
Duffy eyeing up return with 'new music' after terrifying kidnap and rape plot
Noughties star, Duffy, is preparing to step back into the spotlight after she quit fame when she was tragically raped and kidnapped in a harrowing ordeal, which she first revealed in 2020
Welsh songstress Duffy is making a comeback, according to reports, following the Mercy star's harrowing kidnap ordeal. The beloved hitmaker, 40, amassed a legion of loyal fans in the noughties, however Duffy ended up shunning the spotlight after she was heartbreakingly abducted and raped, which she first publicly revealed in 2020.
The singer has kept a low profile for almost a decade following the terrifying attack, which she claimed happened over a four week period after she was drugged at a restaurant before being kidnapped, taken abroad and raped, and then flown to the UK where she was held captive in her own home
However, in March, Duffy made a surprise appearance on TikTok, lip-syncing to her hit track, Mercy. It's now been reported that the star is back in the recording studio as she gets set to make her long-awaited return to music.
The Warwick Avenue songstress is said to have reunited with ex-Suede musician Bernard Butler, who was the producer of her debut album in 2008.
A source told The Sun On Sunday: "The time is right for her to make a comeback, she has done enough healing and is ready to make music. She has a great working relationship with Bernard, and they trust each other."
Duffy disappeared from the limelight after her harrowing kidnap ordeal in which she explained she had been raped, drugged and held captive following her rise to stardom, which saw her bag a Grammy Award in 2009.
In the TikTok video from March, the star, whose real name is Aimée Anne Duffy, sang along to her famous lyrics: "You got me begging you for mercy, why won't you release me."
She was sporting her infamous baby blonde hair in the clip posted on Emotion HQ's TikTok account, which teased that a garage remix of her classic track will be released soon.
The caption read: "Some of you asked if Duffy was really doing a UK Garage remix with us… #duffy #newmusic #ElectronicMusic #ukgarage #dancemusic #remix."
Taking to the comments, excited to hear of the star's return, one of Duffy's fans replied: "'Duffy! Where have you been?! We missed you" while another exclaimed: "OMG it's so good that she's back."
Duffy has been silent on social media for more than a year after she returned to share a positive post with fans in March 2024 for the first time since 2020.
Giving her take on the 'secret to happiness', her quote read: "You're going to realise it one day - that happiness was never about your job or your degree or being in a relationship.
"Happiness was never about following in the footsteps of all of those who came before you; it was never about being like the others. One day, you're going to see it - that happiness was always about the discovery, the hope, the listening to your heart and following it wherever it chose to go."
The Mirror has contacted Duffy's reps for comment on this story.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Edinburgh Live
33 minutes ago
- Edinburgh Live
Man gobsmacked as he buys hundreds of scratchcards on Ryanair flight
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Vik on TikTok documented a curious experiment on a Ryanair flight when his friend Ethan decided to purchase every scratch card available onboard to test his luck, the venture astonishingly leaving them with nothing. The video clip that Vik shared shows his shock as he pulls out scratch card after scratch card with no success; even fellow passengers joined in to lend a hand with the scratching frenzy. Detailing the bizarre event, Viktok stated: "We are here on Ryanair and this man Ethan has bought every single scratch card on the flight. I've opened about 100 scratch cards, I've been opening these one at a time. "We have not won a single thing. We have won nothing - no one has won anything. I'll keep you guys posted." In total, Ethan got hold of 68 packets of scratch cards, but much to their bewilderment, they didn't have an ounce of luck. He enlisted the help of other travellers to get through the masses of scratch cards, yet a win proved elusive. Despair filled the cabin as someone hollered: "No one won anything.", reports Belfast Live. Vik continued: "You're supposed to match three - I can't even match two. We've lost again." The group was dumbfounded by the lack of winnings. After the video made its way online, it rapidly attracted views into the thousands and prompted a barrage of comments as viewers shared their thoughts on the fruitless endeavour. A passenger quipped: "100% they won't allow mass buying on the flight again, lol." Another, claiming to be Ryanair cabin crew, warned: "I am cabin crew for Ryanair and there is so much more that you don't know. They can't sell you that many. There is a limit spend per passenger. Cabin crew in trouble!". A third person mused: "I wonder how many people have ever won money on those." In contrast, someone who found luck aboard shared: "I remember winning like £26 of on board vouchers. When asking to buy something, I heard the cabin crew say 'someone's actually won'. That's how slim your odds are." These scratch cards sold by Ryanair came under fire after it emerged that jackpot "winners" must participate in a further draw to get a shot at the €1million prize. According to an investigation from 2016, the supposed victor is faced with choosing from 125 envelopes, only one of which contains the jackpot. Back then, Ryanair highlighted that other envelopes held €50,000, suggesting there was still substantial money to win. Reports went on to highlight that the promotional materials claimed a car was won each month, with additional cash prizes up to €5,000 available. The staggering odds for scooping the jackpot were also unveiled, believed to be around 1.2billion to one. For comparison, winning the Lotto here has odds of 10.7million to one, whilst earning the EuroMillions jackpot stands at a probability of 139.8million to one. With the National Lottery, you're only allowed to buy 10 scratch cards in a single transaction, but it's not clear how many you can purchase with Ryanair. The company has been asked to comment on these claims.

Leader Live
34 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Holly Valance splits from billionaire Nick Candy
Australian-born Valance, 42, and billionaire property developer Candy, 52, are said to have broken up in recent weeks, according to The Sun. The couple, who have two daughters, met in 2009 and became engaged two years later before marrying in California in 2012 at a ceremony attended by 300 guests. A family friend told the newspaper: 'This has been a very difficult period for both Nick and Holly, and they are keeping things private out of respect for their family. 'The joint parenting of their two amazing daughters remains their top priority. 'They've had to juggle a demanding lifestyle. Between family, public life, and Nick's intense work commitments, it's been a tough balance. 'This is a family matter and they're doing their best to handle things thoughtfully. 'Privacy is obviously very important to them both, so they can focus on what's best for the family.' Great dinner at Mar-a-Lago! — Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) April 8, 2022 A spokesman for Valance said: 'This is a private matter, and there will be no comment. The privacy of all parties involved is respectfully requested' The couple are high-profile figures within Reform UK, and met Donald Trump with party leader Nigel Farage at the US president's Mar-a-Lago resort in 2022. After her stint in the Australian soap Neighbours where she played Felicity 'Flick' Scully from 1999, Valance had a music career, including the UK number one hit single Kiss Kiss released in 2002. She also reached the semi-finals of Strictly Come Dancing in 2011.


Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Our beautiful seaside town was slammed as a rundown DUMP in viral TikTok video – but here's what it's REALLY like
See photos of Folkestone at its finest taken during The Sun's visit below SEA IT FOR YOURSELF SEA IT FOR YOURSELF Our beautiful seaside town was slammed as a rundown DUMP in viral TikTok video – but here's what it's REALLY like Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) UNIMPRESSED locals in a popular seaside town have hit back after it was labelled a "dump" in a viral TikTok video. The post, shared by Olivia Rose, includes unflattering clips of Folkestone, Kent - going on to amass a staggering 500,000 views and 24,000 likes. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 15 Shop owner Kory Redmond, who escaped city life for the quieter seaside town Credit: Stuart Brock 15 Locals like Phillip Jordan don't agree with the TikTok video Credit: Stuart Brock 15 Folkestone was recently crowned Best Place to Live in South East England Credit: Stuart Brock Clips were taken on a dull day with the sarcastic caption: 'Come to Folkestone for the bank hol they said.' The footage, from May, showed boarded up shops and less appealing parts of the town, including the Grand Burstin Hotel and dilapidated former Debenhams building in Sandgate Road. It comes after Folkestone was last year crowned Best Place to Live in South East England by the Sunday Times. Many of the almost 500 comments on Olivia's post disagree with her bashing of the town, with one saying: "Folkestone's actually a really lovely place." Another said: "Why did you go to all the horrible parts instead of the nice parts?" One person added: "Who told you to come to Folkestone for the bank holiday though realistically." However, others supported Olivia, writing: "People keep trying to romanticise Folkestone and it's literally a s***hole." Another described it as "b******s". The Sun decided to pay a visit to see what locals and visitors really think. Rebecca Greenway, 29, is among the disgruntled residents that disagree with the video. Trendy English seaside town has rooftop bar that 'feels like the Med' She said: 'They have just picked the bad areas to nitpick. You judge a book by its cover. 'It is their first impression but when you get to know Folkestone you can fall in love with it when you find all the niche little places and meet the people.' Rebecca manages the Folkestone branch of Flo's Pie & Mash, a popular spot among locals. Flo's has been in Folkestone for two years, but Rebecca has lived in the area since she was eight years old, and it is now where she is raising a family of her own. She said: 'I love Folkestone. I like the community feel of it. 'Everything is so locally based and everyone gets on as a community - I really enjoy it.' They have just picked the bad areas to nitpick. You judge a book by its cover. It is their first impression but when you get to know Folkestone you can fall in love with it when you find all the niche little places and meet the people. Rebecca Greenway Rebecca also insists that it isn't just locals who love the area but visitors also sing its praises. She added: 'I just had a customer in who has come from Ramsgate and never been to Folkestone before and he was like 'I love it'.' In reference to the controversial TikTok post, she concluded: 'They just pick the areas and just show the bad and not the good. 'When you come at the right time it is brilliant.' Local residents Melissa and Leon Reed share Rebecca's disapproval of this latest dig. Melissa, 29, has lived in Folkestone her whole life and said: 'I 100% disagree with the TikTok.' Along with her husband Leon, 24, and Tiana thir French Bulldog, the majority of Melissa's extended family also live in the area. She added: 'Nearly all my family live here, my dad is a fisherman on one of the boats down there. 'We have a little bit of everything here - sandy beaches, pebble beaches, lots of new bars. 'It's gotten so much better in recent years.' 15 Sam Brown, of Sandy's Fish and Chips, which attracts a lot of tourists in the summer Credit: Stuart Brock 15 Pals Kelsey and Karla with baby Romeo and their dogs on a stroll Credit: Stuart Brock 15 Rebecca Greenway of Flo's Pie & Mash shop has been serving Folkestone locals and tourists for the last two years Credit: Stuart Brock Other locals seem to share this belief, with one voicing: 'When you look out to sea, you think we are on the edge of England. It couldn't be a more amazing site.' Another also added: 'There are lots of things to do with the kids. They love it here.' Owner of Captain's Table cafe, Yasar Dalkilic, has lived in Folkestone for over 20 years. In response to the damning TikTok he said: 'I really strongly disagree. Back in the day it was not a very nice place to live. 'But now, I almost feel like I'm on holiday here in the summer. Everywhere has got good places and bad places - everywhere. 'The people who made the TikTok need to come and see it for themselves with their own eyes.' He added: 'The best thing about Folkestone is the fact that it is a seaside town. 15 Nearly all of Leon and Melissa Reed's family live in Folkestone and love it Credit: Stuart Brock 15 Folkestone residents have been left unimpressed after a viral TikTok called their home a "dump" Credit: Stuart Brock 15 Melissa's dad works as a fisherman in the seaside town Credit: Stuart Brock 'There's sandy beaches and it is nice and close to London.' Down the road from Mr Dalkilic's cafe is Sandy's Fish and Chip shop. A member of Sandy's staff, Sam, 27, said: "Everywhere has got good places and bad places but it depends on what you make of it. "The town is quite run down now but obviously a lot of town centres are not getting the attention they deserve and need at the moment. "But this a really nice little harbour." Local shopowners also urge people to ignore the TikTok video and come see Folkestone for themselves. Kory Redmond, owner of South East Emporium, and mother to toddler, Darwin, moved from London two years ago for a slower pace of life. She said: 'I wish we had moved sooner. 15 The owner of The Captain's Table strongly disagrees with the TikTok Credit: Stuart Brock 15 Folkestone high street is home to lots of big name brands and independent shops Credit: Stuart Brock 15 Local shopowners praised the community feel Credit: Stuart Brock 'There is a big community, people actually say 'hi' and 'good morning' to you here.' Alex, who owns the shop next door, recently launched a new beachwear business called Laes with his partner Claire. He added: 'I have lived locally for a long long time so I have seen it change a lot, and I'd say in the past ten years it has really been on an upwards trajectory. Come visit!' Adrian Harrison owns a family camera business which has been in Folkestone since 1920. In response to the video, he said: 'I wouldn't say it's a dump, I'd say newcomers rather like Folkestone. It's a nice place, there are far worse.' But one local doesn't share the views of fellow residents, as she told The Sun: 'I don't think Folkestone has a lot to offer. Look at the state of the hotel. 'The new skate park is an eyesore.' Has your town been unfairly criticised on social media? Email 15 The seaside town is located in Kent Credit: Stuart Brock 15 Alex has recently started trading in the area, with his partner Claire Credit: Stuart Brock