action sets a dangerous precedent for restricting activism on foreign policy issues, with Amnesty International calling the decision by the Labour government “a disturbing legal overreach”.

Campaigners have accused the Labour government led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer of allowing the export of military items to Israel. Amid mounting pressure, Starmer last month announced that the UK would recognise the state of Palestine.

Banksy has long used his work to highlight Palestinian struggles under Israeli occupation. His murals in the occupied West Bank include ones that depict a girl conducting a body search on an Israeli soldier, a dove wearing a flak jacket, and a masked protester hurling a bouquet.

Identity of David Bowie’s Major Tom is revealed for the first time after 56 years

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

David Bowie’s Major Tom featured in Space Oddity and Ashes to Ashes(Image: Supplied)

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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The movie synopsis featuring Major Tom
The movie synopsis featuring Major Tom

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.

Costume worn by Bowie as Aladdin Sane
Costume worn by Bowie as Aladdin Sane(Image: © Victoria and Albert Museum, London)

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.”

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‘I must be better in Donovan rematch’ – Crocker

Mark Robinson/Matchroom

IBF welterweight world title: Lewis Crocker v Paddy Donovan

Venue: Windsor Park, Belfast Date: Saturday, 13 September

Coverage: Live on BBC Radio 5 Live and Sports Extra 2, with live text commentary on BBC Sport website and app

Lewis Crocker says he “wasn’t good enough” in his first fight against Paddy Donovan, but will be “the best version of myself” in Saturday’s rematch at Windsor Park with the IBF world welterweight title at stake.

Crocker won the first fight between the pair at Belfast’s SSE Arena in March by way of disqualification as Donovan, who was ahead on all three cards, was thrown out at the end of the ninth round for punching after the bell, having already been deducted points for fouls.

That was a final eliminator for the IBF title which was then in the possession of Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, but with the American opting to vacate and move up to light-middleweight, the all-Irish rematch was upgraded to world title status.

Opinions were split prior to the first meeting as to which of the pair would come out on top, but Donovan goes into Saturday’s rematch as a firm favourite.

Crocker acknowledges his performance in March was well below what was required and is determined to produce much better this time.

“I’ll leave my talking for the ring,” Crocker said.

“I’m ready to put on the biggest performance of my life on Saturday.

‘I’ll relish the moment in rematch’

Both men went through a light public workout at Belfast’s Victoria Square on Wednesday with Donovan joined in the ring by his cousin Jim who will make his debut on Saturday’s undercard.

Crocker opted for some shadow boxing as he reaffirmed his desire to keep his powder dry until fight night, but says he will “relish the moment” when he makes his way to the ring.

“Everything has gone to plan,” the undefeated 28-year-old told BBC Sport NI’s Thomas Kane.

“It’s the biggest night of my life on Saturday, so I’m ready to get it done.

“It’s going to be crazy. Even the atmosphere here for the public workouts is exceptional, so I’m planning on a big night on Saturday.

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