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EXCLUSIVE The extraordinary comment Christian Horner's mother made about his 'appalling' relationship with Geri - why some are saying the couple's downfall is 'karma'... and the surprising reaction of the Spice Girls: KATIE HIND

EXCLUSIVE The extraordinary comment Christian Horner's mother made about his 'appalling' relationship with Geri - why some are saying the couple's downfall is 'karma'... and the surprising reaction of the Spice Girls: KATIE HIND

Daily Mail​11-07-2025
Geri Halliwell was smitten when she first met the handsome multi-millionaire Christian Horner back in 2009, thanks to an introduction by the F1 tycoon Bernie Ecclestone.
Sadly for her, however, the Team Red Bull boss was then in a relationship with Beverley Allen - and the couple were desperate to have their first child together.
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Prince William and Kate Middleton's romance bubbled away before most people realised… as royal author reveals secrets about their early relationship
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Prince William and Kate Middleton's romance bubbled away before most people realised… as royal author reveals secrets about their early relationship

'Wow, Kate's hot!', Prince William said to his Eton classmate Fergus Boyd as he watched his future wife strut in a sheer dress and black underwear. In April 2002, Kate Middleton took part in the DONT WALK charity gala at Fairmont St Andrews Hotel when she decided to wear what was originally a skirt - designed by textiles student Charlotte Todd - as a mini-dress.

Why Arsenal are ready to win the league as stakes rise for Arteta
Why Arsenal are ready to win the league as stakes rise for Arteta

BBC News

time13 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Why Arsenal are ready to win the league as stakes rise for Arteta

This season is set to be the most important in Mikel Arteta's five and a half years in charge of have revamped their squad with £190m worth of signings as they look to win the Premier League for the first time in 21 Gunners have finished second for the past three seasons in a row but have now made a big push over the summer to end that have added two important cogs to the spine of their team with the signing of midfielder Martin Zubimendi and striker Viktor BBC Sport looks at why Arsenal - who begin their campaign away to Manchester United on Sunday (kick-off 16:30 BST) - believe they are now ready to win the league this season. How have Arsenal strengthened over the summer? Speaking before the first summer match in Singapore, Arteta said he "sees the right balance" and that "all the ingredients are there" for Arsenal to win this addition of six new players and the potential of another has given fans a lift, but also raised added depth in the squad has given Arteta a real boost and the possibility of lots of variations in his team as he looks to break down stubborn Rice looks to have been permanently released into the more advanced midfield role he excelled in so much last season, thanks to the arrival of Zubimendi from Real has also got rid of the 'tier system' so there is no drop off in the team. Tier One players were expected starters but the new signings have been brought in to make sure that there is not a huge dip in performance if any of the starting XI are has been a big emphasis on increasing the goal threat from every position this summer - using runs in behind and getting shots off - and on how to get the best out of Gykores' key attributes after the striker scored 97 goals in 102 appearances for Portuguese side said if you leave Gyokeres "with the space one against one, he's going to destroy you" earlier this added: "He's going to create a lot of space as well for us and there is the moment that, in any situation, there is a player there that can score a goal." What happens if they don't win? It will not be a shock to Arteta that fans are expecting trophies at Emirates Stadium this crunch matches during the last campaign you could feel the desperation from the crowd to see Arsenal boss has had his fair share of critics, who have questioned his ability to win trophies given he has only won the FA Cup and that was in his first season as were even messages of 'Arteta out' sprayed on walls near the stadium after the signing of Noni Madueke, which shows that some supporters may not have as much patience as most in the happens, Arteta has given himself a squad with more quality and with players at the right age who are ready to make the next step - but pressure could come from within if Arsenal don't get over the line after their summer spending. What have we seen in pre-season? Arsenal know they are expected to compete in multiple competitions this season and the players and staff are not scared of saying they need to win a versions of the phrase 'getting to a new level' were used by Arteta and others throughout pre-season, with signs mentioning similar at the team's kit launch on a rooftop in does not like the word friendlies and sees the games they have played before the start of the Premier League season as "tests".The intensity and sharpness was noted by opponents and the evolution of the Arsenal side could be seen from the first game against AC started with Ethan Nwaneri in a central role which seems to be the strongest area of Arsenal's squad this season with Rice, Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino also has been signed from Chelsea to play on the wings, a position where Nwaneri broke into the side, but he is a natural midfielder and his pathway into the team seems to be of the key takeaways from Arsenal from their five summer matches is a more direct Gunners scored 17 fewer goals than Liverpool last season and finished 10 points behind the champions in second place. Arsenal have looked to address that with their recruitment and attempts to increase the goal threat from all David Raya is frequently kicking the ball long and goals from Kai Havertz and chances created for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have come when Arsenal have played the ball into space behind the opposition arrival of new set-piece coach Nicolas Jover is expected to ensure the Gunners are again a huge threat in this area.A new faster-paced attacking style has been evident through summer, especially when Odegaard, Zubimendi and Rice started Myles Lewis-Skelly impressed by drifting into midfield from left-back during his breakthrough season, there has been more emphasis on him fulfilling traditional full-back duties in this hopes the changes will benefit Gyokeres and his imposing physical style along with his ability to burst through centre-backs. What do Arsenal need to do differently to win? 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The 'peak' squad make up Zubimendi and Gyokeres - aged 26 and 27 respectively - are at or about to hit their peak, and have been brought into the team to win things the majority of the Arsenal team - and the squad in general - are either at or approaching what we'd consider the peak age of a player's of the '1st XI' last season are aged between 23 and 27, with only Raya who is still at the club older than connections of Zubimendi and Merino, former team-mates at Real Sociedad, alongside the experience of Odegaard, is another example of what Arsenal are trying to coaches have been impressed with the character of their signings as they looked to bring in leaders who are ready to deal with the pressure that will come this do have younger players for the future like Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri (both just 18) while Saka and Califiori are still only 23, but this is a team Arteta believes is ready to win other summer signings Norgaard, 31 and Kepa Arrizabalada, 30, they have increased the wider squad experience too.

Plans for Nottingham's Rainbow Quarter beyond 'wildest dreams'
Plans for Nottingham's Rainbow Quarter beyond 'wildest dreams'

BBC News

time13 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Plans for Nottingham's Rainbow Quarter beyond 'wildest dreams'

"For so many people over the decades, to have had something like a Rainbow Quarter would've been beyond their wildest dreams."Author and historian CJ DeBarra says Broad Street in Hockley, Nottingham, has "always been the absolute queer heart of the community".And now its status looks set to be cemented with a project to establish the city's first official LGBTQ+ friendly area, similar to Manchester's Gay for the Rainbow Quarter - made up of Broad Street, Carlton Street and Heathcote Street - were announced at Notts Pride on 26 July and are still in the early stages, but those behind the project hope it can come to fruition in 2026. Sam Harvey, who co-directs trans advocacy group the Nottingham Pastel Project, is spearheading the initiative."Our organisation is keen on acknowledging Nottingham as a trans sanctuary city which celebrates the rights of LGBT people," he says."Similar cities that have that status have a dedicated area which recognises queer history."If London, Manchester and Brighton can have it, why can't we?" Sam, who has the backing of Nottingham City Council and It's in Nottingham, the city's business improvement district, says the "hard part" has already been done."We already have so much history packed into that area," he adds."What we want to do is make sure people outside the local queer community area are aware of it."CJ, who is behind the Notts Queer History Archive - which preserves and celebrates the experiences of LGBTQ+ people living in the county - LGBTQ+ community were, at one time, "hiding in plain sight", they say, and gravitated towards Hockley."Hockley wasn't built up at that point and this end of town was run down, but people didn't ask questions around here," CJ is now a vibrant area of Nottingham - with bars, restaurants and shops - and is home to a series of rainbow roads, first created in says it is "only right" that the Rainbow Quarter be based in Hockley."We've had several decades where we've gravitated towards the Lace Market and the old train station, but from the 1980s onwards we moved towards Broad Street and we've never left," they add. Walking through Hockley, CJ points out a number of spots linked to the LGBTQ+ first Pride event - called Pink Lace - was held outside the Broadway Cinema in Broad Street in 1997.A stone's throw away is The Health Shop, which opened more than 30 years ago and was somewhere gay men could seek sexual health still operates as an NHS service, giving advice and support around substance use and sexual door is the GAi Project, a gay and bisexual men's HIV prevention initiative launched by actor Sir Ian McKellen in Lord Roberts pub in Broad Street has been a queer-friendly venue since the 1970s and was popular with gay men at the George's Wine Bar was another popular spot, but it has since closed down. Sam says the Nottingham Pastel Project will apply for funding and grants to support the creation of the Rainbow Quarter, which will be made official by changing the city's maps and installing believes the move will benefit the area by bringing more people into Hockley, adding that the key to the project is that there is a mix of venues and businesses in the area."We're up there with the greats in terms of queer-friendly cities and we need to shout about it more," Sam says."'Given what we've seen from both research into similar districts and a significant increase in revenue during Notts Pride, we are confident that we'll see a return on investment for the Rainbow Quarter."Sam has been working with Carl Austin-Behan, LGBTQ+ advisor to the Mayor of Greater Manchester who helped set up the city's Gay says: "Actually having an area designated as a queer quarter is really important because people see it as a destination."It does draw a massive amount of money and economic return."Lucy Robinson, ​​​director of resources at East Midlands Chamber, shares a similar view and says: "It will absolutely help to boost businesses and get more footfall into shops."We do see in Manchester in the Gay Village, the amount of vacant floor space in commercial units is lower than anywhere else in the city."We are likely to see that investment does pay dividends." Independent businesses agree it is a positive move for the CEO of the Broadway Cinema, Lucy Askew, says it will be a "meaningful development for our staff and audiences"."It feels like a lovely pre-destiny about what Nottingham means," she Chambers, director of Zeus Bars Limited, which runs three businesses in Hockley - 31K, Yolk and Skein - says it will be a good move commercially."It's good that it is finally being labelled to give people a safe space to eat drink and shop in Hockley," he says."The community here in Hockley is stronger than it's ever been and adding more like-minded people to the area can only be a good thing."Meanwhile, Amber Hodgkinson, assistant manager at Wild Clothing in Broad Street, thinks the plans are "brilliant"."We've had the rainbow roads for a while and it is such a vibrant area of Nottingham," she says."We have a lot of independents around here so any sort of tourism would be great." An online consultation on the plans states that the Rainbow Quarter will be "more than just a location".It adds: "It would be a symbol of inclusivity, acceptance and progress for the LGBTQ+ community in Nottingham."The Rainbow Quarter would provide a dedicated space where LGBTQ+ individuals could feel safe, supported and celebrated."The Rainbow Quarter is expected to be made official in time for next year's Pride month in June.

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