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Sly Stone has died, aged 82, following a series of health issues, his family have announced today. He’s said to have been surrounded by loved ones when he died.

The musician, whose real name was Sylvester Stewart, is best known for fronting the band Sly and the Family Stone, who rose to fame in the 1960s. The group’s history includes topping the charts and, years after disbanding, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame back in 1993.

It’s been announced today that Sly died after a “prolonged battle” with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other health issues. The news has been met with tributes following his family’s statement about Sly.

In a statement shared with the Mirror, his family said: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved dad, Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone. After a prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues, Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend, and his extended family.”

They added that they will take comfort over his legacy continuing. They said: “While we mourn his absence, we take solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come.”

His family continued: “Sly was a monumental figure, a groundbreaking innovator, and a true pioneer who redefined the landscape of pop, funk, and rock music. His iconic songs have left an indelible mark on the world, and his influence remains undeniable. In a testament to his enduring creative spirit, Sly recently completed the screenplay for his life story, a project we are eager to share with the world in due course, which follows a memoir published in 2024.”

They concluded in the statement: “We extend our deepest gratitude for the outpouring of love and prayers during this difficult time. We wish peace and harmony to all who were touched by Sly’s life and his iconic music. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your unwavering support.”

Sly is best known as a member of the funk band Sly and the Family Stone. The group, which formed in 1966, included his siblings Freddie Stone and Rose Stone, as well as other members like Cynthia Robinson, Greg Errico, Jerry Martini and bassist Larry Graham.

The group are known for songs like Everyday People, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US following its release in 1968. Their other singles include Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) and Family Affair, which topped the same chart, as well as Dance to the Music, which peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart.

He was in the group from 1966 to 1975, when it disbanded. That same year, he released his debut solo album, High on You. More recently, he released his memoir Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) in 2023.

The news of his death has prompted tributes on social media. One fan wrote on X: “RIP to Sly Stone. Innovator, funk aficionado, and frontman of Sly & The Family Stone.” Another said: “Rest in Peace to the legendary, trailblazing funk icon, Sly Stone!”

Another tribute read: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the legendary musical genius, Sly Stone. His influence on music and culture has been immeasurable, and his legacy will resonate for generations. You will be dearly missed.”

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Love Island returns later tonight with its new series and host Maya Jama has teased what to expect from her fashion choices throughout the ITV2 show this summer

Host Maya Jama has teased over her wardrobe for the latest series of Love Island, which launches later tonight. The presenter returns to front the reality TV show as a dozen islanders enter the villa abroad for the first time.

Maya, 30, has been met with praise over outfits that she’s modelled hosting the ITV2 show in the past, with her fashion choices often complimented by fans. She has now teased what to expect from her wardrobe for the new series.

The presenter will join the original twelve islanders in the villa in Majorca on tonight’s launch episode as they get coupled-up for the first time and then return on occasion throughout the series. She’s teased that viewers can expect to see her in vintage-inspired designer looks.

She’s said to have showcased one example on a yacht last night as she made a “showstopping” entrance ahead of entering the villa itself. The “preloved” outfit consisted of a Versace one-piece swimsuit and sarong.

Maya told the Sun: “We’re doing all archive, vintage, Nineties runway inspired.” The presenter, who has hosted Love Island since 2023, having taken over from Laura Whitmore, went on to say they are all from “hidden archives”.

She continued: “The designers have been hunting them down for the last few months for me. Everything should have a runway reference.” She suggested to the outlet that her wardrobe for the new series will be “very vintage”.

Maya then teased that she has chosen fashion options that she can’t “rip” or “ruin” during production of the reality TV show. She explained that that is because the vintage outfits have to “go back” after the host has worn them.

She shared photos of herself modelling the swimsuit on board the yacht on Instagram yesterday and wrote in the caption: “Having fun with it .. Love Island starts tomorrow at 9pm.” Maya later added: “Wearing full archive Versace.”

Tonight’s launch episode will introduce the first twelve islanders to viewers. It’s been announced that the process of them coupling-up for the first time will be “slightly different” this year, with Maya revealing the details to the girls, prior to the arrival of the first six boys taking part this series.

After getting the six of them to share their respective types with her, the presenter tells them: “This year things are slightly different. You’ve told me what your type on paper is, but does that match your ideal man in reality?”

As they line up, Maya announces: “Girls, in front of you there are six love hearts and each boy has given me their dating profile which is written on each of these hearts – shall we have a look at what these boys have to offer?”

Once they have looked at the profiles and discussed them as a group, they are given just seconds to make a decision on who to couple up with first. ITV has teased that they must run to a heart but only one girl is allowed at each one.

Love Island returns tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.

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The magnificent property in the exclusive golf resort of Quinta do Lago has been used by the Vardy family as a holiday home, and been advertised as a ‘sanctuary’ for the couple

Rebekah Vardy is putting her lavish Portuguese villa, which she and husband Jamie refer to as their ‘sanctuary’, on the market for a hopeful £9.7million.

Just last month, Rebekah, 43, was instructed by a judge to contribute £1.2m towards Coleen Rooney’s legal fees, in addition to her own bill, believed to be over £2million, from the disastrous libel claim she initiated in 2022. The High Court case left her reputation ‘in ruins’ and had a similar impact on her ‘brand’ with potential advertisers.

While her husband Jamie, 38, has remained one of the Premier League’s top earners, raking in an estimated £7.3m at Leicester City last season, and now rumoured to be considering a transfer to Manchester United, reports have speculated that the family may have decided to sell the home due to the significant hit from the Wagatha scandal and its fallout.

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In recent years, the Vardys have let out their cherished villa on the exclusive golf resort of Quinta do Lago for up to £30,000 a week, but they’ve now reluctantly decided to put it up for sale. However, a friend of the couple told the Mirror: “They are selling the Portuguese pad – and are looking at different holiday places now. They had some great times there, but just decided it was time for a change. It’s actually laughable for anyone to think it has anything to do with the court case. Nothing could be further from the truth. And that’s shown by the fact that they are looking for a new holiday pad.”

The property has been listed for sale with high-end estate agents Knight Frank, carrying an impressive £9.7 million price tag. Although prices have surged in the Algarve recently, by as much as 16 per cent according to some estimates, the Vardys’ villa is certainly priced on the ‘optimistic side’, according to one agent who spoke to MailOnline under the condition of anonymity.

“It’s undoubtedly a stunning and very modern property, but there are many more traditionally-styled places in that area which some people might prefer, of similar size, but priced a lot more competitively,” he remarked. The villa, boasting three pools, a gym, a steam room and six bedrooms, commands a view over the 18th green of the resort’s North course.

Knight Frank has praised the property, stating: “This magnificent property, built over four levels, showcases meticulous attention to lifestyle details.”

The four-storey residence also features a cinema room, roof terrace and sauna, spread across approximately 0.64 acres. The details further reveal: ‘In addition to the three external pools, which epitomise a contemporary lifestyle, the villa includes a central electro-chromic glass lift accessing each floor.

“The impressively landscaped gardens complement the property’s style, creating a true haven for modern living. The villa is conveniently located within walking distance of the golf course and other renowned amenities within the Quinta do Lago resort.”

In 2022, the couple experienced a fright when their luxury villa was threatened by nearby forest fires. A family insider disclosed to The Sun at the time: “It’s been horrifying. Their neighbours have all been evacuated, and one by one, residents are being told to leave their homes.

“Becky can see smoke everywhere, and she’s terrified about the kids breathing it in. The water is also down, so she’s relying on bottled water, which, obviously, there is only a finite amount of at home.

“Jamie and their friends and family back home have all been really worried. Things are developing by the hour, but she’s praying the fire brigades, who have been brilliant, can get things back under control. She’s genuinely worried. Things are evolving by the hour, but she’s hoping that the fire brigades, who have been outstanding, can regain control,” she expressed.

Vardy lost a High Court case against the I’m A Celeb star in 2022 after being publicly accused of leaking stories about her to the media. The infamous Wagatha Christie saga was sparked by a dramatic open letter penned by Mrs Rooney and shared on social media in October 2019. In it, she disclosed that she had played detective to uncover who had been leaking stories to the press.

Rooney publicly alleged that Mrs Vardy’s account was the source behind three newspaper stories featuring fabricated details she had posted on her private Instagram profile – her trip to Mexico for a ‘gender selection’ procedure, her plans to return to TV, and the flooding in her home’s basement.

Rebekah furiously denied the allegation and attempted to sue Coleen, launching a libel case that took the WAGs all the way to the High Court. The 2022 trial didn’t go Rebekah’s way and the judge ruled in favour of Rooney.

The Mirror has approached Vardy’s spokesperson for comment.

Reality star Dan Osborne has headed on another family trip with Jacqueline Jossa and their kids as they continue to focus on their marriage after announcing their split in March

Dan Osborne has continued to prove he is trying to make things right with Jacqueline Jossa and focus on their family amid reports he sent “flirty texts” to Christine McGuinness. The couple tied the knot in 2017 but, following months of speculation, announced in March that they had decided to spend time apart.

However, just weeks later it seemed like they were not ready to give each up just yet as they jetted off to Mexico for a “make or break” family holiday with their children. Speaking to the Mirror, a source said the pair were “trying to fall back in love with each other again.”

They explained: “They’ve had a rocky, up and down relationship so now they’re trying to do things differently and give each other more space at home, while enjoying this holiday. Jacqueline and Dan want to be together for their children and do want to be a family, but now it’s a case of remembering why they were together in the first place.

“It’s been a tough road, and they know things need to change to make this work.” Dan, 33, and Jacqueline, 32, have continued to put in the effort and have jetted off on another family break together.

As they carve out their path of reconciliation, Dan shared snaps from their trip to Ireland with daughters Ella, 10, and Mia, six. They enjoyed a day in the countryside walking alpacas while looking out over sandy beaches.

In a heartwarming moment, Dan cuddled Mia as they cherished the family day out together. Their trip comes just days after reports that Dan had reached out to model Christine as they both dealt with their marriage breakdowns.

Christine was going through a divorce from funnyman Paddy McGuinness, and it was thought the pair found solace in each other’s situation and formed a stronger bond. The Real Housewives of Cheshire star’s marriage was over, but Dan was reportedly still trying to mend his broken home with the EastEnders star.

According to the Sun, the pair who have known each other since 2019, had stayed in touch in the years and remained amicable when they bumped into each other, but sparks soon became noticeable.

A source told the publication: “They stayed in touch sporadically and would bump into each other at events and their messages got pretty flirty. Some were seen by mutual friends.

“She would call him ‘D’ in texts, and it became an open secret among their circles. There is no suggestion anything sexual happened, but it’s fair to say there was a spark between them.”

The insider insisted: “She is absolutely adamant nothing sexual happened between them. She also was 100 per cent single at the time and could chat to anyone she wanted.”

Former TOWIE star Dan is also adamant there was no romance between the pair with a pal saying: “Dan is devoted to Jacqueline and would hate for any suggestion of impropriety. Of course, it’s possible for a man and woman to be mates.”

Christine and Paddy split after 11 years together. Despite breaking off their marriage vows, the duo stayed living together for the sake of their three kids.

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Love Island is officially back on our screens tonight, and we’ve spotted a ’70s-style swimwear trend taking over the villa, so we’ve found where to shop the exact pieces

The new series of Love Island is officially back for 2025, and we couldn’t be more excited. Signalling the beginning of summer, in our opinion, we can’t wait to have some new Islanders back on our screen. And of course, the girls are already serving up some serious style moments with their swimwear choices.

Considering swimwear makes up about 75% of all the outfits on the show, it’s no surprise that the girls have brought the best of the best with them. And there is one retro-inspired trend taking over our screens for the first episode.

The trend in question is O-ring bikinis and swimming costumes. What that design detail involves is gold or silver rings that connect fabric together, and they’re typically placed at the chest, hips or shoulder straps. This trend spiked in popularity in the ‘70s and has made a strong comeback in recent years. And this year, all the girls seems to be opting for trendy metal accent swimwear.

If you want to copy this trend for the summer months, we’ve found where to shop the exact Love Island looks plus similar styles.

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Sophie Lee

Love Island’s socials has posted a sneak peek of tonight’s episode ,the first of the new season and contestnant Sophie Lee can be seen sporting a stunning red O-ring bikini from Adora Swim. This set is on the pricer side at £85 alone just for the bikini top, so we’ve found an alternative you can shop as well.

SHOP EXACT: Bikini top, £85 here, and matching bottoms, £75 here, both Adora Swim

SHOP SIMILAR: Triangle bikini top, £15 here, and matching bottoms, £14 here, both PLT

The exact bikini Sophie is wearing in her Love Island promo pics can be found at Amazon for a wallet-friendly £20.99. Although not quite a ’70s ring detail, this bikini has more of a noughties touch with a diamante heart feature at the bust and hips. It seems red is Sophie’s colour!

SHOP EXACT: Heart detail bikini, Amazon, £20.99 here

Helena Ford

29-year old Helena Ford is another one of the Islander’s who opted for the stylish bikini trend in her promo shots. The contestant is wearing a royal blue ring bikini set, also from Adora swim. We love that the textured gold rings elevate the bikini so much and make it a statement piece.

SHOP EXACT: Bikini top, £85 here, and matching bottoms, £75 here

SHOP SIMILAR: Drawstring bikini, Amazon, £22.50 here

Megan Moore

Megan Moore is one of the only girls to opt for a one-piece swimsuit for the first episode, but she’s still joining in on that O-ring trend with her turquoise blue costume. We can’t find where Megan’s exact piece if from, but we’ve a similar and affordable alternative from Amazon to shop instead.

SHOP SIMILAR: Women’s swimsuit, Amazon, £12.99 here

Megan Forte Clarke

Musical theatre performer Megan Forte Clarke strayed slightly from the O-ring detail and opted for gold swirl detailing for the first episode instead. We’re not sure where the exact teal blue bikini hails from, but we’ve found an equally gorgeous one from Ego.