2 weeks agoNewsComments Off on Inside the life of The Young Ones star Nigel Planer – from three marriages to becoming a grandfather at 30
Alamy
NIGEL Planer has revealed all about his failed marriages – and becoming a grandfather at just 30.
Nigel, now 71, starred as Peace Studies student Neil Pye in The Young Ones, which centred around the fictional lives of four undergraduates.
The Young Ones with Alexei Sayle, Nigel Planer, Rik Mayall, Christopher Ryan, and Adrian EdmondsonAlamyNigel and his first wife Anna LeighRexNigel Planer with his wife FrankieRex
The cast also included the late Rik Mayall, Ade Edmondson and Christopher Ryan, and ran from 1982 to 1984 on the BBC.
He has gone on to have an incredible career both on screen and on stage, as well as being a successful author.
But his private life has proven to be just as colourful as some of his characters over the years.
Nigel is happily married to his third wife, Roberta Green, a therapist.
But he was just 25 when he first met her and became a stepdad to her children – who were 12 and 10 – before becoming a grandfather at 30.
In a recent interview with The Mirror, Nigel admitted he found it a “bit much” and they separated.
Nigel then married Anna Leigh who he was with from 1989 to 1995.
The couple had a son named Stanley, but they split up too.
When Anna remarried and moved countries with Stanley, Nigel only saw him during school holidays.
Nigel said: “It was the hardest time ever.”
In 1999, Nigel married actress Frankie Park, and they had a son Harvey, but they also divorced.
Nigel then reunited with Roberta and they married again in 2013.
He said: “We cannot believe our luck that it’s still working, it’s just amazing.”
He also said he is on good terms now with his ex-wives and his sons, Stanley, 36, and Harvey, 25,
Just back from a holiday with his step-grandchildren from his wife’s family, he said “The four grandsons are the same age as my son.
“It’s quite complicated. My younger son used to love saying, when he was about eight, to my granddaughter from my stepdaughter, ‘I’m your uncle.’ An eight-year-old uncle, and they were in their 20s!”
Nigel is currently touring the UK with Henry Normal, co-writer of The Royle Family and producer of Gavin & Stacey
Nigel and third wife Roberta reunited decades after they first datedGetty
Best 80s sitcoms
We take a look at some of the best sitcoms to air on TV in the 80s.
Widely accepted as one of the best British sitcoms of all time, Only Fools and Horses has made viewers laugh for decades. Seven series of the show were made for the BBC One from 1981 for ten years. Set in working-class Peckham, it starred Sir David Jason in his most famous role as the infamous market trader Derek “Del Boy” Trotter. Nicholas Lyndhurst starred as his younger half-brother, Rodney Trotter. In 2004, it was voted as Britain’s Best Sitcom in a BBC poll.
Full House
The US sitcom Full House was created in 1987 with Bob Saget starring father-of-three Danny Tanner. After his wife died, he called in the help of his brother-in-law Jesse (John Stamos) and best friend Joey (Dave Coulier) to move in and help raise his young daughters, DJ (Candace Cameron Bure), Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and Michelle (Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen). After eight series, the show came to an end before Netflix revived the franchise for a spin-off, Fuller House.
Golden Girls
Seven series aired from 1985 until 1992. It followed Four women – who were previously married – moved in together in a shared apartment in Miami. Together, they faced various struggles and encounter comical situations in their daily lives. Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty starred in roles that short them to superstardom.
Cheers
1982 was the year that saw the inception of Cheers. An eclectic group of people from all different paths of life meet at a bar Cheers. The boston boozer sees the group share their experiences as they work and drank at the establishment. It starred the likes of Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman. Huge names such as Kelsey Grammer, Woody Harrelson and Kirstie Alley also starred in the hit series.
Growing Pains
Dr. Jason Seaver (Alan Thicke) is a psychiatrist who works from home so his wife, Maggie (Joanna Kerns), can resume her career as a journalist. They share three children, Mike (Kirk Cameron), Carol (Tracey Gold), and Ben (Jeremy Miller). This was before their precocious daughter Chrissy (Ashley Johnson) was born. The programme tackled topical issues such as drugs, suicide, peer pressure and alcohol.
2 weeks agoNewsComments Off on Meghan Markle dumped the Royal Family, dumped her friends – & Prince Harry could be next for the CHOP, royal expert says
MEGHAN Markle dumped the Royal Family and her friends – and Prince Harry could be next for the chop, a royal expert has claimed.
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, raised eyebrows earlier this month as she made two solo public appearances without Harry.
SplashPrince Harry and Meghan Markle are spending more time on solo projects[/caption]
GettyA royal expert has now claimed that Harry will face the ‘chop’ in the future[/caption]
The Mega AgencyMeghan Markle posed on the red carpet at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Gala 2024 this month[/caption]
Since getting married to Harry in 2018, Meghan has fallen out with a number of people including her family, her in-laws and her best friend Jessica Mulroney.
There are also rumours of tension with tennis star Serena Williams, while Sophie Trudeau has reportedly “distanced herself” from Meg.
Now Hugo Vickers has spoken out about the future of the Duke and Duchess.
The royal biographer and broadcaster revealed he is worried how Meghan’s behaviour over the years was a pattern which could see Harry suffer.
The 72-year-old exclusively told The Sun: “People usually act in character, and they usually act on form.
“I hate to say it but her form is that she dumped her father, she dumped her first husband, she dumped her Canadian chef lover.
“She dumped Jessica Mulroney. She then dumped the dumped the entire British Royal family.
“So who is going to be next for the chop? I think inevitably, probably Prince Harry, and there’ll come a time when she’ll think that she doesn’t need him.”
Hugo added that although it hasn’t happened yet, Harry will eventually be painted as the person “in the wrong”.
He said: “I don’t know when she might make that particular call and it’s not for me to speculate, but you know she will probably somehow put him in the wrong, so that she can say that she’s a wronged woman, and he’s just behaved like all the others.
“I mean I don’t think she ever admits that she is wrong about anything, but I feel very sorry for Prince Harry, because I think he’s in a very difficult place at the moment.
“I think he has been for some time. I don’t think that her projects have done Harry any good.”
Hugo says that when the Duke has gone off on his own and got involved with initiatives close to his heart like the Invictus Games, he has been more successful.
The royal biographer added: “The Invictus games wasn’t entirely his initiative, but he certainly was the one who made it famous and popular, and he’s done an incredibly good job with it.
“What’s strange about that is that the message, as far as I can read of Invictus, is, you are not a victim, you are able to get on with life, and are able to make wonderful contributions, and he gets people going again.
“And yet what has he done to himself, or what’s he allowed to happen to himself?
“He’s turned himself into a victim, I mean, he’s always complaining about everything and how everybody’s against him, and you know there’s interviews; Oprah, Winfrey Netflix, the book Spare.
“It’s all a litany of ‘poor little me’ complaints, which is terrible.”
Hugo believes that if Meghan had not come along it “wouldn’t have happened” but also concedes Harry was complicit in it.
He added: “My reading of it is, she detected that he was uncomfortable about certain things, and in a way he she exploited that and fed on it to the point that he definitely went willingly.”
During the chat, Tina also criticised Meghan’s judgement, and said: “She has all these people, asks them their opinion, and then doesn’t follow it”.
Tina has not held back talking about the Sussexes over the years, famously describing the couple’s “Megxit” and leaving the royal family as a “disaster”.
It comes as a source close to the couple said a “twin-track approach is evolving” in response to their alleged “professional separation”.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry 'are living separate lives'
By Jon Rogers and Summer Raemason
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry are ‘going their own ways’ as they increasingly live ‘separate lives’, royal experts told The Sun.
Speaking on our first ever Royal Exclusive Live show, Arthur Edwards and Jennie Bond lifted the lid on the power couple’s recent time apart.
Sun legend Arthur revealed how the pair are ‘doing things separately now’ after failing to be spotted together in three weeks.
Meanwhile Ms Bond, a royal correspondent for the last 35 years, also revealed: “Meghan is not popular. She doesn’t want to come back and they are going their own ways, to some extent”.
The pair spoke on our first Royal Exclusive Live show, which you can watch on our YouTube channel.
The event was hosted on Friday night in front of a live audience of more than 100 special guests.
Mr Edwards said: “I don’t think she [Meghan] can come here much.
“I don’t think people think too much of her.
“I think she’s struggling in popularity in the UK and I think they seem to be doing things separately now. She’s got her programme and he’s got his.
Mr Edwards added: “He comes into Britain now with no fuss.
“He’s come for the Invictus Games, in and out with no fuss, he came for his uncle’s funeral, no fuss.”
Royal commentator Jennie Bond said: “The point is he doesn’t want to come back [into the Royal Family in the UK], I think.
“He regarded it as a trap. He still thinks his father and his brother are trapped and he’s finding his own way.
“All credit to him.
“I think Meghan has her own independent style and way of life.
“Yes, it’s not in tune with the people in the UK.
“She’s not popular and I don’t think she wants to come back and therefore they are going their own ways, to an extent.
“But I hope and believe that Harry is very happy in his life.”
Prince Harry is said to have had a “three-week break”, which included a solo trip to Lesotho in Africa in honour of his charity, Sentebale.
It follows the revelations that Harry celebrated the night of his milestone 40th birthday without Meghan in September.
The duke went on a hiking trip with pals to celebrate his big day, leaving his wife and their kids at home.
Sources close to the couple insist it was Meghan who organised the lads’ trip.
However, a Sussex confidante addressed rumours, insisting: “It is normal for couples to not do everything together.”
'Moaning' Meghan Markle has 'lost nearly all her allies'
By Summer Raemason
“MOANING” Meghan Markle has “upset everybody and lost almost all her allies including me,” a royal expert has said.
Broadcaster and royal biographer Hugo Vickers, 72, has taken a swipe at the Duchess of Sussex, 43, adding that it “can’t be a coincidence” that the royal has managed to lose so many supporters.
Ms Brown took part in an episode of The Ankler podcast where she took aim at the Duchess, saying Meghan had “the worst judgement of anyone in the entire world” and that Megxit had been “a disaster”.
Mr Vickers told The Sun Online: “Megan does seem to have a capacity for losing friends and allies all around the place and Tina Brown, of course, is a very intelligent observer of the scene, and she’s been doing it for a very long time.
“For what it’s worth, Meghan lost me as an ally, too, because when she first joined the Royal Family, the line I was taking was she’s the first member to have addressed the United Nations.
“There was so much that she could do, but she gradually managed to upset everybody, including Tina Brown, and that can’t be a coincidence.”
He also explained how he had “lost confidence” in the former Suits actress with the birth of her son Archie.
Mr Vickers said: “The way I lost confidence when there was all that ridiculous nonsense about when Archie was born, and she wouldn’t tell us.
“She was the first woman I’ve ever heard of who’s given birth and subsequently gone into labour later on.
“That doesn’t normally seem to happen, that seems to be rather strange, and then she wouldn’t tell us who the godparents were, and all these small things, you know, are really tiresome.”
Mr Vickers also revealed that while Meghan’s profile was given an enormous boost by marrying Prince Harry he thought she “wasn’t particularly committed” to being part of the Royal Family.
He said: “It does seem to me that she wasn’t particularly committed to being a member of the Royal Family.
“By marrying Prince Harry, her profile went up globally, enormously, and so people wanted to hear more about her, and to some extent more from her.
“There was some quite worrying things quite early on when the four of them were on the platform together and she was saying, ‘we’ve got to hit the road running’.
“In other words let’s get on with me using my new role to promote what I’m interested in.”
He added: “I think she probably misunderstood quite a lot of things to be quite honest about what it meant to be a member of the Royal Family, which is a life of complete service and devotion.
“They work extremely hard, but they’re working for us, not for themselves.”
Mr Vickers believes that Meghan quickly realised her status was that of being Harry’s wife and she wanted to capitalise on that but it wasn’t going that well.
Mr Vickers added: “I never thought she would stay forever to be honest.
“But I didn’t think that she would go with Prince Harry while the Queen was alive, because actually that caused the Queen an enormous amount of distress and anxiety at the end of her life.
“I don’t think she has good judgement.
“I think she had a plan, and now it may take a little while longer for us to know whether her eventual plan works out for her.”
He graduated from the prestigious Guildhall School for Music and Drama in London in 2022.
During his studies he honed his acting skills and participated in various productions, including Anna Karenina and Julius Caesar.
Relationship timeline
The first public sighting of Nicola and Jake together was in August 2024 at the All Points East festival in London‘s Victoria Park.
They were spotted enjoying Mitski‘s performance, with Nicola seen cozying up to Jake.
However, it wasn’t until October 2024 that their relationship became public knowledge.
On October 23, 2024, the couple was photographed on a date night in London, leaving the Auld Shillelagh Irish pub in Stoke Newington.
They were snapped walking arm-in-arm as they strolled down a residential street, seemingly to confirming the rumours about their relationship.
Public reaction
While fans have been supportive of Nicola’s new relationship, there has been some controversy surrounding the photos taken during their October date night.
Some fans expressed concern over the invasion of privacy.
One wrote: “These photos are so creepy, it’s obviously a suburban street not even the high street…
“Did they follow them home?! Such an invasion of privacy!”
Nicola herself has been vocal about her desire for privacy, particularly when it comes to discussions about her body image.
[Luke Newton and I] have this gorgeous friendship. We have such a love for one another and this experience that I’ll never have with someone else again
Nicola CoughlanTime
She has expressed frustration with the media focus on her appearance, rather than her acting work.
However, Nicola has since clarified that their relationship is purely platonic.
AlamyJake and Nicola were spotted leaving an Irish pub in Stoke Newington, London on October 23, 2024[/caption]
In October 2024, she told Time: “A lot of people really want me to marry Luke.
“We have this gorgeous friendship. We have such a love for one another and this experience that I’ll never have with someone else again.
“Isn’t it gorgeous that a man and woman can have that sort of relationship with one another?”
Jake has worked with some of Nicola’s Derry Girls co-stars in other projects, including Louise Harland and Dylan Llewellyn during his time on Renegade Nell.
While neither Nicola nor Jake has made any official statements about their relationship yet, their public appearances together suggest a blossoming romance.
2 weeks agoNewsComments Off on Ironman World Championship 2024: Course, live stream and how to watch the most difficult one-day sporting event
COMPETING at the Ironman World Championship is considered as one of the toughest challenges in life – and the 2024 edition gets underway TODAY!
Consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bicycle ride and a 26.22-mile marathon in that exact order, the Ironman Triathlon is considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world.
GettySam Laidlow will be hoping to defend his crown[/caption]
And the event often has a time limit of 16 or 17 hours to complete the race, course dependent, meaning that competitors have no time to feel sorry for themselves.
French phenomenon Sam Laidlow made history in 2023 when he became the youngest male winner of the competition with a time of 8:06:22 at just age 24.
While this year’s women’s race which took place on September 22, 2024, was won by German star Laura Phillip.
SunSport has all the information on the huge men’s event below.
But for fans who are not subscribed to any of the above, Ironman’s official YouTube channel will have live coverage.
Furthermore, the Ironman tracker app is available to download on any compatible mobile phone or device.
Which pros are competing?
Several stars are competing at this year’s Ironman World Championship, including the two-time winner Patrick Lange.
Sam Laidlow (champion)
Kristian Blummenfelt
Gustav Iden
Magnus Ditlev
Patrick Lange
Lionel Sanders
Rudy von Berg
Daniel Bækkegård
David McNamee
Kieran Lindars
Braden Currie
What is the course?
Athletes will start with a 2.4-miles swim before moving onto the bike for a brutal 112-mile ride.
Once the ride is complete, contestants then run a 26.22-mile marathon in the Hawaiian heat.
What has been said?
Ironman legend Mark Allen believes that the course record could be broken this year.
Allen said: “This year in particular, you have the fact that the race is two weeks later than normal. This time of year is a pivotal time of year in terms of temperature difference.
“Even a couple of weeks can make it a little bit cooler, a couple of weeks later can make it so that you’re further away from the windiest time of year.
“Generally earlier in October is more windy than later in October. The fastest time that I did in Kona was when the race was October 30th, this year it’s October 26th.
“That was probably the least windy year that I had. So all of that put together, I think that this year probably has one of the best chances of that record being broken.”
2 weeks agoNewsComments Off on David Beckham plants kiss on cheek of daughter Harper at Inter Miami game as wife Victoria and son Cruz also attend
DAVID BECKHAM kissed daughter Harper on her cheek during Inter Miami’s game against Atlanta United.
Wife Victoria and son Cruz were also in attendance at the Chase Stadium.
APDavid Beckham kissed daughter Harper on the cheek before kick-off[/caption]
APSon Cruz was also in attendance[/caption]
GettyCruz has been at several Inter Miami games this year[/caption]
AFPVictoria Beckham also turned up for the crunch clash[/caption]
It was a big occasion for the Beckhams‘ with Inter Miami competing in the MLS Cup play-offs, having won the Eastern Conference.
Miami got off to a fast start as Luis Suarez scored in the second minute, and they went on to win the match 2-1 with another former Barcelona player Jordi Alba grabbing the winner.
Beckham, 49, was in a good mood even before kick-off and he planted a kiss on his daughter Harper, 13, who looked less than impressed.
Cruz, 19, was spotted back alongside his dad having watched Lionel Messi score a hat-trick for Inter Miami last week with his girlfriend Jackie Apostel.
Miami’s win over Atlanta means they need just one more victory to progress to the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
Eight teams qualified for the play-offs with Atlanta winning a wildcard match in order to take on Inter Miami in a best of three.
The next game will be hosted by Atlanta on November 2 and if the home team win a third match will be played – back at the Chase Stadium.
Inter Miami already have one foot in the semi-finals and will have to win that tie and the Eastern Conference final to qualify for the MLS Cup final.
Beckham’s side have only once qualified for the MLS play-offs, in 2022, but lost in the first round to New York City FC.
This time around they are one of the favourites to go all the way after winning their conference by eight points, while Messi has hit brilliant form with 22 goals in 23 games.
2 weeks agoNewsComments Off on Love Island stars, TV host and famous nepo baby unrecognisable as they dress up for Halloween – but who are they are?
SOME of our favourite Love Island stars, a TV host and a famous nepo baby looked unrecognisable as they dressed up to celebrate Halloween last night – but can you figure out who they are?
A bunch of famous faces headed to The Conduit in Convent Garden, London, to attend the glamorous Hallowzeem Party.
BackGridHave you got any idea who this star could be?[/caption]
BackGridWho is this that is dressed up as Iron Man?[/caption]
BackGridDo you have any idea who these two could be?[/caption]
One guest included a Love Island star who took part in the ITV2dating show last year.
The beauty looked incredible dressed up as a sexy Chucky from the popular horror franchise.
The star in question wowed in a denim bodysuit with the words “Wanna play?” printed on it, knee high socks and red heels.
Do you have any idea who it is?
It’s none other than Abi Moores, who shot to fame on Love Island series 10 – and was linked with Mess Mitch and Scott van-der-Sluis during her time in the villa.
A neo baby with a famous dad also dressed to impress last night.
The star opted for full Iron Man bodysuit.
He completed the look with a mask to hide his identity – but was seen holding the face cover in his hand outside the venue.
BackGridCan you guess who this is?[/caption]
BackGridThis Strictly star looks incredible as Snow White[/caption]
BackGridThis former Towie favourite looked amazing at the party[/caption]
2 weeks agoNewsComments Off on Chancellor to make huge change for millions of social renters in Budget
MILLIONS of social renters will be impacted by huge changes when the Chancellor delivers her Autumn Statment on Wednesday.
Rachel Reeves is set to announce plans for a new social housing rent settlement, resulting in rent increases above inflation over the next five years.
The moves are part of a housing package that includes £500 million in new funding for up to 5,000 new affordable social homes
The government plans to cap social housing rents at CPI inflation plus 1% and will consult on this five-year rent settlement.
The consultation will also explore other options, such as a 10-year settlement.
Additionally, the Chancellor will reduce Right to Buy discounts, which allow tenants to buy local authority-owned homes at a discount.
This change aims to protect existing council housing stock.
This overhaul will allow councils to retain 100% of the money from property sales, helping them to build more social housing.
The moves are part of a housing package that includes £500 million in new funding for up to 5,000 new affordable social homes and £128 million to support delivering 33,000 other homes.
Ms Reeves said: “We need to fix the housing crisis in this country. It’s created a generation locked out of the property market, torn apart communities and put the brakes on economic growth.
“We are rebuilding Britain by ramping up housebuilding and delivering the 1.5million new homes we so badly need.”
Darren Baxter, principal policy adviser at Joseph Rowntree Foundation, added: “Investing in building social homes will make a real difference to the lives of people who are currently locked out of the economic security these homes could give them.
“It’s welcome to see that alongside this investment, the government plans to take steps to reduce the number of homes lost to the private sector through the Right to Buy discounts.
SOCIAL RENT SHAKE-UP
The outcome of the consultation on social housing rents could mean that millions of tenants face up to 10 years worth of inflation-busting rent hikes.
However, Rachel Reeves plans to consult on a 5 to 10-year formula in October’s Autumn Statement that will increase annual rents in England by the CPI measure of inflation plus an additional 1%.
While housing associations are likely to welcome this move, it could worsen the cost of living for millions of tenants and potentially increase the government’s benefits bill.
However, Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, says: “As inflation can spiral out of control very quickly, there needs to be mechanisms in place to protect tenants from extreme rent rises that put them at risk of becoming homeless.”
Most social housing tenants receive full housing benefits from the government, meaning taxpayers often fund any social rent increases.
However, around 30% of social tenants pay full rent and will be hit by future increases in full because they’re not eligible for support.
There are around four million households currently living in rented social housing.
That means 1.2million households will face future bill hikes if the new formula eventually comes into force.
However, the exact amount your rent will increase depends on your location, the size of your property, and the level of inflation.
What help is available?
IF you rent from the council or a housing association, you can get help if you’re having problems affording your rent.
If you miss a rent payment, you’ll fall into ‘arrears’ and owe your council or housing associations.
Fail to pay back what you owe and you could be evicted.
If you can’t afford your next rent payment, you should talk to your landlord as soon as possible.
Call them and explain why you’re struggling.
Your landlord may be able to grant a temporary payment holiday or signpost you to other forms of help.
2 weeks agoNewsComments Off on ‘She’s complete us’ gushes Peter Andre as he opens up about family life after welcoming second daughter with wife Emily
PETER Andre has opened up about life as a family of five after welcoming his second daughter with wife Emily.
The married couple welcomed Arabella Rose into the world in April this year.
RexPeter Andre has gushed about his new born daughter[/caption]
dr_emily_officialEmily gave birth to Arabella in April this year[/caption]
GettyPeter spoke to The Sun at The Pride of Britain Awards with wife Emily and his oldest children Junior and Princess[/caption]
Peter, 51, and Emily, 35, who tied the knot in 2015, already share seven-year-old Theo and Amelia, nine.
Mysterious Girl singer Peter is also dad to Junior and Princess from his previous marriage to Katie Price.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun at The Pride of Britain Awards, Peter gushed about his six-month old.
Peter said: “She’s beautiful.
“She has honestly made us complete, she really has.”
Emily told us: “It’s the first time I’ve really left her at home…”
Peter chimed in: “It’s taken a lot to get her out,” as Emily continued: “I had a bit of a wobble, but we’re fine!”
When asked how they’ve been coping, Emily added: “It’s a juggle – but we’ve got helping hands [points at Junior and Princess].
Peter’s eldest, Junior, has followed his footsteps and has kick started his music career – and it sounds like Arabella could be in the same industry in the future.
Peter confessed: “She is dancing! She loves dancing at the minute.
