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The winter of 1963: How the Thames froze and milkmen took to skis to do their rounds during two-month Big Freeze that saw temperatures plummet to -22C
03/01/25 01:23
Winter in Britain is finally biting after weeks of milder than average weather. Snow has wreaked havoc and temperatures have plummeted across the country. But, whatever happens, it is unlikely that there will be a repeat of the Big Freeze of 1963, when Britons weathered the most ferocious winter in living memory. In what was the coldest winter for 200 years, even the Thames froze over in places - evoking memories of frost fairs that were held on the river in previous centuries. During unprecedented cold weather that began on Boxing Day in 1962 and continued until March, snow was non-stop in many places, to the point where telephone wires were weighed down until they touched the ground. Temperatures were an average of -2C (28F) for more than two months, whilst in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, they fell as low as -22C (-7.6F)....read
How to read the Shipping Forecast: BBC guide published '100 years too late' reveals the secrets of baffling radio bulletin
02/01/25 12:56For a century, the utterings of 'Dogger', 'German Bight' and 'Cromarty' have made sense to a select few - and confused the rest of us. Now, finally, the BBC has released a beginner's guide to the broadcast.
The phones that changed the world: 18 handsets that defined the future of communication… 40 years after the UK's first ever mobile call
02/01/25 01:35With nine months of miners' strikes having brought Britain to its knees, the nation was ready to see the last of 1984.
What trainee accountant said to his dad during Britain's first mobile phone call 40 years ago - on device weighing 11lbs and costing £2,000
01/01/25 14:35Standing in London's Parliament Square while surrounded by raucous revellers, Michael Harrison phoned his father using what he described as a 'car battery with a clunky headset stuck to it.'
Meet the man who rescued King Charles and Queen Camilla's reputation following Princess Diana's death - and the controversial reason he was known as 'Blackadder' by William and Harry
28/12/24 09:22One man more than any has been credited for the dramatic transformation in the couple's fortunes - Mark Bolland.
Why did so many women fall for Camilla's ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles? As the retired army officer turns 85 we look back at his 'very naughty' lothario life which inspired a character on hit show Rivals - but has he now settled down with Anne Robinson?
27/12/24 07:07Before she became Queen Consort, Camilla was famously Charles's 'mistress' during his marriage to Princess Diana.
The 'real' Shrek: How the 'world's ugliest man' became a wrestling legend after turning rare condition to his advantage - and is believed to have inspired our favourite screen ogre
26/12/24 09:52Frenchman Maurice Tillet's unique appearance was caused by a rare condition where the body produces too much growth hormone. Despite being just 5ft 8in, he reputedly weighed an astonishing 19stone.
Christmas Special: What was the worst royal Christmas ever? Hit podcast Queens, Kings, and Dastardly Things is back, exploring royal Christmases past - including, the shocking tradition Tudor children were forced to endure
24/12/24 15:42NEW PODCAST: Robert & Kate are back with a Christmas Special in which they explore royal Christmases past. Including, the shocking tradition Tudor children were forced to endure
The WWII prisoner who became a panto dame... and then hated it: Photos show British PoW performing in drag at German camp - but he feared becoming 'typecast' and threatened to go on strike
19/12/24 12:00Captain John Dixon was captured at Dunkirk and spent the whole of the Second World War in a PoW camp in Germany. Stage productions were regularly put on by the men to keep up morale.
How the Queen's 'strength and stay' tribute to Prince Philip was inspired by Paradise Lost: Iconic speech drew upon John Milton's 17th century epic poem, study finds
19/12/24 10:47Her Late Majesty used the words to describe the support of the Duke of Edinburgh in a speech to mark their golden wedding anniversary on November 20, 1997.
A rounded history of Flat-Earthers: How mad theory popularised in the Victorian era has been parroted by celebrities including Freddie Flintoff
19/12/24 07:52When Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff, the great England cricket hero, gave credence to the belief that the Earth is flat, he was in good company.
From festive celebrations being cancelled to the first Christmas tree... MailOnline takes a look back at tales of royal Christmases from days gone by
19/12/24 07:10The festive season for the Royal Family has varied greatly over centuries. Read on below as MailOnline takes a look back at the tales of royal Christmases from days gone by.
The weird and wonderful historic buildings listed in 2024: From the world's first factory and WWI practice trenches, to an Edwardian road sign and an 'ugly prefab' 60s church
18/12/24 16:15Cromford Mills in Derbyshire is now entirely covered by a Grade I classification thanks to its remarkable history as the birthplace of the modern factory system.
Lord Nelson DIDN'T say 'kiss me Hardy' on his death bed: Letter sent six days after the Battle of Trafalgar reveals alternative account of hero admiral's last words
17/12/24 11:42The British naval hero was fatally shot in 1805 during the Battle of Trafalgar, in which the Royal Navy triumphed over the combined forces of France and Spain.
Search for executed Nazi hunter Eli Cohen: Israel 'trying to find remains of Mossad spy' who was hanged in Syria in 1965 - inspiring Sacha Baron Cohen's Netflix blockbuster
17/12/24 10:57Cohen, a spy for Israel's feared intelligence agency, was hanged in Damascus in 1965 after his cover was blown. The agent was depicted by Sacha Baron Cohen in 2019 Netflix drama The Spy.
The REAL femme fatales who made Black Doves look tame: From the 'Queen of Spies' to the woman dubbed 'the most dangerous of all' by the Gestapo
16/12/24 01:24Daphne Park rose to become one of the most senior controllers at MI6. She ran agents in Moscow during the Cold War, infiltrated Hanoi and smuggled men out of Congo.
The Nazi 'Arab Ratline': How Hitler's WWII monsters found refuge in Syria and Egypt after escaping Germany
15/12/24 12:03Alois Brunner, Franz Stangl, Gustav Wagner, Aribert Heim - all of them Nazi monsters who deserved the worst of punishments, but they all escaped to the Middle East after WWII.
What secrets lie inside Queen Elizabeth II's personal diaries? Although historians are queuing up to access them, only one will get permission for her official biography - so here we look at ALL the runners and riders in the literary race of the century
15/12/24 11:51At the end of every day during her record-breaking 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II would sit down at a desk and spend 15 minutes writing by hand in her diary.
Guard of honour for WWII hero: Funeral of one of last survivors of Battle of Arnhem who 'found an alternative route home' during Dunkirk evacuation takes place after his death aged 105
12/12/24 14:00Raymond Whitwell, who died just nine days after Armistice Day last month, was given a guard of honour at his funeral in Old Malton, North Yorkshire.
The Nazi who helped build Assad's torture regime: SS monster died in Damascus after decades of freedom despite killing more than 100,000 Jews for Hitler
12/12/24 01:58Alois Brunner, once the world's most wanted Nazi, spent his final years in a cell in Damascus, where he was given the choice of an egg or a tomato to eat each day.
Why Henry VIII is to blame for first-cousin marriage being legal: Tudor monarch changed the law in 1540 so he could wed Catherine Howard
11/12/24 14:29It was a prohibition that stood for 1,000 years - until one capricious monarch decided otherwise. In 1540, King Henry VIII changed the law so he could wed Catherine Howard.
Monty Python's Always Look on the Bright Side of Life song could have been VERY different: Terry Jones' first draft goes on display with unseen pictures from late star's archive
11/12/24 10:33A new exhibition of Terry Jones's memorabilia includes unseen images of him in costume as the iconic 'Mr Creosote' character, as well as an original version of the song from the Life of Brian.
The original royal who abandoned Britain to marry an American divorcee: Long before Megxit, on this day in 1936 the abdication of Edward VIII shook the country to its core - and his family never forgave the betrayal...
11/12/24 07:14When it comes to crises in the Royal Family , the past few years have been dominated by Prince Harry 's decision to marry Meghan Markle and leave the UK.
The unholy popes whose religion was incest, orgies and mass murder: Papal scandals immortalised in racy TV shows such as the Borgias make new film Conclave look tame
08/12/24 11:00Pope Sixtus IV oversaw the murder and torture of thousands of Jews in the Spanish Inquisition, whilst Alexander VI was head of the notorious criminal family the Borgias.
When vampires were very REAL: Long before Dracula and Nosferatu sank their teeth into our minds, even scientists were terrified of the blood suckers... and hundreds of innocents were condemned
07/12/24 13:09Once upon a time, vampires were not just screen terrors. They were real creatures stalking the peasant villages of Eastern Europe, sucking the blood of innocents - or so people thought.
Hitler's puppet king: Edward VIII's fury when asked if he had been offered a return to the throne by Nazi dictator had Germany won WWII
05/12/24 01:28Georg Stefan Troller, 103, spoke to the Duke of Windsor in 1966, thirty years after he abdicated so he could marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
The semi-naked ex-King: Unseen pictures reveal Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson on their sad 1937 wedding day and enjoying the summer weather... weeks after George VI's stunning coronation
04/12/24 14:09The former King Edward VIII is seen with scythe in hand in a mystery garden in the summer of 1937, just weeks after his brother, the new King George VI, was crowned at Westminster Abbey.
Let it be? The Beatles' bitter break-up seen in new light in long-lost court documents from Paul McCartney's legal action against the rest of the Fab Four
03/12/24 16:13Sir Paul McCartney launched a legal bid in December 1970 over his opposition to his bandmates' appointment of controversial industry figure Allen Klein as their manager.
Row breaks out over Princes in the Tower murder evidence as Richard III's defenders pour cold water on new 'smoking gun' document
03/12/24 11:37The 12-year-old King Edward V and his nine-year-old brother vanished without a trace in 1483, and their uncle Richard III has long been suspected of ordering their killings.
'I'm being impersonated on Instagram, but Meta doesn't care': Leading art historian reveals anguish over fraudulent account that now has more followers than her
03/12/24 07:50Ruth Millington, the author of Muse: Uncovering the Hidden Figures Behind Art History's Masterpieces, was first alerted to the copycat at the start of last month.
King Henry I's Norman des res opens to visitors for the first time in 400 years: Tower that boasted 12th century 'ensuite bathroom' is set to give a monarch's view of the Dorset countryside
02/12/24 15:24Built for King Henry I in around 1107, the King's Tower at Corfe Castle in Dorset was partially destroyed during the English Civil War. Now it is opening to the public for the first time since then.
The 'murder' of the Princes in the Tower 'solved at last': New evidence links their 'killer' to gold chain of 12-year-old Edward V
02/12/24 10:48The 12-year-old King Edward V and his nine-year-old brother vanished without a trace in 1483, and their uncle Richard III has long been suspected of ordering their murders.
The 'floating bunker' plan for Queen Elizabeth to escape a nuclear attack: As William worries about Armageddon, how the monarch, Prince Philip and the Home Secretary would have survived blasts together
29/11/24 17:03In 1962 - when the Cuban Missile Crisis between the US and Russia had threatened global annihilation - what was initially codenamed Operation CANDID was drawn up.
Former IRA prisoner says Bobby Sands and other 1981 hunger strikers could have been saved - and blames ex-Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and other Republican chiefs for their deaths
29/11/24 15:17Bobby Sands was one of ten who went on hunger strike over the government's refusal to grant Republican inmates 'special category status'.
Day of the Jackal FRAUD: How novel and film led dozens of criminals to copy method of identity theft outlined by author Frederick Forsyth (who admitted he illegally tested it too) - as Eddie Redmayne stars in Sky show
28/11/24 12:20It was a method of identity theft used by the KGB, the IRA, a disgraced MP and even the very man who showed ordinary people how to do it.
Hangman who executed Nazi Adolf Eichmann dies: Prison guard was haunted by nightmares and struggled to even walk after the horrifying thing the death camp monster's body did when he died
28/11/24 11:51Shalom Nagar oversaw the hanging of the war criminal after he was convicted over his role in organising the Holocaust, in which around six million Jews were murdered.
WWII RAF bomber could be buried with its crew under German town: Lancaster that was believed lost over the North Sea in 1945 crashed on land, maps found in mystery wreckage suggest
28/11/24 09:37Lancaster RA508 was one of more than 1,100 planes dispatched to bomb Dortmund on March 12, 1945 - and one of just two aircraft lost during the raid. Above: Lost crew member Kenneth Robert Haw.
The WWI fighter ace who was 'better than the Red Baron': Medals of fearless pilot who shot down ten German planes in one month are set to fetch £20,000
26/11/24 12:24Captain Percy 'Pip' Clayson, of 1 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, shot down ten of the enemy in just one month and was regarded by some peers as 'better than the Red Baron'.
The REAL Day of the Jackal: How crazed assassin came within inches of killing Charles de Gaulle in 1962 plot - as Eddie Redmayne stars in Sky adaptation of Frederick Forsyth's classic novel
26/11/24 11:13It sounds like the plot of The Day of the Jackal: an expert assassin coming within a hair's breadth of killing French president Charles de Gaulle. But on August 22, 1962, that is exactly what happened.
Barbara Taylor Bradford dies aged 91: Typist from Leeds became the 'Grand Dame of blockbusters' and the toast of New York society with her film producer husband
25/11/24 11:00The A Woman of Substance author died peacefully at her home on Sunday November 24 following a short illness, 'and was surrounded by loved ones to the very end', a spokeswoman said.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith recalls tragic final moments of 'tough guy' soldier comrade who was ambushed and murdered by the IRA
25/11/24 10:03Sir Iain (above, as a soldier), 70, was serving in 'very dangerous' Northern Ireland with the Scots Guards when Captain Nairac was kidnapped, killed and secretly buried.
Anchor from British warship that sank with the loss of 173 lives in 1890 is found... being used to decorate Spanish home
25/11/24 09:23HMS Serpent, a British torpedo cruiser, was lost in a storm off the treacherous Costa da Morte or 'Coast of Death' in 1890, during her first commission.
How eight SAS men evaded a Nazi death sentence: Historian DAMIEN LEWIS reveals the untold survival story of Paddy 'Blair' Mayne's troops as they escaped concentration camp deep inside Hitler's dying Third Reich
24/11/24 12:42It was April 11, 1945 - day three of Paddy Force. Blair 'Paddy' Mayne's SAS unit had a mammoth task as they continued their push into Nazi Germany. Above: Corporal Peter Payne on his wedding day.
How safe are the Royal Family? After burglars struck while Prince William's family were sleeping we recall the royal break-ins over the years - from a crossbow-wielding teenager who wanted to assassinate the Queen to a man who wandered in for a wee
23/11/24 08:37Here MailOnline recalls all of the royal break-ins over the years, from the potentially dangerous to the outright bizarre.
The heartwarming true story behind Netflix's Joy: How three dogged scientists determined to 'cure childlessness' helped produce the world's first 'test tube baby'
22/11/24 12:39The story of Louise Brown's birth in July 1978 - and the three fertility experts who fought for her to be conceived - is the subject of new Netflix film Joy, inspired by Louise's middle name.
Ex-IRA bombmaker Dessie Ellis admits he was 'lucky' to be cleared over Hyde Park bombing in extraordinary interview on Mail's new podcast
22/11/24 09:20The ex-bombmaker, 71, was extradited to Britain in 1990 to face charges of building the devices that killed 11 soldiers in Hyde Park and Regent's Park on July 20, 1982. Listen now on Spotify and Apple.
Hollywood legend Cary Grant to be honoured with blue plaque at his childhood home in Bristol - where he spent traumatic early years
22/11/24 00:04Born Archibald Alexander Leach in Bristol in 1904, Grant escaped an impoverished childhood and alcoholic father to become a 20th century icon.
Moment British drugs kingpin Howard Marks bamboozled US agents using phone call coded in Cockney rhyming slang
21/11/24 11:39A new BBC documentary plays to viewers a recording of a phone conversation where an associate told the smuggler in Cockney rhyming slang that his phone was being tapped.
Inside the Colosseum's FIRST gladiator fight: What happened when Priscus and Verus went head to head in front of Emperor Titus at arena's opening in AD80
21/11/24 09:23As historian Dan Snow recounts in a Channel 5 documentary tonight, the first fight in the Colosseum saw two warriors, Priscus and Verus, battle it out in front of Emperor Titus.
Inside Britain's nuclear test scandal: The human 'guinea pigs' and their children who suffered cancers, leukaemia, stillbirths and birth defects after radioactive experiments
20/11/24 00:47'You saw all the bones, tendons, everything through your hands,' says former RAF cook Brian Unthank, 86, in tonight's BBC documentary, Britain's Nuclear Bomb Scandal: Our Story.
Hunt for relatives of 'Jigsaw Murders' victims: University finds in storeroom bones of women killed in 1935 case that was solved with groundbreaking forensics
20/11/24 00:47Dr Buck Ruxton was hanged in 1936 for killing his common law wife and mother of his children Isabella Ruxton. Their nanny Mary Rogerson was also killed.
My ancestor executed Lady Jane Grey: The Crown actor Jason Watkins is stunned to discover he is related to Tower of London jailer who oversaw beheading
18/11/24 15:12For six years, Jason Watkins has been the voice of Inside the Tower of London. Now he has discovered he is related Sir John Brydges, who oversaw the beheading of Lady Jane Grey in 1554.
The horrifying truth behind Wolf Hall: BBC drama shows beheadings, torture and burning at the stake, but the real dark side of Henry VIII's reign was even more gruesome (and forks were a rarity at the Tudor dinner table!)
16/11/24 07:54The BBC show, an adaptation of the mega-selling series of novels by the late Hilary Mantel, is at times gruesome as it depicts executions and torture.
Minimus! Tiny Gladiator-shaped knife handle found at Hadrian's Wall that proves celebrity status of enslaved fighters in Roman Britain 2,000 years ago
15/11/24 01:43The intricately designed copper alloy object represents a secutor gladiator, a strong muscular fighter with heavy equipment including a large shield, sword and helmet.
How the Magic Circle's first female member who posed as a MAN followed in the footsteps of a bra-burning trickster and a card sleuth who took group to a tribunal over all-male rule (but lost)
15/11/24 01:40Sophie Lloyd became the first woman to join the group when she posed a man in 1990. She was then kicked out when she owned up to her deception on the day members voted to admit the opposite sex.
Goodbye Timothy West: How acting great played Winston Churchill three times, starred as King Lear on four occasions and was Danny Dyer's dad in EastEnders
13/11/24 13:21He was a ruthless self-made businessman in Brass, played Winston Churchill three times and starred as Danny Dyer 's dad in EastEnders.
Oldest carving of the Ten Commandments could sell for $2million... after being used as paving slab: 1,500-year-old stone tablet spent 30 years outside Israeli home before it was spotted by expert
13/11/24 09:27The marble slab was found in Israel in 1913 but then spent 30 years being used as a paving stone at the entrance of a home before its significance was spotted.
Inside the Queen's childhood home... and Led Zeppelin rocker Jimmy Page's mansion: New book reveals 'lost' interiors of London's most exclusive properties
13/11/24 08:18Back in July 1927, Princess Elizabeth - the future Queen - was barely a year old when the interior of her parents' London townhouse, 145 Piccadilly, was photographed.
Frank Auerbach dead aged 93: Famed painter who fled Nazis as a Holocaust orphan passes away at his London home
12/11/24 13:55Auerbach, who was considered one of the finest painters of his generation, died at his home in London on Monday.
Titanic widows' watch gift to hero rescuer: Gold timepiece given by wives of liner's wealthiest victims to captain of rescue ship after 1912 disaster is tipped to sell for £120,000
12/11/24 10:33Madeline Astor, Marian Thayer and Eleanor Widener bought the 18ct gold timepiece from Tiffany & Co after they returned safely to New York on rescue ship the RMS Carpathia.
The truth about how accurate that shocking Wolf Hall scene showing Anne Boleyn's execution really was
11/11/24 15:09Last night, viewers watching the BBC 's new series of Wolf Hall were left horrified when Anne's execution was gruesomely depicted just minutes into the first episode.
The original Armistice Day: Pictures show how Londoners took to the streets to celebrate when the First World War ended in 1918 - after the deaths of 900,000 British troops
11/11/24 09:52Londoners celebrating the end of the First World War in November 1918 had been through more than four years of hardship, loss and grief.
Beautiful sketches love-sick WWI soldier sent to his girlfriend from the front as he dreamed of the end of fighting are unearthed in archive
11/11/24 08:09From his digs in France, Greece and Egypt, Private Henry Page conjured up drawings on the backs of the envelopes he used to send letters to his Essex-based sweetheart, Edith Pedley.
The boy who inspired Steve McQueen's Blitz: Picture of black evacuee leaving London in 1940 ahead of Hitler's deadly bombing captivated director - so where is he now?
10/11/24 09:55With an over-sized coat around his shoulders and his meagre luggage tied to together with string, he was just one among thousands of children heading into the unknown.
I stayed at a lakeside lodge at Leeds Castle, a spectacular former Henry VIII love nest - this is what it's like...
08/11/24 12:53Leeds Castle is the love nest Henry VIII renovated in 1519 for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Laura Sharman discovers the magic that has made it a major tourist attraction.
Sir Michael Caine reveals why he thinks Britain would be 'mad to chuck away' the Royal Family after Ian McKellen's VERY savage barb
08/11/24 01:20The acting great, 91, gives his views on the Royal Family in his new autobiography, Don't Look Back, You'll Trip Over: My Guide to Life.
Sir John Nott dead aged 92: Tributes to Margaret Thatcher's defence secretary who famously walked out of BBC interview and offered to resign over Falklands War
07/11/24 09:50Sir John was Margaret Thatcher 's defence secretary when the Falklands Islands were invaded by Argentine forces in 1982.
The original Pirates of the Caribbean: Dutch book that accused Welsh-born buccaneer of using nuns and monks as human shields is set to fetch up to £70,000 at auction
06/11/24 11:04The 'extremely rare' complete copy of De Americaensche Zee- Roovers, by Alexandre Olivier Exquemelin is being sold via Bonhams in London.
Hell of the 1943 Battle of Stalingrad revealed in German soldiers' letters sent as Russian troops closed in amid failure of Hitler's invasion
04/11/24 01:38'Now it really seems the end is near'. Those were the words of just one desperate German soldier in a letter to his family amidst impending defeat in the Battle of Stalingrad in early 1943.
Nazi 'Angel of Death' Josef Mengele's 'prosaic' life in hiding: How monstrous Auschwitz doctor watched soap operas and enjoyed BBQs with friends as a fugitive in Brazil - all while expressing his 'hateful racism'
03/11/24 15:15Watching soap operas, barbecues with friends and enjoying strudel from the local German patisserie. That is how Nazi fugitive Josef Mengele spent his final years.
Channel 4 journalist discovers Indian grandfather's role fighting for Britain in WWII - but claims contribution of 2.5million Indians in victory over Hitler has been 'overlooked'
02/11/24 12:58Until he made a documentary for Channel 4, Bafta-winning journalist Mobeen Azhar, 44, was largely ignorant of his Indian grandfather's contribution to Britain's victory in the war.
From Edward Cullen and Spike to the Salvatore brothers... why do we find vampires so sexy? Historian shares the reasons people lust over the creatures
31/10/24 14:47Folklore historian at the University of Bristol, Professor Ronald Hutton, sent pop culture lovers into a spin after he shared exactly why vampires are the 'sexiest' monsters.
King Charles' veiled attack on the Church of England revealed: Newly uncovered 1998 letter shows future monarch slamming 'loathsome political correctness' among clergy
31/10/24 12:31The then Prince of Wales admitted to his interior designer friend Dudley Poplak that the older he got the more he was drawn to the 'timeless traditions' of the Orthodox Church.
Britain's most haunted art: A 'cursed' charity shop painting, the 'crying boy' prints linked to hundreds of house fires and an eerie portrait blamed for to two DEATHS feature in spooky Halloween exhibition
31/10/24 08:36Visitors to the new temporary 'Screamfest: House of Curses' display in Soho have to sign a waiver to see 'The Unknown Girl' (above), which was returned to a charity shop in Sussex.
How Chancellor Rachel Reeves' all-male predecessors shaped centuries-old role: A urinal in their Treasury office, whiskey at the despatch box and a five-hour Commons speech
30/10/24 12:17Rachel Reeves vowed in the summer that, as Britain's first female Chancellor of the Exchequer, she would 'smash glass ceilings and urinals'.
'Witches marks' are found in 'haunted' medieval manor where ghost of the 'Grey Lady' stalks the corridors
29/10/24 08:07Around 20 carvings dating back to the 16th century were found at Gainsborough Old Hall, in the Lincolnshire market town of the same name.
Moment remains of Nazi 'Angel of death' Josef Mengele were exhumed in 1985 from cemetery in Brazil - where twisted Auschwitz doctor lived under false name while evading international manhunt
29/10/24 01:36What police believed to be the remains of Josef Mengele were exhumed from a cemetery in the town of Embu in June 1985. A forensic examination and then DNA tests proved the identity.
The SAS teenager who said killing would be 'ok': DAMIEN LEWIS tells how WWII hero Alec 'boy' Borrie joined up aged just 16 but became one of leader Paddy Mayne's favourites - and survived being blown up in a jeep
27/10/24 16:06Alec Borrie had joined the Gordon Highlanders claiming aged barely sixteen. Months on guard duty had left him bored stiff, so when calls went out for SAS volunteers he jumped at the chance.
Rare sword given to hero Battle of Trafalgar Navy captain who dismasted one French ship and rammed another before being gravely wounded in 1805 clash is expected to sell for up to £110,000
25/10/24 14:27The exquisite bronze gilt sword was one of 23 given to the British captains who helped defeat the combined French and Spanish fleet at Trafalgar in October 1805.
Winston Churchill the dragon-slayer... and the monster: Exhibition reveals how wartime PM was depicted in cartoons in Britain and Nazi-occupied Europe
25/10/24 11:04In Britain he was the 'dragon-slayer' looming over one defeated enemy after another. But in Nazi-occupied Europe, Winston Churchill was the 'monster' allowing children to starve.
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David Letterman insists he has 'greater humanity' since leaving showbiz for his home state of Indiana
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BRIAN VINER reviews Nosferatu: Fang- tastic! This demonic vampire is a truly terrifying resurrection
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Love Island's Katie Salmon breaks silence after tragic death of ex fiancé Harry and the father of her two-year-old daughter Thiaga
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Mark Wahlberg shows off shock bald transformation in BTS Flight Risk snaps...and fans have hilarious response
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The Traitors' smashes ratings as launch episode draws in 5.4million viewers despite MAJOR technical issue
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Wicked's Ariana Grande reveals her thoughts on Glinda's sexuality after 'queerbaiting' claims
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KT Tunstall is unplugged by power cut disaster... 45 seconds into her big New York night
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Meghan Markle could've 'helped in a meaningful way in the Firm' - but new Netflix series is 'an exercise in celebrity at its most superficial', royal expert claims
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These sell-out £9 pimple patches that are clinically proven to reduce spots in six HOURS are a must-have for the busy party season
SHOPPING
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Love Island All Stars 'snub Zara McDermott over Sam Thompson's strong connections with ITV' amid shock split
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Bethenny Frankel, 54, shows off trim figure as she frolics on the beach with buff boyfriend Tom Villante in Miami
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The Force is still with him! George Lucas sports Star Wars tee in St. Barts despite selling rights to Disney in 2012
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The Traitors fans go wild for faithful Freddie as he strips off for steamy shower scene
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Vera in show first as last ever episode shows Brenda Blethyn's detective as a troubled teenager
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Maura Higgins begins the New Year with a cosy staycation at Soho Farmhouse and shares HUGE clue she's with Pete Wicks
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EXCLUSIVELottie Moss flaunts her sizzling figure in a barely-fitting bikini and goes braless under a crossover dress during Cancun trip
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Inside Claudia Winkleman's pricey wardrobe for The Traitors: Host wears £1,700 worth of stylish pieces from designer brands for launch episode
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EastEnders fans share wild theories over a 'second death twist' as Nish, Suki and Eve's fates are revealed after New Year's Day bloodbath
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The Traitors runs the risk of Ofcom complaints as contestant SWEARS pre-watershed
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Charlize Theron, 49, wows in black one-piece while sunning herself during Mexican getaway
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ADRIAN THRILLS: My shooting music stars of 2025 - and they're all Brits
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Angelina Jolie shares heartbreaking message after Brad Pitt divorce is finalized
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PICTURED: The handsome music consultant Zara McDermott cheated on Sam Thompson with: Inside the Love Island star's infidelity scandal
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EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Queen star Roger Taylor wins battle over barn plan
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Johnny Depp's son Jack, 22, seen on rare outing in Paris after his secret bartending job was revealed
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Is Meghan Markle channelling Martha Stewart? Duchess of Sussex's new 'domestic goddess' Netflix trailer has many sharing same comparison to ex-jailbird TV homemaker
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Andy Carroll goes Instagram official with new girlfriend Lou Teasdale as they cosy up for sweet snaps after his split from wife Billi Mucklow
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Olivia Attwood admits she's 'nervous' to share her face with fans after undergoing a string of 'tweakments' during her Christmas break
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Ellen DeGeneres made Bachelorette alum Ali Fedotowsky 'feel stupid' on talk show
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Meghan Markle stuns fans with a glimpse of very pricey items in the background of new Netflix lifestyle show
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Arabella Chi poses in her underwear as she cradles her growing baby bump and reveals she is 'half way' through her pregnancy
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CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews Lockerbie: A Search For Truth on Sky Atlantic: Colin Firth is a superb choice
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Travis Barker's daughter Alabama under fire for slamming OnlyFans despite her own mom using the racy platform
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Sarah Michelle Gellar fans stunned by star's appearance in new snap alongside husband Freddie Prinze Jr
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The Traitors fans spot Linda and Minah are TURNING on Armani (and even her sister is growing suspicious!) after she declared they need to be 'louder'
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Kanye West's wife Bianca Censori goes braless in eye-popping sheer top in latest risque snaps with rapper
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The Traitors fans have one major complaint about Charlotte after she revealed 'pointless' move that she was pretending to be Welsh
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Sydney Sweeney, 27, shares rare PDA-packed post with Jonathan Davino, 41, while celebrating 'last days of 2024'
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Fans all have the same complaint over Meghan Markle's new Netflix series as they rage: 'This looks terrible'
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How Wayne Osmond beat near-fatal brain tumor in inspiring 1997 battle after collapsing on-stage
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No wonder Zendaya's swooning over him! Tom Holland displays his rippling abs in hunky shoot as he reveals why he chooses not to walk the red carpet with his girlfriend
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EXCLUSIVESean Diddy Combs' twin daughters, 18, look carefree as they pose in bikinis on luxury escape to St Bart's
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Savage X Fenty collection is 50% off using this shopping hack - including bras, sets and loungewear pieces
SHOPPING
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Smiling Prince Harry hugs Meghan Markle as duke makes cameo appearance in trailer for her new Netflix cooking show
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Tom Holland reveals the 'eye-opening' moment that led him to go sober and recalls how his family realised he had a problem with alcohol
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Louis Tomlinson is praised for staying 'true to his roots' as he celebrates New Year's Eve at his local hotel in Doncaster
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Pregnant Michelle Keegan is glowing as she shares first social media update after revealing she is expecting her first child with husband Mark
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Nikki Glaser puts on a busty display as she prepares to host Golden Globes after postponing surgery for gig
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Wicked's Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo reveal how they 'took care of one another' during much-mocked press tour
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Baywatch star Jeremy Jackson's homeless ex-wife Loni Willison, 41, is seen rummaging through LA dumpster
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Max George steps out for the first time since having a pacemaker fitted as he takes pet dog Albert for a walk with supportive mum Barbara
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Lizzie Cundy, 56, wows in a plunging swimsuit as she enjoys an ice lolly during a sun-soaked beach day in Barbados
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Vicky Pattison is hailed as 'stunning' by fans for sharing candid lingerie snap after enjoying a 'really nice' Christmas where she 'drank like a sailor and ate like a caveman'
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Downcast Sam Thompson is seen for the first time since split from Zara McDermott - after he praised another woman's 'unbelievable body'
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Hailey Bieber shares rare snap of her and Justin's son Jack... after flaunting her incredible post-baby body
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Squid Game season 3 first look: New doll is unveiled as Netflix appears to accidentally share release date
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Meghan Markle's new celeb circle: From Mindy Kaling to Suits co-star Abigail Spencer, the showbiz pals featured in the Duchess' Netflix show
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Meghan Markle shows off her cooking skills with an array of fancy dishes in new Netflix series - including one with a royal link
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Brad Pitt's girlfriend Ines 'influenced' him to settle divorce with Angelina so they 'can have kids'
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EXCLUSIVEBritney Spears' hopes for ex Sam Asghari's new relationship
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Ticket prices for Sigourney Weaver's West End debut in Shakespeare's The Tempest are slashed after a string of bad reviews put theatregoers off
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Summer House star Paige DeSorbo breaks her silence on cheating allegations following split with Craig Conover
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Netflix break silence on wild rumor Leonardo DiCaprio will star in Squid Game Season 3
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Madonna, 65, flaunts a VERY smooth visage while posing with her children in post about 'magical thinking'
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All the work plastic surgeons think 'Catwoman' Jocelyn Wildenstein had done over the years, from eyelid surgeries and facelifts to cheek and chin implants
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The new David Attenborough? Tom Hanks bags epic new BBC nature series The Americas from creators of Planet Earth - despite national treasure's vow to never retire
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EXCLUSIVEJustin Baldoni's lawyer slams Jack Schlossberg for claiming he's representing actor in Blake Lively lawsuit
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Katherine Ryan denies using controversial weight loss jabs after daughter Violet, 14, accused her of taking Ozempic
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Andrew Garfield, 41, admits he was 'living and dying by validation' after being hit by an identity crisis in his 20s - as he shares fears he's branded 'worthless' due to his Jewish heritage
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Legendary British actor is unrecognisable in Netflix's new Harlan Coben show Missing You
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Ferne McCann stuns in a skintight cream dress as she celebrates the New Year with pal Danielle Armstrong in Spain - after she and fiancé Lorri Haines hit back at split claims
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Fans are all saying the same thing as Tom Brady shares photos with his and Gisele Bundchen's 'grown up' kids
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Justin Baldoni claims Blake Lively tried to humiliate him by banning him from It Ends With Us premiere
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Fans lose it after nasty Taylor Swift comment sparks battle of the NFL wags
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Catwoman's secret, violent life: From rumored courtesan to billionaire socialite, how Jocelyn Wildenstein's obsession drove her to horrific excess
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Good Morning Britain's Adil Ray sparks outrage 'fat-shaming Luke Littler live on show' - as livid viewers vow to call Ofcom
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Jessica Alba posts telling quote about her 'heart' amid Cash Warren split rumors
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Barry Keoghan delights staff at a small horse riding stables in Dundee as he makes surprise visit
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Coronation Street's Simon Gregson admits 'I didn't think I could come here today' as he reveals crippling health battle
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Maya Jama shows off her cleavage in a plunging black evening gown after celebrating New Year with rumoured love interest Rúben Dias
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Lydia Bright finally confirms she has split from boyfriend Ben Davies as she begins the new year 'single AGAIN' after removing all traces of him online
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Millie Bobby Brown, 20, furiously hits back at critics after sparking backlash with selfie: 'I'm not sorry'
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Pregnant Tennessee Thresher is ENGAGED to Danny Aarons as YouTube star pops the question during luxury Maldives getaway
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Lauryn Goodman looks downcast as she steps out after Kyle Walker and his estranged wife Annie Kilner put on a united display over Christmas
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Maya Jama shared a huge hint she's serious about romance with Manchester City star Ruben Dias as she discusses 'marriage and kids'
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Bethenny Frankel, 54, dons puff-sleeve bikini for New Year's Day dip in Miami with boyfriend Tom Villante
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Alexandra Daddario flaunts swimsuit-clad figure during Iceland getaway two months after giving birth
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'Catwoman' Jocelyn Wildenstein's fiancé Lloyd Klein reveals her final moments after death at 84
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Netflix adds 'remarkable and beautifully crafted' BBC drama with Hollywood heartthrob in lead role 13 years on from original run
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Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer look stylish as they pose next to rarely seen mother Victoria Aitken during New Year's trip to sunny Cape Town
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Sophie Ellis-Bextor breaks her silence after viewers branded her New Year's Eve performance an 'awkward and breathless mess'
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Start the year as you mean to go on! Lorraine Kelly snubs her own show the first day back after hosting just over half of her programmes last year
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From one of the wealthiest people on the planet to 'broke': How did 'Catwoman' Jocelyn Wildenstein lose all her billions as star dies aged 84
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'Spot the highlighter': Trinny Woodall's daughter Lyla Elichaoff pokes fun at her beauty guru mum's bright yellow outfit on luxurious Egypt holiday
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MAFS star Ella Morgan breaks her silence on her split from Alex James Ali just days after 'she accused him of being unfaithful'
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Sam Thompson admits he was blown away by another woman's physique after she 'whacked off her top' in front of him amid Zara McDermott split
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Britney Spears' ex-husband Sam Ashgari goes Instagram official with new girlfriend Brooke Irvine as he moves on after divorce
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Kate Beckinsale reveals she was sexually assaulted and branded 'that c***' on set as she details abuse in Hollywood amid Blake Lively lawsuit
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Inside the lives of 'Catwoman' Jocelyn Wildenstein's 'estranged' children, from private daughter Diane to son Alec Jr's tax evasion
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Meet Anna Friel's lookalike daughter Gracie: 19-year-old plans to follow her famous parents into the showbiz industry
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Is this the photo that proves all is forgiven? Kyle and Annie Walker pose for united family snap with their children - as Lauryn Goodman saga rumbles on
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Zara McDermott hint at split from Sam Thompson days before announcing break-up as fans spot clue
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Stephen Mulhern returns to social media with an empowering New Year message - weeks after collapsing while mourning the death of his father
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Helena Bonham Carter, 58, shows off her unique sense of style as she links arms with boyfriend Rye Dag Holmboe, 36, during romantic dog walk
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Elle Fanning, 26, rings in the New Year with rarely-seen boyfriend Gus Wenner, 34, as she plants kisses on him during getaway to lavish ski resort
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TV's next generation! From model success to stunning on the red carpet, meet Amanda Holden, Tess Daly and Kate Garraway's lookalike daughters
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BBC Breakfast's Jon Kay takes swipe at Good Morning Britain with rare post about ratings as he pays tribute to colleagues
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EXCLUSIVEKendall Jenner unrecognisable in unearthed teen video - as experts think they know what the Kardashians star has done to her face
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Nicole Scherzinger and Thom Evans kickstart 2025 with an exhausting joint workout - hours after boozy New Year celebration
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Stormzy is banned from driving for nine months for using a phone behind the wheel of a Rolls Royce
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'Catwoman' Jocelyn Wildenstein's fashion designer partner Lloyd Klein, 57, breaks his silence following her sudden death at age 84
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Netflix fans rave over 'severely underrated' BBC comedy hailed as 'an all-time favourite' - but you only have days left to watch it
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What Meghan's new Instagram profile with picture taken by her favourite photographer reveals about what she'll do next
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Tammy Hembrow puts on a very daring display as she strips down to a racy black bikini and hits the beach
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Victoria Beckham turns back time as she shows off her youthful complexion while modelling a crop top during while celebrating New Year with David
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Lily Allen reveals she wants to be 'less of a narcissist in 2025' as she reveals album plans following split from David Harbour
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BBC Breakfast fans have A LOT of complaints as The Traitors star bursts into song during 'pure cringe' interview
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Nick Knowles enjoys first night out post knee operation as he cosies up to fiancée Katie Dadzie while ringing in the New Year
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Brooklyn Beckham goes shirtless while 'beautiful' wife Nicola Peltz wraps herself in a bedsheet for intimate New Year snaps
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Molly-Mae Hague admits she experienced her 'lowest lows' during split from Tommy Fury and shares emotional message about daughter Bambi
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Vera fans break down in tears as last ever season finally kicks off - and make desperate plea to ITV bosses
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How to get your next Gavin And Stacey fix after the finale: FOUR actors from the iconic show appear in THIS comedy series set in Wales
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Cruz Beckham, 19, shares a kiss with his girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 29, as the couple ring in the New Year in Brazil
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Rio and Kate Ferdinand party the night away with pals Umar and Nada Kamani as they ring in the New Year at PLT founder's lavish Dubai mansion
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SAS Rogue Heroes viewers all have the same complaint as BBC series returns to screens - fuming 'I can't stick it!'
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James Corden and Ruth Jones reveal the one big reason Gavin & Stacey could never return for more episodes - after success of the Christmas finale
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Joan Collins, 91, looks chic in leather jacket and Chanel cap as she enjoys some retail therapy at J.Crew with husband Percy Gibson, 59
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EXCLUSIVEZara McDermott's relationship with Sam Thompson 'doomed' as soon as she cheated on him with music exec while on X Factor
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Isla Fisher shares poignant post thanking 'supportive' friends after divorce from Sacha Baron Cohen
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Justin Bieber gushes over wife Hailey in sweet New Year's Day tribute
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Fans are convinced Kylie Jenner is pregnant because of subtle detail in her latest video
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Meghan gets a blue tick! Duchess of Sussex's Instagram account is verified hours after her first post - as her follower count surges to 660,000
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Blake Lively's reason for bringing Ryan Reynolds to 'sexual harassment meeting' with Justin Baldoni revealed
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Inside Ruben Dias' love life as Man City defender sparks Maya Jama dating rumours after romantic New Year's Eve celebrations
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Alessandra Ambrosio stuns in slinky netted dress as she toasts to New Year with new boyfriend Buck Palmer
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Jordyn Woods shows off her chic style in a bedazzled top at Knicks game on New Year's Day
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Gavin & Stacey star reveals BBC casting director had to track him down to appear in show's finale after he ditched acting to become a barrister
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Traitors fans hail brutal twist minutes into first episode before Claudia Winkleman reveals another MAJOR change to the format
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Travis Barker's daughter Alabama, 19, puts on busty display in sultry dress after clarifying hospital visit
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Katy Perry and fiance Orlando Bloom welcome 2025 with couple's yoga session... after her comeback flopped
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Chloe Grace Moretz appears to confirm engagement to Kate Harrison after months of speculation
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Timothee Chalamet's sister Pauline shares nude baby bump pic after quietly welcoming first child
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Yellowstone star Luke Grimes shares his FIRST Instagram photo of baby son born in October
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Tom Brady admits 'year hasn't gone the way I want' as he marks NYE with kids amid ex Gisele Bundchen's pregnancy
