Britain’s Got Talent star Reuben Gray rose to fame on the contest in 2017 with an emotional original song written for his then-girlfriend
BGT star who went viral in emotional moment quits job for gruelling challenge(Image: PA)
Former Britain’s Got Talent star Reuben Gray, who shot to fame in 2017 in an emotional audition, has picked up a new challenge that will raise money for charity. The talented Reuben was only 16 years old when he auditioned for BGT, with him leaving the audience in tears when his father surprised him in the crowd after telling him he couldn’t make it to the show.
During the audition, he shocked the room by performing an original song he wrote about his then-girlfriend, which earned a standing ovation from all four judges. Years later, at 24, Reuben and pal Matt Brinkley, also 24, decided to ditch their jobs to go on an 801-mile trek from London to Val Thorens in France.
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Reuben as taken on a brand-new challenge for charity(Image: @reubengraymusic/instagram)
The two men are hoping to raise £35,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and Snow Camp, which helps young people through snow sports.
Whilst on the 45-day trek, they’re using the opportunity to promote their new application made to make adventure planning easy.
Speaking about the dangers of the journey, he said: “My cousin’s a doctor, and he said we have a possibility of breaking our legs or having shin splints, we have a possibility of a hairline fracture, that sort of stuff on our on our legs. We have a possibility of ending up with sort of gangrene.”
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His audition gained over 24 million views(Image: handout)
However, the two are determined to complete the trek. Reuben added to MailOnline: “It’s about smiling through the pain and about having a good time.
“Even though it might suck I’m still doing it with my best friend. I’m doing it for something bigger than just myself only.”
In Reuben’s audition in 2017, he revealed to the cameras his father couldn’t be there to support him as he was in the army and overseas. “If I do well, I’ll just give him a call,” Reuben said.
However, Reuben was completely unaware his dad was actually sitting in the audience waiting to surprise him. When Simon Cowell asked him who was his biggest supporter, Reuben said: “My dad.”
Simon asked: “What, more than your mum?” and Reuben’s dad quickly got up to proudly yell out: “Yes I am!” The star was in shock as he looked to where the voice was coming from.
“I didn’t think he was here! I thought he was working!” Reuben excitedly admitted before he started crying. “He works away from home a lot. Whenever I play anywhere, he’ll always come.”
The audition clip went viral and gained over 24 million views on BGT’s official YouTube channel.
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Nicole Scherzinger is to perform in a Las Vegas residency after lighting up Broadway and London’s West End with her award-winning role in the musical Sunset Boulevard
Nicole Scherzinger has landed a Las Vegas residency(Image: Getty Images for TIME)
Nicole Scherzinger is all set for a Las Vegas residency. After scooping a Tony Award for her role in Sunset BLVD, the new Queen of Broadway is a hot property and Nicole is looking ahead to Sin City, my sources tell me.
“Nicole is achieving all her career dreams this year,” the insider says. “She’s conquered Broadway and won a well-deserved Tony, but Nicole has no plans to slow down her career, not when she’s in her absolute prime and in such demand.”
Earlier this year, Nicole said of a Vegas residency: “That’s the dream.” Now, that dream is looking closer to reality. The source says there have been early discussions, with Nicole hoping to grace the stage at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, like her idol Celine Dion.
Our source added: “She’s a huge fan of Celine’s and would love to follow in her footsteps.” Sir Rod Stewart, Kelly Clarkson, Alanis Morissette and Jennifer Lopez are all lined up to perform on the iconic stage this year, so she’d be in good company.”
It is thought a Vegas show could follow a similar format to Nicole’s highly anticipated Carnegie Hall gig, which is happening this October. The former Pussycat Doll will be joined by a live band to perform hits from the worlds of Broadway and pop.
The star has enjoyed huge success on Broadway and the West End in Sunset Bulevard(Image: UnBoxPHD / SplashNews.com)
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Last weekend, Nicole picked up the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical gong for playing Norma Desmond in Broadway hit Sunset BLVD. Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has said Nicole is “one of the most gifted singer-actresses I have seen perform my work… she is fearless, musically and dramatically.”
Nicole has been in the spotlight since 2001 when she was a member of American girl group Eden’s Crush who were created on the American television series Popstars. She later joined the chart-topping group The Pussycat Dolls – who have enjoyed success since 2005.
The girl group last released a single in 2020 and were due to go on a tour in support of reported new music – but the pandemic derailed plans and the Pussycat Dolls disbanded in 2022.
Nicole has enjoyed success as a solo artist – releasing smash hits including the singles Don’t Hold Your Breath, Your Love and Right There, featuring 50 Cent. She has also dipped her toes into the world of acting both on stage and the big screen.
She appeared in the 2012 sci-fi comedy Men in Black 3 and voices Sina, the Chieftess of Motunui, in the Mona animated films by Disney. On stage she featured in a 2010 production of Rent and a production of Cats which ran from 2014 until 2015.
Her current star turn as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard began in London in 2023 before transferring to Broadway the following day. As well as winning a Tony, the former X Factor judge also won the 2024 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in the UK.
After performing at the 2025 Tony Awards, Nicole shared a video clip via Instagram. In a gushing post, she wrote: “This is a dream come true for me to perform As If We Never Said Goodbye @thetonyawards.
“This is my love letter to the theater. And to anyone with a deep passion for what you do, this was for you too.”
She added: “What an honor to share this song with a community that has held me and lifted me. I am forever grateful.”
London Pulse secured top spot at the end of the Netball Super League regular season – and with it home advantage for the major semi-final in the play-offs.
Pulse led Loughborough Lightning by two points going into the final round of games and were given a helping hand.
It came from Birmingham Panthers who caused a surprise in their coach Jo Trip’s final game in charge by achieving a 67-58 success over Lightning, who have won three of the past four Grand Finals, to ensure Pulse finished top.
Antonia Mitchell had 42 goals for Panthers who pulled clear in the second quarter against a Lightning side who lacked fluency and will have plenty to think about before the play-offs.
Pulse then ensured they go into next weekend’s game against Lightning on a high with a comfortable 67-44 victory over bottom side Cardiff Dragons, helped by 36 goals from Olivia Tchine.
The winner of the major semi-final goes straight to the Grand Final while the loser will face the winner of the minor semi-final between third and fourth – Manchester Thunder and London Mavericks – to determine the other finalist.
Thunder and Mavericks lined up for a dress rehearsal on Saturday with the Manchester side winning 67-45 at Wembley Arena, led by 50 goals from Elmere van der Berg.
In the weekend’s final game on Sunday, the sport will say farewell to one of its greatest players.
Iran’s official news agency IRNA says Iranian forces are carrying out a hybrid attack with drones accompanying the missiles targeting Israeli cities, with explosions heard in Israeli cities.
Israel’s Channel 13 cites “initial reports” late Saturday that Iranian missiles have hit the northern coastal city of Haifa and neighbouring town of Tamra. Videos posted to social media, and verified by Al Jazeera’s Sanad, showed Iranian cruise missiles in the skies of northern Israel.
The Israeli military, in the meantime, says it is now attacking military targets in Iran’s capital, Tehran.
Earlier on Saturday, Iran said that Israel intensified its military campaign against it for a second consecutive day, targeting key infrastructure and dealing another blow to the country’s struggling economy, as the conflict spirals towards a potential sustained all-out war.
Iranian officials confirmed that a blaze had erupted at the South Pars gas field – one of the country’s most vital energy sources – after it was struck by Israeli forces on Saturday.
Production from part of the field has been suspended, with state-affiliated media reporting that 12 million cubic metres (423 million cubic feet) of gas from Phase 14 have been temporarily halted. Though Iranian authorities later said the fire had been extinguished, the scale of the disruption remains unclear.
An Israeli official stated the strike was intended as a direct warning to Tehran. The message appears to be part of a broader strategy to cripple Iran’s economic and military capabilities, according to Fox News. The Israeli Broadcasting Authority cited an official as saying, “We attacked another Iranian gas field after Bushehr, and national infrastructure is on the list.”
Energy expert Manouchehr Takin told Al Jazeera that targeting South Pars – crucial for domestic consumption and commercial use – would deepen Iran’s internal energy crisis. “This is an attempt to paralyse Iran’s economy,” Takin said. “The domestic gas network was already under pressure due to sanctions and mismanagement.”
Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh, reporting from Amman, said the move marked a shift in strategy. “Israel has previously targeted Iran’s military infrastructure, nuclear scientists and missile facilities. Now it’s going after civilian economic assets,” she said, warning that the economic impact could be severe if damage is extensive.
Iran reels from civilian toll and pledges retaliation
Tehran reported at least 80 people killed and more than 320 injured, including women and children, following Israeli strikes on both military and residential sites across the capital.
Among the dead are reportedly nine nuclear scientists. Iran hit back with a barrage of missiles that penetrated Israel’s high-tech missile defence system, with at least four deaths and more than 200 injuries recorded in Israel since Friday.
Iranian state media also claimed the downing of an Israeli F-35 fighter jet, one of the most advanced aircraft in Israel’s arsenal. While several Iranian news outlets have cited a military statement confirming the incident, there is no official footage or visual evidence, and Israeli officials have dismissed the reports as fabricated.
Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi noted growing public anger. “Many Iranians are frustrated that non-military targets were hit,” he said. “There had been hope weeks ago with talks on the table. Now, there’s only uncertainty and fear of escalation.”
The cancelled talks were originally set to take place in Oman on Sunday.
US President Donald Trump had tied the diplomatic effort to Iran’s agreement to roll back its nuclear programme. But Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations were off the table while “barbarous” Israeli attacks continued.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military claimed to have struck more than 150 Iranian targets and warned its operation could continue for weeks. Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning: “If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn.”
Israeli search and rescue team conducts an operation amid the rubble of a destroyed building after the Iranian attacks following the launch of large-scale Israeli strikes against Iran, in Rishon LeZion, Israel, on June 14, 2025 [Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu Agency]
Global leaders alarmed as fears of wider war grow
The prospect of full-scale regional war loomed large, as global leaders issued warnings.
Iran hinted at a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz – a crucial oil shipping lane – should the conflict deepen. Tehran also warned that any foreign military bases aiding Israel could face retaliatory strikes.
Iran’s capacity for external retaliation, however, has weakened. After nearly two years of war in Gaza and last year’s conflict in Lebanon, its key regional allies – Hamas and Hezbollah – are significantly depleted, narrowing Iran’s military options.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with both Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian. In both calls, Erdogan blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for fuelling the crisis.
According to a statement from Erdogan’s office, he told bin Salman that Israel poses the greatest threat to regional stability and urged an immediate halt to its actions. “The only way to resolve the nuclear dispute is through negotiations,” Erdogan said, warning of a potential refugee crisis if the situation spirals further.
The Turkish president also accused Israel of using attacks on Iran to distract from what he labelled a genocide in Gaza. “Netanyahu is trying to set the region on fire and sabotage diplomatic efforts,” Erdogan said, according to the statement.
As international concern mounts, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a 50-minute call on Saturday.
While Trump praised Israel’s strikes and warned Iran of harsher consequences, Putin expressed grave concern and called for a halt to the military campaign. Both leaders, however, left the door open to a possible return to nuclear talks.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke to his Iranian and Israeli counterparts and made clear Beijing’s support for Tehran.
Freshly crowned kings of Europe, Paris Saint-Germain arrived this week in the United States for the Club World Cup and are treating FIFA’s lucrative new competition not as a nuisance at the end of an exhausting season but as a serious objective.
“I think it is an incredible competition,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said of the Club World Cup in the immediate aftermath of his team’s UEFA Champions League triumph in Munich two weeks ago.
“Our aim is to be competitive and try to win a fifth trophy of the season.”
The Qatar-backed French giants could be forgiven for wanting some time to bask in the glory of their 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in Munich, which allowed them to finally win the Champions League for the first time in their history.
There had been numerous agonising failures in Europe’s elite club competition, as well as billions of euros spent on transfer fees on stars like Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, before captain Marquinhos raised the trophy aloft.
“We have made history for the club, for the city and for the whole country,” defender Lucas Hernandez told sports daily L’Equipe after the PSG squad paraded their trophy down the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris, attended a reception with President Emmanuel Macron and celebrated with almost 50,000 fans at their Parc des Princes stadium.
PSG have played 58 matches since last August and also swept all the available domestic trophies in France this season, as has become the norm in recent years.
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No Time to Stop
Paris Saint-Germain’s French defender #21 Lucas Hernandez (R) holds the UEFA Champions League Trophy during a parade on the Champs-Élysées avenue in Paris on June 1, 2025, a day after PSG won the 2025 UEFA Champions League final football match against Inter Milan in Munich. (Photo by Thibaud MORITZ / AFP)
But there is simply no time to stop and reflect.
Many of their players, including Champions League final hero Desire Doue, spent last week on international duty before returning to their club and departing for Los Angeles, where they will begin their Club World Cup adventure this weekend.
“The tournament itself is a really attractive prospect,” Luis Enrique told FIFA.com.
“We have to strike the balance between managing the physical and mental fatigue we’re experiencing now at the end of a long season and harnessing the motivation that comes with being involved in the competition.”
PSG’s opening game will be against another European heavyweight as they take on Antoine Griezmann’s Atletico Madrid at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, just outside Los Angeles, on Sunday.
They will then also face South American champions Botafogo, of Brazil, before moving north to take on Seattle Sounders in their remaining Group B matches.
Expected to qualify for the knockout phase without too many issues, PSG could end up playing a total of seven matches if they make it to the final in New York on July 13 — just a month before their scheduled first game of next season in the UEFA Supercup against Tottenham Hotspur.
The strain of such a long campaign is telling, with Ousmane Dembele — their top scorer this season with 33 goals — struggling with an injury picked up playing for France last week.
They did not manage to add any new players to their squad during the brief transfer window that opened at the start of this month ahead of the tournament — reported interest in Bournemouth’s Ukrainian defender Illia Zabarnyi did not turn into anything concrete.
But the rewards for success in the Club World Cup are enticing and should be enough to keep Luis Enrique’s squad focused on their objective, with up to a stunning $125 million in prize money on offer for the best-performing European team if they manage to go all the way.
Leinster captain Jack Conan says winning the United Rugby Championship helped his side “silence a few critics”.
Leo Cullen’s team won the competition for the first time since 2021 – and ninth time overall – after a comfortable 32-7 victory against the Bulls at Croke Park.
And Conan was pleased with the success after the Irish side’s recent shortcomings in European deciders.
“Definitely feeling a bit of relief, just so delighted for everyone who has put in so much work the last few years,” he told TG4.
“I’m glad we showed up and performed and were able to silence a few critics.”
Conan, who will now link up with the British and Irish Lions for their summer tour of Australia, revelled in winning the trophy at the GAA headquarters and in front of a crowd as Leinster’s last triumph in the competition four years ago was behind closed doors due to Covid.
“It’s incredibly special and not something you dream of growing up or even in the last few years it’s been a while since we played here,” he added in the post-match press conference.
Leinster led 19-0 at half-time and Conan believes the strong defensive effort to shut out South African visitors Bulls after racing into the lead helped his side over the line in the second half.
“To hold them out at half-time, credit to the lads for putting their heads in where you wouldn’t put a shovel, the mental lift that gave us was huge,” he admitted.
“Before the game we spoke about taking it moment by moment and not getting ahead of ourselves. We knew it was going to be unbelievably physical and there was no point focusing on the bigger picture, but we dealt really with how direct they were.
