Category Entertainment News

Reality star Sam Vanderpump and pregnant fashion model Alice Yaxley are now husband and wife after swapping vows at the Chelsea Registry Office in front of family and friends

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Reality star Sam Vanderpump has married Alice Yaxley amid his ongoing health battle. The Made in Chelsea star – who is the nephew of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump – and fashion model Alice enjoyed an “intimate” celebration as they became husband and wife on Sunday.

The pair, who became engaged in March this year, are also due to become parents, with a baby set to arrive in February. Sam, 28, who was born with rare health conditions which have severely damaged his kidneys, wore a pristine white tuxedo as he swapped vows with Alice, 24, who dazzled in a sleeveless wedding gown.

The young couple said “I do” while joined by close friends and family at the Chelsea Registry Office. The pair beamed as they exited the public government building and as guests showered them with confetti. Their nearest and dearest cheered, applauded and smiled as the new Mr and Mrs Vanderpump made their way down the steps.

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Other guests were well-dressed, wearing striking crimson red suits and sharp black tuxedos among the company. And passersby joined in with the celebrations, cheering for the couple as they made their way to the reception area.

One insider told the Daily Mail – who published photos of the couple exiting their service: “Sam and Alice’s ceremony was very small and intimate, but still gorgeous. They’re calling it ‘the start of our marriage’. Sam told Alice from the moment they met that life would never be boring with him, and so far, he’s delivered on that promise.

“Their baby is due on Valentine’s Day, so they’re set for a very exciting start to the New Year and to married life together.” And the couple also posed for glossy photographs, for Hello! Magazine.

Earlier this year, Sam revealed that he may only have four or five years left to live as health issues he has had since birth developed into an irreversible condition. He explained that he had been told he had developed end-stage liver disease and would need a transplant in order to prolong his life.

He was born with the conditions congenital hepatic fibrosis of the liver and polycystic kidney disease; however, they had been dormant. He was hospitalised with sepsis at the end of last year, and his body began shutting down.

Expressing his hope that a transplant will help him overcome his health issues, he said earlier this year: “In all truth, a liver transplant is extremely successful. So I’m going to be here for my son. I know that. And there are those fears. But you know, the context is I’m healthy now. My liver might not be good for four or five years.

“But I’m going to have this liver transplant, and everything’s going to be fine. I will live a long, happy life.” Sam and Alice have previously opened up about their hope to have a second wedding celebration in May next year once their child has arrived.

They have also explained that they plan to call their son Marmaduke, and the couple have also previously discussed their excitement about starting a family together. Alice previously explained: “We were always going to have our big wedding that was going to take a few years to plan, but the baby changed that… I think it’s nice that we’ll all have the same last name together.”

And gushing over his now wife, Sam previously explained their lust to get married following a whirlwind romance after realising they wanted to spend their futures together. He said: “I knew from the moment I met Alice that, if I was lucky enough, she’d be the girl I was going to marry, but I felt you couldn’t do that after six or 12 months.”

He went on to explain his health battle helped him take action to secure a happy future, explaining: “But after nearly dying, it put everything into perspective. Any second, anything can happen in life. I love her to pieces. I want to marry her. Why wait two years?”

Chart topping Chris Martin shocked wedding guests when he slipped into the reception to perform a song while the happy couple took to the floor for their first dance

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Chris Martin left a couple stunned when he performed at their wedding. The Coldplay star was only too happy to hop behind the piano to play a song for the first dance of a happy couple who had just tied the knot at a ceremony in Rugeley on Saturday night.

The mother of the groom had contacted the 48-year-old chart-topping star to ask if he would send a video message that could be played during the wedding celebrations. However, Chris went a few steps forward – and revealed he was free on the night in question and would pop down to perform.

The wedding took place in Staffordshire with a reception held at Blithfield Lakeside Barns, where family and friends gathered to celebrate the happy couple. When it came to the first dance for the new husband and wife, Chris quietly entered and performed the song All My Love – much to the amazement of those around.

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Blithfield Lakeside Barns co-owner Alex Brown revealed that Chris was first approached to make a video, but insisted he could go all out for the pair. Alex explained to StokeonTrentLive: “Chris got back and said he could go one better.

“He said I’m free that night, so I’ll come and play the first dance. He didn’t want any introduction, so we said it was the first dance, and he walked in and performed. The bride and groom did know he was coming. It was kept as a surprise for the guests. I don’t think they realised it was him until the end.”

Alex went on to lavish praise on Chris for taking time out of his evening to take part in the wedding – and also noted that the A List star’s inclusion did not draw attention away from the pair on the dancefloor.

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Chris himself was previously married to American actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who was his wife from 2003 until their divorce in 2016. Despite the pair being megastars, their wedding was a very low-key affair – with the couple becoming husband and wife in secret.

They got married in Santa Barbara, California, in December 2003 after picking up their marriage license at the Santa Barbara County courthouse. Reports at the time claimed the couple celebrated their nuptials without any family or friends attending their wedding.

They welcomed their daughter, Apple, the following year, while son Moses, who now performs in a band called People I’ve Met, arrived in April 2006. Chris and Gwyneth sparked ridicule in 2014 when they announced they were “conscious uncoupling” after a decade of marriage – but have remained close ever since.

More recently, Chris was romantically involved with American actress Dakota Johnson, 36, whom he began dating in 2017. They went on to become engaged; however, the couple split by June 2025, with reports suggesting a myriad of reasons for their breakup.

It was suggested that their 13-year age gap had been a point of contention, differing views on having children, and gruelling work demands may have all contributed to the collapse of the relationship. Meanwhile, Gwyneth has found love with TV producer Brad Falchuk, 54, whom she married in 2018.

I’m A Celebrity star Martin Kemp has reportedly been struggling at home recently as wife Shirlie made a rare admission about life at their Hertfordshire property

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Martin Kemp has been left “struggling” to keep up with the latest changes at home after his wife, singer Shirlie Kemp, admitted she is still unable to finalise the design of one room in their house despite several attempts.

Shirlie, who rose to fame in the 1980s as part of Wham! and later as one half of Pepsi & Shirlie, recently opened up about her ongoing frustration with the couple’s dining room. The pair have lived in their Hertfordshire home for around four years, but according to Shirlie, the space has already undergone multiple redecorations without success.

Explaining the issue, the 63-year-old told the Three Rooms podcast: “That’s the other thing that my husband finds hard, so, since I’ve been in this house, I think I’ve redecorated the dining room three times.

“We still haven’t got it right, we’ve only been here, maybe four years. It needs to go through one more this year, but I can’t get my dining room right. And I keep thinking, is it because it doesn’t want to be a dining room. Yeah, the house is trying to tell me no, this isn’t the dining room.”

The comments provide a rare insight into domestic life for the Kemps, who have been married since 1988. The couple met during the height of their respective music careers, with Martin then performing as the bassist in Spandau Ballet while Shirlie was working closely with George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. Their relationship quickly became one of the most enduring partnerships to emerge from the 1980s pop scene.

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They went on to have two children: radio and television presenter Roman Kemp, born in 1993, and their daughter Harley Moon, born in 1989, who works as a songwriter and creative consultant. Despite their public profiles, Martin and Shirlie have generally maintained a private family life, choosing to settle outside of London in later years.

Martin, who has recently returned from starring in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity in the Austalian jungle, has previously been keeping himself busy with paintbrushes and gardening tools.

The Spandau Ballet musician, 64, has completely transformed his family home into a cosy cottage with his wife, Shirlie. Throughout the renovation, the pair have offered fans an inside look at the journey.

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The couple have been keeping fans updated with their efforts turning their Victorian property into their ideal retreat – a welcome sanctuary for Martin after long stretches spent sleeping in a hammock surrounded by critters.

Shirlie has been documenting the makeover on their joint Instagram account, Maison Number 9, where the former Pepsi star frequently posts videos of herself hard at work in the garden, which she is now preparing for Christmas.

Comedian and science writer Robin Ince has shocked his followers by revealing he will no longer appear on his BBC Radio 4 show, The Infinite Monkey Cage, after shock resignation

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Comedian Robin Ince has quit his BBC Radio job in protest over being “silenced” over his personal views. The 56-year-old comedian and writer is known for co-hosting the BBC Radio 4 show The Infinite Monkey Cage alongside Professor Brian Cox.

He has helmed the show since 2009, but felt compelled to walk away from the show after 16 years of service, as he allegedly faced being forced to “quieten” about his political beliefs. The Infinite Monkey Cage won over fans by looking at the world through a scientific lens – and adding comedic observations in the process.

However, Robin has accused the BBC of leaving him no option but to quit the series, claiming that bosses were objecting to his views on transgender issues, political movements, and other topics. Rather than censor himself, the comedian opted to resign from the show in order to speak out further.

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In a lengthy post shared via Bluesky, Robin explained that listeners will no longer hear his voice on the show. He wrote: “This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage.”

He went on: “I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until I dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys.”

Robin then went on to clarify that he had not been fired from the series, but rather, he had decided to leave the show. He explained: “I resigned in September, after 16 years of dedication to the show, a show that I named and helped develop over all those years.

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“Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for some time, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter.”

The stand-up star – who has opened shows for Ricky Gervais in the past and also performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – went on to claim he was backed into a corner that gave him no other option than to quit his show. He went on to claim: “In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain in Monkey Cage, or ‘Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices.’ I chose the latter. It broke my heart.”

Appealing to his listeners, he continued: “I love this show, and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open-mindedness, and empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn’t pamper myself with the luxury of silence.”

He went on further: “One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign, and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. Despite this, I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not ‘Just a job.'”

Ending with something of a manifesto for his future, he wrote: “I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists, too.”

Robin’s announcement has sparked a flurry of comments on social media – ranging from those expressing distress over his resignation from the show, to others questioning if he may not have resigned. Others have targeted his co-star, suggesting Brian Cox should resign in solidarity, and others, feeling the show cannot continue without the presence of the co-founder.

Molly Rainford opens up about remembering her nan at Christmas, supporting carers alongside Marie Curie and waving goodbye to EastEnders

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Christmas is just around the corner – and, as traditional as twinkly lights and stockings hung on the fireplace, the EastEnders Christmas special is being teased to excited fans. But for one of its stars, Molly Rainford, the most wonderful time of the year will also bring sadness this festive season.

For the Rainfords, Christmas has always been about family, as 25 December also happened to be Molly’s beloved grandmother Christine’s birthday. As well as turkey and all the trimmings, they’d bring out the birthday cake and make it all about her – until Christine sadly died of pancreatic cancer, aged 77, in the summer of 2024… and everything changed.

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“I do feel very lucky because I had both sets of grandparents up until last year,” Molly, 25, tells new. “My nan’s birthday was at Christmas so… yeah, it’s a strange time of year for me now. We had our first Christmas without her last year, and it’s still a weird time.”

As Molly explains, she’s incorporating elements of her beloved nan into the festivities to remember her by. “One sweet thing my nan always loved was having those nutcracker men in her house – but all year round! So I’m making sure I have something like that as part of my festive decorations now, to remind me of her,” says Molly.

The actress is also giving back this holiday season, by helping a charity close to her heart – Marie Curie, which has launched a campaign entitled End of Life Salon, providing nail and hair treatments to end-of-life carers who are giving palliative care to loved ones.

Molly told us she loves the idea of giving these special people, who are often living through heartbreaking situations, an opportunity to relax and have some time for themselves.

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“My nan didn’t get to a point where she was in hospital. She didn’t have a minute to go into hospice and be looked after,” Molly explains, sadly. “I think that’s why the End of Life Salon resonates with me so much – I feel like, if Nan had got to that place, it would have been really helpful for my mum.”

She adds, “I love the idea of giving the carers an opportunity to have time for themselves and just have a bit of a reflection. It’s such a tough, tough job they have to do. They have to take on everyone else’s emotions, grief, all of that stuff. So this is just a chance to take that pressure off for a minute.”

Molly’s mum Sarah, and her aunts, became her grandmother’s main carers in her final weeks. “Seeing my mum go through that was an intense emotional journey for me,” she says. The actress and her mother almost experienced a role reversal in their relationship, she reflects, saying, “I had to step in and be the strong one.”

The whole experience led her to a profound realisation. “It reminds you that your grandparents and parents aren’t immortal,” she says. “They’re not just going to live forever.”

Before she died, Molly’s nan was a big fan of everything her granddaughter was doing. One career move Christine was particularly excited about was Molly’s stint on Richard Osman’s House Of Games, which she went on to win. “It was nice to win something!” Molly laughs.

But the star also came tantalisingly close to bringing home the Strictly Come Dancing Glitterball – reaching the final with her professional partner Carlos Gu in 2022, and finishing as runner-up.

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She’s been enjoying this year’s Strictly, she tells us. Not only did she go far herself on the show, it’s also where she met her fiancé, Tyler West, so it will always hold a special place in her heart. We’ve recently seen the couple travelling across Central America in the BBC’s Celebrity Race Across The World.

Of course, Molly’s rooting for her former dance partner Carlos and his current celebrity partner, Karen Carney – but she admits she was disappointed when another couple left the show.

“I was gutted about Vicky Pattison because I really thought she was going to smash it and win the final,” she says. “She’s so amazing and such a lovely lady. And Kai Widdrington – well, he’s one of my best friends.”

She also came to the defence of former Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope, who has come under fire since joining the dance show due to his prior dance ‘experience’ – which the star has argued was minimal, and a totally different style to what he’s learning on Strictly.

“I know people say things about some contestants having more previous experience, but I think that’s what makes the show so cool,” says Molly. “You see people with different abilities, and that’s what makes it so entertaining. You can see the progress in everyone, which is something I love.”

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Next year’s series will be very different, as long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will be gone. Molly admits she’s “sad” at their imminent departure.

“Because they’re part of the family, you know?” she says. “I’m really sad. I do think Anton Du Beke would make a good replacement, though!”

Tess and Claudia aren’t the only ones making dramatic exits this year. Molly, who has been playing EastEnders’ Anna Knight for two years, is set to leave the BBC soap, with her final scenes airing at Christmas.

On leaving EastEnders, she says, “I learned how to be a professional by being around so many amazing actors all day long. I want to use those skills and do something new.

“What’s so amazing about EastEnders is that you get to do what you love every day. I feel like I’m blessed that I was part of it. Hopefully, the door’s still open for me to go back. But, yeah, I just want to get out there and experience more.”

For more information about caring for a loved one, visit mariecurie.org.uk/support or call the Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309

Emmerdale star Lewis Cope and dance partner Katya Jones saw their Strictly dream come to an abrupt end last week – but now the actor has hinted he could soon reunited with his co-star on the dancefloor

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Lewis Cope has teased a reunion with Katya Jones a week after they were brutally cut from Strictly Come Dancing. The Emmerdale star, 30, was paired with 36-year-old Russian dancer Katya for the 2025 season.

Despite being hot favourites for the 23rd season, Lewis and Katya were sent home last week after losing a dance-off against Love Island star Amber Davies and dancer Nikita Kuzmin. The rival couple were unanimously saved by judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood – sealing the fate of Lewis and Katya.

Fans of the duo may have reason to celebrate, however, as the soap actor has now hinted that he could soon reunite with his dance partner to hit the ballroom floor again. Taking to social media over the weekend, the Nicky Miligan actor laid out his plans for the future.

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In footage showing him walking across a sun-soaked, if chilly-looking beach, the actor opened up to his fans and followers. He began: “Hello, everyone. I just thought I’d jump on here because I’ve realised I haven’t really spoke for a week.”

He continued: “So I just want to say thank you so much for the thousands of comments and messages and the love and the support. I had an absolute ball on that show, and of course, I would have loved to have been dancing again tonight. But you know that doesn’t really stand for much because I would do it every single week for the next six weeks if I could.”

Teasing a return to dancing, he continued: “Hopefully we’ll be able to dance for you again soon.” He then went on to confront negative comments that have been aimed towards Strictly and the remaining 2025 contestants.

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Lewis said: “I think you know just enjoy the show and try to keep it positive and stay away from saying anything negative about anyone else because everyone’s doing the best. It’s just the TV show and they all deserve to be there. So have a lovely, lovely weekend.”

He then shared footage of himself spinning on the spot while on the beach, writing across the short video: “We got ten 10’s. I’m the 10th sibling. And it was Katya’s 10th year. If I could, I would relive it over and over again. It was my number one favourite life experience. Thank you.”

He later shared photos and video clips of himself enjoying an evening with his girlfriend, Maya Lopez. Lewis’s enchanting seaside weekend came after he faced criticism for taking part in Strictly when he had a well-documented history of dancing.

He appeared in a stage version of Billy Elliot in his youth, and went on to be a runner-up in the Sky One dance series Got to Dance back in 2013. And Lewis is not the only 2025 contestant to be targeted for his stage and dance experience.

Amber, who arguably sent him home by winning the dance off the week before, has also faced vicious comments due to the fact she has reinvented herself from a Love Island contestant to a West End star, where she makes a living dancing and singing on stage. She has been brutally trolled online, leading her dance partner, Nikita, to appeal to viewers to stop sending her hateful comments online.

On Saturday night, he declared on the BBC show: “You had so much hate every single day from the moment you joined. You had so much hate this week and yet you came every single day into the training room with a big smile, ignoring everybody.” His comments drew approval from the other contestants and dancers on the show – which is now one week away from the live grand finale – where either Amber and Nikita, Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon, George Clarke and Alexis Warr, or Karen Carney and Carlos Gu will win the show.