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    Inside Wrexham revolution where footie fans buy beer by suitcase load and bucket hats sell out – thanks to Ryan Reynolds

    DRIVING into football’s unlikely new hotbed, you are greeted with 3ft-high letters on a pub roof reminiscent of the famous Hollywood sign – but this time reading “Wrexham”.The grey skies above the Grey-hound Inn and the bitter wind blowing off the Welsh mountains, however, are hardly Californian.
    Wrexham beat  Coventry 4-3 in previous round of FA CupCredit: Getty
    Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds’ reaction as he celebrates the equalising goal against Sheffield UnitedCredit: Rex
    The Grey-hound Inn is hardly Californian but Reynolds has helped transform the fortunes of this North Wales former coal and steel cityCredit: .
    Even so, celebrity glitter has helped transform the fortunes of this North Wales former coal and steel city that’s had its fair share of hardship.
    The dozens queuing for FA Cup tickets in Wrexham AFC’s car park are quick to credit American actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney — who bought the club in 2021 — for the transformation.
    Ryan, best known for his starring role in the Deadpool films, was at the club last week with daughter James, eight, to watch his non-league side’s dramatic FA Cup clash against Sheffield United.
    And it seems the club have had a similarly transformative effect on the Hollywood star.
    READ MORE ON Wrexham
    He was pictured celebrating with fans as Wrexham looked to have pulled off a shock win against a team who sit second in the Championship, three leagues above them.
    It was not to be as a last-second equaliser saw the game end 3-3, prompting Ryan to later tweet it was “one of the most exciting things I’ve ever seen”.
    His wife Blake Lively, who stars in Gossip Girl, posted a snap of Ryan with his head in his hands and added: “I bought ESPN+ today. Just to watch my husband experience crippling anxiety live. Worth it.”
    ‘On the up’
    Talking to me outside the ground, fan Les Buxton, 66, a retired Royal Navy submariner, said: “When I heard two Hollywood stars were taking over the club I thought it was pie in the sky.
    Most read in Football
    “The club was on its knees but they’ve come in and they’ve turned the place around. I sit below Rob and Ryan in the stands and can see what this club means to them.
    “They’ve taken the town to their hearts, as well as the football club.”
    Wrexham, with a population of around 62,000, was once a heavy industry powerhouse. Its coalfield boasted 38 pits and employed 18,000 people at its peak.
    Fans queue for tickets for the next game in the FA Cup against Sheffield United at Wrexham Football clubCredit: .
    Mark, pictured, and Vaughan Roberts, managing directors of brewery Wrexham Lager, say sales of their beer have risen ‘exponentially’Credit: .
    In 1864 a football club was formed, making it the third oldest professional side in the world, and it was soon a cornerstone of the working-class city.
    A stalwart of lower-division football, its league high watermark was 15th in the old Second Division (now the Championship) in 1979.
    As Welsh Cup winners, there were European competition nights, with celebrated victories at its atmospheric Racecourse Ground against Antwerp and Porto.
    The last local coal mine, Bersham, closed in 1986 with the loss of 700 jobs. And the city and its proud football club went into decline.
    Retired building manager Graham Roberts, 74, who watched his first Dragons game 60 years ago, told me: “My father was a steel worker and my grandfather a miner.
    “Every family had someone that was a miner. When the pits closed, the town struggled, and so did the football club.”
    In 2004 the club went into administration with massive debts and was given notice to quit the Racecourse Ground by its former owner so it could be sold as a retail site.
    In 2008, after 87 years, the club was relegated from the Football League, with its Kop stand dilapidated.
    It had hit rock bottom, then stayed there. It would take a fan buy-out to save it from going under.
    Then came a twist that could have been written in Hollywood. And in a way, it was.
    Actors Ryan and Rob, who stars in US sitcom It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, bought the club, injecting glamour and £2million.
    Their ownership saga was filmed for documentary series Welcome To Wrexham — screened on Disney+ — which turned the Dragons into one of the best-known clubs in the world.
    At the Chevron Clothing shop in the High Street, manager Jamie Powis said: ‘Since Rob and Ryan came in it’s gone through the roof for us’Credit: .
    Ex-steel worker Alan Hughes, 61, said of the new owners: ‘I think they genuinely love the club and the city’Credit: .
    Kit sponsor Ifor Williams Trailers, based nearby, was joined by multinational heavyweights TikTok and Expedia as backers.
    Fans from as far away as New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the US have flocked to the city, giving a boost to local commerce and business.
    In December Ryan and Rob met the King and Queen at the Racecourse Ground after visiting Wrexham to celebrate it gaining city status.
    At her constituency office, local MP Sarah Atherton told me: “Wrexham is on the up and football has been a catalyst. The global reach of Disney has helped. It’s fantastic, there’s a real buzz around the town.”
    THEIR HONOURS

    1977/78: Third Division champions
    1976: European Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-finalists
    1974, 1978, 1997: FA Cup quarter-finalists
    1961, 1978: League Cup quarter-finalists
    2005: Football League Trophy
    2013: FA Trophy
    Welsh Cup: Won 23 times
    Welsh Premier Cup: Won 5 times

    A giant industrial estate on the edge of Wrexham — soon to be Europe’s biggest — announced a further 56-acre development last month, citing the “feelgood factor” engendered by the football club.
    Tim Knowles, managing director of FI Real Estate Management, which has invested more than £136million at the site, said of the Hollywood connection: “It’s supercharged Wrexham.
    “It’s so exciting. Wrexham is a great place and we know we can attract major tenants which will create more jobs.”
    At the Chevron Clothing shop in the High Street, manager Jamie Powis said: “Since Rob and Ryan came in it’s gone through the roof for us.
    “Our themed bucket hats have completely sold out and we’ve been selling T-shirts to America.”
    ‘Down-to-earth guys’
    Jamie, 49, who sells hoodies emblazoned with Ryan’s face for £45, added: “We had a couple over from Texas last week to see the game but it was sold out.
    Local MP Sarah Atherton revealed: ‘Wrexham is on the up and football has been a catalyst. The global reach of Disney has helped’Credit: .
    Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought the club in 2021 for the transformationCredit: PA
    “They ended up watching it in a pub by the ground instead.”
    At the Cross Foxes pub nearby, landlady Joanne Mee said Ryan has popped in for a game of darts.
    She told me: “We just let him get on with it. He was playing darts with a friend.
    “Since Rob and Ryan took over we’ve had a massive improvement in sales and foot traffic. I think the documentary has boosted tourism.
    “We get lots of Americans coming in, drinking shots and pints.
    “The atmosphere on match day is fantastic.”
    Just up the road, Ahmet Karakaya and Zico Yunus run the Central Kebab And Pizza House, and say match days are “crazy”.
    Ahmet, originally from Turkey, said: “Before the football and after the football the fans love a kebab.
    “It’s the busiest I’ve known in my five years working here. Wrexham is booming.”
    Locals say the Hollywood pair are approachable and genuine, giving cash to a number of good causes.
    In August 2021 they donated £20,000 for four-year-old Aria Hodgkiss to have treatment for a rare brain cancer.
    Last month Ryan gave £1,600 to local indoor football team FC United of Wrexham’s under-12 boys’ side to pay for new kit.
    Mark and Vaughan Roberts, managing directors of brewery Wrexham Lager, say sales of their beer have risen “exponentially”, spurred on by the city’s Hollywood connection.
    With a picture of their great-grandfather, Wrexham and Wales footballer Jack Jones staring down from their city-centre office wall, Mark, 62, says that the celebrity pair have “brought a new lease of life to the city”.
    He adds: “We get tourists from all over because of the documentary series. The furthest was from New Zealand.
    “They take beer home in their suitcases and some of our branded merchandise.”
    Wrexham Lager’s Pride Of The Celts was first brewed in 1882, making it Britain’s oldest.
    It was served on the Titanic — prompting Mark’s joke, “It went down well”. The firm now sponsors a stand at the Racecourse Ground.
    Actor Rob has visited the brewery and Mark’s brother Vaughan, 59, said: “The club was kept alive by the fans and attendance was down to around 4,000 diehards.
    “What Ryan and Rob have done for the city is amazing but they’re just normal, down-to-earth guys. I’ve never heard a bad word said about them.”
    The celebrity pair have clearly won over the city but they have found escaping the National League — England’s fifth tier — tough.
    There’s just one automatic promotion place and last season Wrexham lost to Grimsby in a play-off semi-final.
    Tomorrow evening the Dragons, who beat Coventry in the previous round of the FA Cup, head to Bramall Lane for their replay against Sheffield United.
    In the queue for tickets, the hum of mechanical diggers can be heard as work continues for a new 5,500-capacity Kop stand.
    It’s heady days for the fans. But after so much heartache in previous years, are they worried the Hollywood duo will quit if ratings slump?
    Ex-steel worker Alan Hughes, 61, said: “If they left we would be on a sound footing but I don’t think they will. I think they genuinely love the club and the city.”
    Rob has said that he and Ryan are “in this for the rest of our lives”, while Ryan said recently: “It has been the greatest experience of my entire life.
    “I love it because it’s a project that’s going to be multi-decades. The part I find most gratifying is the support from the community outside the club.”
    Also queuing for his cup ticket, technician John Michael, 49, said: “The club has been totally reborn.
    “Ryan and Rob have brought jobs to the town and got the whole place buzzing.
    Read More on The Sun
    “Kids are now proudly walking around the city in their Wrexham strips, even if their parents support Liverpool or Manchester United.
    “Ryan and Rob have really changed people’s lives. How could you walk away from that?”
    WHY DID ACTORS BUY IT?
    WREXHAM fans can thank Netflix – not Disney – for their Hollywood takeover.
    Rob, 45, got the idea to buy a team while watching the platform’s documentary Sunderland ’Til I Die.
    He needed a wealthy entrepreneur to join him and Deadpool actor Ryan said yes even though the two men had never met.
    They were just text friends before becoming business partners. The pair made a list of clubs they might be able to afford and in November 2020 chose Wrexham because of its 158-year history.
    Ryan, 46, said “the thing that really hooked me” was “getting involved in the community around that club and growing that”.
    Another key factor was British actor Humphrey Ker, 40, who got Rob into football while working with him on It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.
    He is now executive director at Wrexham, helping to oversee the day-to-day running of the club. More

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    KSI gives tour of his stunning three-storey £10m ‘dream house’ in London in YouTuber’s tell-all Amazon Prime documentary

    KSI gave fans a tour of his stunning three-storey “dream house” worth £10MILLION in his new Amazon Prime documentary. The tell-all doc followed the life and career of YouTube, music and crossover boxing star KSI, spanning over the course of a year.
    KSI gave fans a tour of his stunning three-storey ‘dream house’Credit: Prime Video
    KSI’s three-storey pad is worth over £10mCredit: Prime Video
    KSI revealed his home in his Amazon Prime docCredit: Prime Video
    In December 2021, the celebrity superstar moved out of a flat he shared with a friend and bought his first home in the capital.
    And no expense was spared as he splashed the cash for his perfect pad.
    Giving fans a look, he said: “You see, different. Different, now I’m living. Now I’m KSI.
    “Welcome to my humble abode, man. Cost me over ten mill. Obviously, the bank is hurting a little bit.”
    READ MORE IN boxing
    KSI – real name Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji – showed off his bedroom – or as he likes to call it “the palace”.
    And there is plenty of space for friends and family to stay, with a host of spare bedrooms and bathrooms.
    Taking us into the third floor, KSI did not even notice on bathroom was fitted with a shower also.
    He said: “Another bathroom, just because. Oh, this one also has a shower, I didn’t even realise! I never checked that side of the door.”
    Most read in Boxing
    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
    KSI, who has had six boxing matches all while releasing an album that reached No1, only viewed his house once before purchasing.
    He said: “I’ve seen it once, that’s it. Yeah, I’ve only seen it once. I’ve seen videos, so it reminded me and I was like, ‘Oh wow, this is sick.’
    “But I’ve only been there once and that was all I needed. I saw it once and I was like, yeah, this is it. This is the one.”
    KSI added: “This is my dream house, man. In London, dream house in London.”
    Later on, KSI’s dad Jide visits his son’s new place and was left stunned.
    He said: “Boy, this is a big house! I’m entering a £10million house!”
    KSI revealed his “YouTube room” – used to film his famous content.
    The release of the doc proved a success overnight, becoming No1 in the world.
    The celebrity superstar moved out of a flat he shared with a friend
    KSI only viewed his house once before purchasing
    KSI called his room ‘the palace’ More

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    Cruz Beckham wears quirky shades at Paris Fashion Week with dad David

    CRUZ Beckham won’t let his ex-England captain dad leave him in the shades.The budding singer, 17, sported a pair of quirky goggle like shades as he joined dad David Beckham, 47, at Paris Fashion Week.
    David Beckham was joined by youngest son Cruz at Paris Fashion WeekCredit: Getty
    The father and son duo were in the French capital to attended the Dior Men’s Winter 2023-2024 collection show.
    Cruz is hoping to launch his music career in the coming months after landing the cover of arty fashion bible i-D last February.
    Also at the VIP-packed bash was British actor Robert Pattinson, 36, and Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie, 44.
    Cruz’s brother Romeo is following in his dad’s footsteps as a footballer.
    READ MORE DAVID BECKHAM
    He recently signed on loan for Brentford B from Inter Miami, and was cheered on by sister Harper on his debut.
    David Beckham mixed with VIPs Gwendoline Christie and Robert PattinsonCredit: Getty More

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    Inside Shakira’s very petty split from Gerard Pique – from brutal diss track to row over bizarre witch doll

    SHE styled herself as a She Wolf in one of her bigg­est hits — and Shakira’s claws are certainly out as she takes aim at her ex Gerard Pique.Once one of the world’s most glamorous showbiz couples, the singer and the Spanish football ace are now engaged in an extra­ordinarily bitter split.
    Superstar Shakira and Spanish football ace Gerard Pique are engaged in an extra­ordinarily bitter splitCredit: Getty – Contributor
    Ever since Gerard ditched Shakira for the then 22-year-old Clara Chia Marti this summer, no act of revenge has been considered too pettyCredit: EPA
    Shakira with Gerard after his team won the Spanish cup in 2015Credit: Getty
    Ever since Gerard ditched Shakira for the then 22-year-old Clara Chia Marti this summer, no act of revenge has been considered too petty — with a brutal diss track, savage jibes and even a row over a bizarre witch doll playing out in public.
    Last week, 45-year-old Shakira dropped a new track which takes a swipe at love rival Clara’s age with the lyrics: “I’m worth two 22s. You traded a Ferrari for a Twingo, you traded a Rolex for a Casio.”
    Gerard, 35, responded by turning up to work in an £8,000 Renault Twingo this weekend and boasting his new seven-a-side project the King’s League had landed a sponsorship deal with Casio — adding that the cheaper watch would “last a lifetime”.
    In another twist Shakira put a terrifying life-size witch doll on her balcony, facing her mother-in-law’s house in the same street.
    READ MORE ON GERARD PIQUE
    Neighbours reported she also blasted out the new song — BZRP Music Sessions #53 — on repeat so Gerard’s mum, Montserrat Bernabéu, could hear.
    The singer was devastated when he went public with new love Clara, now 23, just three months after she kicked him out of the family homeCredit: BackGrid
    Shakira was also deeply hurt by Gerard’s frequent visits to his parents’ home with Clara, which is in full view of her ownCredit: EPA
    ‘You left me because of your narcissism’
    The vitriolic break-up comes after a 12-year romance which began on the set of the video for Shakira’s 2010 World Cup anthem, Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).
    The first of the couple’s two sons, Milan, nine, was born in 2012, prompting Shakira to move from the US to Barcelona. Sasha, seven, arrived two years later.
    Although Shakira and Gerard never married, the Colombian singer insisted he was “the one” in a 2014 interview.
    Most read in Football
    “We already have what’s essential. We have a union, a love for each other, and a baby,” she told Glamour magazine.
    “Those aspects of our relation­ship are already established, and marriage is not going to change them. But if I’m ever going to get married, he’s the one.”
    Ironically, she later revealed she feared becoming a wife would make him lose interest.
    “Marriage scares the sh*t out of me. I don’t want him to see me as the wife. I’d rather him see me as his girlfriend, his lover,” she said. “It’s like a little forbidden fruit. I want to keep him on his toes.”
    In 2021, the couple appeared to stand together as Shakira faced allega­tions she had dodged £12million in tax owed to the Spanish authorities — a claim she has dismissed as “false” although she has now paid the money in full.
    Shakira says Gerard has swapped ‘a Rolex’…Credit: Rolex
    …for a Casio instead and his Ferrari for a Twingo
    Pique turns up at work in a Twingo and says he’s signed a deal with CasioCredit: Twitter @KingsLeague
    But rumours the former Barcelona star was having an affair emerged in June 2022, and days later, the couple shocked fans with a joint statement announcing their split.
    They added: “For the well-being of our children, who are our highest priority, we ask that you respect our privacy. Thank you for your understanding.”
    Spanish outlet El Periodico reported that they had been living separately for a few weeks, after Shakira kicked Gerard out of the family home.
    Three months later, she was devastated when he went public with new love Clara, now 23. She was also deeply hurt by Gerard’s frequent visits to his parents’ home with Clara, which is in full view of her own.
    And she wasn’t going to keep quiet about it. In September, she broke her silence with an emo­tional interview in Elle magazine, saying her situation was “probab­ly the darkest hour of my life”.
    She revealed her ex had left her while her 91-year-old dad fought for his life in hospital after a bad fall.
    She continued: “For [women] like me who believe in values like family, who had the big dream of having a family for ever, to see that dream broken or shredded into pieces is probably one of the most painful things you can ever go through.”
    Shakira also claimed she had sacrificed her own music career by moving to Barcelona saying: “I put my career in second gear and I came to Spain, to support him so he could play football and win titles. And it was a sacrifice of love.”
    Her heartbreak hit, Monotonia, released in October, bewailed the monotony that led to the bitter break-up and contained the dig: “Suddenly you were no longer the same.
    “You left me because of your narcissism. You forgot what we once were.” The video shows the singer being shot in the chest, then her heart pulled out and stamped on.
    As their life unravelled, claims that Gerard had been dating his new love long before the split have fuelled the bitter feud, with some unconfirmed reports suggesting they met at the Davis Cup in 2019.
    The scandal has fuelled constant headlines in Spain — and seemingly, more heartbreak for Shakira.
    ‘A lot of gyms. But work your brain too’
    In a New Year message to her 80million Instagram fans, she wrote that she knew how it felt when “wounds are still open”.
    She added: “Even if someone’s betrayed us, we must continue to trust others. When faced with contempt, continue to know your worth. Because there are more good people than indecent ones.”
    But the sniping and revel­ations have continued to escalate, leading to a brutal war of words.
    This month, Shakira was said to be “devastated” over new footage of a Zoom interview from August 2021, which seemed to show Clara at the family home in Spain.
    It was ten months before she and Gerard announced their separation. The video shows a woman resembling Clara stepping into the frame as Gerard spoke to US video live-streaming service Twitch, while Shakira was reportedly abroad with the boys.
    The bitter star’s new diss track, which has had more than 110million views on YouTube, swipes at Gerard, Clara and her mother-in-law.
    In an apparent dig at the former Manchester United and Barcelona defender, Shakira sings: “A lot of gyms. But work your brain a little bit too.”
    Shakira put a witch effigy on her balcony facing mum-in-law’s home and blasts out her new revenge trackCredit: Splash
    She adds: “No hard feelings baby, I wish you the best with my supposed replacement.”
    Referring to her tax fraud case and her proximity to Gerard’s family home, she sings: “You left me my mother-in-law as my neighbour, press at my door and in debt with the treasury.”
    She also uses a play on words against her rival, adding: “She has the name of a good person, It’s clearly not what it sounds like”. The Spanish word for “clearly” — “claramente” — which sounds similar to Clara Marti’s name, is emphasised.
    Defending her song on Twitter, amid accusations of misogyny against Clara, Shakira wrote: “This is for all the women who taught me that when life throws bitter lemons at you, all you can do is make lemonade.”
    Fans took it as a reference to Beyonce’s album Lemonade, about the infidelity of husband Jay-Z. The feud reached a new level this weekend amid reports Shakira has installed a witch on a broomstick at her home — looking directly at Montserrat Bernabéu’s house.
    Reports say relations between the two turned sour after Gerard’s mum readily welcomed her son’s new girlfriend into the family.
    Journalist Marc Leirado said the mannequin, with long grey hair and a witch’s hat, had spooked Montserrat. “Weeks ago, I got some information that Gerard’s mother was worried about an alleged ritual that was done to her with a black witch,” Marc wrote.
    He says Gerard’s mum had asked a member of Shakira’s staff to remove it and it was temporarily taken down before being put back.
    Read More on The Sun
    Yesterday, Shakira was having the last laugh as the new song made history, by becoming the fastest Spanish track to make 100million views on YouTube.
    Whatever happens next in the savage tit for tat, you can expect the She-Wolf to bite back.
    HER REVENGE LYRICS
    THESE are the most brutal lyrics in Shakira: BZRP Music Sessions #53
    I’m worth two 22sYou traded a Ferrari for a TwingoYou traded a Rolex for a Casio
    – Clara Marti is rumoured to have started dating Pique when she was 22. The lyric also alludes to his goal celebration, which was a two formed with each hand in tribute to his and Shakira’s shared birthday on Feb 2.
    So much talk of being a championAnd when I needed you, you gave me the worst version of youYou left me my mother-in-law as my neighbourPress at my door and in debt with the treasury
    – A reference to her tax fraud case.
    You thought you’d hurt me, but you made me tougherWomen don’t cry anymore, women invoice.She has the name of a good personIt’s clearly not what it sounds like
    – An apparent pun on the Spanish word “Claramente”, meaning clearly, and its ­similarity to Clara Marti.
    Lots of time at the gymBut your brain needs a little work too More

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    England World Cup star looking for love on dating app just three months after splitting from girlfriend of five years

    HE announced his split from his stunning ex last year and declared that football was his “priority” when it comes to dating.But I can reveal that England and Chelsea player Mason Mount has signed up to the A-list dating app Raya in a bid to find love after confirming in October that he was no longer with model Chloe Wealleans-Watts.
    Mason was named Britain’s most eligible man by society mag Tatler last yearCredit: Getty
    Mason — who was named Britain’s most eligible man by society mag Tatler last year for his “chiselled” good looks, “perfect white teeth” and England goals — has described himself as being in the “athletics” industry and linked his profile to Jack Harlow’s song Funny Seeing You Here.
    The England poster boy has also included snaps from a trip to Paris in front of the ­Eiffel Tower and also candid shots showing off his designer wardrobe and impressive trainer collection.
    A source said: “Mason is all about football but is also looking to find the right girl to settle down with. He is looking for a genuine connection and hopes that a few dates in the capital can help him find The One.
    “Mason has taken his time after the break-up but is not going to rush into anything.”
    READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
    The midfielder confirmed his split with Chloe in October after five years together.
    And when asked about his relationship ­status by Tatler last year, he said: “Football is my priority.”
    Queue of women
    Meanwhile model and singer Chloe, who was also a member of London-based girl band 303, is making sure she shows Mason what he is missing and has posted a number of stunning bikini pictures from her recent trip to Jamaica.
    The sportsman, who has a reported net worth of £20million and has 5.4million Instagram followers, joins fellow Chelsea player, defender Ben Chilwell, in signing up to the exclusive dating app.
    Most read in Football
    But while Mason is bound to have women queuing around the block to get a date, it seems they will have to play second fiddle to his one true love — the beautiful game.

    2023 will see amazing festival gigs from the likes of Elton John at Glasto and The Killers at Reading and Leeds.
    But one name I wasn’t expecting to see on a line-up was Gemma Collins but it’s happening – at South ­London’s Mighty Hoopla.
    She is pulling on her wellies for the second day of the event in Brockwell Park on June 4, where she will host a stage and sing.

    Mimi’s late swipe at ex
    MIMI Webb will release her debut album Amelia in March and has already let slip the name of one of her “favourite” tracks.
    The House On Fire singer, posing here on a recent night out, shared that she’s written 12 tunes including one about an ex called Remind You, which she recorded in Justin Bieber’s studio in LA.
    Mimi will release her debut album Amelia in MarchCredit: INSTAGRAM/MIMI WEBB
    On Instagram Live, she said: “I was in a relationship and I remember I played it to this person and it was about them and it was like a, ‘Don’t f* this up’, kind of song – and then it got f*ed up.
    Anyway, at the time it wasn’t, so it was about this whole situation and it is such a great song.
    Then I changed it after because I was like, ‘No, I’m not having it about that, I am going to make it more with the update of what had happened.’ It is even better now.”
    Sam loves The Toon
    SAM Fender has gone back to his roots by debuting a new song to punters at a pub in his home town.
    The Seventeen Going Under singer made a surprise performance on Monday as part of a buskers night at the Low Lights Tavern in North Shields.
    Sam made a surprise performance on Monday as part of a buskers night at the Low Lights Tavern in North ShieldsCredit: The Mega Agency
    Sam sang with his guitar at the same pub he first played before going on to scoop two Brit Awards and an Ivor Novello gong.
    Robert Webster, who hosts the weekly Low Lights Buskers Night, shared a snap of Sam captioned: “One of me very first Buskers from 8/9 years ago, got up!! Sam Fender. Sang a new song (you heard it here first).”
    Sam was first spotted performing at the Tyne and Wear pub, where he also worked at 18 as a barman, by Ben Howard’s manager Owain Davies.
    In 2019 Sam donated his Brit Critics Choice trophy to the pub to be turned into a beer pump before doing the same last year with his Best Alternative/Rock Act gong.
    If his last album is anything to go by, I can’t wait for this new one to hit the airwaves.
    Cash rolling in for Harry
    HARRY Styles has had his most successful year yet, banking a whopping £18.5million over 12 months thanks to the success of his hit records.
    New financial documents have shown how assets across his four companies shot up in value from £39.4million to £57.9million in 2021.
    Harry has banked a whopping £18.5million over 12 months thanks to the success of his hit recordsCredit: Getty
    And he is expected to have made even more in 2022 after scoring both the most successful single and album of the year in the UK.
    As It Was, which spent ten weeks at No1, was the biggest hit, while Harry’s House was the top album, according to Official Charts.
    He has also taken his hugely impressive Love On Tour around the world over the past 12 months and released the films My Policeman and Don’t Worry Darling, all of which is sure to have earned him a fortune.
    This year will see Harry get to work on his fourth studio album between more dates on his long-running tour.
    It will restart with three shows in California later this month, followed by concerts in Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
    This summer will see him return to the UK and Europe for yet more stadium gigs, finishing in Italy in July.
    Following his recent split from film-star-turned-director Olivia Wilde after almost two years, he had a quiet Christmas break back in Cheshire with his family.
    Given the mad year he had in 2022, the star can certainly afford to relax a bit now if he wants to.
    It’s raining Pussycat’s and dolls
    AFTER weeks of bikini photos on Insta it was back to work with a bang for Ashley Roberts yesterday when she returned to the Heart Radio breakfast show.
    Ashley returned to the Heart Radio breakfast show yesterdayCredit: Splash
    But the Pussycat Dolls star didn’t let the early start or bleak weather dampen her spirit, as she got all dressed up in this extravagant outfit to head to the ­studio in London’s Leicester Square.
    Adele’s aching
    ADELE will be wishing she could Set Fire To The Pain after revealing she is battling “really bad sciatica.”
    The superstar said she now has to “waddle” instead of walk because of nerve pain in her back.
    She was on stage at her Las Vegas residency at the weekend when she shot T-shirts into the audience and made the remarks.
    Adele told the crowd: “I’ve just got to get over to the other side of the stage. I have to ­waddle these days as I have really bad sciatica.”
    She had better hope it clears soon though or the rest of her year could be uncomfortable indeed.
    Adele is due to ­perform at Caesars ­Palace nearly every weekend until the end of March. Ouch!

    Raye heads back to top
    RAYE is on course to score her first UK No 1 this Friday with Escapism after it rebounded up the charts post-Christmas.
    It has rocketed up 12 spots to the very top in the mid-week update, having previously peaked at No 1 midweek last month.
    In the past six years Raye has had ten Top 40 hitsCredit: Getty
    In the past six years the South Londoner has had ten Top 40 hits including You Don’t Know Me with Jax Jones and Bed with Joel Corry and David Guetta, both of which reached a peak of No 3.
    Her closest competition is Kill Bill by US R&B singer SZA, which is set to go to No 2.
    Making Haye with Una
    David Haye has had a belting start to the New Year by holidaying with not one but two beautiful women.
    The ex-world champion heavyweight raised eyebrows after sharing this photo of himself in a pool in Morocco with his arms wrapped around his model girlfriend, Sian Osbourne, who he got together with in 2021, as well as Saturdays singer Una Healy.
    David Haye enjoyed New Year with two beautiful girlsCredit: INSTAGRAM/DAVID HAYE,
    The trio jetted off to Marrakech to welcome in 2023, but I can reveal this isn’t the first time they have holidayed together.
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    Una joined them on a trip to Ibiza in October.
    Alongside his insta snap he wrote a cryptic post that said: “If a picture paints a thousand words then this one says exactly what it needs to.”
    Jolie’s desire for Paul
    PAUL Mescal has befriended A-list actress Angelina Jolie after he impressed her with his performance in the West End show A Streetcar Named Desire.
    The Irish actor, who had his breakout role in the 2020 BBC drama Normal People, is currently starring as Stanley in the play in London, which Angelina watched last week.
    But she was so enthralled that she then met him for a coffee at the Almeida Theatre’s cafe the following day, along with her ­daughter Shiloh.
    Fans spotted the surprise meeting and shared snaps on social media.
    Paul has become a hugely in-demand young actor, so I wouldn’t be surprised if actress-turned-filmmaker Angelina soon snaps him up for one of her own movie projects. More

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    Anthony Joshua signs up for CBeebies bedtime story rematch as he reads second book on the channel

    BOXER Anthony Joshua is expected to be such a big hit on CBeebies Bedtime Stories he’s already signed up for a rematch.It was revealed last week the ex-world champ is to read children’s tale The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats.
    Anthony Joshua is expected to be such a big hit on CBeebies Bedtime Stories he’s already signed up to read another oneCredit: PA
    A date has not been fixed for that but I can reveal he will read another story on the kids’ channel tomorrow — Ravi’s Roar, by Tom Percival.
    A TV insider said: “The reaction to AJ featuring on CBeebies Bedtime Stories has been huge. There’s so much excitement.
    “The BBC were desperate to book him in for another sitting, which he gladly agreed to. It’s a privilege to be asked twice and he sees it as a great honour.”
    AJ follows in the footsteps of Harry Styles, Tom Hardy and Chris Hemsworth.
    READ MORE ON CBeebies
    Ravi’s Roar tells the story of an angry young boy who learns to express and understand his feelings. The Snowy Day is about a lad named Peter who puts on his snowsuit and steps out of his house into a wintry world.
    When published in 1962, he was among the first African-American characters to feature in a major children’s book.
    Kate Winslet and Richard E Grant are some of the big names to read a story on CBeebies over Christmas. But neither packs a punch as big as AJ.
    DAVID KID ’COPTER CAPERS
    ONLY Fools And Horses legend David Jason is lining up a cartoon return with his own series.
    Most read in Boxing
    The voice of Eighties favourite Danger Mouse, who is also a qualified helicopter pilot, has come up with a character called Olly the Heli, which is “in development”.
    David Jason is lining up a cartoon return with his own seriesCredit: Getty
    David revealed in his new book, The Twelve Dels of Christmas, his creation is a young helicopter with a friendly face who “misbehaves a bit”, and “something perhaps on the Thomas the Tank Engine lines” .
    David came up with the idea on a visit to an airfield last year, when he was flown in a Gazelle helicopter by astronaut Tim Peake.
    He added: “‘Do you want to land it?’ Tim generously asked as we returned to the airfield. I wasn’t going to push my luck. ‘I think I’ll leave that to you, Tim,’ I said.
    “So, that was how the idea of Olly the Heli got going – a little production journey still in development at the time of writing. We’ll see where it ends up.”
    Prue’s truth
    PRUE LEITH wants “someone I’ve heard of” to replace host Matt Lucas on Bake Off.
    On Virgin Radio, the Channel 4 show’s judge said she didn’t have a clue who co-host Noel Fielding was when he joined the series.
    Prue added: “I’ve never understood Matt and Noel’s jokes.”

    WONDER MOVIE IS TOP PICK
    IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE has been voted the greatest Christmas film of all time by Radio Times.
    The 1946 festive classic starring James Stewart topped a readers’ poll.
    More than one in five voters – 1,650 in total – named the movie their favourite.
    Somewhat criminally, Will Ferrell’s Elf only made No4, with The Muppet Christmas Carol and Home Alone taking the No2 and No3 spots and Love Actually making up the remainder of the top five.
    The black and white movie also topped last year’s poll. But Die Hard, which was No4, slipped out of the top five in 2022 and down to No6.
    Bruce Willis would pull his hair out, if he had any.
    GARY: I’M ON BABY MISSION
    GARY LUCY’s romance with Celebs Go Dating co-star Laura Anderson could be getting even more serious.
    The pair, who met on the E4 dating show, have already discussed having children together.
    Gary Lucy’s romance with Celebs Go Dating co-star Laura Anderson could be getting even more seriousCredit: Instagram
    And dad-of-four Gary says his virility is so strong, Laura could already be expecting.
    He said: “We’re smitten. We’ve talked kids. I mean, I’m quite potent, so she might already be pregnant! I have four kids already but I want more. I’ve always wanted kids. I love kids.”
    The former Hollyoaks actor says a huge incentive for having more children is being able to name one Gary – as the name is dying out.
    He added: “I do want a boy, because I want to have another little Gary – carry it on, as I hear the name’s dying out and I think that’d be a real shame.”
    Spare a thought for us Rodericks.
    LAURA A SUCKER FOR PIGS
    LAURA BINGHAM has left fans of her TV adventurer hubby Ed Stafford gobsmacked – after claiming she breastfed a pig.
    The fellow explorer and mum-of-three took care of a piglet when it was rejected by its mum at their farm.
    The piglet has now been welcomed into the family home. Writing on Instagram she said: “So I can now tick breast feed a piglet off my bucket list!
    “Did you know that indigenous communities do it?! So it’s normal OK?! I force fed some formula down her with a syringe and then when she started waking up a bit more, she didn’t want a bottle so I thought, what the heck?!”
    We’ve all been there, Laura.

    STRICTLY runner-up Helen Skelton said pros on the show didn’t want Hamza Yassin, partnered with Jowita Przystal, to take home the trophy.
    On her Radio 5 show she said they wanted her partner Gorka to triumph on his third time in the final, adding: “You could tell how gutted we were.” More

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    Real Madrid star Thibaut Courtois’ WAG Mishel Gerzig wows in lacy lingerie set

    MODEL Mishel Gerzig is making sure her footballer fiancé Thibaut Courtois is putting his World Cup blues behind him.The Israeli, 25, posed in a lacy lingerie set for a shoot for fashion brand Hunkemoller.
    Model Mishel Gerzig showed off her stunning figure in this lacy lingerieCredit: Hunkemoller
    The stunner, 25, is dating football ace Thibaut Courtois
    Mishel had cheered on Belgian stopper Courtois, 30, and his team-mates in Qatar.
    But after they crashed out in the group stages, the couple have gone on a romantic trip to the Maldives.
    Courtois captioned the post: “Maldives with wifey to be.”
    The Real ace also enjoyed snorkelling.
    READ MORE GLAM
    Fans flooded to Israeli Gerzig’s comments to shower her with compliments.
    The couple have been an item since August last year and became engaged in June.
    The couple have gone on a romantic trip to the Maldives
    Mishel had cheered on Belgian stopper Courtois, 30, and his team-mates in Qatar More

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    Who is Croatia’s ‘hottest fan’ Ivana Knoll at the 2022 World Cup and who has she dated?

    CROATIA have been one of the bright sparks of the 2022 World Cup, defying the odds to reach the semi-finals in Qatar.While the performances on the pitch have been particularly spectacular, a fan in the stands has caught the eye of fans across the globe.
    Ivana Knoll is catching the eye in QatarCredit: PA
    Ivana Knoll is often spotted in the stands supporting her team, dressed in the colours of her country during their run in the tournament.
    And she will be back in front of the cameras when Croatia take on Argentina in the semi-final THIS WEEK.
    But just who is Knoll? We have all the information on the Croatia fan.
    read more world cup
    Who is Ivana Knoll?
    Knoll is a renowned Croatian model and social media influencer.
    The 30-year-old has over 2.4million followers on Instagram and her content has blown up during her time in Qatar.
    Ivana Knoll has gained many fans during her time in QatarCredit: Splash
    As the founder and owner of clothing brand ‘wearknolldoll’, the model has been showing off her outfits at the World Cup.
    This has included an several impressive pieces of clothing which showcase the Croatia flag.
    However, not is all as it seems with Knoll.
    Most read in Football
    Where was Ivana Knoll born and why does she support Croatia?
    Some fans may be surprised to learn that Knoll was not actually born in Croatia, according to several sources.
    She was in fact born in Frankfurt, Germany, where she spent seven years before moving to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
    So why does she support Croatia? Well, she currently resides in Zagreb and is a fan of the national team.
    Ivana Knoll is former Miss Croatia and a modelCredit: Splash
    Who is she dating and who has she dated?
    Knoll keeps her private life behind closed doors, not showcasing a boyfriend on social media.
    Therefore, fans of hers have speculated that she is currently single but this is unknown.
    The same goes for her ex-boyfriends, who will no doubt be kicking themselves now after her rise to fame in Qatar.
    Knoll is sure to have plenty of suitors when she lands back in Croatia as the model hopes to return to Zagreb with the trophy with Croatia. More