Latest news with #BRITSchool
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jessie J Says She Was Diagnosed With ‘Early Breast Cancer' Before the Release of ‘No Secrets': ‘I Just Wanted to Be Open and Share It'
British singer-songwriter Jessica Ellen Cornish, aka Jessie J, took to Instagram on Tuesday to reveal that she was diagnosed with 'early breast cancer' before the release of her track 'No Secrets' in April. 'Before 'No Secrets' came out, I was diagnosed with early breast cancer,' she said. 'I'm highlighting the word early. Cancer sucks in any form but I'm holding on to the word early.' More from Variety The BRIT School Earns Outstanding Ofsted Rating as Alumna Jessie J Encourages Patrons to 'Keep Raising Money' During Urgent Need for Funding Steven Tyler Makes First Public Performance in Two Years With the Return of His Annual Grammy Viewing Party 'American Idol': Luis Fonsi, Bebe Rexha, Toni Braxton Tapped to Duet With Finalists (EXCLUSIVE) Cornish went on to say that she has been 'in and out of tests' since the release of the track and wanted to share the video in an attempt to be 'open' about her journey with her supporters. 'I just wanted to be open and share it because selfishly, I do not talk about it enough,' she explained. 'I'm not processing it because I'm working so hard. I also know how much sharing in the past has helped me with other people giving me their love and support, and also their own stories. I'm an open book. It breaks my heart that so many people are going through so much. Similar and worse.' She continued, 'I'm getting to keep my nipples, that's good. It's a weird topic and a weird situation. And I know the press are going to say crazy stuff but you know what, to get diagnosed with this as I'm putting out a song called 'No Secrets' right before a song called 'Living My Best Life,' which was all pre-planned before I found out about this, I mean you can't make it up.' Some of the Grammy-nominated artist's other tracks include 'Together Till Infinity,' 'Heaven Bound,' 'I Want Love' and 'Brave.' Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Brits are flocking to up-and-coming London suburb while it's still affordable
With a high concentration of Crystal Palace fans, this south London suburb is known for its Victorian architecture and as the birthplace of British grime artist Stormzy. But Thornton Heath is quickly garnering a new reputation as the go-to area for affordable housing in England's pricey capital. With its average house price of £396,996 compared to the London average of £686,817, eagle-eyed house buyers who caught the trend early may be in for a major windfall. That's because new data has revealed Thornton Heath to be the fastest-growing area for rent increases in the city. Pipping areas in London's affluent west, Rightmove statistics revealed the suburb has seen an increase of 14 per cent on rental prices compared to last year. It beat Harlesden in Brent, Greenford in Ealing, and Barnes in Richmond upon Thames, all of which seen increases of 12 per cent. Additionally, Biggin Hill in Bromley, Bayswater in Westminster, and East Finchley in Barnet each increased by 11 per cent. Property expert Sue Iluc told Metro that Thornton Heath was 'shedding its old image as a commuter hub' and is undergoing a major transformation. Situated in Zone 4 and around 10 miles from the city, the suburb borders the BRIT School which boasts a glittering alumni including Amy Winehouse, Tom Holland, and RAYE. Its Victorian buildings, seen in St Paul's Church and St Alban's Anglican, give the area a feel of history despite its high street being packed with takeaways. One social media poster who has lived in Thornton Heath for more nearly three decades says while the area is not 'polished', they understand the appeal for prospective house buyers. They said: 'Croydon Council have made efforts to invest in the area to make it more presentable. 'Many areas like Thornton Heath elsewhere in London have become gentrified over the past 20 years. I wouldn't say much has changed about [it] in my lifetime. The area is also a 10-minute drive from the notoriously large IKEA in Croydon - an ideal haunt for those moving into the area 'Thornton Heath has it's problems and definitely isn't polished or friendly but it isn't boring either - it is multicultural and bustling.' 'However this does make property cheaper in the area, and the area has potential to become more sought-after with its train links into London.' The area is also a 10-minute drive from the notoriously large IKEA in Croydon - an ideal haunt for those moving into the area - as well as BOXPARK, a food court which hosts movie screenings and live entertainment. For football fans, Selhurst Park - the home of FA Cup winners Crystal Palace - is within walking distance. And for central London workers, you can commute there in under 30 minutes. Just take the overground train from Thornton Heath station to London Victoria, and take it from there.
Metro
17-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
The 'trendy' suburb Londoners are flocking to — while it's still affordable
London rents have never been cheap, so when city-dwellers discover a relatively affordable spot, they head there in their droves. Unfortunately, this then tends to result in prices going up (just look at the likes of Hackney or Brixton) so it pays to spot up-and-coming areas before everybody else. To give you a steer, new data has revealed the London neighbourhoods where rents have increased the most in the last 12 months, with one South London hub taking top spot. Yes, it's in Zone 4, and yes, it's 10 miles from the city centre, but it remains endlessly 'bustling'. And – at least for the moment – living there won't break the bank. Thornton Heath is arguably most famous for its proximity to the BRIT School, the performing arts and technology institution that has a list of alumni including Amy Winehouse, Adele, Rizzle Kicks, and RAYE. And any grime music fan will know that it's also the home of Stormzy, as he's referenced the area multiple times in tracks including Wicked Stengman Part 4. You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from: – Award winning service from the UK's leading mortgage broker – Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week – Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won't charge you a fee for their advice. Find out how much you could borrow online Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. But, according to new data from Rightmove, Thornton Heath is quickly becoming steadily more expensive. Between 2024 and 2025, the area saw a 14% year-on-year increase in rental prices – the largest of any area in London. Following behind was Harlesden in the borough of Brent, Greenford in Ealing, and Barnes in Richmond upon Thames, all at 12% respectively. Meanwhile, Biggin Hill in Bromley, Bayswater in Westminster, and East Finchley in Barnet have each seen increases of 11%. 'While new tenants are still paying more than they were at this time last year, the pace of growth continues to slow,' Rightmove's Colleen Babock said of the data. 'However, though this is the big picture of market activity, agents on the ground still tell us that the market is very hot, and some areas have improved more than others when it comes to the supply and demand balance. 'Our own data shows that the average rental property is still receiving 10 applications per property, which is lower than the peak, but still double the pre-pandemic norm.' Thornton Heath, Croydon (average rent growth year-on-year: 14%) Harlesden, Brent (12%) Greenford, Ealing (12%) Barnes, Richmond upon Thames (12%) Biggin Hill, Bromley (11%) Bayswater, Westminster (11%) East Finchley, Barnet (11%) Deptford, Lewisham (10%) Northolt, Ealing (10%) East Bedfont, Hounslow (10%). When it comes to architecture, Thornton Heath is famous for its Victorian buildings – as seen in the St Paul's Church and St Alban's Anglican. There's also the newer Clocktower, found on the junction between the high street and Parchmore Road. The sense of local community is strong too, epitomised by the Thornton Heath Community Action Team, founded in 2014 to deliver local projects to improve the area. So far, they've established a gardening club, as well as the Thornton Heath Art Trail. If you're into board games, you'll be gunning for a visit to The Ludoquist, a board game café bar offering a whopping 1,400 board games alongside craft beer and coffee produced by Volcano, an institution famous among South Londoners. And if football's your thing, a trip to Selhurst Park Stadium, the home of premier league club Crystal Palace, is essential. There's also AFC Croydon Athletic, famously co-owned by two local legends: Stormzy and former Crystal Palace player Wilfried Zaha. As for the locals' perspective on Thornton Heath, Redditor @EarlessAgeratum was born and raised in the area and has lived there for the past 29 years. In their view, while Thornton Heath might have its own issues, you'd be 'hard-pressed to find an affordable area of London that doesn't have a reputation for crime.' 'Croydon Council has also made efforts to invest in the area to make it more presentable, and you're more likely to find discount shops and cheap takeaway places than independent coffee shops and trendy bars,' they add, noting that 'not much' has changed about Thornton Heath in their lifetime. 'It has its problems and definitely isn't polished but it isn't boring either. It's multicultural and bustling.' Meanwhile, @OpelFruitDaze made the decision to move to Thornton Heath four years ago as Dulwich was becoming increasingly expensive. 'We wanted more space for the kids. We're in a quiet residential street, have a garden and nice neighbours. [We] really can't complain,' they wrote in another Reddit thread. 'Thornton Heath has a reputation but moving here was one of the best things we did.' Characterised by bright green trams, Boxpark and a massive Ikea, in January 2024, Croydon was actually crowned the most affordable location for house hunters in London, with research from Zoopla indicating that you can get on the ladder for as little as £76,000 in a shared-ownership home. And so, it's little surprise that it's looking like one to watch in the London property world – even if the rents are slowly becoming more expensive. Data from Rightmove reveals that, over the last year, the average selling price for properties in Thornton Heath more specifically was £396,996 – considerably cheaper than the typical London house, which now rests at a whopping £686,817. 'It's shedding its old image as just a commuter hub, with tech start-ups and creative businesses breathing new life into the area,' property expert Sue Iluc, founder of Courtyard Holiday Apartments and self-described 'designer holiday let lady' previously told Metro of the area. 'On top of that, there are big plans to overhaul the town centre, making it more attractive to people looking for a mix of affordability and city access.' And, according to Zoopla's area guide, Thornton Heath offers 'affordable living in a modern urban environment that still retains suburban charm, combined with great schools and impressive transport links to central London.' So, while the rents might be going up, there's still plenty to be optimistic about when it comes to the buyer's market. Now, Thornton Heath might technically be in Zone 4 but it's inundated with speedy links into central London. More Trending There's a direct train to London Bridge which takes 36 minutes, passing through the likes of Tulse Hill, North Dulwich, Peckham Rye and South Bermondsey. Likewise, West Croydon is located on the Windrush Line Overground, which was recently renamed to honour the Windrush generation of immigrants, many of whom have settled in the area. And in the world of buses, the 250 connects Croydon Town Centre and Brixton, while the 450 runs from Lower Sydenham to West Croydon. View More » This article was first published on January 30, 2025. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Campaigner wins court battle that could see Brockwell Park festivals cancelled MORE: US supermodel worth $25,000,000 spotted in Morley's chicken shop in Brick Lane MORE: People are sharing London's best 'mega walks' to try this weekend
