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After her daughter Emily was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), which rendered her unable to read or speak, Dame Esther Rantzen has previously made an open letter regarding her daughter’s health.

Dame Esther Rantzen’s daughter Emily was left bed bound and unable to read, write or even speak after being struck down by ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis) as a teen. At just 14 years old, Emily’s life changed dramatically after she became ill with the long-term condition.

ME, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, is defined as a serious, multi-system disease that impacts a person’s physical ability and quality of life. In severe cases, it can be fatal. In 2011, the 84-year-old opened up about her daughter’s diagnosis as she recalled helplessly watching her child become “slowly paralysed” as she struggled with chronic fatigue.

“It struck her down when she was 14, after an attack of glandular fever. She never fully recovered from the illness and we watched helplessly as she struggled with chronic fatigue which, like a sticky web, slowly paralysed her,” she wrote on MailOnline.

READ MORE: Dame Esther Rantzen’s daughter becomes emotional as she makes shattering admission

She was ultimately imprisoned, bed-bound, lying in a dim room, unable to read, write, or even speak.

She continued, “At that point, she went to the hospital where she was being pushed by baby-steps, one more minute of light each day, until she was in a wheelchair and then moved onto her feet.”

There is no known cause of ME, and it can affect anyone. According to the NHS, the four main symptoms of the condition include fatigue, sleep problems, problems with thinking, concentration and memory and symptoms that get worse after physical or mental activity.

No specific test is available to diagnose the condition. Instead, a diagnosis is made based on symptoms and the elimination of potential other causes, which can take years. Although there is no known cure right now, treatments can help with symptoms.

Esther continued, “She continued to improve – slowly, year by year,” she continued to say in response to this discussion. However, it was through management and willpower rather than through treatment and cure. We were given numerous “miracle cures” to treat an illness that many families had had no known treatment for.

The broadcaster’s own health has been in the spotlight recently after she was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Initially, Dame Esther found a lump under her armpit after feeling tired over the Christmas period in December 2022. Sadly, just weeks later, a biopsy confirmed she had stage four cancer.

In a new interview, Dame Esther’s daughter, Rebecca Wilcox shared a heartbreaking health update. When asked about a new medication which was initially believed to help improve Dame Esther’s condition, Rebecca revealed that this was not the case. “I really wish that was true,” she said, adding: “I don’t think that’s the case anymore,” she told 5 News.

Speaking in February last year, Esther said the thought of her own death is always present in her mind as she discussed her opinions on legalising assisted dying. She told the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “My own death is constantly in my mind. It would give me so much confidence if I could also know that however the illness progresses, whatever pain it causes, wherever it strikes me next, I will still have the choices of a pain free, dignified private death surrounded by the people I love.

“I’m not demanding that everybody in the world agrees with me, I’m just saying let’s debate all the issues now that we’ve got international evidence and we know the public attitude is in favour.”

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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has expressed regret for supporting Palestinian Oscar winner Hamdan Ballal, who has been detained.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has issued an apology amid backlash for not standing by detained Palestinian Oscar winner Hamdan Ballal – who was recently detained by Israeli settlers.

Hamdan claimed earlier this week that Israeli settlers had attacked him, detained him, and later released. The Academy responded to the incident earlier this week, but it was not directly named, which led to much decry. A sizable group of nearly 700 voters, including some well-known faces, criticized the organization in an open letter.

Initially, on Wednesday, the academy’s reaction did not individually acknowledge Ballal, but it has since made amends with an apology as per the BBC.

“We sincerely apologise to Mr Ballal and all artists who felt unsupported by our previous statement and want to make it clear that the Academy condemns violence of this kind anywhere in the world,” they announced. “We abhor the suppression of free speech under any circumstances.”

In an open letter, actors, producers, and documentary makers included those who wrote critics of the academy’s original position.

The letter criticised “It is inadmissible for an organization to recognize a film with an award in the first week of March and then fail to defend its filmmakers a few weeks later.”

Additionally, it criticized the filmmaker’s “brutal assault and unlawful detention,” according to the Academy Award-winning filmmaker.

Ballal’s attack is not just directed at one filmmaker; it also targets everyone who dares testify and deliver inconvenient truths, the letter continued.

“We’ll keep watching this film crew.” We will not mince words when fellow artists’ safety is in danger because winning an Oscar has put their lives in greater danger.

A-listers endorsed the letter, including Penelope Cruz, Olivia Colman, Emma Thompson, Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Joaquin Phoenix, and Mark Ruffalo.

Two of his fellow directors and other onlookers were involved in Ballal’s ordeal, which included settlers attacking him in the occupied West Bank before his arrest by the Israeli military.

Basel Adra, a co-director, reported seeing Ballal’s arrest while observing soldiers escorting him into a military vehicle while handcuffed and blindfolded outside his home.

Adra reported that the villagers entered shortly after the locals’ daily Ramadan fast.

Every day since the Oscars, we have been back in the studio because something is going on. They might be retaliating against us by making the movie with this. According to Adra, it “feels like a punishment” for the Associated Press.

Attorney Lea Tsemel, who is in charge of their case, reported that Ballal and other three Palestinians were detained in the village of Susiya.

The Israeli military claimed to have detained three Palestinians who had been accused of throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers and one Israeli national who had been involved in what they called a “violent confrontation” between Israelis and Palestinians, in contrast to the AP’s witness accounts.

Britain’s Got Talent, a popular television program, has lost another star. When Chantel Bellew passed away, her mother referred to her as a “ray of sunshine,” and she was only 34 years old.

Britain’s Got Talent has changed the lives of many of its contestants, with some performers providing bags of laughs and others showing off serious skills. But while the TV contest has brought joy to millions of viewers over the years, we have lost several of its stars along the way too.

The latest is hopeful Chantel Bellew, the 2019 BGT contestant who taught Strictly judge Anton Du Beke how to tap dance. Chantel was just 34 when she died in hospital from a suspected overdose, weeks after her birthday.

Her mother Jill Dawson told The Mirror her daughter “couldn’t handle life” when her career died during lockdown and suffered a devastating breakdown before her death.

READ MORE: Tragic BGT star Chantel Bellew’s devastating breakdown and downward spiral before death

She described Chantel as a “ray of sunshine” and the “brightest star in the sky” as the “brightest star in the sky” and continued to teach dance until lockdown. All performers were affected by it. Prior to lockdown, she experienced a decline, but it quickly increased.

She had a breakdown after her career ended. She requested assistance, but nothing was provided after that. She didn’t have a gender when she worked in a store. I instructed her to act like a stagemaid and how to be a barmaid.

“Chantel was taken to Bolton Hospital last Monday, and St James in Leeds was where she was scheduled to be, but on Friday I was informed that she wouldn’t make it and passed away.”

Unfortunately, there have been more than one BGT contestant’s death, including a beloved musician and a well-known granny rapper. We reflect back…

Jack Saunders

Before resigning from the show due to an untimely death, Jack was a member of Green Force Five’s five-piece dance group. He reached the semi-finals in 2019. That March, the gifted contestant committed suicide at the age of 25. Before BGT, Jack had danced well before winning the Got to Dance finals with Unity UK and competing at the London Olympics when he was just 18 years old.

Sandra, Jack’s heartbroken mother, said, “I want people to know this can happen to any family.” There is no stereotype; a manic depressive who has displayed signs of mental health issues is not a requirement. A generous man, Jack. He was the shoulder you cried on because he was concerned for everyone else and always looked out for others.

Norma Clarke

Norma was BGT’s famous granny rapper who took to the stage in 2007 dressed in a hoodie and baseball cap. The Birmingham contestant performed self-penned tune Sam The Rapper, wowing judges Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden and eventually winning over Simon Cowell, making it through to boot camp.

In August 2019, the great-grandmother died in hospital following a long illness, aged 81. Her daughter Amanda said: “She was such a character and many people remembered her for her appearance as a rapper on Britain’s Got talent. She entered as she wanted to win the £100,000 prize money to pay for a new community centre for young people on her estate.”

Simonne Kerr

Simonne and her fellow NHS choir B Positive, which included staff, donors, and NHS Blood and Transplant patients, made it to the 2018 BGT finals thanks to their moving performances. She lost her six-year-old son Kavele to sickle cell disease in 2015 while working as a haematology and oncology nurse at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital in South London.

Desmond Sylva’s on-off partner knifed Simonne, 32, to death in August 2018. She was repeatedly stabbed and slashed to the back. He was sentenced to life in prison in July 2019 for the woman’s murder at the Old Bailey. The nurse’s coworkers dubbed their pal “one in a million,” paying her tearful tribute. She was “so funny, smart, and strong,” she said.

Paula Moulton

Paula appeared on the show in 2012 as part of dance troupe Strictly Wheels, performing with friend Gary Lyness. She had contracted MRSA in hospital with pneumonia, which left her with damage to her pelvis, lower spine, femur and hips. The talented pair reached the semi-finals with their version of Alicia Keys’ Empire State of Mind and in 2016 they competed for Para Dance Sport Team GB. Strictly Wheels became a charity the same year, aiming to raise the profile of wheelchair dancing in the UK.

The 52-year-old Manchester dancer unexpectedly passed away in a hospital last June. In homage to his dance partner, Gary said, “Paula always focused on the positive things in life, and her disability never was a hindrance. For the abundance of optimism she impacted, she ought to be remembered. My personal and professional life, as well as that of many others in the wheelchair dance community, will be forever changed by her passing.

Watson, David

Magician David from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, competed on the show a staggering 12 times. His first appearance was back in 2008 where he did impressions of politicians Tony Blair, William Hague, and David Blunkett and while it didn’t go well, he bounced back in 2010 with an Incredible Hulk performance deemed ‘bloody awful’ by judge Amanda Holden.

David became part and parcel of the BGT auditions, trying out every year since 2013 and saying: “I just love being on the show”. In 2020, he even made it through to the second round with his ‘magic rainbow’ act, which the judges called his best yet. The retired NHS worker was found dead at home in December 2021 after his worried family contacted the police when they couldn’t get hold of him. His death was not treated as suspicious. “He was always up for a laugh and such a good sport,” said Amanda. “We will miss him.”

Henry Hall

Henry was one half of singing duo The Pensionalities, reaching the finals of BGT in 2015 with pal Malcolm Sykes. The friends, who had grown up a few miles apart in the pit villages of north Doncaster, delighted viewers with their takes on Frank Sinatra classics including You Make Me Feel So Young and were compared to show hosts Ant and Dec by head judge Simon Cowell.

Henry died at home on April 28, 2017 aged 86. His obituary read: “In both life and death, Henry definitely did it ‘his way!’ He died peacefully at home, as he wished, with his family. He lived an extraordinary life and was known to a great many people as H from Cusworth’s Motorcycles and latterly half of The Pensionalities from Britain’s Got Talent. He was loved by many, forgotten by none and will be greatly missed by all.”

Robert Anker

Dance group Diversity took BGT by storm in 2009 and group member Robert ‘Rob’ Anker went onto appear on So You Think You Can Dance? and Strictly Come Dancing. The talented performer, who worked with Jessie J and Paloma Faith and appeared in Thriller Live in the West End, left his native Essex for a new life in Canada with his wife Cyndi when tragedy struck.

Less than a year later, Rob, 27, was killed in an Ontario road accident when his car and a pickup truck collided. The dancer was credited with that performance on Friday night, saying that he “had incredible talent, great personality, and was very popular.

Laura Anderson, a former Love Island star and her daughter Bonnie, has been left deeply affected by a cruel comment made by a troll. She shares her daughter with her ex Gary Lucy.

Laura Anderson has openly acknowledged that a cruel mum-shaming comment made by a troll has “cut her” in the gut. After posting that she had lunch with her boyfriend Clark Robertson, the Love Island star revealed she had received a follower’s message.

Former Love Island star Laura, 35, who has a daughter named Bonnie with her ex-boyfriend Gary Lucy, is dating Scottish footballer Clark, 31. The reality star was recently upset after a follower criticized her for having lunch with her boyfriend and not with her one-year-old daughter.

Speaking in a video on her Instagram story, Laura revealed the build up before receiving the cruel DM, which she later revealed had ‘cut her deep’. She said: “Hey gang, Bonnie’s just having her lunch I thought I’d come on and catch up with you. I actually got so upset yesterday, right.

“Technically had a “day off” Bonnie; she will be with me on Wednesday after I’ve finished the radio.” After I had some work to do, Clark showed up and we ended up having lunch, which was amazing. And I just recently wrote, “Oh, it’s so nice to go for lunch and kind of not have her and relax and not rush.”

I had a great time with Clarke and I was feeling really positive and good about it because we travel a lot, not easy. Then someone wrote to me, “When is Bonnie not with your mother hun?” And I’m not sure why, but it actually caused me to cry in my favorite restaurant, where I couldn’t believe how shocked I was. “

Explaining her reasons behind sharing the message she had received, Laura went on: “I don’t wanna share this for sympathy or a reaction I just, I’ve thought about it and I just think, you know, on here I just say whatever is going on in my life. And I shocked myself with my reaction, usually I’m just so unfazed now by any kind of negativity on comments or DMs, like weird DMs that I get.

However, this one truly penetrated my soul. And I thought it made me feel so bad for letting it affect me so much; I believe that was what caused me to feel more frustrated.

And I actually responded to the girl, who had a child with her, and left some more passive-aggressive remarks. And it’s funny that I once heard Ashley James talking about taking a vacation without your kids and being trolled by people, and I didn’t have that when I recently visited Dubai, so I was surprised that I only had it for lunch now. But um yeah… “

Laura lamented: “So I think it just makes me think about how other people who are more vulnerable than I am can be affected by a small comment like that, or going through XYZ that makes them vulnerable at that time, like how are they affected by others online?

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We’ve talked about trolling for years, which is great, but I really thought I was alright when this comment just floored me and took a lot of effort to get past it. And now, I’m not sure if this was the reason, but my dad was going to have Bonnie for me this weekend because I have more work to do. I’m not sure if that’s because of that comment or not.

I simply don’t believe I’m going to take her to my father’s right away. I’m merely trying to comprehend what’s happening in my own brain. Oh no, there is no guilt in my mom. She continued, “I actually scrolled up and I think what you’ll find is when someone makes one thing over the course of months and months and they’ll have made similar passive aggressive comments about other things.”

She wrote, “Oh jumping on the bandwagon as usual hun,” and I think I should have posted, “Uh, what’s the point in that?” I’ve already received numerous lovely messages saying, “Oh you’re such a good mom” and that whoever is a mother is as well, I think you all know by now. “

In the midst of a remarkable row at the organization, Prince Harry sensationally quit his position as patron of Sentebale, a charity he established in southern Africa in honor of his late mother. A royal expert has revealed what will be particularly stinging for the Duke.

Prince Harry will be hurt most by one unsavoury aspect of the ‘vitriolic’ row which has engulfed his charity, an expert warned. The Duke of Sussex is said to be “torn apart” after taking the shock decision to quit as patron of Sentebale, the charity he helped to set up almost 20 years ago in honour of his late mother Princess Diana to help children affected by HIV/AIDs.

His resignation, along with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, the charity’s other joint founder, was leaked just as board member Dr. Sophie Chandauka made an appearance to criticize Harry for “playing the victim card,” according to his leaked resignation. She also made a blistering claim that there had been “poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir.” The allegations are vehemently refuted.

The charity also posted a loaded statement on social media playing down the role of its founders and trustees, while praising “people in the field who are advancing the work”. And according to royal expert Jennie Bond, the situation will be particularly sad for Harry.

The former BBC royal correspondent told the Mirror: “Sentebale carries so many emotional ties for Harry. It was very much his baby, set up in memory of his mother: his way of honouring one of her most successful missions — to remove the stigma of AIDS and help families affected by it. It was a lifeline for Harry at a time when he was still in turmoil after Diana’s death. It gave him a new purpose.

He is in fact devastated by the charity’s sudden collapse, to which he vowed to commit his lifelong. He once said that dedication would never falter. However, the row’s bitterness must cause the most pain.

Following a disagreement with Dr. Chandauka, several Sentebale trustees have also resigned. According to some, the dispute stemmed from a decision to concentrate fundraising in Africa. Up until further notice, Harry and Seeiso both stated in a joint statement that they were “resigning with heavy hearts” with no further notice. Jennie thinks that this might indicate what he intends to do next.

She continued, “I don’t believe Harry is ready to turn his back on Sentebale in the long run.” He and Prince Seeiso both resigned “until further notice,” according to the statement he made. And that’s a rather strange resignation strategy. If this vitriolic row can be resolved, it makes a good chance for both Princes to return one day.

After the late Queen in 2021 removed Harry from his royal patronages and honorary military positions, Harry kept a small number of private patronages at Sentebale. The Charity Commission stated that it is “concerned of concerns about Sentebale’s governance.” The commission stated in a statement that it is assessing the issues and is deciding what are the appropriate regulatory actions to take.

Although we adore celebrity-approved beauty products, let’s face it, many of them come with a price tag. We were surprised to learn that Naked Sunday’s SPF50 Hydrating Glow Mist, a sunscreen approved by Khloé Kardashian and surprisingly affordable, costs only £25.

One mist flew off the shelves every seven seconds when it first launched in 2021, selling out of three months’ worth of stock in just 24 hours. Really, the instant success of this glow-boosting SPF mist comes as no surprise.

Reapplying SPF with this ultra-lightweight mist is simple throughout the day because it has no sticky residue and is hydrated all day. The ingredients in the recipe include watermelon extract, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and Kakadu plum for vitamin C boost.

READ MORE: Princess Andre’s all-time, affordable primer for “long-lasting” makeup receives significant savings during the flash sale.

Michelle Monaghan’s skincare product that boosts microcirculation is £140 off.

Even better, it can also act as a setting spray to prevent swatches from getting too much of your makeup on. Additionally, it’s small size makes it ideal for quick top-ups on the go.

This mist is beloved by celebrities, but it also has a strong 4.9-star rating at Boots, with more than 660 five-star reviews. A content shopper exclaimed, “I love this stuff, it smells so good. It’s simple to use as a top-up and looks great on makeup.

Someone else responded, “I carry this with me every day to top off my SPF, but a few weeks ago, I forgot my sunscreen before going to a midday outdoor wedding.

I sprayed my arms and neck, rub it in, and then a little more for good measure, and then sprayed my face while I spent nearly an hour sitting in the sun. I decided it was better than nothing. I didn’t burn, either! I generally burn out in minutes because I am very fair. I’m so happy with this product.

Not everyone is as impressed, though. One user said, “I really loved this product when I first used it, but after that, I couldn’t use it again.” The aerosol nozzle has broken or got stuck, making it now unusable.

You could always substitute a setting powder if this bothers you. For £7.50, this e. l. f. Perfect Finish HD Powder helps to fill in fine lines and opacities. Otherwise, Bare Mineral’s Finishing Powder Broad Spectrum is a top choice for sun protection. It has an SPF of 25.

However, a Naked Sunday fan claimed that since receiving the product, I have used it daily. It’s a must-have, and I’d definitely take it with me wherever. It gives my skin a gorgeous glow while protecting my skin, smells amazing, and is refreshing.

This viral SPF mist is definitely worth considering if you’re looking for a simple, celeb-approved method to keep skin healthy and protected. It can be purchased here at Boots.