TOUKER Suleyman has taken a savage swipe at his BBC rival show The Apprentice – saying Dragons’ Den is ‘more real’.

The millionaire business tycoon returns to screens tonight with a brand new series of the hit series.

BBC

BC

Another batch of entrepreneurs will enter the den vying for his – and the other dragons’ – cold hard cash.

Joining Touker are Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden Steven Barlett and Sara Davies.

Meanwhile, its rival show The Apprentice is also due to return to screens in just a matter of weeks.

Speaking about the similarities between both business programmes, Touker said Dragons’ Den is “more real”.

He said: “We are really changing people’s lives, and I think, with all due respect to Lord Sugar and The Apprentice, it’s a reality show.”

Touker, 71, continued: “This is about business, this is about us parting with our own money.

“I can assure you, we don’t get as paid as well as Lord Sugar, who could afford to pay the £250,000.

“It’s our own hard-earned cash that we use in this show to change people’s lives.”

Last year Dragons’ Den bosses introduced guest dragons in a major overhaul to the show’s format.

Fans watched as football legend Gary Neville made an appearance alongside US fashion mogul Emma Grede.

Series 22 of Dragons Den launches tonight (January 9) on BBC One at 8pm.

A COUPLE’S holiday plans were left in ruins after Ryanair stopped them from boarding the plane because of their passport.

Abriella Monroe’s and her husband Sebastien had booked Ryanair flights to Tenerife.

MEN Media

Sebastien faced were turned away at the gate due to a surprising passport issue[/caption]

MEN Media

Abriella, 32, and her husband Sebastien, 36, were planning to fly to the Spanish island to celebrate his birthday.

But were stopped from boarding the Ryanair plane due to a small tear along the spine of Sebastien’s passport.

Arriving at Manchester Airport two hours early for their flight, there didn’t appear to be a problem as they both checked-in without issue with their luggage being taken onto the plane.

Sebastien even managed to buy currency and spend money in duty free despite the fault with his passport.

But the pair were turned away at the gate after being told that Sebastien’s passport couldn’t be accepted.

Abriella told Manchester Evening News: “The man took a two second look at it and said ‘you can’t travel on that’. He said there was a slight rip in it and couldn’t accept it.

“We tried to reason with him and asked to speak to someone higher up, but it was no use.”

The pair were told they wouldn’t be able to board, and had to wait for their luggage and Abriella’s wheelchair to be taken off the plane, before having to leave the airport.

The couple explained they then went through the Border Force exit to the airport, who they said saw ‘no problem’ with Sebastien’s passport.

Abriella said they would “definitely be complaining to Ryanair”.

She added: “The passport is just slightly torn – we can fully see his details, passport number and his photograph.”

They said they would also be organising a new passport from Liverpool to avoid this happening again.

In response, a spokesperson for Ryanair said that the passport was ripped on the identification page at the seam and across the page which is why it wasn’t accepted..

A spokesperson told The Sun: “The UK Passport Office defines what constitutes as a damaged passport, not Ryanair.

“This passenger was correctly refused travel from Manchester to Tenerife (8 Jan) as his passport was damaged and therefore not valid for travel.”

Government guidelines on passports say that the HM Passport Office consider a passport to be damaged if details cannot be read; any of the pages are ripped, cut or missing; if there are holes, cuts or rips in the cover; the cover is coming away or there are stains on the pages.

Countries like Bali are even stricter, with a number of people banned from flights for small tears or damage.

Another strict country is Vietnam – here is everything you need to know.

MEN Media

Abriella’s wheelchair had already been loaded onto the plane, along with their luggage[/caption]

Легендарний футболіст Андрій Шевченко – батько чотирьох синів, двоє з яких вже повнолітні. Джордан і Крістіан Шевченко справжні красені, про яких мріють всі дівчата. Андрій Шевченко – не лише легендарний футболіст, який здобув світову славу, а й багатодітний батько. Він вже понад 20 років одружений на колишній американській моделі Крістен Пазік, яка подарувала йому чотирьох […]

"When things are not going so well and life is tough, as it is for many people for all manner of reasons, having to hold things together is really hard."

"If we do a full commit to a girly name at this point, it would not sit well with the other three, I think," she said on her "Not Gonna Lie" podcast.

SAMANTHA Mumba has opened up about her meteoric rise to fame worldwide and where it “went wrong”.

The singer was a huge hit back in the 2000s after releasing her singles, Gotta Tell You and Baby Come Over, which soared high in the charts

PA:Press Association

Samantha was on Nicky Byrne‘s podcast, where she opened up about growing up on Dublin’s Northside.

The now 41-year-old grew up “less than a minute walk” from Croke Park and Nicky asked her if she experienced much racism growing up as a mixed-race girl in the 80s.

Samantha went to an all girls primary school, unlike her brother and explained: “I think girls are a lot sweeter and kinder than boys. I think my brother would have had very different experiences. My father definitely had very different experiences.

“I was either very lucky, or, you know, I was always well able to stand up for myself, but I genuinely didn’t encounter things like that.

“It is not lost on me that if I wasn’t known here or recognisable that I would be treated, and would have been treated slightly different as you know an adult and in my 20s, I would have been a very different experience factually I know that now.”

The Gotta Tell You singer shot to fame worldwide after the release of her first single under the management of Louis Walsh.

However, after the release of her first album and appearing in one Hollywood movie, much of the steam driving Samantha’s career seemed to disappear.

Nicky asked her: “Do people say, ‘Where did it all go wrong?’ I’m going to pose that qustion and I know it’s not gone wrong, but I understand why people ask, ‘Why you aren’t selling out arenas around the world’.”

Samantha said: “Definitely, and I do notice that a lot especially when I am at home as well, it’s like, ‘What happened you? What you are up to?’

“So to answer all that, I was signed to Polydor that was my label and then obviously after America, after Time Machine, after all that, and releasing my first album.

“I’d actually recorded nearly a full second album, I think with Polydor ad then it merged into Universal.”

She added: “It went from all these three or four labels merged into one, and that screwed me.

“Because no one knew what was going on. All of my core team that were there from day one were no longer there. So, it was just like, ‘What do we do with this now?’.”

‘RELIEF’

She explained: “Again political, I don’t want to throw anyone under the bus, there were several thing that could have been done differently, could have been done better, could have been fixed, but it didn’t happen.”

Despite never truly recapturing the success of her first single or album Samantha explained that she felt “relieved” after losing her record deal.

She said: “It had felt like I was on this hamster wheel, constantly, constantly and then I was twenty and I could buy a house, So I did, in Dublin.

“Like that was amazing and I was so so happy to do that and not for once be living out of a suitcase and actually be able to decorate my house and have friends come over, and that’s when my house got the name Club Mumba after my 21st birthday.

Samantha bought her house in Drumcondra, where Bertie Ahern, Nicky’s father in-law also eventually bought a home.

JEDWARD have said they’re “extremely worried” for their celebrity pal Tara Reid after she revealed “Hollywood is burning down” in a devastating text.

While they’ve proven an unlikely match, the American Pie actress and Irish twins have been best friends for over a decade after meeting on UK’s Celebrity Big Brother back in 2011. 

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Jedward have sent their ‘prayers’ to their beloved friend Tara Reid[/caption]

Instagram

Jedward have said they’re ‘worried’ for Tara’s safety[/caption]

Clicking immediately, the trio are now inseparable, with the boys spending more and more time in Tara’s native Los Angeles and celebrating major holidays with her.

John and Edward were in Los Angeles, California, during the early stage of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown, where they lived with Tara and her boyfriend Nathan Montpetit-Howar.

This week devastation has hit Los Angeles as gusty winds and dry conditions have allowed the five major fires – named Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia, and Sunset – to quickly spread.

Celebrity enclaves in the Hollywood Hills and Pacific Palisades have been turned to ash in what officials say are the most destructive blazes in the city’s history.

Jedward’s bestie Tara was among the tens of thousands who were forced to evacuate their homes in LA.

The model texted the Dublin duo to update them on her devastating situation.

She wrote: “Now we are on fire, all Hollywood is burning down. Runyon Canyon is on fire, it’s going down now.

“The buildings are on fire. We escaped, we are okay but this s*** is so scary. It feels like the end of the world.”

The brothers shared a screenshot of the message over on their Instagram Story and wrote: “Receiving this text from Tara Reid terrified and shocked up deeply.

“Can’t believe our old LA home at Runyon Canyon is being evacuated! Please come to London or we’ll come to you! We love and miss you. We’re extremely worried for you. Stay safe everyone.”

The pair also posted a photo of them with Tara in Hollywood beside another photo of the same area now on fire and said: “Can’t believe this view is covered in fire and burning down.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with our LA friends. You always have a home in our hearts.”

Irish models Tiffany Stanley and Kerrie McMahon were also forced to flee their homes in LA.

Kerrie took to Instagram today to update her fans on her safety after having to leave her house in a panic with her three-year-old daughter Isabel Grace.

HOUSE HORROR

The Dubliner wrote: “Safely made it to the hotel after the most frightening day.

“We lost our power yesterday but the fires did not appear to be in our area.

“Then we got notified to evacuate right away at 6pm so had to scramble to get out in the dark. Everyone was fleeing in their cars.

“Praying for everyone affected in LA.”

Tiffany also spent the night packing up her belongings to prepare for evacuation.

The influencer moved to America ten years ago and lives with her long-term boyfriend entrepreneur Garrett Thomas.

The former Miss Kildare got emotional as she spoke about her situation saying: “I can’t believe we are saying this but we are preparing to evacuate. I hope we don’t have to.”

SAT on her father’s knee in a pretty white dress and with a bow in her hair, Paris Jackson was presented to the world as the King of Pop’s perfect daughter.

But the pressure of growing up in Michael Jackson’s fairytale Neverland led to a nightmare of drugs and suicide attempts for the 26-year-old model and singer.

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Paris says Jacko liked to play ‘dress-up’ with doll-like clothes[/caption]

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Paris Jackson gave up heroin and alcohol five years ago[/caption]

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Paris is a model and rock singer[/caption]

This week Paris described herself as “an alcoholic and a heroin addict” as she celebrated kicking those two devastating habits five years ago.

It is perhaps hardly surprising that the only daughter of Michael would have developed such dangerous dependencies, given that she was raised almost solely by a man who was hooked on pain killers.

At the age of 11 in 2009, Paris then had to deal with the trauma of her dad’s sudden death from those prescribed substances and a bitter struggle among his family for control of his vast fortune.

On top of that she didn’t meet her mum Debbie Rowe until two years later, with Michael having taken custody in what was widely reported to have been a financial agreement.

Today marks five years clean and sober from all drugs and alcohol

Paris Jackson

She also faced being sexually assaulted by a stranger aged 14, studying at an “abusive” school and being told she was “fat” by a relative.

Somehow, though, Paris has managed to turn her life around, getting engaged and forging her own career as a rock singer.

On her Instagram page this week, she wrote: “Today marks five years clean and sober from all drugs and alcohol. 

“To say that I’m thankful would be a poor euphemism. Gratitude hardly scratches the surface. It’s because I’m sober that I get to smile today.”

Unstable start

Even before she was conceived, Paris stood no chance of being brought up in a stable environment.

Her mum Debbie had got to know Michael while working as his nurse and suggested giving him kids when he feared ending up childless following the end of his marriage to Lisa Marie Presley.

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Michael has two kids with Debbie Rowe[/caption]

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He covered his kids’ faces in public despite numerous photoshoots[/caption]

They had two children together, Prince, 27, and Paris after getting married in November 1996.

But when they got divorced after just four years of marriage, Debbie agreed to Michael having sole custody of their offspring, receiving over £6million in the settlement.

A third child, Prince II, now known as Bigi, 21, arrived via a surrogate mother in 2002.

All three kids were beset by rumours that Michael was not their biological father and Oliver! actor Mark Lester was even suggested to have sired Paris.

But she always insists the black pop singer is her real dad.

Paris grew up in Michael’s Californian Neverland ranch, surrounded by zoo animals, fairground rides and her dad’s showbiz pals.

But she says that her dad made them go to “school every day” and could only go on the rides if they had been “good.”

Porcelain doll

Her father had a contradictory attitude to his children’s privacy.

Michael would pose for glossy magazine photoshoots with Paris, but also make her wear a mask when they went out in public.

It wasn’t something his daughter enjoyed, with her revealing: “I was the only girl of four boys for the first ten, 11 years of my life.

“Because I was the only girl, my dad loved playing dress-up. I looked like a porcelain doll and I hated it.”

I looked like a porcelain doll and I hated it

Paris Jackson

Paris rebelled against the picture perfect image by eating lots of food and that was frowned upon in the Jackson household.

She once recalled: “Food became an addiction and then a cousin called me fat so I was like, ‘OK, I can’t do that anymore.’

“And that’s how I fell into self-harm.”

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Paris and older brother Prince Michael had a bizarre upbringing[/caption]

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Paris hated her ‘porcelain doll’ outfits[/caption]

‘Good heart’

In the background there was also the stress of the trial Michael faced in 2005 for alleged child sexual abuse, which he was cleared by a jury.

Paris does not believe claims that her “good hearted” father molested children.

She told Rolling Stone magazine in 2017: “Nobody experienced him being a father to them.

“And if they did, the entire perception of him would be completely and forever changed.”

Following her dad’s death, at the age of just 50, she was placed in the custody of her grandmother Katherine, 94.

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Mum Debbie gave up custody, reportedly for a financial agreement[/caption]

Splash News

Paris only met her mother Debbie Rowe two years after Jacko’s death[/caption]

Wild child

She shared a sprawling compound in Encino, California with her uncle Jermaine Jackson’s children and did not follow the rules of her strict Jehovah’s Witness gran.

Paris said “I was doing a lot of things that 13, 14, 15-year-olds shouldn’t do. I tried to grow up too fast and I wasn’t really that nice of a person.’”

She hung out with “older crazy people”, got a lot of tattoos and took drugs as a teenager.

When she was just 14 a “stranger” sexually assaulted Paris.

She’s given few details of the attack, but said “It was really hard for me, and, at the time, I didn’t tell anybody.”

The family tried to straighten Paris out by sending her to a “reform school” in Utah, but instead she allegedly suffered abuse at the brutal Diamond Ranch Academy.

Paris said she was “diagnosed with PTSD” following her two years there.

All of those issues conspired to wreck her mental health,

Paris said she has tried to take her own life “multiple times”, going as far back as when she was 15.

Jacko’s daughter said: “It was just self-hatred, low self-esteem, thinking that I couldn’t do anything right, not thinking I was worthy of living anymore.”

Paris – who got an alien tattooed on her breast when she was 18 and now has 80 inkins – told how body art helped her recover from a darker time in her life. 

“I can look at my inner forearms and see art that has meaning for me, I don’t see a dark past anymore,” she explained.

“My scars and past of self-hatred have been covered by loving marks, creativity, ingenuity and depth.

“I see ink as a way of changing for the better, always improving. they represent strength for me.”

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Paris with brother Prince Michael and Blanket at a memorial event for her dad in 2011[/caption]

Getty - Contributor

Her tattoos helped her put her ‘dark past’ behind her[/caption]

Alongside the message posted on Instagram on Tuesday night, Paris included clips of her wild youth, smoking and drinking alcohol straight from a bottle.

In 2019 she finally got help for her addictions, by going into a rehab, but it still took time to truly get clean.

Therapy and the support of her friends has helped her.

Now, she has a much healthier perspective on life, saying: “I get to make music. I get to experience the joy of loving my dogs and cat. 

“I get to feel heartbreak in all its glory. I get to grieve. I get to laugh. I get to dance. I get to trust. I feel the sun on my skin and it’s warm. 

“I’ve found that life keeps happening regardless of whether I’m sober or not, but today I get to show up for it.”

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The star looks healthy and happy at a recent event[/caption]

‘Whirlwind’ romance

Part of her new found positivity could be down to having got engaged to fellow musician Justin Long.

She had quite a tangled love before, describing herself as “gay” after dating both women as well as men.

In 2017 she was romantically linked to British supermodel Cara Delevingne when they spotted kissing and holding hands. 

Paris said: “I say I’m gay, because I guess I am, but I wouldn’t consider myself bisexual because I’ve dated more than just men and women.

“I’ve dated a man that had a vagina. So it has nothing to do with what’s in your pants.”

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Justin Long has proposed to Paris[/caption]

She also seems to have a thing with rockers, having gone out with former bandmate Gabriel Glenn for two years.

The break-up with Gabriel was hard on the singer, with her claiming in the TV show Red Table Talk: “It was the deepest I ever loved someone, it was the most intense I’ve felt so far and the most intense betrayal I felt so far and experienced.”

Justin, a music producer who has worked with Paris and started dating her in 2022, proposed last year.

Alongside a photo of Justin going down on bended knee, she wrote on Instagram last month: “Doing life with you these last years has been an indescribable whirlwind and I couldn’t dream of anyone more perfect for me to do it all with. 

“Thank you for letting me be yours. I love you.”

THE Road Safety Authority is warning against using a popular de-icing hack on cars as temperatures plunge below zero.

Weather bosses have sent out orange snow and ice warning for parts of the country this week.

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The RSA have warned about using a common hack to de-ice your windscreen[/caption]

As snowy and icy conditions continue, the Road Safety Authority is strongly advising against one common hack – using hot water to clear ice from your windscreen.

While it might seem like a quick fix, pouring hot water on your windshield can cause the glass to crack due to the temperature difference.

What’s more, hot water can potentially damage the car’s paint and trim. 

The heat can strip protective coatings or cause discoloration, especially if the water is boiling.

Instead, reach for a proper screen scraper and de-icer to safely remove snow and ice from your car.

The RSA said in a statement: “Clear your windows and mirrors before you set out, carry a screen scraper and deicer.

“Don’t use hot water on the windscreen as it can crack the glass.“

Meanwhile, the RSA have given more tips to drivers during the cold snap.

Before setting off, the RSA said it’s crucial to check your tyres for sufficient tread depth and to make sure they’re inflated correctly along with ensuring you’ve a spare wheel.

Always ensure your headlights and taillights are functioning properly, and replace any broken bulbs before hitting the road.

Clear any snow and ice from your vehicle, including the roof, windows, and mirrors, and carry a scraper and deicer.

It’s also recommended to prepare for sun glare by having sunglasses on hand, and to check the weather along your entire route before you travel.

Ask yourself whether your journey is essential and allow extra time for delays.

Vital car boot staples

If you’re planning a long journey, the RSA said to carry key items in your boot such as a high-visibility vest, spare bulbs, a shovel, and appropriate footwear in case you need to leave your vehicle.

Also, consider packing spare fuel, a hazard warning triangle, de-icing equipment, a first aid kit, a working torch, and extra food, water, and clothing.

On the road, always drive gently – slow down, maintain extra distance from the car in front and avoid harsh braking or sudden acceleration.

If visibility is poor, use dipped headlights and fog lights, but turn them off when the weather improves.

Watch out for black ice, particularly in shaded or sheltered areas, and steer gently if your car starts to slide.

If you do slide, avoid panicking and try to steer into the slide – if your car is sliding to the right, steer right.

Pedestrians should also take extreme care, as ice and snow make walking on footpaths dangerous, and if no footpath is available, walk facing traffic on the right side of the road.

Wear shoes or boots with good traction, and avoid walking in the street unless absolutely necessary.

Cyclists, motorcyclists, and e-scooter riders should also reconsider their journeys in these conditions – or find alternative transport if possible.

ROB CROSS admits that it will be tough to stop the Luke Littler “juggernaut” now he’s world champion.

The World No4 is convinced that the teen sensation will continue to grow and be an even bigger force in 2025. 

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Rob Cross is full of admiration for teenage world champion Luke Littler[/caption]

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Littler beat Michael van Gerwen to get his hands on the iconic trophy[/caption]

Cross, 35, lines up in the Bahrain Masters next week when 17-year-old Littler is announced as the reigning world champ for the first time. 

He said: “I’ve got nothing but admiration for Luke. I think we’ve all run out of ways to describe what he’s done for the sport. 

“He’s done incredible things on the oche. We’ve never seen this in darts before. 

“People used to talk about my World Championship win on my debut as a big story.

“That has been eclipsed by Luke totally. Fair play to him. He’s taken it all in his stride. 

“I think the biggest thing now for us all is how to stop him. It’s going to be like trying to halt a juggernaut. 

“The more belief he gets, the harder it gets. He won’t win everything, a bit like last year.

“There’s no doubt it’s up to the likes of Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, me and a few others to stop him. 

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“The only time Luke Littler has looked beatable is in the early stages of tournaments over a short format, like I did at the Grand Prix. 

“He’s shown so much resilience lately though. It’s going to be fascinating as the year goes on.”

Cross suffered an early exit at Ally Pally to pal Scott Williams but wants a strong comeback at the Premier League. 

He added: “I’m excited to get to Bahrain and get winning again. 

“The Worlds was a tough draw to play my mate. It was a rubbish night, I didn’t get going at all. Very frustrating. But that’s gone now. 

“I want to get going and get to the Premier League to show what I can do. And try and stop the boy Littler!”