All posts by 234Radio

Abbey Clancy clearly adores life with her family – 6ft 7 “former England striker Peter Crouch, 44, and their four children. But there’s one element of parenting their brood with Peter that can get on her nerves, as she admits candidly in an exclusive interview with OK!.

When it comes to parenting Sophia, who turns 14 this week, Liberty, nine, Johnny, seven, and five-year-old Jack, says Abbey, Mum and Dad have very distinct roles”. Pete’s good cop and I’m bad cop, “she admits”. I’m the one going, ‘ Do your homework, eat your veg, ‘ and Pete’s like, ‘ Let’s play, kids! ‘ which can be annoying but… it works. “

Despite having to play the strict parent, she adds”, Our kids are very good, though. They’ve all got distinct personalities but they’re all easy-going. That’s not to say family life isn’t chaotic – it’s totally chaotic! There’s absolutely nothing chilled about the Crouch household, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. “

The devoted mum also admits that, having dreamed about finding some precious ‘ me ‘ time when her children were younger, she misses them now they’re all of school age and out of the door in the morning – albeit to four different schools, making drop-offs and pick-ups interesting”. I do miss them running about the place, “Abbey reflects”. We love everything about family life. I mean, my kids are not happy unless they’re three inches away from me – even Sophia, my eldest – and I really hope that continues. “

And though the model and presenter admits that she and Peter, who have been together for nearly two decades and married for 14 years, genuinely love spending any spare minute they have in each other’s company, she admits jokingly that there are other things about her other half that can get on her nerves”. I don’t need ‘ space ‘ from Peter – unless I’m ill, like I am at the minute, because he’s a c**p nurse and I want him to go away! He’s useless then! “

Abbey, who is also debuting the gorgeous new clothing range she has created for F&amp, F, joking that she’s” channelling her Western era”, says the former Premier League player also has a penchant for stealing her beauty products, regularly dipping in and out of his wife’s collection”. He’s an absolute nightmare, “she laughs”. I buy myself a special shampoo that costs a fortune for dyed blonde hair, and he’s finished it after two washes. The cheek! “

Abbey Clancy’s Top Spring Picks are now available to buy in the majority of larger Tesco stores.

* Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

Spencer Matthews has revealed his joy at Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan’s baby news. The dad of three is thrilled his pal Mark is about to become a dad at the age of 38. Last year Spencer shot an advertisement with his pal Mark Wright for Marks &amp, Spencer’s male fashion range. The campaign deepened their friendship and now Spencer is delighted that Mark is about to become a father with his wife, the actress Michelle Keegan.

“He’ll be a fantastic dad”, says Spencer. “It’s such great news after all these years that they’ve decided to have kids. I think it’s wonderful for him. I’m looking forward to seeing him grow into the awesome father I know he will be. It’ll be a beautiful time in his life”.

Mark and Michelle announced their baby news in December last year. Now Michelle and Mark are waiting for their firstborn to arrive. Spencer, who is married to model Vogue Williams, predicts becoming a dad will change Mark, just like it changed him.

“Being a father has changed me a lot”, says Spencer. “Maybe I’m still the main character in my life but I have other people around me to be prioritised. I was pretty selfish for a while when I was a bit younger. My wife is sitting next to me and she probably still thinks I am, but it’s slightly less so now. Just growing up generally and doing positive things regularly, gradually makes you change. I love having kids. It has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me for sure”.

Spencer is famously rich, however, he’s determined his own children will work hard for the luxuries in life. The father-of-three, 36, has spent the last five years transforming his image from reality TV playboy to sober businessman and endurance athlete, and the hard yards have convinced him not to afford his children a life of privilege – or a trust fund.

“Suffer is too strong a word, but it’s very important that my kids have to challenge themselves and experience things on their own”, says Spencer, who was educated at Eton where fees are currently £63, 000 a year. “There’s no point in doing well in life and then giving it all to your kids. It’s doing them a huge disservice”.

Spencer married model Vogue, 39, in June 2018 in a high society wedding at the family’s Glen Affric Estate in Cannich surrounded by close friends and family, before following it up with a star-studded second ceremony in London that was filmed for E4. At the time of their first wedding, Vogue was seven months pregnant with their son Theodore, six, who arrived in September 2018. Theodore was followed by Gigi, four, and Otto who turns three in April.

In fact, Spencer is already ensuring his children are challenging themselves and Theodore has recently joined his local Parkrun, perhaps inspired by Spencer’s world record for running 30 marathons in 30 days on sand last summer. “Theodore is starting to run now”, says Spencer. “He ran two kilometres the other day with an average pace of 5 minutes 20 seconds per kilometre. I was just so proud of him because the kid got around two laps, and some kids give up after one lap because they’re given that option. And he pushed through it to do two laps. The more comfort you wrap around people in general, the weaker they will become”.

Comedian Jimmy Carr is not best known for his wisdom but he’s certainly inspired Spencer’s vision of fatherhood. “Jimmy quite eloquently talks about trust fund kids who are given everything, and he sees them as just being really unfortunate, actually”, says Spencer. “And I would completely agree”.

Spencer has partnered with Mercedes-Benz Vans to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Sprinter, their most enduring
and reliable van on the market, which has kept businesses moving for three decades.

Join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Apple News, TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads – or visit The Mirror homepage.

If I’m honest shapewear isn’t something I often reach for. A figure-hugging outfit isn’t my usual go-to, and when I do wear something more form fitting I tend to eschew tight shapewear in favour of comfort.

Whilst I don’t believe anyone needs shapewear, some outfits can benefit from a smoother base underneath, whether to stop a pattern from distorting, to hide lines from your underwear seams, or to make you feel more comfortable and confident. As there have been times I’ve thought something I’m wearing would look more streamlined with the addition of shapewear, I decided to try on Spanx’s brand new SpanxShape range – and I was absolutely blown away by the results.

READ MORE: Bohomoon launches huge sale that sees every piece of jewellery slashed to £10

READ MORE: Frankie Bridge’s navy suit is the perfect way to nail office tailoring for spring

The SpanxShape range takes high quality cotton shapewear and gives it performance capabilities, like sweat wicking, breathability and a lightweight feel. It’s made from a combination of Lycra elastane and nylon, along with Supima cotton, which makes it the first of its kind on the market, and features Spanx’s signature four way stretch.

The brand new SpanxShape collection has shapewear separates including vest tops and knickers that smooth and sculpt your body and can be worn together or individually depending on which part of your figure you want to smooth. You can choose from full briefs, vest tops, thongs and mid-thigh length shorts in colours including beige, black and lighter pastel shades.

I opted for the SPANXshape Invisible Supima Cotton Cami, £78, and the SPANXshape Invisible Supima Cotton Thong, £56, in black, as I felt they were two pieces that would be incredibly useful and work with plenty of different outfits. I’m typically a size 14 on the bottom and a size 12 on the top, and I chose both of the Spanx items in a size large.

How did the SpanxShape range fit?

I’ll be honest that getting the Cotton Cami on initially was a struggle – the compression fabric is thick with plenty of stretch, but it does require a little wiggling to get it into place. However, once it was on the effect was instantaneous. Where usually I have some lumps and bumps, it was instantly smoother, my waist was more defined and the long length of the vest meant it took the smoothing effect right down to my hips.

The straps are adjustable and the chest area doesn’t have any compression, but if you have a larger bust it may be worth going up a size, as it did flatten my chest down slightly and it may not be as comfortable for you. However I found it surprisingly comfy once it was on, and it didn’t roll up at the bottom or feel like it was slipping down.

The Cotton Thong was much easier to put on, and was also really comfortable to wear. The thong cut meant there was no VPL under my dress, and the waistband stayed firmly in place with no rolling down.

I’ve tried shapewear thongs before and they rode up with every step which is horribly uncomfortable, but thankfully none of that happened with the Spanx Cotton Thong. It also has a high waist band that went up over my hips so there was no awkward digging in or ‘ muffin top’.

Did they work?

Yes. Instantly. The effect from both pieces was quite astonishing. I tried on a black figure hugging dress that has plenty of stretch but does tend to show off some lumps and bumps when I wear it, and I couldn’t believe the difference.

My waist was much more defined and it gave me a more streamlined hourglass figure that genuinely did make me look like I’d gone down a whole dress size. Although there were still a couple of bumps (which is absolutely fine) they were much less pronounced and it allowed the cut of the dress to shine without detracting from its silhouette.

Whilst I may not be reaching for my SpanxShape pieces every single day, I’ll definitely be putting them to use on days when I need a little confidence boost or want to give my outfit some streamlining. You can shop the full SpanxShape range now.

For some alternative options, I’ve always loved Boux Avenue’s shapewear too. The Smoothing Soft-Stretch High Waisted Thong is an affordable pick at £16 and is another one that doesn’t roll down or ride up as you wear it. The waistband is super wide and comfortable, and the fit is flattering and smoothing without being too tight.

Marks &amp, Spencer also has a great range, with everything from waist cinching knickers and bodysuits to slip dresses and cami tops. Items vary in price, but they’re generally a great affordable option if you’re looking for some pieces to add to your collection.

It’s Sunday, and one star sign will seek exciting new experiences, while another should be assertive in their relationships.

There are 12 zodiac signs – Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces – and the horoscopes for each can give you the lowdown on what your future holds, be it in work, your love life, your friends and family or more.

These daily forecasts have been compiled by astrologer Russell Grant, who has been reading star signs for over 50 years. From horoscopes/aries/daily/”>Aries through to Pisces, here’s what today could bring for your horoscope – and what you can do to be prepared.

Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 20)

If you’ve been struggling to understand a problem, you will eventually start to see things more clearly and this will be due to the help of a wise teacher. Get ready for a fun evening, even if you didn’t have any plans for it. A housemate is arranging something special for you.

Taurus (Apr 21 – May 21)

Your aim now is to prioritise your own desires rather than simply following what others want. By being assertive in your relationships, you will be communicating to those around you that it’s your turn to focus on what you truly want.

Gemini (May 22 – June 21)

You can look forward to making good progress if you are aiming for a promotion or a pay raise. While feelings may run strong, you’ll achieve the best outcomes by keeping all conversations and debates focused on practical matters.

Cancer (June 22 – July 23)

If you’ve had to put personal plans on the back burner, now is the perfect time to return to these. Make your own needs a priority. Someone close is making some unexpected changes in plans. They expect you to go along with their wishes but you don’t have to if you don’t want to.

Leo (July 24 – Aug 23

Housemates or close family members will speak without considering their words. Their remarks might lead to misunderstandings or even hurt feelings. Instead of getting frustrated, gently suggest they should be more mindful of their comments.

Virgo (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Take some time to make plans and arrangements and to organise your life so you feel more in control. Even if you aren’t in the mood for some events today, at least you can make a commitment for when you’re likely to feel more energised and confident.

Libra (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

A relationship or commitment is over. Your thoughts feel scattered and this makes it difficult for you to focus on any one thing. Take a deep breath and pull yourself together or you will continue to wander through the day without purpose.

Scorpio (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

A strong case of wanderlust can make it difficult for you to concentrate on anything serious. Don’t limit yourself to boring chores or staying in one spot. Now is the time to venture out and seek exciting experiences. Let your imagination run wild.

Sagittarius (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

People are unpredictable, failing to meet up as planned or deciding not to go along with arrangements already made. If others are setting the rules to suit themselves, let them see you won’t go along with this by changing them again to fit in with your needs.

Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

If there is something special you would like and someone close has the ability to provide this for you, don’t hesitate to approach them. Ask and you will receive. Are you single? The chance of a lasting relationship is on the horizon for you.

Aquarius (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

You’re unlikely to feel content if you have to stay in one spot for too long, especially if it means being cooped up indoors all day. What you truly crave right now is a busy environment, ideally filled with a constant flow of people.

Pisces (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

You might find yourself hosting gatherings more often than normal, possibly due to spontaneous get-togethers and celebrations. People know they can count on you to come up with quick ideas. A chance meeting with someone from your past could lead to an intriguing opportunity.