BREAKING: Strictly Come Dancing confirms rugby player Chris Robshaw as eighth star in 2025 line-up
They join seven other stars who were revealed to be taking on Strictly earlier this week. Last night saw podcaster and TikTok star George Clarke be revealed as part of the stellar line-up, with the influencer telling BBC Radio 1: "Never thought I'd say this… but I'm doing Strictly! Honestly, I've got no idea what I'm doing but I'm excited to get stuck in … and potentially fall over a fair bit."
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Scotsman
28 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Why it is good to see Edinburgh Book Festival embracing the BookTok generation
BookTok has become a mainstay of bookshops across the country - and it is bringing a love of reading to a new generation. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... I spent Friday evening at the Edinburgh Book Festival, something that has become a near annual tradition ever since I went on trips with my school library as a child. No trip to the book festival is complete without a trip to the bookshop tent. This year there is a section for popular BookTok books, something that is becoming a familiar sight in bookshops up and down the country. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad BookTok started off as a subcommunity on TikTok, but more recently it has become shorthand for all social media content dedicated to books and reading. BookTok has brought a love of reading to a new generation. | Unsplash There has been an explosion in people's love for books since the pandemic. There are many reasons for this, but BookTok is one. A poll by The Publisher's Association found that 59 per cent of 16 to 25 year olds found a passion for reading thanks to BookTok. Forbes says #BooKTok has accumulated over 370 billion views. It is not without its critics. There are some who argue this is the end of 'proper' literature, as authors and publishers are sacrificing originality and creativity for the sake of online marketability. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This is true to a certain extent. There is a diminishing level of quality in some of the literature produced to help fuel the never-ending desire of the BookTok community. I have certainly read a fair number of BookTokbooks over the past year (that I have thoroughly enjoyed) that have been badly edited with spelling and grammatical errors. There are others where printing quality has fallen short of the mark because of speed. But this is no reason to deride the readers - this is on the publishing companies who need to remember to think about quality rather than solely on profit. It is also a rather simplistic view to assume all BookTok books are anti-intellectual and not as good as 'real' books. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Let's take The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller as an example (one of my favourite books) - it is a reimagining of The Iliad and one of the most popular BookTok books. The author spent around a decade writing the book, has a masters degree in classics and teaches Latin and Greek, and now hundreds of thousands of people are reading about ancient Greece thanks to social media. Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice has seen a spike in popularity thanks to BookTok, despite being published 200 years ago. Readers can hardly be criticised for indulging in this just because they were inspired by an influencer online. I understand not all BookTok books are like this. Many are romance books that are written like a popular trope checklist, published at rapid speed and even copying cover designs of other popular books to hit a certain audience. Some bookshops wrongly assume these trope-heavy, quick-read romances are all BookTok is, and therefore fill their BookTok section accordingly. But there is so much more to BookTok in reality and it is an unfortunate symptom of the somewhat misogynistic view of the kind of readers on these platforms. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Personally, it is great to see Edinburgh Book Festival embracing BookTok. It is bringing a love of reading to a new generation and that, whether it is a literary classic or a pop romance, should be celebrated.
Daily Mirror
29 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Home and Away star's 'cursed' death at 41 after soap exit
Ben Unwin played Jesse McGregor in Home and Away from 1996 to 2000 and then again from 2002 to 2005, with the role being written specifically for him - he sadly died six years ago Australian soaps have undoubtedly churned out a host of international superstars over the years. Two of the most prominent being Neighbours alumni Kylie Minogue, who portrayed Charlene and is the top-selling Australian recording artist of all time with over 80 million albums sold globally, and Margot Robbie, who played Donna and starred in the blockbuster film Barbie, which has smashed box office records. Other stars who've transitioned from Aussie soapland to greater fame include Home and Away 's Ryan Kwanten (Vinnie), Isla Fisher (Shannon) and Chris Hemsworth (Kim), as well as Neighbours' Jason Donovan (Scott), Guy Pearce (Mike) and Jesse Spencer (Billy). Some actors have continued to thrive in their original soap roles for years, such as Home and Away's Ray Meagher (Alf), who holds the record for the longest-serving actor in an Australian drama series, and Lynne McGranger (Irene), along with Neighbours' Ian Smith (Harold) and Stefan Dennis (Paul). Stefan is now lined up to star in this year's Strictly Come Dancing, alongside names including Geordie Shore's Vicky Pattison and TV presenter George Clarke. In other soap news, a Coronation Street and Mrs Brown's Boys actor has died after a short illness. Regrettably, not all Aussie soap stars have been as fortunate, including actor Ben Unwin, who portrayed bad boy Jesse McGregor in Home and Away from 1996 to 2000 and again from 2002 to 2005. The role was specifically written for Ben, earning him a nomination for Most Popular New Talent at the 1997 Australian TV Logie Awards. After his acting career, he ventured into the music industry, directing videos for bands like Culture Club and Chumbawamba, including their massive hit, Tubthumping. Later, he earned a law degree and became a solicitor in Newcastle, New South Wales. Tragically, six years ago Ben was found dead at the base of a 'cursed' waterfall – he was only 41 years old, reports OK!. Local Aboriginal tribes in Australia believe the secluded 300ft Minon Falls in Whian Whian are "cursed" and harbour "bad spirits", having claimed numerous lives. Upon hearing the heartbreaking news of his death on 14 August, 2019, co-star Ada Nicodemou, who portrays Leah, wrote: "I just woke up to the tragic news of Ben's passing, my heart goes out to his family." Just two years later, another tragedy befell the Home and Away cast when Dieter Brummer, who played the soap's heartthrob Shane Parrish in the early 1990s, was found dead at his parents' Sydney home. The actor had been excited to be starting a new job as an aerial window cleaner, but his life had been disrupted by the onset of Covid-19. sadly passed away in 2019 following a battle with cancer. Home and Away has now graced our TV screens for 37 years, while Neighbours ran for 40 years before being cancelled – final episodes will be on our screens this December. The show had been taken on by Amazon, but it announced it was sadly stopping production.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Primark's 'statement' £16 bag perfect for autumn 'looks designer'
Shoppers on social media love the bag, which is 'easy to wear' and 'big enough for your essentials' Primark is stocking a 'statement' bag that's 'easy to wear' and 'looks designer.' Known for its affordable clothing and accessories, the retailer could have another hit on its hands with the £16 style. The Mixed Metal Studded Tote wowed fashion influencer Miya Kalith during a recent trip to Primark. Posting on TikTok as @miyakalith, she showcased her favourite picks from the retailer's new range, which included the studded tote. The bag comes in a trendy chocolate brown tone, perfect for autumn, and has studs that add a touch of glamour. According to Primark, the style is designed to 'add some sparkle to your everyday.' The product description explains: "In a rich chocolate brown with a soft, suede-like finish, it's covered in a mix of gold-tone and silver-tone studs for a statement look. "The slouchy shape makes it easy to wear, while the wide single strap sits comfortably on your shoulder. Big enough for your essentials (and then some), it's a go-to for days when you want style and practicality in one." Praising the bags to her 10,000 followers, @miyakalith wrote: "Primark bags are giving designers." Her caption added: "All are under £20. Sorry but these are giving high vibes." The Mixed Metal Studded Tote also proved popular when it was showcased in another TikTok video by Olivia Brittany Grace, who posts online as @oliviabrittany. In her video, Olivia showcased the £16 bag alongside its smaller lookalike, an £11 Studded Rectangular Shoulder Bag. The product description for the shoulder bag says: "Carry a touch of attitude with this chocolate brown rectangular shoulder bag crafted from soft faux suede. Its long, narrow shape is perfect for slipping under your arm or wearing with the adjustable shoulder strap. "The front is decorated with a mix of gold and silver-toned studs in various sizes, adding texture and interest. A secure zip top closure keeps your essentials safe, while gold-toned hardware adds a polished finish. Stylish yet practical, this bag is ready to upgrade your everyday look with a subtle hint of sparkle." As seen in the video, the bags are studded on one side and plain on the other - a design feature that has impressed shoppers, who think it adds versatility. Reacting to the TikTok video, a fan praised: "1 bag, 2 styles! Bargain." Although it wasn't showcased in either video, there's also a £14 Studded Bowler Bag with the same eye-catching design. The product description for the bowler bag says: "Add a statement to your outfit with this brown bowler bag crafted from soft faux suede. Covered in mixed metal studs in various sizes, it brings a bold yet stylish touch. "The two rounded top handles make it easy to carry, while the zip-top closure keeps your belongings secure. Gold-toned hardware, including rings for an optional shoulder strap, adds a polished finish. Spacious and structured, this bag is perfect for everyday use when you want a little extra sparkle."
