Calls on Rishi Sunak to increase benefits now as all sides demand action on cost of living

Ricky Gervais has been displaying his signature dark humour by asking fans to vote for him to “win another award before I die”.The After Life creator is hoping to win big at the TV Choice Awards this year.Ricky, 60, took to Twitter yesterday to ask a small favour of his 14.9 million followers.“You can vote for me to win another award before I die, if you like,” he penned.The star also knowingly added an angel emoji with the hashtag #AfterLife.He retweeted a post from TV Choice's official account, which told fans: “Don’t forget to vote in the 2022#tvchoiceawards.“Today our chosen category is BEST COMEDY PERFORMANCE.”The post included a link to the website where fans can vote.Ricky is nominated in the category for his Netflix show After Life, which concluded its final season this year. Ricky plays protagonist Tony, who is learning to navigate the world after the death of his wife.Ricky has candidly opened up about his health issues before, repeatedly mentioning the back problems that have seen him suffering for three decades. Last year, he admitted he was worried he would end up wheelchair-bound because of his health issues. While out on a run, the star experienced excruciating pain after trying to tie his shoelaces.It was so severe that his partner Jane Fallon even had to help him get dressed.Ricky explained he was concerned over what he would be like in a few years. He said: “This is why I know I'll end up in a f***ing bucket one day."I've got tennis tomorrow, that's got to be cancelled.Thank god I haven't got a gig."Next tour, after this one, I'm changing the genre.

Eamonn Holmes should have been presenting coverage of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee on TV screens earlier this month, but found himself in a hospital bed being treated for a painful back instead.The experience gave the presenter, who has just begun a new column for Express.co.uk, a renewed understanding of the "underpaid and understaffed" NHS.The 63-year-old broadcaster woke up in agony at the time and, after being rushed to A&E and having an emergency MRI scan, it was revealed that he was suffering from two prolapsed discs in his back.He was impressed by the speedy and efficient treatment he received and the "education" he was given about his condition, alongside the options he was offered every step of the way - but he lamented the impact Brexit has been having on the NHS."The 20 or 30 [staff] I met during my stay repeatedly insisted they were 'just doing their jobs'," he recalled, after praising their efforts to keep patients comfortable throughout the night."My carers were from Northern Ireland, the Philippines and Africa.They were underpaid and understaffed," he continued."Brexit has robbed [the NHS] of many European folk who used to keep the health system going and on a daily basis."I was left asking myself how the hell do they keep saving lives under these conditions day- after-day? But they did."There was no let up and no respite," he exclaimed.He also stated that the complication of staff taking sick leave due to being diagnosed with Covid exacerbated their struggle.He urged the world not to "rely on the Westminster mouthpieces for the facts", and to speak to people within the industry instead.Eamonn felt deflated not to have been at the heart of the action when the Platinum Jubilee kicked off, as he was left

Shakira was very impressed with Nick Jonas and his dance moves during a recent preview for the next episode of ‘Dancing With Myself,’ surprising the audience with an unexpected salsa demonstration to the rhythm of her song ‘Chantaje’ with Maluma. “Do you salsa, Nick?” Shakira asks while they both sit next to each other at the judges table.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentRaffaele Annecchino, president of Paramount International Studios, Networks and Streaming, is leaving the company.A terse internal Paramount memo obtained by Variety says that JC Acosta, president, International Studios, Streaming and Networks for Southern Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Africa; Maria Kyriacou, president, Australia , Canada, Israel and UK; and Mark Specht, EVP and managing director, Central and Northern Europe and Asia, “will be stepping in as interim heads to lead the international business.”There was no immediate comment from Paramount International on Wednesday.As he rose through the ranks at what is now Paramount Annecchino is known to have had a close rapport with Paramount CEO Bob Bakish, but it appears that this rapport has suddenly gone sour.

Anna Marie de la Fuente Underscoring the further expansion of its animation division, leading VFX and animation studio DNEG has tapped Erika Burton, its president of VFX Production since October last year, to lead DNEG Animation with Tom Jacomb as co-president.The former DreamWorks Animation and Disney Animation exec will focus on production, resource management, training, and operations while Jacomb will oversee creative, client management and outreach as well as the development of IP and original content.Expressing his delight at welcoming Burton to the DNEG Animation fold, Jacomb said: “We have more exciting projects, more growth and expansion, and more original content and co-productions on the horizon, and Erika will be absolutely instrumental in helping to ensure that we have a rock-solid foundation upon which to continue building.” “I’m also delighted that she will be contributing her compassion, warmth, and experience to the amazing work that our teams are already doing in putting equality, diversity and inclusivity at the heart of everything that we do here at DNEG Animation,” he continued.Said Burton: “I have been fortunate enough to work with some immensely talented VFX and animation teams during the course of my career, and I love both disciplines equally.”“There is something really compelling and challenging about animated filmmaking that keeps drawing me back and this is just a tremendous new opportunity,” she added. “Working with DNEG’s VFX teams over the last year has been a career highlight for me, but when the invitation came to join Tom, David [Prescott, SVP Creative], Crosby [Clyse, Head of Production] and all of the other talented folks on the animation side of our business, it was one that I could

EXCLUSIVE: German public broadcaster’s latest drama is to be a remake of the 2019 Australian thriller mini-series Safe Harbour after a deal with distributor NBCUniversal Formats.

Denise Van Outen opened up on her fears for her daughter Betsy last week as she admitted she’s turned to therapy to cope with her split from Eddie Boxshall. And a parenting expert has told OK! that while Denise is clearly hurting, she is right to be worried about her daughter as the impact of the break-up on her “shouldn’t be underestimated”.

Monday’s episode of Love Island was a memorable one with Afia Tonkmore being dumped and two male bombshells introduced. One of those is model Remi Lambert from Manchester. Remi, 22, promised to bring good energy to the villa as he swapped his home for Mallorca.

Billi Mucklow and Andy Carroll's lavish honeymoon in Mexico reportedly "hit the skids" after the couple spoke about his stag do in Dubai.The former TOWIE star's wedding to the professional footballer, 33, was plunged into jeopardy earlier this month after photos emerged of him in bed with another woman whilst on his stag do. According to The Sun, the couple had put a ban on discussing the topic following their nuptials, but a source told the publication that Billi, 34, is "only human" and is "upset" by what happened.

Tracey Nicol-Lewis holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of Harry Potter memorabilia.The 48 year old who lives in Pentwyn, Wales, with her husband Martin explains how her collection started and then grew... "My back aches as I cradle my baby bump and ease onto the sofa, a copy of Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling flopping onto the cushion beside me. It’s 2002 and I’m weeks away from giving birth to my little boy Brendan.

Boris Johnson is set to face MPs later today in what is expected to be another fiery session of Prime Minister's Questions.

A desperate Scots gran has been forced to remove her eight-year-old granddaughter from school after she was allegedly subject to vile racist slurs.

A quad bike rider died after crashing into a headstone in a Glasgow Cemetery last Sunday morning.

A garden created by school pupils in memory of tragic Hamilton teen Amber Niven has made it through to the final of a prestigious competition.

Bradley Cooper is looking back at his past struggles with mental health and addiction, and reflecting on how he managed to change his life around.The  star joined Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes for an episode of their podcast, , released on Monday, and opened up about the events early in his career when he realized just how «lost» he truly felt.Cooper recalled a time when he was 29, and Arnett — who has been a friend to Cooper for years — had a difficult conversation with him about his behavior and his acerbic sense of humor, which Cooper didn't realize he'd started taking too far.The actor explained that, at the time he had «zero self-esteem,» and that he felt his mean jokes and biting sarcasm were innocuous, explaining, «I didn't think I was hurting anybody, because how could I if I was worthless?»«I was so lost... and I was addicted to cocaine, you know, that was the other thing,» Cooper explained, adding that he'd also «severed my Achilles tendon» right after he left in 2003 — which added to his emotional turmoil.For Cooper, moving to Los Angeles to shoot felt like he «was back in high school.»«I could not get into any clubs, no girls wanted to look at me.

The Lightning Seeds have announced their first album in 13 years, ‘See You In The Stars’. Check out new single ‘Sunshine’ below along with our interview with frontman Ian Broudie.Due for release on October 14, the album coincides with a new 14-date tour for the Autumn.Although Lightning Seeds’ 1996 football anthem ‘Three Lions’ with comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner has revisited the Top 40 singles chart four times in the last 13 years – reaching Number One in 2018 – ‘Sunshine’ is the first new Lightning Seeds song since their sixth album ‘Four Winds’ was released in 2009.The band have stayed busy by regularly touring and playing festivals, which is a change of direction as Broudie – who effectively is Lightning Seeds – didn’t tour at all until his alias’ third album ‘Jollification’ in 1994.

Kate Bush has shared a further statement on the resurgence of ‘Running Up That Hill’, saying: “It’s all so exciting!”The 1985 single has been witnessing a resurgence after it featured as a prominent part of the storyline in Stranger Things 4, and it reached a new peak on the UK singles charts last week, landing at Number Two.“Running Up That Hill has just gone to No 2 in the UK charts and No. 1 in Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden….,” Bush wrote in a post on her official website last week to celebrate the news. “How utterly brilliant!”In another new post, she has now added: “It’s all so exciting! Since the last post, ‘Running Up That Hill’ has gone to No.

Dan Walker has taken to Twitter to share his thoughts over the latest series of hit Netflix series, Stranger Things.The Channel 5 News presenter, 45, queried why the programme was "turning into a horror show", which led to fans of the series quickly weighing in on the debate in the comments.In view of his 762,100 followers, the former BBC Breakfast presenter put a question about the series to his fans.Dan wrote: "Anyone know why they’ve turned #StrangerThings into a horror show?"It’s gone full evil dead."The newsreader's followers were quick to weigh in on the debate.Twitter user @sam_manton responded to the Channel 5 News host, explaining the show's progression.They commented: "Development of the characters and story."It was always a little creepy and it's got scarier as the seasons have gone on and as the characters have got older."@Natedog0101 admitted: "A bit of a nightmare on Elm street feel about it for me at moment.

Susanna Reid has revealed heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury’s top tip to losing weight as he prepares to enter the boxing ring once more on Good Morning Britain. During Wednesday’s (June 15) instalment of the popular ITV breakfast show, the 51-year-old and her co-star Richard Madeley welcomed viewers back with the latest news headlines.

JoJo Fletcher is a "Bachelorette" breaking the mold.The 31-year-old reality star, who tied the knot with her final rose winner Jordan Rodgers one month ago, left life on the show in California and picked right back up where she left off living in her home state of Texas.  The pair isn't following the traditional path of former "Bachelor" couples — and have since set their sights on home renovations. Plus, Fletcher spoke with Fox News Digital about the work they've put in to protecting their six-year relationship and planning their stress-free wedding following multiple COVID setbacks.  Fletcher first found television fame more than seven years ago as a beloved "Bachelor" contestant on season 20 of the popular dating show, and made it to the final rose ceremony only to be left broken-hearted when she was sent home while cameras were rolling.

Five people have been rushed to hospital following an early morning fire in Edinburgh.