Category News

EastEnders star Brooke Kinsella’s half-brother Ben was 16 years old when he was stabbed to death in 2008 by three older teenagers, however his art now lives on in a new exhibit

Former EastEnders star Brooke Kinsella and The Ben Kinsella Trust has helped unveil a powerful new artwork by David Beckham’s former personal hairstylist, Aidan Phelan, surrounding knife crime in the UK. Brooke’s half-brother Ben was 16 years old when he was stabbed to death in 2008 by three men.

With the recent release of Netflix’s Adolescence, which explores the rise of misogyny in young boys as a 13-year-old boy named Jamie Miller is accused of murdering his schoolmate, it’s more important than ever to have discussions on youth violence and knife crime in the UK. The new exhibition at Grove Gallery in Fitzrovia, London, incorporates the late Ben Kinsella’s own GCSE artwork, including his Birds of Peace, which was painted a few months before his death.

READ MORE: Top Easter-themed food, home and beauty buys, including Ferrero £4 chocolate egg

It also features excerpts from Ben’s letter to then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown, urging action against the rising knife crime epidemic.

Paying tribute to her brother, Brooke also placed her handprint on a secondary piece. The moving artwork will be available to see at the gallery for four weeks. It will then be moved to The Ben Kinsella Trust’s workshops.

Speaking about the exhibition, Ben’s mother, Deborah, said: “Ben’s passion for art started at a very early age—he was always painting or creating something.

” He earned an A in his GCSE Art and dreamed of becoming a Graphic Designer. We have no doubt he would have achieved this.

“Our family is humbled that Aidan and Grove Gallery are using Ben’s bird drawing as a symbol of hope. We hope this piece can inspire others and create a lasting impact for future generations”.

Artist Aidan said: “Having lived in London for over 20 years, I’ve seen a lot. On a personal level, I’ve experienced both incredible highs and deep lows, and this new collection is a reflection on society today.

” Knife crime is an issue that is deeply personal to me, and with all of my projects, giving back is at the heart of what I do. Supporting the incredible work of the Ben Kinsella Trust has been an absolute honour. “

The late Ben was only 16 years old when he was stabbed to death by three older boys on June 29 2008. He was the 17th teenager to be killed in London that year.

He was at a local pub celebrating the end of his GCSEs with his pals but were chased down and killed by three older teenagers.

The boys were seeking revenge after they had an altercation in the club that had taken place earlier that evening.

Ben and his friends had absolutely nothing to do with the altercations, but when the older boys caught up with Ben, in an entirely unprovoked attack, they stabbed him to death.

Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

READ MORE: Rimmel’s new ‘shiny but not sticky’ lip gloss offers juicy tint in six shades

Louis Theroux is bracing himself to take a major step as he deals with alopecia. The BBC star has been living with the autoimmune condition for years, after revealing that his hair had been falling out back in 2022.

The documentarian shared an update on his alopecia journey on Instagram today, and revealed that he was going to make a major change at some point over the next year. Alongside a recent photo of himself, Louis, 54, wrote: “Latest from Alopecia-land. I’ve cut the hair short because I realised the longer it was the worse it looked. But it’s patchy AF and I’m basically preparing the way for a full head shave some time in the next 12 months”.

Despite having made the big decision to fully shave his head, Louis – who is reportedly set to join up for a new project with Katie Price – pulled out his iconic sense of humour as he said he’d model himself after bald heartstoppers Stanley Tucci or Dwayne Johnson. “Big glasses a la Tucci, big muscles a la Dwayne Johnson, plus a year round tan. That’s the formula”, he wrote.

He also added an old security pass showing him with messy brown locks in his 20s, and joked: “I’ve included a last photo from 1994 that I stumbled on yesterday as a reminder that the hair was always a problem, which I will have to worry about less and less as it disappears. It’s like when your house burns down. ‘ At least I don’t have to hoover! ‘”

This isn’t the first major shave Louis will have undertaken to combat his hair loss, after he shaved his eyebrows off back in December 2023.

After removing the patchy hair, he revealed the following March that he’d had new eyebrows tattooed on, and was over the moon with the result.

“I’m happy to have my old face back. The new brows are neater and more shapely than my” real “ones were. But there are a couple of wisps of my remaining hair in there which help make them look more natural”, he said of the microblading job, which took “two sessions of a couple of hours”.

While Louis is trying to see the bright side of alopecia, he admitted that his main concern is that his wife Nancy Strang might find him unattractive.

Appearing on the This Past Weekend podcast last July, he said: “It’s stressful. I care a bit because I think my wife cares.

” And the last thing I need is to be even less attractive to her. She is too good for me. She’s so much better looking than I am. But I was on TV when I met her, so it was adjusted. It was adjusted for celebrity. “

Louis sadly added:” I used to have a beard, and then I got alopecia. Yeah, my beard fell out. And my hair has gone thin. I have patches in my hair. “

” It’s always there. It’s there when I look in the mirror. And if I touch my hair, I used to feel kind of thick, luscious locks, like gorgeous, just enjoyable. And then little holes appear. “

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

Love Island star Maura Higgins has revealed that she met up with actor Margot Robbie – who is a fan of the ITV2 show – for lunch recently, with her sharing a clip from the occasion

Reality TV star Maura Higgins went out for lunch with Love Island fan Margot Robbie this week. She’s revealed to fans on social media that the actor invited her to a gathering recently, where they enjoyed some drinks together.

Maura, 34, shared this afternoon that she had met up with Margot, 34 – who has previously described her as one of her favourite contestants from the ITV2 show – recently. Maura posted content from the occasion on her Instagram Story today. Alongside a photo showing herself in a white outfit with a pair of sunglasses on, Maura wrote: “When Margot Robbie invites you to lunch … you go.”

She tagged gin brand Papa Salt, co-founded by Margot, in the post on the platform.

Maura then shared footage of those at the event doing cheers as they held shot glasses whilst sat at a table. Margot was visible in the video and said “cheers guys” before the others joined in. Maura wrote about the experience in the caption: “Got me on shots at 2pm WHAT A WOMAN!!! “!

In the video shared with fans by Maura, a bottle of Papa Salt gin could be seen as well as several cans of Blood Orange gin spritz. The latter drink has been released by the brand recently in collaboration with Fever-Tree.

Margot has spoken about being a fan of Love Island over the years and Maura’s ex Chris Taylor, 34, even had a cameo in her film Barbie, which was released in 2023. Margot is said to have wanted him to be in it after meeting him in 2020.

Maura has been described as one of Margot’s “favourite” islanders of all time alongside Olivia Attwood, 33. Speaking about Love Island in 2021, Margot told People that the third series – which aired in 2017 – was her favourite at the time.

She said: “If I had to pick a favourite season, I’d say season three. If I had to pick favourite contestants of all time, I’d probably say Liv from season three, and Maura from season five. They’re probably my two favourites of all time”.

Maura appeared on the fifth series of Love Island, which aired in 2019. She reached the final with her now ex-partner Curtis Pritchard, now 29, but Amber Gill, now 27, and Greg O’Shea, now 30, were crowned the winners instead.

Margot has previously revealed that the show reminds her of when she lived in the UK. She told the Sun back in 2022: “Love Island reminds me of living in London – watching it with my girlfriends when everybody was home from work.”

The former Neighbours star’s lunch with Maura this week comes amid production now being underway on Emerald Fennell’s film adaptation of Wuthering Heights. Margot is thought to be working on the film in the UK at the moment.

Margot is set to star as Catherine Earnshaw in the film – which is based on Emily Brontë’s novel of the same name, published in 1847 – with Jacob Elordi cast as Heathcliff. The casting has proved controversial since it was reported.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

READ MORE: This Morning’s Cat Deeley’s best outfits from 2025 from Mango, Reiss and more

After what’s felt like years of darkness, the sunshine has finally deciding to show up, meaning it’s time we all started thinking about the ‘ S ‘ word: sun protection. It doesn’t have to be swelteringly hot for UV rays to harm skin, so if you’re heading outside, you need to layer up in a high factor (30 or 50) cream to stop burns and signs of UV-related ageing.

High factor, however, doesn’t have to mean sticky or pasty. These days, sunscreens are more advanced than ever, blending skincare ingredients with quick-to-absorb, serum-like textures. Even mineral suncreams, which have had a bad name in the past for turning even pale skin ashy, are launching by their dozen – each product offering a fresh take on what used to be a product we all dreaded applying.

Here, we’re going to take you through the top new mineral SPF launches for spring/summer 2025, so you can find the very best formula for your skin’s needs…

First, how does a mineral SPF differ from a chemical one?

Mineral (or physical) sunscreens differ from chemical sunscreens in that they use minerals to reflect UV rays, creating a physical barrier, while chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays and convert them into heat. Active ingredients in a chemical SPF include oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, and avobenzone, while a mineral SPF contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.

Because the mineral ingredients sit on the skin rather than getting absorbed into the skin (like the ingredients in a chemical SPF does), they’re considered less likely to cause irritation – especially for those who with reactive skin or sensitivity ti certain chemical ingredients.

Mineral sunscreens are naturally broad-spectrum, meaning they protect against both UVA and UVB rays. These days, chemical SPFs are mostly broad range as well, but it’s always best to check their labels to be sure. Also ensure to reapply both types of sunscreen every few hours as they both do rub and sweat off.

Head of beauty Zoe tests out three new mineral SPFs

Lancaster Sun Beauty Sensitive Skin Mineral Face Cream SPF50

Shop it from Lookfantastic for £27

READ MORE: The lunchbreak buy – What to click ‘ add to cart ‘ on today according to experts

READ MORE: Meghan Markle’s favourite affordable affordable moisturiser is now under £12

The product promises:

Zoe says: “This is specifically developed for sensitive or reactive skin, so I was immediately interested. I can’t use most checmical SPFs because they set my eczema off, so I’m always nervous about wearing a new product for an extended amount of time. I knew the second I applied this one that I’d love it. First of all, it has no real smell – perfect for those of us who can’t tolerate fragrance. It also feels more like a chemical rather than a mineral in the fact that the white cream blends out to a near-invisible layer on my skin. It makes the perfect base for a CC cream, and makes my skin look the perfect level of glowy without any sweaty-looking shine. It’s become my new go-to every morning since I wore it on holiday (almost every day.)”

Ultra Violette Future Fluid SPF 50+ Superlight Mineral Skinscreen

Shop it from SpaceNK for £38

The product promises:

• Light in texture– with an invisible, non-chalky finish
• Helps to brighten the look of dark spots and uneven skin tone
• Improves skin texture and minimises the appearance of pores

Zoe says: “I really, really like this, which isn’t something I say lightly about an SPF. It’s the perfect balance of hydration and blur, giving my skin a really natural, glowy finish. I was honestly expecting it to feel heavy or chalky, but it’s the complete opposite—it’s so lightweight that I forget I even have it on. It melts right in, no weird white cast, just smooth, healthy-looking skin. If I hadn’t discovered Lancaster a day or two earlier, this might have been a go-to for me. My only critique is that it feels a tad oily and I do think it leaves a bit of residue”.

Kate Somerville HydraKate Illuminating SPF 50+ Drops

Shop it from Cultbeauty for £39

The product promises:

Zoe says: “I really wanted to like this, because I’m such a Kate Somerville superfan, but I was a little disappointed. I fully appreciate that a mineral SPF can never be fully see-through due to the zinc it uses, but I found this one gave my skin a slightly blue-ish tinge. I love how it’s got such a skincare-boosted formula, though – I did feel like my skin felt really healthy while I was wearing it. I also didn’t burn once on the days I applied this, even on my nose where I tend to burn regardless of my diligent SPF application. It’s definitely worth a try if you’re big into skincare or you want an SPF that feels very light and looks more sheer rather than matte”.

Dear Coleen

My husband and I split up a few months ago and we’re living separately. There was no one else involved, but I was the one who pushed for it. I’m in my late 40s and after raising kids for 20 years, the marriage was over for me. We’d drifted apart and while my ex was content to keep limping on, I wanted more for myself and more out of life.

I’m quite a driven personality, while he’s always been content to let life happen. Without the distraction of caring for young kids, it became very clear to me that we had nothing in common any more. My problem is, I’ve had a lot of grief over the divorce from close friends, who’ve judged me over my decision. They’ve clearly sided with my ex and frozen me out socially.

Our youngest child is 14 and she decided to live with her dad, so her schooling wouldn’t be disrupted, and she stays with me at weekends. One of my closest friends called me selfish and said she couldn’t understand why I’d do this to my family at such a crucial time in my daughter’s schooling. This makes me angry – I never asked for these opinions and why should I justify myself?

They’ve made me feel like a bad mum and an evil ex-wife. What can I do to get rid of my anger and move on?

Coleen says

People are very quick to judge aren’t they? I think if there’s no one else involved in a break-up, sometimes they don’t get it. If it’s because of an affair, it’s cut and dried – there is an obvious reason people can get their heads around.

You know you didn’t make your decision on a whim or because you were selfish. I can relate because it’s very similar to what happened to me and my second husband, Ray. We’d had brilliant times together and a good marriage for years, but I ­realised the glue that held it together was our daughter Ciara.

She was our passion and we were so involved in her life, but when she got older and became more independent, and needed us less, it was a wake-up call. We had nothing to talk about and it became apparent we didn’t share the same interests. I was in my 50s by then, but I didn’t want to “settle” and remain in a situation where we were living separate lives. What’s the point? It’s like living with a lodger.

You’ve made the right decision for you. You can explain to certain people if you want to, but you don’t owe anyone an explanation. I think you’ve been brilliant with your daughter – you’ve respected her wishes and not taken her away from her friends. That’s good parenting.

Use your anger positively to drive you forward and work through it in counselling. If friends have frozen you out, maybe they feel uncomfortable because you made them question their own relationships.