ENGLAND goalkeeper Jordan Pickford downed “shot after shot” with party girl Lauryn Goodman and pals during a wild night out.

An onlooker said that Pickford, who has two children with wife Megan Davison, was doing “slammer after slammer”.

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Everton and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford bought shots and partied with Lauryn Goodman during a wild night out in London[/caption]

Alamy

Lauryn has two children with Manchester City and England ace Kyle Walker[/caption]

He was seen buying drinks for team-mates and Love Island celeb Lauryn, 33, at upmarket hotspot Bagatelle in Mayfair, West London.

She has two children with Manchester City and England ace Kyle Walker, who was wed to Annie Kilner.

An onlooker said: “Jordan’s missus Megan might not be best pleased to know Jordan was partying alongside Lauryn given her track record with Kyle.

“Megan knows Annie too from England games so it was amusing to see him buying shots for people at Bagatelle, including Lauryn.”

Everton stopper Pickford, 30, propped up the restaurant’s bar on Sunday alongside a handful of other Toffees players.

The onlooker added: “There was no awkwardness, everyone in the room was having the best night and Jordan later moved on to Mistress of Mayfair with everyone.

“Jordan was the life and the soul of the party and was splashing the cash, doing slammer after slammer.”

Pickford was in the capital following Everton’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal last Saturday.

The following day he went to Winter Wonderland before going to Bagatelle.

The onlooker said: “He made an absolute wonder save in their match against Arsenal so was clearly in the mood for a celebration.”

But a second source added: “Jordan had no idea the shots he bought were drunk by Lauryn. When the players realised she was there, they asked security to move her.”

Lauryn was in London to meet MP Peter Kyle to discuss issues around the Child Maintenance Service.

Alpha Press

Pickford is married to his long-time partner, Megan Davison[/caption]

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Kyle Walker was married to Annie Kilner when he fathered two children with Lauryn[/caption]

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Jordan didn’t know he was buying shots for Lauryn, claim teammates[/caption]

WITH his mouth watering recipes and clever, time-saving ideas, top chef Jamie Oliver could easily claim the crown as King of Christmas.

With the big day nearly here, we asked the nation’s favourite celebrity kitchen whizz to share his favourite, failsafe festive recipes to take the stress out of the big day.

PA

From his ultimate Christmas turkey with mulled wine gravy to perfect roast potatoes, Jamie’s last-minute-guide will ensure you’re all set for December 25.

He even shows you a nifty way to save time by doing veg in the air-fryer and an alternative Christmas Day dessert.

Apricot & sausage stuffing

Sweet onions, fragrant sage & nutmeg

Jamie Oliver

JAMIE says: “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with using a packet stuffing, but I promise you won’t regret making your own.

“This combo is such a good one – the sweetness of the apricots pairs beautifully with the sausage meat.”

(Serves 10. Time: 1 hour 20 minutes, plus cooling)

YOU NEED:

• 2 onions
• 1 bunch of fresh sage (30g)
• 50g unsalted butter
• Olive oil
• Zest of 2 clementines
• 1 whole nutmeg, for grating
• Optional: 100g turkey livers
• 100g dried apricots
• 100ml Vin Santo
• 200g stale bread
• 400g higher-welfare sausage meat or pork mince

METHOD:

1. Peel and roughly chop the onions, then wash the sage leaves in warm water.
2. Place a large frying pan on a medium-high heat with the butter and 1 tablespoon of oil.
   Tear in most of the sage leaves, then add the onions, the clementine zest, a good grating of nutmeg and a pinch of pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low and fry for 5-10 mins, until the onions soften.
3. Meanwhile, trim the livers, if using, remove any sinews and roughly chop with the apricots, then stir into the pan. Once the time is up on the onions, pour in the Vin Santo, turn up the heat to medium-high and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and the alcohol has cooked away. Leave to cool.
4. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. Whizz the bread to crumbs in a food processor then stir into the pan with the sausage meat.
5. Use your hands to squash and squidge everything until well combined. Put half of the stuffing mixture (around 500g) aside to stuff the neck and legs of your turkey, then pack the rest into an oiled baking dish (15cm x 20cm).
   Flatten the stuffing down and use your hands to almost tuck the edges into the dish to create a mound in the middle.
6. Scatter over the reserved sage leaves and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil then bake for 50 minutes, or until cooked through and golden.

Ultimate roast potatoes

Golden & delicious

Jamie Oliver

JAMIE says: “When it comes to the perfect roasties, I always start with Maris Pipers.

“There are a few ways you can add incredible flavour to your roasties: I always go for punchy garlic and fresh rosemary with my spuds, and you can amplify that flavour with a delicious combo of turkey dripping, butter and oil.”

(Serves 10 as a side dish. Total time: 2 hours)

YOU NEED:

• 2.5kg Maris Piper potatoes
• 2 tbsp turkey dripping
• 1 knob of unsalted butter
• Olive oil
• 1 bulb of garlic
• ½ a bunch of fresh rosemary (15g)

METHOD:

1. GET AHEAD: Peel the potatoes, keeping them whole, and ideally all about the same size (roughly 8cm). Parboil them in a large pan of boiling salted water for 15 minutes – this will ensure that the insides become really fluffy.
2. Drain in a colander and leave to steam-dry for 2 minutes – this will help the fat to stick to the potatoes. Give the colander a few light shakes to fluff up the edges of the potatoes, giving you maximum surface area for a crispy exterior as they roast.
3. Put the dripping, butter and 1 tablespoon of oil in your largest roasting tray placed on a medium heat. Tip in the potatoes, add a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper, then toss to coat. Spread them out in one, fairly snug, even layer – leaving a small gap between them. Cover and leave in the fridge overnight.
   ON THE DAY:
4. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. Take the potatoes out of the fridge and roast for 1 hour, or until the potatoes are crisp and golden all over.
5. Remove the tray from the oven. Squash the bulb of garlic, then lightly crush each unpeeled clove and add to the tray. Pick the rosemary leaves and – importantly – toss with a little oil (this will transmit the flavour and make them deliciously crisp).
6. Sprinkle the rosemary over the potatoes and press down on the potatoes with a fish slice. Roast for a further 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden and amazing. Heaven.

Air-fryer root veg

With garlic & herbs

Jamie Oliver

(Serves 4 as a side dish. Total time: Prep 10 minutes, cook 35 minutes)

YOU NEED:

• 640g root veg, such as carrot, butternut squash, parsnip, swede
• Olive oil
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
• Red wine vinegar

METHOD:

1. Roughly chop the root veg into 2cm chunks (there’s no need to peel it).
2. Place in a large bowl with 1 tbsp of olive oil and a pinch of sea salt and black pepper. Toss together until well coated.
3. Place the veg in the air fryer* and cook at 170C for 25 minutes, turning the veg
   over or shaking the basket every 10 minutes.
4. Peel and slice the garlic, pick and roughly chop the rosemary.
5. Add the garlic, rosemary and a splash of red wine vinegar to the air fryer and toss together with the veg, then cook at 190C for a final 10 minutes, or until cooked through and golden.  NOTE: Tested in a 4.2-litre air fryer. All air fryers are different, so results may vary.

Ultimate roast turkey

With mulled wine gravy

Jamie Oliver

JAMIE says: “This is my ultimate guide to the most delicious, juicy turkey.

“It’s only once a year that we invest in this amazing bird, so it’s important to get it right.

“Technically, it’s one of the hardest meats to cook – so I’ve perfected the timings for cooking and resting, with a few nifty shortcuts to guarantee maximum flavour.”

(Serves 10, with leftovers. Total time: 3 hours 40 minutes, plus cooling and resting)

YOU NEED:

• 1 x 5.5kg free-range turkey with giblets
• 1kg pork stuffing
• Olive oil
• 1 clementine
• 1 clove
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 bunch of mixed woody herbs, such as rosemary, sage, thyme
• 250ml red wine
• 1 heaped tablespoon plain flour
• 1.5 litres quality chicken, turkey or veg stock

TRIVET:

• 2 sticks of celery
• 2 carrots
• 2 onions
• 1 clementine
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 star anise
• ½ cinnamon stick

METHOD:

1. GET AHEAD: On Christmas Eve, remove the giblets and place most of the stuffing into the neck of the turkey, then press the remainder into the cavity between the legs, leaving space for the air to circulate.
2. For the trivet, use the heel of your knife to bash the neck to release more flavour. Roughly chop the heart, liver and kidneys. Clank up the celery and the carrots, then peel and quarter the onions. Chuck everything into a large roasting tray. (You could use the tray you used to mix the stuffing.)
3. Halve one of the clementines and add to the tray with the bay leaves, star anise and cinnamon.
4. Place a rack over the tray – large enough so that it rests on the rim, then sit the turkey on the top – this allows space for air to circulate under the turkey so it cooks evenly and efficiently. Cover and place in the fridge until Christmas morning.
   ON THE DAY:
5. Take the turkey out of the fridge 1½ hours before you want to cook it.
6. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas 4. Rub the turkey with 2 tablespoons of oil and season with a pinch of sea salt and black pepper.
   When you’re ready to cook the turkey, spike the remaining clementine with one clove and a bay leaf, and microwave on full power for 40 seconds. Use tongs to carefully stuff it inside the front of the turkey (it will be quite hot!) along with the woody herbs. Cover the breast and legs with foil and roast for 1½hours.
7. Remove the foil, baste the turkey and return to the oven, uncovered, for 1 hour until beautifully golden, tender and cooked through, or until the juices run clear from the thickest part of the thigh if you pierce it with a knife or a skewer. Leave to rest for 1 hour to 1½ hours.
8. To make the mulled wine gravy, skim all fat from the trivet tray into a jar – keep to make the most delicious roast potatoes!
9. Remove the bay leaves, cinnamon stick and star anise from the tray and mash up the veg. Break up the turkey neck and strip out the meat. Scrape the meat and veg into a large pan placed on a high heat. Add the wine and bubble away, until reduced. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring for a minute or two, then pour in the hot stock. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and let it tick away for half an hour, until thickened to your desired consistency.
10. Strain through a coarse sieve, pushing everything through, and serve in a warm jug alongside your turkey. Happy Christmas!
    TIP: To work out the timings for other bird weights, check out jamieoliver.com/features/guide-to-christmas-turkey.

Mulled wine glazed ham

Sticky orange marmalade, sweet pineapple & festive spices

Jamie Oliver

JAMIE says: “Beautifully finished with a sticky mulled wine-inspired glaze, this is Christmas ham at its finest.

“Fragrant and full of flavour, it makes the perfect festive centrepiece. Plus, it’ll give you a stash of beyond-delicious leftovers.”

(Serves 14 with lots of leftovers.Total time: 2 hours & 40 minutes)

YOU NEED:

• 1 x 2.5kg (approx) higher-welfare unsmoked middle-cut gammon, with knuckle.
• A few sprigs of woody herbs, such as rosemary or thyme
• 3 fresh bay leaves
• 2 sticks of celery
• 2 carrots
• 1 onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Half a fresh red chilli
• 1 tbsp whole black peppercorns
• Olive oil

GLAZE:

• 1 x 454g jar of orange marmalade (no-peel)
• 175ml full-bodied red wine, such as Rioja
• 1 star anise
• A few cloves, plus extra for the pineapple
• Half a stick of cinnamon or 1 pinch of ground cinnamon
• 1 fresh bay leaf
• 1 clementine
• 1 x 435g tin pineapple rings in juice

METHOD:

1. Take your meat out of the fridge and bring it to room temperature before you cook it.
2. Place the gammon in your largest pot, then strip in the woody herbs and add the bay. Roughly chop the celery and carrots, peel and quarter the onion, and squash the garlic cloves – then add it all to the pot, along with the chilli and peppercorns.
3. Cover with water, bring to the boil, then pop the lid on and simmer gently for two hours, or until the meat is tender, turning it halfway, topping up with water occasionally and skimming away any excess fat.
4. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. Transfer the gammon to a large roasting tray (save a little of the stock for later), then carefully remove the skin and discard, keeping the fat on the meat. Score the fat in a criss-cross fashion, then drizzle with a tablespoon of oil. Roast the gammon for 20 to 30 minutes, or until lightly golden.
5. To make the glaze, spoon the marmalade into a non-stick frying pan on a medium heat, pour in the red wine and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
6. Add the spices and bay, strip in the clementine zest using a speed-peeler, then pour in the pineapple juice, saving the fruit for later. Allow to bubble away and reduce by half, then switch off – it should be thick and syrupy.
7. When the roasting time is up, take the tray out of the oven, then arrange pineapple rings over the gammon, securing them with a few cloves. Arrange the rest of the pineapple in and around the tray, then pour the glaze over the meat.
8. Spoon half a ladleful of the gammon stock into the pan you used to make the glaze, scrape up all the sticky bits from the bottom and pour into the tray, ensuring all the gammon and pineapple is coated. Roast for a further 20 minutes, or until beautifully glazed, basting with the glaze every five minutes.
9. Transfer the glazed ham to a serving platter, ready to slice hot, cold or at room temperature. Pour any remaining glaze from the tray all over the ham, and arrange the pineapple slices around it.

LOVE YOUR LEFTOVERS: After cooking, allow the ham to cool before covering tightly with tin foil and storing in the fridge – it will keep for up to three days.

A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING: If you’re offering this as a gift, it’s best to cook it on the day you want to give it – this will give the lucky recipient the maximum time to enjoy it.

Once cooked and cooled, keep it well-covered and chilled in the fridge at all times (don’t be tempted to pop it under the tree!) – and make sure you pass on the same storage instructions.

BUDGET-FRIENDLY SWAPS: If you’re after a more cost-friendly recipe, simply ditch the pineapple and swap the gammon for 3 x 1.3kg unsmoked higher-welfare ham hocks.

Follow the recipe up to Step 3, then simmer gently for just 1 hour 30 minutes and continue with the rest of the recipe above.

When you reach Step 9, use a couple of forks to shred the ham off the bone, discarding the bones and any wobbly bits of fat, then transfer to a serving platter and pour over any remaining glaze.
You’ll end up with something really special, without breaking the bank.

Epic sticky toffee pudding

Jamie Oliver

JAMIE says: “One of my favourite childhood desserts, made in a tray for ultimate ease – it always brings a smile.”

(Serves 16. Total time: 46 minutes)

YOU NEED:

• 2 Earl Grey tea bags
• 200g Medjool dates
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• ½ nutmeg
• 350g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
• 350g golden caster sugar
• 350g dark muscovado sugar
• 350g self-raising flour
• 4 large free-range eggs
• 50ml whisky
• 300ml single cream

METHOD:

1. Preheat the oven to 160C/325F/gas mark 3. Steep the tea bags in 175ml of boiling water, destone and add the dates, then stir in the bicarb and leave for 10 minutes.
2. Remove the tea bags, then blitz the mixture in a processor. Add the cinnamon and ginger, grate in the nutmeg, add 175g of the butter and 175g of each sugar, all the flour and the eggs, then blitz again until smooth.
3. Grease a 20cm x 30cm baking dish with butter, pour in the pudding mixture, then bake for 35 minutes, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean.
4. To make the caramel sauce, put the remaining butter and sugars into a small pan, along with the whisky.
   Simmer for 5 minutes on a medium heat, until you get a shiny, spoonable consistency, whisking occasionally, then remove from the heat and stir in the cream.
5. As soon as the pudding is out of the oven, pour over half the caramel sauce, serving the rest on the side, for drizzling over. Delicious rippled with tinned custard (like you see in the picture), or with whipped cream or ice cream.

EASY SWAP: To make this alcohol-free, simply swap the whisky for orange juice, or just leave it out

• For more brilliant Jamie Christmas recipes head over to jamieoliver.com/christmas for Jamie’s Christmas Masterplan, for all you need for the big day!
• Epic sticky toffee pudding from Simply Jamie, by Jamie Oliver, published by Penguin Michael Joseph. © Jamie Oliver Enterprises Ltd. Photography: © David Loftus.

A MAJOR supermarket has slashed the price of a huge advent calendar that includes a full-sized bar of Cadbury chocolate to just £1.

The chocoholics dream advent calendar has been dramatically reduced in price a few days before Christmas.

Morrisons

This giant advent calendar has been reduced in price ahead of Christmas[/caption]

The Cadbury Dairy Milk adult advent calendar contains either chocolate chunks or a little Dairy Milk chocolate robin behind each door.

The chunks include bites of classic Dairy Milk chocolate, Dairy Milk caramel and Dairy Milk whole nut.

Then, behind the 24th door is a special full-sized Cadbury Dairy Milk winter wonderland bar.

The advent calendar had originally sold for around £8, making Morrisons‘ deal a dramatic 87.5% cheaper.

As soon as December begins, the price of advent calendars tend to drop, with shoppers able to pick up sweet treats for pennies.

So, if you’re someone happy to forego having a door to open on every day of December there are huge bargains to be had.

It’s not just advent calendars that have been reduced in price ahead of Christmas, retailers are offering deals on many festive favourites in a bid to win your custom.

CHOCOLATE DEALS

This week shoppers can find amazing deals on festive favourite chocolates.

Currently, supermarkets such as Tesco, Asda, and Sainsbury’s are charging £6 for the popular Quality Street Christmas tub.

Asda is selling a refill pack of the Nestle-made chocolates for just £5.

These bags contain 750g of Quality Street chocolate, 150g more than the typical 600g tub available this year and have become available for the first time at all major supermarkets.

However, the refill bag costs just £5 (66p per 100g) at Asda – £1 less than 600g tubs.

You can purchase them in-store and online at all Asda supermarkets.

Large refill bags cost £6 for customers with a Clubcard at Tesco or £7 for those without.

Meanwhile, Poundland has slashed the price of a Terry’s Milk Chocolate Ball to just 75p, making it the best offer around

Elsewhere, for less than £1, bargain hunters could nab the deal which includes Dairy Milk Buttons, Chomp Bar, Freddo, Curly Wurly and Fudge. 

To top it all off, the perfect gift box has been decorated to feature a Santa, reindeer, a present and snow.

Aldi is selling 78g of Cadbury’s chocolate for 99p, the box includes various Treatsize and regular options.

Customers could also keep their eyes peeled at Poundland and Asda stores which have advertised the same box on sale for £1 and £1.25, respectively. 

Already sweet treat fans have reviewed the item up for grabs with one shopper describing it as a “fantastic gift” for all.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

Adam Smith has covered some of the biggest fights in modern history during his glittering career and has earned the nickname the ‘Voice of Boxing’.

But he was diagnosed with cancer in late 2023 and has mostly been off our screens while he fought the illness.

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Adam Smith will commentate on Fury v Usyk 2[/caption]

Following a year away, fans will be buzzing he’s back in the commentary booth – but not with Sky Sports, where he spent more than three decades, with Smith back in the booth with DAZN.

Smith will be providing his expert analysis for the fight of the year — Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk 2.

Who is Adam Smith?

Adam Smith is a renowned figure in the world of boxing commentary.

He is widely recognised as the “Voice of Boxing” for his distinctive delivery and knowledge of the sport.

Adam’s journey in boxing commentary began with Sky Sports in August 1994.

He has gone on to establish himself as one of the leading voices in the game.

Over the years, he has commentated on some of the biggest fights in modern boxing history.

He’s called bouts featuring legendary fighters including Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya, Roy Jones Jr, Chris Eubank, Ricky Hatton, Lennox Lewis and “Prince” Naseem Hamed.

More recently, Adam called Anthony Joshua’s incredible 2017 victory over Wladimir Klitschko, as well as AJ’s rematch loss to Oleksandr Usyk in 2022.

Battle with cancer

Adam was diagnosed with bladder cancer at the start of 2023.

In September 2024, Adam told the Independent: “It was a brutal period. I’m very, very lucky to be here today.

“I didn’t feel great physically or mentally, something was wrong. Eventually I found blood in my urine.

“It was sporadic, but I knew people who’d had prostate cancer, so I monitored it until it got worse and worse.”

After three decades with the channel, Adam departed from his role at Sky Sports in November 2023.

During his time there, he never took a sick day until his cancer diagnosis, and said he couldn’t remember ever staying home from school with an illness as a youngster.

He continued: “The NHS put me on a very fast programme. I had a CT scan, and then I had a call almost straight away.

It was a brutal period. I’m very, very lucky to be here today

Adam SmithThe Independent

“I went back in and I knew it was serious. A urologist told me I needed a nephrostomy [a tube inserted into the kidney] and a biopsy.

“He showed me a screen and said: ‘This is one of the biggest tumours we’ve seen in a bladder, and it’s extremely near the bladder wall.’

“My kidney had failed, so I had about four days to have the nephrostomy or I wouldn’t make it.

“I had it within two hours, and the biopsy the next day.”

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Adam called AJ’s classic victory over Dr Steelhammer[/caption]

All clear

Following a six-hour operation, the removal of 19 lymph nodes, three months of chemotherapy, more than 150 blood tests and further months in private and NHS hospitals, Adam finally got the all-clear near the end of 2023.

Speaking to Jim White on talkSPORT in February 2024, he was counting his blessings ahead of his return to the commentary box for the Thomas Essomba vs Elie Konki fight at the Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield.

He said: “I’m excited. I love commentating, as you know, and since I was nine or 10 years old it was the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do.

“It’s a passion that I’ve had through my life.

“The last year or year-and-a-half has been pretty tough, brutal, and I’ve missed it. I’ve missed everything.

“It’s good to be back and good to be back in Sheffield — a city that I know so well from the days of Prince Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson, Ryan Rhodes and all the others.

“It’s good to be back in Sheffield, good to be back with Spencer (Oliver) — we’re going to commentate together and it’s really exciting.”

Adam Smith’s Fury vs Usyk 2 prediction

Ahead of the mega-fight on Saturday, December 21, 2024, Adam opened up about who he thinks will come out on top in the incredibly close-to-call fight.

He told YouTube channel Boxing Social: “[Fury’s] looking really good in camp and I expect him to come in a bit heavier.

“He’s got to try and use his size advantage and he can’t be playing around like last time… Usyk won it, it was a good fight.

“He should have stopped him in the ninth round, but we start again, it’s a new canvas.

“The difference is they both know each other will so there will be respect this time… Fury also has a very good record in rematches.”

A BITTER Love Island feud has seemingly reignited as Davide has taken a new swipe at his ex Ekin-Su.

Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu is in talks to go on the All Stars 2025 series after she won the show two and a half years ago with her then-boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti.

Instagram

Davide has seemingly taken a cryptic swipe at his ex Ekin-Su[/caption]

Instagram

The hunky former Love Island star could be seen lounging on his sofa in some grey joggers in a recent shoot[/caption]

Instagram

Davide said he was ‘leveling up’[/caption]

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Davide’s post has sparked speculation among his fans and followers[/caption]

Winning £50,000, the couple won cash and the nation’s hearts before their devastating split, which rocked the nation.

And now, amid the rumours that Ekin-Su will storm the Love Island villa next month for the upcoming star-studded All Stars series, Davide has shared a cryptic post.

Taking to Instagram to share a snap of him lounging on a sofa in some grey sweatpants, Davide penned: “Protecting my peace, leveling up quietly.”

The cryptic Instagram caption got his fans talking in the comments section, with many keen to know what he meant and if the current All Stars rumours are true.

“Is that why you’re going back to Love Island Allstars? To protect your peace? Or are the stories not true? Do tell,” penned one speculative fan, who might have gotten their wires crossed.

“Let success be your noise Davide,” encouraged a second.

“Excited to see what you up to Davide,” gushed a third.

Davide posted yet another cryptic caption earlier this week when he said: “Where I’m going is not where I’ve been.”

EKIN-SU’S REPORTED RETURN TO THE VILLA

This comes after a TV source told MailOnline recently: “Ekin-Su has been the number one priority for casting producers, they know fans would love to see her return to the villa.

“The deal is agreed in principle, there’s still some details to sort out.

“Ekin’s in her 30s now too, she really wants to meet someone genuine who she can settle down with and after seeing it happen for last year’s All Stars winners, she’s keeping her fingers crossed she can be next.”

Earlier this week the start date of the hit spin-off series of the reality-dating show was unveiled.

LOVE ISLAND: ALL STARS START DATE

Love Island All Stars will start on January 13, 2025 at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.

ITV announced the news on Instagram with a photograph of a swanky invitation addressed to “dating royalty”, with fans going into a frenzy.

The invitation was on a white card with gold and black writing which read: “Dear Islander, as dating royalty, you are cordially invited back to the villa as a Love Island All Star.”

The date was then confirmed as: “13th January at 9pm.”

“Dress to impress,” was then written before the invite was signed off with “Maya”, in the host’s handwriting.

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Ekin-Su shot to fame on Love Island, with the starlet now rumoured to be going on the All Stars version of the hit show[/caption]

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Davide won Love Island with Ekin-Su in 2022[/caption]

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The couple split, leaving fans devastated[/caption]

TWO boys aged 16 and 17 were killed in a crash after armed cops reportedly tried to stop their BMW.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is appealing for witnesses after the motor hit a tree killing the pair and injuring three other passengers.

BPM

The crash happened on Church Lane in Handsworth, Birmingham[/caption]

BPM

Two teenagers died and three others were injured in the Birmingham crash[/caption]

BPM

Two teenagers died after a car hit a tree in Birmingham[/caption]

The investigative body says officers tried to stop the car in Handsworth, Birmingham, just before 2am Thursday due to how it was being driven.

But, the IOPC says it understands “the silver coloured BMW failed to stop” and a pursuit was begun but “abandoned”.

They write: “A short time later police came across the BMW which had crashed into a tree outside the Grove pub in Grove Lane, Handsworth.”

The 17-year-old was a passenger in the car and died at the scene, while the 16-year-old was the driver and died later in hospital.

Three other passengers were taken to hospital with injuries believed to not be life threatening.

Investigators have already gone door-to-door around the area looking for CCTV and witness’ accounts.

IOPC Regional Director Derrick Campbell said: “Our sympathies and thoughts remain with the families of the boys who died and all those affected by this tragic incident.

“We have contacted the boys’ families to pass on our condolences and explain our role.

“We believe there would have been drivers and other people in that area who may have seen or heard something that might assist our investigation.

“I would encourage anyone who has dashcam or other footage, or else witnessed the pursuit, the collision or the immediate aftermath to contact our incident line.

“It is vitally important the circumstances of the incident are subject to an independent investigation so we can fully understand what happened and ensure the full facts are brought to light.”

The IOPC is appealing for anyone who witnessed any part of the incident to contact them by calling 0300 303 5611 or emailing grovelane@policeconduct.gov.uk

BPM

Cops closed the road while they carried out their investigations[/caption]

KELLY Clarkson’s ex-husband Brandon Blackstock has launched his own Montana rodeo with her former assistant.

Kelly and Brandon, who was also her talent manager for years, finalized their divorce in 2022 after a long court battle.

Vintage Valley Ranch/Instagram

Brandon Blackstock is now a rancher full time in Montana and has founded his own rodeo series[/caption]

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Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock attended the 2018 CMT Music Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee[/caption]

valleyviewrodeo.com

Brandon Blackstock is seen in promotional photo on the rodeo’s website[/caption]

The star also later settled a lawsuit after a dispute over missing commissions and labor violations, and Brandon was ordered to repay her $2,641,374.

Following the split, he continued to live in Montana, while Kelly now resides in New York and has primary custody of their two children, River, 10, and Remington, seven.

The U.S. Sun can reveal Brandon has now founded Valley View Rodeo, which he runs with Brittany Jones, his famous ex-wife’s former assistant.

It is described online as a multi-faceted organization dedicated to keeping the Western lifestyle alive in the modern day.

“From heart-stopping bull riding to lightning-fast barrel racing, Valley View Rodeo showcases the best of both amateur and professional talent,” the website reads.

It attracts thousands of attendees from all over the world, and tickets include VIP tables for up to $640.

Dates for 2025 are yet to be announced, but the shows will be held at Gallatin County Fairgrounds in Bozeman, Montana.

Photographs online show Brandon in full cowboy gear riding horses, along with contestants taking part in the competitions.

RANCH BATTLE

His website also states, “Traditional events such as bull riding, bronc riding, calf roping, and barrel racing demand a combination of strength, agility, and sheer grit from contestants.

“The timeless relationship between rider and animal is a key theme, emphasizing the mutual respect and trust that has existed for centuries.”

His executive assistant Brittany, who is believed to be married, worked for Kelly when Brandon was her manager.

Her LinkedIn states, “I successfully assistant managed day to day for artist, Kelly Clarkson under manager, Brandon Blackstock in Los Angeles for music and television.

“After a change in management for Ms. Clarkson I transitioned to Executive Assistant for Mr. Blackstock’s cattle operation in Montana where I currently run the office and administration work.

“I also currently fulfill personal assistant duties for Mr. Blackstock.”

Her LinkedIn states she is the executive assistant of V Bar V Cattle Co. Llc, which was formerly Vintage Valley Ranch.

Kelly spent a lot of time and money fighting Brandon over her $10million Montana ranch.

She filed for divorce in June 2020 after nearly seven years of marriage and her ex allegedly refused to leave the ranch, claiming it was “marital property,” while she wanted to sell it.

In 2021, a Montana judge ruled in favor of Kelly and said she was the sole title holder because she purchased the home on her own.

In January 2022, Brandon was established to have a 5.12 percent ownership interest in the ranch, and he was ordered to pay property fees of about $81,000 a month, including maintenance costs.

A court ruled he had to move out of Warren Peak Ranch in June 2022, and according to US Weekly he has since purchased a $1.8 million home in Butte, Montana.

Kelly has been open about her difficult split and nasty divorce and even revealed shocking comments he made during their marriage.

She testified that Brandon had told her she didn’t have enough sex appeal to be a coach on the talent competition and that executives instead wanted “someone sexy” such as Rihanna.

Kelly eventually joined the show as a coach in 2018 for its 14th season. 

She also seemingly dissed her ex this week while promoting her album “When Christmas Comes Around… Again.”

Kelly, 42, posted an ‘album visualizer’ on YouTube which showed stockings hanging over a fireplace featuring the word “mom,” and her children’s names.

A fourth stocking had the word “nope” stitched onto it, which had many fans laughing and posting supportive comments.

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Brittney Jones worked as Kelly’s assistant under Brandon and now helps run his business[/caption]

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Kelly Clarkson has two children with Brandon, who also had two kids from a previous relationship[/caption]

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Kelly Clarkson has overhauled her image in the past year and slimmed down[/caption]

A CHRISTMAS movie actress is unrecognisable 20 years on from her role in a huge festive hit.

Julie Gonzalo had a lead role in 2004 flick Christmas With The Kranks, where she played Blair Krank.

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Julie played Blair in the hit, alongside Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis[/caption]

Her character was set to spend the holidays away from her parents Nora and Luther and be with her partner Enrique.

It led her mum and dad – played by Jamie Lee Curtis and Tim Allen – to book a cruise and abandon Christmas – until she rang at the last minute to say she’d be coming home after all.

But 20 years on from the festive classic, Julie is worlds away from her 2004 look and blonde hair.

These days the mum-of-one sports a brunette look and lives a happy life with her partner Chris McNally, who is also an actor.

Julie, 43, previously took to social media to share a snap of her and her daughter enjoying the sunshine while celebrating Mother’s Day.

She wrote: “My most favorite part of life is being your mama. Happy Mother’s Day!!

“And thank you @chrismcnally for being the most incredible father and partner a girl could ever wish for.”

This year Julie is starring in a brand new Christmas movie, called A Novel Noel, on the Hallmark channel.

A synopsis reads: “A successful New York City book editor (Gonzalo), who is losing touch with her passion after a few setbacks this year learns she was chosen to run a bookstore in the small town of Saint Ives for the month of December.

“While realising a childhood dream, but butting heads with the handsome son (Penny) of the bookstore owners, she comes to realise that her love for bringing out the creativity of others is still her true calling, and untapped talent (and love) can be found anywhere… even in the writings of a cranky business-minded man, especially at Christmas.”

Julie’s other movie credits include A Cinderella Story with Hilary Duff, Freaky Friday and Dodgeball.

THE NFL’s clash with the College Football Playoff this Saturday has been slammed by a sports analyst.

Pro football and the college ranks are competing for eyeballs in a rarely seen event.

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Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs face a Saturday game at the Houston Texans[/caption]

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SMU will host Penn State in the first of three College Football Playoff games on Saturday[/caption]

The first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff begins Friday night.

Three games are scheduled for Saturday from midday ET.

But Saturday also sees two high-profile games take place in the NFL.

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Houston Texans at 1 pm ET.

The Chiefs are back-to-back defending Super Bowl champions and have the best record in the league.

Their game will be followed by the Baltimore Ravens taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC North division clash.

Both teams are among the best in the AFC, and they will clash at 4.30 pm ET.

The first game will be shown on NBC with Fox taking over for the latter clash.

At the same time, TNT will show two games from the College Football Playoff.

SMU takes on Penn State from midday ET before Texas visits Clemson at 4 pm ET.

The NFL double header is on free-to-air television, giving in an even better chance of winning a ratings battle.

And Tony Kornheiser was unhappy the CFP was going up against Mahomes and Co.

“The NFL isn’t going after college football,” he said on Pardon the Interruption.

“The NFL has had this Saturday window after Army-Navy for years.

“This is college football attempting to spit in the eye of the NFL – this is a different thing.

“I want to see how Patrick Mahomes does on a bad ankle and I want to see how Lamar Jackson does against Pittsburgh.

“Those are games I want to see, as much as a I love college football – nobody beats the NFL.”

Kornheiser cited examples from other sports to demonstrate the NFL’s television ratings dominance.

“Golf gets out of the golf business when NFL season starts in September,” he said.

“The NFL drills baseball – baseball rearranges it’s playoff schedule to not go head to head with the NFL.

“The NFL annihilates the NBA. The NBA was doing fine on Christmas Day for a few years.

“Someone in the NFL office said ‘let’s crush them like ants’ which they did.

“Now nobody even knows who’s playing in the NBA on Christmas Day.

“But football on football – this is pretty new.”

A MAJOR trucking company in the Midwest has filed for bankruptcy, affecting the jobs of its 255 drivers.

Based in Strafford, Missouri, RBX Inc. has been in business for more than 40 years and transports freight in 265 trucks across the Midwest and Southeast.

RBX Inc.

RBX Inc. has filed for bankruptcy[/caption]

The family-owned company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but no reason was given for the move, according to supply chain intelligence platform FreightWaves.

A Chapter 11 bankruptcy gives debtors an opportunity to reorganize their company to keep the business going, according to the United States Courts website.

It reports that up to 199 creditors are affected, but there is no indication of how much money they are owed.

Assets are listed as being up to $50,000 and liabilities between $10 million and $50 million.

Funds will not be available for unsecured creditors, the platform reports.

According to the RBX website, the company has more than 200 power units and a 53-foot dry van trailer fleet.

The company was set up in 1983 and the current CEO is Jim Keltner.

It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Friday December 13 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Missouri.

TRUCK LOAD OF TROUBLE

This is just the latest in a series of high-profile trucking bankruptcies in recent years.

Yellow, which was founded in 1924 and was one of the largest freight companies in the US, filed for Chapter 11 in August 2023.

It had around $2.5 billion of debt and at the time, 30,000 employees.

As reported in the US Sun at the time, Yellow CEO Darren Hawkins said: “It is with profound disappointment that Yellow announces that it is closing after nearly 100 years in business.”

He added: “For generations, Yellow provided hundreds of thousands of Americans with solid, good-paying jobs and fulfilling careers.”

A month later in September 2023, Elmer Buchta Trucking LLC, owner Transport Acquisitions LLC, and three other affiliates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Indiana.

Based in Evansville, Elmer Buchta was the largest bulk hauler in Indiana with more than 300 units.

It had been operating for more than 80 years and had assets of between $1 million and $10 million, while its liabilities were $10 million to $50 million, according to the bankruptcy petition filing.

RETAIL CASUALTIES

The freight trade isn’t the only sector that has seen bankruptcies in recent years, with retail also badly affected.

Bed Bath & Beyond filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2023, closing all of its 360 stores.

The company was then bought by Overstock which relaunched its website – BedBathandBeyond.com – in August that year.

Discount chain Tuesday Morning also closed its 200 stores after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2023.

It had previously filed for bankruptcy during the coronavirus pandemic in May 2020 and had unsuccessfully attempted to keep going by shuttering a number of locations.