Category Entertainment News

As Lauren Goodger gears up for the new series of TOWIE, a source reveals how filming the reality show while taking care of her young daughter on her own is leaving her “shattered”

Lauren Goodger says she’s “rebuilding” herself with the support of her “TOWIE family” – but a source claims her TV role is taking its toll elsewhere in her life. The reality star, 38, who first appeared on The Only Way Is Essex as the ex-girlfriend of Mark Wright in its first series in 2010, returned to the set as a permanent cast member last year after experiencing some devastating personal losses.

But according to our source, while the high-profile gig is doing wonders for Lauren’s confidence, the reality of juggling her life as mum to a four-year-old daughter with the demands of a job on a prominent reality show is “overwhelming” at times.

Lauren was “gutted” to pull out of a planned promotional appearance on This Morning last week because she couldn’t arrange childcare for Larose, whose father is builder Charles Drury. Instead, the interview featured fan favourite Harry Derbidge in the studio and fellow TOWIE original Amy Childs via video link. It comes after Katie Price reaches out to Harvey’s lookalike half-brother but fears ‘he’s too scared’.

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“Lauren was devastated to miss This Morning last week because she’s really trying to get back out there with her career,” our source claimed. “She doesn’t think it looks good to miss things, but she also needs to be the best mum to Larose. She really hates letting people down but also doesn’t want to feel like she’s a bad mum if she leaves her daughter – especially after everything they’ve been through.”

Lauren has been vocal about her struggles with anxiety since her and Charles’s second daughter, Lorena, died in July 2022, just a few minutes after her birth. The tragic loss came only a week after Lauren’s ex-boyfriend, Jake McLean, died in a car crash on holiday in Turkey at the age of 33.

Just before her big TOWIE return last year, Lauren revealed she was “realising who I am again” after spending the last few years in a “mum bubble” as she learned to navigate her grief.

Larose was born in July 2021 after Lauren became pregnant early into her relationship with Charles, 28, and the pair are widely thought to have had an on-off relationship ever since. Rumours they had reunited circulated when the two were photographed with Larose at an airport last month, reportedly jetting off on a family holiday.

Regardless of her relationship status – Lauren has yet to publicly confirm or deny that they are back together – our source said she’s struggling to find a healthy balance when solo parenting.

“Lauren is overwhelmed – she’s overwhelmed with mum duties and with work,” said the source. “It’s so hard to find that balance of taking care of Larose and also making sure she stays healthy and happy herself. TOWIE is her main job so it has to be a priority, but she’d never put it before being a mum to Larose, so it’s a really difficult balance for her to find.”

Lauren spoke out earlier this summer before jetting off to Portugal – without Larose – to film for the hit ITV2 programme. She revealed it was the first time she’d left her daughter “to go away or do anything for me” and had been kept awake most of the night by doubts about going on the trip.

The reality star also confessed that she felt “lonely”, but had to stay strong all the time for the sake of her daughter. “I haven’t got anyone to lean on and that’s really sad,” she said.

The sun-soaked trip to Portugal, where the cast celebrated 15 years of the series, clearly did wonders for Lauren’s confidence, however. Sharing a sunset snap of herself with her 945,000 Instagram followers, she wrote, “What a rollercoaster but an amazing achievement for me personally. Here’s to rebuilding me. Thank you @itvxofficial @towie thank you whole of TOWIE production and my TOWIE family.”

But it hasn’t all been plain sailing for Lauren since visiting Portugal in June, as she revealed to her followers last week that she was feeling “absolutely shattered”.

“I’m so tired, I don’t know how I’m doing it at the minute,” she said. “It has been absolutely hectic.”

Lauren put her exhaustion down to Larose’s six-week summer holidays and travelling back and forth to London to film, adding, “I’m going to do bath, do bedtime and do work again. I haven’t stopped working. I wish I could have a nap but never. You know how it is being a mum.”

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Millie Mackintosh hailed her flared 70s-style jeans the ‘comfiest jeans ever’ and they hail from the same brand that Kate Middleton buys her favourite jeans from

Trying to find a pair of jeans that are comfortable, well-fitting and look great can be one of the biggest struggles when it comes to shopping. After countless hours spent sweating in changing rooms trying to find a pair that make you feel great, it’s no surprise many of us find shopping for denim one of our least favourite jobs.

However Millie Mackintosh might have cracked the code, as she posed in a pair of & Other Stories’ High-Waist Flared Jeans on Instagram last week. She praised them as “The comfiest jeans ever”, and it seems the brand might be a winner when it comes to denim as they’re also the go-to for Kate Middleton.

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Princess Kate is a known fan of & Other Stories’ Slim Jeans (formerly known as the Favourite Jeans), which are notoriously tricky to get your hands on. The closest style available on the website right now is the Cropped Slim Leg Jeans (£77) which have a similar slim fit that The Princess of Wales favours.

Millie’s pair, thankfully, are much easier to get your hands on. Her High-Waist Flared Jeans are currently available directly from the & Other Stories website, over at ASOS, and at H&M, where they’re priced at £87.

The jeans have a classic 70s-inspired fit, with a high waist and flared bootcut leg, and the addition of two patch pockets on the front seals the deal on the retro design. The high waist keeps them comfortable and helps elongate your legs, and the wider legs makes them perfect for wearing with anything from sandals to boots, so you can wear them in every season.

They’re also made with plenty of stretch, which is what makes them so comfortable that Millie can’t stop raving about them. You can pick them up in dark blue, as well as a light ecru colour, which is currently on sale at ASOS down from £87 to £69, and several other colours ways if you shop them at H&M.

Other brands have also launched their own version of the 70s-style jeans, with White Stuff’s Frankie Flare Jean now on sale for £52, down from £65 and available in sizes six to 24. Marks & Spencer also has the ultra-affordable Patch Pocket Flare High Waisted Jeans for £39.50, with a choice of three different colours and sizes six to 24.

For a slimmer fit that keeps the same shape and style, New Look’s Blue Patch Pocket Flared Denim Jeans are £39.99 and have a tighter fit around the hips and thighs, before flaring out from the knee. They come in sizes six to 18, with all sizes currently still in stock.

Ben Unwin played Jesse McGregor in Home and Away from 1996 to 2000 and then again from 2002 to 2005, with the role being written specifically for him – he sadly died six years ago

Australian soaps have undoubtedly churned out a host of international superstars over the years. Two of the most prominent being Neighbours alumni Kylie Minogue, who portrayed Charlene and is the top-selling Australian recording artist of all time with over 80 million albums sold globally, and Margot Robbie, who played Donna and starred in the blockbuster film Barbie, which has smashed box office records.

Other stars who’ve transitioned from Aussie soapland to greater fame include Home and Away’s Ryan Kwanten (Vinnie), Isla Fisher (Shannon) and Chris Hemsworth (Kim), as well as Neighbours’ Jason Donovan (Scott), Guy Pearce (Mike) and Jesse Spencer (Billy). Some actors have continued to thrive in their original soap roles for years, such as Home and Away’s Ray Meagher (Alf), who holds the record for the longest-serving actor in an Australian drama series, and Lynne McGranger (Irene), along with Neighbours’ Ian Smith (Harold) and Stefan Dennis (Paul).

Stefan is now lined up to star in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, alongside names including Geordie Shore’s Vicky Pattison and TV presenter George Clarke. In other soap news, a Coronation Street and Mrs Brown’s Boys actor has died after a short illness.

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Regrettably, not all Aussie soap stars have been as fortunate, including actor Ben Unwin, who portrayed bad boy Jesse McGregor in Home and Away from 1996 to 2000 and again from 2002 to 2005. The role was specifically written for Ben, earning him a nomination for Most Popular New Talent at the 1997 Australian TV Logie Awards.

After his acting career, he ventured into the music industry, directing videos for bands like Culture Club and Chumbawamba, including their massive hit, Tubthumping.

Later, he earned a law degree and became a solicitor in Newcastle, New South Wales. Tragically, six years ago Ben was found dead at the base of a ‘cursed’ waterfall – he was only 41 years old, reports OK!. Local Aboriginal tribes in Australia believe the secluded 300ft Minon Falls in Whian Whian are “cursed” and harbour “bad spirits”, having claimed numerous lives.

Upon hearing the heartbreaking news of his death on 14 August, 2019, co-star Ada Nicodemou, who portrays Leah, wrote: “I just woke up to the tragic news of Ben’s passing, my heart goes out to his family.”

Just two years later, another tragedy befell the Home and Away cast when Dieter Brummer, who played the soap’s heartthrob Shane Parrish in the early 1990s, was found dead at his parents’ Sydney home.

The actor had been excited to be starting a new job as an aerial window cleaner, but his life had been disrupted by the onset of Covid-19.

In a similar vein, Neighbours’ original Scott Robinson, portrayed by Darius Perkins before Jason Donovan took over the role, sadly passed away in 2019 following a battle with cancer.

Home and Away has now graced our TV screens for 37 years, while Neighbours ran for 40 years before being cancelled – final episodes will be on our screens this December.

X Factor finalist Olly Murs and his wife Amelia are expecting their second baby later this year and have revealed how they plan to welcome their new baby into the world

Singer Olly Murs and his pregnant wife Amelia are busy planning to welcome a new baby into their growing family – revealing it feels like a “very different pregnancy” this time around.

The former X Factor star, 41, and Amelia, 32, tied the knot two years ago and already have their hands full with toddler Madison. Amelia experienced a difficult time while giving birth to Madison and faced a “brutal recovery”.

Aside from daddy duties, singer Olly has just wrapped up his latest tour and he continues to present his Heart FM weekend radio show alongside fellow M&S ambassador Mark Wright.

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Ahead of becoming parents-of-two, the happy couple have become the new faces of The Parent Hood, M&S ’s club for mums and dads.

One of the fastest growing baby clubs in the UK, it is part of the high street chain’s loyalty scheme, Sparks, and encourages young parents to meet up in M&S cafés to swap experiences over a cuppa and free slice of cake.

Speaking about having an unplanned C-section with Madison during a chat to announce the new partnership, Amelia recalls: “We were planning a natural birth, but Madi was in a precarious position.

“She was transverse [sideways] so we didn’t have an option. The recovery was brutal and I wish people had been more honest about that. Maybe it’s because I’m active, but I didn’t realise how much I wouldn’t be able to do afterwards.”

Olly and Amelia have opted not to discover the sex of their second baby until they arrive. “It’s hard to tell, because I was convinced Madi was a boy. But I do think this one is a boy,” Amelia predicts.

“Obviously, that’d be cool, but I’m swaying more to thinking it’s a girl. I’d love that, I genuinely would,” Olly adds. “We’re reaching the point where we have to make decisions. But this feels like a different pregnancy.”

“We know that this baby’s not transverse, which is good,” Amelia states, as Olly gushes: “We’re very excited and announcing this thing with M&S has made it much more real. Two or three more weeks and we’re gonna be right back at it!”

Currently pregnant with another on the way, Amelia is currently riding a wave of emotions. “It changes week by week as I get closer to having the baby,” she admits.

“We can’t wait to meet who’s in there and see Madi with a sibling. But I get a bit overwhelmed when I think of having two under two.”

We can’t wait to meet the new baby Murs too!

M&S ambassadors Olly & Amelia Murs become the face of The Parent Hood, M&S’s first Baby Club. For more info and to sign up, visit marksandspencer.com/mysparks

If you struggle with dry, damaged hair then swapping your regular hairbrush for this £14 de-tangling one can help prevent breakage, keeping your hair shiny and healthy

If you’ve ever dyed, bleached, chemically treated or even just heat styled your hair, you’ll be familiar with how easily breakage can happen. The summer is also a notoriously tricky time for your hair, with sun exposure, heat and humidity all causing it to dry out, and that’s before you even consider the effects chlorine and salt water can have on it on holiday.

Whilst hydrating hair masks can help reverse some signs of breakage, it doesn’t fix the main root of the problem. If you do have dry or damaged hair, you’ll know that brushing it can be a major source of trouble for your locks, with the wrong brush actually ripping out knots and tangles, or causing too much friction on your delicate strands. That’s why we’ll be swapping our usual brush for Tangle Teezer’s The Ultimate Detangler Extra Gentle, which promises to reduce breakage by 77%.

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The Ultimate Detangler Extra Gentle has been carefully engineered to be as gentle on your hair as it can possibly be, whilst still being effective and working out knots and tangles. It has two-tiered teeth – a patented design from Tangle Teezer – which help the brush to glide through your hair, untangling tats without pulling.

It’s also more concentrated at the centre of the brush with fewer teeth at the edge, which minimises tension. The result is hair that’s stronger, smoother and visibly healthier, all without needing to add a single step to your usual routine.

You can currently pick up the Ultimate Detangler Extra Gentle at LookFantastic for £14, and it comes in a huge range of colours (not to mention a £10.50 mini version). It’s also racked up an impressive full five star rating from shoppers, with one happy customer wrote: “I absolutely love this hair brush!! It’s so gentle on the hair.”

Whilst another agreed: “bought this instead of replacing my original tangle teezer and it’s fantastic, its really helped me prevent further breakage on my colour damaged hair.”

Another review wrote: “Love the original detangler tangle teezer but this brush is definitely more gentle on the hair! These brushes are always worth the money.”

With no negative reviews so far, it seems it’s a solid bet that the Ultimate Detangler Extra Gentle is going to look after your locks, keeping them healthy and strong during the tricky summer weather. Elsewhere, we also love REHAB’s Vital Hair Brush (£16) which Stacey Solomon swears by for preventing breakage and damage to her own hair.

At Beauty Pie, the Super Healthy Hair Smoothing Paddle Brush is £29 (£17 if you’re a Beauty Pie member) and not only gently detangles hair, but helps boost shine and softness too. Made with boar bristles, it helps increase scalp circulation, smooth cuticles and gently tease out tangles and knots for a smooth, shiny finish.

Today’s horoscope for August 17 as one star sign spies a job opportunity, and another meets a secret admirer

It’s Sunday, August 17, and one star sign enjoys the finer things in life, as another shows off how dedicated they can be.

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 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)

Enjoy being creative. You have the talent to make some beautiful objects. Whether it is jewellery, furniture or pottery, these activities will appeal to your artistic side. You will want to use quality materials and in time, this passion could lead to a profitable venture.

Taurus (Apr 21 – May 21)

Accept an invitation to a nearby gathering even if you aren’t in the mood to socialise. If you’re single, someone you meet who is older than you will catch your eye. Their life experience and drive will impress you, while they will appreciate your youthful spirit and adventurous nature. You complement each other perfectly.

Gemini (May 22 – June 21)

You will be glad you paused before making an expensive purchase recently. This was a sensible decision as emergency expenses have occurred. A lucrative job opportunity is coming up soon. Make sure you apply for this position as soon as it becomes available as it will suit your skills.

Cancer (June 22 – July 23)

Prioritise your own needs now, even this means turning down someone’s requests for help. You can’t be there for them all the time. Are you single? You could meet someone who intrigues you at a religious, cultural or educational institution. Stay alert for someone who has a different perspective on life.

Leo (July 24 – Aug 23)

Enjoying the finer things in life is important for you and you should never feel guilty about this need. You have great earning potential. Aim for a high-level role that makes use of your leadership skills. This position may come with unusual hours and a variety of responsibilities but it will be a perfect fit for you.

Virgo (Aug 24 – Sept 23)

Taking some time out for yourself will help your spiritual development. You might want to explore your inner self to find answers to those deep questions that have been on your mind. If you have been under a lot of stress recently this could be due to putting other peoples’ needs above your own.

Libra (Sept 24 – Oct 23)

Too often, kind people like you get taken advantage of by bullies. Someone is trying to push you around. The sooner you make it clear you won’t accept being abused in this way, the happier you will feel. Are you single? Someone who admires your brave attitude might ask you out.

Scorpio (Oct 24 – Nov 22)

Travel arrangements could be postponed, cancelled, or delayed so it would be a good idea to verify everything in advance. Group discussions are likely to be fruitful, as either you or someone else will have suggestions that could influence future actions.

Sagittarius (Nov 23 – Dec 21)

If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. This is your special gift. You know from experience that you can make dreams come true. So ignore naysayers who claim you are chasing impossible dreams. Prove to them that with dedication, anything is possible.

Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 20)

You’re confused and avoiding talking to someone in power. Yet such discussions could reveal actions that have been recently taken by others. Alternatively, you have information that will be of interest to a senior colleague. Just be careful not to fixate too much on any one topic.

Aquarius (Jan 21 – Feb 19)

Be patient if you are waiting for the results of a test, examination or interview. A short delay does not mean you have failed. You’re starting to doubt a recent decision but by the end of the day you will have confirmation that you made a good choice.

Pisces (Feb 20 – Mar 20)

Someone in the family needs you. Don’t wait to be asked. Offer your support and let them know you are there for them. In helping others, you will feel a sense of strength you have never experienced before. If you’re talking about making changes of a long-term nature, just remember the need to plan very carefully.

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