Latest news with #PoshSpice
Times
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Can you spot one reality ‘celebrity' you've heard of? I couldn't
The term 'celebrity' has been stretched so thin that it has become transparent. Watching a reality show the other day — for you, for you — I saw a woman I thought I recognised, but couldn't put a name to, so I googled the programme for a list of contestants. Lo, it was Rebecca Loos, that woman who supposedly had an affair with David Beckham when Posh wasn't looking all those years ago. The last time I remember seeing Loos she was in a different reality show, giving manual relief to a pig. She was subsequently commended for her technique in obtaining pig semen and replied a little smugly: 'It's my special touch.' There was a bucketload of complaints about this scene, which aired in 2004, on the basis that it was deeply degrading — to the pig. And here she was, back again, this time in another series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins (Channel 4) alongside a host of people who were not, by any stretch of the imagination, celebrities. Tasha Ghouri, anyone? Lucy Spraggan? They also had that idiotic woman who was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison for smuggling drugs in Peru, Michaella McCollum — yup, that's what counts as celebritydom now. I recognised a couple of contestants, both former footballers. There was Troy Deeney and Adebayo 'The Beast' Akinfenwa, who played for about a hundred football clubs including, for seven games, my lot, Millwall. He wasn't much use and even by then was the size of a planet — one of the gas giants, maybe Jupiter. This ensemble was subjected to the full rigours of SAS training such as walking 300 metres up a really rather small hill. That got rid of two of the women, who started sobbing pitifully and were quickly handed their discharge papers. There was also the boxer Conor Benn and a wretched creature called Bimini Bon Boulash who plies his trade as a drag queen. The fun, once again, is in watching people who think they are famous — runners-up from Love Island etc — undergoing tortures to stretch that fame a few desperate inches further. There is nothing these people wouldn't do to appear on the telly, as Loos demonstrated rather admirably with her rubber gloves back in 2004. Slebs receive a flat payment when they take part in televised challenges and quiz shows and the like because it doesn't seem fitting to have them competing for, say, £250,000. That's why celebrity editions of programmes are less fun than when ordinary people, full of the normal human greed and avarice, are taking part. So it was with The Fortune Hotel (ITV1) in which 11 couples compete to win that aforementioned quarter of a million quid by lying to one another and metaphorically sticking the knife in the opposition whenever the opportunity arises while situated in a luxurious hotel in Grenada. The host is Stephen Mangan and His Incredible Teeth — so pearly and perfect and prominent that he makes Jürgen Klopp resemble Shane MacGowan. The couples are drawn from central casting — a couple of scallies from Wigan, a hapless well-spoken middle-class pairing called Jeremy and Sue, two identical gays, you get the drift — and first have to get to the hotel by locating a room key via the directions of a crossword. Two absolute dimbos from Blackpool didn't make it and were sent packing. • The 40 best series on ITVX to watch in August 2025 The couples then have to choose from ten suitcases, one of which holds the fortune, the others containing a check out early card. Then the suitcases are swapped, agonisingly, among the competitors. A mash-up, then, of The Traitors, Deal or No Deal and Race Across the World, which shouldn't really work. And yet halfway through the programme this terrible truth dawned on me — I was actually enjoying myself. I'm sure the sensation will pass, but it's sufficient to say that The Fortune Hotel is about ten times better than the Beeb's similar post-Traitors mash-up, Destination X, and I will continue to watch it. In the week in which the American president dispatched a couple of nuclear subs to strategic positions (ie near Russia), BBC4 unearthed two of the more remarkable doomsday documentaries yet shown on British TV. These were Peter Watkins's The War Game, (from 1966 and featuring a young Michael Aspel) and Threads (from 1984, produced by Mick Jackson and written by Barry Hines of Kes fame). I remember both from my misguided time in CND, when the films were treated as scientific truths rather than superb polemics against nukes. Viewed again, the earlier programme, delivered deadpan in forlorn black-and-white and sticking very closely to official assessments of what might happen to the UK in a nuclear conflagration, has held up much better than the longer, more hysterical Threads. And yet even The War Game overstated the case a little in its apocalyptic predictions. Another 12 countries would soon be joining the nuclear club, the voiceover told us. Nah, just four by my reckoning, and that's including Israel, which was pretty much there when The War Game was produced. Still, both were grim but arresting viewing and a testament to the effectiveness of television when talented and committed producers are allowed off the leash. I especially liked the bit in Threads when a south Yorkshire local looks aghast and says something like 'they've bloody done it!' as a large mushroom cloud rises above Sheffield, the architecture beneath having been, in a nanosecond, dramatically improved. • Read more TV reviews, guides about what to watch and interviews Meanwhile, a second series of Annika (BBC1) is upon us, starring the wholly admirable Nicola Walker as the eponymous detective, who has been promoted but, nevertheless, still doesn't seem very sure of herself. The first series was hugely popular and I can see no reason why this one should not follow suit: the characters are well drawn and the writing has a flash of wit about it. The quirk is that the title character regularly breaks the fourth wall and offers asides to the viewers, such as: 'Death by harpoon is someone trying to get a point across.' Yes, ha ha, very good, if a little arch. Annika has a troubled private life, as all detectives are required to have, as well as an odious and sulky teenage daughter. Almost every drama and comedy these days has an odious sulky teenage daughter in it somewhere, and it worries me because my teenage daughter is a rather cheerful soul: what have we done wrong? Anyway, I was enjoying this show when suddenly, with a great howling, Storm Floris struck and the TV cut out followed quickly by the electricity, just as I was in the midd What have you been enjoying on television recently? Let us know in the comments below Love TV? Discover the best shows on Netflix, the best Prime Video TV shows, the best Disney+ shows , the best Apple TV+ shows, the best shows on BBC iPlayer , the best shows on Sky and Now, the best shows on ITVX, the best shows on Channel 4 streaming, the best shows on Paramount+ and our favourite hidden gem TV shows. Don't forget to check our critics' choices to what to watch this week and browse our comprehensive TV guide
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Mel C reveals Spice Girls tensions persist as some members are excluded from WhatsApp chats
Melanie Chisholm, better known as Mel C or 'Sporty Spice,' has hinted at ongoing tensions within the Spice Girls, revealing that not all members are included in every group chat. Speaking during an interview in Australia, the 51-year-old singer admitted there are 'subgroups' among the iconic pop band and that both Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice) and Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice) are sometimes left out of certain WhatsApp threads. 'I definitely know there is a chat group that doesn't contain me,' Mel C said, 'but somewhere else we keep Ginger or Posh out. Like all friendship groups, we have many ways of communicating.' Her comments follow a weekend appearance at Mel B's second wedding to hairstylist Rory McPhee in Morocco, which she attended alone from the group. Emma Bunton had previously attended the couple's London ceremony at St. Paul's Cathedral, but neither Geri nor Victoria were present at either celebration. Although Beckham reportedly sent her apologies, Halliwell's absence has fueled speculation of a continuing rift between her and Mel B. That feud traces back to 2019 when Mel B disclosed during a Piers Morgan's Life Stories interview that she and Geri had a past intimate relationship, a revelation that reportedly shocked Halliwell and led to lingering tension. According to reports, Mel B has never formally apologized. In recent years, rumors of internal conflict among the Spice Girls have continued to surface. In late 2024, The Sun reported that Netflix issued a 'stark ultimatum' to the group regarding a proposed biopic, urging them to reconcile or risk having the project proceed without their input—similar to the approach taken with The Crown. While the project is still in early stages, disagreements reportedly led Geri to withdraw her involvement, raising doubts about a full-group reunion. Geri's husband, Christian Horner, denied claims that he interfered with the deal, calling reports of a family documentary 'completely unfounded.'
Elle
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
These Graduated Bobs Work on Every Face Shape and Hair Type
The graduated bob likely calls to mind the nostalgia of the '90s, when the inverted, ultra-sharp crop was as omnipresent—and as revered—as skinny brows and overlined lips. Fast-forward to today, and the once-blunt, razored cut is having its moment again, this time softened for the new season. Need real-life inspo? Look to Lily Collins, who recently stepped out with a Posh Spice–inspired bob, and to Victoria Beckham herself—an early champion of the cut—who's reimagined it with airy layers and subtle waves. Below, ELLE spoke with Mark Hayes, international creative director at House of Sassoon, about how to cut, style, and wear the nostalgic crop now. 'The graduated bob is the ultimate power haircut. It's cut shorter in the back and becomes gradually longer in the front, tracing the jawline,' Hayes explains. 'A lightly graduated crown keeps it effortlessly chic and accentuates the natural shape of the head.' The hairstyle originated in the '60s, defined by geometric precision, bold lines, and sharp structure before being popularized years later by the likes of Victoria Beckham and Keira Knightley. 'Today, the cut remains as relevant as ever,' Hayes says, noting that it's now slightly less sharp—think longer front layers and softer waves. 'It's flattering, stylish, and endlessly versatile.' Precision matters, even if you choose a more subtle take on the trend, and that often means employing a 'twist-cut' technique—cutting hair at an angle to form a diagonal line. 'The genius lies in the fact that the graduated bob isn't just a haircut; it's architecture,' Hayes explains. 'You have to cut carefully, ensuring the shorter back and the longer, face-framing front work together to enhance bone structure, add volume, and create a dynamic shape.' The style suits virtually every hair type and face shape. 'It flatters oval, heart, and round faces, adding balance and sharpening features,' he notes. It works best on fine to medium textures: 'The layers help create the illusion of thickness and bounce, giving even the limpest locks a major boost.'
Cosmopolitan
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
11 sport shorts and summer shoe outfit ideas to nail the cool girl and celebrity-approved athleisure trend
It's official, everyone is wearing sports shorts right now. Even if they're not heading to the gym. Actually, make that *especially* if they're not heading to the gym, by pairing the athletic staple with broderie anglaise blouses, oversized tailored blazers and footwear far from appropriate for tackling a treadmill. So even if you've never stepped foot inside a Fitness First, there's no reason to rule this trend out as not for you. Or for me! I've always identified more as Posh Spice, with my football-playing, tomboy sister taking up the mantle of Mel C's Sporty persona, but this didn't stop me from envying the striped Adidas shorts she wore with a laid-back ease while we were growing up. A sentiment I instantly experienced again when I spotted photos of Zoë Kravitz out in New York last week wearing a slogan t-shirt with tiny black sports shorts. Yep, I am just as captivated by the athleisure look in 2025 as I was back then. However, while any successful attempt at borrowing (read: smuggling out of her room without her knowledge) my sister's sports shorts never ended in me wearing them for fear I couldn't pull them off, this summer there's no shortage of style inspiration to curate the perfect sports shorts outfit. I'm convinced the key to nailing the look lies in what shoes you style your gym shorts with. Whether you opt for black leather heeled mules à la Zoë, channel Hailey Bieber in her signature socks and loafers combo, or choose one of the endless number of sandal trends around this szn. Below, I've rounded up all the different outfit formulas worth replicating so anyone and everyone can pull off the sports shorts trend with ease! No need to thank me. Flip flops are easily the shoe of the summer. Whether you elevate the look with a heeled style or stick to a more comfortable pair, we're adding this 'fit straight into our summer holiday wardrobe. A loafer instantly smartens up athletic shorts. And, when it comes to the generational sock debate, we're definitely all for the visible ankle sock look. Sorry, not sorry. Luckily, even if you're anti-socks, the formula holds up. We love this cinched-in button-down shirt, sports shorts and loafers ensemble. The layered necklace stack takes it from good to great. Balance the masculinity of basketball shorts with uber-feminine kitten heels, like these OTT bow-adorned slingbacks. So cool! Yep, we love introducing a little contradiction into an outfit. Take this frilly blouse and block-heel boot look paired with classic sports shorts. Again, don't overlook the accessories, from the scrunchie to the boho beaded necklace. Recreating ASAP! Of course, sports shorts still work with their obvious counterpart. We like how this Fashion Week attendee colour-blocked her shorts and trainers to keep it feeling fresh and interesting. Lean into balletcore – because yes, dance *is* a sport – with a pair of ballet pumps. Leg warmers, optional. Thought you couldn't wear sports shorts out to dinner and drinks? Guess again. Sticking to black gym shorts with a coordinating blazer and very evening-coded heeled sandals makes a chic AF outfit. For a more subtle sporty take, try some skater-esque slip-ons with an oversized denim jacket and a leather shoulder bag. Still cute, but a little bit edgy, too. Even if you do dress head-to-toe in athleisure-wear, an unexpected shoe like gold wedge sandals sets this look apart. We're still loving cowboy boots and Western-core lovers will be pleased to hear they totally work with your sports shorts. Follow Alex on Instagram. Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there's nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she's passionate about sustainable fashion and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Victoria Beckham shares unseen video of Harper singing Spice Girls hit to mark daughter's 14th birthday
Victoria Beckham has released a previously unseen clip of her daughter Harper singing along to a Spice Girls hit. In footage shared by Posh Spice on Thursday (10 July) to celebrate her daughter's 14th birthday, a younger Harper can be seen singing the band's 1997 song 'Stop'. The singer also shared photos and clips of the teenager over the years, from her walking in her mother's heels to practising ballet. In the Instagram post's caption, she called Harper her 'best friend' and said that she is 'so proud of the strong, confident, kind and talented young lady you are becoming'.
