Category Entertainment News

Red or Black, an ITV presenter from September 2011 until September 2012, earned the most money with a budget of £1.5 million.

According to reports, the man who won the biggest prize from a UK game show in history was forced to flee the country. When Graham Fletcher participated in ITV’s Red Or Black, he was able to win an enormous sum of £1.5 million.

Graham had to leave his home despite his impressive victory. Ant and Dec hosted the program, which ran from September 2011 to 2012.

Each round, participants had the option to choose either red or black, and those who chose the wrong color would be eliminated. Nathan Hageman, Kevin Cartwright, Darren Thompson, and Gary Brocklesby were just a few of the characters in the first season to become millionaires.

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In the second season of the show, Graham won his £1.5 million. The new millionaire was forced to leave his UK home after receiving word about his winnings, which wasn’t as good as it appeared.

When he told LadBible, “My parents could not have told me my address, they could have driven to it but not known my address, and I was staying at a friend’s house the next day.” Literally no one knew where I lived. I had press outside my home the following day, and it was published.

No one was supposed to know what had transpired, but I left the car and discovered that there were 10 photographers waiting. I had to explain what had happened to the neighbors because they felt like I had done something wrong.

Graham made the decision to leave the United Kingdom and spend two weeks in Egypt before spending three more weeks in Cyprus. He was still unable to escape the drama, though, as British foreigners still recognized him.

Graham then spent a portion of his income on a Range Rover Evoque Sport and a BMW convertible, as well as purchasing a $600,000 renovation-worthy property and selling it for $ 880,000 the following year. He currently resides with his wife in Spain and represents football.

Red or Black hasn’t aired on television since and isn’t scheduled to. Fans of TV will be relieved to learn that a Mr. &amp, Mrs. revival is on the horizon.

ITV is working on bringing the iconic show back where couples get together and prove just how well they really know each other. The new version will be based on the original show which came to an end in 1999.

However, there will be a twist to the new show, which will feature a new contestant ad that reads, “Do you know your partner better than anyone else?” The best team, are you? Would you like to participate in some enjoyable physical challenges together?

Kath Ebbs and JoJo Siwa’s partner, Chris Hughes floated nearby at the event, and Joe Siwa has spoken out about being “dumped” at the party.

Celebrity Big Brother has come to an end, freeing the stars to get back to their lives in the real world. JoJo Siwa waited only hours to get down to business, not even flying back to America before making a major life change.

Fans wondered over JoJo’s close relationship with Love Island star Chris Hughes, 32, since very early on in the ITV show, noticing how cuddly they soon got in the house. At the time, however, JoJo, 21, was dating Kath Ebbs, 27, who joined JoJo’s mum in watching the show remotely from her home in Australia.

Kath apparently didn’t like what they saw and opted not to welcome JoJo when she left the house, but still flew over to London for the afterparty to reunite in private.

While the others were celebrating Jack P Shepherd’s win, Chris was seen staying close to JoJo throughout the night – and Kath has now opened up to say that JoJo dumped them at the bash.

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Aussie Kath shared a long video on Instagram today, filming herself in London without JoJo, as they puffed out a long breath of air before speaking. “Egg on me I guess,” they captioned the clip.

I’m not even sure where to start, Kath said. I’m filming this while completely shocked, which I know will be distressing and will probably cause me to “go have a sleep,” but I really feel like the only way to put this situation in perspective is to put it all right.

I’m not sure if you can call it love bombing, but it seems like I have had a similar experience after watching certain events unfold for two weeks and not being able to understand who was involved in an odd way.

The presenter then suggested that JoJo had proposed to them, stating that it was more of a feeling than a fact that JoJo had proposed to them after being asked to marry someone before this social experiment, being adored behind closed doors, being hurt by what I witnessed but wanting to work through it.

“The story continues right now, in the final eight hours or whatever, as I flew here, I went to the live show, and I supported my partner through their experience, and then later addressed my feelings of hurt and worked through them like all relationships do,” I said at the after party, which I attended with my now-ex-wife, who was dumped in the after party.

After revealing that they had been dumped, Kath explained that they had been told that there were “confused feelings” and that they had realized that I wasn’t the person they wanted to spend the foreseeable.

Each year, Britain’s Got Talent introduce us to fresh faces, raw talent, and some unforgettable performances. Take a look back at some of the most memorable child acts – and see what they’ve achieved since

Britain’s Got Talent’s audition phase has officially wrapped as the first round of the live semi-finals is set to kick off tonight.

The audition process showed off some incredible talent – some of the most impressive coming from the youngsters with Teddy Magic, Olly Pearson, Maya Giotea as the standout child stars of the series. And as judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and KSI set out to find the next Royal Variety Performance act, fans will be poised to see which child star shines brightest this year.

The ITV series has introduced audiences to some incredible young talent over the years, but where are the talent series’ biggest child stars now? The Mirror takes a look at what some of the show’s famous faces have been up to since rising to stardom – from unrecognisable transformations, to contestants rocked by tragedy.

Sarah Ikumu

Sarah, then 15, captivated the judges and the audience with her rendition of Jennifer Hudson’s And I Am Telling You, which resulted in Simon Cowell pressing the Golden Buzzer. Later in the series, she was knocked out after a viewer vote – but the judges decided to use the Wild Card to get her into the finals, where she came third.

Since finishing the show, Sarah has gone on to perform for many high end brands such as Vogue, and AP Swiss Watch. She also had the opportunity to sing for Bulgari in Dubai, which she said was an incredible experience, saying: “It looked like a magical show. I felt like a princess.”

Sarah told The Mirror that while she initially struggled to find her sound, she believes she is close to finding her path. “I’m definitely switching it up, I think that’s also another realisation I’ve had is like, I don’t need to put myself in a box. That’s the joy of not being signed. Like you can do whatever you want.”

This year, she confirmed she will be releasing more songs, and said fans might be shocked by her different sound. But, she did recently posted a video of herself singing the very same single that earned her the Golden Buzzer.

Bars and Melody

Bars and Melody (Leondre Devries) and Melody (Charlie Lenehan) auditioned for the show with their cover of Hope by Twista and Faith Evans – but they put their own spin on the song, with Leondre including a rap with a strong anti bullying message. Their performance led Simon to press the Golden Buzzer, and the pair ultimately finished the competition in third place. Their cover remains the second most-viewed audition on the BGT Youtube, with 254 million views.

After the show, the duo signed a record deal with Simon’s record label and their debut single, Hopeful, reached number 5 in the UK singles chart. Since then, they have gained a solid fan base, releasing multiple albums and touring worldwide.

However in July 2024, the pair announced their split, stating that they would like to finish on a high, and are set to release their final album, along with an ’emotional’ last tour. Speaking in an emotional video, the pair said: “Hey everyone, it’s been an incredible journey and we’re thankful we shared it with you.”

They added: “But now it’s time for one last adventure together,” before announcing their final tour.

Jack Carroll

Jack Caroll appeared on the Britain’s Got Talents stage in 2013, instantly winning over the judges and audience with his self-deprecating humour and sharp wit. His stand-up comedy saw him finish in second place – but, even before the show, Jack had come to public attention when he was awarded the Pride of Britain award for Teenager of Courage.

Since leaving the show, he has continued his comedy career, appearing on shows such as Live at the Apollo. Jack also went on to co-write and star in a BBC comedy called Mobility, which won a BAFTA for short film.

The talented youngster has now ventured out to acting, appearing in various television shows including Doctors and Coronation Street, for which he was shortlisted for best newcomer at the Inside Soap Awards 2024, for his role as Bobby.

Ronan Parke

Ronan auditioned on the show at just 11 years old, earning a standing ovation from both the judges and the audience for his rendition of Feeling Good. He later finished the competition in second place.

After the show, he signed a record deal with Sony music and released his debut album Ronan Parke. In May 2012, it was reported that Sony had dropped him – but he went on to deny those claims, stating he had chosen to leave. He has continued to release music over the years, and has even dabbled in pantomime.

These days, he regularly updating his Instagram with life updates, posting photos of himself, friends, and family. And it appears he has moved on from his singing career; Ronan was recently photographed arriving for work at a top London restaurant, dressed in his hospitality uniform.

Natalie Okri

Natalie was just 10-years-old when she auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent, performing the hit Alicia Keys track, No One. Her rendition has gained 129 million views on YouTube, and it remains the 5th most-viewed clip on the BGT channel. She made it up to the semi finals of competition.

Natalie told The Mirror the pressure she has felt with remaining the 5th most watched clip. “The pressure is that I’m trying to top what I did as a 10-year-old, trying to get my music heard by those 129 million people. And, it’s not easy, so now it’s just trying to reach all of those people,” she said.

Talented Natalie made it all the way to the semi-finals and she has gone on to make music with UK artists including Sneakbo and Darkoo. Natalie told us the show didn’t shape her as an artist, but it did give her a wider platform, making her talent wide known.

While the show helped people recognise her name, she faced some challenges on the show. “The song I was meant to do for the semi-finals, they changed it on the day last minute and the song I’d been practicing for, which was Superstar, was meant to have dancers and they just scrapped the dancers on the day,” she revealed.

Another challenge she still faces is separating herself from the girl from Britain’s Got Talent and just being Natalie Okri, the artist.

Just recently, she decided to take down some of her songs – and has released a new single, Blessing. Natalie has spoken about the importance of ensuring all her music is clean and delivers a positive message to reflect her relationship with Christ, which fans can expect to here in her upcoming singles.

Shaheen Jafargholi

Shaheen auditioned at 12 years old, stunning the judges with his take on ‘Who’s Loving You?’, inspired by The Jackson 5’s version. He finished in fifth place – but his journey didn’t end there. Shortly after the show, he was approached by Michael Jackson’s team and invited to perform at Jackson’s public memorial. He later learned that Michael had seen his audition before his passing and had wanted to work with him.

Over the years, Shaheen has transitioned across to acting, securing roles in TV series like EastEnders, in which his character, Shakil Kazemi, was a victim of knife crime. More recently, he has appeared in BBC’s Lost Boys and Fairies.

Aidan Davies

Aidan was 12 years old at the time of his audition on BGT, when he impressed the judges with his dance routine to Flo Rida’s Low. Judge Simon Cowell was full of praise for the youngster, saying: “I think you’re better than any dancer on this show, you are super, super, super talented.” Aidan made it all the way to the finals, impressing most of the judges – although Simon did criticise one of his dances, saying it wasn’t as strong as previous performances, leaving Aidan in tears. Simon later admitted he regretted making him emotional.

After the show, Aidan performed with other finalists on theBritain’s Got Talent – The Live Tour 2009, and he stayed booked and busy for the whole year, appearing in ads and giving a number of performances across the country.

In 2012, Aidan debuted the music video for his song Let’s Dance, in which he also raps, and he has since gone on to release more songs on his YouTube channel.

More recently, Aidan has decided to dedicate himself to fitness, although he continues to make music, with his most recent track being released in May 2024. He is now also the proud dad to a baby girl named Poppy.

Hollie Steel

Hollie was just 10 years old when she auditioned for BGT. She initially started her performance with some ballet dancing, which confused the judges, but then she started singing – and left everyone stunned.

During the live semi-finals, she suffered a panic attack on stage. And while it seemed that would be the end of her journey, Simon did something he had never done before and allowed her to restart her performance, which led her to advancing to the finals.

After the show, Hollie decided to undergo therapy in order to overcome her stage fright, and she has since performed in huge spaces like New York’s Carnegie Hall and on cruise ships. To date, she has released three albums.

In her personal life, she enjoys travelling and often updates her Instagram profile with colourful holiday posts. In December 2024, she announced she was engaged to her partner.

George Sampson (2008)

George was just 14 years old when he won the second season of Britain’s Got Talent with his street dancing – just 12 months after he auditioned for the first season but didn’t make it through.

Following his win, he also went on to showcase his vocal talent with his debut song, Get Up On The Dance Floor/Headz Up. Doctors last warned him that returning to the dance floor may not be possible due to health concerns, but he has not allowed that to get in the way of his career.

George decided to branch out into the world of acting, and secured roles in shows such as Waterloo Road and The Dumping Ground. He has also dabbled in pantomime.

Recently, he posted a video revisiting one of his iconic moves – swinging from a lamp post. These days, it appears the BGT winner earns a living from Twitch, a streaming platform and calls himself a “Gamer/Nerd” on his Instagram bio.

Connie Talbot (2007)

Connie was one of the youngest contestants to ever appear on BGT, auditioning at just six years old when she sang Over the Rainbow – a performance that left Amanda Holden in tears and earned her international press coverage.

After her success on the show, Connie signed with Rainbow Recording Company, releasing her debut album, Over The Rainbow, which went on to sell over 250,000 copies worldwide and hit number 1 in three countries. She also broke two Guinness World Records, including one for being the youngest artist to have a number one in America.

The host of BBC Breakfast, Louise Minchin, has spoken candidly about her favorite interview, her time on the red sofa, and how running has helped her mental health.

Louise Minchin might have swapped the famous red sofa on BBC Breakfast for her running shoes, but she’s back on the small screen and loving it.

The 56-year-old journalist, who ran the London Landmarks Half Marathon with daughter Mia recently (she shares Mia, 23, and Scarlett, 19, with husband of 25 years David), woke up the nation for over 20 years on BBC Breakfast, until she stepped down in 2021. But the broadcaster is as busy as ever – smashing fitness goals and appearing on Morning Live, as well as co-presenting iconic consumer show Rip-Off Britain, taking over from show stalwart Angela Rippon. Here, talking exclusively to new, Louise opens up about mental health, marathon life – and the next adventure on her bucket list…

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How are you, Louise? You spent 20 years hosting BBC Breakfast. Do you miss those early-morning starts?

I’m great, thanks. And no, I do not miss those early starts! I do miss the team, though. But I’m now on Morning Live and another show, so it’s nice being part of a new team, too.

What was the highlight of your BBC Breakfast appearance?

Definitely the week we did called Wake Up To Menopause. It was before menopause became a bigger conversation – before Davina McCall really brought it into the spotlight. The response was incredible, and I’m really proud of that.

Was there a time in your career when you felt completely at ease?

Yes, Gladiators is producing a celebrity episode! Even though I’ve worked in television for years, television sets typically appear smaller. However, Gladiators? What had I done as soon as I entered the room? It was utterly terrifying and massive. but also a unique experience. One of my favorite moments at work was having it.

You interviewed a lot of famous people. Who has always been your favorite?

Absolutely fantastic, George Clooney. I was late, though, which is funny! George was my fault because I never would have arrived late, but it was the Tube. Even though I detest crowded lifts, I was rushing to get the lift. However, George saved the day by holding that lift, which meant we both ended up late. The chat itself? It was fantastic, of course. George is essentially a Clooney flip.

What does a typical weekend with the family look like when not watching TV?

We’ll honestly just do something simple together, like a swim or a pub lunch. I’ve got two dogs, and they’re great at the pub now, because they’ve been there so often! We do enjoy a nice lunch together. It’s just about relaxing and having fun as a family.

You enjoy running a lot. Does that aid both physically and mentally?

Hugely. Especially when I was on BBC Breakfast – there was a lot of pressure. Running gave me that time out. At first, my mind was racing, but over the years, running became my switch-off. Now, I don’t worry when I run. It’s helped so much with stress, I’d recommend it to everyone.

Then, how did you start running?

I actually stopped playing sports when I was 15 because I was once a good swimmer. Then, for a long time, I didn’t do much. In 2012, I completed a challenge for BBC Breakfast, and I recovered. I hadn’t competed in a velodrome race in probably 30 years, and it was a bike race. And then I realized how incredible it was to me, you know, that it brought that excitement and adrenaline, so I resumed triathlon, which is obviously required of triathletes as well.

How does your daughter Mia keep running?

When we compete, we always run together. She is a 23-year-old woman who is undoubtedly a better runner than I am. But I bring resilience where she has ability. We excel at pushing one another, such as “Come on, just 1K more” or “Let’s get to that point.” Working together is brilliant. I don’t believe I could run right now without her. We make an effort to start and finish the conversation together.

What has been your biggest fitness challenge to date?

I did a triathlon called Patagonman – which is supposedly, and probably is, the toughest triathlon in the world. You swim 3.8 kilometres, jumping off a ferry in the dark. Then cycle 180 kilometres, which is 112 miles, and finish by running a marathon. It took me about 16 hours to complete.

Any harrowing or embarrassing running tales?

I’m in a million, gosh! I ran onto the run course with my bike helmet still on during one of the most embarrassing triathlons ever! That made me cry. In the middle of a triathlon, I also fell off my bike in Liverpool. It was dramatic, to be honest.

What fitness myth do you wish more people disbelieve?

that you must constantly strive for “personal bests.” I simply enjoy running. That’s what I want people to know: fitness is universal, and it doesn’t need to be competitive or performative.

What day would be ideal for a relaxing vacation?

Oh, I think my favourite kind of rest is being at home, hopping in a nice bubble bath, and watching something on Netflix.

And what’s on your bucket list for the upcoming big adventure?

I want to start doing more long-distance running, particularly in the Lake District. That challenge is something I’m really looking forward to!

Visit llhm for more information about the London Landmarks Half Marathon. . uk/pre-register-half

Despite their split last year, British Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon and her husband Azuka Ononye are still living together as their split has been revealed.

TV star Alesha Dixon is still living with her partner of 18 years, Azuka Ononye, despite their split. The Britain’s Got Talent judge, who will appear on the live semi-finals this weekend, went their separate ways last year, but have continued to live as they did before.

They are still living under the same roof as they navigate their split and come to terms with single life. Alesha and Azuka were together for almost two decades, and welcomed children, Azura, 10, and Anaya, four.

After meeting in 2006, she previously admitted to playing “hard for about a year” while Azuka attempted to woo her. After giving in, Alesha reportedly secretly weds her husband in 2017. The pair ended their romance last year, though.

Pals of the couple claimed they became “more like friends” as their marriage crumbled. Alesha took time away to focus on herself following the split as she enjoyed a £1000 a night stay in Jamaica.

According to a source, the former couple are still living together, and they have confirmed to The Sun that Lesha has broken up with Azuka and is doing so as best she can. They are co-parenting while still co-parenting for the sake of their families.

While appearing on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show Christmas Special, Alesha revealed she married Azuka. He was her “lovely husband,” she proudly said, but neither of them has ever confirmed the date of a wedding.

The musician had a one-year marriage to MC Harvey from So Solid Crew. After discovering Harvey had cheated on her, she and Azuka started dating in 2006.

After recovering from a foot operation, Alesha fell for Azuka, who she initially played “hard to get” on the Jonathan Ross Show in 2018.

She claimed that because she was lying on the couch, she could not even ascend the stairs, he was sleeping on the floor. He’s a winner if he can take me to the restroom.

He literally slept on the floor looking after me every day while I had the foot operation and couldn’t walk. I was just staring at him and thinking, “That’s for the better or the worse, isn’t it?” I looked in the direction of.

When Alesha appeared on Giovanna Fletcher’s Happy Mum podcast in 2020, she gushed about her relationship with Azuka. She said, “Azuka was the first person I’d met, and I knew that we could have children because our values, morals, and thinking were in tune.”

Later, she addressed HELLO! In 2022, I make a very conscious effort to ensure that my daughters have a very loving, supportive home with two parents who serve as excellent role models because “you are your first introduction to the world.” I sense my role as a responsible person.

When Alesha and Azuka were first revealed to The Sun about their split last year, a source claimed in a statement that the pair had been secretly communicating. She and Azuka have been dating for almost 20 years, but their relationship has since grown closer to friendship.

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Margaret Gardiner, 65, who won the Miss Universe pageant in 1978, revealed that she had been given a simple beauty treatment to treat her cancer after being diagnosed with the disease.

Margaret Gardiner, the beautiful queen of beauty, bravely shared her battle with cancer, revealing how one diagnosis resulted from a regular visit to the salon. The 65-year-old, who won Miss Universe in 1978, claimed that a facial revealed some troubling red flags, which she said began her ordeal.

I had a facial a few years ago, which I typically don’t get, and it never worked out. It would start to bleed when I took a shower.

“… Because, you see, it just didn’t heal, I was really, really lucky. And so I went back to [the salon] and asked, “Can you zap this? She replies, “Maybe you should go see a skin specialist,” and she replies, “Yes.” When something doesn’t heal, that’s typically a sign. “

Margaret became aware that her unusual, open sore was actually cancer after getting more medical attention. When a cancerous tumor breaks through the skin’s surface, it is typically referred to as an ulcerating wound.

While these are notoriously difficult and sometimes impossible to remove, Margaret underwent a biopsy to do just this, leaving a hole around half a centimetre wide on her face. As a cover girl with a glamorous career, this flipped Margaret’s world upside down, but she was grateful that medics found the cancer promptly.

The hole was fortunately only about a half-inch wide, Margaret said. However, when you look in your face, that is actually quite large for a hole.

My nose is skewed like that because they had a plastic surgeon remove my skin and reshape it… They had [initialized] that they would have to regrow the skin and that they would flip my forehead over to cover the hole in my face.

So I was going to be horribly, horribly scarred. I’m so appreciative of my skew, but I know that I don’t appear as though I did, so I should be appreciative of how I look. “

Unfortunately, Margaret has cancer in other instances as of late. A sarcoma was discovered in her chest about 24 years ago by doctors.

In what Margaret recalls as a 10-hour operation, the special type of tumor was removed in a special form, with the removal of a skin graft to fill the hole in her chest.

Margaret claims that these events have had a significant impact on her mental health in addition to scarring her body. She has attempted to avoid being in the public eye in the past.

But now, she chooses to celebrate herself, continuing to star in photo shoots and appear on magazine covers. She’s even written several books, including Damaged Beauty: Joey Superstar, published in February.

We constantly look at ourselves and say, “Oh, we wish we looked different,” she said, “I think you know, for women who are older and even young people.”

However, I believe that what we really need to do is look in the mirror and declare, “You are awesome, just who you are,” and begin celebrating. Your inside shines through when the outside is destroyed.

That is what will sustain you throughout your life. She later added, “You know, one of the things it’s examining is the image, as well as from the book side.

“Image projected on you, image that we take of ourselves, and what’s happening in the background. And I believe that society has framed women specifically to compromise who we are in order to conform to an aesthetic and societal norm.

“You know you have to be a lady, but you also have to be sexy, smart and strong, but if you’re too strong, you’re a b****. People want to put you on a pedestal, but then they look for your faults. In the world of modelling and beauty, and it’s more apparent how this damages you.