Andy Reid has Taylor Swift's back.

During the six-season run of The Sopranos, chief protagonist Tony Soprano entered a series of affairs. This was despite the mob boss sharing a generally happy marriage with Carmela, played by the quintessential Edie Falco.  And while the series broke down a number of conventions, showrunner David Chase never allowed Carmela to actually have an […]

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Chandigarh, Feb 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Punjab Additional Chief Secretary Anurag Verma has ordered the dismissal of Naib Tehsildar Varinderpal Singh Dhoot for illegally sanctioning the mutation of shamlat (common village) land in Kharar tehsil in favour...

The post Punjab: Naib Tehsildar dismissed in land scam case appeared first on Social News XYZ.

President Trump has shared an AI-generated video depicting his vision for the future of Gaza — featuring a gigantic golden statue of the president as well as images of him lounging topless poolside with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  The 30-second clip, shared to Truth Social on Feb. 25, opens by showing a war-torn Gaza...

Do you believe you have sharp eyes and sharp observation skills? It’s time to test your abilities with this interesting ...

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X FACTOR legends The MacDonald Brothers revealed they turned down Britain’s Got Talent – as they didn’t want to be Simon Cowell’s whipping boys again.

Brothers Craig and Brian from Prestwick, Ayrshire, shot to fame in 2006 when they made it to the semi-final of the ITV talent show that was won by Leona Lewis.

Tom Farmer

The MacDonald Brothers – who have turned down BGT[/caption]

John Kirkby - The Sun Glasgow

The pair shot to fame during the 2006 X Factor[/caption]

But they received regular tongue lashings from head judge Cowell who branded the pair “rubbish”.

And that’s why they said “no” when ITV offered a return to the small screen, saying: “We’re nearly 40 now and we just didn’t want to be Simon’s whipping boys all over again.”

But despite virtually disappearing from public view, the pair used their X Factor humiliation to set them up for life through sound management advice and shrewd investments.

The brothers ploughed the small fortune they made from the live spin-off tour from the TV series, along with a top 20 UK album, into buying their own homes outright.

They also grew a property empire, at one point owning up to a dozen rental flats between them, while their love of a dram saw them invest in over 800 bottles of rare, collectable whiskies and several casks too.

Craig, 39, says: “Looking back at the footage from X Factor we were so naive at the time as we were just 19 and 20.

“We had been gigging since we were 13 and thought we were doing alright then all of a sudden Simon was hammering us every week – we became his punchbags.

“He would say before each show, ‘Ready for a fight boys?’ And we’d just grin and bear it but inwardly we were thinking, ‘Can’t you just be nice to us for once?’”

Brian, 38, adds: “It was hard on our parents Margaret and Jim. They would come down to the show and Simon would say ,‘Hello Mrs MacDonald’ and mum would just turn her head and blank him.

“A lot of what he said was true. We were the weaker singers on the show at that stage and did have to raise our game.

“But we were a folk duo, playing accordion, fiddle, piano, guitars and the Irish whistle, then on X-Factor we had to become two young guys singing karaoke songs, doing Barry Manilow and ABBA week or whatever.

“So getting a kicking every show was hard because Simon just made us more nervous.”

The MacDonald Brothers – who were coached by Louis Walsh – made it to the last four of the show with forgotten Ben Mills in third place, and future Dancing On Ice champ Ray Quinn in second.

They finally got their marching orders after a cover of the Bay City Rollers 70s chart-topper Shang-A-Lang.

But after Walsh refused to manage them afterwards, they signed with a Scots indie label called The Music Kitchen that was ironically co-managed by former Rollers pin-up Stuart ‘Woody’ Wood.

Brian says: “Stuart and his business partner Gordon Campbell made our careers.

“They produced our first album, that got to No1 in Scotland outselling The Proclaimers, but it also reached No 18 in the UK charts.

“Gordon and Stuart then told us that instead of blowing the money we would earn from the album and the X Factor tour on cars, we should invest it in property.

“The funny thing is we were never interested in flashy cars anyway so the first thing we did after X Factor was buy our houses in Prestwick.

“I got a nice four bedroom home that I still live in today and Craig bought one just around the corner.”

Craig adds: “We also built up quite a nice property portfolio, which was a great fallback especially when Covid hit and we couldn’t work as musicians for two years.

“But that left us still fairly comfortable as we had all the flats rented out – and that was all down to listening to advice that was given to us nearly 20 years ago.”

The brothers may not have been on the box for years, but they have enjoyed life on the ocean wave, working the lucrative cruise ship circuit around the world.

Brian says: “Most of the time it’s six star cruises and we board as passengers. So we only do two 45 minute spots a week and the rest of your time is our own.”

Craig adds: “When we do Crystal Cruises or Silver Sea we get our own suite. The last one was to Columbia and Peru, but we’ve been absolutely everywhere over the last 15 years on the circuit.”

That also allowed the duo to build up an extensive collection of whiskies.

Brian explains: “The eye-opener for us was our grandpa’s friend had bought a bottle of whisky at a car boot sale for £45 and 10 years later sold it for over a grand.

“That’s when we realised there is money to be made. But we also genuinely developed a real appreciation of whisky over the years – and we’re very fond of drinking it too.”

TOM FARMER

The MacDonald Brothers, as they are today, with some of their collector item whiskies.[/caption]

Craig adds: “I think we have around 400 bottles each.

“Going on cruise trips and through airports also gives you a chance to buy limited edition bottles that have become collectors’ items over time.

“We also started performing on distillery tours, and have done about 80 of those so far. That gave us a chance to invest in casks too.”

The MacDonald Brothers have started to scale back their cruise commitments as Craig has a three year old daughter Ellie with vet supplies wife Jen, 35, while Craig lives at home with additional needs support worker missus Rachael, 37.

Instead the pair are now building up their fanbase back at home, touring Scotland from now until April.

Craig says: “What surprised us was that after X Factor we sold out two nights at a home coming gig at Ayr’s Gaiety Theatre – and we’ve just done the same again despite not gigging at home for years.”

Brian adds: “The best reaction we get is girls, who were fans, will drag their husbands or boyfriends along and see a show they were not expecting as we get the accordion and fiddle out and do the harmonies and also stuff like Simon and Garfunkel.”

Craig continues: “But I guess our biggest battle was always trying to change people’s perception from those two lads who were always getting hammered by Simon Cowell.

“Yes, X Factor did give us a perfect platform to have a career in music, but there was no way we were going back before Simon to get a kicking again.”

*The MacDonald Brothers are playing dates across Scotland until April 10. For more information visit: themacdonaldbros.co.uk

WANT to spruce up your home but don’t know where to begin? Well as long as you avoid these interior design ‘icks’ you should be alright.

Ethan Gaskill and Robert Gigs took to social media to share some of the common mistakes people make all the time – so are you guilty of any of them?

tiktok@robertgigs/

tiktok@robertgigs/

Decorative ladders are a big no-no as far as the pros were concerned[/caption]

First up, the interior designers roasted decorative ladders and slammed them in a viral video with over 815k views.

“Unless you have a bunkbed or you’re a firefighter I feel like you shouldn’t encounter ladders in your day-to-day life,” Ethan said.

“Anyone who buys this, I know exactly who you are[…] we see you and we would love you you to give the ladders a rest,” he continued, noting that the trend is common amongst hairdressers.

The interior pros then shared some alternative ways you can display your blankets or towels.

Ethan suggested getting a nice cabinet to display them, or simply drape one or two over the sofa.

However, he added that most people don’t need to display towels and blankets at all, because they’re likely to be there for more practical reasons than just looking good.

In your bathroom, Robert recommended keeping things simple with a rail to hang towels from instead.

The pair also shared another home ick, and this time it wasn’t an item of furniture they couldn’t stand, but rather a style of art you should avoid.

He slammed the Banksy rip-off style of art and said: “It’s usually neon graffiti, cartoon characters, bags of money, dripping graffiti hearts, super chaotic, always coloured and I just don’t love it.”

Just like with the decorative ladders, the duo pointed out that a very specific type of person usually goes for this type of art in their home – and you shouldn’t be one of them.

And Ethan chimed in to point out the artwork often reminds him of the crazy artwork on the side of fairground rides.

Instead, they recommended more simple artwork that won’t look so out there with the rest of your interior.

Photography prints can work well, but overall they suggested looking for something more “timeless.”

That said, the pair previously warned against a common mistake people make when it comes to their own pictures.

Next up on the pair’s list of interior design icks was a simple mistake many people are also guilty of, and that’s printing family photos onto large canvases.

The idea might be nice, but ultimately they can look cheap and blowing the pictures up to such a large size can make them look blurry too.

Robert said: “I don’t want to be at your house with your middle-aged father staring at me while I’m lying on the sofa.

“I never think they’re tasteful, they’re usually blown up on canvas with no frame, which is the worst offender of them all.”

Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep sentimental photos around your home – just avoid the large, pixelated canvases.

Instead, the duo suggested buying frames for your pictures, rather than making them so big.

After sharing the icks on TikTok many agreed with their picks, and one person commented: “Decorative ladders are soooo tacky!”

“You’re so right they so scream hairdresser lol,” a second said.

But another added: “I think it depends with the ladders, they can be good to display quality quilts are fabrics but it has to be done right.”

Meanwhile, someone else said: “The Banksy knock-offs belong in 2016.”

“I know exactly what you mean when you say fair graffiti art,” another said.

A MAP has revealed if you are considered rich based on where you live, after a new report found nine in 10 Brits who make £100k a year don’t consider themselves wealthy.

The new findings from HSBC discovered the majority of earners who rake in six-figure sums each year before tax would not say they are well off.

But the figure varies from region to region, with people in Scotland believing you need to make £330,000 to say you are well off.

Meanwhile, those in North East think if you make £80,000 a year you can class yourself as wealthy.

Residents in the South East of England, which houses the affluent county of Surrey, think you need to make £367,000 after tax to say you are well off.

Overall, the report found the majority of Brits think you need to make £213,000 a year before deductions to class yourself as wealthy.

In April 2024, the average full-time employee in the UK earned £37,430 per year before tax, according to figures from the ONS.

That means the hefty pay packet is nearly six times what the average worker makes in the UK each year.

Vicky Reynal, financial psychotherapist, said: “Anxieties about rising costs, inadequate savings, and the pressure of social comparison create a sense of scarcity, even when objective wealth exists.

“By redefining wealth beyond the bank balance, focusing on our achievements, reducing unhelpful comparisons, and prioritising financial actions within our control, people can move confidently toward the future they aspire to.”

Factors such as hikes to the daily cost of living and wage stagnation have placed pressures on households.

Inflation, which is a measure of how the price of goods and services is rising or falling, hit its highest level in 10 months in January.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measured 3% in the 12 months to January.

Meanwhile, rising house prices and utility bills can also make people feel anxious about their finances.

And it appears that Britain’s highest earners are also concerned about their finances.

Research also found that when it comes to financial ambitions among high earners, almost half are aiming for a comfortable retirement.

Some 27% are also looking to prioritise more immediate costs and 11% are looking to tackle insufficient savings.

WAYS TO SAVE CASH

If you are looking to improve your finances or put some money away for a rainy day you could consider getting a fixed-rate savings account.

These types of account pay you a fixed amount of interest on money you put into the account.

This means that your money is locked in, so even if interest rates increase you are unable to move your money and switch to a better account.

However, some providers give the option to withdraw, but it comes with a hefty fee.

“CROSSED legs aren’t allowed in here,” Eddie says in his cut-glass accent as I settle onto the infamous bed where pornstar Bonnie Blue recently slept with over 1,000 men in 12 hours.

I quickly uncross my legs, adjusting my posture.

Olivia West

Eddie Davenport shows Sun Sexpert Georgette Culley his bedroom – the most exclusive room in the house reserved only for VIP party guests[/caption]

Olivia West

Sun Sexpert Georgette Culley and Lord Eddie Davenport pose on the infamous steps where 1057 masked men queued to bonk pornstar Bonnie Blue[/caption]

Rex Features

As The Sun’s Sexpert, I’ve been granted exclusive access to Eddie’s lavish Marylebone mansion – the setting for London’s most elite and hedonistic parties.

It’s also the scene of a string of scandals – including a violent brawl at the weekend where three guests were stabbed.

Cops and paramedics were called to the Portland Place party venue, where Bonnie Blue recently slept with more than a 1,000 men in 12 hours.

Four men were taken to hospital – although none had life-threatening wounds.

It’s not the first time Eddie’s parties have been marred by violence. In 2019, bouncer Tudor Simionov was stabbed to death while manning the door to a £2,000 a ticket bash.

Eddie, who was in Thailand at the weekend, insists the latest scandal won’t see him shutting his doors for good, despite a temporary closure order issued by police on Sunday.

He told The Sun: “I wasn’t there that night but I’ve heard what happened and we are assisting the police in every way possible. 

“We’re delighted that the police acted swiftly and caught the culprits.

“There were around 50 people at the party, and the individuals involved knew each other.

“Unfortunately, there are always people who go out, get drunk, and cause trouble. London is a big city, and incidents like this happen, but the important thing is that it’s been dealt with. 

“There was no threat to our guests and the individuals involved knew each other.”

He added that the culprits “slipped through the net” after being introduced as “friends” by two female guests.

And he vowed to carry on throwing his controversial sex parties, with “extra security measures, including ID scanning” adding: “We’ll also be vetting all guests who bring friends to stop an incident like this happening in the future. 

“While we were initially served a closure notice, it was withdrawn after 24 hours. I wasn’t happy about it, but I accept that it was an emergency response. 

“Ultimately, the fight is over, no one was seriously injured, and we continue to cooperate fully with authorities.”

Dressed in his trademark velvet jacket and Gucci slip-ons, Eddie has been hosting orgies for over FIVE decades and his hedonistic haven has drawn police attention 63 times – thanks to noise complaints, alleged drug use and rowdy partygoers.

But despite the backlash, he recently won a court case, securing his “right to party” .

“It was mainly one neighbour,” he sighs. “Any time well-dressed, sexy people arrived, she’d call the police. She just didn’t like it. Even in court, she admitted, ‘I don’t like the type of people who go there.’ 

“I mean, it was quite extraordinary. I guess she’s a conservative, maybe a very religious woman or something like that, and she just didn’t like the girls in the short skirts and high heels.”

Unbowed, Eddie says nothing will stop him hosting his X-rated events.

“I’m the best host of sex parties,” he grins. “And I don’t have a wife telling me I can’t do it.

“I’m very, very open-minded, and I have the best location for it. Wherever I am, there’s a party every day.”

Olivia West

A pictured of the ‘red room’ basement where people have sex in the alcoves – with the curtains drawn or open[/caption]

Olivia West

An alcove perfect for a little privacy[/caption]

Exclusive parties for VIPs

But entry isn’t as simple as knocking on the door. Eddie’s gatherings are strictly invite-only, spread through word of mouth, and reserved for what he calls “beautiful people.” 

Inclusivity? Political correctness? Not exactly his priority.

“I’ve been organising parties since I was at school,” he recalls. “Snogging parties behind the bike sheds at 15 or 16. By 17, I was throwing big ones.”

Eddie begins my tour in the dimly lit ‘red room’ – his basement pleasure den.

“You lose track of time down here,” he explains. “We have alcoves with curtains – so if you want intimacy with your girlfriend, or multiple girlfriends, you can disappear inside.”

I attended one of his infamous parties last year, where I watched couples – and threesomes – slip behind the velvet drapes, often leaving them ajar so champagne-sipping onlookers could watch.

“People love nooks and crannies in these old Victorian mansions,” Eddie continues. “Some crave privacy, others get off on being watched. This room has no clocks – people come here to get lost in the moment.”

Despite the mansion’s grand, glamorous rooms, Eddie insists the smaller, more intimate spaces are where the real magic happens.

Olivia West

Another small room for in the basement for guests to have sex in[/caption]

Olivia West

The first floor social area which doubles up as a sex dungeon for party guests[/caption]

Olivia West

The Sun’s Georgette on the notorious staircase[/caption]

“I’ve had some very romantic moments in here,” he confesses, pulling back one of the red curtains. “I’ve met some stunning women in the middle of the night.

“People feel uninhibited. At least three couples have got married after meeting in this room.”

I’m the best host of sex parties and I don’t have a wife telling me I can’t do it

Lord Davenport

Eddie describes his events as “intimate, exclusive, hedonistic.” Some draw over 1,000 guests, while his most elite soirées are capped at just 12.

So how exactly do you score an invite?

“They’re private – invite only,” he explains. “I also have interests in other entertainment businesses – nightclubs, casinos. We meet people there, or someone might say, ‘This guy is fantastic – he’s got eight beautiful girls with him. You should meet him.’ It’s all word of mouth.”

Everything inside is strictly confidential – phones and inhibitions are left at the door.

1,000 people orgies

Olivia West

Georgette sits on the custom-made ‘Bonnie Blue’ bed with Lord Davenport[/caption]

Supplied

Bonnie Blue at the house where she performed the controversial stunt[/caption]

tiktok/@bonnieb_xoxo/

Bonnie on the bed after the sex marathon[/caption]

Eddie also rents out his mansion to sex party companies like Killing Kittens and Bonnie Blue – and it was here that the pornstar broke a world record by sleeping with 1,057 men in a single day.

“The whole day was the craziest I’ve ever experienced,” Eddie says. “Men queued from the basement to the top floor in balaclavas. Some couldn’t perform after waiting hours – too much pressure.”

Eddie still keeps the now-infamous bed from that event as a “piece of artwork” and has been offered seven figures to sell it. 

Bonnie Blue was absolutely incredible, she’s like a sportswoman

Lord Davenport

“Bonnie was absolutely incredible,” he continues. “She’s like a sportswoman. Incredible stamina and she didn’t even take a break. 

“For 12 hours she only stopped briefly for an energy drink. And even when she’d slept with 1,000 there were another 57 waiting and she was like, ‘Okay, don’t worry we’ll just do them one by one.’ 

“I think the idea that she’s exploiting young guys by bonking them is absolutely ludicrous. I mean, I was a young guy once upon a time, and I would have loved to have slept with Bonnie Blue.”

Playboy past

Olivia West

Lord Eddie Davenport has been throwing parties for over FIVE decades[/caption]

So who is the man behind the headlines?

By his own admission, he’s a “womaniser” who’s never married – mainly to protect his vast wealth.

“Once you own a big house in central London, you know that if you marry, the authorities take half, your wife takes the other half, and you’re left with nothing,” he laughs. “So that’s one reason I stayed single. Plus, I’m a bit of a womaniser.”

I’m a bit of a womaniser, that’s why I’ve never married

Eddie Davenport

Over the years, he’s earned multiple nicknames, including Fast Eddie and Lord Fraud – after he was sentenced to eight years and seven months in prison for being the ‘ringmaster’ in a £4.5 million deception which involved a series of advance-fee fraud schemes. 

“After the fraud case I started doing parties again and I was called the Wolf of the West End, which was kind of a term of endearment. 

“And more recently, I’ve been called by The Sun newspaper, the Orgy Kingpin – which is definitely my favourite.”

Upstairs, in another grand room the walls are adorned with family portraits. 

“This room is for the VIPs who can party very late,” he tells me. “Like after 4am. “People may come here and chat up a girl and then rush her to a bedroom or something. It’s very popular.”

Showing me the oil paintings of various family members, Eddie explains how partying is “his blood”. 

Olivia West

One of the upstairs party rooms which have oil paintings of Eddie’s family members of the walls[/caption]

“I’ve been in the party business forever,” he says. “I was throwing parties at 17. It’s in my blood. My family’s been in the alcohol business – breweries, distilleries, even Davenport Wines. My dad ran a fashionable restaurant in Chelsea.”

We reach the master bedroom in Eddie’s £15 million mansion.

Olivia West

Lord Eddie’s private bedroom on the top floor has a four poster bed – he rents this room out to VIPs when he’s away[/caption]

“This is where the real party happens,” he winks, gesturing to an ornate four-poster bed. “You can fit a few girlfriends in there.”

I ask how many girlfriends he has. He simply smiles. “A gentleman never tells.”

So, does Fast Eddie show any signs of slowing down?

“Absolutely not,” he grins. “I plan to keep going. I want to beat any competition that comes along.

“I’ve always allowed my house to be used for parties – and I don’t have a wife telling me to stop.”

Olivia West

In Eddie’s bedroom which is open for fun when Eddie isn’t staying at the mansion[/caption]

Peter Jordan - The Sun

32 Portland Place, London, from the outside[/caption]

Olivia West

The grand staircase[/caption]

Olivia West

BDSM-inspired artwork in the basement[/caption]

Olivia West

Private sex room off the basement[/caption]

Instagram

Eddie poses with two glamorous women[/caption]

Olivia West - The Sun

Eddie Davenport has been dubbed The Wolf of the West End and the Orgy Kingpin[/caption]

ALEX KING

Lord Eddie with celeb pal Paris Hilton[/caption]

MANCHESTER UNITED is set for two controversial post-seasons in Asia.

The Red Devils will jet off for matches in Malaysia and Hong Kong after the end of the Premier League season in May.

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Manchester United will play two games in Asia at the end of the season[/caption]

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Tottenham and Newcastle had a post-season friendly last year[/caption]

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Alan Shearer has been highly critical of the idea[/caption]

Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United played in an end of season friendly in Australia last year.

The match was slammed by Premier League legend Alan Shearer as “madness”.

At the time, he said: “Can you imagine if you’re a player who is playing in either the Copa America or Euro 2024 having to do that?

“Madness. Crazy.

“I wouldn’t be happy at all.

“It’s crazy for Newcastle to go and play Spurs there on Wednesday night and then another game.”

Ruben Amorim and his players will now have to undertake the journey for the games.

Elite players have seen their workloads increase and has been a point of discussion this season.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

There have been added games with Fifa’s expanded Club World Cup and Uefa’s new format to the Champions League.

However, there has been some restbite as FA Cup replays have been scrapped to ease the hectic football calendar.

Meanwhile, Man United have confirmed that there will be a second round of redundancies at the club.

It was revealed that up to 200 more staff members could lose their jobs.

This follows on from the 250 staff that were let go last year.

The club has made huge incoming from commercial, matchday and broadcasting income.

However, it has not been enough, with the club losing more than £300million over the last five years.

Since 2013, the club has splurged over £1.6BILLION on transfers following the exit of Sir Alex Ferguson.

And despite their enormous outlay, they have never felt so far away from competing for the Premier League title.