Dua Lipa review at Wembley Stadium – why she is the world’s biggest pop star

Dua Lipa makes her Wembley debut with a five-star performance, which was even better than her heroics at Glastonbury, in the eyes of associate editor Tom Bryant.

FIVE STARS: Dua Lipa stuns at momentous Wembley show (Image: Samir Hussein/Getty Images for D)

The temperature is just shy of 30 degrees, and Dua Lipa is hoisted up 50ft in the air on a floating stage wearing a blue faux-fur coat.

If she weren’t the world’s hottest artist, she is now indistinguishable.

And over the course of a scintillating two hour set to mark her Wembley Stadium debut, Dua cements her reputation as Britain’s, if not the world’s, biggest pop star.

She said, “This is such a massive, massive milestone for me.” “From the beginning of this show, I’ve had a lump in my throat.”

Watched by her proud family and fiance Callum Turner, she appeared barely out of breath despite the searing heat.

As she embarked on a massive meet and greet with fans, she reportedly felt more energetic than ever before removing both their phones and other clothing.

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“I dreamed of a night like this because it has been ten years since our first ever London show, which was attended by about 350 people.” To be in front of 70, 000 people. She says, “I’m so, so blown away,” becoming emotional.

READ MORE: Diana Ross opens up in rare interview – ‘My five children really take care of their mum’

Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa wows fans with a walk-about (Image: Samir Hussein/Getty Images for D)

Precision-sharp choreography accompanied hits like Levitating, Hotter Than Hell, and Electricity. This Wembley debut was truly enhanced by the futuristic-looking set, which was beautifully framed by extraordinary lighting.

Bringing out Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay for a one-off performance of his 1996 hit Virtual Insanity, sees the crowd descend into delirium.

He “is a major force in British music”… She says, “He’s opened the door,” and I’m so blessed to have shared the stage.

There were numerous costume changes. She accompanies a chair Madonna-style while wearing a white lace-bodysuit. She later changed into a midnight blue dress and suspenders combo as topless male dancers gyrate behind her while falling into a black PVC number for Physical.

Dua Lipa with Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay
Dua Lipa with Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay(Image: Samir Hussein/Getty Images for D)

The incredible four-song encore of New Rules, Don’t Start Now, and Dance The Night is accompanied by fireworks and confetti canons of all kinds.

Dua’s historic headline performance at Glastonbury last year was always going to take some beating.

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You’d have to assume that she did exactly that following Friday night’s epic show.

Blue Peter star Richard Bacon unrecognisable 27 years after being sacked in huge scandal

After being fired for his drug use while on the BBC programme, former Blue Peter icon Richard Bacon underwent a major image transformation.

Richard Bacon was dismissed after a drug scandal(Image: Nils Jorgensen/REX/Shutterstock)

Richard Bacon, a former Blue Peter presenter, looks almost unrecognisable compared to his time on the popular children’s programme.

At 48, Richard made a name for himself on Blue Peter back in 1997, joining co-presenters Romana D’Annunzio, Katy Hill, Konnie Huq, and Stuart Miles, quickly becoming a staple on children’s television.

However, his good looks suffered a significant blow when he admitted using cocaine in a nightclub in October 1998 and was fired from his position.

His untimely exit from Blue Peter opened the door for Simon Thomas to replace him, and marked Richard as the first host to be dismissed from the family-friendly show.

READ MORE: The Yorkshire Vet David Melleney’s new baby – tears, a big surprise and adorable first photos

Richard Bacon
Richard looks very different from his time on Blue Peter(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Fortnum & Mason)

Richard has completely transformed his career since those turbulent times, beginning as a TV producer in Los Angeles. He and his wife Rebecca McFarlane, their two children, Arthur and Ivy, reside there.

Continue reading the article.

In July 2024, Richard took to Instagram directly from a sound studio brimming with new concepts, hinting at a fresh talent show format he is developing.

His appearance, which he now wears is a significant change from his Blue Peter days, combines sophisticated grey hair and perspex glasses.

He wrote, “Testing a new music talent show idea/ mechanic with @awsuki today (thanks for flying from Sweden)” in the caption. Consider whether it will actually be bloody good. (It won’t have worked if I never post about this again).

Richard Bacon’s abrupt resignation from Blue Peter at the time was significant news.

Lorraine Heggessey, head of children’s programming at the BBC, commented: “It is sad that such a talented presenter as Richard Bacon has not only let himself and his colleagues down but, most important of all, he has let down the millions of children who watch Blue Peter.”

In his light-hearted tweet from 2023, Richard appears to have since laughed off this incident.

Richard Bacon
Richard has shared some snaps on Instagram(Image: Instagram/richardpbacon)

He joked about his previous sacking due to tardiness and gave a cheeky nod to his substance use as he celebrated Blue Peter’s 65th birthday.

After fighting for his life with a lung condition that caused him to be placed in a medically induced coma, Richard has publicly acknowledged his struggles and, in 2018, pledged to stop using substances to improve his quality of life.

Continue reading the article.

He discussed his habits in a conversation with The Times. “I drink too quickly and drink too quickly,” he said. Richard said, “In LA, I’ve been smoking weed [too], four or five drinks a night. Everything is legal there. That will also be stopped by me.

He continued, “I’ll be a better employee, more imaginative, and a better father.”

READ MORE: Natalya Wright looks ‘unreal’ in a ‘gorgeous’ black midi that’s perfect for wedding season

Blue Peter star Richard Bacon unrecognisable 27 years after being sacked in huge scandal

After being fired for his drug use while on the BBC programme, former Blue Peter icon Richard Bacon underwent a major image transformation.

Richard Bacon was dismissed after a drug scandal(Image: Nils Jorgensen/REX/Shutterstock)

Richard Bacon, a former Blue Peter presenter, looks almost unrecognisable compared to his time on the popular children’s programme.

At 48, Richard made a name for himself on Blue Peter back in 1997, joining co-presenters Romana D’Annunzio, Katy Hill, Konnie Huq, and Stuart Miles, quickly becoming a staple on children’s television.

However, his good looks suffered a significant blow when he admitted using cocaine in a nightclub in October 1998 and was fired from his position.

His untimely exit from Blue Peter opened the door for Simon Thomas to replace him, and marked Richard as the first host to be dismissed from the family-friendly show.

READ MORE: The Yorkshire Vet David Melleney’s new baby – tears, a big surprise and adorable first photos

Richard Bacon
Richard looks very different from his time on Blue Peter(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Fortnum & Mason)

Richard has completely transformed his career since those turbulent times, beginning as a TV producer in Los Angeles. He and his wife Rebecca McFarlane, their two children, Arthur and Ivy, reside there.

Continue reading the article.

In July 2024, Richard took to Instagram directly from a sound studio brimming with new concepts, hinting at a fresh talent show format he is developing.

His appearance, which he now wears is a significant change from his Blue Peter days, combines sophisticated grey hair and perspex glasses.

He wrote, “Testing a new music talent show idea/ mechanic with @awsuki today (thanks for flying from Sweden)” in the caption. Consider whether it will actually be bloody good. (It won’t have worked if I never post about this again).

Richard Bacon’s abrupt resignation from Blue Peter at the time was significant news.

Lorraine Heggessey, head of children’s programming at the BBC, commented: “It is sad that such a talented presenter as Richard Bacon has not only let himself and his colleagues down but, most important of all, he has let down the millions of children who watch Blue Peter.”

In his light-hearted tweet from 2023, Richard appears to have since laughed off this incident.

Richard Bacon
Richard has shared some snaps on Instagram(Image: Instagram/richardpbacon)

He joked about his previous sacking due to tardiness and gave a cheeky nod to his substance use as he celebrated Blue Peter’s 65th birthday.

After fighting for his life with a lung condition that caused him to be placed in a medically induced coma, Richard has publicly acknowledged his struggles and, in 2018, pledged to stop using substances to improve his quality of life.

Continue reading the article.

He discussed his habits in a conversation with The Times. “I drink too quickly and drink too quickly,” he said. Richard said, “In LA, I’ve been smoking weed [too], four or five drinks a night. Everything is legal there. That will also be stopped by me.

He continued, “I’ll be a better employee, more imaginative, and a better father.”

READ MORE: Natalya Wright looks ‘unreal’ in a ‘gorgeous’ black midi that’s perfect for wedding season

Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral bid is bigger than New York

Sitting in northern Europe, I shouldn’t care about the New York mayoral race.

Yet, despite all that is happening in the world, the contentious Democratic primary for the 2025 New York City mayoral election has found its way into conversations around me – and onto my social media feed.

This attention isn’t just another example of the New York-centric worldview famously skewered in Saul Steinberg’s 1976 New Yorker cover, View of the World from 9th Avenue. A genuine political struggle is under way, one that has the potential to reverberate far beyond the Hudson River. At its centre is the increasingly polarised contest between Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani.

The name Cuomo may ring a bell. He resigned as New York’s governor in 2021 following multiple allegations of sexual harassment. While he expressed remorse at the time, his political comeback has been marked by defiance – suing one of his accusers and the state attorney general who found the accusations credible. He claims the scandal was a “political hit job”.

Cuomo’s record in office was far from unblemished. He diverted millions of dollars from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), jeopardising the financial health of New York’s essential public transit system. He formed the Moreland Commission to root out corruption but disbanded it abruptly when it began probing entities linked to his own campaign. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his administration was accused of undercounting nursing home deaths, allegedly to deflect criticism of policies that returned COVID-positive patients to those facilities.

Given that legacy, one might imagine Cuomo’s chances of becoming mayor would be slim. Yet, he currently leads in the polls.

Close behind him is Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist and state assemblyman from Queens. When he entered the race in March, Cuomo led by 40 points. A recent poll now puts Mamdani within 8 points.

Born in Kampala and raised in New York, Mamdani is the first Muslim candidate to run for mayor of the city. But his significance extends beyond his identity. What distinguishes Mamdani is his unapologetically progressive platform – and his refusal to dilute it in the name of “electability”. His appeal rests on substance, charisma, sharp messaging, and a mass volunteer-led canvassing operation.

At the heart of Mamdani’s campaign is a vision of a city that works for working-class New Yorkers. He proposes freezing rents for all rent-stabilised apartments, building 200,000 affordable homes, creating publicly-owned grocery stores “focused on keeping prices low, not making profit”, and making buses free. He supports free childcare for children under five, better wages for childcare workers, and “baby baskets” containing essentials for new parents.

To fund these initiatives, Mamdani proposes increasing the corporate tax rate from 7.25 percent to 11.5 percent, and imposing a 2 percent income tax on New York City residents earning more than $1m annually.

He also wants to raise the minimum wage, regulate gig economy giants like DoorDash, and protect delivery workers. His plan to establish a Department of Community Safety would shift resources away from traditional policing towards mental health and violence prevention.

He further promises to “Trump-proof” New York by enhancing the city’s sanctuary status, removing ICE’s influence, expanding legal support for migrants, defending LGBTQ+ rights and protecting reproductive healthcare access.

But championing such bold policies – as a brown, Muslim candidate – has made Mamdani a lightning rod for hate. Recently, in a rare show of emotion, Mamdani teared up while recounting threats he has received: “I get messages that say the only good Muslim is a dead Muslim. I get threats on my life … on the people that I love.”

The NYPD is investigating two voicemails from an unidentified caller, who labelled Mamdani a “terrorist”, threatened to bomb his car, and ominously warned: “Watch your f..king back every f..king second until you get the f..k out of America.”

Cuomo’s campaign has also played into Islamophobic tropes. A mailer targeting Jewish voters from a Cuomo-aligned super PAC doctored Mamdani’s photo – darkening and lengthening his beard – and declared that he “rejects NYPD, rejects Israel, rejects capitalism and rejects Jewish rights”.

Much of this centres on Mamdani’s outspoken support for Palestinian rights. He has been criticised for refusing to affirm Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and for defending the slogan “globalise the intifada”, which he describes as “a desperate desire for equality and equal rights”. He also noted that the Arabic term intifada has been used by the US Holocaust Memorial Museum to describe the 1944 Warsaw Uprising.

Despite the attacks, Mamdani’s movement is surging. He has received endorsements from Senator Bernie Sanders, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez, Attorney General Letitia James, the New York Working Families Party, United Auto Workers Region 9A, and Jewish Voice for Peace Action.

In contrast, Cuomo is backed by major real estate donors wary of Mamdani’s housing agenda. His campaign has received $1m from DoorDash, presumably in response to Mamdani’s proposed labour protections. Other prominent donors include Home Depot co-founder Ken Langone and hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman – both known for supporting Donald Trump.

Still, Mamdani’s grassroots campaign has continued to gain ground. Whether or not he wins the nomination, his candidacy has already achieved something vital: it has offered proof that an anti-corporate, anti-Trump, community-powered campaign – one rooted in progressive values and refusal to compromise – can resonate with American voters.

But the stakes extend far beyond New York. Across Europe, South America, South Asia and Africa, right-wing populists are gaining ground by exploiting economic precarity, stoking culture wars and vilifying minorities. Mamdani’s campaign offers a clear counter-narrative: one that marries economic justice with moral clarity, mobilises diverse communities and challenges the politics of fear. For progressives around the world, it is a rare and instructive blueprint – not just for resistance, but for rebuilding.

Pete Doherty pays tribute to Babyshambles bandmate Patrick Walden after his death at 46

The rock group confirmed the news on social media by confirming the death of Babyshambles guitarist Patrick Walden. Pete Doherty, the band’s frontman, also paid tribute to his late bandmate.

(Image: Getty Images)

Patrick Walden, the guitarist for the iconic band Babyshambles, sadly passed away at the age of 46. The news was confirmed on the group’s social media on Friday night (20 June), with a heartfelt statement: “It is with deep regret and sadness that we share the news of Patrick Walden’s death,” they expressed.

We sincerely request respect and privacy during these challenging times, and we consider it very fortunate to have known, loved, and collaborated with him. Peter, Drew, Mik, Adam”.

Frontman Pete Doherty, who had previously hailed Walden as “the best guitar player I’ve ever worked with”, shared the sorrowful announcement on his own pages in a tribute to the late musician.

Pete and Patrick were part of Babyshambles
Pete and Patrick were part of Babyshambles(Image: Redferns)

Doherty founded Babyshambles in 2003 after taking a break from The Libertines as a result of his struggles with addiction, which helped him create hits like “Kilamangiro” and “Delivery.”

Walden left the ensemble slightly earlier, in 2005, because of his own drugfighting struggles, despite breaking up in 2014. A full comeback was never realized, despite Walden’s occasionally making appearances at Babyshambles performances following his departure.

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Walden has openly discussed his struggles with drug use and a history of sobriety over the years. Near his North London home, neighbors discovered Walden in February 2016 at the bottom of a flight of concrete stairs.

In a 22 Grand Pod podcast episode in 2023, Walden reflected on his sobriety.

“I haven’t had a drink or anything since I turned 40.” That’s quite a nice statement. However, my entire relationship with it has changed. He declared, “I don’t want it any more.”

However, his musical contributions continue with songs like “The Man Who Came to Stay,” which showcased both his guitar and songwriting prowess.

Fans remember him as a legendary musician as tributes pour in from all over the internet, including “The Best Guitarist of My Generation.” Nobody has a better voice than Asheton from The Stooges.

You’re going to be missed Pat, the best guitarist we’ve ever met, and one of the good guys, according to The Paddingtons, an indie band. Please rest in peace, mate.

Patrick Walden passed away at the age of 46
Patrick Walden passed away at the age of 46(Image: babyshambles/Facebook)

A musician was recalled in a heartfelt way by a fan, who wrote, “I’m devastated by this news. Pat had a generous heart. After being assaulted in Camden, I can recall his encouraging words and his assistance. a fantastic musician. His family and loved ones are in my thoughts.

He was a true legend and a key component of the iconic sound of the first album and subsequent shows, according to another commentator. “I was really hoping he would be a part of the reunion absolutely devastating news.”

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In a week, Doherty will join The Libertines for a performance on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage. Doherty, McConnell, Mick Withnall, and Adam Ficek are the band’s current members right now.

Pakistan to nominate ‘genuine peacemaker’ Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

Donald Trump has said he wants the Nobel Peace Prize, but Pakistan says it will recommend him to him.

A surprise ceasefire announcement by Trump in May put an abrupt end to a four-day conflict between India and Pakistan, which had been fought with nuclear weapons.

Trump has since reiterated his efforts to prevent nuclear war, save millions of lives, and complain that he hasn’t received any credit for it.

India claims that the two militaries reached a bilateral agreement after Pakistan acknowledges that US diplomatic intervention put an end to the conflict.

Through a robust diplomatic dialogue with both Islamabad and New Delhi, which de-escalated a rapidly deteriorating situation, President Trump “demonstrated great strategic foresight and stellar statesmanship,” Islamabad said in a statement posted on X.

“His actions demonstrate his commitment to dialogue and his role as a genuine peacemaker,” he said.

People can be chosen by governments for the Nobel Peace Prize. Washington, DC, or New Delhi did not respond right away.

According to some Pakistani analysts, Trump might reconsider his position on a potential strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Israel’s actions are a threat to regional stability and are in violation of international law, according to Pakistan.

Trump outlined a long list of conflicts in a social media post on Friday, including those involving India and Pakistan and the so-called Abraham Accords, which he claimed to have won in his first term and some Muslim-majority nations. No matter what I do, I won’t receive a Nobel Peace Prize.

Pandering to Trump’s “ego”

Trump has repeatedly stated that he is willing to serve as a mediator between India and Pakistan over the region’s tense Kashmir. Islamabad is delighted that Kashmir has attracted international attention for a long time.

However, his stance has impacted US policy in South Asia, which had favored India as a counterweight to China, and questioned Trump’s long-standing ties with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief, and the US president met for lunch the day before Pakistan made its decision to nominate Trump. A civilian government in place in Islamabad was established for the first time that a Pakistani military leader had been invited to the White House.

Trump and Modi had a scheduled meeting at the G7 summit in Canada last week, but the US president left early. Modi later said in a phone interview that “India does not and will never accept mediation” in its dispute with Pakistan, according to the Indian government.

Former Pakistani parliamentarian chair of the Senate Defence Committee Mushahid Hussain suggested that Trump should be nominated for the peace prize.

Trump, he claimed, is good for Pakistan. As for Trump’s ego, “so be it.” He has been a major target of all European leaders.

However, Pakistan’s outcry against the decision was not shared by all of the country, where Trump’s support for Israel’s occupation of Gaza has sparked outrage.

In a post on X, prominent Pakistani television political talk show host Talat Hussain said, “Israel’s sugar daddy in Gaza and cheerleader of its attacks on Iran isn’t a candidate for any prize.”