Monday, December 15, 2025

The Darkness reveal how they ‘blagged’ their Christmas hit

The Darkness have admitted their festive anthem Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End) was written on the fly after a drunken...

Haim star thought she was ‘hallucinating’ when she heard about Grammy nomination

Alana Haim thought she was "hallucinating" when she heard Haim had been nominated for Best Rock Album at the 2026 Grammy Awards.

The Weeknd strikes landmark catalogue partnership with Lyric Capital Group

The Weeknd has entered into a major new business venture with Lyric Capital Group, marking one of the most significant catalogue deals...

Taylor Swift left Eras Tour worker stunned by generous cash bonus

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour staff almost "pass out" and cry as they receive bonuses. The 36-year-old megastar was reported...

Sam Fender shares that fellow Geordie Brian Johnson helped him through homesickness

Sam Fender has revealed that AC/DC icon Brian Johnson unknowingly helped him through some of the toughest moments of his early touring...

Latest Articles

James Blunt feels tall in China


James Blunt loves performing in China - because he feels "tall".
The 'Bonfire Heart' hitmaker - who is just 1.7m tall - claimed he "feels better" about himself when surrounded by his fans in the far East because they are usually smaller than him, which is very unusual.
He said: "I've just finished playing China, great fun, for me I like playing there because in Europe I'm a very small person, but over there I'm tall and it makes me feel better about myself."
While James was overwhelmed by the response to his concerts in China, he admits his record sales didn't match up.
Asked if he is big in China, he told BBC Radio 2: "Huge there! Oh sales? No, the Chinese don't buy much music, I think one person buys the album and distributes it very effectively among his friends because they knew every single word to every song, which was a great pleasure, I was grateful they were but I was thinking, 'Hang on - we've only sold one album here'."

Lorraine Kelly to focus on her own show


Lorraine Kelly is leaving 'Daybreak' to focus on her own show.
The ITV presenter will stay with the channel for another three years, but now host her 'Lorraine' programme five days a week - and she is "delighted" at the new deal.
She said: "I'm delighted to have signed up for another three years at ITV.
"I thought long and hard about staying on at both shows but have decided I really want to focus on my show.
"New-look Fridays will be filled with fashion, film news and lots of fun - I can't wait."
Currently, Lorraine hosts her show Mondays to Thursdays, while Kate Garraway takes her place on Fridays.
The new deal will see the 54-year-old star take over for all five days until at least 2017, and her replacement is set to be revealed next week.
Next year will see Lorraine celebrate 30 years with ITV, and her agent Prof Jonathan Shalit has praised the new agreement and insists it makes her one of daytime TV's greatest stars ever.
He said: "This deal makes Lorraine the all-time Queen of Daytime."

Claudia Winkleman is ‘too orange’


Claudia Winkleman admits she is "too orange" but defends her style.
The 'Great British Sewing Bee' host know she can sometimes look too "tanned", but insisted she "couldn't care less" about what people think about her image.
She told The Sun newspaper's TV Magazine: "At home, I never wear make-up, then at work I get myself tanned up so I look like I've been grilling myself in the sun for three weeks.
"I go for a fight-with-an-eyeliner look and an enormous fringe I can hide behind. I have actually just cut my fringe as my producer told me off saying it looked ridiculous.
"I know I'm too orange, but I couldn't care less. It's my look and I'm happy with it. The fan mail I get is generally from young boys who write in green ink. Whatever they say, I take as a compliment."
Claudia also claimed she doesn't enjoy watching herself on TV, insisting she has a "very shrill voice" which makes her self-conscious.
She said: "I never watch myself on television. I'd rather eat dung. I can't do it, because I find myself incredibly annoying. My voice is very shrill. I'm phobic about it."

Gary Oldman advised by Eastwood


Gary Oldman says Clint Eastwood gave him his best filmmaking advice.
The 'RoboCop' star made his directorial debut in 1997 with gritty drama 'Nil by Mouth' and credits the screen legend - who is also a successful director - for helping him make the move behind the camera.
He said: "Clint Eastwood gave me the best advice when I directed, 'Get more sleep than your actors.' "
The 55-year-old star also says he was shocked when he met another huge screen star, Sir Michael Caine, because he didn't expect his reaction.
He told Us Weekly magazine: "When I first met Michael he asked for an autograph for his daughter."
In 1986, Gary won widespread critical acclaim for his portrayal of late Sex Pistols star Sid Vicious in biopic 'Sid and Nancy' but he insists he doesn't even remember the role which brought him to fame.
He said: "I don't' remember doing 'Sid and Nancy'. I've wiped that from the hard drive."

Colin Farrell feared sober love-making


Colin Farrell was terrified of sober sex.
The 'Winter's Tale' star - who has been clean for eight years - admitted he initially struggled to get used to making love without alcohol and was scared by the change.
Speaking to ELLE magazine, he said: "I worried I wouldn't be able to talk, full stop. I hadn't uttered a word sober in about 15 years ... I made love to a woman about two and a half years after I got clean, and it was one of the most terrifying moments of my life.
"It was in the afternoon. The windows and the curtains were open. It was lovely, and, to be crass, it wasn't f**king.
"She was very gentle. But it was terrifying. Because I was just used to drunkenness and dark rooms and clubs and toilets and wherever."
The 37-year-old actor also discussed a fling which led to the filming of a sex tape - which he blocked from release via an injunction - and admitted he is worried his mother could accidentally stumble on it.
He added: "It certainly wasn't a validation of my prowess. The whole thing was horrifying. You know, Press Record. Taboo.
"Isn't this interesting? I was deposed for four hours explaining why I didn't want it to be released.
"God forbid it's an On Demand movie in a hotel room and my mother says, 'Oh, I haven't seen this work of my son's', and hits purchase."

Niall Horan’s Chelsea FC rehab kept secret, says Jose Mourinho


Niall Horan's trip to Chelsea Football Club had to be kept a secret, says Jose Mourinho.
The One Direction heart throb has been given use of their recovery unit following major knee surgery, and the club's manager has admitted it was a struggle to hide what was happening from the band's loyal fans.
Speaking to The Sun newspaper, he said: "I was worried for a while because I thought, 'Nobody can know that Niall is at Cobham - we'll have thousands of girls at the gates!'
"Niall had seriously big surgery - an injury any football player would be scared of suffering. He really needs a good medical department.
"My kids are big fans but they haven't been to the training ground to see him - he has a lot of work to do."
Jose's children are the reason behind Niall's connection with the club, prompting him to agree to the arrangement.
A source previously said: "Niall has been welcomed into the club as if he's a Chelsea star himself.
"It's the best possible place for him to get the rehab he needs on his knee because he needs to be fighting fit for the band's stadium tour later this year."

Simon Cowell’s son was ‘perfect Valentine’s gift’


Simon Cowell's son was "the perfect Valentine's gift".
The media mogul was with his partner Lauren Silverman when she gave birth to their first child Eric yesterday (14.02.14) and it is said he was "beaming" as he was on hand for the new arrival.
An insider told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "You couldn't take the smile [off] Simon's face.
"he was beaming from ear-to-ear. Lauren was so happy to see him when he walked in. It is the perfect Valentine's gift."
The TV talent show guru had to leave the London auditions of 'Britain's Got Talent' to fly to New York in time for the birth, and he faced a real "race against time".
A source added: "It was a race against time. Normally when a dad-to-be gets the call, they are just a few miles away - not the other side of the Atlantic."
Simon, 54, took to Twitter to reveal the moniker he and Lauren has decided on for their baby boy - confirming he would be named after the star's late father.
He tweeted: "Very happy to say Eric was born at 17.45pm. Healthy and handsome."
He later added: "Lauren in great shape. Thanks for all of your kind messages."

Prince to present at Brits


Prince will present the first prize at this year's Brit Awards.
The iconic pop star will be with his new all-female backing band 3RDEYEGIRL to kick off the show in style on Wednesday (19.02.14) when he makes his first appearance at the annual bash since 2006.
Speaking to The Sun newspaper, an insider said: "Prince is a big-name addition to this year's show.
"We've seen the massive crowds he has drawn at his recent London gigs so it's definitely going to be a highlight."
With the 'Purple Rain' singer signed on to present the first trophy at the ceremony next week, he could replicate his 2006 appearance by also performing at the event.
He will join the likes of Kylie Minogue when he hands out a gong, and he could share the stage with some huge names if he decides to play a track live.
So far, Katy Perry, Lorde, Disclosure, Pharrell Williams, Arctic Monkeys, Rudimental, Ellie Goulding and Bastille are a confirmed as performers for the event at London's The O2 Arena.
Meanwhile, James Corden will make his fifth and final appearance a the Brits, making him the show's longest-running host.

Corrie star Charlie Condou quit for his family


'Coronation Street' star Charlie Condou quit for the sake of his children.
The actor has two children Georgia, four, and two-year-old Hal with actress Catherine Kanter - via IVF treatment - and they split their time between their mother, and their father and his partner Cameron Laux.
Charlie - who plays midwife Marcus Dent - has admitted hearing his daughter tell him she didn't want him to make the commute from London to Manchester for work made him decide to quit the soap.
He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "It was just getting too difficult. Georgia is at an age now where she was saying, 'How long are you away for this week?' And, 'When are you going to be back Daddy?'
"At my busiest I was getting home late on a Friday night and going back to Manchester on Sunday afternoon. I just wasn't getting that time with my kids."
And despite his departure, Charlie is glad to have been told that the door is open for a return to the soap if he changes his mind.
He added: "The producer said the door would be left open, so Marcus isn't going to be killed off. That's always a really nice thing to hear.
"I'm not under any illusions and saying I'm off to Hollywood. Obviously I want to do other things, but it's nice to know that I could go back in the future."

TOWIE’s Sam Faiers hints next series could be her last


Sam Faiers has suggested it is time to move on from 'The Only Way Is Essex'.
The reality TV beauty will be part of the cast for the upcoming 11th series but insisted she has "done everything" on the show, and is looking ahead to other projects in 2014.
Speaking to the Daily Star newspaper, she said: "I am coming back for the next series of 'TOWIE' but there's a lot going on for me this year. Over the last few series, I have felt I'm going round in circles.
"I've given so much - I've had an engagement, arguments, ups and downs, brought my family and friends on the show. I've done everything you can!"
While there is speculation the blonde star could be interesting in writing a novel following the success of her ghostwritten book 'Living Life The Essex Way', Sam admitted she would like to get her family involved in a show in a similar vein to 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians'.
She added: "There's a lot going on in our family and it's kind of similar to them.
"Billie would be Kourtney and her partner Greg would be Scott. I'd probably be Kim, as she's had a few boyfriends in the past. It all fits in."

Yoga teacher Emma Watson


Emma Watson is a qualified yoga instructor.
The 23-year-old actress is close to completing her degree in English Literature and is looking forward to using her free time to pursue some hobbies away from acting.
She said: "When I finish my degree, I will have a lot more time to pursue other passions, and I want to figure out what those will be.
"I love having something completely unrelated to the film industry. I want to find something that will let me use my brain in another way. I like connecting people who aren't part of that industry.
"I love painting. So maybe I hone in on that and do more art classes? Or maybe something different. I'm a board two certified qualified yoga instructor."
Emma also has some professional ambitions she hopes to fulfill.
She said: "I feel like I have so much more to accomplish as an actress. I'd love to try theatre, and that's a whole other thing, and I love to sing."
And the brunette beauty is confident her studies will help her in her career.
She told Wonderland magazine: "I've read just about every important classic in English history, which has been extremely handy.
"It's helped me think in an analytical way. It's helped me see the world from new perspectives. Diving into these stories and characters has given richness in my own life.
"And now, when I read scripts or look at stories, I have these references for a larger understanding of humanity, I'm sure it will make my job as an actress more interesting."

Ellen Page comes out as gay


Ellen Page has come out as gay.
The 'Juno' actress made the announcement at Human Rights Campaign's Time to Thrive event in Las Vegas, Nevada yesterday (14.02.14) and hopes being open will make a difference for people in a similar position.
She said: "I'm here today because I'm gay," Page said. "And because maybe I can make a difference - to help others have an easier and more hopeful time.
"Regardless, for me, I feel a personal obligation and a social responsibility. I also do it selfishly, because I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission. I suffered for years because I was scared to be out.
"My spirit suffered, my mental health suffered and my relationships suffered. And I'm standing here today, with all of you, on the other side of all that pain."
The 'Inception' star went on to describe love as "the most incredible gift to give".
She added: "I am young, yes, but what I have learned is that love, the beauty of it, the joy of it and yes, even the pain of it, is the most incredible gift to give and to receive as a human being.
"And we deserve to experience love fully, equally, without shame and without compromise."