X Factor’s Emma Chawner displays incredible 16st weight loss – 18 years since show debut

Emmma Chawner, who gained notoriety on The X Factor in 2007, has taken to social media to share her impressive 16 stone weight loss. 17 years after her memorable audition, Chawner.

One of The X Factor’s most memorable contestants, Emma Chawner, has wowed fans by showcasing her incredible 16 stone weight loss. At the tender age of 17, Emma became a talking point when she and her family had a notorious run-in with judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Sharon Osbourne, and Louis Walsh following her rejection from the show in 2007.

Now at 35, Emma has undergone a remarkable transformation, proudly stating that her significant weight loss was achieved without any surgical procedures, a fact she confirmed during an appearance on ITV’s Lorraine in 2019. Emma took to Instagram to post jaw-dropping before-and-after photos, one with the caption: “5years down and 16st 4 lost im still losing it but very slow now.”

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One of The X Factor’s most memorable contestants, Emma Chawner(Image: Manchester Evening News Syndication)

Her followers responded with “Fantastic, you look amazing,” and “You look so beautiful and pretty!” Remember that gender, weight, and age cannot be used to determine weight. Your beauty has always been apparent. I’m pleased to see you! “Bless you love me”

Emma confided in Lorraine, who had previously offered to help her family with their weight loss journey, sharing that the turning point for her was the death of her pet dog and the emotional strain from her parents’ split. Sadly, Emma’s mum passed away at the age of 73 in January 2024, and her dad died in December of the same year.

Emma Chawner and family
The family appeared on a TV show together, Nightmare Neighbours, in 2016 – but sadly Emma’s parents have since both died(Image: Manchester Evening News Syndication)
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Emma emphasized her unwavering resolve during a conversation with Lorraine: “I’ve done it all myself. I had diabetes and was constantly out of breath.

She refuted rumors that she had had weight-loss surgery and said she wanted to lose some weight. She said, “I’m happy with how I am, and it’s not far to go.”

Emma Chawner
Emma joined her family for Lorraine Kelly’s Big Fat Challenge(Image: Facebook)

Emma first tried her luck on The X Factor in 2007 only to face stern rejection. Not one to give up easily, she braved the stage again in 2009 with her sister Samantha, who has recently got married.

Emma was dealt yet another blow by the panel’s four no’s, with Cheryl saying, “Emma, I have to say, you’re definitely more confident when you’ve got your sister with you.” Unfortunately, nothing else has truly improved.

Emma Chawner
In November of this year, Emma posted her most recent post.
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Emma joined her family for Lorraine Kelly’s Big Fat Challenge in an effort to lose weight after her singing dreams were temporarily shattered. She credits a 30-day detox and good habits like avoiding snacks and consuming plenty of water for her weight loss after the show.

Emma claimed that her size was hereditary before joining Lorraine’s program and consulting with diet experts. She argued that this was not related to what I ate. It’s because my family has inherited the family’s genes. My sister is also big, my dad is big, and my mother is also big. Nobody in our house is “slim.”

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Ruth Langsford’s huge decision after Eamonn Holmes split with surprise result

After realizing there’s “life after Eamonn Holmes,” Ruth Langsford is enjoying time with friends, and she has pledged to have fun now that the couple has split in shock.

One year after her heartbreaking split from Eamonn, Ruth Langsford is embracing life again.

A year ago, her world was turned upside. But 12 months on, Loose Women presenter Ruth Langsford has turned heartache into happiness. At the start of 2024, Ruth’s life looked picture-perfect, to the outside world at least. She was a beloved daytime TV presenter, a devoted mum, and one half of British telly’s most enduring power couples. Yet behind the scenes, her 27-year relationship with Eamonn Holmes was crumbling, and on 25 May, the couple announced that they were in the “process of divorcing”, after 14 years of marriage.

But now, as the anniversary of her shock split from Belfast broadcaster Eamonn looms, a source claims that Ruth, 65, has not only turned a corner, but is happy, at peace and embracing single life on her own terms. The source tells OK!, “Ruth has had a tough year – but actually, she’s realised a lot of unexpected positives have come out of it. She’s really coming into her own now and is putting the heartache behind her.”

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Ruth Langsford on holiday
Sources say Ruth is coming into her own, and “excited about the future”(Image: Instagram)
Ruth Langsford, Lizzie Cundy and Rylan
The Loose Women star has leaned on close pals like Rylan and Lizzie Cundy for support – and to let her hair down(Image: Instagram)

She has learned to let her hair down, about friendship, and how to love and support others when you have a year from hell.

“It’s not what she would have desired,” she continued, “of course it’s not.” Her grand plan for a life didn’t include divorce. However, she is realizing that Eamonn’s life is a wonderful, exciting one. She really put the effort in herself, and her glow-up looks amazing! She’s been heartbreaking, but she’s now excited about the future.

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The cracks in Ruth and Eamonn’s union began to show when Ruth was reportedly left “devastated” after it was alleged that Eamonn, also 65, was secretly in contact with another woman. This led to a showdown, after which Ruth is reported to have found messages on Eamonn’s laptop that shocked her – and confirmed her worst fears, particularly as she had been caring for him.

He is still battling health issues following years of back problems and surgery. “Ruth was completely taken by surprise when she saw the messages,” a source told The Sun at the time. “She had no idea what had been going on between them. She was devastated.”

Ruth kept her dignity in public despite that bombshell, focusing on her work and the couple’s 23-year-old son, Jack. However, the divorce process dragged on in the background, with rumors that Maggie and their dog Maggie had reportedly engaged in bitter custody battles.

Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes
It’s one year since Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes shocked fans by announcing their divorce(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Eamonn Holmes in hospital
Ruth remained close to Eamonn despite his health issues.

While Eamonn went public with his new relationship with 43-year-old relationship counsellor Katie Alexander in September, as the pair embarked on a cruise from Barcelona, Ruth took a different approach. She returned to Loose Women in July after an extended break and continued to build her successful QVC fashion line – from which reports suggest she took home £2.5 million in a year.

Ruth also leaned on her close friends for support and some much-needed fun, including Lizzie Cundy and Rylan Clark. Earlier this year, the famous pals were spotted enjoying a night out in London, with Ruth showcasing her dance moves and letting loose amid thestress of the divorce.

But, adjusting to her single life hasn’t been easy. In a candid interview in February, Ruth talked about the challenges of her split – but was full of grit, too. “Relationship breakdowns are very difficult, but you deal with it and have to move on. You can let yourself crumble or you pick yourself up and get on with life. It’s a choice.”

She also considered the challenges of a divorce in public. “Divorce is very painful. Everyone has a point, but the majority of people don’t do it in public. But my job isn’t like that, either. Ruth said she kept optimistic about the future despite the heartache. She said, “I’m fine being on my own, but not for a long.”

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Ruth has withstanded the year from hell like a pro, her fashion line expanding, her besties by her side, and a sparkle back in her smile…

READ MORE: Ruth Langsford recalls awkward moment with her son and admits ‘I can’t leave it’

‘This is the year of the underdog – and I love it!’

Crystal Palace, then Newcastle. I remarked on BBC One following Saturday’s FA Cup final that 2025 is the year of the underdog, and I adore it!

I was there myself only a few weeks ago when Newcastle won the Carabao Cup final, so I am aware of how Palace fans felt after watching their side defeat Manchester City.

I had waited my entire life to see my team bring home a significant trophy, just like they did. This is their first piece of silverware in the palace’s history, and Palace supporters can tell how important it is to them, right away when I’m co-commentating at Wembley.

They shook their team off right away, reminding me of the fans who cheered their side every time they went to the ground. They essentially drowned out the City’s supporters throughout the majority of the game, and I experienced every emotion along with them throughout the entire 90 minutes and even afterwards.

When the board went up and there was 10 minutes of stoppage time, you could see the agony on their faces, and when I looked around I saw everyone holding their hands in the same stadium as I did when I watched Liverpool play the final game.

When the celebrations were just beginning, I witnessed both the joy and the tears afterwards. On Sunday and Monday, many of them will have sore heads, and I have no regrets about it.

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I know I did when it came to finally getting Newcastle’s chance to win something, so they should absolutely make the most of it.

When a team lifts a trophy, what do you do next? However, the only thing Palace should be anticipating right now is Tuesday’s home game against Wolves because there is going to be a heck of a party at Selhurst Park, aside from enjoying European football for the first time next season.

Because they have some very talented players who other clubs might try to sign, they will have to decide whether to sell them or keep them in the summer.

“Palace won every battle,” according to legend.

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The Palace players gave such impressive individual performances, and I thought they were also the better team. They gave everything to get their victory, and they deserved it.

They all put their bodies on the line, whether it was blocking shots, crossing the line, or passing. Two, three, or even four men were thrown in the air in desperation, doing everything in their power to stop City, which was admirable to watch.

In the end, Palace appeared to have won every tackle, and it was getting better from all those close calls that ultimately led to the team getting over the line.

I don’t believe you can attribute any one thing to Palace’s victory, but they did have that work and a game that worked: they were content to let City have the ball, defend deep, and then attempt to hit them on the break.

When Erling Haaland ran out of the first half, they decided not to send off goalkeeper Dean Henderson for his handball outside his box, which is a constant requirement for success.

I’m surprised Haaland didn’t give up a penalty.

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When City consider what they could have done differently on Saturday, they will be thinking a lot about who and what should have been given.

I was surprised that Erling Haaland decided to award a penalty in an FA Cup final despite Pep Guardiola pretty much saying in his post-match interview that it was the players’ responsibility to sort it out.

Haaland has already missed three penalties this season and is just recovering from an injury, but he has managed to score 30 goals overall. Every time I step in his shoes, I pay the penalty.

Hearing Henderson speak after the game made the situation even more fascinating. He claimed he didn’t know the direction he was going from the spot if Haaland had taken it despite the fact that he was obviously aware of where Marmoush was going to place his penalty.

City obviously had a great opportunity to level up, but I don’t believe they did enough after that to earn a lot of money.

Before the game was over, Nico O’Reilly had a decent chance, and he could have scored sooner, but he instead chose to cut back on his left foot and was crowded out.

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On Tuesday, City will host a second cup final.

Due to Tuesday’s enormous Premier League game against Bournemouth, City must move past this disappointment quickly.

They really need to win it because they are currently in sixth place and out of the Champions League positions. In essence, it’s another cup final for them.

Regardless of whether they finish in the top five or not, I can see Pep’s squad experiencing significant player turnover over the summer.

We are aware that Jack Grealish is leaving, but Guardiola preferred to start him off the bench when he was desperate for a goal against Palace, as opposed to sending him on.

There are potential changes, and there must be them, really. Although this City team has been incredible, they have come to an end of their dominance and require some freshmen to challenge for the title once more.

Even if they invest a lot and add a few players, I’m not sure if they can return to the heights that Guardiola led them to during the previous few seasons as the nation’s top team.

However, it is absolutely necessary to make things better. With two games left, and without a trophy for the first time since 2016-17, they have already set a very poor season, given the heights they have reached.

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The ex-Arsenal man scoring goals for fun at Monaco

Images courtesy of Getty
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There is a player on the Gunners’ books who is now one of Europe’s most prolific goalscorers as Arsenal approaches the end of the season without a trophy or a recognized striker.

Since moving to Monaco in January after initially leaving north London for Sturm Graz for about £4 million including add-ons last summer, Mika Biereth has scored 13 goals in 15 Ligue 1 games.

The 22-year-old made his first senior cap for Denmark by winning three hat-tricks in just his first 10 games for Monaco in February.

Since Biereth arrived at Stade Louis II, only Kylian Mbappe, age 18, has scored more goals in Europe’s top five leagues.

Makeshift forward Mikel Merino, who had five goals in the same period, was Arsenal’s top league goal scorer.

Biereth, who never made a first-team appearance for the Gunners, tells BBC Sport, “I’m happy to find myself at Monaco and enjoying myself in life and football and everything is working really well.”

“I wouldn’t say that my career path has been the most predictable or intuitive.” There has been a lot of moving, visiting many different locations, and interacting with many different cultures, in my opinion.

Journey of Biereth to Monaco

When he caught the attention of scouts at Arsenal, Biereth scored goals for Fulham at the youth level.

In recent years, the Gunners have changed their academy recruitment strategy, focusing more on the signings of young players like Biereth and Tommy Setford, both of whom recently joined from Ajax.

Although the highly regarded Setford is a signing for the academy, Biereth was one of the club’s first signings in the 2021 class when he signed in 2021, while the 19-year-old has been training with the first team since he arrived and made his Carabao Cup debut earlier this year.

Along with his goal-scoring prowess, what Arsenal really liked about Biereth, who was born in London but also qualifies for Denmark, England, Germany, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, was his personality and traits.

However, Biereth joined when Mikel Arteta had established Arsenal’s possession-based approach, and the transition to the first team was challenging for a young forward who describes himself as an “old-fashioned striker.”

With the recent injury crisis facing Arsenal, Biereth would never have had a chance, which would have only made things worse for him.

He scored two goals in 13 games for Dutch top-flight RKC Waalwijk in 2022 before moving to Scotland with Motherwell the following year, where he added six goals and five assists in 11 league starts. He did so on loan to RKC Waalwijk in the following year.

Before Biereth permanently joined Sturm Graz in the Austrian Bundesliga last summer, he scored 14 goals in 25 games, two of which were in the Champions League. He then took a second loan spell at what he refers to as “the next level.”

Since making his Nations League debut for Denmark in March, his goalscoring exploits have been unparalleled since his arrival at Monaco.

I’m a fairly straightforward striker, but I’m a little too sappy in terms of not being particularly concerned about build-up play, looking pretty, and appearing in too many YouTube highlights, he says.

I do what I’m supposed to do, score goals, and do my job as effectively as possible.

Arsenal is not the “end all” of Arsenal.

Mika Biereth celebratesImages courtesy of Getty

Biereth says he was always in conversation with the club about getting loaned out, getting experience, and then returning to the building to see how things turn out, and that he is happy that he made the decision to test himself on loan at senior level while at Arsenal.

There was a feeling that there was no real opportunity, he adds when I was loaned out and returned to the building.

“I’m not one of those people who just wants to kick a ball around with the under-21s and hope for a few chances in training,” I said.

It is believed that Biereth’s decision to leave Arsenal had worked out for everyone, even though he might not have had the opportunity to do so at first-team level.

Arsenal believes Biereth received a solid football education and a strong profile, which allows an academy player to excel in senior football, another sign of success for young players, even if they don’t advance to Arsenal.

It demonstrated Biereth’s ability to excel at the highest level, and his Sturm Graz experience made him a desirable prospect for Monaco.

You believe that playing for Arsenal is the be all and end all, he says.

This season, could he have helped Arsenal?

Mika Biereth playing for DenmarkImages courtesy of Getty

Would Biereth have had the opportunity to play under Arteta and, in the end, have scored the goals to prolong Arsenal’s lead in the Premier League title race, Biereth might ask himself?

“Yes, I believe that a small number of people are thinking that as well. Biereth explains that is exactly how football plays.

“When I was there, I didn’t really feel like I had a chance,” he said. I didn’t want to wait around and wait for a lucky outcome. I think I’ve done that in some ways, and I think I should just go out and prove myself.

Football is a strange sport, and you can always imagine what would happen if you didn’t do it.

What if I stayed and what if I thought about it is the way I think about things? We have just secured Champions League football for the following season because I’m playing really well here in Monaco and I’m really happy.

With Gabriel Jesus already sidelined for the season and Kai Havertz missing after winning 5-1 over Manchester City in February, Arsenal has only won four of their 12 Premier League games.

In that time, Biereth outperformed any other Arsenal player and scored more goals than any of his former teammates.

Despite circumstances, he might have had an opportunity to play for Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, but Arsenal would have entered the transfer market this summer in search of a new striker.

It’s unbelievable that, despite playing for one of the bigger teams in the Dutch league just two seasons ago, I couldn’t get a kick. However, “football really changes quickly.”

Next year, he will compete for Monaco in the Champions League while attempting to win the World Cup with Denmark.

“I’m really proud to move to a team in the top five league and then start playing well here,” Biereth says.

“It was a proud moment for both my family and myself because of the recognition,” the official said.

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Keep house plants and greenhouses automatically irrigated with solar-powered set

This solar-powered set is the best option if you’re looking for a way to keep your balcony, home, or greenhouse plants automatically watered without lifting a finger.

Keep house plants and greenhouses automatically irrigated with solar-powered set(Image: Debenhams)

An automatic irrigation system is necessary if you want to keep your plants watered at home or without lifting a finger. This Gardena irrigation set, which is solar-powered and has a settable timer, is ideal for keeping your balcony, house, conservatory, or greenhouse plants watered without having to be close by.

This irrigation system only needs a nearby water source, such as a bucket, and direct sunlight because it is designed with a solar-powered battery, which eliminates the need for cables or extension leads to have it plugged in.

One of these Amazon items can be purchased for less than the price of one of these AquaBloom solar-powered irrigation sets. You’ll need to rush to get yours before it’s gone, because this stock is currently running very low at the time of writing. You can also purchase the same item at Argos or Debenhams.

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GARDENA Solar-Powered Irrigation AquaBloom Set
The AquaBloom set is a complete ready-to-use irrigation system(Image: Debenhams)

When you’re not there, the AquaBloom system waters and cares for your tub plants, greenhouses, or home-grown herbs as needed all year long.

You’ll only need a water bucket close to your plants to set up the helpful system, which doesn’t need a power outlet or a water tap in your garden or terrace. A 3-in-1 main unit, which includes a pump that draws water, a control unit to set the irrigation schedule, and a solar panel that supplies the included rechargeable batteries, complete the AquaBloom set.

This Aquabloom irrigation system includes pressure-compensation drippers, fourteen pre-defined watering schedules, and other features that allow you to manage the watering of up to 20 plants. Additionally, it makes use of the Aquabloom’s versatile and practical placement, which allows for either planting pot mounting or standing next to it. Just make sure you place the control unit in a sunny location so that it can recharge throughout the day.

It’s simple and without tools to install AquaBloom. With this irrigation set, you can enjoy your balcony, terrace, or home with gorgeous, well-maintained plants and flowers all year long without having to worry about them going without water when you’re not there.

This irrigation set has nearly 2k positive reviews from satisfied Amazon customers who can’t stop rave about it, and it costs $94.98 at Debenhams, $86.23 on Amazon, or £125 at Argos.

One customer remarks, “I have a small domestic polytunnel without mains electricity or water at the end of the garden.” My watering can won’t let me use it, but I can usually use it to travel back and forth. However, since we were away for a week in extremely hot weather, I needed a remedy. This has been a really effective implementation so far. I glued a garden fork in the border and attached the solar pump to the handle for various reasons, but it was impossible to find a place to put it. The in-flow tube was placed next to 20 vegetable plants that had been planted in a soil border and were inserted into a water tank outside the polytunnel door. Although I’m not very handy, it’s really simple to set up and stress-free as long as you can use a pair of scissors. Although I may need to re-do the configuration because I had to cut the tubing according to particular plant spacings, Gardena sell replacement/standalone drip irrigation tubing.

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Another beams, “I’m so happy with my new garden waterer. The big test was when we took a week-long vacation and had to leave my beloved tomatoes, which I had raised from seed. The tomatoes were bigger and the soil was lovely and moist when we arrived home, so I wasn’t concerned. I anticipate using it frequently.

Mexican Navy ship crashes into New York’s Brooklyn Bridge, 19 injured

At least 19 people have been hurt in the collision between a sailing ship from the Mexican Navy and the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, including four who are in critical condition, according to officials.

On Saturday, the incident occurred.

The ship’s top three masts collide with the iconic structure, which connects Brooklyn and Manhattan in New York City, according to online videos that have been posted.

As they crash into the bridge deck, the masts can be seen snapping and partially collapsing.

As onlookers ran away from the shore, the ship, which was carrying a gigantic green, white, and red Mexican flag, then veered toward the river’s edge.

On the damaged masts’ rigging, sailors can be seen aft.

The 142-year-old bridge was spared significant damage, according to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who claimed 19 people were seriously hurt in the collision.

The collision’s cause is being looked into.

When the vessel struck the bridge and one of its masts snapped, Sydney Neidell and Lily Katz told The Associated Press that they were outside to watch the sunset. Someone was dangling from high on the ship, they observed as they looked closer.

We were able to zoom in on our phone and discovered a person dangling from the harness from the top for at least 15 minutes before they could save them, Katz said.

They claimed they witnessed two people being escorted into smaller boats while on stretchers from the ship.

The Cuauhtemoc, a training ship for the academy, was allegedly damaged in a collision with the Brooklyn Bridge, which prevented it from continuing its journey, according to the Mexican Navy in a post on X.

The naval and local authorities, who were assisting, were also reviewing the status of personnel and supplies.

The Mexican government’s ambassador to the US and officials from the Mexican consulate in New York were in contact with local authorities, according to Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but injuries were not mentioned in the statement.

A nearly 1,600-foot (490-meter) main span supported by two masonry towers is the Brooklyn Bridge, which opened in 1883.