The Sun Newspaper

DAVID Beckham is to finally be awarded a knighthood, The Sun can reveal.

The footie legend, 50, will become a ‘Sir’ in the King’s Birthday Honours list next week.

8

8

8

His Spice Girl wife Victoria will be known as Lady Beckham.

Ex-England and Man United star Becks has longed for a knighthood for years.

The news will also bring some joy to the Beckham household amid a rift with their eldest son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz.

Politicians and fellow sports stars have spent years calling for the man known as “Golden Balls” to receive a knighthood.

The father of four — who played 115 times for England and has made major contributions to charity— has struck up a firm friendship with King Charles.

And the monarch dropped a potential hint last month that his wait was coming to an end.

Countryside-loving Becks, who is an ambassador of The King’s Foundation, was seen greeting Charles and Queen Camilla at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Coveted honour

He shares a passion for horticulture with Charles and sported the King’s rose in his lapel.

Charles asked him: “You got it, didn’t you?”

Becks replied: “It was incredible, thank you. It was very kind.”

Letters inviting recipients to accept honours are sent out weeks in advance – and one may have already landed on David’s mat at the time of their chat.

He was first put forward for a knighthood in 2011 after helping to secure the London 2012 Olympics.

But he was blocked from getting the title by the Honours Committee after becoming caught up in a tax avoidance scheme, along with many other stars.

Becks retired from playing in 2013, and his finances were cleared by the taxman at least four years ago – paving the way for him to finally get the coveted honour.

Many thought it would finally come in 2022, after he spent 13 hours queuing with the public to pay his respects at Queen Elizabeth’s coffin, which lay in state in Westminster.

But he was again left waiting for the honour.

8

8

The Sun understands he narrowly missed out on a knighthood in the New Year Honours List published in December last year.

Former England football manager Gareth Southgate got the award.

David had been given an OBE in 2003 for services to football.

He received it from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, watched by proud Victoria, sons Brooklyn and Romeo, and his grandparents.

David and his wife — who shot to fame with the Spice Girls before becoming a successful fashion designer — have an estimated combined net worth of £500million.

David also has a long history of charitable work, which will have been considered by officials on the Honours Committee.

It was inspiring to hear from The King about the work of His Majesty’s Foundation

David Beckham

Last year, he was formally made a charity ambassador by the King, and beekeeper Becks was buzzing with excitement at teaming up with him.

Charles invited Beckham to Highgrove to learn more about the charity, which focuses on “creating better communities where people, places and the planet can coexist in harmony”.

Tours of the grounds help to fund workshops and courses in traditional skills and crafts, and the former footie star met woodworking and embroidery students.

Becks said at the time: “I’m excited to be working with The King’s Foundation and to have the opportunity to help raise awareness of the charity’s work.

8

8

“I’ve always been keen to help young people to expand their horizons and I’m particularly looking forward to supporting the Foundation’s education programmes and its efforts to ensure young people have greater access to nature.

“Having developed a love for the countryside I’m also on a personal mission to learn more about rural skills which is so central to the Foundation’s work.

“It was inspiring to hear from The King about the work of His Majesty’s Foundation during my recent visit to Highgrove Gardens — and compare beekeeping tips.”

In 2020, he teamed up with the Chelsea Pensioners as he backed The Sun’s campaign to save the Poppy Appeal amid the devastating Covid lockdown.

He said he was “in awe” of the veterans as he delivered poppies to their London HQ.

David added: “With another lockdown coming it is more important than ever that we support our veterans.”

8

Becks, also dad to son Cruz and daughter Harper, has carried out lots of charity work focusing on children, and was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador 20 years ago.

To mark his 50th birthday last month he appealed for donations for the charity.

He was also a founding member of the leadership council of charity Malaria No More in 2009, helping to eradicate the disease, even visiting No 10 to highlight the issue.

In 2023, he delighted the Brentford Penguins – a football team for children with Down’s Syndrome — with a visit to celebrate them winning one of The Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards.

He took footballing son Romeo with him to lead a surprise training session.

David celebrated his 50th last month with a string of parties, though Brooklyn stayed away.

The honours will be formally announced later this month.

The government does not comment on them beforehand.

THERE’LL be champagne corks popping in The Woolpack as Emmerdale’s beloved barmaid Bernice Blackstock returns to roost.

The Sun can reveal actress Samantha Giles is making a return to the ITV soap after two years away.

5

But fans will have to soak up every minute of her scenes, as she won’t be back for long.

Bernice is back in the Dales for Gabby and Vinny’s wedding and filming is due to start in a couple of weeks.

A source said: “Everything is being kept very hush hush but of course Bernice’s return is a big deal as one of the soap’s most loved characters.

“And Samantha being back among the cast is a real win too, as everyone loves working with her.”

Samantha first began on Emmerdale in November 1998 until she left in April 2002.

But she was back again for two further stints, once in 2004 and then again in 2023.

She left two years ago to pursue other opportunities, including a theatre production of The Syndicate.

During an interview at the time Samatha, was asked if she’d return to Emmerdale.

She replied: “I don’t feel I’d want to go back to Emmerdale at the moment.

“I’m enjoying doing other things, and the show changes.

“I haven’t had a chance to see what’s going on with the show, so I don’t know whether Bernice would fit into it at the moment.

“Who knows? They might not want the character to come back.

“I don’t think they’ve killed her or anything – they could still do that.

“It’s something that’s there for the future possibly, or not.

“Never say never is what I’m saying.

“For now, I’m enjoying doing lots of different things.”

DOUGRAY PLAYS IT SCHOOL

DOUGRAY SCOTT has been confirmed as the leading man in new BBC drama Crookhaven.

In the series – based on the book of the same name by JJ Arcanjo – the Vigil actor plays Caspian Lockett, the headmaster of a school for young criminals.

5

Adolescence star Amari Bacchus will lead the cast of weird and wonderful schoolkids, known as Crooklings, who are trained to use their skills to be a force for good when they are eventually released into the world.

Industry actress Claire Forlani will play Lockett’s wife Carmen, and will be joined on screen by Slow Horses’ Naomi Wirthner and The Pembrokeshire Murders’ Keith Allen.

The show is expected to make its debut on BBC iPlayer early next year.

HOLLY TO RETURN? YOU BET!

STEPHEN MULHERN will be joined by a very familiar face as You Bet! travels up and down the country.

Holly Willoughby, who quit as co-host due to scheduling conflicts, will return as a celebrity guest.

5

She will be joined by Alison Hammond, Rob Beckett, Judi Love, Aj Odudu, Josh Widdicombe and Josie Gibson for the ITV show’s upcoming second series.

Babatunde Aleshe, Alesha Dixon, Danny Jones, Alex Brooker, Nick Mohammed and soap brothers Adam and Ryan Thomas will also compete.

Stephen said: “I’m thrilled that You Bet! is back – and this time we’re hitting the road.

“Each week I’ll be joined by a top celeb panel as our challengers take on some brilliantly bonkers and amazing challenges.”

FANTASY WOLVES GoT REAL

MOST Game Of Thrones fans will have assumed dire wolves were just mythical creatures when they appeared as pets on the HBO fantasy series.

But the animals are real and were extinct – until now.

5

Boffins at US biosciences company Colossal Bioscience used 73,000-year-old DNA to bring the beasts back to life last year.

And nobody was more surprised than GoT star Sophie Turner.

Speaking with Colossal’s CEO Ben Lamm, the actress, who played Sansa , joked: “I thought they weren’t real, so when are the dragons coming?”

The male wolves, named Romulus and Remus, are growing bigger by the day and are about to get company.

Ben added: “We’re about to introduce the girl, Khaleesi, into the pack.

MORE IN STORE FOR NICK

NICK FROST might be having some awkward conversations on the set of the new Harry Potter TV show if he bumps into JK Rowling.

The comedian will play Hagrid in the HBO adaptation, but later this month he will also take centre stage in a new comedy that is unlikely to appeal to JK, who is outspoken about her views on trans issues.

5

Nick will star in six-parter Transaction, airing weekly from June 24 on ITV2 then available on ITVX.

As store manager Simon, Nick appears alongside Liv played by Jordan Grey, who is described as “a transgender egomaniac” working the night shift in a supermarket.

I exclusively revealed last year that Shaun Of The Dead star Nick would be making the show for ITV alongside Jordan who found fame as a contestant on The Voice in 2016.

Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.

OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes.

Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today. 

♈ ARIES

March 21 to April 20

Neptune starts quiet, then grows stronger through the day – by tonight there will be no denying your feelings are changing.

So resist any impulse to carry on as usual as your chart is calling you to make some changes.

A work timetable may be too tough or tidy for your skills, but you can find smart ways to adjust this.

2

♉ TAURUS

April 21 to May 21

The leap from keeping schemes in your head, to turning them into practical plans, is not an easy one – perhaps you worry you are not ready.

But your chart is supportive, so you can soon be ticking off some impressive boxes.

Steer clear of secrets, trust your gut. If someone feels fake, follow your instincts.

Get all the latest Taurus horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♊ GEMINI

May 22 to June 21

Your personal Pluto power is your potential to walk in other people’s shoes, in ways that benefit you both.

So if you get a chance to step in, do take it – even if you know certain experience or information is still lacking.

You can surprise yourself so much. Passion-wise, look closer in your friends zone, as The One is there.

Get all the latest Gemini horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♋ CANCER

June 22 to July 22

Unusual interests and a way of living life that is unlike anything you’ve ever tried – all these options can be sent your way by eccentric Uranus.

Plus you also have Pluto ability to believe in who you could be, rather than discounting who you are.

This can future-proof your career chart. Luck selects even numbers.

Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♌ LEO

July 23 to August 23

Being honest with yourself about a cash situation can cue a key conversation later.

In any meeting, try to go equipped with a series of answers, even if you are unsure what the questions will be.

Uranus’ influence draws your eye towards an unusual career opening – way outside your current comfort zone.

Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♍ VIRGO

August 24 to September 22

Figuring out what and who you want can go well as the moon intensifies self-awareness.

You can then find ways to fund or otherwise support your decisions.

Second-time-around love can be a theme of your chart – and this time Saturn protects your deepest heart so past mistakes will not be repeated.

Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♎ LIBRA

September 23 to October 23

Turning what you consider weaknesses into personal strengths can be the theme of your chart – but first you need to admit to actions you find difficult.

Hiding your feelings can hold you back from progress.

Neptune’s love of compromise may try to keep love safe rather than exciting – you can use this to your advantage.

Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♏ SCORPIO

October 24 to November 22

Accepting help from friends and family is not easy for you – but try to do it.

People who know you well can offer insight into your past which is useful but also beautiful – they see you and love you as you really are so inner tension can disappear.

Solving problems, on paper or screen, can be your lucky link.

Get all the latest Scorpio horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♐ SAGITTARIUS

November 23 to December 21

Squaring up Jupiter can shake up team members – but also leave a tempting space for you to fill.

Try to think as much about how you’d do this as why you want to. Then you can start as you mean to go on.

Venus prepares to leave your zone of pure romance – so if a big gesture is brewing, start making it real.

Get all the latest Sagittarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♑ CAPRICORN

December 22 to January 20

Safety versus excitement is just one of the big emotional choices bubbling under in your chart – so many moves are lining up that can change your future.

It’s hard to know who to trust at work, but Mars helps you ask the right questions and apply the necessary heat.

Success linked to “L” can be on the cards for later.

Get all the latest Capricorn horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

2

♒ AQUARIUS

January 21 to February 18

Uranus is at work behind the scenes at home – so you may do or say things that surprise people who assume they know you.

Making time for everyone, while also leaving space for yourself, is the happiness key.

New love is chatty and funny, with the knack of making you feel instantly comfortable.

Get all the latest Aquarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♓ PISCES

February 19 to March 20

Jupiter’s swansong in your security sector can unearth opportunities to try a new address for size.

Any quiz show that involves time spent in a special place can be lucky for you too.

In love? Fixing finances may feel a drag but can lighten a shared load. Single? Only until you meet a vibrant Libra.

Get all the latest Pisces horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.

SHOPPERS find there’s an elephant in the room — as a peckish pachyderm helps ­himself to grub at a grocery store.

The 25-year-old male munched on sweet rice cakes and chicken’s eggs after barging into the shop in Thailand on Monday.

4

4

Even getting wedged under the low ceiling did not stop him as he searched the aisles for treats — without a shopping list, as elephants never forget.

Shopkeeper Khamploy Gakaew eventually took him to tusk, ushering the wild animal out of her store.

She said: “This was the first time an elephant had visited the store. I hope he doesn’t come back.

“I was worried about the damage he could cause.

“He ate sweet, crispy rice cakes and chicken eggs before walking out.

“I was surprised to see it eating sweet food, as elephants usually search for something salty.”

She added: “We see elephants occasionally, and they will bother street food vendors for food. But this was unusual.”

4

4

EVERYONE’S talking about fat jabs – the ‘miracle’ injections trimming inches off waistlines, and helping turn the tide on the obesity epidemic.

But what if there was an even easier – and cheaper – way than Ozempic-like injections, Wegovy and Mounjaro?

4

4

Science sits still for no slimmer and already, the next big thing is looming large on the horizon – and it could be as simple as popping a pill.

Slimming tablets have been around for decades, but now scientists want to harness the new momentum in obesity medicine – and use the billions being made from the jabs – to bring pills back with a bang.

Professor Jason Halford, of the European Association for the Study of Obesity, tells Sun Health: “I think pills will eventually replace injections.

“People don’t particularly like them and they’re a bit afraid of injecting themselves.

“You’ve got to have the device, the needle, the sharps bin, it’s got to be refrigerated, there are all sorts of challenges.

“If you can move it all to a tablet you can increase acceptance and hopefully it will be cheaper and become more widely available.”

Professor Richard Donnelly, editor of the medical journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, and clinical adviser at online weight loss clinic Juniper, agrees.

“Thirty years ago weight loss tablets had a terrible reputation and nobody really wanted to prescribe them,” he adds.

“They had rare but severe side effects and weren’t particularly effective.

“Now there is a whole flood of development and a lot to be optimistic about.

“There is a big hope that developing pills will improve accessibility and cost less.”

There are several pills in development – some stimulate the same hormones as jabs to make us feel full, while others mimic bariatric surgery.

The end goal is the same – to do what willpower alone fails to achieve and stop us eating so much.

While some are yet to even be trialled in humans, one has already been submitted for approval in the US, meaning they could be available before the end of the year.

4

The most advanced pills being made are by the same companies behind the fat jabs.

Novo Nordisk, creator of Wegovy and Ozempic, has developed a tablet version of semaglutide, the active drug in those injections.

It applied for approval from the US Food and Drugs Administration last month.

Trials showed patients lost an average of 15 per cent of their bodyweight over 17 months on a 50mg daily dose, compared with eight per cent over 12 months on Wegovy.

Participants were three times more likely to achieve “meaningful” weight loss when they were taking the pill, compared to those not taking the tablet.

Rival company Eli Lilly, which makes Mounjaro (tirzepatide) announced the results of its pill orforglipron in April.

The two drugs both work by stimulating GLP-1 hormones that make you feel full.

Patients taking 36mg of orforglipron lost eight per cent of their bodyweight in 10 months, equating to 1st 2lbs from an average starting weight of 14st 3lbs – while participants taking a placebo lost just 3lbs.

It compares with 15 per cent weight loss in a year on Mounjaro.

Lilly said their pill “could be readily manufactured and launched at scale for use around the world”.

But injections and pills have not been compared head-to-head yet.
Studies are ongoing and taking the science behind these game-changing jabs and applying it to tablets, does not guarantee success.

Pfizer abandoned the development of its drug lotiglipron in 2023 when a trial indicated potential liver damage as a side effect.

Drugs tend to be more easily absorbed by the body when they are injected directly into the bloodstream, compared to being digested through the gut.

And that’s another key consideration – what the potential side effects of these new pills could be.

Unpleasant side effects were the downfall of the old generation of slimming pills.

4

The NHS has prescribed a pill called orlistat for years, dishing out £12million worth of it in England last year.

It works by preventing the gut from absorbing fat from food – but it means fat must be passed out in poo instead of digested.

This can lead to flatulence, more regular bowel movements and diarrhoea.

It can also cause bladder pains and breathing troubles – and weight loss doesn’t match up to the jabs.

About eight in 10 patients suffer at least one side effect when using injections, most commonly tummy upset, according to trials.

Early data suggests pills might have similar rates.

Around six per cent of people taking any of Lilly or Novo Nordisk’s pills or injections quit the medicines because of side effects.

Dr Leyla Hannbeck, of the Independent Pharmacies Association, says: “The old generation drugs tended to be uncomfortable for a lot of people whereas these new ones are much more effective.

“All medicines will have side effects but the fact that the results are much better now means people are more willing to endure them.”
Prof Donnelly said he still does not expect new tablets to be as strong as jabs, adding: “I don’t think anybody believes these will cause the same level of weight loss that you might be reporting with Mounjaro.

“The flipside of that is that major weight loss might not all be good.

“Some of that might be muscle and if you lose 30 per cent of your body weight that is a fairly major transformation.

“Having an oral agent that reduces your weight by, say, 10 or 15 per cent, might actually be more sustainable, better tolerated and medically safer in some respects.”

While the GLP-1 tablets are likely to be first to market, inventors are also working on a daily pill that mimics the effects of gastric bypass surgery.

‘GASTRIC BYPASS’ PILL

US company Syntis Bio’s offering, named Synt-101 creates a 24-hour lining in the gut that means food cannot be absorbed in the top six inches of the small intestine.

Rather, digestion is redirected to the lower areas of the gut, where hormones that tell the brain we are full, are triggered faster.

Working in a similar vein to surgery, it means patients feel fuller faster – and the lining is passed when the patient goes to the loo the next day.

Synt-101 has passed its first human safety tests and is expected to enter a full-scale clinical trial next year.

Another pill in development, Sirona, is made by UK-based Oxford Medical Products, and contains a “dual polymer hydrogel” that expands in the stomach when it comes into contact with water.

It works like a gastric balloon, filling the patient’s tummy making them feel full for hours, but is passed in their stools “several days” later.

Early data from an NHS trial found patients lost 10 to 12 per cent in a year of treatment and there were no serious side effects.

Experts believe weight loss pills will serve a variety of purposes – as a follow-on treatment after stopping fat jabs, as an option for those who can’t or don’t want to use jabs and for people with less severe obesity, and less weight to lose.

There are hopes they will be less toxic than injections, which often cause side effects like stomach aches, vomiting or diarrhoea.

Weight regain after treatment is also an emerging issue with the jabs, which can currently only be prescribed for up to two years in the UK.

Rahul Dhanda, chief executive of Syntis Bio, said: “Patients don’t want to be stuck on a revolving door of injections and their side effects; they want to be on a manageable and sustainable weight loss path.

“Oral drugs that are simple, tolerable and safe will be the rational choice for maintenance therapy.”

MORE than half of Brits who used to watch Doctor Who say they turned off because it had become “woke, boring rubbish”.

That is the result of an ­independent survey conducted as star Ncuti Gatwa exited the Tardis with a paltry 2.3 million viewers on Saturday.

4

4

4

In a shock twist, he appeared to regenerate into the Doctor’s former companion Rose Tyler, played by Billie Piper — but many are not convinced she is the Time Lord’s 16th incarnation.

The Sun exclusively revealed last month that Ncuti, 32, would be leaving the role after two series — the shortest tenure of any actor in the role since Christopher Eccleston, who left the rebooted BBC show after one series in 2005.

The survey quizzed 2,135 adults and found 42 per cent of current and former viewers said it had got worse since its relaunch two decades ago, with ­stories increasingly preachy and worthy.

Even one in three current viewers think it has got worse.

Plotlines over the past three years have featured trans heroines, non-binary baddies and drag-queen villains — and the Doctor coming out as gay, and crying in most episodes.

James Johnson of pollsters JL Partners said: “This is the first ever major poll done on attitudes to Doctor Who and the results are bleak.

“The public believe a once-great show has lost its way — and their biggest complaint is it puts pursuit of wokeness above entertainment value.

“The main words associated with it are rubbish, boring, and woke.

“If the BBC want to grow the show’s audience once more, they will need a total revamp.

“And to get back to telling entertaining stories rather than preaching lessons that simply do not have an audience among the British public.”

The poll found 46 per cent of current viewers think it puts social justice and woke issues above quality, compared with 37 per cent who believe the show puts quality first.

Those who have stopped watching say it puts social justice and woke issues first by a ratio of three to one.

The average age of current viewers is 42, compared with 51 for ex-fans.

They are also heavily Labour voters compared to a more politically diverse former audience.

The wokery ratcheted up after Doctor Who was taken over for a second time by showrunner Russell T Davies in 2023.

He was the man who rebooted the show in 2005 with Eccleston, followed by David Tennant.

4

Who has starred in Doctor Who?

Which actors have portrayed the famous Time Lord over the years?

• First Doctor: William Hartnell (1963 – 1966)
• Second Doctor: Patrick Troughton (1966 – 1969)
• Third Doctor: Jon Pertwee (1970 – 1974)
• Fourth Doctor: Tom Baker (1974 – 1981)
• Fifth Doctor: Peter Davidson (1982 – 1984)
• Sixth Doctor: Colin Baker (1984 – 1986)
• Seventh Doctor: Sylvester McCoy (1987 – 1989)
• Eighth Doctor: Paul McGann (1996)
• Ninth Doctor: Christopher Eccleston (2005)
• Tenth Doctor: David Tennant (2005 – 2010)
• 11th Doctor: Matt Smith (2010 – 2013)
• 12th Doctor: Peter Capaldi (2014 – 2017)
• 13th Doctor: Jodie Whittaker (2018 – 2022)
• 14th Doctor: David Tennant (2023)
• 15th Doctor: Ncuti Gatwa (2023 – present)

A respectable 5.1 million tuned in to see his “comeback episode” with David returning to play the Doctor for a second time in 2023.

The actor then handed over to Ncuti who had his first full series as the Fifteenth Doctor last year.

One Whovian writing on X/Twitter, said: “Thanks to RTD (Russell T Davies) Ncuti is tainted and ‘15’ will be remembered as the worst Doctor with the worst era in the history of Doctor Who.”

The Sun revealed BBC bosses were considering a hiatus for the show, though execs maintained they would not make a decision until the second series had aired.

Russell T Davies teased a return on Saturday, saying: “After 62 years, the Doctor’s adventures are only just beginning!”

But that seems optimistic given their current multimillion-pound deal partnership with Disney+ is facing an uncertain future — and the viewing figures for one episode of the last series fell as low as 1.6 million.

A spokeswoman for Doctor Who said: “Doctor Who remains one of the biggest dramas on the BBC and is the most watched drama for under-35s, as well as being one of the most popular brands on BBC iPlayer.

“As we have previously stated, a decision on any future deal between the BBC and Disney+ regarding Doctor Who is yet to be made and any other claims are pure speculation.”

MABEL scrapped an entire album before making her new self-titled mixtape – after being “crippled” by the expectations.

The singer, whose previous album About Last Night came out in 2022, said she felt pressure to live up to her debut, High Expectations.

9

It won her a Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist.

Mabel said on TikTok: “I did scrap an album.

“I kept waiting for this moment like, ‘Now’s the time to put out an album’, but inevitably you change, you grow, and the music you made last year or the year before, you’ve kind of outgrown it.”

She added: “People expect you to do certain things and get certain accolades again like it’s easy.

“But that has been crippling, mentally and creatively, for me for years.”

Cardi’s love boat

CARDI B put the boot into her ex-husband Offset by going Instagram official with American football player Stefon Diggs.

The WAP rapper has been rowing with the Migos musician for weeks, with him seeking spousal support from her in their divorce, which she is arguing against.

9

9

But Cardi made it clear he’s the last thing on her mind as she confirmed her romance with Stefon in sexy snaps on a yacht.

Good for her.

SAM IN THE KIT PARADE

SAM FENDER is out on the Toon as the star of an ad to launch Newcastle United’s new third kit.

I revealed last week how the Geordie singer had signed a massive deal with Adidas, as part of a tie-in with his beloved Magpies.

9

9

9

My exclusive pictures show Sam on set at the Tyneside Irish Centre, just over the road from St James’ Park, as he filmed the new ad with more than 100 extras.

My source said: “As well as the Adidas ad tying in to Sam’s massive People Watching tour which kicks off in London on Friday, it will be used to launch Newcastle’s new third kit.

“He arrived at 3pm and filmed for five hours with loads of extras. Sam was decked out head to toe in Adidas and played his guitar. He was on top form and everyone who met him said he was absolutely lovely.

“It was a long shoot but everyone who took part got to take home a pair of brand new trainers as a treat.

“Sam is really pleased with how the ad looks and so are the big cheeses at Newcastle United.”

Since his debut album Hypersonic Missiles, which went straight to No1 in 2019, Sam has been on the most incredible rise.

I’ve no doubt the journey is going to get even more exciting for Sam in the years to come.

And now he’s got some lovely new clobber to wear while he’s doing it.

MILEY CYRUS is battling it out with Garbage to score her third No1 album on Friday.

Her album Something Beautiful is in the lead to top the charts.

But just behind her is Garbage’s new record Let All That We Imagine Be The Light.

They may face opposition from Taylor Swift, whose album Reputation is at No8 in midweek figures.

NADINE TO TELL ALL IN MEMOIR

NADINE COYLE has risked falling out with her Girls Aloud mates again with a memoir that promises to “tell all” on their career, including notorious “bust-ups”.

She reunited with Cheryl Tweedy, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh last summer for a successful UK tour after patching up their differences.

9

But I imagine they might be more than a little worried about what Nadine has written in the book, called Loud: Diary Of A Derry Girl.

It is due to be released in time for Christmas, with details about it leaking online after Amazon put up a pre-order link early, seemingly by accident.

A description said it will be “an intimate tell-all account” of her life.
It added: “This is her story, a story full of friendships, a lot of laughs,

some bust-ups and just a whole lot of pop.”

It’s also likely to touch on her close friendship with bandmate Sarah Harding, who died from cancer in 2021, so I’m sure it will be an emotional read.

RADIO 2 In The Park is heading to Chelmsford, Essex, for three days from September 5-7.

The annual music festival will take place in Hylands Park, with tickets going on sale at 8.30am tomorrow.

That will follow the line-up announcement during Scott Mills’ breakfast show this morning.

JOJO: HEAD OVER HEELS FOR CHRIS

JOJO SIWA has finally confirmed her romance with reality no-mark Chris Hughes, two months after meeting in the Celebrity Big Brother house.

Jojo split with her partner hours after leaving the ITV show in April.

9

She said in a new interview: “It’s not platonic any more.

“It’s been a beautiful development, a beautiful connection, and I’m absolutely head over heels for him and he’s the same way.”

Hitting back at critics, she added: “Anyone who suggests the relationship is a PR stunt is only telling on themselves.

“Clearly, you’ve never been around us.

“I won’t ever speak for him, but for me personally, the happiness in my life just radiates off of me right now.”

Alexandra vamps it up

ALEXANDRA BURKE looks incredible as she prepares to take on the role of Morticia in The Addams Family musical comedy.

She got into character ahead of the UK tour which starts in Birmingham on July 10.

9

The production will tour other spots including Leicester, Salford, Canterbury and Blackpool.

But while Alexandra has made a name for herself as a stage actress, she will return to music.

On taking a break to have her two children, Alexandra said: “Babies happened. One planned. Another baby happened . . .  wasn’t planned.

“But the plan is music. I’m hopefully coming back, I promise.”

Alexandra, whose last album The Truth Is came out in 2018, added: “Life just happened and I’m so grateful for my gorgeous children. It’s slowed me down, it’s made me realise the most important things in life.”

PASSENGERS could enjoy quicker journeys and fewer delays under the first shake-up of flight paths in 70 years.

Ministers have ordered an overhaul of UK airspace to create more direct routes.

The review could also let planes climb into the sky quicker to reduce the noise for communities below.

In the long-term, the government says the redesign would even create the necessary airspace for the “flying taxis” of the future to operate.

Britain’s flightpaths have not been changed since the 1950s when there were just 200,000 flights per year, compared with 2.7million in 2024.

It has resulted in flight congestion that often forces planes to circle overhead before landing, causing frustration to passengers as well as more emissions.

A new UK Airspace Design Service will be up and running by the end of the year, and will first focus on re-carving London’s flightpaths in anticipation of a third Heathrow runway.

Transport Minister Mike Kane said: “Redesigned ‘skyways’ will turbocharge growth in the aviation industry.

“Not least by boosting airport expansion plans and supporting job creation, driving millions into the UK economy as part of the Plan for Change.

“Modernising our airspace is also one of the simplest ways to help reduce pollution from flying and will set the industry up for a long-term sustainable future.”

Tim Alderslade of Airlines UK added: “Modernising UK airspace is long overdue.

“These changes will help to speed up a programme that will provide tangible reforms, from a reduction in delays, improved resilience and lower carbon emissions.”

1

MEL B is spotted along with two of her Spice Girl bandmates at her 50th birthday bash.

Emma Bunton and Mel C were among the guests in leopard-print outfits, in homage to Scary Spice Mel’s best-known stage get-ups.

5

5

5

But Geri Horner and Victoria Beckham were not at the Leeds party on Saturday.

Insiders said Posh was away for work and Geri declined the invitation to the event.

We told last week how the Girls’ ex-manager is in talks for them to reunite as avatars, following in the steps of Abba.

An insider spilled: “Mel’s throwing a huge party in Leeds for her 50th. It’s also her fiance’s birthday today so it’s a joint celebration and will be a real family affair.

“But Geri and Posh can’t make it. Posh had a work commitment she couldn’t get out of. 

“It’s a bit awkward given the reunion excitement.”

The Sun has contacted their reps for comment.

The snub comes just days after we revealed plans for the group to reunite as Avatars, following in the footsteps of pop legends Abba.

It would see holograms of Geri, Mels B and C, Emma Bunton and Victoria playing their biggest hits.

5

5

IN 2015, 12 twentysomething singles walked into a Majorcan villa for the very first time – and ­viewers fell head over heels for Love Island.

The premise was simple: couple up and don’t get dumped, to win £50,000.

Ten years on, psychologist Dr Louise Goddard-Crawley says: “Love Island rewired the way we think about love, attraction and even language. It normalised enhanced beauty.”

With the 12th series kicking off next Monday, here we look at how the show shaped the nation.

SKIMPIER SWIMWEAR

10

THE Islanders’ clothes — or lack of — made us reassess our own poolside wardrobes.

Thongs stole the show in 2018, with contestants including Laura Anderson and Georgia Steel wearing the painful-looking cheese-string variety.

Sales of thong bikinis subsequently soared as the nation got on board.

But a family-friendly pool in Lincolnshire banned customers from wearing “thongs or see-through” garments, dubbing it the “Love Island effect”.

In 2019, Molly-Mae Hague and Yewande Biala helped spark an underboob revolution, while 2022 contestant, Antigoni Buxton, inspired us to turn swimwear tops on their head, with searches for “upside-down bikini” rising by 203 per cent.

Sun Fashion Editor Clemmie Fieldsend says: “At the start of each series I’m hit with a barrage of emails from retailers reading, ‘Get the Love Island look’ as they all quickly roll out the on-trend swimwear for that year.”

MAKE-UP RITUALS

10

AS well as putting their love lives under the spotlight, the Islanders revealed their beauty hacks.

In 2018, Dani Dyer brushed her false eyelashes with a spoolie and blasted them with a hairdryer to give them a fluffy look.

The following summer, Molly-Mae sparked the top-knot trend after she gave a tutorial on how to achieve her trademark hairdo, while in the show’s Beach Hut.

And last year, Ella Thomas changed the way we cleanse our faces when she blew on a cotton pad soaked in micellar water — causing the liquid to foam.

A TikTok video on the tip has 13.8million views.

THE LOVE ISLE LOOK

10

BOOB jobs, fillers, Botox — you name it, a Love Island contestant has had it.

Every summer, fans take to Google to see what islanders looked like before their tweakments, with bombshell Megan Barton-Hanson’s transformation one of the most talked about.

The “Love Island Effect” has been blamed for a boom in the number of women — many of them young or even teenagers — seeking cosmetic procedures.

One plastic surgeon said that requests for dermal fillers increased twelve-fold after last year’s series. Demand for other tweakments at High Street salons is up 31 per cent in five years.

However, many former contestants such as Molly-Mae and Shaughna Phillips have had their filler dissolved.

And series two’s Malin Andersson, has given up Botox.

TOXIC ISLANDERS

10

THE show has made headlines over the years for demonstrating the problematic and toxic behaviour of both men and women.

In 2019, domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid accused Adam Collard of “gaslighting” Rosie Williams by denying he was flirting with Zara McDermott, who he later ended up with.

Similarly, in 2022 the charity was “forced” to speak to ITV after being tagged by viewers in social media posts criticising Luca Bish for his “misogynistic and controlling behaviour” towards screen partner Gemma Owen.

Contestants have also faced bullying claims.

Earlier this year, media watchdog Ofcom received thousands of complaints about All Stars contestant Elma Pazar’s “alleged bullying” of co-star Ekin-Su Culculoglu during an argument.

However, the pair were soon shown working through their fall-out before making up.

THE LINGO

10

REMEMBER the time when “muggy” referred to the ­weather and “my type on paper” was just a font?

The show’s catchphrases have left a lasting impression on the English language.

“The ick”, made popular by Olivia Attwood, was added to the Cambridge Dictionary in 2024, defined as “a sudden feeling of dislike or loss of attraction towards someone or something”.

Linguist and interpreter Ana Clarke says the show’s own lingo has even helped British men drop the stiff upper lip and better express ­emotions.

She said: “Now we see younger males talking about their feelings. They talk about ‘my type on paper’, ‘being mugged off’, ‘keeping their options open’.

“They often talk about relationships and use the word ‘journey’.”

Other terms popularised by the show include “pied” (to be dumped); “it is what it is” (that’s the situation); “putting all my eggs in their basket” (focusing on one person); and “melt” (liking someone so much that you don’t mind embarrassing yourself to prove it).

MENTAL HEALTH

10

SADLY, Love Island has been hit by a number of tragedies, which highlighted how reality TV shows that thrive on ­conflict and emotions can harm the mental health of contestants.

After the suicides of former Islanders Sophie Gradon (series two) and Mike ­Thalassitis (series three) and presenter Caroline Flack within a period of 20 months, ITV was thrown into turmoil.

Bosses introduced new duty-of-care protocols including pre-show psych-ological and medical assessments, training on social media impacts and ongoing support both during and after the programme aired.

Following Caroline’s shock death early 2020, Love Island and its sponsor JustEat replaced advertising with messages from charity Samaritans.

PR expert Nick Ede said: “ITV understood that they do have a duty of care. They put in place stringent guidelines to really support each of the contestants.

“After Caroline, it was important for them to support their viewers as well.”

A STAR IS BORN

10

A BEVVY of beauties have found fame on the show — becoming some of the our most talked about and successful celebs.

Even the losers have walked away winners thanks to lucrative brand deals or showbiz gigs.

Nick Ede says: “They are kind of relatable. Millions feel they could be with them or be on Love Island.” Season five runner-up Molly-Mae has been the most successful influencer.

She has made an estimated £6million from deals with Pretty Little Thing, L’Oreal and Beauty Works.

She now has a daughter with her Love Island boyfriend boxer Tommy Fury, her own clothing line and a docuseries with Amazon Prime Video.

Ovie Soko, Dani Dyer and Kem Cetinay also raked it in from brand deals.

Alex and Olivia Bowen have a son and are worth almost £10million, mainly due to ­sponsored Instagram deals. Maura ­Higgins has fashion and beauty deals and hosts a US Love Island spin-off.

Olivia Attwood makes document-aries and a podcast.

Amber Davies is a West End star.

FASHION FOOTPRINT

10

CUT-OUT dresses and co-ords and, for men, spray-on jeans were all popularised on the show.

The early seasons’ contestants were dressed by sponsors including fast-fashion retailers I Saw It First and Missguided, but it soon sparked a backlash.

In 2022, the show made headlines by announcing it would now dress the Islanders in pre-owned outfits from eBay, to promote more sustainable shopping habits.

PR expert Nick Ede said it was a savvy move by ITV to appeal to eco-conscious Gen Z.

“It opened them up to a whole new generation,” says Nick. “We know younger audiences are more conscious when it comes to clothing.”

ONE SIZE FITS ALL

10

YOU can’t deny there is a ­stereotypical Love Island look.

While the show has included contestants such as Tasha Ghouri, who is deaf and wears a cochlear implant, raising awareness around her disability, it has been criticised for ­failing to include any plus-size contestants.

Dating coach Eimear Draper says: “TV shows such as Love Island are putting a huge amount of pressure on beauty standards. For those who already ­struggle with self- esteem, this is concerning.”

Eimear, founder of Kindling Dating, adds: “All the women look the same with their ­bikinis, tanned skin and long, flowing hair.

“The Love Island guys likeChris Hughes are all hunks. They are buff. They, too, are tanned and tattooed.”

Young blokes have been warned by the group UK Anti-Doping not to resort to performance-enhancing drugs to achieve “ripped” physiques,

Periodically, Love Island has also been accused of tokenism, with often only one or two black contestants each series. Last year, Mimii Ngulube and Josh Oyinsan became the first black couple to be crowned winners.

LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX

10

IN the early days, the show was a bit of a bonkfest.

Ofcom received complaints about one couple getting busy in front of their rival housemates in series two.

And Miss Great Britain Zara Holland was stripped of her pageant title after getting it on with Alex Bowen.

Series three winners Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies were also at it like rabbits.

In 2018, producers decided to stop showing sex scenes. Nowadays, you might just get a glimpse of a headboard banging or happy feet under the sheets.

But experts reckon the show has, in some ways, sexually empowered women.

Therapist Sergio Rebelo says: “Many women on the show are unafraid to talk about their bodies and sexuality. This can encourage others to discuss their own sexuality.”

Case in point: Maura ­Higgins talking about which of the men gave her “fanny flutters”.

Then there’s ex-stripper Megan Barton-Hanson, who was on Love Island in 2018 and later paired up with Ann ­Summers to launch her own range of sex toys.

A TOP doctor campaigning for pay rises and strike action has a sideline running two start-up companies, we can reveal.

Cardiologist Dr U Bhalraam is deputy co-chairman of the British Medical Association’s resident doctors committee — which is backing six more months of walkouts.

It is urging members to strike, claiming they are paid 23 per cent less in real terms than in 2008.

This is despite resident doctors — formerly known as junior doctors — getting an almost 30 per cent pay rise over the past three years.

On his website, Dr Bhalraam says he’s “focused on full pay restoration”.

But The Sun on Sunday has found that Dr Bhalraam has also set up two firms of which he is sole director and owner.

He launched Datamed Solutions Ltd, a data processing company, last June and just a few days later UBR Property Holdings Limited, which is described as a letting company.

They are both registered to his smart £330,000 house in Norwich, where he works at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Resident docs have taken industrial action 11 times since 2022, causing about 1.5million appointments to be cancelled.

A YouGov poll of 4,100 adults found almost half oppose the strikes.

1

HAMAS has said that it is ready to release hostages in a bid to end the war in Gaza.

The move by the terror group is part of a response to a US ceasefire proposal.

2

Hamas said it would release ten living hostages and 18 bodies in return for Israel’s release of a number of Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas said: “This proposal aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire, (Israeli) withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and ensure the flow of aid to our people and families.”

There was no immediate response from Israel to the statement.

But PM Benjamin Netanyahu had last week told families of the hostages they had accepted the US proposals.

It comes as Gaza health officials said yesterday that 14 people had been killed and 284 injured in the past day.

Yesterday, The UN warned that Gaza had become “the hungriest place on Earth”.

It said the territory’s entire population was at risk of famine.

Displaced Palestinians living in tents were handed food by aid agencies.

Women and children were among those gathered in Khan Yunis holding pots and pans.

Jens Laerke, of the UN’s humanitarian agency, said it was the only area on the planet where 100 per cent of the population was at risk of famine.

He added: “Gaza is the hungriest place on Earth.”

2

A BRITISH businessman has been accused of spying and plotting to smuggle sensitive military technology to China.

The FBI claim investigators intercepted phone calls in which John Miller, 63, called Chinese leader Xi Jinping as “The Boss”.

The 63-year-old from Kent is also alleged to have tried to buy military hardware in the US for the People’s Liberation Army.

This included missile launchers, air defence radars and Black Hornet “microdrones” that can fly within feet of enemy soldiers and enter buildings to spy on troop positions.

Other equipment he attempted to purchase included a hand-held device approved by America’s National Security Agency for the secure communication of classified material.

Mr Miller also suggested smuggling a device by glueing it inside a food blender so it could then be “sent via DHL or Fedex to Hong Kong, according to US court papers.

The FBI said Mr Miller calling Xi “The Boss” showed his “awareness that he was acting at the direction and control of the [Chinese] government”.

He was arrested on April 24 after he was caught in a sting when the ‘arms dealers’ he was negotiating with turned out to be undercover FBI agents.

Mr Miller was on a business trip to Belgrade, Serbia, at the time and is still being held last night facing extradition to the US.

He is accused of conspiring with US-based Chinese national, Cui Guanghai, 43, and if convicted, both men face up to 40 years in prison.

Neighbours at his five-bedroom £1.5million home in Tunbridge Wells described him a “respectable family man”, according to the Mail on Sunday.

1

BRA-VO to Helen Flanagan as she models lingerie for her debut underwear collection.

The former Coronation Street actress, 34, has launched the range with Nikki Intimates.

4

4

4

Mum-of-three Helen said she loves modelling lingerie and plans to do it into her 60s.

She recently split with former non-league footballer Robbie Talbot, 45, after a year together.

The former Corrie star, 34, had claimed she wanted children with the ex-non-league footie star, 45.

But friends say the mum of three instead now wants to concentrate on her career and family.

A source said: “They want different things in life. She has just landed a new acting job and is trying to juggle work projects with the kids.

She sat him down two weeks ago and said, ‘This isn’t working’. It was a grown-up chat.

“She just wants to be on her own for a while although she still has feelings for him.”

Helen split from Scott Sinclair, dad of her three kids, in 2022.

She met divorced dad Robbie in a bar just as she was about to go on E4’s Celebs Go Dating.

4

THE widow of tragic The Wanted star Tom Parker has a “kiss me quick” moment at the seaside with her dad-to-be boyfriend.

Kelsey Parker, 34, who is eight months pregnant, also checked out rings with 27-year-old tree surgeon Will Lindsay.

4

4

4

The loved-up couple went on a windswept walk in Brighton with Kelsey’s two young children by Tom.

The singer died in 2022 aged just 33 from brain cancer.

Before going public with her new relationship in September last year, Kelsey said she knew her late husband would “send the right man for her.”

Tom captured the hearts of fans as one-fifth of chart-topping boyband The Wanted, known for hits like Glad You Came and All Time Low.

Even while undergoing treatment, he continued to perform, famously taking to the stage with the band in emotional final performances during their reunion tour.

Since his death, Kelsey has worked tirelessly to honour his legacy.

She has organised an annual charity football match in his name to raise funds and awareness for brain cancer research – a cause that now means everything to her.

The Sun revealed last year that Kelsey had found love with tree surgeon Will Lindsay, two years after Tom’s death.

4

HAVING family over soon but stuck for ideas as well as cash?

You could jazz up dishes, for added wow factor, just by using leftover uncooked veg to knock up some pickle or relish. Here’s some ideas . . . 

RECYCLE OLD JARS: You will need jars to put your pickle or relish in, and could get a 12-pack of 300ml ones at Hobbycraft for £9, but the cheapest way to get started is to reuse empty jam or sauce jars.

Give them a good wash, or pop in the dishwasher then use boiling water to rinse.

TANGY TREAT: Pickled red onions are easy. Finely slice the onion, pop in a jar, cover with white wine vinegar, £2 at Sainsbury’s, and add a pinch of salt and of sugar.

Put the lid on and shake, leave for 20 minutes before trying — adding more vinegar, salt or sugar as you think best.

Pop in the fridge and use on everything from tacos to sarnies.

SPICE OF LIFE: Slice up any spare chilli peppers and pop in a jar.

Then put 100ml of water in a pan and heat on the stove with a few teaspoons of sugar and one of salt, plus you could add mustard seeds or bay leaves from your spice rack. Bring to the boil then pour the liquid into the jar.

Carefully put the lid on the jar and leave to cool. Once at room temperature, store in the fridge and the chillis should keep for a few months.

CRUNCHY RELISH: Use up any mini- cucumbers or radishes to make a tasty relish.

Slice your veg and keep it crunchy by adding to a sieve with ice cubes for ten to 20 minutes before pickling.

Make a brine following the same instructions as before, leave to cool and add to the jar with your veg.

You can also add onion, and herbs such as dill, for extra flavour.

PASS THE CARROTS: The key for great pickled carrots is to cut them up into very fine matchsticks or use a peeler to create shavings.

Follow the same brine instructions as above, but add some rice wine vinegar if you have it, as well as a dash of fish sauce.

Once cooled and refrigerated, you can use these on Asian dishes such as dumplings or stir fries.

• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.

8

Deal of the day

8

PICK up the Graco Myavo Stroller in midnight black at smythstoys.com – usually £124.99, now £99.99 as part of the baby goods sale.

SAVE: £25

Cheap treat

8

TUCK into a Curry Pot Noodle from Iceland. They were £1.20 each, now down to 67p.

SAVE: 53p

What’s new

8

CHARM your way into a loved one’s heart with a gift from Pandora.

The summer sale is now on, with up to 40 per cent off the popular charms and jewellery.

Top swap

8

8

GIVE brows a makeover using the Diorshow brow styler, above, £24.95, or try the budget e.l.f. Instant Lift brow pencil, below, £3, both Boots.

SAVE: £21.95

Shop and save

8

HIDE clutter in a stylish storage trunk. This Remy basket was £25 and is now down to £20 at Dunelm.

SAVE: £5

Hot right now

STOCK up on your favourite beers at Morrisons with an offer of three packs for £30, saving around £9.

Includes ten-packs of Estrella and Doom Bar.

PLAY NOW TO WIN £200

8

JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.

Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.

Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.

The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!

WHY do we have so many awareness days, weeks and months? Some of them seem utterly ridiculous. The health related ones, though, are a good idea. 

It is National Smile Month. One in three adults have tooth decay, so this campaign promotes eating less sugar and processed food, drinking more water and visiting the dentist.

And I’ve put some products to the test to help you smile . . .  

MOUTHWASH 

3

IF ever there was a man who says “teeth” it is TV presenter Rylan Clark – his are gleaming! And he has teamed up with British oral care brand Waken. 

I am not always keen on products pushed by celebs, but Rylan believes in Waken and has invested in it. I like it too. I love their whitening toothpaste and the Waken Advanced Care Mouthwash. 

It is made with natural peppermint, strengthens enamel with fluoride, and comes in a recycled bottle. This is alcohol free and a 500ml bottle costs £5.  

The company has just started selling in major supermarkets. See wakencare.com 

CHEWING GUM 

3

I CHEW so much gum I could put a cow to shame – but not all gums are good for you thanks to the sweeteners, sugar and chemicals in them. 

But some do have health benefits. 

Peppersmith is one such example. It contains the plant-based sweetener xylitol and is approved by the Oral Health Foundation. 

Chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol after meals, is scientifically proven to reduce cavities, neutralise harmful acids, and keep breath fresh. 

Xylitol is a natural sugar alternative that bacteria cannot digest, meaning it actively fights tooth decay. 

It also helps to strengthen enamel – unlike sugary mints and gum that mask bad breath and contribute to cavities. 

The gum comes in mint, lemon and strawberry flavours. I wasn’t keen on the fruity ones – but the mint is great and is £1.35 for 15g at Sainsbury’s. 

See peppersmith.co.uk. 

TOOTHPASTE 

3

SALT toothpaste made by Weleda has been around for more than 100 years, but has soared into the brand’s list of bestsellers in the last two years. 

That’s because it is a chemical-free, eco-friendly toothpaste popular with those looking to avoid additives – there are no detergents, bleaches, foam boosters or optical brighteners in the product. 

No fluoride either – some people are worried that too much can lead to dental fluorosis or skeletal fluorosis, which can damage bones and joints. While rare, fluorosis is a factor. 

This toothpaste uses sodium bicarbonate, which is a salt that breaks down to form sodium and bicarbonate in water. This helps to promote healing in the mouth, and to ease ulcers, cuts and sore patches. 

It is totally free from microplastics too. It tastes like bicarbonate of soda but my mouth felt really fresh after using. I liked it. It’s priced at £5.95 for 75ml. 

See weleda.co.uk. 

OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes.

Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today. 

♈ ARIES

March 21 to April 20

Your creative juices flip into overdrive, and ideas flow from you – the moon’s deep insight draws you towards the one that will give you the greatest satisfaction.

So you know what to do next.

A regular weekend meet-up has an undercurrent of attraction, and an intriguing new face can be the source.

2

♉ TAURUS

April 21 to May 21

Pluto is a stamping-feet kind of planet – today this can come through in stubborn resistance and unreasonable demands.

So if you sense these rising up, take steps to deal with the situation.

Staying in control is less important than happiness.

Two mega-smart moves can get a cash plan moving again.

Get all the latest Taurus horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♊ GEMINI

The moon and sun bring a stronger sense of self, plus the confidence to express this everywhere you go.

Not letting bad behaviour pass without action is the theme of your day, and you are ready to see it through.

Looking back at family legacy dates can tell you something sensational about a familiar face.

Get all the latest Gemini horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♋ CANCER

June 22 to July 22

Maybe you feel your resolve wavering, especially when a hot Taurus is around.

Remember you can resist over-spending, or saving, but still keep a reserve of cash for a rainy day.

Trusting yourself to cope is a smarter strategy than checking up on yourself.

The luck factor links to a tattoo that is unique and artistic.

Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♌ LEO

July 23 to August 23

After a time of second-guessing, you can start to feel sure you know your true ambitions – but be prepared for these to be different to what you expect.

Use down time to confirm with your head what your heart already knows.

This can apply to work, but also to love. A past Number One hit can be lucky.

Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♍ VIRGO

August 24 to September 22

Building up your hopes and taking them seriously is a better strategy than trying to deny them.

People closest to you can sense something is going on, and they will welcome your ability to be honest.

But it’s the way a recently arrived neighbour seems to really listen, and love your voice, that captures your heart.

Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♎ LIBRA

September 23 to October 23

The sun has so much learning heat radiating into your chart – so even going back to a failed test or task can reap rewards.

But you must be ready to believe in yourself. If you’re not quite there yet, it’s fine to take a few more days.

Experience of a very unusual world can pay off when you are asked to do a talk, or show.

Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♏ SCORPIO

October 24 to November 22

Mercury can have a calming influence – so reflect on why you may be resisting.

If you fear you may say or do something that sets a plan back, ask someone you trust for a second opinion.

You can take it on board, but don’t have to do what they say.

Weighty love words slip thorough in the lightest chats, so do listen well.

Get all the latest Scorpio horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♐ SAGITTARIUS

November 23 to December 21

The rule-breaking side of planet Uranus is playful – and you can have lots of fun, but make sure it doesn’t tip into sarcasm or cruelty.

You are the sunniest sign in the zodiac. It may be a challenge to stay that way, but you have everything it takes.

As for romance, initials E and H intertwine for a lifetime of love.

Get all the latest Sagittarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♑ CAPRICORN

December 22 to January 20

With those fitness schedules you plan to start following, the week can start with a surge of motivation, and end with a short-list of potential sports and activities.

When choosing someone to fill a gap, try to go for the opposite of who you might usually choose.

This can bring a ray of sunshine into your everyday life.

Get all the latest Capricorn horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

2

♒ AQUARIUS

January 21 to February 18

Doing everything you can to keep the shares equal in a group is a smart move.

So however tempting it may be to take charge, dial down your eager Aquarius self.

A group goal is worth so much more to you than a solo one.

Passion may have much to say, but stay silent – until you stage a special performance.

Get all the latest Aquarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♓ PISCES

February 19 to March 20

Saturn makes sure you know exactly who you are and where you stand, but this may not be what those closest to your heart are expecting.

So give everyone time to get used to your choices.

A temporary store or stall can spark interest in an item from your past.

Gather all family views before you make any move.

Get all the latest Pisces horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

EX-TOWIE star James Argent has ditched the lawyers who kept him out of jail after he assaulted his girlfriend. 

The former reality TV star is now on to his third legal team since the May 5 assault in Spain. 

3

3

Argent, 37, struck a deal with public prosecutors and accepted a six-month suspended prison sentence for the attack on former Miss Sweden Nicoline Artursson, 32, at a rented home. 

She suffered injuries to her neck, arms, hand and leg.

He was hauled to Fuengirola’s Court of Violence Against Women and admitted the crime of mistreatment. 

A well-placed legal source said: “The individual who was convicted has appointed a new barrister and solicitor.” 

The new lawyers have not been named but may be involved in negotiating terms of a rehabilitation course he has to attend. 

The ex-Towie star James Argent was ordered to pay his ex-girlfriend just £250 in compensation for attacking her.

Argent, 37, was handed a six month suspended prison sentence after hurting Nicoline Artursson at their Spanish home.

He frogmarched her to the door of their picturesque beachfront property and pushed her down a set of steps.

Cops wanted to charge Argent with wounding but settled for the lesser offence of ‘mistreatment’ after he agreed to a plea deal.

But court papers obtained by The Sun show Argent – who raked in £5,000-a-week last year – was only required to pay Nicoline a paltry £250 in damages.

3

THEY say age is just a number – but how old you feel does not correlate to the number of candles on your birthday cake. 

A new study found 36 years old is the age when most of us notice we are no longer in the first flush of youth.

10

But there are plenty of ways to continue to feel young at heart. 

Here Laura Stott suggests ways to turn back time in a flash, whatever your age . . .  

CHALLENGE YOURSELF

10

Whether it’s a fun run, starting dance lessons or walking 10,000 steps a day, set a target that is achievable. 

Completing a task that stretches your capabilities has been shown to build confidence and provide a sense of accomplishment, which makes us feel more youthful.

Feeling physically fitter puts a youthful spring in your step, too. 

SAY CHEESE

10

Forget Botox or going under the knife, if you want to take decades off in an instant, then just smile more.

Research has found that people with happy faces are perceived as younger than they are, and also feel it. 

One study found that images of cheery faces were considered much to be more youthful-looking than those with neutral expressions. 

PUT ON RECORDS YOU LOVED IN YOUR YOUTH

10

Whether these are rave tunes or power ballads might depend on how many decades have passed – and whether you first heard them on CD, vinyl or cassette.  

But whatever, listening to those songs can turn back the years in your mind. 

Studies show that favourite sounds activate a region of the brain linked to autobiographical memories. 

HAVE MORE SEX

10

Making love can leave you looking and feeling five years younger, according to one study. 

The research, for the charity Age UK, revealed that keeping busy between the sheets makes older adults both look and feel years younger.

Experts believe this is because sex releases feelgood hormones, endorphins. Another UK study even found that regular sex can make you look up to seven years younger. 

STAND UP STRAIGHT

10

As we get older, practising good posture is a proven way to look and feel younger.

Keeping your spine tall, shoulders down and core strong will stop your skeleton from looking outwardly old, by preventing stooping or sagging.

It can make us feel more confident which also turns back the clock cognitively. 

Whether sitting, standing or walking, pay attention to posture, to harness its instant anti-ageing benefits. 

TRY NEW FOODS

10

If you always eat the same foods, change things up a bit. 

Whether that means a cuisine you’ve never tasted, at a new restaurant, or just varying your mealtime routine, these new experiences should make you feel open-minded.

Even if you don’t enjoy the flavours, breaking a dietary rut should make you feel younger. 

STAY ORGANISED

10

From filing your paperwork, to sorting your wardrobe, good housekeeping has been proven to make people feel younger. 

Researchers in 2019 concluded that the more ordered people’s homes were, the more youthful they felt – with a structured environment boosting their optimism and improving memory, even longevity. 

GET SOME KIP

10

Studies show that tiredness from a lack of quality shut-eye can make us feel ten years older. 

Participants who did not have sufficient sleep reported feeling older than their real age. 

In contrast, research in Sweden, at Stockholm University, found that being well rested can make us feel up to four years younger. 

YOUNG AT HEART

10

Embracing a youthful mindset can also work wonders. 

Don’t dismiss activities or opportunities as not being for you because of your age – challenge those ideas.  

Whether it’s downloading TikTok, a new hobby or wearing this summer’s latest trend, remain curious about new things – whatever your age. 

How to reverse ageing in just 2 weeks, according to royal go-to nutritionist

LONDON -based Gabriela Peacock, who has helped the likes of Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie prepare for their weddings.

She told Fabulous: “The science is evident that we all have the power to make simple life changing alterations to better our future selves – no matter what genetic hand we might have been dealt with.

“The reality is, we all sometimes indulge in unhealthy eating habits like processed foods, smoking cigarettes, drinking too much alcohol, inhaling city pollutants, and even drinking water from plastic bottles – none of this is good for us. 

“All this does is promote the ageing process, but we all have the potential to change this.”

It may be hard, but try to keep away from sugary carbohydrates, because they feed chronic inflammation, which is one of the worst enemies of reversing ageing. 

Now only will you end up putting on weight if you consume them regularly, but your energy and hormonal levels will be affected and this will influence how you look and feel.

Whatever your age or state of health, it’s never too late to reverse how quickly you are ageing and embrace the energy and vigour of a younger you.

Antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C, and E, are essential in neutralising free radicals—the culprits behind premature ageing. 

Integrating a spectrum of colourful fruits and vegetables into your diet provides a potent source of antioxidants.

Omega-3 fatty acids, abundant in fatty fish like salmon and flaxseeds, are vital for maintaining skin elasticity and hydration. 

Omega-3s act as nourishment for your skin, locking in moisture and diminishing fine lines and wrinkles. 

Collagen, a structural protein dwindling with age, can be replenished through collagen-rich foods like bone broth and lean protein sources.