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Mike Peters dead: The Alarm frontman dies aged 66 after 30-year blood cancer battle

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Mike Peters, the Alarm’s frontman, passed away following a diagnosis of blood cancer. A representative for the charity he co-founded with his wife announced that Mike had passed away at the age of 66, three decades after receiving his first cancer diagnosis.

Due to his health, Mike was forced to halt his US tour last year after being diagnosed with a rapidly advancing lymphoma. Mike’s passing left behind his wife and two children, as was revealed today.

He had planned to depart for the US last year, but he got a lump in his neck just five days before his 50-date US tour began. He was soon identified with Richter’s syndrome, which is where the chronic lymphocytic leukaemia transforms into a more aggressive lymphoma, thanks to quick medical attention.

Mike was just 36 years old when he received his first blood cancer diagnosis more than 30 years ago. He shared his own positive update just last year as he lengthyly posted a message of support for others who were experiencing Richter’s syndrome.

He stated in a letter from The Christie Hospital in Manchester in September that Professor Adrian Bloor had just informed him that I was now in complete remission following the completion of the clinical trial and chemotherapy.

It’s significant news, especially given that I was only diagnosed with aggressive Richter’s Syndrome in April and informed that I could expect to live just two to twelve months without getting treated.

He then thanked his wife and two sons, Dylan and Evan, for their support, as well as those who he had worked with for ensuring that he could still be on stage and perform as he loved and avoid getting infected.

He claimed he felt “lucky” to have discovered the lump while participating in an NHS clinical trial. He claimed that he “could not be here right now” if he hadn’t discovered it, and that he had been given the opportunity to spend a few months by doctors.

Mike also made an open confession regarding his 1995 diagnosis, in which he reaffirmed his conviction that he would not “let the disease rob me of a single minute of my life.” He explained that music helped him stay “mental strong” and that he wouldn’t give up.

He added, “I also make sure I stay as fit as I can, walk five miles a day with my dog Ziggy, and DJ every Friday at my wife, Jules’ bar The Red in our village of Dyserth, as he once shared his hope of being cured” forever.

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England coach Mitchell to stay past home World Cup

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Sara Orchard
BBC Sport

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has confirmed that England women’s head coach John Mitchell will continue in the role even if the Red Roses don’t win the Rugby World Cup at home this year.

Regardless of the outcome of the World Cup’s opening match in August, Mitchell, 61, and his England coaching staff have all signed contracts until June 2026.

England lost to New Zealand in the previous two World Cup finals, which was last won in 2014.

Results are important, according to Conor O’Shea, RFU director of rugby performance. “You don’t want people thinking about what their next job will be by having their contracts expire that day,” he said.

When Eddie Jones’ England lost to South Africa in the 2019 World Cup final, Mitchell was a member of the coaching staff. O’Shea supported him in handling the pressure that comes with leading a team at a home World Cup.

The men’s team failed to leave their pool at a 2015 World Cup in their absence, and the Red Roses lost the 2010 World Cup final to New Zealand on home soil.

Over the course of the next four or five months, Mitch [John Mitchell] will try to relieve that pressure from the group while also dealing with it and coming up with solutions, O’Shea continued.

Anyone who has successfully guided the All Blacks, England, the United States, and Japan will understand how to block out noise while also using pressure in a really effective way.

In a 43-42 thriller at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Saturday, England comfortably won their first four games of the Women’s Six Nations before holding on to defeat France by a point.

To extend their winning streak to 25 games, the victory gave them a fourth successive Grand Slam and seventh Six Nations title in a row.

The Black Ferns’ World Cup final defeat in 2022, when the Red Roses and Les Bleues squared off, was the closest the series had ever come to an end.

Anyone who believes they will win a World Cup because they are the hosts is lying to themselves, ex-Harlequins rugby director O’Shea continued.

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Women continue to lose.

The RFU continues to invest £15 million annually, keeping England’s women from making a profit.

However, there are green shoots, with ticket sales increasing by 391% over the previous four years.

Despite losing the women’s game overall, they have collected £2.4 million in ticket sales just last season.

It’s not all about making money, said RFU director of the women’s game Alex Teasdale. In the end, I believe our purpose is to help the game grow.

37, 573 people tuned in to Allianz Stadium for last Saturday’s victory over France, a significant decrease from the 58, 498 people who also watched the same game in 2023.

Teasdale says: “We have got rugby world cup tickets on sale at the moment as well,” noting that Teasdale is not concerned by the figures.

Between Premiership Women’s Rugby and the RFU, we sold 250, 000 tickets for (women’s) rugby in England this year, according to “an interesting kind of stat from this season.”

We are in for more than a million tickets this year when you add the Rugby World Cup tickets to that (275, 000).

500 red cowboy hats were sold in the official stadium stores and outlets, one small success from the Allianz game.

Ellie Kildunne and Megan Jones, two Red Roses players who self-declared as the cowboys, are the owners of the hats.

About two hours before kick-off, Teasdale said the demand for hats “would need to significantly increase for the World Cup.”

Given that the Red Roses are known for having a very strong influence and background in their kind of country, she continued, “The cowboy hats are just really important in our trying to create a really strong fan engagement piece.”

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Sciver-Brunt replaces Knight as England captain

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Images courtesy of Getty
Wynne, Flynne
Journalist for BBC Sport
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Nat Sciver-Brunt, an all-rounder, has been named England’s new captain.

After nine years in the position, Heather Knight is replaced by Sciver-Brunt, 32, who is only the fourth woman to hold the position permanently since 2000.

Following a review of the humiliating 16-0 Ashes defeat earlier in the year, Knight was fired in March.

Former head coach Charlotte Edwards was appointed in his place in the wake of the departure of legendary former captain Jon Lewis.

“I’m really proud to be playing the captain, and it’s a great honor to have been asked by Charlotte, a person I’ve always admired,” said Sciver-Brunt.

“I’ve always wanted to help the team every way I can, even since I made my England debut in 2013.” I’ll do everything in my power to help this team succeed while also giving them the ability to be their best selves.

“We have a really talented group, and we have a group that is united,” he said. I think it’s a team that can work together and have a lot of success.

One of England’s most advanced all-format cricketers, Sciver-Brunt, was the most likely choice to succeed him, having previously served as Knight’s vice-captain.

She had previously led England in 11 T20s and one one-day internationals, with nine of those being wins, when Knight’s future remained uncertain during the Ashes.

Despite failing to implement a proper succession plan despite the considerable length of Knight’s tenure, Sciver-Brunt’s appointment also came out as inevitable given England’s lack of other leadership options.

Other potential candidates, including Sophie Ecclestone, 25, and Charlie Dean, 24, both had captaincy experience.

Although Sciver-Brunt’s record as captain is encouraging, two of the three defeats have occurred under extreme pressure, again highlighting England’s lack of structure without Knight.

When Knight suffered a hip injury during the T20 World Cup in 2024, the team’s fielding failed to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games, and the team’s fielding suffered an injury that caused them to withdraw at the group stage.

However, Sciver-Brunt might gain from the opportunity to take the lead in her own style rather than simply step into Knight’s shoes for a brief period of time, and Edwards’ partnership is likely to give her a significant boost.

The pair have collaborated for Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League, where they won the title a second time last month.

Sciver-Brunt took 12 wickets and 523 runs in 10 innings, leading the tournament in terms of runs scored.

However, her workload will be a source of concern when she assumes the captaincy as one of England’s most important batters and bowlers with the most experience.

Edwards and Sciver-Brunt should work well together.

Chief cricket correspondent Stephan Shemilt’s analysis

It would have been a shock if Nat Sciver-Brunt had been given the job, despite all the talk of Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, or even Grace Scrivens taking over as England’s captain.

The all-rounder claimed she wanted the position after being England’s best player before becoming vice-captain. There was only one candidate when Charlotte Edwards, who herself claimed she wanted a three-format regular in charge, was added to her already existing relationship.

There will be concerns about giving a crucial player more responsibilities, but Ben Stokes’ appointment as men’s captain has proven to be a masterstroke.

Perhaps more concerning is how well leadership will align with Sciver-Brunt, who retired from cricket in 2022 to concentrate on her mental health after serving as the Commonwealth Games’ captain.

Edwards will enter this area. The new coach will likely do a lot of leadership, tactics, and team culture, while Sciver-Brunt will set the standard for others on the field. Their personalities ought to work well together.

If Sciver-Brunt’s appointment for the series against West Indies was unconcerned, then the squad for the series should add more intrigue, especially with England having appointed a first-time national selector.

related subjects

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Scottish FA bans transgender women from playing in women’s football

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According to BBC Scotland, the Scottish FA is updating its gender policy to outlaw transgender women playing women’s football.

Only those who were biologically female will be permitted to compete in women’s competitive games starting next season.

The current policy allows transgender women to compete against one another in their affirmed gender category, taking testosterone levels into account as well.

However, it is understood that there are currently no transgender women playing competitive football north of the border.

A recent board meeting gave the revised policy the go-ahead, but discussions aimed at updating the current guidelines had been going on for some time.

Following the recent Supreme Court decision that a woman is subject to equalities law’s definition of biological sex, the final decision was made.

The SFA rule change will allow the governing body to compare football to other sports like rugby, swimming, and athletics.

The FA’s regulations in England allow transgender women to compete in the women’s game if they have a match observer and have low testosterone levels.

Geri Horner embraces ‘new chapter’ away from Spice Girls as she shares favourite-ever book

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As she begins a “new chapter” of her life away from the Spice Girls and her Ginger Spice persona, Geri Horner has revealed her love for reading and shared her favorite book.

Geri Horner now considers herself a writer-producer(Image: (Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images))

Former Spice Girls icon Geri Horner has opened up about her favourite books as she embraces a “new chapter in her life”. She rose to fame with the hit group in the ’90s, but Geri says she now considers herself a writer-producer beyond her Ginger Spice persona.

The popular star told Hello! magazine, revealing a childhood filled with the enchantment of reading, with The Book Thief by Markus Zusak earning the top spot on her adult bookshelf. Cast back to her younger days, she said she would be lost in the magical world of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis or adventuring through Enid Blyton’s creations.

In an intimate chat with the mag, Geri reminisced: “I love all kinds (of books). When I was growing up my mother didn’t have a lot of money, so I’d be reading a lot while everyone else was away on holiday,” reports the Express.

As she recalled those days, she reminisced, “I can remember reading under a tree in the garden.” I adored the way that books could take you wherever they went and still do.

The former Spice Girl with her husband Christian Horner(Image: (Image: Formula 1 via Getty Images))

The Spice Girls and the iconic Ginger Spice star made history in the 1990s, earning nine UK chart-toppers and becoming a household name.

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Despite splitting up in 2000 and performing infrequently together, the mother-of-two, who has been married to Christian Horner since 2015, is now serenading a different tune and is concentrating on literary endeavors rather than music.

Geri introduced Hello! “This chapter in my life is enchanting me.” I enjoy being creative. For five minutes, it’s fun to be in front of the camera, but writing is much more enjoyable. “

Geri Horner has revealed she’s sent her fellow Spice Girls – Emma Bunton, Victoria Beckham, Melanie Brown, and Melanie Chisholm – copies of her new book but hasn’t yet sought their opinions.

Geri Horner lifted the lid on her ‘new chapter’(Image: (Image: Getty Images))

Early this month, Geri’s Rosie Frost: Ice on Fire, the second instalment, was released. A fiery redhead protagonist, who resembles Geri herself, is featured in the murder mystery.

Meanwhile, Mel B’s enigmatic social media post sparked speculation about a potential Spice Girls reunion.

Mel made fun of the possibility of the legendary band reunite musically after their breakup in 2000. Although the group called it a “hiatus” and since reunited for performances, there is always rumors that a spectacular arena tour might be coming up next.

The Spice Girls have become the best-selling girl group in history thanks to the sale of over 100 million records worldwide.

Mel B, 49, shared a nostalgic video of herself driving through old photos from the Spice Girls’ heyday.

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Molly-Mae has ‘no words’ for how much she loves Shark’s LED mask and it’s currently on sale

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The absolute must-have of the moment is LED face masks, and Molly-Mae has just shared her secret to glowing skin. Right now, it’s only £30 off.

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Molly-Mae swears by Shark’s LED mask(Image: Instagram/@mollymae)

Molly-Mae’s skin always looks pretty flawless, and she’s just shared her go-to skincare device behind her glowing complexion. In a recent Instagram post, Molly shared the current products on her bedside table. A few of these included the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, £21 here; Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream, £150 here; and her trusty Oura Ring, £349 here.

The Shark LED face mask, however, caught our attention. We all agree that this LED mask is a special favorite of our beauty team because it can’t be expressed how much we love it.

And the best part is that the mask is currently on sale. The Shark CryoGlow Under-Eye Cooling & LED Anti-Ageing & Blemish Repair Mask usually retails for £299.99, but is currently reduced by £30 to £269.99. This the brand’s first venture into the UK skincare market, only launching at the beginning of the year.

I’ve been using Holly Willoughby’s go-to SPF skin tint for the longest and best glow.

READ MORE: Molly-Mae finally shares her most recent hair project, which she has been secretly teasing for months.

Molly-Mae says she has 'no words' for how great Shark's LED mask is
Molly-Mae says she has ‘no words’ for how great Shark’s LED mask is(Image: @mollymae/ Shark)

What does this mask actually do, exactly? To revive and rejuvenate your skin, it combines LED therapy with cooling technology. 160 tri-wick LEDs cover your entire face, preventing fine lines and wrinkles, and it’s “Instachill” feature, which can be used in five minutes to soothe and de-puff under-eye areas. In just eight weeks, skin will become firmer, smoother, and radiant.

Zoe, the head of retail at Mirror, has a huge fan of the mask after testing it out earlier this year. I’m really happy to report that I’ve seen some amazing changes to my skin after using Shark’s CryoGlow Mask at least five times per week, according to Zoe.

My skin appears much more even, less blotchy, and less prone to breakouts and red marks as a result of a combination of the anti-ageing red light and the blemish-relieving blue light. Additionally, it reduced the redness from my cheeks’ frequent bouts of rosacea.

And if it compares to Molly-Mae enough, it will undoubtedly be just as good for us.

The Silk ‘n LED Facial Mask, priced at £160, is a great option if you’re looking for something a little bit more affordable. This mask is ideal for those who want serious results without complicated setup because it is all about convenience and simplicity.

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