Southampton have sacked manager Russell Martin after their wretched Premier League return continued with Sunday's 5-0 humiliation at home to Tottenham.
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Southhampton sack manager after humbling loss to Spurs
‘Catastrophic’: Sweltering heatwave tightens grip on the country
Australia is bracing itself for a blistering start to the week, with temperature records for December on the line as the mercury soars.
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Thousands of new social homes fast tracked in federal deal with states
Thousands of new social homes are getting fast tracked under a deal struck with the states and territories.
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Knapp, Tavatanakit win mixed title with late charge
Thailand's Patty Tavatanakit has teamed up with American Jake Knapp to win golf's mixed team's Grant Thornton Invitational in Florida.
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Eagles, Steelers players get into skirmish as rivalry game between title contenders heats up
It may be cold in Philadelphia, but the rivalry between the Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers heated up Sunday evening at Lincoln Financial Field. A brief skirmish broke out in the first quarter after it appeared Steelers tight end Darnell Washington blocked Eagles defensive back Darius Slay into the back of the end zone. Players […]
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Mangione hires top lawyer, South Korea’s president impeached, no answers for mystery drones: Weekend Rundown
Luigi Mangione disappeared for months before CEO shooting Before UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed, Luigi Mangione went dark for months and loved ones desperately tried to find him, reaching out to former classmates and posting pleas on social media. Since his arrest, friends have been struggling to make sense of the news. “He was […]
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Minister stops short of ruling out jihadi bride Shamima Begum returning to Britain
A HOME Office Minister has stopped short of ruling out jihadi bride Shamima Begum returning to Britain.
Dame Angela Eagle refused to rule out her ever coming back from Syria following the end of tyrant President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Ex-Home Secretary Sajid Javid cancelled her British citizenship after she was found in a refugee camp in the country, with the decision supported by the courts.
Begum, now 25, left Britain when she was a schoolgirl from east London and joined terror group Isis aged just 15.
Her future remains uncertain after Islamist-led rebels took overthrew the Assad dynasty.
Eagle said: “Her British citizenship has been stripped from her and that decision made by a previous government has been approved of at the highest levels in the courts, and that’s the current situation
The Minister added: “I’m not going to talk about her particular case.
“Every case would have to be looked on at … on its merits. And we would also have to have risk assessment about any such cases.”
But her intervention was seized upon by the Tories who called on the government to declare the decision to let her back to Britain won’t be reversed.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “The failure of Labour’s Border Security Minister to rule out letting Shamima Begum back into this country speaks volumes.
“Conservatives in Government stripped Begum of citizenship and made sure she could not come back here.
“The courts upheld this. Those who supported the murderous Daesh regime have no place in the UK.
“It is weak and supine for the Labour Minister to fail to back this approach.
“With Keir Starmer appointing Begum’s counsel as this country top lawyer,
Downing Street has previously said there are “no plans” to allow her back into the UK.
World Darts Championship LIVE RESULTS: Luke Humphries SAILS through on opening night, Luke Littler waits – updates
THE World Darts Championship is off to a flier at Ally Pally!
Reigning champion Luke Humphries has started his title defence with a stunning 3-0 victory over Thibault Tricole on the opening night.
While 2021 winner Gerwyn Price and left-handed genius James Wade feature on Monday.
Bu teen sensation Luke Littler and his army of fans face a lengthy wait to kickstart his campaign.
- Start time: From 7pm GMT
- Live stream: NOWTV / Sky Sports app
- TV channel: Sky Sports Darts
- Explainer: When does Luke Littler play?
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
Follow ALL the action from the World Darts Championship with our live blog below…
Strictly judge Shirley Ballas hits back at trolls and defends winner after calls for her to be axed
STRICTLY Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas hit back at trolls after calls for her to be axed.
The former international champion Latin dancer took to her social media profile as she defended the long-running dancing competition.
Shirley, 64, has been a judge on Strictly Come Dancing since 2017, replacing head judge Len Goodman.
However, one cruel troll called for the long-running star to be axed as they took to X, formerly known as Twitter.
They posted: “Make the most of what should be your last show!!”
Shirley was not taking the insult lying down as she joked back: “Thank you I will. Hope you enjoyed the show and found it positive.”
Another viewer slammed Strictly as a show as they commented: “I would rather defrost my freezer than watch that c***.”
In response, the TV personality sarcastically enquired: “Have you still not defrosted that freezer of yours. You said you where doing it week 3 lol.”
Another angry user was not at all happy that comedian Chris McCausland took home the glitterball trophy.
He beat fellow finalists Sarah Hadland, Tasha Ghouri and singer JB Gill in the final, which was branded the ‘most emotional’ of all time.
Their awkward tweet read: “Worst dancer won again so won’t be watching next year and yes I know it was the public and not blaming you for that.
“I would be interested to know how you feel about someone winning just because they were blind?”
To which Shirley defended the public’s decision, writing: “I have total respect for the viewers opinions. Millions voted and everyone has their favorites.
“For me they all danced simply brilliant. A huge congratulations to our winners. All our finalists and to all who took part.
She added: “I’m waking up feeling happy. Have a beautiful day.”
In an additional post, the star left gushing praise for the first ever blind winner of the long-running BBC competition.
All your Strictly Come Dancing winners
Strictly first kicked off back in 2004, and over the years has crowned 21 winners.
Here is a full list of who has been lucky enough to win the famous Glitterball Trophy:
- 2004 – Natasha Kaplinsky
- 2004 – Jill Halfpenny
- 2005 – Darren Gough
- 2006 – Mark Ramprakash
- 2007 – Alesha Dixon
- 2008 – Tom Chambers
- 2009 – Chris Hollins
- 2010 – Kara Tointon
- 2011 – Harry Judd
- 2012 – Louis Smith
- 2013 – Abbey Clancy
- 2014 – Caroline Flack
- 2015 – Jay McGuiness
- 2016 – Ore Oduba
- 2017 – Joe McFadden
- 2018 – Stacey Dooley
- 2019 – Kelvin Fletcher
- 2020 – Bill Bailey
- 2021 – Rose Ayling-Ellis
- 2022 – Hamza Yassin
- 2023 – Ellie Leach
- 2024 – Chris McCausland
The 2024 series of Strictly Come Dancing is available to watch back on BBC iPlayer.
Legendary 80s TV star died almost penniless in run-down terraced home after years of tragic health setbacks
LEGENDARY TV star Duncan Norvelle died almost penniless in a rundown terraced home, it is claimed.
The comedian – who passed away aged 66 last Thursday morning – had suffered multiple strokes in recent years.
He rose to fame in the 1980s with his catchphrase “Chase me!” but eventually fell out of favour with TV bigwigs.
Norvelle’s partner Linda Trevallion told The Sun he died from a chest infection and sepsis.
He had been living with the effects of two strokes suffered in 2012 that had left him paralysed down the left side of his body for 18 months.
The funny man made a comeback starting in 2015, touring pubs and small clubs across the UK.
However, two firms Norvelle set up in 2016, both called Chase Me Management, were dissolved the following year with each subject to a compulsory strike off, reports MailOnline.
Norvelle earned extra money recording personalised video messages for fans – and even worked on cruise ships.
He spent the last 12 years of his life living with partner Linda at her two-bedroom home.
And while he did appear on a special edition of Pointless Celebrities in 2019 – it was the first TV slot in years and would prove to be his last.
A source told the Mail: “Duncan was not gay but his act was based on camp humour which was popular at the time.
“He once said he based his persona on a cross between Michael Crawford’s Frank Spencer and John Inman’s Mr Humphries in Are You Being Served.
“His TV bookings dried up as a new breed of left-leaning political comedians took over our screens. He suddenly found himself out in the cold.”
Norvelle’s first comeback gig – after three years away – was at the Embassy Theatre, Skegness, with funds from his show would be allocated to the Stroke Association.
However, getting his career going again was far from easy.
In 2019 he was even reportedly cruelly kicked off a variety show after organisers allegedly said he was “too slow” and “wheelchair bound”.
While a performance at a club in Rugeley, Staffordshire, was cancelled at the last minute.
Covid proved another setback but he announced in 2021 he was “back in business” and taking bookings for comedy shows and after dinner speaking.
In a Christmas message posted the same year he said: “It’s so nice to still be wanted to perform for your events.
“Laughter is the best medicine that anyone can be given. I also want to thank my incredible partner Lynn.
“She is my rock and always will be and without her I would be lost.”
STARDOM
Norvelle was born on April 2, 1958 near Loughborough in the East Midlands, and pursued a career as an entertainer after winning £20 in a talent show while on holiday in Bournemouth as a teen.
The comedian rose to fame on ITV variety show Saturday Royal in the early 1980s.
He went on to host the pilot episode of what would become Blind Date and made regular appearances on the likes of Surprise! Surprise! and The Bob Monkhouse Show.
In 2011 he appeared in Celebrity Come Dine With Me with Sean Hughes, Gina Yashere and Paul Tonkinson.
Linda told The Sun last week:
“He’s at peace and he’s made millions of people laugh in his lifetime. I’ve never heard anyone say a bad thing about him,” she said.
The couple were together for 12 years, with Linda saying he “wasn’t really showbiz, he wasn’t one for going to showbiz parties”.
She added that Norvelle was always “very gracious” with his fans, however.
And despite them never officially marrying, Linda said: “We were together like husband and wife.”
They met through a mutual friend.
She went on to say: “I fell in love with the man, it made no difference about the stroke. I helped him, but he could do a lot for himself.”
Linda, as well as Norvelle’s son Jack, 15, and daughter Yasmine, 35, were with him when he died.
However, other daughter Sophie, 44, could not get back in time from Spain.
Linda added: “I never wish anyone to suffer. I just want to still hold him, and love him a bit more. It’s never enough. I knew it was coming but you’re never prepared.”
