Minister says £15 rise in BBC licence fee would be 'high'

Well, it looks like they really are DONE once and for all.

Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern are set to host the new series of Dancing on Ice together, and there's a significant 'reason' behind the duo deciding to front the hit ITV show. It's been revealed that Holly, 42, will make a return to TV screens in January 2024 after quitting This Morning in October and keeping a low profile ever since. She signed the Dancing on Ice deal over Christmas after months of deliberation, and is now set to team up with Deal or No Deal presenter Stephen, 46, in the new year.

XTC have spoken about the possibility of reuniting the band at some point in the future, with each member offering different perspectives about the prospect.The Swindon post-punk four-piece – frontman Andy Partridge, bassist Colin Moulding, drummer Terry Chambers and guitarist Dave Gregory – have reflected on their legacy and looked to the future in a rare new interview with hometown paper, the Swindon Advertiser.The band, known for songs like ‘Making Plans for Nigel’, ‘Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)’ and ‘Senses Working Overtime’, formed in 1972 and split in 2006.The four members have now shared their thoughts on whether the band would ever reunite or release new music amid their own musical pursuits.“I think we’ve all got our own things going as I do sessions at the moment and I’d want to do another EP probably next year as well of my own,” said Moulding.“As for reforming now, I can’t see it really because we’ve all got different agendas because Terry wants to tour and Andy doesn’t and nor do I so it’s hard to reconcile that really.”He added: “Never say never I suppose because with the internet you’re able to record remotely with one another and that could quite feasibly happen with the memories of XTC.Moulding continued that there could be a “possibility” they “each individually record our parts at home and then somebody could mix it”.Chambers, who still tours with his band EXTC, playing covers of the band’s original songs, shared: “It wouldn’t be a problem for me as I’m still playing live regularly but as for the others, ask them.He clarified: “My feeling is no, it will never happen.”Gregory also agreed that it would be dependant on a number of factors.

vinyl records in the UK have hit their highest level since 1990.The revived popularity of the physical format has resulted in the 16th consecutive year of rising sales, according to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).The BPI added in a new report that the vinyl market has increased more than four times as fast with an 11.7 per cent rise to 5.9 million units in 2023.Taylor Swift‘s ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)‘ was the best-selling album of the year, followed by The Rolling Stones‘ ‘Hackney Diamonds‘.According to the BPI’s analysis, the “ever-rising demand for vinyl albums and other music releases on physical format” reflects a “thriving market for music on the high street”, citing the popularity of independent record stores and the success of shops like HMV, which reopened its flagship store on London’s Oxford Street this year.Additionally, seven of the 10 biggest vinyl LP sellers were records that came out in 2023, including Swift’s ‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)‘, Blur‘s ‘The Ballad Of Darren‘, Lana Del Rey‘s ‘Did You Know There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd‘, Lewis Capaldi‘s ‘Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent‘, and Kylie Minogue‘s ‘Tension‘.Analysis of @officialcharts data by the BPI reveals that vinyl LP purchases have risen for the 16th consecutive year in the UK in 2023 and are now growing at their fastest rate this decade.Read the full story: https://t.co/3115vH9NMo pic.twitter.com/PJFWGz5jGW— BPI (@bpi_music) December 28, 2023The report also found that British artists helped fuel vinyl growth, with more than 40 per cent of the 100 most-purchased vinyl LPs of 2023 released in the past two years including albums by UK artists.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor has reacted to the scene in Saltburn which depicts Barry Keoghan dancing in the nude to her song ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’.Irish actor Keoghan stars in Emerald Fennell‘s dark comedy-thriller about Oxford student Oliver Quick who become immersed in the aristocratic family of Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi).Among various shocking moments in the film, the memorable final scene finds Oliver dancing throughout the Saltburn estate mansion in the nude to Ellis-Bextor’s 2001 hit.The singer has since shared her reaction to the full-frontal scene, telling People this month that while she knew what would occur, she still “wasn’t quite prepared for the visual”.“Seeing it written down as a premise is different,” she said. “I mean, Barry really went for it.

John Oates has reflected on his musical partnership with Daryl Hall amid their ongoing legal battle.Back in November, Hall said he was suing Oates after claiming that he was left “blindsided” by his plan to sell a business stake – while the latter described the claims as “inaccurate”.In a court statement about Oates’ alleged breach of their business partnership agreement, Hall accused his bandmate of making a “completely clandestine and bad faith move” by trying to sell a share of their business without consent.In November it was revealed that Hall was granted a restraining order against his longtime former musical partner, though details of their legal dispute were unknown at the time.Now, Oates has reflected on their working relationship in a new podcast, sharing that their music “will stand the test of time”, but he has also “moved on”.Speaking on David Yontef’s Behind the Velvet Rope, Oates said (via Variety): “You can’t ignore the fact that the Hall & Oates catalogue of hits and the 50-year career will always trump almost anything that Daryl does on his own or I do on my own, which is okay because I’m very proud of that music.He added: “I’m really proud of what Daryl and I created together.”Oates said that he doesn’t like to “live in the past”, adding: “I make the analogy of what it’s like when you go to a great museum and you’re really excited to go and see all the beautiful paintings or the exhibits or whatever it might be, and then near the end, your feet start to hurt and you say, ‘You know what? I can’t wait to get out of here.’ That’s kind of how I feel about it.”He continued: “It’s just a matter of living in my present.”The pair met in a lift at the Adelphi Ballroom back in 1967, before forming Hall & Oates

Ryan Seacrest is spilling some details!

Former Love Island star Bianca Gascoigne shared the exciting news on her Instagram that she is now engaged to her partner Aaron Wright, who she shares her 10 month old daughter with. Showing off her stunning engagement ring to the camera, Bianca wrote: "Forever has got a nice ring to it", as she posed with her family in a pool. Bianca looked stunning as she posed in a green bikini while holding their daughter Blake Sunshine, while Aaron looked cool and casual in a white shirt and black shorts.

Jane McDonald has opened up about "keeping grief at bay" after the death of her fiance Ed Rothe in 2021, revealing that she moved in with her Celebrity Gogglebox co-star after his death. The TV presenter and cruise queen spoke to OK! about her upcoming series The Canary Islands with Jane McDonald - and touched on her plans to stay in the UK next year. Speaking about her home in Wakefield, Jane said that she lives with longtime friend and Celebrity Gogglebox star Sue Ravey, who she invited to move in with her last year.

Danny Masterson has been pictured for the first time since his conviction for sexual assault. His mugshot was released as he begins his 30-year prison sentence.The former star of That 70s Show was found guilty of sexually assaulting two women about two decades ago. He was sentenced in September after being convicted last May.

Influencer Molly-Mae Hague has expressed to her followers that she is "so proud" of herself and her boxer fiancé Tommy Fury after they jetted off to the Maldives with their 11-month-old daughter Bambi. Social media sensation Molly has been keeping her followers updated on her luxury trip and was even seen posing up a storm in a bikini in her latest update. She captioned the snap on her Instagram: "Flew across the world with my girl." The Love Island stars had initially planned a romantic getaway for just the two of them, but changed their minds at the last minute.

Amazon Prime Video is set to start showing adverts to all subscribers in the UK next month.

There's nothing more frustrating than coming across a problem with your plumbing and knowing that it could be a costly experience to fix.

Households all across the UK are set to see another rise in their energy bills in the new year.

Stargazers in England could catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights tonight.

The transfer window is just around the corner as clubs across the Premier League prepare to do their mid-season business. And with the title race wide open, January could see a flurry of business as rivals aim to make the move that could be the difference between success and failure.

A man has been charged by police in relation to an incident in Ardwick.

The new year and looming rising inflation rates means many households will be looking for cheaper ways to enjoy their favourite streaming services. And Sky is offering just that by cutting a huge £180 off its popular Sky Stream bundle, but only if you catch the deal by this 2024 date.

The Met Office has warned of a 'supercell' thunderstorm that is about to hit the North West after reports of a 'localised tornado'.

plenty to talk about this year.On the air almost every weekday, talk show hosts and guests have to be outrageous to be considered ridiculous — and these 15 moments are proof.With plenty of airtime to fill, audiences get to know the personalities and their families — for better or worse. The camera often leads to hosts oversharing, and those watching at home eat it right up and share it widely on social media.One of the worst perpetrators in 2023 was Mark Consuelos, who joined his wife, Kelly Ripa, as the co-host of ABC’s “Live” this year.

Dancing on Ice stars Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have said they spotted a potential new contestant during their stint on Emmerdale. Before returning to the ITV show's judging panel in the new year, the pair donned their ice skates for a cameo role in the ITV soap.

GB News.“Most of his court cases are ongoing, but in particular with the Home Office, he’s really put his foot down on this.”Seward, who penned the 2003 biography “William & Harry,” then touched on the possibility of the two camps burying the hatchet and starting afresh.“Obviously King Charles wants to see his son and his grandchildren, and last summer he apparently invited them to Balmoral, which they turned down,” she explained.“Meghan and Harry need the King and his blessing far more than the King needs them, sadly, so I feel we will be seeing them.”“We’ll certainly be seeing Harry because he’s got to reappear for some court cases,” she added.The Sussexes were recently warned that they must “deliver” next year as Hollywood has “probably had enough of them.”“Something is beginning to unwind at the heart of Meghan and Harry,” PR expert Mark Borkowski told the Daily Mail earlier this month.“I think 2024 is going to be seismic, either because they’re going to do something to recover and find a new positive tactic or it’s going to be the undoing of the brand.”“It can only go one or two ways. It can’t stay where it is at the moment.

Police are appealing to members of the public to help them trace a wanted man with links across Greater Manchester.

Former Hollyoaks star Lucy-Jo Hudson has been supported by her fans and followers after opening up about 'blended families'. The actress, who played Donna-Marie Quinn in the Channel 4 soap, shares a daughter, Sienna, with Coronation Street star Alan Halsall.

Ellise Shafer Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released from prison on Thursday morning after serving eight years for the 2015 murder of her mother, ABC News reported. Blanchard was originally sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder of her mother, Dee Dee, who she alleged abused her by deliberately making her sick. In Blanchard’s trial, she claimed that her mother suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy and had fabricated that Blanchard had illnesses including leukemia, asthma and muscular dystrophy.

Metallica have released footage of ‘The Unforgiven’ from their first-ever concert in Saudi Arabia earlier this month.The metal icons performed at Soundstorm festival in Riyadh on December 14 as their final show of 2023, which also marked their first gig in the country.The show was originally billed as the first-ever from a major international heavy metal act in the country, but Canadian death metal band Cryptopsy performed in Riyadh on December 1.Metallica performed a 16-song setlist that included favourites like ‘For Whom The Bell Tolls’, ‘Master Of Puppets’ and ‘Enter Sandman’.Now the band have shared an eight-minute, professionally shot performance video of ‘The Unforgiven’ from the show. Check it out below.You can find fan-shot footage and the full setlist from Metallica’s first show in Saudi Arabia here.A spokesperson for Heavy Arab Entertainment (per Metal Injection) said of Cryptopsy’s historic performance: “We take immense pride in pioneering the organization of the first-ever international metal band in Saudi Arabia, and we are incredibly honored to have Cryptopsy, alongside [support bands] Creative Waste and Necrosin, marking a significant milestone in the history of the Saudi metal scene.”“Our commitment to promise and deliver, even in the face of imperfections, has truly been the driving force behind this milestone for the scene.

Cher has reportedly filed for a conservatorship of her youngest son, Elijah Blue Allman, over fears of alleged “severe” substance abuse issues.According to court documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court obtained by People, the singer is requesting to be the sole conservator of her son’s estate, claiming he is “substantially unable to manage his financial resources”.The filing also states that a conservator is “urgently needed” to “protect Elijah’s property from loss or injury”, because he is “currently unable to manage his assets due to severe mental health and substance abuse issues”.The document adds that Allman’s estranged wife, Marie Angela King, is not fit to be conservator because of “their tumultuous relationship has been marked by a cycle of drug addiction and mental health crises”.It continues: “Elijah is entitled to regular distributions from the Trust, but given his ongoing mental health and substance abuse issues, [Cher] is concerned that any funds distributed to Elijah will be immediately spent on drugs, leaving Elijah with no assets to provide for himself and putting Elijah’s life at risk.”The filing concludes that Cher has reportedly “worked tirelessly to get Elijah into treatment and get him the help he needs”.“[Cher] loves Elijah immensely and has always acted with his best interests in mind,” the filing reads, adding that she’s been “unable to discuss his preferences concerning the appointment of a temporary conservator” because of his “current mental and physical health issues”.A hearing for a temporary order is currently set for January 5, 2024, while the hearing for a permanent order will follow on March 6, 2024.The filing comes after the pop icon was accused in September of hiring four men to

Louise Redknapp was all smiles as she celebrated Christmas with new boyfriend Drew Michael, and her two teenage sons Charley and Beau. Taking to her Instagram Story, the former Eternal singer, 49, shared a snap of herself, Drew, and Charley, to which she simply added the text: "A lovely Christmas day." She followed this with a selfie of herself with her two sons, whom she shares with ex-husband Jamie Redknapp, and wrote: "Not to self...

Frustrated Stirling Albion boss Darren Young acknowledged his side let an important three points slip away after being pegged back by Queen of the South on Saturday.

A man has been found dead and another is missing after a Christmas Eve 'fishing trip' in Alloa.

A woman has been charged with stabbing a man in the legs and back on Boxing Day.

Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell remained tight-lipped over a potential move for Fir Park hero Kevin van Veen.

There has been a fresh call for answers from the region’s bus operator after school pupils were evacuated from a local service for the second time in less than a month.

A yob battered on a Motherwell man's front door with a baseball bat during the early hours of the morning.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Mbongeni Ngema, a distinguished South African musician and creator of the musical “Sarafina!,” died on Wednesday in a car accident. He was 68. “Ngema was killed in a head-on car accident while returning from a funeral he was attending in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape this evening,” his family said in a statement to the Associated Press.

Rochelle Humes has became the latest victim on online mum-shamers after sharing a video clip of her family holiday.The Saturdays singer and This Morning presenter, 34, is currently on holiday in Abu Dhabi with her husband Marvin and their three children, Alaia-Mai, Valentina Raine, and Blake Hampton. Rochelle shared a black and white video on Instagram of their children racing at their luxury resort in Dubai. She captioned it: "Keep going baby boy...it won't be long until you're at the front," as their youngest struggled to keep up with his older sisters.