In Sunderland, England defeated the USA 69-7 in the opening game of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, winning in front of a record crowd of 42, 723 spectators.
England win 11-try match to win the World Cup.
Emma Raducanu says she would like to see Wimbledon follow the US Open’s lead by launching an innovative mixed doubles event featuring the superstars of tennis.
British number one Raducanu linked up with five-time major champion Carlos Alcaraz in a pioneering New York event which divided opinion.
A $1m prize for the champions helped lure the big names to play, as did a shorter ‘fast four’ format and new slot in the week before the singles events begin.
However, critics believed the new-look tournament felt like an exhibition.
Raducanu thinks it was a big success and worthy of being incorporated by the other tennis majors.
“I think whether it is the exact same format or not, something like this would be a great addition to the Slams,” Raducanu told BBC Sport.
“It gets everyone involved the week before the tournament and builds a lot of talk around the tournament.
“I think it is great for the sport in general.”
Before the two-day US Open mixed doubles, sources told BBC Sport it was unlikely the rest would deviate from the traditional format.
Tennis Australia is equally as bold as its American counterpart and tries to attract new audiences with radical ideas.
It is acknowledged the Melbourne event – which was the first major to bring in 10-point match tie-breaks – is the most likely to attempt something similar.
However, it does not have the same financial clout as the United States Tennis Association, which was able to offer the mountain of prize money and appearance fees upwards of $50,000.
Neither does the French Open, nor Wimbledon.
Also, the two oldest Grand Slam tournaments are generally more reluctant to break from time-honoured traditions.
However, the success of the US Open event – which organisers say attracted 78,000 fans to Flushing Meadows – has led to increased discussion about the future of mixed doubles.
Even though Raducanu and Alcaraz lost in the first round of the 16-team event, it did not dampen the 22-year-old Englishwoman’s enthusiasm about the experience.
“I think it was a huge success,” said Raducanu. “I think so many fans got involved, so many people watching and tuned in. It got a lot of attention.
BBC presenter Michael Ball, 63, has taken to social media to share the devastating news of his mother’s passing. Ruth Parry Ball, his beloved mum, passed away at the age of 91.
The singer posted a touching photo of his dear mother with a simple caption: “Ruth Parry Ball1934-2025x.” His 158,000 followers were quick to offer their condolences and messages of support.
One follower wrote: “Oh Michael! I am so sorry to hear this news and so sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences to you and all the family. My thoughts and prayers are with you.” Another added: “Condolences Michael, my Mother was the most important person in my life. Always there in heart and mind.”
Meanwhile, a third commented: “What a beautiful photo. So sorry for your loss.” Another remarked: “Sorry for your loss, Michael. She must have been massively proud of you.” It comes after Lorraine Kelly’s staggering weekly earnings were unveiled amid the brutal ITV daytime cuts.
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Michael, who took over new Sunday Love Songs show on BBC Radio 2 after the death of Steve Wright last year, would often take to social media and share candid updates alongside his mum.
Taking to Facebook the singer revealed they celebrated her 90th birthday taking part on the fastest zipline in Wales.
He wrote: “We celebrated my dear mum’s 90th birthday this past weekend with a trip to Wales with the whole family. What did we get up to, I hear you ask – well we took a 90 year old on the fastest zipline in the world of course! Mx”
Originally from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, Michael’s father is English and his mother Welsh.
His father, Tony Ball, who was later awarded an MBE for services to the industry for his role as head of global sales at British Leyland, was keen on theatre and took Michael to see shows in the school holidays. The singer also celebrated his dad’s 90th birthday last year.
Singer and West End musical theatre actor Michael took over the reins of the much-adored Love Songs show on BBC Radio 2 last year, following the heartbreaking death of Steve Wright.
Michael has been living with his partner Cathy McGowan since the 1980s, but he previously shared his personal sorrow, revealing why he would never know the happiness of fatherhood.
The singer, renowned for his roles in Les Miserables and Aspects Of Love, disclosed that a horrific accident in his teens resulted in severe injuries after a charity parachute jump went awry.
“I was going to earth at four times the speed I was meant to and got dragged along the floor,” he shared, recounting the traumatic event.
At just 18-years-old, the incident caused him a ruptured groin and internal bleeding, which resulted in numerous operations over a span of four years and concealed agony from his resulting impotence.
Michael admitted: “It was very difficult to come to terms with. I was so embarrassed by what had happened to me down below that I didn’t tell anyone for six months. All I ever thought was, ‘Will I ever be normal? ‘ I didn’t feel adequate to be with the rest of the lads running with all the girls. I didn’t have a sexual relationship for more than four years.”
Love Island star Zara McDermott has said that she is now “paying the price” for the lifestyle she once had. She’s urged fans to regularly check themselves for moles and shared that she has a form of skin cancer screening each year.
Zara, 28, has previously suggested that she feels the need to be “extra dilligent” with her skin after using sunbeds when she was younger. In an update this week, she’s said that she used them “too much” and recalled having previously not applied “nearly enough” suncream when out in the sun.
The presenter wrote about her experience on Instagram this afternoon, telling her followers that she now has an annual appointment to monitor moles on her body. Zara admitted that she had delayed the latest one though.
She said: “Been putting this appointment off for a while but wanted to post this as a reminder to everyone to get their moles checked. I used sunbeds a fair amount when I was younger as well as didn’t apply nearly enough suncream.”
The reality TV star said that she is “now paying the price”. She wrote in the post earlier that she has been noticing both moles and sunspots, particularly on her face, and encouraged others to keep an eye on any they may have.
She told her followers on the platform: “I’m now paying the price with moles appearing and sun spots especially on my face! I get a yearly check up on all my moles (it’s called Mole mapping and I get it done at a place called the Mole Clinic!! It costs a few hundred pounds but I think it’s definitely worth it for the peace of mind!!!).”
Zara added: “There’s a piece of technology they use to map all the moles and monitor them year on year. Using sunbeds, even just once, increased your risk of melanoma substantially!! I didn’t know this and definitely used them too much when I was younger. Check your body as often as possible.”
According to the Daily Mail at the time, Zara expressed similar concern over her use of sunbeds in a post that she shared in 2022. She revealed to fans towards the end of that year that she had a mole removed from her stomach.
Zara wrote at the time: “A reminder to get your moles checked!!! I just had one removed from my stomach. I was putting it off for ages because I was really nervous (I’m a total wimp with needles) but it was actually totally fine!”
She added: “I used sunbeds when I was younger and I know that now I need to be extra diligent with my skin, and use high factor suncream in the sun and every day on my face. I’ve got a few more that I need to keep an eye on too!”
A new mole or a change in the appearance of an existing one “may be signs of melanoma,” which is a type of skin cancer, according to the NHS. It adds that melanomas are “more common in areas that are often exposed to the sun”.
The NHS says: “It’s important to check your moles regularly for any changes.” It also states: “UV light from the sun can increase the chance of a mole becoming cancerous. If you have lots of moles, you need to be extra careful in the sun.”
The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, call us on 0808 808 0000.
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.
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Love Island star Zara McDermott has said that she is now “paying the price” for the lifestyle she once had. She’s urged fans to regularly check themselves for moles and shared that she has a form of skin cancer screening each year.
Zara, 28, has previously suggested that she feels the need to be “extra dilligent” with her skin after using sunbeds when she was younger. In an update this week, she’s said that she used them “too much” and recalled having previously not applied “nearly enough” suncream when out in the sun.
The presenter wrote about her experience on Instagram this afternoon, telling her followers that she now has an annual appointment to monitor moles on her body. Zara admitted that she had delayed the latest one though.
She said: “Been putting this appointment off for a while but wanted to post this as a reminder to everyone to get their moles checked. I used sunbeds a fair amount when I was younger as well as didn’t apply nearly enough suncream.”
The reality TV star said that she is “now paying the price”. She wrote in the post earlier that she has been noticing both moles and sunspots, particularly on her face, and encouraged others to keep an eye on any they may have.
She told her followers on the platform: “I’m now paying the price with moles appearing and sun spots especially on my face! I get a yearly check up on all my moles (it’s called Mole mapping and I get it done at a place called the Mole Clinic!! It costs a few hundred pounds but I think it’s definitely worth it for the peace of mind!!!).”
Zara added: “There’s a piece of technology they use to map all the moles and monitor them year on year. Using sunbeds, even just once, increased your risk of melanoma substantially!! I didn’t know this and definitely used them too much when I was younger. Check your body as often as possible.”
According to the Daily Mail at the time, Zara expressed similar concern over her use of sunbeds in a post that she shared in 2022. She revealed to fans towards the end of that year that she had a mole removed from her stomach.
Zara wrote at the time: “A reminder to get your moles checked!!! I just had one removed from my stomach. I was putting it off for ages because I was really nervous (I’m a total wimp with needles) but it was actually totally fine!”
She added: “I used sunbeds when I was younger and I know that now I need to be extra diligent with my skin, and use high factor suncream in the sun and every day on my face. I’ve got a few more that I need to keep an eye on too!”
A new mole or a change in the appearance of an existing one “may be signs of melanoma,” which is a type of skin cancer, according to the NHS. It adds that melanomas are “more common in areas that are often exposed to the sun”.
The NHS says: “It’s important to check your moles regularly for any changes.” It also states: “UV light from the sun can increase the chance of a mole becoming cancerous. If you have lots of moles, you need to be extra careful in the sun.”
The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, call us on 0808 808 0000.
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: Stacey Solomon shares how to get a free bracelet and 60% off her favourite jewellery brand
Just two games into the Premier League season, Chelsea came from behind to defeat West Ham 5-1 on Friday, putting pressure on former Blues manager Graham Potter.
Since taking over the reins in January, Potter has only won five of his 21 games, and he has had a terrible start to the new campaign, which included a 3-0 defeat at Sunderland last weekend.
The home team initially had hope thanks to Lucas Paqueta’s brilliant strike, but they lost.
Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez doubled Chelsea’s lead before Joao Pedro scored the opener from a corner.
The nightmare night that new West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen had, Moises Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah used to profit.
Chelsea climbed to the top of the Premier League for the first time since December 2021 with Victory.
Before kick-off, Chelsea was hit by Cole Palmer’s absence during the warm-up, who was forced to withdraw from Enzo Maresca’s starting lineup as a precaution due to a muscle injury.
Estevao, the Brazilian wonder kid, could show his potential in his first Premier League start following Palmer’s withdrawal.
However, another Brazilian made a spectacular opening score.
Prior to last month’s independent regulatory commission’s ruling last month, Paqueta had been facing a hazy future for two years.
The English Football Association reportedly requested a lifetime ban, but the 27-year-old thanked the club for standing by him.
During a moving moment, Paqueta repeatedly pointed to the badge on his chest after long-range blasting into the top corner.
However, West Ham’s excitement lasted just nine minutes before Chelsea turned the tables.
When Chelsea won the Club World Cup less than six weeks ago, Pedro scored three goals in as many games as he did for the Blues, making himself an instant hero.
The former Brighton forward headed in Marc Cucurella’s flick-on from a corner with a straightforward task.
West Ham initially believed they had taken the lead before Niclas Fuellkrug’s goal was flagged off for offside following a VAR review.
When Pedro picked out Neto for the final goal, the hosts were in a moment before the hosts lost.
Estevao has been hailed as one of the brightest young talents in world football after scoring against Chelsea in his final game for the Palmeiras at the Club World Cup.
The 18-year-old showed his explosive pace as he sprinted past the sluggish West Ham defense and into Fernandez’s 3-1 lead in 34 minutes.
During a record-breaking summer transfer window, West Ham have been one of the quietest Premier League clubs.
However, one of the few newcomers started poorly because Hermansen was then to blame for Chelsea’s fourth and fifth goals.
Caicedo prodded into an empty net as the £20 million ($27 million) signing from Leicester turned a corner.
Hermansen’s ball broke nicely for Chalobah to rub salt into West Ham injuries, but the Blues were nowhere to be found.
With over 30 minutes left, thousands of home fans rushed to the exits, but those who remained lustily booed at the final whistle.