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Metro
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
26 notable celebrities who have died in 2025 so far
Link is copied Comments While every year has its fair share of good and bad celebrity stories, it also brings us sad news as stars from the world of entertainment and showbiz sadly pass away. 2025 has been no exception to this; we've already bid farewell to some legends from film, TV and music, as well as others who have kept us enthralled and entertained over the years. Let's take a look at some of those who have left us so far this year...(Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock) 2025 got off to a tragic start when it was revealed on January 5 that The Vivienne - the first ever winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK in 2019 - had died aged just 32. The performer, real name James Lee Williams, was found at their home near Chester and later confirmed to have died as a result of 'effects of ketamine use causing a cardiac arrest.' As well as Drag Race, The Vivienne became a familiar face on TV in the likes of Blankety Blank and Celebrity Hunted, made history as the first ever drag queen to appear on Dancing On Ice, (finishing in third place), and appeared on the West End stage in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Wizard Of Oz (Picture: Scott Garfitt/REX/Shutterstock) Film director Jeff Baena (the husband of actress Aubrey Plaza) died on January 3, aged 47, with the LA County Medical Examiner's office later confirming he had died by suicide. Baena was famous for directing indie films such as Life After Beth and The Little Hours, while he was also known for projects including Joshy (2016), Horse Girl (2020), Spin Me Round (2022), and for co-writing I Heart Huckabees (2004) (Picture:) Legendary soul singer Sam Moore, best known as half of Sam & Dave, died on January 10 aged 89, following complications from surgery. Moore was best known for some of his major hits in the 60s including Hold On, I'm Comin', Soul Man, and Bring It On Home To Me - while he also forged a successful career as a solo artist. The singer worked with some of the greats, including Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, Elton John, Phil Collins, Lou Reed, and Mariah Carey, during his life (Picture:) Iconic film director David Lynch - who was behind the likes of Mulholland Drive, Wild At Heart, The Elephant Man, Blue Velvet and the TV series Twin Peaks, died aged 78 on January 15 from cardiac arrest due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His family confirmed his passing, saying: 'It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch. We would appreciate some privacy at this time. There's a big hole in the world now that he's no longer with us. But, as he would say, 'Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.' It's a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way' (Picture: Ernesto S. Ruscio/Getty Images) Comedian Tony Slattery - a familiar face on British TV in the 90s thanks to such shows as Whose Line Is It Anyway? - died on January 14, aged 65. Slattery, who also starred onstage and in movies including Peter's Friends and The Crying Game, dropped out of the public eye somewhat in the 90s as he struggled with substance abuse, eventually receiving a diagnosis of bipolar disorder (Picture: TV Times via Getty Images) Irish singer Linda Nolan, who rose to fame as a member of family singing group The Nolans, died on January 15, aged 65. While she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2017, sister Maureen confirmed in a heartbreaking statement that this was not the cause of her death. 'I would just like to say, to all the people out there who felt inspired by Linda, the big C didn't actually get her. She contracted double pneumonia over Christmas and New Year and because of her immune system it was one battle too much,' she said (Picture: Getty) Award-winning British actress Dame Joan Plowright died on January 16 aged 95. Dame Joan, who was the third wife and widow of Laurence Olivier, will be remembered for her six-decade career in acting - which included prestigious roles in TV, film and theatre, as well as Golden Globe awards for her performances in TV biopic Stalin and 1991 film Enchanted April. Theatres in London's West End dimmed their lights for two minutes as a tribute following her death (Picture: STEFAN ROUSSEAU/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Actor and reality TV star Paul Danan died aged 46 in January, with an inquest later confirming the cause of his death to be a cocktail of drugs including cocaine and heroin. Danan was best known for his role as Sol Patrick in Hollyoaks as well as appearing on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017. His management said in a statement: 'Paul was a beacon of light to so many. His untimely departure will leave irreplaceable voids in the lives of all who knew him' (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage) Grammy-award winning singer Roberta Flack, best known for the classic Killing Me Softly, died in February, aged 88. Flack was first catapulted to stardom in the early 1970s with tunes such as The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. She achieved stardom practically overnight when Clint Eastwood used the ballad as the soundtrack for an explicit scene in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me. Although no cause of death was given, Flack announced in 2022 she was suffering from the degenerative disease ALS and was no longer able to sing (Picture:for BET) Gossip Girl star Michelle Trachtenberg was found dead in her apartment in Manhattan on February 26. The actress, who was 39, was later confirmed to have passed due to complications from diabetes mellitus. Trachtenberg began her acting career as a child, appearing in commercials from the age of three before her film debut in 1996, starring in Harriet the Spy. She went on to play Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl and Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Picture: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images) Legendary Hollywood actor Gene Hackman, best known for such films as The French Connection, Bonnie and Clyde and Unforgiven, was found dead aged 95 at his New Mexico home in February, along with his wife Betsy Awakawa, who was 65. It was revealed later that the Oscar-winning star had died from heart disease, with advanced Alzheimer's disease 'as a significant contributory factor'. Awakawa is believed to have died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, several days before her husband's death (Picture: AFP/Getty Images) Heavyweight boxing legend George Foreman died on March 21, aged 76. Foreman fought Muhammad Ali in one of boxing's most historic fights, Rumble In The Jungle, and was also the oldest heavyweight world champion in history. Away from boxing, Foreman achieved worldwide fame as the face of the George Foreman Grill, which sold over 100 million units. A statement released by his family on his Instagram account said he died peacefully 'surrounded by loved ones'. No cause of death has been given (Picture: Mark Von Holden/Variety via Getty Images) Former teen idol Richard Chamberlain died in March aged 90, following complications from a stroke. The actor soared to fame in the 1960s playing TV medic Dr Kildare, before going on to star in the likes of Shogun, Centennial and The Thorn Birds. His longtime partner Martin Rabbett said in a statement: 'Our beloved Richard is with the angels now. He is free and soaring to those loved ones before us' (Picture;) Actor Val Kilmer, who rose to fame as Iceman in 80s blockbuster Top Gun, was confirmed to have died on April 2, aged 65. His daughter Mercedes told the New York Times that Kilmer, who was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, had died from pneumonia. As well as Top Gun, Kilmer starred in a string of blockbuster movies in the 80s and 90s, including playing Batman in 1995's Batman Forever as well as portraying music legend Jim Morrison in The Doors. He also appeared alongside Robert de Niro and Al Pacino in crime thriller Heat (Picture: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic) Musician Clem Burke, who was one of the core members of new wave band Blondie, died aged 70 in April, following what the band described as 'a private battle with cancer'. Burke, along with Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, was one of the core members of the group throughout their nearly 50-year lifespan. Blondie said in a statement on Instagram: 'His influence and contributions have spanned decades and genres, leaving an indelible mark on every project he was a part of' (Picture:for Coachella) RuPaul's Drag Race star Jiggly Caliente died aged 44 in April after suffering a severe infection which led to her right leg being amputated. The Philippine-born star, real name Bianca Castro-Arabejo, came eighth on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2012 and appeared on All Stars season six in 2021, having come out as a trans woman in 2016 (Picture;) Singer Jill Sobule died aged 66 in a house fire in Woodbury, Minnesota, on May 1. The folk-pop musician was best known for her 1995 song I Kissed A Girl, which rose in prominence after Katy Perry dropped a different song with the same name, and Supermodel from the Clueless soundtrack. Her manager John Porter hailed her as a 'force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture' (Picture: Mark Von Holden/Variety via Getty Images) Actor and comedian George Wendt, best known for his role as Norm in the 80s sitcom Cheers, died on May 20, aged 76. Although a cause of death was not originally given, it was later reported that he died of a cardiac arrest. His Cheers co-star Ted Danson was among those who paid tribute, remembering his wife and family as he said: 'I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children. It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie' (Picture: Rick Kern/WireImage) Stunt performer and actor Ed Gale died in May aged 61, with his niece Kayse Gale confirming the news on Facebook as she paid tribute to her 'fun uncle'. 'It is with a heavy heart and a surprisingly light coffin (see what I did there?) that we announce the sudden passing of our uncle, Official: Ed Gale, Actor – retired, Ed Gale has taken his final bow and is now headlining in the afterlife.' Gale, who had dwarfism, was best known for his roles as Chucky in the horror franchise Child's Play and the title character in 1986's Howard the Duck (Picture:) Sly Stone, a pioneer of funk music in the late 60s and early 70s, died on June 9 aged 82, following a prolonged battle with Texas-born musician - real name Sylvester Stewart - scored numerous hits with his band The Family Stone throughout the 60s including chart-toppers Family Affair, Everyday People and Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin). Other hits included I Want to Take You Higher, Hot Fun in the Summertime, and Dance to the Music. He, along with the band, was inducted into the Rock n'Roll Hall Of Fame in 1993 (Picture: ABC TELEVISION) TV personality Kim Woodburn passed away on June 17, aged 83, following a short illness. Kim became a household name in the UK after rising to fame on the Channel 4 show How Clean Is Your House, alongside co-host Aggie McKenzie. She went on to star in I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in 2009, where she was runner-up, as well as Celebrity Big Brother. Kim was also a regular face on ITV daytime shows such as This Morning and Loose Women (Picture: Mike Marsland/WireImage) Brian Wilson, the last surviving brother from iconic 60s band the Beach Boys, died on June 11, aged 82, with the cause of his death reported to be respiratory arrest. Originally established as a garage band focused on Wilson's songwriting and managed by their father, Murry Wilson, the Beach Boys had their first national hit in 1963 with the hit song Surfin' USA - releasing an astonishing 15 albums before the end of the decade. The band's other notable hits included Good Vibrations, God Only Knows and California Girls (Picture:) Composer Lalo Schifrin (best known for penning the theme to Mission: Impossible) died aged 93 on June 26. Schifrin's long and incredibly decorated career earned him a hugely impressive six Academy Award nominations and four Grammy wins. In 2019, he was bestowed with an Honorary Oscar, joining a short list of composers to receive the distinction, including Ennio Morricone and Quincy Jones (Picture: Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images) Actor Michael Madsen, star of movies including Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill: Vol 2, died on July 3 aged 67. His manager Ron Smith confirmed that the actor, who was found unresponsive in his Malibu home, suffered a cardiac arrest. Madsen began his acting career in the 1980s and had over 300 screen credits, including the likes of Sin City, Species and James Bond flick Die Another Day. He sprang to fame as terrifying villain Mr Blonde in Reservoir Dogs, which started his long-running collaboration with filmmaker Quentin Tarantino (Picture:) Liverpool forward Diogo Jota tragically died in a car crash in Spain on July 3, aged just 28. The Portuguese-born football star was killed, along with his brother, after his Lamborghini crashed in northwest Spain following a tyre blowout. Jota had been on his way to Santander to catch a ferry after being advised by doctors not to fly due to recent lung surgery. He had married long-term partner Rute Cardoso, the mother of his three children, just two weeks before his death (Picture: Maja Hitij - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) Australian actor Julian McMahon, who rose to prominence in Home and Away before finding fame in Hollywood, died on July 2, aged 56, from lung metastasis as a result of head and neck metastatic cancer. Aside from his roles as Dr Doom in the Fantastic Four franchise and Cole in Charmed, McMahon was famous for playing Dr. Christian Troy on the Ryan Murphy series Nip/Tuck. He was also previously married to Dannii Minogue, whom he met on the set of Home And Away in 1991 (Picture: WireImage) • Britt Allcroft (Thomas the Tank Engine creator) - January, aged 81• Wayne Osmond (original member of The Osmonds) - January, aged 73• Peter Yarrow (member of Peter, Paul and Mary) - January, aged 86• Brian Murphy (British sitcom star) - February, aged 92• Lee Joo-Sil (Squid Game star) - February, aged 81• Rick Buckler (drummer in The Jam) - February, aged 69• Angie Stone (R&B singer ) - March, aged 63• Emelie Dequenne (Rosetta actress) - March, aged 43• Wings Hauser (US soap actor) - March, aged 78 • Pamela Bach (pictured) (actress and wife of David Hasselhoff) - March, aged 61 • Clive Revill (original voice of Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars) - March, aged 94• Johnny Tillotson (60s singer) - April, aged 86• Nicky Katt (90s film actor) - April, aged 54• Jean Marsh (British actress known for Upstairs Downstairs - April, aged 90• Sophie Nyweide (former child actress) - April, aged 24• Priscilla Pointer (actress) - April, aged 100• James Foley (director of Glengarry Glen Ross and Fifty Shades Of Grey) - May, aged 71 • Joe Don Baker (actor known for Bond movies and 'tough guy' roles) - May, aged, 89 (Picture: STEFAN ROUSSEAU/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) • Samuel French (Killers Of The Flower Moon actor) - May, aged 45• Michael McStay (British actor) - May, aged 92• Georgia O'Connor (gold medal-winning British boxer) - May, aged 25 • Loretta Swit (MASH actress) - May, aged 87• David Hekili Kenui Bell (Lilo and Stitch actor) - June, age not given• Jo Bacon (EastEnders and Love Actually actress) June, aged 72• Anne Burrell (celebrity chef) - June, aged 55• Lynn Hamilton (Waltons actress) - June, aged 95• Rebekah del Rio (singer who appeared in Mulholland Drive) - June, aged 57• Bobby Sherman (60s singer) - June, aged 81• Rick Hurst (Dukes Of Hazzard Star) - June, aged 89• Pik Sen-Lim (Dr Who actress) - June, aged 80• Kenneth Colley (Star Wars actor) - June, aged 87• Eden Blackman (Celebs Go Dating coach) - June, aged 57• Patrick Walden (Babyshambles guitarist) - June, aged 46• Frank Barrie (EastEnders actor) - July, aged 88• Wayne Dobson (TV magician) - July, aged 68 • Connie Francis (60s singer) (pictured) - July, aged 87 • Eileen Fulton (US soap star) - July, aged 91 (Picture: Silver Screen Collection/) Next Gallery
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Katie Price pulls out of headline show just days before taking to the stage
KATIE Price has pulled out of her headline slot at Barnsley Pride just days before the event. The 46-year-old was due to entertain revellers at the free all-day event on Saturday. Advertisement 3 Katie Price is no longer performing at Barnsley Pride Credit: Paul Jacobs/ 3 Kerry Katona also pulled out of the event due to personal reasons Credit: PA But organisers have released a statement expressing their disappointment over the change of plans. They said: "We sincerely apologise to all our visitors who are looking forward to joining us for our Barnsley Pride 2025 events. "Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, "We want to make it clear that this is beyond our control and that we are genuinely disappointed, as we were very excited to have her as part of our line-up of amazing acts." Advertisement READ MORE ON KATIE PRICE It's the latest blow for the event after Katie's close pal Kerry Katona also pulled out. They continued: "Additionally, the original headliner, Kerry Katona, also had to cancel due to personal reasons. The entire team here at Funny Gals shares in this disappointment, and we deeply regret any inconvenience or disappointment caused." There is still plenty of talent on the bill though, with RuPaul's Drag Race winner Vicki Vivacious, X Factor's Sammy Brooks, Tess Tickle, and Gladys Duffy all performing. Nevertheless, fans were still gutted with one writing on Facebook: "Oh no Saturday night ruined!" Advertisement Most read in Celebrity Another wrote: "Nooooo [crying emoji]." Katie is an Katie Price moans 'oh my god I'm so ugly' as she shows off BALD eyelids after removing fake lashes and make-up Last month she was one of three main acts on the South coast joining the likes of Nadine Coyle, Sabrina Washington from Mis-Teeq, and Drag Race UK's River Medway and Victoria Scone. Katie channelled her inner pop princess, donning a tiny black thong bodysuit that Advertisement She strutted on stage in a frilled pink jacket and a giant, jewel-encrusted hat embossed with the word "Pricey" in pink rhinestones which matched a tiny silver belt around her hips. Over the course of her set, she sang songs including a piano led version of RnB classic (We Don't Have To Take Our) Clothes Off and Tell It To My Heart by Taylor Dayne, and A Whole New World – which she previously released as a single with ex-husband Peter André. The mum-of-five had a £1,500 bum filler procedure in May which she Two surgeons injected 500ml of filler into Katie's bum as she told fans: 'I've just had Endo laser and filler, I'm having it put in my bum. Advertisement 'It will dissolve over time, but it can last up to two years. 'Something can always go wrong. Anaesthetic is always a risk, but I haven't been put to sleep for this — I'm awake, talking to you guys.' 3 Katie is a favourite at LGBT event Credit: Getty
Metro
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
We bought our £260,350 London home through a government saving scheme
Welcome back to What I Own – Metro's property series where we speak to homeowners about getting on the ladder. When drag artist Nick Collier, who performs as Ella Vaday, first moved to London, aged just 16, he was paying just £266 per month in rent. Living in Dalston, long before it was trendy, he'd moved into a friend's room on a whim. Over the years, he saw East London change beyond recognition, and after scrimped and savingfor a deposit, with his partner, Marco, the pair were able to buy their own four walls in 2018. Making a living in musical theatre, Nick started dabbling in the world of drag five years ago. Just one year later, he made it through to the final of RuPaul's Drag Race UK. Nick even paid tribute to Dagenham in the process, creating a passionate look showcasing the local women who protested for equal pay at a Ford motor company factory in the 1960s, a story which was documented in the 2010 film Made In Dagenham. You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from: – Award winning service from the UK's leading mortgage broker – Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week – Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won't charge you a fee for their advice. Find out how much you could borrow online Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Winning four maxi challenges, Ella Vaday wasn't in the bottom once, and so never had to lip sync for her life. And, of course, Nick's made space for his very own drag wardrobe at home. Where else would the wigs be kept? Here's what Nick had to say about his property journey… Where to begin! I left home in Norwich as a teen to go to drama school and somehow, 20 years later, I'm still in London doing what I love. I spent years working in musical theatre, doing shows like Wicked and The Book of Mormon in the West End. I was actually in rehearsals for Hairspray when the world shut down in 2020. Around that time, I'd started dabbling in drag. It was just a creative outlet at first, something to keep the spark going. Well, that little hobby grew legs, and a year later, I was in the final of RuPaul's Drag Race UK. That escalated, didn't it!? Life took a turn, in the best possible way. We paid £263,500 for our home in April 2018. We had a 10% deposit of £26,350. It was made up of money we'd each saved individually in Help To Buy ISAs, meaning the government topped up our savings by 25%. Sadly though, the government no longer offers this type of savings account. The government ended new applications to the Help To Buy ISA scheme in October 2022, and all first-time buyer house-buying applications were finalised by May 2023. The policy was originally introduced in 2013 to help buyers get on the ladder with new-build properties, and until 2021, when the scheme was revised to include first-time buyers only, it offered a loan of up to 20% of the property's value (the maximum value being £600,000). The purchase price was also capped differently depending on the region. While some say the policy was crucial in helping first-time buyers onto the ladder, it was relatively controversial, considering that research concluded that it both increased house prices and encouraged first-time buyers to take out debt specifically on new-build homes. It might no longer exist, but there are a few other schemes in place to help first-time buyers. First Homes scheme The First Homes scheme allows first-time buyers to snap up a home for between 30% and 50% below its market value. It's not limited to new-build homes, as it can either be a new property built by a developer or previously owned by someone else. You'll also need to earn below £80,000 per year before tax, rising to £90,000 in London, and you'll need to qualify for a mortgage for at least half the price of the home's market value. Lifetime ISA There's also the Lifetime ISA, which allows first-time buyers to purchase a property valued at £450,000 or less. The maximum amount you can deposit each year is £4,000, and the government will add a 25% yearly bonus to your savings (amounting to £1,000 if you max it out). Our mortgage is £1,037, we then pay around £325 for utilities, bringing the monthly outgoings on our home to £1,362. We're in Dagenham East, East London. We chose it mainly for affordability, but also because there's loads of investment happening in the area. Eastbrook Studios, the biggest film studio in London, is now just down the road. What I love most is how much green space we're surrounded by. You can walk for hours through quiet nature reserves, past ponds and open land. It's something you don't get living centrally, and it gives a real sense of calm. With a lot of hustle and sacrifice. Marco and I don't come from money, so we saved every penny ourselves. I was working full-time in the West End, and running a dog walking business during the day. I cycled everywhere to save on travel. We lived in a small basement flat in Angel for three years and said no to a lot of extras. It was all about the bigger picture. We had a brilliant mortgage adviser, Jack Childs from L&C. I'd worked with his dad in Wicked, so he completely understood how theatre income works. That made a massive difference, and the process went a lot more smoothly than I expected. We were on a three-year fixed rate at 0.97%, which felt like winning the lottery at the time. Once that ended, interest rates shot up. We're now on a 4.29% rate, which added a couple of hundred pounds a month to our mortgage. It's manageable, but you definitely feel the difference. It's still much cheaper than renting would be, and I always remember that at least we're paying off our own debt. I've rented ever since I moved to London, when I first moved to Dalston, Dalston Junction station didn't exist at the time. A friend and I said yes to a flat through someone's dad and just went with it. We had no idea where we were going, but we were there for seven years and saw the area change so much. My rent was £266 a month back then, which sounds ridiculous now. Later on, Marco and I moved into a basement flat in Angel with our dog Wally and stayed there for three years while saving to buy. I'd had enough of paying someone else's mortgage. I always said I wanted to own a place by the time I turned 30, and we just about made that happen. We went to see it after seeing another nearby property; they were about to do an open house viewing the next day, and we managed to see it before and get an offer in before anyone else. It was the space more than anything. The house is on a quiet street and had been lived in by the same man since he was a child. He was in his 90s when he sold it and wanted it to go to someone who would really live in it and make it a home. That felt important to us. It's London Pride weekend, and while that's certainly a cause for celebration, LGBTQ+ still face many issues, including accessing housing. Research from Stonewall shows that almost one in five LGBTQ+ people have experienced homelessness; these statistics increase to 25% of all trans people. The majority of these cases are caused by direct rejection from families over their LGBTQ+ identity, too, as 77% of people surveyed by akt said that 'family rejection, abuse or being asked to leave home' was the cause of their homelessness. Shortly before becoming homeless, more than 50% had their family members force them to stop expressing their LGBTQ+ identity, figures which rise to 64% for trans people and 55% for disabled people. The University of Stirling also finds that LGBTQ+ people have poorer housing outcomes than their straight and cis counterparts, too. Gay, lesbian and bisexual people specifically are less likely to own their own homes, while throughout the 1980s and 1990s, there were instances of gay and bisexual men having their mortgage applications refused because of the stigma tied to the HIV/AIDS crisis. The house needed a lot of work. We've renovated the whole thing ourselves over time. Luckily, we had a bit of savings left, so we tackled the kitchen first. That was always going to be the biggest job. Our style is colourful and personal. I don't like interiors that feel beige or grey just for the sake of being safe. I wanted it to feel full of character. Most of the artwork has a story behind it, whether it's something we picked up on a trip or something that used to hang in my nan's house. That's what makes it feel like home. I don't know anyone else with a dotty hallway like ours! The living room. It gets amazing light, so we went bold with the colour. It's filled with pieces we've collected over the years, and it's the room that really most like us. Cosy, a bit chaotic, lived-in and warm. For now, yes. Though I dream of having a dedicated drag room or wardrobe. Wigs take up more space than you'd think. The garden is the final big job. We've already added fencing for privacy, which made a big difference. Now we're working out how to use the space. With a small garden, you've got to be clever. We want something that feels like an extra room, not just a patch of grass. None so far. We've been lucky. Try not to fall in love with the first thing you see. We nearly bought a house that was basically falling down because we got obsessed with how we could change it. Looking back, it would have been a terrible decision. More Trending And if you're buying a doer-upper like we did, be honest about how much of the work you'll actually do yourself. Labour isn't cheap and time disappears fast once you've moved in. We'll probably stay here for a couple more years. That'll make it ten in total. After that, I've no idea. We might move closer in or go further out. It'll depend on what life looks like then. View More » What I do know is that we've learned so much from this house. We've made mistakes, we've figured things out, and we've created a home that feels completely ours. Whatever comes next, we'll go into it with a lot more confidence. And hopefully less wallpaper stripping. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: London Pride map shows route parade will take through city today MORE: The 'underrated' neighbourhood Londoners are flocking to for £20,000 discounts MORE: Oasis superfan wants to be front row so Liam Gallagher sees tattoo of his face
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The harrowing truth about The Vivienne's final hours, the moment his lifeless body was found... and tragic reason star may have turned back to ketamine shortly before dying from the drug: FRED KELLY
In an explosion of sequins, tight-fitting jumpsuits and outlandish blonde wigs, The Vivienne burst onto the nation's television screens in 2019 winning the first season of hit BBC reality show RuPaul 's Drag Race UK. The cheeky Liverpudlian drag queen – whose stage name derived from his love of Vivienne Westwood clothes – instantly won over viewers with his camp wit and larger-than-life impersonations of Donald Trump, and Maggie Thatcher.
Daily Mirror
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Your guide to London Pride as the annual LGBTQ+ event kicks off this weekend
More than a million people are expected to take part in London's Pride celebrations, attending the iconic parade and watching the dozens of performers across central London Off the back of another dazzling Pride month, the nation's capital is gearing up to host its annual Pride in London festivities, with more than a million expected to take part. The month-long celebration of individuality and Pride will culminate with the parade on Saturday (July 5), although there will be plenty of LGBTQ+ events lined up afterwards. More than 30,000 participants, making up 500 groups, take part in the UK's largest, and most diverse, Pride event. Here's the scoop on everything you need to know ahead of Pride in London 2025: When is Pride in London 2025? Pride in London is taking place on Saturday, July 5, beginning at 3pm. All events, including the parade, will run from 12pm until 8pm. What is the Pride in London parade route? The parade will set off from Green Park, by Hyde Park Corner tube station, before moving along Piccadilly towards Piccadilly Circus station. It will then travel south, down Haymarket, past Trafalgar Square and down Whitehall, before ending outside Big Ben. The event areas include: Trafalgar Square – Main stage Golden Square – The World Stage Leicester Square – LGBTQI, Women and Non-Binary Stage Dean Street – The Cabaret Stage Soho Square – Trans and Non-Binary Stage, with Pride in London Community Market Victoria Embankment Gardens – The Family Area Who is performing at Pride in London? Ain't Nobody star, Chaka Khan will headline this year's celebrations, which will take placed across the aforementioned six stages in central London. Elsewhere, there will be entertainment provided by the juxebox musical Titanique's Lauren Drew, Frankie Grande, brother of Ariana, and RuPaul's Drag Race UK star La Voix. Below is an extended list of performers across each stage: Trafalgar Square Chaka Khan Queenz Durand Bernarr Eurovision 2025 winner JJ La Voix Lauren Drew Frankie Grande Miriana Conte Jay Jay Revlon HERE AND NOW - The Steps Musical Lucky Roy Singh Presents the Queer Asian Takeover Dylan and the Moon The Sing Space Choir Justin Peng The Cocoa Butter Club Anthony Hughes Butch, Please! Dan Devlin Talks from Queerwell Stonewall, Jake and Hannah Graf, and Not a Phase. Leicester Square Kaylee Golding (DJ) girli Miriana Conte Chloe Star Anita B Queen (DJ) CATTY, MABEL (DJ) Redrum Butch, Please! Lazy Violet Queer Edg Don One Smashlyn Monroe Golden Square Amaria BB Keanan Vanity Milan Carter The Bandit Mark-Ashley Dupé (DJ) Nile The Cocoa Butter Club, Reptile B Lexxicon Jay Jay Revlon Don One Thandi Phoenix Kelechi JiGH Shafire (DJ). Dean Street Crip Ladywood Sam Buttery Ghetto Fabulous Lucky Roy Singh Presents the Queer Asian Takeover Dean McCullough's Pop Machine La Voix John Cameron Mitchell Coco Deville Trevor Ashley Viola Adam All & Apple Derrieres Alexandria St Payne Skylar Cister For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror's Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox. Soho Square Telisa Geri Love Tobre Trans fashion by Ms A London Bok Brandy X Presents Temptation Kit Green Ebony Rose Dark The Others The DIVAs with Alexa Vox Alexis Gregory with Jane Stevenson The Divine and Andrea Di Giovanni DJ Tasty Tim DJ Princess Julia DJ Kaspa Sarah Savage (Brighton Trans Pride) Alexis Solia (trans Activist) Saba (activist) Kayza Rose (Activist/producer) Lia B (trans Activist) Pippa Dale (LBTQWomen and StockExchange) Daniel Lismore (Artist) Arlene McDermott (StockExchange/Trans In The City) Bell Ribeiro-Addy (MP) Trans Legal Omar Okai (Black British Theatre Awards) Oscar Davies (the UK's first recognised non-binary barrister) Jake and Hannah Graf (Trans is Human) Family Area David Ribi Drag Queen Story Hour Amanda and Rachel An Act from Above Stilt Walking Ava Beau Close Up Magician Andi Dadda and Daddy Joelle D'Fontaine Olly N Pop Taryn Sudding from Cool Mindz How much are tickets to Pride in London? Pride in London is for all with the festival being a free-to-attend, unticketed event. Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
