Category Entertainment News

Joe McElderry, the X Factor winner, has revealed the key words a music legend gave him and the odd moment a fan hurled a live animal at him on stage.

A former X Factor winner was left stunned after a concert goer launched a live animal at him on stage. Joe McElderry, who was crowned the winner of the ITV talent show in 2009 – beating Olly Murs to the title – has revealed the surprise moment a goldfish was thrown at him during a festival performance.

The 34-year-old singer is currently on a short tour in his native north east before panto season and revealed the bizarre moment that happened in Ireland. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Joe said he thought it was a football at first.

I once played a concert in Ireland, Joe admitted to us. Because this large-looking football object flew over and landed right next to the other side of the stage where I was, I thought someone might throw a football, like, at the event.

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Someone actually chose to throw a goldfish in a bag at the stage after it had been won. And the stage was merely a goldfish in a bag. Although the unfortunate thing did survive, I believe a member of the security team or something attempted to take it home.

It was certainly a moment he would have never expected after being crowned the X Factor winner 16 years ago. But, while his journey has seen a number of ups and downs, Joe is continuing to enjoy every moment. He admits that throughout it all he has continued to follow the key advice George Michael gave him as a 19-year-old ready to cut his teeth in the industry.

He claimed that the Careless Whisper singer had instructed him to “focus solely on being a brilliant singer and performer.” He continued, “Everything else is noise, the record label, the many positive comments, the negative comments.” He said, “Be brilliant, and you’ll never go wrong.” I kind of made a mistake by trying to concentrate on the other things. Just pay attention and pay attention. “

And he once more follows that advice while on his tour with him. With new numbers, audience participation, and an eclectic mix of tunes from the past, he has promised his fans a show they’ll never forget.

He acknowledged that, by his standard standards, it is a very short tour and that he didn’t intend to go on one because he had itchy feet “earlier in the year.” It features cover favorites from my albums, new material from my previous performances, as well as new material and covers, Joe said, referring to what to expect. It’s essentially a combination of everything, therefore.

It kind of touches on a lot of the musical genres I’ve touched over the past 15 years, including pop and classical crossover music. So I suppose there is something there is, even though it sounds overused, for everyone.

It’s lovely to be back and it’s a real fun night. It’s amazing to be back playing my own concert after missing out on one since last year’s tour.

Joe is also continuing his well-known podcast That’s Ridiculous with his 91-year-old grandma, which he admits he is grateful to be a part of.

He said, “You know what she’s had an extraordinary life.” She has endured a lot of heartache throughout her life. She also grew up during World War II. She was incredibly young when she lost her parents. And like she explains the foolish things that are currently being discussed, she also has such a way and wisdom to explain it all.

She says, “She has such a sweet heart and a wonderful sense of humor.” It’s like a perfect blending and seeing the comments people leave online about her and other things is lovely because there are so many conversations about people feeling like they don’t have that connection with the older generation. She merits it.

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According to a source, Laura Anderson continues to have a bad relationship with her ex-boyfriend Gary Lucy, who claims that she “makes it very difficult for everyone to see Bonnie,” their shared daughter.

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One of the most toxic celebrity splits in recent years intensified last week when it emerged that Scottish reality star Laura Anderson had “bonded” with former partner Gary Lucy’s ex-wife over their “experiences”.

Now a source claims former Love Islander Laura and Natasha Gray are “joining forces” – and are totally unapologetic about it. “Laura and Natasha have bonded over their experiences with Gary and neither of them has anything nice to say,” claims our source. “They don’t see an issue with their friendship. Neither of them are with Gary any more so in their opinion it’s none of his business.”

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Laura, 36, and former Hollyoaks star Gary, 43, split when she was pregnant with their daughter Bonnie, now two. It was rumoured he didn’t want to relocate to Scotland and live apart from his older children.

Despite a brief reconciliation, the two ended things peacefully and have since engaged in a heated exchange of words. Laura had previously criticized Gary for being a “deadbeat dad” and Gary for labeling her as a “narcissist.”

After 14 years of dating, Gary and Natasha split in 2018. Together, they have two sons and two daughters. She is now alleged to be Laura’s “rock.”

According to another source, Natasha allegedly spotted similarities between Laura’s situation and her own, and the pair have since called the soap star “worse than any baddie on TV.” They continued, claiming that Natasha “had a good idea of what Gary would do and how traumatizing it would be for Laura” as a result of her own experience.

The pair certainly seem to have each other’s backs. From one proud hardworking mother to another, writes Laura in a photo of Natasha and her children last week. Our beautiful babies are cherished as siblings. You have been and continue to be my rock. I’m in love with everyone, Bonnie and I.

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But is it possible to truly have a friendship with an ex-partner? Friends like these can be “both healing and hazardous,” says Tina Wilson, the creator of the Wingman dating app.

Shared experience, on the positive side, causes instant empathy for both parties. When something is under the spotlight and plays out on social media, someone who has walked in your shoes can provide understanding and validation that others won’t be able to understand, says Tina. There is an incentive for the girls to be close to keep the family units as happy as possible because Gary’s children are involved on both sides.

There are also inherent difficulties, though. The dating expert warns against “old wounds or comparisons can resurface and insettle insecurities,” while blurred boundaries can cause questions about how much should be shared and where loyalty is found. It runs the risk of entangling both women in the past, frustrated, and reliving hurts if the connection is only rooted in anger and unhappiness.

She concludes that having a friendship with an ex’s ex only works if it involves mutual respect and strict boundaries. When done right, it can provide strength and solidarity, but it should always involve moving forward rather than dwelling on the past.

According to our source, Gary worries about what might come after this new friendship and is unsatisfied with it. The source claimed that while he isn’t happy that they are friends, he can’t communicate much with them. He worries that because he is the only thing they share, they are plotting against him. It’s uncomfortable in this way.

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Laura responded angrily to Gary’s “narcissist” comment, in which he appeared to claim she “exploits” their daughter to stay “relevant”. On Instagram Stories, she shared what seemed to be a screenshot of her recent messages with Gary, showing she has him saved on her phone as Lucifer.

My ex-boyfriend calls me a Narc, according to Laura, “I discuss issues with the Child Maintenance System in the UK.” She continued, “I wake up to messages like this,” and continued, “Do not feel silenced by bullies.” I’m not the Narc.

Laura had previously publicly claimed in the past that Gary hadn’t seen Bonnie for a while and that she had celebrated a year with her 32-year-old Dundee football player boyfriend Clark Robertson. She added that “co-parenting and financial support didn’t exist,” making it clear that she had been forced to miss work and time with her child.

However, a source close to Gary told us that while he would prefer to have a relationship with Bonnie, he would also prefer to have one with his daughter, and that Laura has made it difficult for everyone to see her.

Sadly, based on these events, it’s unlikely that this depressing state of affairs will soon come to an end.

His family claims that they are adjusting to “the new normal.”

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Eric Dane, a star of Grey’s Anatomy and Last Ship, and his family say they are focusing on getting along with life after getting diagnosed with ALS. The actor, 52, revealed in a statement to People in April that he had been diagnosed with ALS, also known as motor neurone disease, and that his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, 15, and their two daughters, Georgia, 13, are learning to manage their “new normal.” They are also learning to manage their “new normal,” according to Rebecca Gayheart, who spoke at Step Up’s 2025 Inspiration Awards in April.

She continued at the gathering, “We have some professional therapists who are helping us, and we’re just trying to have some hope and do it with dignity, grace, and love.” It’s heartbreaking, really. We are merely attempting to get past the fact that my girls are really suffering. It’s a difficult time.

I kindly request that you grant my family and I privacy while we are recovering from our diagnosis in a statement released shortly.

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He addressed the reality of living with the illness in a May interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America, saying, “I wake up every day and I’m immediately reminded that this is happening. Not a dream, really.

Rebecca Gayheart, who wed Eric in 2004, filed for divorce in 2018, but the couple later reconciled. She continued, “I don’t believe I’m in a position where I can pull out a positive nugget.” I’m not yet there. We’re definitely dealing with something that has brought us all together, and whether or not we’re married or not, whether or not we live together, or not, we’re closer, but we don’t like the reason for that.

“I wish there was a cure for this terrible disease. It’s just so depressing, and I hope they find one soon.

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A day after missing his scheduled appearance at the 2025 Emmy Awards and fellow Grey’s Anatomy star Jesse Williams, Eric announced a partnership with the nonprofit I Am ALS earlier this month. He stated in a video message that he was an actor, father, and now an ALS patient. We’ve reached the end of the ALS debate, which has been a cure for over a century. We require the quickest treatment for ALS, so I partnered with them on the Push for Progress. Over the next three years, we hope to achieve a billion.

Together, we’ll renew the landmark law enacting treatment for ALS, grant promising treatments to thousands of ALS patients, and finally, finally, push for the end of this disease, he added.

Benjamin Keough, Lisa Marie Presley’s son, is said to have shot himself in the head with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, leaving his mother grieving.

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Lisa Marie’s shocking revelations about her son’s suicide have been shared by Priscilla Presley.

Lisa Marie’s son, Danny Keough, and Benjamin, who was also her ex-husband, died at the age of 27, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. On July 12, 2020, shocked authorities discovered him at the family’s home in Calabasas, California. His family at the time described the news as “devastated” and said they were shocked.

Following Benjamin’s death, Lisa Marie made the decision to keep his body at their family home, on dry ice, in order to be “in control” as the world was at the time gripped by the coronavirus pandemic. Riley Keough said that Lisa didn’t want others to have access to his body so they couldn’t “mess with it”.

Priscilla has now revealed how the family became aware of the shocking news in her bombshell memoir Softly, As I Leave You: Life After Elvis. Lisa had allergies at home, so the family moved into the Beverly Hills Hotel in the summer of 2020.

But Benjamin was sacrificing his time so that he could see Diana Pinto, his girlfriend, while staying at the lavish hotel and the family home. They celebrated Diana’s birthday on July 12 with a party that lasted until early in the morning. However, Priscilla claims that what followed may have different recalls.

Some claim Ben and Diana got into a fight before using the bathroom, while others claim he grabbed a beer and left without getting back. She claims in her memoir that a woman allegedly yelled, “Don’t do it!” before a gunshot was audible. What is clear is that Ben’s friends accidentally discovered his dead body next to a gun as they attempted to break into the bathroom.

Riley, Ben’s sister, was the first to learn about the news, though. Before the news was leaked on social media and to the press, Lisa’s assistant wanted to tell the family about it. She didn’t want to tell Lisa, though. Riley’s phone rang shortly after 5am.

Your brother “shot himself in the head,” he claimed! Riley is alleged to have been told by Lisa’s assistant frequently. She contacted her father, Danny and Priscilla to let them know, and she also made the decision to travel directly to the Beverly Hills Hotel to the Beverly Hills Hotel. Lisa was all I could think about, and she would never recover from this. I didn’t understand how she could live it up to it,” Priscilla wrote.

She continued, stating that after the body of Benjamin was removed for an autopsy, the investigation was quickly brought to a close. Sharing your grief with the public is one of the most challenging aspects of being a celebrity, she continued.

Lisa’s manager at the time stated on behalf of the late singer that she was “fully heartbroken, inconsolable, and beyond devastated but trying to stay strong for her oldest daughter Riley and her 11-year-old twins.” That boy was adored by her. She had a lifelong love for him.

At the 40th anniversary of Elvis’ passing, he was joined by his family during a Graceland vigil before his death. In order to transport Benjamin’s body to her home, Lisa Marie sought the assistance of a kind funeral director. She was forced to keep the room at 55 degrees while making the decision to place his final rest at the family’s Graceland estate or in Hawaii.

That was a component of why it took so long, Lisa Marie wrote in her own memoir, which was made public after her passing. I spent a lot of time with him, taking good care of him, and keeping him there. Anyone else would be scared of having their son there like that, in my opinion. not for me, though. I was so blessed to have the option to continue raising him, but it took some time to adjust so I could accept to put him to rest.

The Samaritans have a free helpline that is available 24/7, accessible at 116 123, for those who are struggling and need to talk. You can also contact Jo at jo@samaritans.org or visit their website to find your neighborhood branch.

ExCLUSIVE: As Geri Horner’s husband officially left his position, a source claims that it serves as an immediate reminder of the texting and investigation scandal.

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When Geri Horner’s F1 boss husband Christian officially walked away from his top Red Bull role last week with a reported £80m payout, a source claims it reopened ‘painful wounds’ for his ever-loyal wife. Last year, Christian faced allegations of “controlling and inappropriate behaviour” by a female colleague, which he strongly denied. Cleared of any wrongdoing following an investigation, the 51-year-old racing car driver nonetheless faced a flurry of backlash amid the scandal.

Spice Girls star Geri, 53, may have stood by her husband of ten years – but our source maintains it’s not so easy for the mum-of-one to forget what was a dark time. “Christian’s departure from Red Bull means huge amounts of money for the family, but it doesn’t erase what led to this”, they exclusively tell OK!.

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“Geri feels like him leaving Red Bull is reopening painful wounds – it’s naturally bringing back all of the drama and heartache of the last year. People talk about Christian leaving and it’s an instant reminder of the investigation and texting scandal,” they say. Christian was sacked from his two-decade long run as Red Bull’s Team principal in July, his duties immediately paused, but he has only now reached a settlement with the Austrian company to officially leave. His time at Red Bull came to a sour end this summer when the company announced he was to be “relieved” of his operational duties with immediate effect, to be replaced by current CEO and Team Principle Laurent Mekies. Following a three-week investigation, he was cleared of any wrongdoing. However, WhatsApp texts allegedly sent between the two parties were leaked just 24 hours later, causing further speculation that Christian had been suggestive towards the colleague.

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Mum-of-two Geri supported her other half throughout, but was said to be finding the public speculation tough to take behind the scenes. And our source claims that things haven’t quite been brushed under the carpet, with all eyes on Christian yet again. “Geri is still struggling with what happened, it wasn’t easy to go through at all. Christian’s payout from Red Bull brings that all back up for her. She stood by him when some would have questioned him, and has worked really hard to move past it all.” At the time of his dismissal, a source told us that Christian’s axing was the latest in a string of public embarrassments for Geri. “Geri is going to stand by her man and is supporting him fully. Image means so much to her, but behind closed doors she isn’t happy about the attention this brings,” they said.

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It’s not easy for Geri because she knows everyone will relate to the leaked messages and what happened last year because of how important image is to her.

However, there is some good news. Christian reportedly received an $80 million payout last week to end his contract, which was set to continue until 2030.

The band’s massive compensation package is almost twice what Geri received for her chart-topping pop career with the Spice Girls, and it is more than twice as much.

Geri, alongside Victoria Beckham, Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton and Melanie Chisholm, became a household name before leaving the band in 1998.

Christian and Geri have two sons, Montague, eight, and Bluebell, 19, both of whom were previously in a relationship with filmmaker Sacha Gervasi.

Geri is also stepmum to Christian’s 11-year-old daughter Olivia, whom he shared with late ex-wife, Beverley Allen. While it hasn’t been an easy year for Geri and her brood, our source goes on to say that one thing she is thankful for is the chance at a whole new chapter. “Geri is ready for a fresh start. She’s made it clear she doesn’t want any more negativity surrounding them, it’s been embarrassing enough as it is. Money doesn’t take away the public scrutiny and judgement, so she’s laid down the rules to Christian going forward to make sure they’re not in this kind of situation again. It’s time to move past all of it.”

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They added, “This clean slate also means more family time and a chance for Christian and Geri to spend time together, which is what they both want”. While the former singer is yet to speak out on what her husband’s next move may be, Christian did share a statement last week, in which he said: “Leading Red Bull Racing has been an honour and privilege. When we started in 2005, none of us could have imagined the journey ahead – the championships, the races, the people, the memories.”

He continued, “I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished as a team, breaking records and reaching heights that no one would have imagined were possible, and I will always carry that with me.”

Emily Poe Stumler, who previously played violin on Taylor Swift’s first ever tour with her daughter, gives an account of Andrea Swift’s resolve to make sure her daughter receives the life she desires.

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From the sweet farm kid who ran around barefoot with her wild tangle of white-blonde curls to a global mega-star, Taylor Swift has secured her billionaire status, recorded 16 full-length albums and is freshly engaged to her American footballer fiance Travis Kelce.

And a woman who was with her during her early years of fame claimed that this was Taylor’s “driven and determined” strategy. When the country singer, age 17, was promoting her demo CD around Nashville in search of a record deal, Emily Poe Stumler was hired as Taylor’s fiddler in 2006.

“She was so driven, even at that age”, says mum-of-two Emily, now 40, who was just a few years older than the teenaged Taylor when they went on tour for the first time. She should always be as well-known as she became, according to the plan.

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Now Emily reveals for the first time the incredible impact Taylor’s mum Andrea Swift had on the young girl, and how her support meant the world as Taylor negotiated transitioning from “the weird kid with no friends” in middle school to the young popstar winning her first VMA Award. “If there was no Andrea, there would be no Taylor Swift,” says Emily bluntly. “She saw her daughter’s vision and she sacrificed her life so Taylor could do what she wanted in life.”

Andrea, who had worked as a mutual fund marketing executive before having Taylor and her younger brother Austin with their father Scott, gave up her high-flying career to manage the young Taylor’s music affairs, using the skills she’d built up in her previous male-dominated industry to secure deals for Taylor.

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She was also raising the teenage Taylor, Emily, and the rest of the band on their leopard print tour bus, which Cher had previously hired because it was outfitted with leopard print. “We were all living on top of each other – I was in the bottom bunk, Taylor was in the top bunk, and it was like having a little sister who was also my boss”, remembers Emily.

It was all so strange and crazy that Andrea attempted to do everything she could with the management side. Normal teenagers have conflict with their parents, but since we were all bus passengers, there was no room for conflict. I do remember Andrea telling me off constantly for having a messy bunk, though”!

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Emily and Taylor shared many of her biggest “firsts,” including the first time a fan recognized her. “We were in a department store and the assistant looked at her ID and said, ‘ oh, Taylor Swift, that’s the name of my favourite singer’. And Taylor said, “That’s me!” She was so excited afterward because she wanted to share her music with others and get them to like it.

Taylor has since gone on to win 14 Grammys, but Emily was there when she bagged her first ever CMA (Country Music Association) Award for Best New Artist – and they celebrated with McDonald’s. She exclaims, “We had performed at the CMAs, and Taylor had won.” Taylor wanted fries, and we all piled back on the tour bus. So we tried to get this enormous bus through the Drive-Thru”!

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It’s possible to be challenging but also very enjoyable on the road. “It was like having a sleepover with a high school friend every night”, Emily recalls. Taylor and her band set the stage for her opulent 2023-24 Eras Tour, which featured 149 three-hour shows that span five continents, and performed more than 300 shows in one year as she fought to launch her musical career.

“You live out of a suitcase for a year, and tour buses are very luxurious when you’re not slumming it!” – it is hard to be constantly on the move”, says Emily. But for Taylor’s entire career, which has spanned 20 years, both her and Andrea’s lives. Although it’s difficult for her, it has been very rewarding.

Off-stage, Taylor was still a teenage girl finding her feet. Today, there are stylists and a sizable entourage, but Emily recalls that we all spent the day getting ready for the pre-show bus. Taylor was much smaller than me, so I couldn’t wear her clothes because I was the only woman in the band. But I remember I gave her my earrings when she was on The Jay Leno Show for the first time”.

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Emily assisted the young singer in maintaining her feet on the ground while Taylor taught her the virtues of pure determination. “I was a very loyal friend to her at a time when her life was going crazy, and I think I taught her that life can be fun, and we can do regular people things and have fun – hanging out at the mall, going to the cinema.

Even though that’s not how life is now, I hope she continues to try that. I acted like a sister to her, really, really.

Emily and Taylor parted ways in 2007 when the young singer’s songwriting started going in a more poppy direction”. There was a natural breaking point because I played country fiddle. Why would you want things to last forever, and sometimes not?

There are online rumours that Taylor’s song Breathe was penned about the end of her friendship with Emily – but the chief deputy prosecuting attorney for Harrison County in Indiana refuses to be drawn”. How flattering to think that I deserve a song because I spent so much of her life! She laughs .

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After Emily stopped touring and departed for law school, the pair didn’t communicate, but she now wishes the former 35-year-old star best wishes. I hope she looks back on those early years of her career as fun if we bumped into each other now, because I believe we would think about it all those years ago and how fun we had, “she says.

” They were a whole lot of work, but also you only get the ‘ first’s once, and I was there for so many of those. The first album she released, playing the Grand Ole Opry, a live country music radio station from Nashville. How cool was that, and how much does life now look to her.

With Taylor’s next studio album, Life of a Showgirl, due to be released on October 3 – her first since winning back the master rights to her entire back catalogue after a protracted legal battle – Emily says the talented singer seemingly hasn’t changed from those early days.

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She recalls writing down lyrics in the back of the bus while always holding a notepad and pen in hand. I remember when she wrote Fearless, she came off the bus and just started playing it during soundcheck and everyone was going along with it. That was a cool moment, and the audience adored it when we played it live.

And Emily isn’t bothered by Taylor’s fervent support of Swifties from all over the world. Even in those early days she’d be selling nearly as much merchandise at shows as the headliners, and we were supporting, “she remembers.

Girls “liked her, they connected to her, and they wore her face or the lyrics on their shirts,” which meant getting customers’ money for her goods.

She has already given me some insight, so I’m not surprised if she grows as much. To be unapologetically who you are, like Taylor is, that’s a big thing”.