BBC Licence Fee Will Not Rise As Much As Previously Promised, Gov’t Confirms, As It Launches Funding Model Review

Sarah Ferguson has "remained fiercely loyal" to her ex-husband Prince Andrew, a royal expert said.The Duke of York hit headlines today (Thursday, 4 December) after court documents, relating to convicted paedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, were released which named Prince Andrew. Last month, US Judge Loretta Preska ruled that documents naming more than 170 people who were either associates, friends or victims of Epstein should be made public.The recently released court documents named Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton and Michael Jackson.

Luke Littler, the sensational 16 year old darts player, is currently taking the world by storm and many celebrities are flooding in to show their support. In particular, Romeo Beckham and his girlfriend Mia Regan were spotted cuddling up in the audience at the World Darts Championship Final yesterday (Wednesday 3 January), and watched on in awe as Luke competed to win. David and Victoria Beckham's son Romeo even took to his social media to share his backing for the player and posted on his Instagram Story.

After months of gruelling rehearsals and performing on the dancefloor, Strictly Come Dancing finalist Bobby Brazier enjoyed a relaxing holiday to Mauritius with his family. Bobby, also known for his role of Freddie Slater on EastEnders, was all smiles as he enjoyed some quality time with his dad Jeff, 44, and embarked on a boat ride.The 20 year old, who was also joined by his dad's wife Kate Dwyer and younger brother Freddie, 19, shared some holiday snaps with fans, including one of him and his dad wearing matching swimming shorts and beaming for the camera.

Emily Andre has shared a photo of her blossoming baby bump as she and husband Peter prepare for the arrival of their third child later this year. The NHS doctor, 34, enjoyed a luxurious holiday in Ras Al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates with singer Peter, 50, and their two children, Amelia, nine, and Theo, seven, during the festive period. Taking to Instagram, soon-to-be mum-of-three Emily posted a snap of her bump as she sported a blue bikini.The photo was taken from above, with just Emily's stomach, legs and feet visible as she strolled along the beach.

EastEnders' Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) is set to make a big decision in tonight's episode following her shocking pregnancy news.The character confides in Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter) after a fallout with her partner Zack Hudson (James Farrar), ahead of her departure from the popular BBC soap. Last year, Whitney and Zack were heartbroken when they discovered their unborn baby girl had Edwards' syndrome. Despite starting the process of termination, Whitney gave birth to their daughter Peach 18 weeks into the pregnancy.

Clara Indrani is currently starring as Molly Sardana on Netflix's hit new series, Fool Me Once.The thrilling TV drama is based off of a book by acclaimed author Harlan Coben, and also stars the likes of Corrie legend Michelle Keegan, British heavyweight Dame Joanna Lumley, The Hobbit star Richard Armitage and Irish actor Emmett J. Scanlan. It tells the story of Maya Stern, who is trying to come to terms with the brutal murder of her husband, Joe.

There’s plenty of top telly hitting our small screens already this year, But one that’s already made quite the splash is haunting four-part series, Platform 7.The supernatural psychological thriller, which landed on ITV last month, is adapted from the 2019 book of the same name by Louise Doughty, and has left viewers who binge-watched the show traumatised.The premise of the show, says ITV, is: "A suicide on Platform 7 prompts a woman and a Transport Police officer to investigate the details surrounding her death." The nail-biting series stars brilliant Top Boy actress Jasmine Jobson (she played the much-loved Jaq since 2019) as school teacher, Lisa, who witnesses an earth-shattering event on, yes, platform seven of a railway station. Just a few scenes in we realise Lisa is, well, not alive anymore.

Amy Childs has slammed online trolls as she reveals that she recieves abusive messages everyday on social media. Apearring on the Saving Grace podcast, the TOWIE star, 33, shared that she had been criticised on social media after revealing that she hadn't been breastfeeding her baby twins, whom she welcomed last year. Speaking to podcast host Grace Keeling, Amy revealed that while she had tried breastfeeding but "it didn't really work." However, she has since recieved abusive messages online from other mothers demanding her to breastfeed.

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. And while less people drank alcohol in 2023 compared to 2022, it also highlights a trend over the last 10 years of Americans ping-ponging back and forth between imbibing less—only to slingshot into drinking more.If you’re looking to make sustainable changes to your drinking habits, a new approach is making the rounds on TikTok: The purports that seven days of no alcohol, followed by three weeks of moderate drinking (or less), can improve your sleep, lift brain fog, and deliver glowing skin—many of the same benefits of a dry month, with less of a commitment.The idea, according to the method’s creator , is to repeat the pattern of one week of no drinking every month for a full year.Committing to seven days without spirits may feel a lot more realistic—and a lot less intimidating—for some than going cold turkey.

Disney and Reliance Industries have moved closer to a merger of their massive Indian TV and streaming businesses. A combination of the two – which include rival streaming platforms, India’s leading pay-TV platform and over 100 linear TV channels – has the potential to substantially re-shape the Indian media and entertainment scene. Quoting unnamed sources close to the deal, the Reuters news agency reported on Thursday that the two companies had appointed lawyers to handle potential anti-trust issues that would likely arise.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Chinese director Huo Meng, Taiwanese actor Lee Hong-chi and Macau-based Maxim Bessmertny are among a dozen emerging East Asian talent who will present feature film projects and works in progress at the Festival of Young Cinema (Asia-Europe). The inaugural edition of the festival, running Jan.

There's one viral video of Michael Olise where he gives a blunt and brief interview after scoring a last-gasp winner against West Ham.

Emmerdale fans have shared their surprise after not realising a real-life link amid the latest car crash tragedy. It has been a heartbreaking start to the year for Bob Hope in the ITV soap following the death of his son, Heath.

Darts player Luke Littler may have been a bit bleary-eyed when he appeared on Good Morning Britain the morning after making history as the world's youngest PDC World Darts Championship finalist. And so he will very much be forgiven for suffering a bit of a blunder during his first appearance on the ITV news programme.

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The days when joggers were only worn for lounging at home, at the gym or when out on a run are long gone. In fact, joggers have never been more seen as an acceptable pair of 'proper' bottoms than right now.

Eight people were arrested and £500,000 in cash was seized after homes were raided as part of a major police crackdown on a suspected drug smuggling operation from the USA.

Police cordoned off a Bury supermarket this morning after the shop was hit in a ram raid burglary overnight.

Tributes have been paid to a 'vivacious, loving girl' following her death from meningitis aged 16. Imogen Boswell died on December 28.

Zack Steffen's Manchester City nightmare is set to end with a return to the USA in the January transfer window.

Coronation Street star Daniel Brocklebank had declared his adoration for his co-star Peter Ash - and not for the first time - following fresh 'hard to watch' scenes for the pair. Fans of the ITV soap were saddened following Wednesday night's (January 3) trip to Weatherfield.

Coronation Street fans have been left asking 'why' after they saw Paul Foreman suffer an upsetting accident that led to him reaffirming his plans to end his own life. The former builder was heard asking Todd Grimshaw for help once again after experiencing a difficult day amid living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Sam Thompson has sent a 'never' warning to his I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here co-star as they enjoyed a much-awaited reunion. The winner of the ITV reality show has taken to social media to show fans the moment he was recently reunited with Tony Bellew.

A terrified woman who saw her family home burning on Facebook says her dad has lost everything in the horror blaze.

Residents in North Lanarkshire are being encouraged to get out and about and walk away from the winter blues.

Darts sensation Luke Littler made a promise to his girlfriend as he appeared on Good Morning Britain earlier today.

Many high profile figures have been named as associates of Jeffrey Epstein after sealed court documents were made public.

Jeanfield Swifts’ backline will be reminded about the threat of Sauchie forward Mark Smith before this weekend’s Premier Division fixture.

EXCLUSIVE: BBC News has started the year with a sober reminder for staff: money will be tight.

The BBC has come under fire from the scientific community after a David Attenborough documentary about a recently discovered underwater creature only briefly mentioned the fossil finder who found it.

Madonna fans have defended the star from “ageist” trolls who incorrectly mocked her for using a support beam at a live show.The singer kicked off the US leg of her ‘Celebration’ world tour last month, and a video was shared on TikTok of her dancing while holding a pole behind her.In the comments of the video, some suggested that she was using it as a support beam to help her to stand.“I’m glad to see that Madonna has a grab bar so she doesn’t fall,” one said of the video, while another added: “65-year-old Madonna has to use a bar to dance on stage to prop herself up as she performs a dance routine.”65 year old Madonna has to use a bar to dance on stage to prop herself up as she performs a dance routine. pic.twitter.com/p75zDZq3LO— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) January 4, 2024Madonna fans have then since defended the singer from the trolls, with one saying: “Dumb a**es got jokes, but failed to mention the fact that she’s dancing on a MOVING PLATFORM,” and calling out the “ageist” comments.Another said: “She is on a thin platform that is moving across the top of the audience! Of course there’s a bar! She’s also clipped onto it!”Reviewing her tour’s opening show at The O2 in London, NME awarded it five stars and said: “The whole thing is a thrilling reminder that Madonna isn’t just a pop star, but also a cultural force who genuinely changed the world by chafing against what society expects from women in the public eye.“That’s something worth celebrating in the dazzling, dynamic and at times slightly discombobulating way she presents it here.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor‘s pop classic ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’ is set to re-enter the UK Top 40 singles chart this week as its Saltburn-inspired renaissance continues.To close Emerald Fennell’s new film, Barry Keoghan’s character Oliver Quick dances through a country mansion in the nude to a soundtrack of the 2001 pop hit.Since then, it’s gained legions of new Gen Z fans on TikTok, with over 38.5million views of its hashtag and the song being included in a quarter of a million videos. Ellis-Bextor herself also joined the trend, recreating Keoghan’s dance in a TikTok video which you can see below.After this success, Official Charts are reporting that the track is now set to re-enter the Top 40 this week.

The Last Dinner Party have dropped a theatrical new single, titled ‘Caesar On A TV Screen’. Check it out below.Shared earlier today (January 4), the new track precedes the release of the forthcoming debut album, ‘Prelude To Ecstasy’, and sees the indie five-piece channel inspiration from one of Shakespeare’s tragedies.Their first new music of 2024, ‘Caesar On A TV Screen’ captures the same charisma that first put the band on the map – with a blend of rock and pop touches and a colourful sense of theatricality.“Just for a second, I can be one of the greats/ I’ll be Caesar on a TV screen, Champion of my fate/ No one can tell me to stop, I’ll have everything I want/ Anyone and everyone will like me then,” frontwoman Abigail Morris sings in the chorus, as the band channel their inner Shakespearean actors for the music video.Check out the track below.The new track arrives ahead of The Last Dinner Party’s long-awaited debut album, ‘Prelude To Ecstasy’ (pre-order/pre-save here).Set to arrive on February 2 via Island Records, the much-hyped London band and NME 100 alumni first teased their first LP last year, and it’ll also feature previously shared singles ‘Nothing Matters’, ‘Sinner’, ‘My Lady Of Mercy’ and ‘On Your Side’.“Ecstasy is a pendulum which swings between the extremes of human emotion, from the ecstasy of passion to the sublimity of pain, and it is this concept which binds our album together,” the band said of the new album.“This is an archeology of ourselves; you can exhume our collective and individual experiences and influences from within its fabric.

The Crown star said the director of the BBC’s Being Human pilot made her feel “bullied” while filming the 2008 show.Foy didn’t actually name the individual, but Declan O’Dwyer is credited as the director of the Being Human pilot episode.Speaking on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, Foy accused O’Dwyer of bullying her and giving the “worst note” she has ever received from a director.Foy claimed that he told her to “start acting, darling” as she filmed scenes as the character Julia. “I didn’t know what I was doing and he shouted it at me,” the Emmy-winning actress recalled.She was being interviewed alongside her All of Us Strangers co-star Andrew Scott, who replied: “Oh that’s horrible.”Foy added: “It’s taken me a long time to accept that it was actually a very unkind thing to do to a 23-year-old on their first job ever.“Instead of taking them under your wing and helping them, just shouting at them in front of everyone … Sometimes not very nice directors need someone to bully on set and I was like that person.”Foy went on to claim that O’Dwyer “doesn’t really work anymore,” to which Scott responded: “But you fucking do.”Foy’s claim wasn’t entirely accurate, however, since O’Dwyer has been attached to a number of notable projects in recent years, including PBS series Miss Scarlet and The Duke.

Nick Cave has shared his New Year’s Resolution for 2024 in a new post on his Red Hand File website.In the new post, Cave answered two questions, one asking if he had a New Year’s Resolution for 2024, and another which asked: “Could you point out three single words that you like the most and explain why?”He responded: “Three of my favourite words, and ones I find myself using more and more these days, are ‘Having said that’. I am also fond of saying ‘On the other hand’, and Seán O’Hagan tells me that the word I use most in our book, Faith, Hope and Carnage, is ‘However’.“I like all of these phrases because they acknowledge one point of view but also tender another, they preface the presentation of a stabilising counterargument.