Category Entertainment News

Former Top Gear host Freddie Flintoff speaks about the impact of the crash he had whilst working on the BBC show in 2022 in this weekend’s episode of the Jonathan Ross Show

Presenter Freddie Flintoff has spoken about the impact of the crash he had whilst working on Top Gear three years ago. The cricket coach has also revealed that he experienced “crippling anxiety” amid getting back into the sport.

Freddie, now 47, was left with life-changing injuries after being involved in a crash during filming of the BBC show at its test track at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey in 2022. A car that he was travelling in is said to have flipped over.

As a result of the incident, the presenter, who was airlifted to hospital, had facial injuries and he’s said to have also broken ribs. BBC Studios, who makes the show, which has since been “rested,” later said it had apologised to him.

And it was announced back in 2023 that BBC Studios had reached an “agreement” with Freddie following the crash. As previously reported, it was not funded by the TV licence fee, as BBC Studios is a commercial arm of the BBC.

BBC Studios said about the settlement at the time: “BBC Studios has reached an agreement with Freddie that we believe supports his continued rehabilitation, return to work and future plans. We have sincerely apologised to Freddie and will continue to support him with his recovery.”

Freddie – who opens up about the experience in the new Disney+ documentary Flintoff – will be seen discussing the aftermath of the incident on the Jonathan Ross Show this weekend. The former England cricket captain is a guest on Saturday’s episode of the ITV show alongside Jason Isaacs, Rebel Wilson, David Oyelowo, Sophie Willan and Wet Leg.

Speaking about having returned to cricket as a coach for the England Lions, Freddie tells host Jonathan Ross: “I think, with everything that’s happened over the past few years, that’s the one place I feel most comfortable.” He adds: “I feel like I’m back home being involved in cricket.”

Freddie continues: “No secret that I had a car accident filming Top Gear. Afterwards, obviously there’s the physical scars that I’ve got. But then the mental side of it. I didn’t leave the house for probably six or eight months. The only times I was leaving the house was for medical appointments and surgeries.”

The guest recalls that one of his pals Rob Key later started inviting him to watch test matches from a “back room” that’s not in the crowd. Freddie, who recalls wearing a “full face mask for months,” says that he started “getting back into it” and finding his feet “a little bit”.

He shares that cricket “embraced” him again at a time when he “probably needed it most”. Freddie says that he still does TV work, adding: “I’ve got bills to pay.” However tells Jonathan that coaching cricket is his “definite future” and that he’s “loving it”. He suggests that it’s the “one place” where he’s able to “forget everything that’s going on and be present”.

Discussing getting back into cricket, Freddie says on the talk show: “I was struggling with crippling anxiety. I had to have about five or six goes at leaving the room. Had to have a chat with myself in the mirror. I think because I’d not done anything for such a long time. I’d not shown myself without a face mask to anyone. It was like starting again.”

The Jonathan Ross Show airs Saturday night at 10.20pm on ITV, ITV, STV and STV Player. Flintoff will be released on streaming platform Disney+ from April 25.

Callie Twisselman opens up to the Mirror about her love of Dolly Parton, life growing up on the ranch, song-writing and what the future holds in a wide-ranging chat while on her UK tour

After wowing at C2C: Country to Country, at London’s O2 Arena, the future looks bright for Callie Twisselman.

We caught up with her for a spot of lunch in the capital in the middle of her UK tour which has been going down a storm. From signing a deal with Dolly Parton’s manager, to growing up on her family’s seventh-generation grain and cattle ranch in California, Callie opened up about life in the spotlight….and what the future holds.

Country music is a massive over here…how have you found playing C2C again? So many have come up to me from the last time I played, saying they had been following my career ever since. It’s so humbling.

In terms of your creative process, how do you go about writing music? Are you quite set in your ways? I’ll take something off the top of my head, and then just kind of start with a melody on the guitar and then write the lyrics. But sometimes it’s like, (my manager) Danny telling me, ‘Hey, that’s a good song title…why don’t you roll with it.’ So I do!

Do enjoy the lyric writing process? I’ve written songs since I was 15, and I started out with poems, so words have always been kind of an easy thing for me, but I also enjoy it a lot. Sometimes you’ll get writer’s block, and then it’s aggravating, but it hasn’t happened too much, thankfully.

Is your music quite autobiographical? Sometimes it can feel like I am writing in a diary. So it can be a lot of your own experiences, but then you do have to make them a little more interesting sometimes, and jazz them up a little bit.

Do you find that process of putting some of the more personal lyrics out there quite nerve wracking? When I was first starting out, I felt like I had to hide certain things, as I didn’t want people to think that about me. Then I learned along the way that the more open you are and honest, the more people can relate to that.

You’ve met Dolly Parton quite a few times…what was that like and what advice did she give you? She’s always so sweet. She talked to me about sacrifice, and how that was one of the things she said she had to do. And if you want to get to where you want to be, you have to sacrifice things

What have you sacrificed? I’ve sacrificed relationships. Just focusing on the music takes you away from time with family or loved ones. But you have to make choices.

Has that been hard, though, making those decisions? I had to move away from California, and that was a tough one at first. But then I love Nashville, because it’s Music City, and it felt like that’s where I was meant to be. So that was a good, tough choice.

You interviewed Dolly on International Women’s Day and she talked about how she leaned on her family…have you done the same? They’re very supportive. My parents and my siblings have always supported my music. My mum was trying to be a singer when she was younger, and I was in a local country band, and so her and my father have always loved country music, and I think they live vicariously through me.

Can you recall your mum when she was singing? I remember I’d have the tambourine, and she would sing Patsy Cline and all that sort of vibe. I thought I want to do that, so I started singing the national anthem everywhere. I was 10.

You moved to Nashville from California to follow your musical dreams. Were your parents worried? My mum was, of course, nervous. She was like, ‘you’re going 2000 miles away from home.’ But they were very supportive about the music, and I knew it’s always what I wanted to do, and they just always encouraged me to chase my dreams.

How close are you to them? I talk to them every day on the phone if I’m not with them or I visit California every couple months. I help out on the family ranch when needed

What does helping out on the ranch look like? Well, we have cattle, so I help vaccinate them, or move them to another field and check their waters. We have horses too. I love to just do my part.

Were you ever minded to do that full time? (laughs) It’s always gonna be there if I need it.

When the opportunity came to work with Danny Nozell (Dolly Parton’s manager) did you jump at the chance? Absolutely. Danny met all my family and really loved them. I remember him saying ‘there’s sharks out there and you can’t be taken advantage of.’ He’s been great ever since.

We talked about the creative process, and occasionally you get writer’s block. What do you do in that situation? I try not to force it, because I know when that happens, nothing good comes out of it. Not good music. I just take a break and live a little bit – not too long, because I obviously want to keep writing – but try to get inspiration. So then it’ll come out naturally. But then co-writes always help too. If you are stuck, other people can give some ideas.

A lot of people look at people like Taylor Swift and how she keeps evolving musically from country to pop and even into folk. Has there ever been any sort of pressure on you to adapt your sound? No pressure ever, really. But like I also grew up loving Shania Twain and she was able to cross over. And I’ve always loved both genres – country and pop – and I don’t want to be put in a box. I just want to make music and hope that people like it.

Last year, you released In My World, before joining forces with Dolly and fellow country singers Maddie & Tae and Jessie James Decker for the Diane Warren-penned single Gonna Be You. What’s next? We’re working on tour dates, and looking to release music every six weeks. Keep pumping out my new music.

As a whole new host of fresh-faced candidates compete for Lord Alan Sugar’s investment, The Mirror takes a look back at what happened to every winner of The Apprentice

Some of the previous winners of The Apprentice have gone on to do big things, even making millions, while others have fallen into financial turmoil, leaving them skint.

The latest season has been back on our screens for weeks now, showcasing a new batch of ambitious participants eager to secure the top prize, a £250,000 investment in their business ideas.

With the final episode approaching today, we’re taking a look back on previous winners – from those still thriving with Lord Alan Sugar’s backing, to those who’ve parted ways and seen their fortune take an unexpected turn.

READ MORE: The Apprentice fans convinced Alan Sugar has accidentally revealed 2025 winner early

Rachel Woolford – Series 18 (2024)

Rachel Woolford won last year’s series after beating off stiff competition. Since the show, she has gone on to see big things for her stylish gym, which she launched in 2020. The partnership with Lord Sugar saw the business expand into a dedicated reformer pilates studio.

She told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “The studio is the perfect next step for us and reformer pilates is a safe bet if you’re already in the industry – there’s a big client base here in Leeds.”

She went on: “I’ve just become a landlord with Lord Sugar, which is the strangest feeling ever. He brought the capital to the table by financing the building, so I can get on with the day-to-day running of the business. Being in front of the clients is important to me. I’m very independent; I like managing on my own terms and that doesn’t need to change. But we still have a monthly meeting and, if I wanted to speak to him more, I could.”

Rachel also expressed that her stint on the show was the best thing she has ever done in her career.

Marnie Swindells – Series 17 (2023)

London-born court advocate Marnie is a gold medal-winning boxer who snowballed her passion into an innovative business idea that she hoped would get Lord Sugar’s investment. After taking home the prize, she focused on investing the prize money into her passion. The star and businesswoman used the money to open her own boxing gym, Bronx, in south London.

Marnie got the keys to the site of her gym in 2019 but wasn’t able to start trading until February 2023 due to problems with the property lease and the council. The 6,000-square-foot gym is in the heart of Camberwell and includes a competition ring, punching bags, mirrored walls to “perfect shadowboxing”, and endless exercise equipment.

According to the financial accounts of Bronx Boxing Limited, Marnie has gained around £210,000 in net assets. As Marnie plans to further develop the gym, she’s set to earn even more money. She said she and Lord Sugar have a “great relationship”, adding: “He has a sharp sense for businesses he believes will do well and the people he wants to work with. I think once the glitz and glam of The Apprentice has subsided, he gets the true assessment of whether they are people he sees a long-term ­relationship with.”

However, while Marnie has had a significant financial gain from competing in the show, other areas in her life were affected by the show “If you’re just in the process – but especially if you win – heavy is the head that wears the crown, and I became very consumed. she said

“A lot of my personal relationships with family, romantically, all suffered because my focus became the show.

“And I’m glad it was because it’s paid off now,” she added

“And the people that love me enough survived that struggle with me and are here now to smell the roses with me.

Harpreet Kaur – Series 16 (2022)

Dessert parlour owner Harpreet Kaur was the winner of season 16 and secured the investment in her dessert shop Barni’s, which was rebranded to Oh So Yum! One year after her win, Kaur went solo, and Lord Sugar announced the news on Twitter. He said: “Harpreet Kaur, The Apprentice winner 2022, has bought back Lord Sugar’s shares in her desserts business, Oh So Yum! This move marks a significant achievement in the journey of the Yorkshire-based entrepreneur, who won Season 16 of the show and secured a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar.

“With the purchase of Lord Sugar’s shares, Harpreet and her sister, Gurvinder Kaur, are now in full control of the business and its future direction. The separation has been amicable and Lord Sugar and Harpreet Kaur mutually agreed it was the best decision for the business moving forward. Harpreet is an exceptionally bright and driven businesswoman. I’ve enjoyed our time working together, and whilst the time is right for us to now go our separate ways, I have no doubts she will continue to flourish. I look forward to seeing the Oh So Yum! brand go from strength to strength.”

Carina Lepore – Series 15 (2019)

In 2019, Lord Sugar invested £ 250,000 in Carina’s artisan bakery business. She planned to rival Greggs with her Dough Bake House chain, and business boomed a year later. In addition to her original bakery in Herne Hill, Carina opened a new branch in Beckenham in September 2020.

Lord Sugar himself opened the new family-run bakery and helped cut the ribbon to open the new store. “What attracted me to Carina as the winner is that this business has potential. Food will always be good,” said Lord Sugar on This Morning. “Greggs watch out, we’re going to have a lot of branches.”

But in 2023, they parted ways. A spokesperson said: “As part of an ongoing review of his business portfolio, Lord Sugar has decided to part ways with Carina Lepore, The Apprentice winner 2019 and founder of Dough Artisan Bakehouse. Both parties agreed it was the right decision for the business moving forward, and Carina will take back full control of her business with immediate effect.”

Sian Gabbidon – Series 14 (2018)

Having come out on top in 2018, Sian ploughed the prize money straight back into her swimwear business, Sian Marie. After winning The Apprentice, she focused on building her team in Leeds and growing the company from small-scale to mass production. “It’s a big achievement and has been such a thrill. But you know, that’s just the start for us. It’s the first step,” said Sian in October 2019.

“The platform of being on the Apprentice is amazing. There’s no doubt that having somebody like Lord Sugar on board has opened doors for me. Having his knowledge and guidance on how to approach situations is a massive help.” Her SS19 Tropical Goddess collection was worn by actress Michelle Keegan and Love Island’s Hayley Hughes, and she also launched her own Apprentice-based podcast.

In 2019, Sian announced she was launching a swimwear collaboration with Asda, which amazingly is where she started her career working. In 2022, the duo parted ways. Sian said: “It was just a conversation… we kind of came to an agreement and now I’m just living my best life, I guess. Not in a negative way towards him but it’s just nice to have a bit more fun.” Then this year, she appeared in Forbes to promote her new e-commerce agency, Twenty Twenty Digital.

James White and Sarah Lynn – Series 13 (2017)

Lord Sugar couldn’t decide on a winner in 2017, so he picked James White and Sarah Lynn as the winners. Admitting he had always been a gambler in business, Lord Sugar said: “This particular year, I’m going to double my investment… I’m going to start a business with both of you.”

He invested a combined £500,000 that year, with half going to James’ IT recruitment firm and the other half into Sarah’s confectionery company. During the process, James broke show rules by having a romance with fellow candidate Jade English, with a source close to the show claiming the pair got up to some ‘saucy antics’.

Following the fling, which cooled off before the series aired on TV, Jade reportedly split from her male model boyfriend after three years, while James separated from his heartbroken fiancée. Sarah’s personalised sweet company, Sweets in the City, has gone from strength to strength – being stocked in Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges – but she still parted ways with Lord Sugar in 2022.

But it was a rockier road for self-proclaimed ‘Del Boy’ James who was said to have suffered a series of ‘unfortunate setbacks’ and lost £30,000 in the first six months in his IT recruitment company, Right Time Recruitment. In December 2020, it was revealed that James and Lord Sugar had parted ways but The Apprentice boss was reportedly letting him keep the money he invested.

“I wish James all the very best for the future and will follow his progress with interest,” said Lord Sugar in a statement. James added, “I am very grateful for everything Lord Sugar has done for me. The knowledge and advice gained from Lord Sugar and his team have been invaluable.”

Alana Spencer – Series 12 (2016)

Alana put the £250,000 into her baking business Ridiculously Rich, and set up an ambassador plan with Lord Sugar. She exclusively told Mirror TV her turnover went from £100,000 to an expected £450,000 in a year thanks to winning The Apprentice. The queen of cake bought back Lord Sugar’s shares and became the sole owner and director of the firm in 2019.

“A little while ago I had the amazing opportunity to buy out Lord Sugar from Ridiculously Rich and take full control back of my business,” she explained on social media. “It was an exciting, crazy, scary few months while the final details were being agreed and sorted, but something I am so grateful for.”

She added: “Working with Lord Sugar has been an incredible experience and I have learned such a lot in such a short space of time. I am so grateful for his time in Ridiculously Rich by Alana.” Wishing her luck, Lord Sugar said: “I will follow Alana’s progress with much affection.”

Joseph Valente – Series 11 (2015)

Joseph Valente split from Lord Sugar just two years after he invested £250,000 into his plumbing business and announced he would take full control of ImpraGas. But they parted on friendly terms, with Lord Sugar saying: “I’ll still be on hand to offer any help and advice required. I wish Joseph and ImpraGas all the very best for the future and will follow their progress with much affection.”

Joseph added: “I am so grateful for everything Lord Sugar has done for me and I could not have asked for a better partner in the early stages of my business career. I owe him a great deal. I am confident that with the winning business model we created together, I can continue to grow the business successfully.”

In the summer of 2020, he was forced to sell his boiler installation business amid reports it owed almost £2million to creditors. ImpraGas was sold for an undisclosed sum, safeguarding jobs, but shell company VBH Assets, co-owned by Joseph, entered into voluntary liquidation, owing £1.9million to creditors.

Joseph opened up on his battle with depression and public shaming after the failure of his company but said it made him even more determined. “It hit me very hard, I was very depressed for a couple of months, and one day I woke up and thought, ‘There is no way I am going to let this destroy me'”, Joseph told Mirror Online. “I had my credibility and my reputation to rebuild.”

He started from scratch, and his courses to support new and existing businesses in growing, Trade Mastermind and Power2Succeed, are going from strength to strength.

Mark Wright – Series 10 (2014)

Australian-born Mark won a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar in 2014, despite getting confused for the TOWIE star with the same name. He started his digital marketing agency, Climb Online, which has become the most successful company to have gained investment through the BBC show, bringing in £5million in its second year.

Away from business, Mark started dating another winner, Leah Totton, back in 2015, but they decided to keep the relationship quiet as they were nervous about what Lord Sugar would think. They struggled to keep their romance going while having incredibly busy work schedules, which made it almost impossible to be together.

They announced their split in October 2016 – with Mark explaining the reasons why it didn’t work out. Mark said: “We are both incredibly driven people and, due to our busy schedules, the relationship just wasn’t working, so we decided to go our separate ways. Leah is a lovely girl, and we remain good friends.” In August 2020, Mark officially became a UK citizen.

Leah Totton – Series Nine (2013)

Leah managed to see off stiff competition from Celebrity Big Brother star Luisa Zissman in 2013. The Irish GP used her £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar to open several cosmetic surgery clinics. The launch was controversial, with critics claiming it would encourage women to have more treatments, but Leah batted off the comments and her clinics have been a huge success.

She’s had a load of famous clients, including The Only Way Is Essex stars, and Karren Brady attended her launch event. Leah also worked part-time as a locum doctor in NHS A&E centre. Lord Sugar has visited the clinic many times – and Leah has joked she has offered him Botox many times but he “politely declines”.

Ricky Martin – Series Eight (2012)

Ricky Martin (no, not that one) was Livin’ La Dida Loca back in 2012 when he went into business with Shuggs. “I’m like a shark, right at the top of the food chain. I take what I want, when I want. I truly am the reflection of perfection,” boasted the former pro wrestler Ricky Martin on the show. He went on to win over Lord Sugar with his business plan for a specialist science recruitment company.

He is now the managing director of Essex-based business Hyper Recruitment Solutions, set up with the £250,000 investment winners now get. Qualified biochemist Ricky, who changed his name from Richard to emulate the pop star, and Lord Sugar each own half the business. He’s gone on to win numerous business awards, is earning several million pounds each year and is also dad to two kids with wife Gemma.

Tom Pellereau – Series Seven (2011)

It seemed like Tom would be straight out the door after he was on the losing team five weeks in a row. Exasperated, Lord Sugar once barked at him: “If you nod your head any longer, I’m going to put you on the back seat of my bloody car.” But the inventor still triumphed and went into business with the tycoon developing Stylfile nail care products to be sold at Tesco and Asda supermarkets.

Their company made a turnover of £1.5million thanks to his winning S-shaped nail file. Since then, he’s also launched a new makeup brush-cleaning gadget, Stylpro and other time-saving beauty tech like gel nail polish remover clips and a baby-safe nail clipper. Tom, who admits he still gets “shouted at all the time” by Lord Sugar, also went on to develop a collapsible baby bottle and a bowel cancer screening device.

Stella English – Series Six (2010)

The highs of winning the BBC series were soon followed by deep lows for Stella English, who was hired by Lord Sugar in 2010 in the final episode of that year’s series. Her success turned sour when she quit her £100,000 per year job with Lord Sugar, arguing she was used like an “overpaid lackey” and unsuccessfully attempting to sue her former boss.

Stella moaned that her role with Lord Alan Sugar’s computer company, Viglen, was nothing like she thought it would be and an insider said she felt like a “glorified PA”. A company spokesman confirmed that Stella would be switching companies to join web-connected TV service YouView, of which Lord Sugar was non-executive chairman.

But Stella didn’t enjoy her new role either and later claimed she felt pressured into taking the new position at Sugar’s internet set-top box company. Speaking on ITV’s Daybreak in September 2013, she explained: “Despite [the high salary] I couldn’t actually physically stay there, because it was unbearable. I had no future there, I knew that’s why I resigned.”

After resigning, Stella landed a £200,000-a-year consultant job with Citigroup, but things got ugly when Stella tried to sue Lord Sugar for constructive dismissal. In the March 2013 tribunal showdown, Stella claimed Lord Sugar told her that he “didn’t give a s***” if she left his company, but the panel decided her case “should never have been brought” and was “ill-advised”.

Following the case, the tycoon counter-sued his old employee, demanding that Stella pay for lawyers he employed during her failed constructive dismissal case against him – costs amounting to £50,000. “I do not know how I am going to feed my kids, never mind the mortgages,” she told the panel during the hearing.

Lord Sugar’s counterclaim failed as an East London Tribunal Service panel ruled that the mother-of-two should not have to repay any of the legal fees. Lord Sugar later accused her of aiming for a “tidy” out-of-court settlement, adding: “I’m afraid she underestimated me and her reputation is now in tatters.”

What happened next for Stella was an astonishing fall from grace as she went from the boardroom to the job centre, her marriage collapsed, and she had just £90 in the bank. “I wish I had never gone on The Apprentice. I’m broke and on my knees. I just don’t know how I’m going to carry on,” she told The Mirror in September 2013.

Stella struggled to find work at first but then appeared as a host for Crowd Box – a TV channel that helps entrepreneurs raise money through crowd-funding – and found work as a management consultant. Her love life also turned around as Stella found happiness with snooker player boyfriend Ali Carter in 2016, and they had a baby together in 2013 before splitting in 2019.

Yasmina Siadatan – Series Five (2009)

After becoming Lord Sugar’s Apprentice, Yasmina said: “I feel very lucky. Life is brilliant.” The steely brunette was tipped for greatness and immediately began working for Lord Sugar in a £100,000 a year deal. The restaurant owner worked at his Amscreen Healthcare company, which supplies advertising and information screens to hospitals and GPs.

The following year, she announced she was pregnant following a whirlwind romance with colleague Andrew Hepburn, going on maternity leave at Christmas 2010 and her first child was­ born the following month. She was due to return in January 2012, but told bosses she was expecting another baby.

After two years spent starting her family, Yasmina was “itching” to get back to work and was headhunted by Dragons’ Den star James Caan to be Head of Operations role in a Private Equity firm. “Once I had met various people in the organisation I was sold on the company as a whole, especially James himself, so it was just a case of them finding a role that would suit me,” said Yasmina.

“It wasn’t an advertised role but something that James matched my skills to, which is how a lot of people are brought into the company.” Yasmina then worked as creative director of Start Up Loans and as Head of Marketing at a fintech firm and also ran as a Conservative candidate for council for a by-election in Henley in March 2017.

Lee McQueen – Series Four (2008)

Charming Lee was renowned for his “That’s what I’m talking about!” catchphrase. The milkman’s son, who became owner of a million-pound company, rang in sick with food poisoning on what should have been his first day at Lord Sugar’s company. But he went on to work there for two and a half years, setting up a successful digital media business with his boss’ son Simon.

Lee worked for Alan Sugar’s Amshold company as a development director, developing Amscreen-branded digital display advertising products for the outdoor market. After deciding to leave, he said: “Having gained a huge amount of experience in my role at Amscreen, I felt now was the right time to start up on my own.”

Next, he founded a company, Raw Talent Academy, to help young people get recruitment and sales jobs. In 2010, Lee had 18 employees, and the firm was expected to make nearly £1.5million. He launched a technology platform, Phoenix51. He regularly appears as a co-host on Love Sport Radio’s Tottenham Fans Show.

Simon Ambrose – Series Three (2007)

Simon memorably caused Sir Alan to explode with frustration as he struggled to put together trampolines he was trying to flog on a television shopping channel. “Well, I’d like to think I’ve shown that a nice guy from a nice background sometimes can win,” he told Digital Spy.

But the Cambridge graduate won the series and went on to work for Lord Sugar’s property company Amsprop for three years, as well as studying to be a chartered surveyor. After leaving in 2010, Simon became a property developer, started running an events company and invested in a string of bars and restaurants in London.

Michelle Dewberry – Series Two (2006)

After landing a £100,000 job with Lord Sugar, Michelle worked on the launch of Xenon Green, which specialised in computer equipment disposal. She left the company before the end of her 12-month contract and set up her own consultancy firm to support aspiring young entrepreneurs.

Michelle also became a Sky News TV pundit and runs a shopping website, dailychic.co.uk. In July 2020, Michelle gave birth to a little boy nine weeks early with former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan. Since 2021, she has hosted her own prime-time GB News show called Dewbs & Co.

Tim Campbell – Series One (2005)

The first ever winner of The Apprentice, Tim stormed to victory in 2005 after the most gruelling job interview of his life. The former London Underground transport manager joined Lord Sugar’s company Amstrad and launched the Integra anti-wrinkle device at Argos and Harrods.

He left in March 2007 after two years working with the big boss and set up social enterprise Bright Ideas Trust to support young entrepreneurs from disadvantaged backgrounds. “I never saw the Apprentice, Lord Alan’s position, as a job for life,” he told The Guardian. “It was on a plate for me but that wasn’t what it was about. I never saw him as a blank cheque.”

Tim became head of client services for recruitment firm Alexander Mann Solutions and then London Mayor Boris Johnson’s ambassador for training and enterprise. In December 2013, Tim was diagnosed with testicular cancer but fought back with the support of his wife Jasmine and was given the all-clear.

Tim received an MBE for Services to Enterprise Culture in 2012 and co-founded bespoke digital marketing agency Marketing Runners Ltd in 2016. In 2022, he had a full-circle moment as he took on the role of Alan’s sidekick, taking over from Claude Littner as he dealt with medical issues.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez were only married for a couple of years before calling it quits in 2024, and the actor gave an update on his relationship with the singer months later

Ben Affleck shared a surprising insight into his relationship with Jennifer Lopez months after their split. The Hollywood star shared his real opinion on his ex, alongside describing how they’re managing their blended family.

Ben, 52, and Jennifer, 55, had fans jumping for joy when they got back together and tied the knot in July 2022 – decades after getting engaged for the first time in 2002. It turned out things weren’t meant to be even the second time around, and they separated in April last year before filing for divorce in August last year before they officially divorced on January 6, this year.

During their time together, however, they managed to successfully blend their brood of kids from previous relationships. Ben and his ex Jennifer Garner share Violet, 19, Fin, 16, and Samuel, 13.

Meanwhile, JLo shares twins Max and Emme, 17, with former husband Marc Anthony. Speaking at the premiere of his new film The Accountant 2 on April 16, Ben revealed how he, JLo, and the children are coping with the dramatic family change.

Talking to Entertainment Tonight, Ben shared that despite the split he was having a “great night” – with JLo’s kids joining him alongside his own.

“My kids are here, Jen’s kids are here”, he said. “I’m very excited, I love the movie, I’m very proud of the movie. I love when all the kids come out and it’s really fun, it’s exciting”.

He then opened up about his current feelings towards the Hustlers star, explaining: “Listen, I don’t read the stuff online much, and sometimes I get the sense that people perpetuate this idea of – they want to find something negative to talk about.

” And look, Jennifer Lopez is spectacular. Great to my kids, great ongoing relationship with them. I love her kids, they’re wonderful. “

Ben added:” She’s enormously important. Tremendous person with a lot of integrity who I adore and am grateful to. I’m thrilled that the kids are here with me, and that’s the kind of thing – those relationships you have with children like that – joy in my life. “

When it was commented that Ben was a great dad to all of the kids in his life, he humbly noted:” I try my best, I certainly do. “

Ben seems to be an expert at keeping good vibes after a relationship breakdown, and recently shared similarly gushing words when talking about Jennifer Garner, from whom he split in 2018.

“I’m really lucky that I have a really good co-parent and partner in Jennifer Garner, the kids’ mom, who’s wonderful and great and we work together well,” he told GQ Magazine.

It’s not the first time he’s fawned over his first wife – amid rumours of them rekindling their romance. A year after their separation, he praised: “She’s just a fabulous person. She’s a great mother. She’s a real talent… She’s somebody that I admire and respect and remain excellent friends with.”

The Molotovs are a rising rock band being supported by icons such as Blondie and the Sex Pistols, and the teenage duo say they’ve already had some stellar advice.

If Britpop is having a second wave, these guys are riding front and centre. The Molotovs, made up of brother and sister duo Mathew and Issey Cartlidge, are hot off the heels of releasing their first single, More More More, in the midst of touring the UK and recently warmed up the Royal Albert Hall for the Sex Pistols.

The Royal Albert Hall performance was part of Teenage Cancer Trust’s run of gigs earlier this year, and wasn’t the first time The Molotovs had rubbed shoulders with the Sex Pistols.

“It was a massive show, one of the biggest venues we played, it was great. It was a privilege to play such a historic venue and a privilege to be affiliated with the show and to support the Pistols again. They couldn’t have been nicer to us.

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“Paul Cook had come to one of our gigs before at Shepherd’s Bush, and that led to the Teenage Cancer Trust gig,” explained Mathew.

The band aren’t the only stars to be supporting Mathew and Issey, who have garnered support from music legends such as Blondie, the Libertines, Paul Weller and Paul Cook. “It’s all been really organic, it just seems like these people kind of dig it. Because they’re our inspirations, I think they can kind of see that and try to pass on the baton where they can.”

Any advice from the stars? “Well, Paul Weller said make sure you get paid,” says Mathew. Sound advice, guys.

The Molotovs new single, More More More, shot to number one in the Official Vinyl Singles charts following it’s release, something the siblings couldn’t be happier about.

But as we talk to the young rockers this week, they admit it’s not easy being on the road with your sibling, something they’ve managed to channel into their work. “We get on each other’s nerves in the van on tour, but we have enjoyed it all in al. We’ll kind of channel it in the gigs, we’re pretty aggressive and intense when we’re on stage so it’ll just be us throwing each other looks across the stage.”

While they may have just released their debut single, The Molotovs aren’t new to the game, and have built up a loyal fanbase for their raucous gigs.

“We’ve been going around for like 5 years now and we’ve just been gigging. We’ve done around 500 gigs in total together, so we’ve been taking a different, more retro approach to making it in music,” explained the duo.

This has also led to many of their shows being sold out, an impressive achievement for a band who have only just released their debut single. “It feels really good that the gigs are selling out, it feels like there’s definitely some momentum building up around around the group,” says Mathew.

Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan attended the Grand National race at Aintree earlier this month, and she wore a dramatic pink dress from the high street – and it’s on sale

Saturday 5 April saw the biggest event in the horse racing calendar – the Grand National – take place at Aintree racecourse, with racegoers from all over the country attending, including actress Helen Flanagan. The former I’m A Celeb star arrived wearing a very glamorous pink gown – we’ve found the exact one, and it’s from one of our favourite high street shops.

In a sponsored reel posted to her Instagram account, 34 year old looked stunning in a long pink dress with an asymmetric hem, a red side panel and a dramatic cape feature over one arm, and we’ve found out that it’s the Soft Tailored Colour Block Cape Detail Full Skirted Maxi Dress from high street hero Karen Millen. Usually priced at £289, it’s now half price, down to £144.50 – and it’s still available in all sizes.

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Also featuring an asymmetric neckline, high-low hem and tailored fit, this stunning maxi dress is the perfect attire for the races, and also makes a great dress choice for weddings, graduations and other formal events. And if pink’s not your colour, you can also buy it in this bold cobalt blue colour, also reduced in price and fully stocked.

The former Coronation Street actor, who attended the popular sporting event with boyfriend Robbie, paired this statement dress with a red fascinator, also from Karen Millen: the Asymmetric Disk Fascinator With Feather Detail, now also reduced by 50% from £99 to £49.50. Helen kept the rest of her accessories simple with red strappy heels and a beaded clutch bag.

If you’re looking for other occasionwear options on the high street, Coast is a great place to shop; we love this pretty pink midi dress, which we think looks a lot like designer brand Self Portrait – but for £119, or £95.20 when you use the code EXTRA20.

We also love ASOS DESIGN for affordable dresses for any occasion; this £75 pale green maxi dress has a frill neckline similar to Helen’s dress, while this simple £30 navy silk halterneck gown is a gorgeous choice for evening or blank tie events.