Eddie Howe admits he is ‘delighted’ to play his £94m of latest signings towards Southampton – after Ralph Hasenhuttl claimed taking part in them would hit Premier League’s ‘integrity’ as a result of that they had not joined when January 2 fixture was postponed on account of Covid Newcastle’s January fixture towards Southampton was postponed […]
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Fleur East tearfully reveals signing up to Strictly Come Dancing ‘for her dad’: ‘I’m doing it for him’
Fleur East has tearfully revealed she’s honouring her late dad as she dusts off her dancing shoes for Strictly Come Dancing.
The singer was announced as the 12th celebrity to join this year’s line-up, saying she’s ‘excited to learn new skills’ and wants to ‘soak up every moment of this magical experience.’
The 34-year-old also revealed how much this meant to her family, as she’ll be honouring her father who was a big Strictly fan.
Fleur’s dad Malcolm ‘Max’ East died from a heart attack in 2020, during lockdown.
Speaking to Ranvir Singh on Lorraine today, Fleur became emotional as she remembered her dad.
‘For me it’s sentimental because my dad, who passed away in 2020, Strictly was his favourite show,’ she shared.
‘I’m just going to be doing it for him.
‘I’m gutted he can’t see me do it, but I’m going to keep him in mind when I’m doing the show.’
She added: ‘My family for that reason are going to be buzzing.’
Fleur also shared how excited her husband Marcel is, saying: ‘He cannot wait for me to do this, he’s going to be like my coach at home.’
The Sax singer added that she feels ‘so nervous’ amid the ‘pressure’ of the ballroom.
She said: ‘I can dance in the club and on stage but I’ve never done any technical dancing.
‘Put me on TikTok and I’m away, but this ballroom is a different level.’
Fleur added: ‘I’m honestly terrified about the level of technique to learn,’ continuing: ‘I’ll be out of my depth!’
Last year, Fleur opened up about the loss of her dad and the grief she faced during lockdown.
‘It’s quite daunting coming out of lockdown for so many reasons but especially because we lost my dad at the start of the pandemic so for us we relate going into lockdown with the loss of my dad,’ she shared.
‘So we’ve had, in some ways, the fortunate time of being able to grieve in private and not having to face everyone.
‘But it almost feels like the world has stopped with our grief and now, when the world goes back to normal, it’s going to be weird to adjust to normal life without my dad because I haven’t experienced that. It’s a scary thought actually doing that.’
When her father died Fleur posted a lovely message to Instagram honouring her dad.
Crediting Malcolm with ‘swagger in abundance’, ’an unforgettable presence’ and being ‘loved by so many’, expressed her loss in a positive, loving way.
‘Daddy East, Max, the ultimate G!’ she wrote. ‘What a man you were! So young at heart, always living in the moment!’
Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am on ITV.
What we know about Strictly Come Dancing 2022 so far
Who are the judges?
Head judge Shirley Ballas will be joined once again by fellow judges Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse.
Anton Du Beke will also be returning to judge, after it was confirmed that he would be officially replacing Bruno Tonioli.
Who are the new professional dancers?
There are four new pros joining the line-up: Vito Coppola, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley and Michelle Tsiakkas.
Which professional dancers have left?
After the 2021 season, it was announced that fan-favourite pros Oti Mabuse and Aljaž Škorjanec would not be returning for the 2022 series.
Will there be a studio audience?
Yes – following past restrictions put in place due to the pandemic, the full studio audience is set to return this year, while the see-through dividers between the judges will also be removed.
When is the show returning?
The BBC has revealed that the launch show for the 2022 series is due to be recorded on Wednesday September 7.
Therefore, it’s likely that it will air a few days later on Saturday September 10, although the exact date of the first episode is yet to be disclosed.
Find out more about Strictly 2022 here.
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Alan Carr persevering with ‘raw and personal’ comedy tour after marriage breakdown: ‘I see it as therapy’
Alan Carr has revealed how important it is for him to keep touring following the end of his marriage to Paul Drayton.
The Chatty Man star and best friend to Rolling In The Deep singer Adele split from his ex-husband at the beginning of this year, after a 13-year relationship.
While people had questioned whether Alan would still go ahead with his latest comedy tour following his break-up, he explained that getting up on stage and performing night after night has been like ‘therapy’.
Speaking to Adil Ray and Charlotte Hawkins on Thursday’s Good Morning Britain about his Regional Trinket tour, which is running until December, the comedian said: ‘I wrote the tour, and then it just didn’t make sense when we came out of lockdown because the marriage had broken down, so I was writing fresh on the go.
‘It’s very personal and it’s very raw, but it’s going down really well.’
Alan insisted that he wouldn’t cancel any of the dates due to his relationship ending.
‘I need it,’ he told the presenters. ‘And I get the impression that people just want a laugh and I do see it as therapy. I just get on with it, you know?’
What a trooper! We love you, Alan!
Alan and Paul tied the knot in 2018, with Adele officiating their intimate nuptials in LA.The pair had already been together a decade before the ceremony.
However, in January this year, Alan and Paul announced that they had decided to end their marriage.
‘They have jointly and amicably made the difficult decision to divorce and go their separate ways,’ a joint statement read at the time.
‘We request that their privacy is respected at this sensitive time.’
Since then, Alan has been open about his marriage ending, and recently joked how he has custody over Adele.
Appearing on 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, he said: ‘Obviously, people want to know about… we’ve divvied up our celebrity friends.
‘I get custody of Adele. Paul gets Gok [Wan] at the weekend.’
‘We’re still friends,’ he added. ‘I know he’s taken half of everything. But the one thing he can’t take is my dignity. Am I right?’
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.
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The Government are supposed to help people – but it’s clear the Tories are only looking after themselves
Last week, the mask slipped.
When Conservative leadership candidate Rishi Sunak admitted taking money from ‘deprived urban areas’ and putting it into richer areas, I was angry.
In fact, I was incandescent with rage. How dare he?
If I am totally honest, I was a little bit shocked. Not shocked to find out what the Conservatives have been doing in Government – those of us who have been paying attention knew this already. What shocked me was the brazenness of Sunak to boast about it in public.
The video exposed so much. But it is in these often-desperate moments that you hear the truth. Maya Angelou said, ‘When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time’. Well, the Tory Government has shown us who they are over and over again.
In the Labour Party, we come into politics to help people. That was my guiding motivation in becoming an MP.
A government’s first priority is to the protection and welfare of its citizens, and a basic tenet of governance is to direct funding to areas that need it the most. This often – but not exclusively – includes inner city areas.
Yet it has been increasingly clear over the years – if people had any doubt – that the Tories have completely different motivations when it comes to power and politics. They seek power for status, to look after their rich mates and to hoard the wealth for the already wealthy 1%.
Sunak could not be clearer about this when his mask slipped, saying: ‘We inherited a bunch of formulas from Labour that shoved all the funding into deprived urban areas and that needed to be undone. I started the work of undoing that.’
Let’s be clear, he started the work of removing money from low-income areas. Everyone has now heard it directly from the man who ran the economy for the last two-and-a-half years: the Conservative Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda is nothing but a scam – a meaningless soundbite. The corrupt Tories should never ever be trusted ever again.
There will be some who will not remember a Labour government or what a Labour government will do but, if you live in an area that is lacking in investment and good quality services, now you know exactly who’s to blame.
The fact that he is seemingly proud of funnelling taxpayers’ money away from those who need it most and into affluent Tory areas is not only disgraceful, it is in my view negligent of a government’s first duty.
The scary thing is, he wasn’t bluffing to just get votes. Guardian analysis shows that under Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak’s ‘levelling up’ agenda, some of the wealthiest parts of England – including areas represented by government ministers – were allocated ‘10 times more money per capita than the poorest’.
It is morally criminal.
I served in the last Labour Government, and while our record was not perfect, it is Labour in Government that truly sought to level up the country – and the Tories who sought to sabotage it.
In saying he wanted to undo Labour’s funding formulas, Sunak has unintentionally confirmed their desire to destroy our progress and hopes of prosperity for communities in great need across the country.
What is also concerning is that Rishi Sunak must have felt extremely comfortable in his surroundings to say this so openly. What does that say about Conservative members in areas such as this that seemingly no one called him out? As far as we can tell, from the video, there was no condemnation or shock on people’s faces. I wonder what other damage has he done that we haven’t yet discovered?
Rishi Sunak has been revealing a lot of late – he has released a video suggesting he would put all EU legislation in the shredder (without even going into what the legislation covers). Often EU legislation is about fairness and quality of life – for example the working time directive, which gives workers the right to a minimum holiday entitlement each year and limits the working week to 48 hours.
He also attacked the Equality Act which, to name but a few, ensures so many of our important rights; such as equal pay for equal work, protects us against discrimination against protected characteristics, and provides the Public Sector Equality Duty which gives the government a duty to ‘consider all individuals when carrying out their day-to-day work’.
The worrying thing is, what will he come for next? And what will this government continue to do to destroy the living standards of constituents like mine?
But I must be clear, whether it is Rishi Sunak or more likely Liz Truss, it will be the same old destructive Tories in power.
Liz Truss, who never resigned from Boris Johnson’s government, has also made some disgraceful pledges. Such as the policy to cut the salaries of civil servants outside the south-east, for which she was quickly forced to U-turn.
So, no matter who wins, it will be bad business as usual. The Tories will seek to protect their rich and powerful friends, will refuse to invest in people and communities that need it most, and will strip away our rights at every opportunity.
This is why we need a General Election now to protect our democracy.
It will force the Tory leadership candidates to be accountable for the countless pledges they have made in their campaigns – pledges that were not in the Conservative manifesto at the last election.
For that, the public deserves their say.
But the real change we need is not a change at the top of the rotten Tory Party but a change of Government, with the Labour Party back in power.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
Share your views in the comments below.
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England hero Bright signs new Chelsea contract
Millie Bright has signed a new contract with Chelsea for three more years which will see her surpass over a decade with the club.After playing a key part in England’s Euro 2022 success, Bright has committed to continue her reign as Chelsea Women’s longest-serving player.
The 28-year-old said: “Chelsea, the fans, the club, the people. Thank you for all your support so far.”You’re my home and I can’t wait to continue fighting for more trophies. Cheers to the future!”Bright was named England vice-captain by manager Sarina Wiegman ahead of the European Championships and went on to start in all six history-making matches. She now has 58 senior caps in a glittering career which has seen her win all 13 of Chelsea’s major trophies including the WSL title six times, the FA Cup on four occasions, two Continental Cups and one Community Shield. Image: Millie Bright in action for England
Bright has also been named twice in both the PFA Team of the Year and the FIFPro Women’s World XI.
Chelsea general manager Paul Green said: “We are absolutely delighted Millie has signed a new contract.”Millie is our longest-serving player and has been key to our success in her time with us.”Millie is a leader on and off the pitch and we are proud of how far she has come and all her achievements, including her most recent win at the Euro’s which was a very proud moment for everyone at the club.” Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Catch all the drama from the WSL as they kick off on the 10th September, live on Sky Sports.
Inspired by England’s Lionesses? How to watch the WSL live on Sky SportsWatch the stars of England’s Euro 2022 triumph play in the Women’s Super League live on Sky Sports during the 2022/23 season when the new campaign gets under way on Saturday September 10.The season’s curtain-raiser between Tottenham and Manchester United at 12.30pm will be live on Sky Sports.England captain Leah Williamson will lead her Arsenal side into an opening weekend WSL clash at Manchester City in front of the Sky cameras on Sunday September 11.The opening weekend gamesHere’s the first round of fixtures for the 2022/23 Women’s Super League season. All games 2pm kick-off on Sunday September 11 unless stated:Tottenham vs Manchester United, Saturday September 10 – live on Sky Sports; kick off at 12.30pmChelsea vs West Ham – 12.30pm, Sunday September 11Everton vs Leicester City – 1pm, Sunday September 11Brighton vs Aston VillaReading vs LiverpoolManchester City vs Arsenal, September 11 – live on Sky Sports; kick off at 7pmKey dates for the 2022/23 seasonBarclays Women’s Championship opening weekend: August 20/21, 2022Barclays Women’s Super League opening weekend: September 10/11, 2022FA Women’s Continental League Cup final: March 4/5, 2023Barclays Women’s Championship final weekend: April 29/30, 2023Vitality Women’s FA Cup final: May 14, 2023Barclays Women’s Super League final weekend: May 27/28, 2023Your club’s Women’s Super League fixture listArsenalAston VillaBrightonChelseaEvertonLeicester CityLiverpoolManchester CityManchester UnitedReadingTottenhamWest Ham Adblock test (Why?)
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Two dead and child seriously injured after family hit by car
Two people have died and a child has been seriously injured after a family were struck by a car. Five pedestrians, who are all related, were outside a multistorey car park in Ramsgate, Kent, when they were hit by a black Alfa Romeo, police said. A man in his 80s and a woman in her […]
‘Hero’ plumber restores faith in GMB viewers with free services for vulnerable amid cost of living crisis: ‘Politicians take note’
Good Morning Britain viewers had their faith restored in humanity on Thursday morning after ‘hero’ plumber James Anderson joined the programme revealing he offers free services to the vulnerable.
James has helped over 50,000 people since launching his charity Depher UK, which aims to help people keep their boilers running during the cost of living crisis.
But it’s not just boilers though, as the charity goes above and beyond to make sure empty fridges are filled, bills are paid and they even buy nappies for parents struggling to buy baby supplies for their children.
Speaking to presenters Adil Ray and Charlotte Hawkins, James shared: ‘We are there to see to people, remove the stigma, remove the elephant in the room, get rid of it.
‘Come to us, whatever you need, we will deal with that for you and then, the after affects, we can get help for you on that as well.’
He continued: ‘It’s all down to coming together as a community, companies especially coming together, and having that community awareness that some people out there cannot do this themselves.’
James’s appearance on Good Morning Britain comes after a dire prediction that an annual energy bill is likely to hit £4,266 for the average household in the UK.
The plumber warned that if urgent plans aren’t put into place by the end of the week then there will be catastrophic results.
‘The Government needs to open its eyes because if they don’t people will die,’ he said. ‘It’s not going to be if or when, people will die.’
Viewers were in awe of James’s generous spirit and applauded his efforts on social media.
‘Bravo to James the plumber for offering his services free to the needy,’ one praised. ‘A touching insight into the realities of the energy crisis.’
‘James Anderson is a shining beacon of humanity,’ another wrote. ‘He is a true hero and people’s champion. Politicians take note and help people in the ingenious way James does.’
A third penned: ‘WONDERFUL, kind, caring superhero James. Amazing person who cares. Wouldn’t the country be in a better place if more people was like James. Come on companies, step up!’
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.
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