Latest news with #Croydon-born
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Daniella Westbrook wedding 'on the cards' to 'soulmate' ex-addict boxer
Things appear to be hotting up between Daniella Westbrook and her bare knuckle fighter boyfriend Charlie Symonds - with a source claiming marriage is even on the cards Danniella Westbrook has had her fair share of life dramas – but after going public with a new man, a source claims she's in a 'love bubble' and 'ready to commit'. The actress, who joined EastEnders at 16 years old and played Sam Mitchell on and off until 2016, appeared to be smitten with bare knuckle boxer Charlie 'Chasa Real Talk' Symonds on a sun-soaked break to Greece. Danniella and Chasa are believed to have been friends for six years, but have clearly taken their relationship to a new level and were seen packing on the PDAs. The mum of two, 51, was beaming as she and Croydon-born Charlie kissed and splashed around in the water. And now a source claims exclusively to OK! that what started as a close friendship has grown into something much deeper – and they've already talked about next steps. 'Danniella feels that she's found her soulmate. Chasa doesn't judge her one bit and doesn't care what has happened in her past. He understands all about the issues she's been through but is supportive – he just wants to make her happy. She's really smitten and feels like she can trust him, which is a really big deal for her. 'This is something she's prayed for for a long time, it could be something special. She is thinking about marriage and definitely wants to tie the knot with him, it's a no brainer for her and she's ready to commit fully. They're in a love bubble so wedding bells are definitely on the cards.' It's been more than two decades since Danniella's nasal septum collapsed from excessive cocaine use, and she revealed a few years ago that she was still trying to repair the damage caused, as well as the effects of osteoporosis. Her appearance has since changed dramatically thanks to corrective surgeries, but our source claims she would happily go under the knife again to achieve bridal perfection, adding: 'She would definitely have more surgery and get some tweaks before getting married, she's very much dedicated to repairing her looks and looking the best she can. 'She's already had a lot of operations, but she wants to go on until she feels content. Now she's found 'the one' she wants to make sure she's looking her best.' The former Dancing On Ice star, who has battled addiction for much of her adult life, revealed that her life had'changed dramatically' since losing her dad in January 2024, and she'd 'pulled herself back from the brink again.' She wrote on her socials last month: 'I got myself back into recovery and [have] taken the right opportunities that have come and do come my way. I feel so grateful, blessed and useful.' She gave her intrigued fans a peek into her budding romance when she hinted in another recent snap of the pair that 'a holiday romance was brewing', and that 'it may just become an everlasting love'. Charlie, 42, is a retired English professional welterweight boxer and is currently signed to Conor McGregor 's Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, where he walks into the ring as the 'Croydon Bomber' The pair are believed to have reconnected in Dubai at the BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships) where Chasa was competing – and have been enjoying quality time together since. He opened up last year about his own experiences of drugs, confessing he'd 'gone down a dark road' but had been in recovery for more than seven years since hitting rock bottom. After going public, it seems Charlie and Danniella's fans are especially keen to see them go the distance. On one of the most recent snaps of them on Instagram, one follower urged the bare knuckle fighter to 'wife that one up, bro' – to which they both replied with red heart and hand-clapping emojis. Another person added: 'Please stay together forever' while another wrote: 'I've not seen you two so happy in a long time, long may it continue.' Things also seem to be looking up for Danniella when it comes to her relationship with her two children – Kai and Jodie – who she's been estranged from at various points in their lives. In 2023, the actress claimed she was heartbroken after her grown-up daughter Jodie, who she shares with ex husband Kevin Jenkins, had 'cut' her out of her life with no explanations. After a few followers posted on Jodie's social media urging her to get back in touch with her mum, she responded with a polite: 'If you don't know the situation please don't comment, thank you.' But it seems time can be a great healer and as of last month, things appeared to be improving. 'Having both my children back in contact with me and rebuilding what I broke is something I never thought I would get a chance to do,' Danniella said. 'The blessings just keep on coming one day at a time.' Our source says the TV star takes full responsibility for what's happened in the past but is determined to get things back on track. 'She's learned from her past mistakes, she's back in touch with her daughter and is so happy about it. She'll do everything she can to make sure things remain positive between them.' Hopefully Danniella gets the happiness she wants .
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Stormzy to front new National Theatre diversity drive after signing up for 'top secret' project as legendary venue plans 'rap adaptations' of classic Greek tragedy
Stormzy will front a new National Theatre diversity drive after signing up for a 'top secret' project at the iconic London venue. The Croydon-born grime artist, real name Michael Omari Owuo Jr, has been scouted by newly appointed National Theatre boss Indhu Rubasingham as she looks to modernise and diversify its creative output. As the South Bank venue's first female and ethnic minority artistic director, Rubasingham has announced plans to stage rap adaptations of classic Greek tragedy, although Stormzy's involvement is yet to be clarified. The subversive move is part of a wider aim to build an international audience through the National Theatre's online streaming platform, National Theatre At Home. The £9.99 per month platform - originally launched in 2020 - will give subscribers the opportunity to watch theatrical productions from the comfort of home and create what insiders hope will be a ' Netflix for theatre' Irish actor Paul Mescal, fresh from his Hollywood breakthrough in Gladiator II, will also boost the theatre's international ambitions having signed up for a new production of Arthur Miller's classic Death Of A Salesman and Tony Murphy's A Whistle In The Dark. The productions will take place as part of Rubasingham's inaugural programme, with dates for the performances yet to be announced. Both 20th century plays will take place in the Lyttelton Theatre, and focus on dysfunctional family relationships, the struggle for identity, and societal and familial expectations. A Whistle In The Dark will later transfer to the Abbey Theatre, while a second pair of productions to run in the Lyttelton will be announced at a later date. Elsewhere, Sri Lankan actor Hiran Abeysekera will be the first non-white star to play Shakespeare's Hamlet in another forthcoming production. Euripides's The Bacchae will also be given a modern twist, with Rubasingham planning a rap adaptation of the iconic Greek tragedy. Other projects focusing primarily on themes of gender and race include The Story, an American drama about racial politics, and Cloud 9, a study on colonialism. Discussing the move towards a more modernist theatre on Tuesday, Kate Varah, the National Theatre's executive director, said plans to expand its streaming service would help attract audiences 'not just in our country, but in 184 countries around the world'. She said: 'It's no longer just about what happens here on the South Bank, the National Theatre is now a global theatre with an audience of 28 million per year.' Rubasingham is the seventh director National Theatre director since its was launched by Sir Laurence Olivier in 1963. Alongside Varah, she also works as the legendary venue's joint chief executive. Her 2023 appointment follows her role as boss of London's Kiln Theatre, where she attracted controversy after the venue refused to host an event associated with Israel.
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kate Moss, 51, flashes her cleavage in sexy lingerie as she cosies up to Ray Winstone, 68, in an intimate shoot for Perfect Magazine
Kate Moss flashed her cleavage in pink lace lingerie as she puffed on a cigarette in a sexy photoshoot for Perfect Magazine. The supermodel, 51, cosied up to Ray Winstone, 68, wearing just a tiny black thong and opaque tights in the intimate shots. Kate slipped into a striking cone bra as she headed through a bathroom door with Ray. In another shot, she slipped into a sexy red leather coat and sported a dramatic smoky eye makeup look as she caressed Ray's face. Kate was showing off a fierce red manicure as she fixed The Gentlemen star with a sultry stare during an embrace against a mirror. In another shot from photographer Nadia Lee Cohen, Kate wore a glamorous fur coat and leaned in to Ray. She accessorised with statement silver earrings and wore her dyed light red tresses in loose waves. Shot in North London's Mildmay Club the collectors issue of Perfect Magazine features 60 pages of images and a short story written by David Owen. Kate's new shoot has followed on from her doing the rounds for the various Fashion Weeks last month. While she was a FROW stalwart for the big shows, she did spark concern with her appearance at the Isabel Marant presentation in Paris when she was filmed looking 'fraught' and 'on edge'. In a clip shared by publications including Elle and Lewis Magazine, Kate moved back and forth in her chair as she speaks to other fashion goers at the event and poses for photographers. She was seen hugging a woman sat behind her before being heard saying 'let me just do this', as she turned to face forward so the picture takers can get the best shot. Kate sat beside British fashion photographer David Sims, 58, who has worked with her since the Nineties. But fans of the Croydon-born model responded to the video, which had been circulating on Instagram and TikTok, with their concerns over her 'frantic' appearance. TikTok users wrote: 'She's giving me anxiety just watching her', 'I feel like I can't breathe watching this' while a third remarked: 'I feel sad every time I see this.'; 'Why is she so fidgety, this just makes me anxious.' Another questioned why Elle magazine shared the clip, saying: 'Why did they post this? Kate is seemingly not okay. Still pretty though.' Other commenters believed Kate was only moving frantically so the photographers could get her best angle. They mused: 'To be fair, every time I've seen her pose for paps, she's always 'snapped' into shot, so yeah she's moving a bit strange but it's normal for her.' 'She doesn't want to smile for cameras but smiles at her friends before 'the look' at the camera... People just want to hate.' In December, it was reported that Kate had ended her nine-year relationship with aristocrat Nikolai Von Bismarck. A source revealed that Kate, who's 13 years Nikolai's senior, felt their lives were going in 'different directions' and they wanted different things for the future. Following the couple's split, Kate started a new chapter celebrating her 51st birthday at A-list restaurant China Tang at The Dorchester before continuing her night until the early hours at The Globe in London's Notting Hill.
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kate Moss wows in a sexy red leather coat as she poses in intimate shots with Ray Winstone for striking Perfect Magazine cover
Kate Moss posed in intimate shots with Ray Winstone for a striking Perfect Magazine cover released on Wednesday. The model, 51, slipped into a sexy red leather coat and sported a dramatic smoky eye makeup look as she caressed Ray's face in one shot. Kate was showing off a fierce red manicure as she fixed The Gentlemen star Ray, 68, with a sultry stare during an embrace against a mirror. In another shot from photographer Nadia Lee Cohen, Kate wore a glamorous fur coat and leaned in to Ray. She accessorised with statement silver earrings and wore her dyed light red tresses in loose waves. Shot in North London's Mildmay Club the collectors issue of Perfect Magazine features 60 pages of images and a short story written by David Owen. Kate's new shoot has followed on from her doing the rounds for the various Fashion Weeks last month. While she was a FROW stalwart for the big shows, she did spark concern with her appearance at the Isabel Marant presentation in Paris when she was filmed looking 'fraught' and 'on edge'. In a clip shared by publications including Elle and Lewis Magazine, Kate moved back and forth in her chair as she speaks to other fashion goers at the event and poses for photographers. She was seen hugging a woman sat behind her before being heard saying 'let me just do this', as she turned to face forward so the picture takers can get the best shot. Kate sat beside British fashion photographer David Sims, 58, who has worked with her since the Nineties. But fans of the Croydon-born model responded to the video, which had been circulating on Instagram and TikTok, with their concerns over her 'frantic' appearance. TikTok users wrote: 'She's giving me anxiety just watching her', 'I feel like I can't breathe watching this' while a third remarked: 'I feel sad every time I see this.'; 'Why is she so fidgety, this just makes me anxious.' Another questioned why Elle magazine shared the clip, saying: 'Why did they post this? Kate is seemingly not okay. Still pretty though.' Other commenters believed Kate was only moving frantically so the photographers could get her best angle. They mused: 'To be fair, every time I've seen her pose for paps, she's always 'snapped' into shot, so yeah she's moving a bit strange but it's normal for her.' 'She doesn't want to smile for cameras but smiles at her friends before 'the look' at the camera... People just want to hate.' In December, it was reported that Kate had ended her nine-year relationship with aristocrat Nikolai Von Bismarck. A source revealed that Kate, who's 13 years Nikolai's senior, felt their lives were going in 'different directions' and they wanted different things for the future. Following the couple's split, Kate started a new chapter celebrating her 51st birthday at A-list restaurant China Tang at The Dorchester before continuing her night until the early hours at The Globe in London's Notting Hill.
Express Tribune
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Stormzy faces backlash over endorsing McDonald's meal after deleting posts supporting Palestine
Stormzy is facing significant backlash after signing an endorsement deal with McDonald's, with fans and prominent figures criticizing his decision to align with the brand. The Croydon-born rapper recently became the face of a new McDonald's campaign, which includes a special meal named after him—the "Stormzy Meal," featuring nine chicken nuggets, fries, BBQ dips, Sprite Zero, and an Oreo McFlurry or apple pie. One McDonald's branch in Croydon has even been rebranded as 'Big Mike's' in celebration of the collaboration. However, the deal has sparked controversy, particularly because of McDonald's ties to the Israeli military. McDonald's Israeli franchise, Alonyal, has been donating free meals to Israel's military, which has led to calls for a global boycott by the Palestinian-led BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) movement. Fans have voiced their anger, accusing Stormzy of hypocrisy for endorsing a brand involved in such controversy after previously supporting Palestine in 2023. Stormzy is a genuine disgrace. He said 'in the future, if there is ever a clear injustice in the world no matter how big or small, 100 times out of 100 I will always be on the side of the oppressed,' then deleted that post and sold out for McDonald's money. There's 0 integrity. — Umir (@umirf1) February 13, 2025 In that year, Stormzy posted a message on Instagram expressing his support for Palestine, saying he would always stand with the oppressed. However, some of these posts were later archived, a move that sources close to the artist have denied was related to the McDonald's deal. Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour Party leader, also weighed in, accusing Stormzy of 'culture-washing' McDonald's image and urging him to end the partnership in solidarity with Palestinians. Stormy has sold out Posters have gone up across the capital over @stormzy McDonalds meal deal. — London & UK Street News (@CrimeLdn) February 20, 2025 Stormzy sold out for 9 nuggets, sorry that's a Judas move. Free Palestine 🇵🇸 — Michael Morgan (@mikecmorgan) February 14, 2025 Adding fuel to the fire, satirist Darren Cullen launched a campaign in South London, posting signs that read, 'Stormzy has sold out,' highlighting his controversial endorsement. The backlash has sparked a larger conversation about the role of celebrities in activism and the influence of corporate endorsements.
