Category Entertainment News

Superstar Kylie Minogue on her new festive album, spending a sunny Christmas down under and reflecting on her iconic Glastonbury set

View 5 Images

Australian pop princess Kylie Minogue is very much looking forward to Christmas — but this year, she tells us, she’s ready to embrace the sun-kissed version celebrated down under, complete with copious sunscreen and barbecues on the beach. Kylie, who at 57 somehow manages to look as youthful and glowing as she did in the 90s, is fresh from her hugely successful Tension world tour.

Not one to rest on her laurels, however, she has also re-released her much-loved 2015 festive album, Kylie Christmas . The new edition, Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped) , includes four new tracks and some intriguing collaborations. Here, the singer reveals what Christmas means to her, her hopes for 2026 — and her proudest moment to date…

View 5 Images

Hi, Kylie! What does Christmas mean to you?

I love Christmas, and I am going to say something completely unoriginal, but it really is about being with people you love. It’s really fun to race around and get the tree organised, try and find the perfect present for someone and just do the things that make us happy.

Where will you be spending the festive season this year?

I think I might be in Australia this year. It’ll be a barbecue Christmas at our family home. We have a country place that is really peaceful and very private. I don’t quite feel like I am 16 when I am there, it’s not a family home we had when I was a teenager but it reconnects me with nature back in Australia. It’s a special place. It’ll be fun but I do like a cold Christmas best.

What made you want to do this Fully Wrapped version of your Christmas album?

I always thought that I would do a Christmas album at some point, I just didn’t know when. Then, 10 years ago, when it transpired we had so much fun making it and we had so many ideas that we thought we should look at doing something else for Christmas. I would love people to listen to this album and feel some abandon and joy at Christmas. I just hope people enjoy it and feel good.

View 5 Images

Can you tell us about some of the standout tracks?

My new single, XMAS , came from an idea we had back then, when we had just finished recording Kylie Christmas . Office Party is also a really fun new song for Christmas that I’m excited for everyone to hear. I’m so happy it has become a reality and that everyone is finally catching up because, for me, it has been Christmas since June!

Is Office Party inspired by a Christmas party you’ve been to?

Well, I’ve never had an office job so I have never actually been to a real office Christmas party! The closest I get is probably a backstage party, somewhere. But the song is my take on an office Christmas party — and that moment when everything changes from the usual work situation.

You’ve been so busy this year. When did you find the time to work on this album?

We had to fit it in between dates on the Tension tour. We recorded the whole thing when I probably should have been taking time off. Instead, I was in the studio thinking of Christmas!

You have some incredible collaborations on it, tell us more…

I have a duet with my sister, Dannii. We wrote a Christmas song called 100 Degrees because, you know, I am Australian and I really wanted to have a song on the album that talks about it being summertime at Christmas. We’re getting colder but it’s getting hotter down under. It’s such a fun song. I also have a duet with Frank Sinatra on there.

View 5 Images

Do you have a Christmas wish to take you into 2026?

To be able to spend more time with my family. To achieve what I want to achieve in my career takes a lot of time, so I hang on to the thought that I am going to take some time off and see my family more.

Does it often come down to a choice of career or personal life for you?

You have to try and find the sweet spot. It’s quite difficult to find the harmony and balance between what you do, putting yourself out there, and connecting with the world. Sadly, you can’t just decide when to turn it on and off. My place of respite and my safety zone is really just being with my family and being at home. But, I also feel at home on stage. It’s a merry dance!

What motivates you to keep going?

I just love what I do. There’s always a song that hasn’t been written or that hasn’t been sung. I love my audience and I have more to share. I feel good and I am excited to do more and to see what comes next.

How does it make you feel when people remember your hits from the past?

It’s amazing. I mark so many places in so many people’s lives that it makes them reflect. It’s something that never fails to amaze me. I feel very humble about having such an effect on people. I don’t take it for granted.

View 5 Images

When you look back over your career, what moment makes you most proud?

There are a thousand things. Playing the legends slot at Glastonbury in 2019 was a moment for me. But I don’t pat myself on the back very often. I’m too busy going, “What didn’t I do? What can I do next?” But at that moment I thought, “Wow!” Standing on that stage I did allow myself a tiny moment of, “Yeah, finally. I do feel like I deserve to stand on this stage.” But I’m still curious, I still love performing and I love my audience and what they give to me. That will always be the most beautiful thing.

Lily Allen is the most successful she’s ever been after releasing her best album to date and launching a sell out tour – but what has become of ex-husband David and ‘Madeline?’

View 7 Images

Lily Allen is arguably the most successful she’s ever been at this moment – her latest album, West End Girl, about her brutal breakup with husband David Harbour topped the UK download charts and sparked a sell out tour.

The release of her ‘revenge’ album at the end of October 2025, appeared to be perfectly timed to coincide with ex David’s promo tour for the final series of Stranger Things, leading some to suggest it was a PR stunt.

There’s even talk it could be turned into a play, with 40-year-old Lily appearing to confirm it during an appearance on The Tonight Show in the US this week. Host Jimmy Fallon asked: “In London, they’re trying to make West End Girl into a play?”

“That’s true,” Lily replied, saying she might be involved in the project but that “the ink is not dry”. “But, you know, I’m definitely having some conversations with people about it. It’s very exciting,” she added. And David could be the butt of some jokes when she appears on Saturday Night Live this weekend.

READ MORE: Lily Allen’s ‘revenge album’ inspired Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year

View 7 Images

View 7 Images

Though she’s admitted the album is ‘autofiction’ – suggesting not all the songs are actually about David, 50 – there are clear references to their four-year relationship, such as moving to New York and discovering he was cheating on her – which he hasn’t denied.

But the question on everyone’s lips after the album dropped was ”Who is Madeline?’ Referenced in her track Tennis, Lily details how she uncovered David’s affair with American costume designer Natalie Tippett, thought to be 34, from a message on his phone.

Natalie stepped forward as the woman behind the moniker after reportedly meeting David while shooting 2021 Netflix film We Have A Ghost.

In the song ‘Madeline’ – which she uses as a pseudonym for Natalie – Lily quotes texts seemingly sent between herself and Natalie. In what appears to be Lily putting on an American accent, she says Natalie told her David was being honest about their relationship. Lily and David had agreed to an open marriage at the time.

View 7 Images

View 7 Images

Lyrics from the song claim Natalie said: “He is telling you the truth. Our relationship has only ever been about sex. I can promise you that this is not an emotional connection. We don’t speak outside the time we spend together and whenever he walks about you it’s with the utmost respect.”

She goes on to say that if David is lying, she wants to know as “lies are not something I want to get caught up in”. She ends by saying: “You can reach out to me any time. If you need more details or you just need to vent or anything. Love and light, Madeline [Natalie].”

View 7 Images

View 7 Images

Though David and Natalie’s relationship is said to have ended two years ago after meeting on the set of 2023 film We Have a Ghost, the pair are rumoured to have reconnected again this year knowing Lily’s album was about to drop.

Natalie set tongues wagging when she shared pics of herself at the Thermea Spa Village in Winnipeg in Canada at around the same time David was also in town filming the sequel to his action hit Violent Night.

While David was in town for work, Natalie – who is a single mum based in New Orleans – was not officially attached to the production. So her apparent presence in the Canadian city, thousands of miles from her home with her two-year-old daughter, has fuelled intense speculation that she was there solely to visit him.

For now, neither has confirmed their relationship status but a source told Daily Mail: “We know that he and Natalie have been together recently.” An insider reportedly claimed that the pair have remained in contact and may even have got closer amid the fallout from the song.

But Natalie hasn’t shied away from the fact she’s the real life ‘Madeline’. She also told the Mail: “Of course I’ve heard the song, but I have a family and things to protect. It’s a little bit scary for me.”

As for David? So far, he’s yet to address Lily’s accusations directly – and perhaps won’t publicly – especially as he won’t want to rock the boat with the final episodes of Stranger Things due to come out. Released in three parts, episodes one to four went on Netflix on November 26. While fans will have to wait until Christmas Day to watch episodes five to seven, with the big finale available to stream from New Year’s Eve.

The only thing he has said was in an interview with Esquire Spain, which was published on November 1, when he reflected on his “pain, slip-ups and mistakes.” Asked if there was anything he would change about his life, the actor said: “That’s such a hard question – the question of regre. I would change either everything or nothing.

“You either accept your path completely and realise that even the pain and the slip-ups and the mistakes are all part of the journey, and that there’s truth and growth, wisdom and deeper empathy and connection in all that. It’s kind of like a house of cards, the minute you try to change one thing you kind of have to change it all.” And it seems he has changed it all. Hey, Madeline…

READ MORE: Ted Baker necklace that’s an affordable alternative to Kate Middleton’s pearl jewellery is on sale

While on an official engagement in Scotland earlier this year, the Princess of Wales candidly shared her unusual Christmas present and how it helps with a bizarre hobby

View 3 Images

Princess Kate revealed that she received a chainsaw as a Christmas present last year in a candid admission while on a royal engagement earlier this year. In April, the Prince and Princess of Wales travelled to the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides, as they celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary.

Mucking in at the community hall in the village of Tobermory, Kate asked for tips on carpentry and beekeeping and revealed the strange Christmas present when the royal couple were shown some of the refurbishment work, meeting the painter, carpenter and volunteers before getting involved in the action themselves.

READ MORE: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quietly release new Netflix show inspired by ArchieREAD MORE: Have William and Kate been ‘selfish’ in their move to Forest Lodge? Take our poll and have your say

View 3 Images

Shown a small work station, where Tom Nelson was making a new ‘surround’ for the community food bank fridge with wooden tiles on its roof, the Prince and Princess agreed to use a nail gun to add their own.

He fired several nails successfully before handing it over to his wife, advising her not to pull the trigger then and there “otherwise our trip will be remembered for all the wrong reasons”.

Crouching down and adding her tiles matter-of-factly, the Princess was heard to say “I’ve been given a chainsaw” for Christmas. Banjo, a carpenter admiring her work, told William: “What can’t she do!”. William, acknowledging his wife’s prowess at trying things out on public engagements, replied: “That always happens.”

Later during the trip, Kate, who has previously told how nature became her family’s ‘sanctuary’ after her diagnosis and during chemotherapy last year, told a local beekeeper how she was “desperate for any tips” for her new hobby.

View 3 Images

The princess spent so long speaking to Sheila Barnard at a pop up market in the village of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides, that her husband Prince William jokingly suggested he was going to stage an intervention.

Moving along several stall holders from local businesses, William and Kate – known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, stopped to talk to Sheila and her husband Tim who have been keeping bees for more than 30 years.

Sheila told the princess how their nine colonies of the native black bee are the only variety that survive over 5 degrees during the harsh winters on the island.

Kate said: “This is my summer project, I’ve only just started. At our home in Norfolk, I’m not there much during term time but during the summer I am hoping to really immerse myself in the process. I find it absolutely fascinating. I’ll have to take your number for some tips!”

As Kate asked Sheila “what sort of advice would you have for a novice, I’m desperate for any tips”, William leant in and joked to his wife: “This sounds like a conversation that could go on for a while so you’ll have to take Sheila’s number.”

In a recent podcast episode, celebrity chef James Martin opened up about his culinary origins and explained why he “didn’t give a s***” when he received some savage criticism

View 3 Images

James Martin has explained why he “didn’t give a s***” when he received criticism over what was described as the “disappointing” volume of work he produced as a boy. In a recent episode of Good Housekeeping UK’s My Life in a Biscuit Tin podcast, in which host Liz Moseley invites guests to stash various personal items in a metaphorical biscuit tin, James opened up about his culinary origins.

His first item was a small stack of school exercise books from his childhood, including his “most treasured possession”, a book from his primary school, around the time he started his career in the kitchen as a pot washer aged nine.

James explained that he worked at the Castle Howard estate in North Yorkshire, and once he found himself in the kitchen, he “felt it was my home.” However, as he continued with his schooling, he evidently left one person feeling somewhat disappointed.

Liz proceeded to read a comment from his exercise book from 1983, when James, known for such shows as James Martin’s Saturday Morning, James Martin’s United Cakes of America and The Box, was 11 years old.

View 3 Images

In the author’s words, she told the podcast: “James has often displayed enthusiasm for various projects, but at the end of the day, the amount of work forthcoming has been disappointing.”

She noted that the comments were “brutal” and asked the celebrity chef if he had been “sad”, to which he replied on the podcast: “Not really; I didn’t give a s***, to be honest with you.”

Laughing, he continued: “But I didn’t. I didn’t; I’m sorry to ask. I didn’t because I just knew I want… that’s what I wanted to do, I knew from the age of nine that hospitality was going to be my thing.”

In other news, James recently got in the festive spirit on ITV’s This Morning by sharing the recipe for a simple three-ingredient gravy for our Christmas dinners, urging people to buy ready-made stock before it sells out.

View 3 Images

James said: “It’s veal stock or chicken stock – that’s what you want. You can’t really make it out of turkey stock, because it’s not gonna taste the same.”

James poured red wine into a saucepan (you will need roughly half a bottle if you’re having 10 guests). He added: “Doesn’t have to be anything fancy, in the pan. Then you put these stocks in there, about a litre and a half of this stock, so a decent amount.”

He then advised adding a portion of butter (about a third of a block) prior to gently reducing it. James added: “Now, the butter will sit on the top. When the sauce is ready, it all emulsifies into a gravy, into a classic chef-style jus or a sauce.”

James places the cooled gravy into ice cube trays, freezes it, and later uses two cubes per guest (heating it up in a pan).

If you’ve been looking to ditch bulky night lights in your home, Stacey Solomon might have just the ticket with these smart elegant plug-in lights from Amazon

View 2 Images

Stacey Solomon is always sharing her homeware finds with fans, and this week is no different as she showcases to fans what she’s opted to decorate her home with instead of traditional “bulky” and “ugly” night lights. Taking to Instagram, Stacey revealed that she’s been adoring these Amazon smart lights, which look more elegant and decorative than average models.

In an Instagram post, Stacey announced she was “so happy” with these LOHAS-LED Plug-In Night Lights, which are currently available for £18.99. Available in a range of patterns and designs, it’s the warm-white bubble glass option that has captured Stacey’s heart and earned a spot in her Amazon basket.

READ MORE: Cult-favourite foundation that ‘stays put all day’ gets price axed by 25% in limited-time deal

READ MORE: ‘Beautiful and long-lasting’ fragrance with nearly 5000 reviews gets mega 65% discount

View 2 Images

Described as being crafted from robust acrylic material, the LOHAS night lights are set to combine durability with a sleek aesthetic. Their distinctive inner bubble design, paired with a gold-tone square ring, is sure to add an elegant touch of lighting to any room.

However, it’s their dusk-to-dawn sensor that has won Stacey’s approval, as she showed her Instagram followers. These night lights will automatically turn off during the day and on at night, sparing you the hassle of turning them on and off at the switch or leaving them turned on all day by accident.

Additionally, these night lights feature a brightness control, allowing you to adjust the light from 0-100LM, ensuring your needs are met in any room throughout the house.

Designed with a compact wall-plug design and 3000K warm white light, these beauties are ideal for bedrooms, hallways, staircases, nurseries, bathrooms, kitchens, and garages, providing gentle illumination wherever needed, whether you’re placing them in children’s rooms or throughout hallways to light the way to the bathroom during the night. These LED night lights produce a soft, glare-free illumination, making them especially suitable for those children who are afraid of the dark.

And it isn’t just Stacey who adores these lights, as plenty of customers have left glowing 5-star testimonials. One buyer beams: “A beautiful little night light, there is a slider switch on the side to lower the brightness of the light, fantastic value for money and really attractive.”

Further praise comes from this customer who says: “This lamp is lovely! It didn’t work on x3 of my functioning sockets, then wiggled the plug pins tried to push it down a little in the socket and it worked, every socket it works. It’s bright enough for my purpose. I ordered the long round lamp too, but the lowest and highest setting was the same brightness. The square plug in lamp is slim, not as bulky as expected. Lovely design. Might need a second one!”

And a third notes: “I love this little light. Brightens up the whole hallway and comes on automatically when it’s dark. You can keep as bright or low as you desire. And a dimmer slide on the side.”

If the thought of dry turkey and endless potato peeling fills you with dread, Waitrose might just have the perfect alternative you are looking for. But does this chef-prepared seafood feast justify the luxury price tag?

View 5 Images

Christmas dinner is steeped in tradition, but let’s be honest: not everyone actually likes the traditional turkey dinner we spend hours prepping for. For those looking to try something a bit different, or perhaps serve up a showstopper for Boxing Day, Waitrose may have answered your prayers. The supermarket has has teamed up with the premium meal-kit service Dispatch to offer a new collection of boujee dinner boxes that are supposed to take the faff out of the festivities.

They’ve enlisted a culinary Avengers squad (including Angela Hartnett, Michel Roux, and Andi Oliver) to create nine “finish-at-home” dishes. I decided to test the waters with Rick Stein’s Seafood Celebration, which contains a Lobster & King Prawn Velouté Pie and Classic Fish Soup.

Costing a cool £105 for two courses, it’s far from cheap. The Cornwall-based chef, restaurateur, author and presenter has clearly stuck to his love of British seafood for this menu, but how does it actually fare in my kitchen? And is it good enough to replace the classic Christmas spread? I reviewed the fancy box ahead of December 25th, judging it on ease of prep, quality of ingredients and of course that all-important taste…

READ MORE: ‘I tested Christmas dinner boxes from Aldi, Iceland, and Sainsbury’s – there’s one clear winner’READ MORE: How to make Christmas dinner cheaper and save £30 off your food shop

View 5 Images

The prep

The biggest selling point of the Dishpatch range is the promise of “chef-standard flavours with total ease.” In this regard, the box absolutely delivers.

If you are the designated chef used to the chaos of Christmas morning, this feels like cheating. The soup and pie comes largely prepared; you are essentially just finishing it off. There is no chopping, no making your own pie base, and zero stress.

One detail I loved was the packaging. The pie arrived with its own ceramic dish. It’s a lovely touch that elevates the experience from a “ready meal” to a proper gift or occasion. Plus, you get to keep the crockery, which helps – slightly – to soften the blow of the extortionate price tag.

View 5 Images

Taste test

Once out of the oven, the soup looked perfectly presented and the pie was golden and definitely a showstopper. But does it taste like Rick Stein cooked it?

This is a world away from supermarket puff pastry bakes. The filling is a rich, indulgent velouté infused with tarragon and parsley that perfectly complements the lobster and king prawns.

It feels decadent, creamy, and undeniably special. If you are looking to impress guests without lifting a finger, this will do the trick. It tastes like a restaurant meal, eaten in your pyjamas.

The Classic Fish Soup made with saffron, tomato, fennel and prawns is served with Harissa Croutons, combining harissa and Parmesan for a rich, spiced twist. Though this was a nice dish, the pie definitely topped it on flavour.

The idea of having two courses to serve takes a lot of the pressure off, but your guests will definitely have to like seafood to enjoy this.

View 5 Images

Price tag

This convenience comes at a premium. With individual dishes starting around £25 and the full two-course experience (including the fish soup) costing up to £105, it’s world’s away from Aldi or Lidl’s cheap and cheerful Christmas dinner deals.

While the quality is high, the portion sizes are a point of contention. The box states it serves four, but these are “chef portions,” not “hungry family at Christmas” portions.

If you are feeding a group with hearty appetites, you might find yourself eyeing up the cheese board immediately after the main course. It is undeniably a luxury experience rather than a budget-friendly feed.

View 5 Images

The verdict

The Rick Stein Classic Fish Soup and Lobster & King Prawn Velouté Pie is a fantastic option for foodies, couples, or smaller families who want to ditch the traditional roast for something more sophisticated. It removes the stress entirely and delivers a delicious, high-end flavour.

However, be prepared to pay for the privilege. It’s not a value option, but for a hassle-free, decadent treat (perhaps better suited to Christmas Eve or Boxing Day than the big day itself), it’s a winner.

• Taste: 9/10
• Ease: 9/10
• Value: 6/10

READ MORE: Peep Show cast finally share honest thoughts on cauliflower at Christmas