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Terrifying moment seagull strikes £73million Eurofighter shattering its cockpit during airshow

Terrifying moment seagull strikes £73million Eurofighter shattering its cockpit during airshow

Daily Mail​22-07-2025
Explosive pictures show the moment a bird shattered the cockpit of a £73million warplane.
Aviation photographer Javier Alonso de Medina Salguero captured the scene as a seagull hit a Eurofighter at a Spanish display in June.
The images showed the bird soaring just in front of the display plane. A second photo showed a mist of red chunks and feathers sliding off the Eurofighter.
Amazingly, Javier didn't notice what he had captured until checking out his pictures later.
He explains: 'This happened at San Javier Air Base, on the beach of Santiago de la Ribera, Murcia on June 15.
'I was at the base in the San Javier area, at the site where they took us photographers. We were watching the Eurofighter display when we saw it leave without finishing the display.
'They reported over the radio that it had hit a seagull and broken the cockpit. Just then, I looked at the photos I had and saw the whole sequence.
'When I looked at the photos, I was amazed to see the front of the cockpit broken.
'Luckily, the pilot landed and was unharmed.'
Javier used a Nikon D7500 with a Nikon 200-500mm telephoto lens.
The incident happened at the Aire25 international air festival held at San Javier Air Base.
Last year, a fighter plane was seen on tape apparently close to losing control and flying straight towards a crowd at a Turkish airshow.
The aircraft can be seen rocking in the air before the pilot suddenly pulls the nose up just before it reaches the spectators.
The terrifying incident happened at the TEKNOFEST airshow in Adana, southern Turkey on October 3 last year, local media has reported.
It is understood the near-miss occurred at the end of a demonstration flight by the SoloTurk, Turkey's aircraft acrobatics team and involved a F-16 fighter jet.
According to reports, an investigation was launched into the incident with experts examining the aircraft's video recordings and other flight information.
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Lauren Sanchez shows off VERY extravagant £227k watch she was gifted as a wedding present by her billionaire husband Jeff Bezos as they step out in Ibiza
Lauren Sanchez shows off VERY extravagant £227k watch she was gifted as a wedding present by her billionaire husband Jeff Bezos as they step out in Ibiza

Daily Mail​

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mail​

Lauren Sanchez shows off VERY extravagant £227k watch she was gifted as a wedding present by her billionaire husband Jeff Bezos as they step out in Ibiza

showed off a very extravagant £227,711 designer watch she was gifted as a wedding present as she stepped out in Ibiza with her new husband Jeff Bezos on Thursday. The former journalist The former journalist, 55, and the Amazon billionaire, 61, who married in a lavish wedding in June, were seen heading back to their $485 million superyacht just off the party island. And on her wrist she wore a Richard Mille RM07 'Intergalactic Dark Night' watch which retails at the astonishing price. With links to her recent Blue Origin 's NS-31 mission which was an all-female spaceflight she completed in April, she proudly showed off the watch on her wrist. As she headed back to the yacht after lunch on the island she looked typically stylish in a strapless white dress, huge sunhat, dark shades and sliders. She held hands with her husband Jeff who wore a casual navy ensemble and comfortable black trainers. Their outing comes after Lauren was determined not to let the terrain dictate her style choices as she appeared to struggle to keep her footing on the rocky shore of Ibiza on Sunday night. Despite the uneven terrain, Lauren didn't forgo her stiletto heels as she clung to Jeff's hand. Joined by Leonardo DiCaprio and his girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti, Lauren oozed style in a cream summer mini dress which she paired with the nude heels. She accessorised the look with a matching cream bag and dark shades as she made it onto land. Meanwhile her husband kept it simple in a white polo shirt, grey trousers and white trainers, slightly more apt for the rocky shore. Yet DiCaprio's girlfriend also joined Lauren in her choice of heels as she was seen teetering in a black pair of kitten heels. The Italian model, 27, kept it simple in a black vest top and low waisted black skirt with mesh detailing. Pairing the look with a small black bag, she held hands with the Hollywood actor, 50, also wore all black. Leonardo appeared to wish to keep a low profile as he concealed his face with a black face mask and baseball cap. The foursome were also joined by the former editor-in-chief at British Vogue, Edward Enninful. As she headed back to the yacht after lunch on the island she looked typically stylish in a strapless white dress, huge sunhat, dark shades and sliders The watch and its astonishing price is pictured The gang made their way for their Italian-influenced, contemporary Mediterranean stylish dinner at Amalur Ibiza. Jeff and Lauren were previously seen welcoming Leo and Vittoria aboard their superyacht, Koru, earlier in the day on Sunday. The pair know their way around the ship, having previously joined the couple and bevy of stars for a trip last summer in Sardinia. The double date comes just weeks after the Amazon founder and presenter tied the knot in Venice - with the ceremony attracting criticism for its extravagance. Leonardo and Vittoria were among the VIP guests in attendance, which also included Sydney Sweeney, Oprah Winfrey and Orlando Bloom. Yet Leonardo faced a backlash, with the Hollywood star - who is known for his environmental advocacy - branded a 'hypocrite' for flying to Venice for the ceremony. The Titanic star has previously been open about his activism and a few months earlier in March, he slammed the Albanese government for giving the green light to a mine expansion in Western Australia. Yet social media users called out DiCaprio for flying to the wedding and slammed him for supporting Jeff amid Amazon's substantial carbon footprint. According to The Guardian, over 90 jets flew into the airport in the romantic city as celebrities attended the nuptials. It is not known if Leonardo took a private jet to the ceremony. Jeff and Lauren's wedding reportedly cost some $40million - which also faced protests in the city of Venice.

He'll earn a bob or two! The staggering amount 'Ibiza Final Boss' is set to earn after viral video - as he signs up to top celeb talent agent who made Joey Essex a millionaire
He'll earn a bob or two! The staggering amount 'Ibiza Final Boss' is set to earn after viral video - as he signs up to top celeb talent agent who made Joey Essex a millionaire

Daily Mail​

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mail​

He'll earn a bob or two! The staggering amount 'Ibiza Final Boss' is set to earn after viral video - as he signs up to top celeb talent agent who made Joey Essex a millionaire

Spanish holiday sensation Jack Kay - better known as the Ibiza Final Boss - could stand to make a huge amount of money over the next year and beyond after signing with a top talent agent. Kay, from Newcastle, has become a viral phenomenon with his sharp bowl haircut, neatly manicured beard, sunglasses, chain and blinding grin - catching the attention of promoters, talent agents and brands looking for the next big thing. The 26-year-old Scouser has just flown back to the Iberian party island after spending a day back home following his unexpectedly exceptional holiday - where he is set to make a series of appearances at 'big parties'. Like other overnight viral stars such as 'Hawk Tuah girl' Hailey Welch and ' Salt Bae ' Nusret Gokce, Kay is likely to enjoy a boom in freebies, appearances and sponsorship opportunities. Brand and culture expert Nick Ede told the Daily Mail today that the 'Final Boss' of Spanish party islands stands to earn six figures in the next 12 months alone - between nightclub appearances at home and abroad and potential brand deals. And he added that Kay's masterstroke move of signing with top talent agent Dave Read would steer him well. Read and his talent agency Neon Management are credited with making reality star Joey Essex a millionaire. Mr Ede said: 'It's amazing how he has captured the zeitgeist - he's the most popular thing since the Jet2 holiday adverts, and he can maximise on this for quite a while. 'He's a living caricature. People don't really look like that but he is exactly what you think people who go to Ibiza should look like and be like. It's actually crazy.' Kay, who shared a photo of his 'fresh trim' yesterday on Instagram, is likely to enjoy the attention of brands, nightclubs and celebrities all keen to be associated with him for some time to come, Mr Ede said. He continued: 'He's off doing nightclub appearances in Ibiza and I can see him doing others around Europe, being sent around by cheap holiday companies to promote their resorts. 'Then, 100 per cent, he'll do nightclub appearances in the UK and that's really lucrative. You can do four or five of them a night. 'That's going to be regular and they pay five to ten grand per appearance. Do four of them a night on a Friday and a Saturday and you can make a lot money. 'That's how people on TOWIE made their money. It wasn't through the show: it was through their nightclub appearances.' What does the 'Final Boss' meme mean? Derived from video games, a 'final boss' has come to mean the best or ultimate example of something. It typically refers to the most difficult opponent at the end of a game, who is normally stronger than, and unique from, other enemies players face. In the case of Jack Kay - with his gleaming teeth, heavy duty jewellery, perfectly manicured beard and unique haircut - it means, jokingly, that he has come to represent the absolute crux of a typical Ibiza partygoer. Kay may well get the opportunity to test out his earning power after landing in Ibiza on Thursday with half a dozen friends in tow. Photographs appearing on social media show the group posing in an airport terminal and again in front of what appears to be a private jet, lending a hint at the luxury treats that could lie ahead for Kay. And in solidarity with the 26-year-old, the group have even had their hair styled with the same sharp bowl cuts that have launched Kay towards cult celebrity status. In the wake of his newfound fame - and possibly with some guidance from his new management - Kay has launched social media profiles on TikTok and Instagram. With that, Mr Ede added, comes the possibility of brand partnerships. A number of big UK brands have already shared memes of Kay's distinctive noggin - dressing him as a Greggs gingerbread man and a Henry Hoover sold at Currys. And even as summer draws to a close and autumn sets in, the Ibiza Final Boss' presence is unlikely to go away - because he will be the Halloween costume of choice for many. Could an Ibiza Final Boss wig be around the corner? 'It's an easy costume and everyone will love it,' Mr Ede added. 'If he trademarks his look and looks into merchandise, he could make a lot of money that way.' Wholesalers have told the Mail they're already seeing spikes in demand for chunky gold chains, black vest tops, crossbody bags and oversized sunglasses - not to mention wigs in the style of Kay's distinctive barnet. Charlotte Broadbent, of wholesalers Faire, said: 'While it's not unusual for cultural moments to influence what independent retailers are looking for, this one definitely caught us by surprise. 'Interestingly, it's our novelty and fancy dress retailers driving the demand, not our usual fashion boutiques. That suggests we could be looking at this year's breakout Halloween costume.' Ms Broadbent added that her team had pulled together a dedicated page of Ibiza Final Boss items to help costume shops order items quickly, adding: 'All their customers need is the confidence and, ideally, the haircut.' Mr Ede says Kay can also expect TV appearances, possibly on late-night shows liked by an Ibiza-going audience such as Eight Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Channel 4's perennial Big Fat Quiz of the Year. If he plays his cards right - and with talent powerhouse Dave Read behind him - Kay will make £250,000 in the next year, 'minimum'. But he will have to keep his iconic look going all year round. 'He's so instantly recognisable - that look is going to carry the fun on. If he changes his look that fun goes. But that's his look - and he embraces it,' Mr Ede concluded. 'That's why the Ocean Beach crowd are loving it, Wayne Lineker's getting in touch... we're going to see him for a few years and in doing so he's going to make six figures. 'It might be low six figures, but easily £250,000 a year. With Dave Read, he will do extremely well. '(Dave) is a master at this. He made Joey Essex a millionaire. He knows exactly what he's doing.' On the Beach has unveiled new adverts featuring the haircut disguised as a parasol on an idyllic beach - cashing in on the meme Dave Read, Kay's new manager, has revealed that the living meme is 'going on tour' to unspecified destinations Internet funny people have fed photographs of Kay into every form of AI image generator under the sun, depicting him as a character in The Simpsons and South Park Scottish nightclub events firm Lionheart Entertainment says it has signed Kay up for a number of events in the UK Kay was spotted in clubs across Ibiza, with fresh clips appearing on social media in recent days. Not that he was hard to spot, with his gleaming white grin, perfectly manicured beard and cartoonish haircut - not to mention his trademark sunglasses and gold chain. But eagle-eyed fans believe they have spotted a flaw in the impossibly razor-sharp barnet - but it's not visible when taking in his awe-inspiring fringe from the front. A video shared on TikTok showed the raver wearing a t-shirt from designer brand Casablanca in the Destino Five Ibiza hotel and club venue as he showed off his moves in a crowd of ravers. But as he turned his head away from the camera, some fans appeared to notice that the 26-year-old had a small thinning patch in the back of his head. One TikTok user noted: 'Wait is it balding at the back - but a comb over at the front?' 'Best comb over 2025,' added another. '100 per cent combing that forward to cover the receeding hair line,' noted a user on Instagram, where the video was shared. Mr Kay's cut has been widely compared to, among other things, impressionist Leigh Francis' caricature of Craig David on Channel 4 shock comedy show Bo' Selecta!, a Henry Hoover and a coconut. Others noted the cut's similarity to that of the 'tonsure' haircut worn by monks - best immortalised by Friar Tuck, companion to Robin Hood - and the bowl haircut associated with medieval times. 'Monastery of Sound,' joked one TikTok user, alluding to London's legendary Ministry of Sound nightclub. 'Short back and sides and Battle of Hastings please, boss,' joked another. Brands have rushed to cash in on the meme on social media: Currys shared an image depicting him as a Henry Hoover; Greggs turned him into a gingerbread man. Elsewhere, package holiday firm On The Beach is depicting his mop-top as a parasol in a series of new adverts it is rolling out on advertising billboards. In a pun-laden press release, the firm said its 'trimmed down prices' were a 'cut above the rest'. The Mail understands Mr Kay originally travelled with the firm on what has become the most life-changing of holidays. equally eager to be seen, has written on his Instagram: 'Hey legend, we wanna get you back to Ibiza for an extended stay.' Ryan Pearson, Regional Manager, UK at said: 'Ibiza has always been about unforgettable characters and moments, and the Final Boss embodies the spirit of the island perfectly – unapologetic, full of energy and unique! We're pleased to extend his stay so more people can enjoy his eclectic moves – just drop us a DM Jack! 'And for anyone inspired to celebrate Ibiza themselves, we have options to suit every party‑goer – from flights and accommodation.' But any disparaging comments about Mr Kay's barnet are unlikely to dent his armour following his rise to viral fame - with promotional opportunities and bookings quickly being snapped up. A source told the Sun of his signing with Neon Management, home of reality stars including Joey Essex: 'Signing up with the agency was a no-brainer given their past success and they've been inundated with requests for him already. 'It all really blew up in a matter of hours so from TV shows to podcasts - the sky's the limit.' Lionheart Entertainment, a Scottish nightclub events promotions firm, says it has booked him for a number of events in the UK. It said on social media: 'He's tanned, he's ready, he's got an open shirt and a half pint of Madri. The Ibiza Final Boss is bringing Ibiza energy to LionHeart events near you. Watch this space.' The Mail has contacted the firm for further comment. Kay's own social media following has exploded. His TikTok - labelled 'IBIZA FINAL BOSS' - has already picked up nearly 20,000 followers, while a newly created Instagram has 27,000. Imitators pretending to be Kay have also sprung up on X, formerly Twitter, advertising unauthorised cryptocurrency 'meme coins' bearing his image. Such coins are commonly created by scammers who 'rugpull' the coin by selling it as it peaks in value, sending the value plunging and leaving most people who bought into the gag currency with nothing. One such account, which used AI generated images of Kay's face, shared a video appearing to suggest he had tattooed his own face on his leg. It has not appeared on Kay's legitimate social media accounts, and the X account refused to respond to messages from the Mail asking to prove its authenticity. Comments on his social media are laden with praise and offers to keep him coming back to Ibiza again and again. Travel firms have offered him holidays, while Gary Lineker's clubbing-obsessed brother Wayne - who owns club O Beach - has asked him to get in touch. His comments also include messages from DJs, OnlyFans models... and a firm specialising in hair repair. Kay - the son of convicted armed robber John Kay - has just returned from what he had once probably expected to be a routine Ibiza holiday. He describes himself as 'just a normal person from Newcastle' - but has thanked fans for the flurries of messages he has received since going viral. Other details have since come to light about Jack's life back in the UK after a woman has now claimed she is his girlfriend. Alisha Cook, 23, shared a series of videos of the 'Ibiza final boss' captioned 'POV (point of view) ya boyfriends now known as Ibiza final boss'. In the clips, the debt collector from South Hetton, who also makes cash selling clothes on Vinted, is seen cuddled up to 'Jack Kay' with him kissing her on the cheek, while in other clips they are seen clubbing. Hundreds of people have since commented on the video, with one saying: 'Girl least u knew he didn't cheat, there's like every angle of him on TikTok just having a ball.' Another added: 'Have a word with his barber then because I don't know how he leaves the house.' She has since locked down her social media amid the frenzy of memes. Pals back home told the Mail that Kay lives the same back home, adding: 'He walks about town with that haircut and gold chain. He's got the Turkey teeth and he's always on the sun beds. This is what he looks like all the time. He think he's gorgeous.' Kay is already heading back out for parties galore, writing on Instagram yesterday: 'Back to the UK for a day back back in Ibiza tmoz (tomorrow) night some big parties incoming.' It seems nothing will keep the Ibiza Final Boss away from his true home - not while there's summer sunshine to spare. 'Fresh trim Ibiza, here we go!' he posted on Instagram this afternoon - with the trademark barnet ready to go.

Do you REALLY, REALLY wanna body to match Spice Girl Mel C? Well, here are my top tips on how you can get it...
Do you REALLY, REALLY wanna body to match Spice Girl Mel C? Well, here are my top tips on how you can get it...

Daily Mail​

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Do you REALLY, REALLY wanna body to match Spice Girl Mel C? Well, here are my top tips on how you can get it...

Of all the A-listers sunning themselves in the high season of the celebrity getaway, it's been Mel C who's made the biggest splash. She was spotted on a boat off Ibiza this week, laughing and hugging her 6ft Australian model boyfriend Chris Dingwall. But it was her extraordinary physique, not her love life, that captured the most attention. Living up to her Sporty Spice moniker, the 51-year-old mother-of-one had not an inch of excess fat on her. Every muscle was defined from her biceps to her quads. She even boasted rarely seen external oblique muscles, also known as side abs (as they're on either side of your abdominals). I've been a trainer for 13 years and follow a rigorous training regimen, but my body, fit as it is, doesn't come close to being as built as Mel C's. It's an extreme version of the strong, lean look so many of my clients – mostly 33-55 year old women – yearn for. Thankfully, gone are the days when women just wanted to lose weight. Now, partly due to the rise in weight-loss jabs, such as Mounjaro and Wegovy, the goal is often to build muscle – in bums, arms, legs and abs. Semaglutide medications help you drop fat fast, but it's worth building muscle while on them to ensure that, when the fat does melt away, there are toned muscles underneath waiting to be revealed. That's not to suggest Mel C has been taking weight-loss injections. The reality is there's no shortcut to a body like hers. In the past, Mel has trained with nutritionist and personal trainer James Collins – he created a personalised plan for her in the run up to the Spice Girls reunion back in 2019. Nowadays, she's a gym regular, posting her gruelling workouts to her 1.1 million Instagram followers. It's clear she puts in an enormous amount of effort on a daily basis and follows a strict diet, but if you want to get abs even half as good as Mel C, then these are my top PT tips and tricks ... 1. RUN JUST ONCE A WEEK I tend to give clients five 30-60 minute workouts a week, (three for those who are busier, but I warn them that they can't expect the same results as fast) and usually only one of those will be a steady cardio session. Cardio is great for losing fat, but too much can also lead to muscle loss too. Endurance comes at the expense of muscle gain, so forget taking a two-hour run. I recommend 20 minutes' High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) a couple of times a week. These short, sharp sessions alternate between fast-paced intense exercises to get the heart pumping and short breaks. The clue's in the name. They're intense, but thankfully not long lasting, and the benefits are the same as if you had run miles and miles. 2. DON'T FEAR WEIGHTS The trick to great muscle definition is compound strength training. This means committing to exercises that work the whole body (especially your core) and build muscle more effectively than isolated ab exercises like sit-ups or crunches. You do fewer repetitions than you might in a Pilates class, but with heavier weights. Mel C regularly posts videos of her doing squats with weights and hanging leg raises. She's a fan of push-ups, too. I usually say, once you can hit 12 reps of an exercise with good form, it's time to increase the weight. Keep in mind that you shouldn't wait until it feels easy. If you can do it for 12 reps with good form, even if it's still challenging (which it should be), pick up a heavier weight and try a set of four to six. To get those defined leg muscles, Mel C would probably be lifting at least 40kg, but I wouldn't advise doing anything near this. Start with 5-10kg dumbbells and always lift weights with an expert who can check you have correct posture. One of the best compound exercises for engaging the oblique muscles is the Russian twist: Sit on the ground with your knees bent and feet flat. Hold a dumbbell between your hands. Lean back slightly so your torso is at a 45 degree angle. Engage your core and slowly rotate to either side, keeping the weight out in front of you. 3. PUT YOUR FEET UP The most important thing to remember when getting ripped is not to overdo it. Recovery is essential. Even professional athletes take time out to ease off on their muscles. When you look around a gym, it is easy to spot the weightlifters sitting on their phone looking as though they're doing nothing. I'll let you in on a secret: it's all part of the workout. They are taking dedicated recovery time between sets. Weight training creates tiny microtears in the muscle fibres, and it's during recovery that the body repairs and rebuilds them, making the muscles stronger and more defined. Without proper recovery, you're just breaking down tissue without giving it the chance to rebuild. After training, your body starts repairing the muscles, replenishing energy stores and adapting to the demands you placed on it. This process requires rest, fuel (especially protein) – and time. Between sets of exercises, rest for 60 to 90 seconds for general strength training. If you're lifting heavier weights, with fewer reps and higher intensity, a proper two to three-minute break is better. This gives your muscles time to recover so you can perform the next set properly. Give yourself a two-day break between training specific muscle groups. For example, if you do a legs session on Monday, wait until Wednesday or Thursday to train legs again. In the meantime, you can work other areas like arms, chest, or back, or take a walk or an easy swim. It will improve your circulation and ease stiffness. Sleep and food are probably the most underrated recovery tools. Without enough quality sleep or protein, the recovery process is compromised and all that amazing progress slows to a halt. So don't overdo it! 4. WATCH WHAT YOU EAT You can do all of the above, but your muscles won't be visible if they're hidden under a layer of fat. Although Mel now keeps her dietary cards close to her chest, she's been a fan of the 80:20 diet in the past, where you are 'good' 80 per cent of the time, but allow yourself a treat at the weekend. She also follows several nutritionists on Instagram including Trish Koeslag, a women's nutrition and fitness coach who focusses on clients over 40, as well as Zoe, the popular personalised nutrition programme that gives insights into how your body responds to food. I'm not a fan of any restricted diet. For me there aren't any foods that are a total no go (after all there's nothing so tempting as what you can't have). Too many women my age (I'm 48) have spent their lives following fad diets in a desperate attempt to drop a dress size. But often they're not eating enough – especially when it comes to protein (chicken, eggs, tofu, lentils), without which it's difficult to achieve any visible muscle. The only thing everybody should be keeping to a minimum is processed food such as pizza and ice cream. With that in mind I recommend prioritising natural, unprocessed foods and aiming to include a good serving of protein at every meal. To put a number on it, aim for about 1.2g to 2g of protein per kilo of body weight per day (or your goal weight, if you have lots to lose). So, for a woman who weighs 10 st, or 63 kg, you should be eating around 75-126 grams of protein (one small chicken breast has around 35g of protein). That said, I always advise people not to get too hung up on numbers. Just getting a decent serving of protein at each meal is good enough. If you are on semaglutide and are struggling to eat full meals, high protein snacks can be a total life-saver. Things like cold meats, boiled eggs and greek yoghurt are all great to turn to post-workout. And if the cravings for a sugary snack won't go away, go for it – but time it right. When the high-intensity workout has just finished, that's the time to have a treat. It's when your body is primed to use carbohydrates most efficiently. The body's energy is depleted so sugar is used and not stored as fat. Even better, it's less likely to give you a nasty energy crash when the sugar wears off. Freddie's fans turn their ire on author who revealed star's secret love child Author Lesley-Ann Jones has come under attack from Queen 'loyalists' as she prepares to publish Love, Freddie – a bombshell book based on the diaries of Freddie Mercury given to her by his alleged secret daughter. Jones, filming a documentary about the book for Channel 5 in Switzerland this week, is sticking to her guns ahead of publication on September 5. However, it's understood that Mary Austin, the love of Freddie's life, is planning to deny she knew anything about his daughter in an interview with a Sunday newspaper. And criticism of Jones, including misogynistic smears, has been circulating on a WhatsApp group of former staffers, saying 'no one' in the 'inner circle' ever heard talk of a daughter. One former associate writes: 'I don't understand why he didn't leave his only child something in his will. 'I'm not saying it's a crock, but as it's the [SLUR DELETED] writing yet another book about a dead person, the facts are not looking good at the moment.' Similar derogatory comments have been made on social media. Peter Freestone, Mercury's live-in PA for 12 years up to his death in 1991, said this week: 'I never saw any diaries. I never saw any child.' He added: 'I'm not saying they don't exist... It was a surprise to me when I heard. Very much.' The 'real' inner circle, meanwhile, are staying tight-lipped. Brian May smiled but said not a word when I asked him about the book at a Live Aid 40th anniversary event recently. His wife Anita Dobson has previously said: 'I think there have always been rumours. The person to ask would be his sister, Kashmira. But even then, I think, sometimes if people keep secrets, they do really keep those secrets.' Which sounds like a hint she thinks the story is right. Dobson explained her husband wants to stay 'neutral'. 'He said: 'People were always saying all sorts of things about Freddie. Let's take it with a pinch of salt.'' So far the Queen estate, which represents all the band members and Freddie's sister, has not commented in any way. Jones told me: 'There are a lot of extremely nasty comments being made, and some people are trying to discredit the book. 'What I would say is that the real inner circle – the other members of Queen, and Freddie's sister – would have denied this if they could, weeks ago, when the story broke. ' They cannot because, as Freddie's daughter says, they know that it is true.' HER new book tells of a child – referred to only as 'B' – conceived accidentally during a fling with the wife of a close friend in 1976, a year after Bohemian Rhapsody was a hit. The revelation came as a shock to the singer's fans, who have long loved and accepted him as a gay man. Yet the legendary showman had a number of relationships with women, including Mary Austin, whom he met when she was 19 and he was 23, before he came out. She remained close to Freddie for the rest of his life. There was another, later, romance, in the early 1980s, with actress Barbara Valentin. But the liaison with B's mother was something Freddie reportedly kept top secret. In the book, there is a hand-written letter from Freddie's daughter in which she says: 'Freddie Mercury was and is my father. 'We had a very close and loving relationship from the moment I was born and throughout the final 15 years of his life. He adored me and was devoted to me.' Former child star with her eye on the prize - and Lily's hubby. Who could possibly induce anyone to cheat on Lily James? Step forward rising British actress Raffey Cassidy. The 23-year-old will play Millie, a young woman who rolls a hand grenade into the middle of an apparently happy marriage in the movie Photo Booth, which starts filming at the end of the summer, with Rupert Friend completing the love triangle. Millie gets pregnant after a one night stand with a man called Ben (Friend). Meanwhile, back at home, Ben's wife Jean (James) is struggling to have children. A performance artist who mines her own emotional difficulties for her art, Jean decides to invite the young woman to live with them. She offers to look after her financially…in exchange for the baby. Brother and sister writing team Lloyd and Spencer Harvey promise 'electric' performances from their three leads. Cassidy is that rare thing: a former child star who has made the transition to more mature roles. She played the young Snow White in Snow White And The Huntsman (2012) and also appeared in 2015's Tomorrowland with George Clooney. Three years ago she was cast in Noah Baumbach's satire White Noise alongside Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig. And last year she won a major role as Zsófia, the selectively mute niece of Adrien Brody's tortured architect in the Oscar-winning film The Brutalist. By George! He's after another Oscar And they're off! George Clooney has launched the Oscars 2026 campaigning with a long profile in Vanity Fair to plug forthcoming film Jay Kelly. Clooney plays a fading film star – and Adam Sandler his loyal manager – in the picture directed and co-written by Mr Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach. It will premiere in Venice at the end of this month and is already at the centre of a solid awards campaign in advance of its theatrical release in November. (After which it will stream on Netflix.) Clooney said of Sandler, best known for comedies, including Happy Gilmore 2, currently doing great numbers for the streamer: 'He's actually a really beautiful, wonderful actor.' Warming to his theme, he said Sandler's 'pay cheque' films – the 'big goofy comedies' – allowed him to do smaller, more artistic projects. 'When he does these other, beautiful, Uncut Gems kinds of movies, it reminds people that he's not just a good comedian.' Clooney, who already has two Oscars under his belt, weeps elegantly in Jay Kelly and by all accounts gives an awards-level performance of his own. In the meantime, what is the collective noun for films about fighting? Because there is a fracas incoming: Christy, starring 'Good Genes' Sydney Sweeney as boxer Christy Martin; The Smashing Machine, with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as wrestler Mark Kerr; and The Cut, starring Orlando Bloom. People were confidently predicting some Oscars attention for Sweeney, but that might now get lost in the noise about her American Eagle jeans ad. The Smashing Machine, though, which is an A24 movie and will also be in Venice, has people excited about Johnson and co-star Emily Blunt. Forget the fjords, I'm pining for Bath Monty Python star John Cleese, is hoping to buy a home in Bath, close to where he grew up. Cleese, 85, who insists he's 'surprisingly poor', has lived in Monaco in the past, and more recently in Nevis in the Caribbean, where there's no income tax. He said in April he'd gifted his £1.5 million flat in Chelsea to fourth wife, Jennifer Wade, 'to make her feel secure'. The pair are understood to spend most of their time in London. However, it seems they're house hunting in the West Country. Speaking at Clifton College, the £19,000-a-term Bristol private school he attended as a boy, Cleese said: 'Unquestionably, my home is the West Country. My wife and I are thinking very seriously of buying in Bath.' He added: 'When I look back at my time in were a lot of very nice people having peaceful, friendly lives and being nice to each other and behaving really pretty well. And how little of that there is around these days. 'It's an idea which has come from America, which is that if you are not either rich or powerful – or both – then somehow your life has been a failure. I think that is a terrible idea.' Cleese bought a flat in Bath's Royal Crescent in 2016, but it was back on the market in 2018, when he left the UK and settled in Nevis. He's been complaining of penury since his 2008 divorce from third wife, Alyce Faye Eichelberger. She reportedly got a settlement of $20million and Cleese said two years ago he was still paying it off.

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