Latest News

SHAMED Strictly star Wynne Evans faces a desperate fight to hold onto his career after a string of blunders.

The renowned opera singer, 53, was axed from the Strictly arena tour yesterday for an inappropriate sexual joke he made to Janette Manrara, 41, and Jamie Borthwick at a media photocall.

The Mega Agency

Wynne Evans has employed a top crisis PR amid his Strictly turmoil[/caption]

Splash

The under fire star turned 53 this week[/caption]

Gaffe-prone Wynne alluded to a threesome by using the term “spit roast”, outraging fans of the show and prompting bosses to remove him from the production.

It followed an incident early in last year’s series when he was criticised for placing his hand on dance partner Katya Jones‘ midriff before she quickly removed it – though both insist there was no issue.

Wynne has now taken leave of absence from his BBC Wales radio show and split from his girlfriend, while his lucrative £1m deal with GoCompare is also in doubt.

Yesterday he issued a statement apologising for his behaviour in which he said he is entering a period of self-reflection.

Top crisis PR Mark Borkowski, who has previously worked for the likes of Prince and Led Zeppelin during his 35 year career, is the man tasked with saving Wynne’s tarnished reputation.

Borkowski transparently outlines his top tips for helping a bruised media personality on his website in a ‘crisis reel’.

Helpfully breaking down the strategy into an eight-step plan, Borkowski insists good can come from any crisis.

NO TELL-ALL INTERVIEWS

Using Prince Andrew’s disastrous Newsnight interview about his association with Jeffery Epstein as a case in point, Borkowski insists there are “softer ways” to get a message across.

The royal got himself tied up in knots with interviewer Emily Maitlis, bizarrely insisting one of the reasons he couldn’t have sexually assaulted a then 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre as she claimed is because he can’t sweat.

TAKE OWNERSHIP

With social media providing a permanent record of all that is said, Borkowski says that backtracking in the modern age is impossible, so why not hold your hands up and play on public sympathies?

He warned about having a ‘God complex’ while referencing plane-making giants Boeing, who he suggests viewed itself as bigger than past scandals it was embroiled in.

THINK STRATEGICALLY

Patience is always a virtue, especially so in crisis management. The PR guru espouses the importance of confidence and striving towards an end goal.

Citing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s post-Megsit fallout as an example, the famous couple set about rebranding themselves as cultural figures by releasing Netflix content and books.


FIRST MOVE ADVANTAGE

Borkowski advises clients to set the tone of the wider conversation; don’t be reactive, but get ahead and lead the agenda.

Borkowski’s remaining key advice consists of the following: don’t deny problems, never blame others, don’t underestimate groupthink, and ending with optimism, there are always comeback opportunities.

His website proudly displays successful cases including the famous neighbour row between guitar hero Jimmy Page and Robbie Williams after the pop star sought to develop his property.

Rex Features

The Mega Agency

Wynne made an inappropriate joke about Janette Manrara[/caption]

The firm encouraged Page to let the media into his home to see just how the building work would affect the historic mansion. Borkowski credits this transparency with helping turn the tide of public opinion as well as the local council.

It remains to be seen if his know how is enough to protect Evans’ media career though.

For the tenor’s part, his new BBC show with Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page in which they explore their home country remains on screens, suggesting a way forward.

With that said, even though he claims to have the support of a number of Strictly stars, Wynne’s pal Joanna isn’t following him on Instagram, hasn’t spoken in support of him publicly and has kept mentions of him during promotional social media posts to a minimum.

It certainly seems like there are personal rifts to heal as well as professional.

FRANCE’S most notorious serial rapist has been summoned for questioning over an unsolved murder of a young woman.

Dominique Pelicot, 72, has been dragged out of his hellhole prison cell and is due to speak to specialist “cold case” magistrates in Paris on Thursday.

Handout

Sophie Narme, 23, was raped and murdered in 1991[/caption]

Dominique, who was labelled the “Beast of Avignon”, has spent the past month in solitary confinement after being found guilty of the aggravated rape of his ex-wife, Gisele Pelicot.

He drugged his loyal wife for almost a decade and allowed over 50 men he met on the internet to rape and sexually abuse her against her will.

Pelicot is currently locked away in a high security prison close to the southern city of Avignon.

An investigating source in Paris told the BFM news channel: “Dominique Pelicot has been summoned for questioning this Thursday, January 30, by the cold case unit of the Nanterre Judicial Court.

“He will therefore be taken from his cell in the detention centre where he is serving a 20-year sentence for the aggravated rapes committed on his ex-wife Gisele Pelicot.”

Pelicot will specifically be questioned at length about the rape and murder of Sophie Narme, a 23-year-old estate agent, who died in 1991 in greater Paris.

And he will also be asked about the attempted rape of another estate agent identified only as Marion, 18, who was attacked in the same area in 1999.

Both attacks happened close to where Pelicot was living with his wife and three children at the time.

His DNA was put on a national database following his arrest over the crimes involving his wife, and this has led to him being linked with both the Narme and Marion case.

Another investigating source said: ‘Pelicot is linked to at least four unsolved cases of sexual violence and a murder at the moment, and these two are currently being prioritised.’

The escalation in the enquiry means that Pelicot could soon be facing futher criminal trials.

Investigating Judge Nathalie Turquey, one of three magistrates in the cold case unit of the Nanterre Judicial Court, in the northern Paris suburbs, signed the latest summons.

Pelicot denies any involvement in the murder of Sophie Narme.

He initially confessed to the Marion attempted rape, after his DNA linked him with it, but he now denies any involvement, said at least two investigating sources.

Pelicot’s lead defence lawyer, Béatrice Zavarro, said she did not wish to comment on his latest summons.

Princess Beatrice gave birth to her second child with her husband Edoard Mapelli Mozzi. Their daughter Athena was born for ...

Read more

THIS is the moment Kyren Wilson wrapped up his second-round victory with a cheeky no-look shot at the German Masters.

The world snooker champ made a classy finish to his match against Zhou Yuelong as he scraped through to the last 16.

X @WeAreWST

Kyren Wilson wrapped up his win with a cheeky no-look shot at the German Masters[/caption]

Reigning Crucible champion Wilson polished off his stunning high break with ease to win 5-3 at the Tempodrom in Berlin.

Leading 100-2 in the eighth frame, Wilson guided the cue ball around style.

A lovely shot left him with an easy pink to pot, before a no-look black completed his incredible century.

The crowd appreciated Wilson’s entertaining effort and applauded the Kettering ace as he left the arena.

Wilson, the second seed in the German captain, twice came from behind to beat China‘s Zhou, who led by two frames in the opening exchanges.

Zhou, the 31st seed, eked his nose ahead once more as he nicked the fifth, but Wilson fought back.

Wilson will face 18th seed Jak Jones next, the man he beat in last year’s World Snooker Championship final.

The 33-year-old is adamant he WILL break the Crucible Curse this year.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

No first-time winner of the World Snooker Championship has retained the crown the following year at the famous Sheffield Theatre.

The people who came closest to breaking the jinx were Joe Johnson (1987) and Ken Doherty (1998), who lost in the final 12 months after debut wins.

Wilson said: “My game is in fantastic shape. I have kicked-on since becoming a world champion. I haven’t let it burden me.

“I have used it to inspire me. I like to think there are many more trophies to come. I will give it my all. I will win the Worlds.”

Wilson has won three of his eight ranking titles in Berlin.

But lost the Masters final to Shaun Murphy at Ally Pally last month.

Murphy made two century breaks as he defeated Liam Graham 5-0 in Germany today.

Сотні людей регулярно роблять помилку, купуючи сир, який по факту ним не є. А виробники старанно роблять так, щоб люди не одразу могли помітити маркетингову хитрість. Останнім часом ціни зростають ледь не щотижня. Тому люди й намагаються економити: вибирають акційні товари чи менш відомі бренди, які задля уваги покупця продають все дешевше. Але іноді замість […]

Завдяки влучному застосуванню FPV-дрона, українські захисники підпалили моторний човен окупантів, який згодом пішов на дно. Військовослужбовці Держприкордонслужби знищили ворожий плавзасіб за допомогою FPV-дрона. Про це повідомили у пресслужбі ДПСУ. «На Півдні пілоти «бойових пташок» Держприкордонслужби продовжують знижувати наступальну спроможність окупантів, знищуючи їх плавзасоби», — йдеться у дописі.

"S--t happens," the "Parks and Recreation" alum captioned a photo of his wife holding their 2-month-old son, who pooped through his pajamas.

The chef gets steamy in the kitchen in a new ad promoting the makeup brand's nude lipsticks — and hopes the pics will secure her a date with a "handsome man."

ON January 30, 2025, the Dragons Den investors will be joined by Trinny London founder Trinny Woodall. 

They will be looking to invest in four businesspeople, including a dumpling maker, a water bottle inventor and an ethical cleaning product creator.

BBC

LoveSum Dumplings

YouTube/Cartier's Women's Initiative

YouTube/The Wod Pod

Pete Anwyll – Karta Bottle 

Pete Anwyll is the creator of the Karta Bottle, a water container that doubles a barbell weight. 

After studying aerospace engineering at university, he started working in management consultancy but found the career unfulfilling. 

The idea for the Karta Bottle came to him in the pub, when he was enjoying a drink with his girlfriend. 

He had read a book called The Four Hour Work Week, which encourages readers to think of a niche problem that bothers them. 

It says that your problem probably also bothers other people, so a product that solves that issue would likely sell well. 

Pete had been bothered by changing the difficulty of changing weights on a barbell, so he decided to create a product which would make the process easier. 

The water bottle clips onto barbells, which allows you to change the weights without putting the barbell down.

Karta bottles also come in a variety of colours and can carry 900ml of water.

They have also been rated for weights up to 290kg.

He had become passionate about fitness at school when he began to use the P.E. gym. 

The entrepreneur says that the “aesthetic” reasons for keeping fit don’t interest him. 

Instead, he wants to keep fit for his own mental wellbeing. 

Laura Harnett – The Seep Company

Mum-of-two Laura is hoping to revolutionise the cleaning product industry. 

She has previously worked as the director of digital products at Selfridges and as a non-executive director at a ecommerce company named Attraqt. 

In 2020, she decided that it was time for a career change.

Using her degree in Biochemistry, which she earned at the University of Bristol in 1999, she created The Seep Company. 

On her LinkedIn profile, she says that she created the company because she was “fed up of trying to find cleaning tools that weren’t made of plastic”.

That led her to create a range of zero-plastic cleaning tools including rubber gloves and scourers.

Sandy Tang – LoveSum Dumplings

Sandy had already achieved fame on another BBC reality show, before heading into The Den. 

She had starred in the 2020 series of Masterchef and managed to make it to the final before being eliminated. 

The chef spent the first 13 years of her life in the Philippines before moving to the UK.

She co-founded LoveSum Dumplings alongside David Soloman and their company focuses on the evolution of dumplings as they journey across the Silk Road. 

The Silk Road is a historic trade route connecting East Asia with Western Europe. 

As dumplings travelled across the trade route, from Turkey and Mongolia, they became a staple food in countries including China and Poland.

According to her company website, she is “comfortable embracing both Eastern and Western ideas and techniques when working in the kitchen”. 

She added: “I grew up in Macau, moving to the UK as a teenager. I started cooking when I was fifteen to recreate food memories from my childhood home. 

“My background has given me a real appreciation for food culture; good food brings people together and creates traditions. 

“Passed on culture-to-culture, recipes evolve.

“I find that fascinating and inspiring. 

“Being a MasterChef finalist gave me the opportunity to explore my love for cooking; using food to express my creativity. 

“Creating Love Sum dumplings gives me a chance to share that with you.”

The company sells ready made dumplings which include Chicken Kimchi Mandu and Prawn Hargow as flavours.

They also include recipes for a variety of dumplings on their website.

DAME Joanna Lumley is brought up to speed on 2025 trends by Amelia Dimoldenberg in a new sketch to launch this year’s Red Nose Day campaign.

Chicken Shop Date host Amelia, 30, interrupts Absolutely Fabulous star Dame Joanna, 78, to offer her advice on how to rescript her monologue to make it more relevant to a younger audience.

PA

Dame Joanna Lumley is brought up to speed on 2025 trends by Amelia Dimoldenberg in a new sketch to launch this year’s Red Nose Day campaign[/caption]

PA

A glam Dame Joanna features in the campaign[/caption]

PA

Amelia teaches her some modern day phrases[/caption]

It comes as the launch of Red Nose Day marks the beginning of Comic Relief’s milestone 40th year, as the fundraising show returns to the BBC on March 21.

And as Dame Joanna begins to deliver her opening lines in the clip, Amelia cuts the scene, as she has been hired to ensure the campaign “feels relevant for 2025”.

She says the revamp is needed as the charity hits 40 years, which she says is “so old”.

Dame Joanna replies: “Oh god, I’d hate to be 40,” then looks directly into the camera.

Dame Joanna remembers classic sketches from past Red Nose Day campaigns, including the 2009 Mamma Mia skit which featured her with comedians Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, and French kissing actor Hugh Grant live on air – but Amelia steps in.

The exasperated actress says she just wants people to “join in the celebrations”, to which Amelia says she just needs to speak in today’s language.

It then cuts to Dame Joanna redoing the monologue, saying: “Hey bestie, Jo Lums here, and I’m buzzing to tell you Comic Relief is turning 40.

“I know queen, ancient. But its vibes are still immaculate. It’s giving ‘having a laugh’, it’s giving ‘doing some good’. So join the party and pop off this Red Nose Day. It’s going to be lit.”

Amelia calls the revamp “absolutely fabulous”, to which Dame Joanna responds by simply saying “slay”.

Dame Joanna said of the campaign: “Red Nose Day is something that has always appealed to people for one simple reason – it’s sensational.

“We’ve been treated to so many fantastic, silly and ridiculous things over the years; you can’t help but want to get involved and have some fun.

“Most importantly, we all want to make a difference and help others however we can, because that’s the way we are.

“For 40 years Comic Relief has been a constant in all our lives, bringing us together to help inspire change around the world and here at home. It’s lovely, I adore it. One might even say it’s absolutely fabulous.”

Amelia added that it was an “honour” to work alongside Dame Joanna for the campaign.

“It’s such an important cause that has helped inspire so much positive change for 40 years now, but we know there’s so much more we can do to help,” she said.

“Whether it’s big or small, every donation counts, and it’s just a great thing to be involved in regardless, because not only are you raising money for an incredible charity, you’re having fun while doing it.”

This Morning presenter Alison Hammond will join the hosting line-up of the Red Nose Day live show for the first time, alongside broadcaster Rylan Clark and comedian Tom Allen.

AJ Odudu, Alesha Dixon, Davina McCall, Joel Dommett and Jonathan Ross will also all return to present the live BBC show, which has been billed as a “nostalgia-fuelled evening of live performances, star-studded sketches, hilarious comedy and spectacular fun”.

Actor and comedian Sir Lenny Henry and Love Actually screenwriter Richard Curtis co-founded the charity in 1985.

Communities, workplaces, schools and families have helped raise more than £1.6 billion over the last 40 years, which has supported more than 100 million people, according to Comic Relief.

The charity has helped support communities by providing food, healthcare and shelter to those who need it most.

Red Nose Day will air live on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on Friday March 21.

PA

Amelia calls the revamp “absolutely fabulous”, to which Dame Joanna responds by simply saying “slay”[/caption]