USA Update

EVELYN Plummer’s exit storyline has been revealed as Maureen Lipman leaves Coronation Street.

We previously revealed that the 78-year-old legendary actress is to leave the long-running ITV soap as a full-time cast member.

ITV

Evelyn Plummer’s exit storyline has been revealed[/caption]

ITV

She has played the role of Evelyn Plummer since September 2018 when she made a bombshell entrance on Coronation Street.

The character was introduced as the grandmother of Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall) when Dame Maureen made her full-time debut.

However, the legendary actress exclusively told The Sun that she’s taking a step back from the cobbles to “enjoy life.”

Now, the characters exit has been confirmed as she starts to become disillusioned with life in Weatherfield.

She will complain to her best pal Roy (David Neilson) that her world lacks purpose.

He will then suggest that she should study for a law degree.

This was after Steve agreed to pay Evelyn the £325 that she insisted he owed her.

Previously, Alya invited Evelyn to a criminal law lecture at the Chariot Street hotel.

When she got to the meet and greet table at the event, Evelyn was so keen to attend that she stole someone else’s name badge.

Inspired by all her experiences, she then goes about filling in an online form to apply for university back at number nine.

She then tells her grandson Tyrone that she has gone ahead with the application to read law at an educational institution.

But when she receives a text that invites her for an interview, Evelyn is thrown into a complete panic.

However, when she arrives at the university for her grilling, she will be met with a huge surprise.

The interviewer is none other than Marjorie Tavistock, the very same person that she impersonated at the Chariot Square law lecture.

Is her dream over or will she be able to attend university?

ITV

Evelyn is inspired to study law after Alya invited her to a lecture after arguing with Steve[/caption]

ITV

But when she gets to university for an interview, Evelyn will be in for a surprise[/caption]

Coronation Street continues on ITV1 and is available to watch back on ITVX.

JEAN Slater is set for further heartbreak in upcoming EastEnders scenes.

The beloved character – played by Gillian Wright – unfortunately fell victim to a scam in recent weeks.

PA

Jean Slater is set for fresh heartbreak in upcoming EastEnders scenes[/caption]

PA

The beloved character recently fell victim to a cruel scam[/caption]

BBC

Jean has had to face the horrifying reality of her situation[/caption]

In scenes yet to air, Jean’s emotional aftermath continues after getting further bad news.

The soap legend has to push forward despite the horrifying situation.

She was previously seen investing her life savings and pensions with a cold calling operation.

However, Jean was soon left heartbroken upon realising she had lost everything.

Left feeling helpless after this nightmare, she was relieved when a solicitor revealed they could get the money back.

Stacey (Lacey Turner) was still concerned about her mother’s situation and asked Jack (Scott Maslen) to help.

EastEnders worked with experts in the field including independent scams expert Nick Stapleton, The Pensions Regulator and Stop Scams UK on the storyline.

Meanwhile, the story continues as Jean deals with the emotional and practical fallout of the crime.

EastEnders Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw outlined the storyline’s intentions.

He explained: “Jean’s story will highlight the extreme strategies scammers use to gain a victim’s trust to convince them into parting with serious sums of money. 

“Not only will Jean have to cope with losing her pension money, but she’ll also have to deal with a range of difficult emotions as she tells her family and friends what’s happened.”

Nick Stapleton, scams expert and BBC Scam Safe spokesperson, added: “I am incredibly happy to see the issue of scams and fraud getting the attention it deserves with a storyline on one of the nation’s favourite soaps. 

“Scams are one of the greatest challenges of modern times; not just the money we lose to scammers as a country, but the emotional and psychological impact for those who go through one. 

“It’s high time we brought that fully into the mainstream and EastEnders is leading the way.”

It’s been a tough year for Jean – who also experienced turmoil in her relationship with Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman).

Will she have a quieter time in the New Year?

EastEnders continues on BBC One and iPlayer.

BBC

Will Jean have a less stressful time in the coming months?[/caption]

HOUSEHOLDS claiming benefits such as Universal Credit and PIP can expect to be paid early this month because of the Christmas holidays.

This type of financial support is usually paid once a month, but Bank Holidays such as Christmas Day can disrupt the schedule.

Alamy

The festive period disrupts the days that cliaments of Universal Credit get paid.[/caption]

The fast-approaching holiday means millions of benefit claimants will not be paid on their usual dates over Christmas and New Years.

If you are due to be paid on a Bank Holiday, you can expect to see the cash land in your bank account earlier than expected.

You should receive the money the first working day before you were expecting to have been paid.

So, if you are usually paid on December 25, 26 or 27 you will be paid on December 24 instead.

That is because the last working day before the holidays is Tuesday, December 24.

The New Year bank holiday on January 1 also impacts benefit claimants.

If you are due to receive your benefit on January 1, you will be paid on December 31.

The Department for Work and Pensions said a total of 11 benefits will be impacted by the change. They are as follows:

• Attendance allowance
• Carer’s allowance
• Disability living allowance
• Income support
• Jobseekers allowance
• Pension credit
• Personal independence payments (PIP)
• State pension
• Universal Credit
• Child benefit (paid by HMRC)
• Tax credits (paid by HMRC)

You should be aware that the amount you get paid will not change,

Even though you have been paid a few days early, you will also have to make the money last until the following month.

If you think you were supposed to be paid, but the money has not landed in your account, it may be worth double checking the dates.

If the money has not been paid into your account, you should contact the DWP.

You can reach its Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.

Changes to Universal Credit

Universal Credit is replacing six benefits under the old welfare system, commonly called legacy benefits. They are:

• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Income-based Jobseeker’s allowance
• Income support
• Income-related employment and support allowance
• Housing Benefit.

If you’re on any of these benefits now, you can choose to move over – but you might not be better off.

You should consider carefully what moving over means for your money, as you can’t move back once you’re on Universal Credit.

Using an online benefits calculator can help you compare and are free and easy to use from charities such as Turn2Us and EntitledTo, and it’s also worth asking them for advice.

You may be moved over to Universal Credit if you have a change in circumstances, like moving home, a change in working hours or a have a baby.

But eventually, everyone will be moved over to Universal Credit.

COST-CUTTING Sir Jim Ratcliffe has “ripped out” the Manchester United that Michael Owen used to know, the former striker claims.

Ratcliffe, 72, has made a series of brutal cuts since buying a stake in the Red Devils earlier this year.

Getty

Michael Owen has been disappointed with recent cuts at Man Utd[/caption]

PA

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made a series of unpopular changes[/caption]

The Ineos chief axed 250 staff roles, while he recently received a backlash as ticket prices were raised to a minimum of £66 with concessions scrapped.

United’s staff Christmas party was also cancelled, with their £100 festive M&S vouchers slashed to £40.

Owen, who played for the Red Devils between 2009 and 2012, has been disappointed to see the club shaken up behind the scenes.

But the former striker worries that fans won’t care, if they see results on the pitch.

Speaking to the MEN, the 45-year-old said: “When I was at Manchester United, all the kit men, the canteen ladies, the security, the receptionist, the physios, the doctors, it’s the backroom team that you know so much – if you go back now it’s literally all been ripped out.

“It’s quite heartbreaking for people that you know who have lost their jobs.

“The casual fans don’t care, they just want to see their team lifting a trophy whereas to us players, if I speak to old Liverpool team-mates and say, ‘oh, you’ve been back to Liverpool lately, I went back to the training ground and I know nobody’. It’s just a different club.

“The badge is still the same and the bricks and mortar are still the same, but inside it’s just totally different and that’s what matters to us who have lived it and were on the inner sanctum.”

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

On the strain that such changes can put on people behind the scenes, he added: “It’s quite hard to say when somebody comes in and has a massive shake-up and loads of people lose their jobs.

“However, as I say, to the casual fan, they probably think, ‘yeah, get rid of everyone, and let’s start again’.

“It’s easy to flippantly say that, but these are people who probably have children and lives and it’s been their job for a long time and they’ve invested everything into it. It’s quite heartbreaking the actual practicality of it.

“Tinged with a little bit of sadness when I heard some of my old friends have lost their jobs, but understand, of course, as well, that Manchester United did need a bit of a shake-up and I can understand why they’ve taken the axe or wielded the axe, to so many roles.”

Following his sacking, former boss Erik ten Hag found himself in line for a £15million pay off.

United then forked out Ruben Amorim‘s £11m release clause to prise him from Sporting.

The Red Devils also eagerly recruited Dan Ashworth from Newcastle, only to axe him at a cost of £3m just five months later.

Amorim will lead his side to the Etihad this afternoon as they take on Manchester City.

United go into the contest 13th in the Premier League.

On Thursday night they defeated Czech side Viktoria Plzen 2-1, with two goals by super-sub Rasmus Hojlund completing the turnaround.

HANDS shaking with nerves, the bashful looking middle-aged man standing at pretty Sophie Weiss’ door gulps nervously before knocking.

Anyone would think he didn’t want to be here, but actually he’s flown over 1,500 miles from Madrid to a town in Yorkshire to meet the petite 32-year-old – and she’s more than prepared for the next hour in his company.

Instagram/sophielarissaw

Sophie is a pro-wrestler that makes a living from grappling with men twice her size[/caption]

Instagram/sophielarissaw

The former glamour model has a loyal customer base across the globe[/caption]

Despite his nerves, he’s chosen to come to Sophie’s house with the sole aim to receive a good beating from her alter ego, the Barnsley Basher. 

Sophie is actually a 5ft 7in pro-wrestler, who makes a living from grappling with men twice her size – and they pay handsomely for it, some up to £350 an hour. 

Her customers are often married men with wrestling fetishes, who get their kicks (quite literally) from being physically dominated by a woman. 

Their wives would be astounded if they knew the truth: their hubby isn’t on a business trip, he’s got a two hour wrestling session with the Barnsley Basher. 

“These men go behind their wives backs because they’re scared to open up,” Sophie tells Fabulous. 

“And the problem is with not being open in a relationship, is that they come to see me. 

“If they had more openness in their marriage, it wouldn’t have to be like that because the wife could just dominate them instead.”

She adds: “I’ve had guys tell me they want me to fight their wife – but I don’t do that.”

Sophie is a martial artist trained in boxing, wrestling and Brazilian ju-jitsu, all of which helps her physically dominate men.

Her clientele tends to be men over 40, but she says they all have a “submissive look about them”.

So while their unsuspecting wives think they have a teddy bear of a husband, these men are sneaking off to wrestle with a beautiful woman. 

“They’re not muscular, they’re sort of your average Joe with a bit of a pot belly, or a bit of a dad bod,” Sophie says. 

“I’ve got regulars, including a little old man who’s very regular. Some of them come and go.”

She charges up to £500 an hour for some sessions, but less taxing bookings go for as little as £250 an hour. 

Instagram/sophielarissaw

Sophie is a martial artist trained in boxing, wrestling and Brazilian ju-jitsu, all of which helps her physically dominate men[/caption]

Instagram/sophielarissaw

Her most profitable days are when she travels to a particular city and can fit five clients from that area in one day[/caption]

Sophie’s most profitable days are when she travels to a particular city – including London, Bristol or Birmingham – and can fit five clients from that area in one day. 

It sounds bizarre, but her career isn’t new.

In fact, there’s several trailblazers from the nineties who were long charging men a pretty penny to wrestle them. 

Sally McNeil, famous for killing her bodybuilding champion husband Ray McNeil on Valentine’s Day in 1995, made up to $300 (£235) an hour from wrestling men in hotel rooms in California, US, or on mail-order videos.

‘I piggybacked & wrestled him’

Sophie got into this work around four years ago after one of her male followers responded to her fitness pictures on Instagram and asked if she was strong enough to lift him up. 

The pair messaged back and forth for a bit, and he offered her £300 to come and tussle with him for an hour. 

“I thought I’d give it a go, as I’m quite a curious person anyway,” she says.

“I piggybacked him, wrestled him and performed some holds on him as well.”

I do voice notes saying I’m going to beat the s**t out of them. That’s what my fan base is into, and they love it

Sophie Weiss

“I’m a petite girl and I quickly realised that’s what men like about me,” Sophie adds.

“I don’t look like I’d be strong enough to lift them up.” 

The martial arts fanatic – who is trained in boxing and Brazilian ju-jitsu – is so strong that she can crush a full watermelon between her legs. 

However while fruity stunts for social media are all fun and games, tussling with 6ft men isn’t a walk in the park. 

Instagram/sophielarissaw

Sophie is so strong that she can crush a full watermelon between her legs[/caption]

Instagram/sophielarissaw

Fans pay to see videos of Sophie wearing boxing gear while throwing punches towards the camera[/caption]

“It takes a toll on my body,” Sophie admits. “Sometimes I need a week or two to recover because I’m in that much pain.”

Thankfully it hasn’t taken a toll on her love life however.

The former glamour model has a long-term boyfriend who lives in Bulgaria.

He wasn’t too keen on her work at first, but has now even gotten into wrestling on camera himself. 

My fans are simply interested in me wearing a bikini, with some boxing gloves on my hands, saying that I’m going to knock the s**t out of them

Sophie Weiss

He came to visit Sophie in England last month and the pair booked in some duo bookings for punters looking to get dominated by both a woman and man. 

In the run up to Christmas, Sophie is extremely busy, with clients desperate to satisfy their fetish before the festive holidays. 

She also has a three hour session booked in Bulgaria for the week between Christmas and New Year, and will be keeping her OnlyFans account updated to ensure a steady income. 

Behind a paywall, fans can pay to see videos of her wearing boxing gear while throwing punches towards the camera, flexing her muscles and wrestling with men twice her size. 

‘I play into their fantasies’

They can also pay upwards of £100 for a personalised message from her.

“I do voice notes saying I’m going to beat the s**t out of them,” she tells. “Or I play into their fantasies and say I’m going to choke them out. 

“That’s what my fan base is into, and they love it. People assume that OnlyFans is just straight up porn, but I do completely fetish work. 

“My fan base don’t want to see me naked – nudity doesn’t sell for me at all. They’re not interested in that.”

And whilst OnlyFans content creators are constantly plugging full frontal pictures on the likes of X (formerly Twitter) to draw in new subscriptions, Sophie needn’t worry. 

“My fans are simply interested in me wearing a bikini, with some boxing gloves on my hands, saying that I’m going to knock the s**t out of them,” she smiles.

REVIEW: SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY: GOT BACK TOUR. MANCHESTER’S CO-OP LIVE ARENA, DECEMBER 14, 2024.

★★★★★

PA

Sir Paul McCartney wowed the crowds at Manchester’s Co-op Arena on Saturday[/caption]

Beth Allcock

The 82-year-old put on a set filled with fireworks and fun[/caption]

PA

Sir Paul promised the northern crowd they’d ‘have fun tonight’ – and he lived true to every word[/caption]

“I’ve a feeling we are going to have fun tonight,” cheered Sir Paul McCartney as he greeted the capacity crowds at Manchester‘s Co-op Live Arena.

“Alright Manchester,” he chipped, “it’s good to be back.”

Yet this – the welcome at Sir Paul’s first Got Back tour date on home turf for 2024 – was perhaps the understatement of the year.

This was a show filled with fireworks – literally, snow – albeit the paper kind, and a tear-jerking performance of I’ve Got A Feeling with an AI version of his late The Beatles bandmate, John Lennon.

The icon, in one of a handful touching moments on-stage, fought back tears as he hailed it “great, because I get to sing with John again.”

So, the fact there was one-quarter of The Beatles in an M11 postcode on a Manchester derby weekend was, by far, the least surprising thing of the night.

Sir Paul, quite simply, brought the magic to a typically rainy northern night – and made it shine in a way only the Jet hitmaker can.

A setlist crammed with The Beatles hits – some rarely heard – and his subsequent band Wings kicked off with A Hard Day’s Night and wrapped with a psychedelic Golden Slumbers soundtrack two hours and 45 minutes later.

No support act, no huge delay on a start time, no lengthy breaks between songs – just a joke that whipping off his blazer would be “the one big wardrobe change of the evening.”

In a set underpinned by emotive references to The Beatles band which saw the 82-year-old rocket to fame decades before, the thread between Paul and the band was enduring.

Bittersweet, in parts, when he pulled out George Harrison’s mandolin and ukulele, the latter used in a rendition of Something where a wave of respectful silence swept over the the 50K plus crowd, and his clearly emotional state after singing Here Today – penned for John – after his death to tell him “I love you man.”

Macca’s amazing vocal talent then saw him knock out Let It Be, Live And Let Die and Hey Jude back-to-back – not to mention 30 other hits in his back catalogue.

In the mix were The Beatles ditties about their first ever song, tributes to Jimi Hendrix and Nancy his wife and, of course, a splash of festive feeling with Wonderful Christmas time and a talented kids choir.

Co-op Live’s stunning visual and acoustic capabilities came to the fore in the Alton Towers-esq rollercoaster graphics for Helter Skelter, an invitation to boogie when all the crowd were already on their feet for Dance Tonight and an absolutely jaw-dropping set of fireworks and flames fit for any James Bond in Live And Let Die.

But, in reality, Macca didn’t need to lean on the bells and whistles for his first UK gig since his 2022 Glastonbury headline set.

The proud Brit – along with the silhouettes of his bandmates beamed on screen behind him and his stellar band – had the Manchester crowd in the palm of his hand.

Got Back is, quite simply, a gig that knocks the socks off any Arena concert you’ll see this year.

“I’ve got to admit it’s getting better, a little better all the time,” sung out Sir Paul to a sea of adoring fans waving phones and shouting cheers, hooked on the Liverpudlian’s every word.

And it certainly is, with three more UK dates to come.

Paul McCartney’s Got Back tour continues today, December 15, at Co-op Live, Manchester, UK.

He then plays The O2, London, UK on December 18 and 19.

Beth Allcock

Sir Paul was joined by an AI version of John Lennon in an emotional moment[/caption]

Beth Allcock

This was a setlist filled with more than 30 songs from Wings and The Beatles eras[/caption]

PA

Sir Paul had the Manchester crowds in the palm of his hand for the three-hour set[/caption]

NO one ties the knot expecting to get a divorce, but one lawyer has said she can tell when newlyweds are heading that way.

In fact, Kristen Farris admitted she’s got a bit of a sixth sense when it comes to predicting divorce.

TikTok/@nydivorcelawyerkristen

Kristen explained how she can tell if a couple will last[/caption]

TikTok/@nydivorcelawyerkristen

For the divorce lawyer there’s one huge red flag[/caption]

Getty

Her move comes just weeks before the annual ‘divorce day’[/caption]

“If I truly believe that they’re going to need it, I will put my business card in my wedding card,” the lawyer, 39, explained on TikTok.

Sometimes the risky move is taken as a joke, but it shouldn’t be.

“I don’t do it to people I think will last,” she went on to explain, “I do it people that won’t last.”

After sharing her business card venture people slammed Kristen as “insane” on the social media site.

One commented on the viral clip: “In their wedding card? That’s so tacky I would not appreciate a friend doing that.”

“Damn, divorce attorney business card in their wedding card is a bit sloppy,” someone else wrote.

But others who work in the wedding industry agreed they could also tell when lovebirds wouldn’t last.

“As a wedding photographer I can tell immediately,” one commented.

And a second agreed: “As a makeup artist working in the industry for the last 13 years I always know who is there for a marriage and who just wanted a wedding.”

And according to another wedding photographer, there a few red flags that let them know a marriage is doomed from the start.

They explained: “The red flags are a huge wedding party with six plus bridesmaids, the bride and groom ignoring each other during the reception, and the groomsmen talking crap about the bride.”

And another thought it all came down to one particular moment, they said: “As a wedding photographer I can tell A LOT about a couple while they’re cutting their wedding cake.

“If they get through it together while genuinely smiling and enjoying the moment, green flag.”

As for Kristen, she said the red flags she looks out for are “when one of the parents of the bride or groom offer to pay money for them not to marry the other person.”

But Kirsten’s controversial move might not be such a bad idea after all, since it comes just weeks before “Divorce Day”.

According to the pros at Lawson West Solicitors, the first Monday of the new year is known as “Divorce Day” since it’s the time “when couples are most likely to file for divorce or separation”.

This date coming right after Christmas is no coincidence either, after a stressful festive period spouses often decide to call it quits after the New Year.

For 2025, that first Monday date is 6^th January 2025.

Getty

Couples are more likely to call it quits after an intense festive period[/caption]

FEARNE Cotton’s friends have revealed a contributing factor to her split from husband Jesse Wood, according to reports.

The former Celebrity Juice star announced they had called time on their 10 year marriage in an Instagram statement last week.

Getty

Fearne Cotton has moved away from her wild partying days[/caption]

Getty

Fearne and Jesse Wood announced their split last week[/caption]

It took fans, who believed the seemingly loved-up pair were as happy as ever, totally by surprise.

Now an insider believes the pair drifted apart after Happy Place podcast host Fearne fell deeper into the wellness rabbit hole.

A pal told the Mail: “They are a lovely couple, but Fearne has changed a lot since they got together.

“She was a kind of rock chick when they first met and now she has turned into a bit of a hippy dippy therapy type.”

Fearne and Jesse met in Ibiza in 2011 shortly after his divorce from first wife Tilly.

They recalled how they hit it off on a date filled with cigarettes and vodka when they were both at their hedonistic peak.

But in the years since then, recovering alcoholic Jesse has gone teetotal and Fearne has turned her back on her hard-partying ways to focus more on family and spirituality.

The sudden end to their marriage comes just days after the author revealed she had found two tumours on her jawline.

Addressing their surprise split, Fearne said: “It is with a heavy heart that I let you all know that Jesse and I are ending our marriage.

“Our priority has been and always will be our children.

“We please ask that you respect the privacy of our family at this time.”

There were signs all had not been well for some time.

Back in 2019 Fearne admitted how their marriage was “suffering”.

She said things had got more “difficult” due to Jesse’s busy schedule with his band Reef.

This ultimately led to the couple having a screaming row in the park.

Speaking in her Red Magazine column, Fearne said: “Love takes hard work – and no one wants to hear that.”

Getty

Reef rocker Jesse is teetotal after turning his back on booze[/caption]

PA:Press Association

The couple first bonded over cigarettes and alcohol[/caption]

She continued: “This year, Jesse and I hit a rough patch – he was away, touring relentlessly, [with his band, Reef].

“I was trying to keep my own career going while looking after our kids and we were both desperately clinging on to our marriage.”

After their row in a local park, Fearne revealed how the pair both started to cry.

However, she credited her husband’s emotional side for them being so honest with each other.

She added: “In the midst of this gargantuan row, I think we both wondered where the love had gone and worried that it might not come back.”

And two years later, she told how the coronavirus pandemic decimated their sex life.

Speaking with Alan Carr on his podcast Life’s A Beach, she said: “Sexy time hasn’t happened for so long in terms of me going anywhere.

“I think for me and my husband, booking into the local Travelodge would make us feel sexy at the moment.”

She went on: “We have had no time alone because of the ridiculous pandemic but before all this craziness, Paris was our go-to.

“Not every weekend, maybe once a year. But it felt well special because it’s so chic and beautiful.”

Fearne, 43, and Jesse, 47, who is the son of Rolling Stones rocker Ronnie Wood, tied the knot in an intimate London ceremony in 2014.

A year before the wedding they welcomed their first child, a son named Rex Rayne Wood.

Their daughter, Honey Krissy Wood, followed in September 2015.

Heartbreaking: 2-Year-Old Shoots Mom Dead While Playing With Loaded Gun   A tragic and preventable incident unfolded in a Northern California apartment on Friday evening when a 22-year-old mother was fatally shot by her 2-year-old son, who found an unsecured loaded gun. Jessinya Mina was relaxing in bed at the Butterfly Grove Apartment complex when […]

The post “Preventable Tragedy”: Mom of Two Shot Dead By 2-Year-Old In Heartbreaking Incident appeared first on iHarare News.

KZN Shooting: Two Senior Police Officers Gunned Down in Hammarsdale While Attending Murder Scene at Night Vigil A tragic shooting in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has left four people dead, including two senior police officers. The officers, who were attending a murder scene at a night vigil in Cliffdale, Hammarsdale on Saturday night, were gunned down by […]

The post KZN Shooting: Two Senior Police Officers Gunned Down in Hammarsdale While Attending Murder Scene at Night Vigil appeared first on iHarare News.