Debbie McGee: Strictly star opens up in weight admission 'Finding it really hard'

Aretha Franklin’s young granddaughter has been rejected from American Idol after auditioning for the long-running talent show last month.15-year-old Grace Franklin didn’t advance from her audition on February 27. Speaking before her audition, she said: “I feel like people expect me to sing exactly like her, but I am my own artist and I have my own voice.”Performing a version of Roberta Flack’s ‘Killing Me Softly’ in the style of the Fugees‘ iconic cover, Franklin was told by judge Luke Bryan that the performance “was all just a little sleepy and subdued to me,” while fellow judge Katy Perry called it “soft”.Another performance, this time of her grandmother’s track ‘Ain’t No Way’, followed, but Franklin was unsuccessful in her attempts to reach the next round of the competition.Watch both performances below.Aretha Franklin died in August 2018 in Detroit at the age of 76.

Gruff Rhys has released a new two-track single – you can listen to ‘People Are Pissed’ below.Marking the Super Furry Animals musician’s first release of 2022, the new single follows on from his May 2021 album ‘Seeking New Gods’ – which landed at number 10 in the UK albums chart last year.‘People Are Pissed’ has been released today (March 9) along with another new song, ‘Arogldarth’, with the two tracks clocking in at 7:48 and 8:15 respectively.Speaking about ‘People Are Pissed’, Rhys said in a statement: “The lyrics were basically inspired by the widespread anger I – and many other people – felt towards the incompetence and arrogance of the Johnson regime during the lockdowns – not that I feel any different now.“I mean the words go off on one like most of my songs, but that was the seed of the idea.”You can hear Gruff Rhys’ ‘People Are Pissed’ in the above lyric video, and listen to ‘Arogldarth’ below.Rhys will tour in Spain and France later this month ahead of a return to Cardiff for a performance at BBC Radio 6 Music Festival 2022 in April.You can see Gruff Rhys’ upcoming tour dates below, and find any remaining tickets here.March14 – Dabadaba, San Sebastián, Spain15 – Radar Estudios, Vigo, Spain16 – Riquela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain18 – Sala X, Seville, Spain19 – Las Cigarreras, Alicante, Spain20 – Loco Club, Valencia, Spain21 – Centro Civico Delicias, Zaragoza, Spain23 – Hasard Ludique, Paris, France24 – Le 104, Rouen, France25 – Les 4 Ecluses, Dunkerque, France April1 – Cornish Bank, Falmouth3 – BBC 6 Music Festival, CardiffJuly14 – Iveagh Gardens, Dublin (w/ Villagers)

Piers Morgan recently surprised his Instagram followers by sharing a rare photograph and him and his three siblings. The former Good Morning Britain host, 56, took to social media to reveal he'd reunited with his two brothers, Jeremy and Rupert Pughe-Morgan, as well as his sister, Charlotte Tomlinson.

Michelle Keegan was spotted catching a quick meal break as she continued to enjoy her holiday in LA with husband Mark Wright on Tuesday.The 34 year old tucked into a slice of pizza as she caught up with friends whilst out and about in Venice Beach, California, during her third holiday already this year with husband Mark so far. Michelle was photographed dressed casually in black athleisure wear consisting of a long-sleeved zipped sweat top and panelled leggings.

Her Majesty the Queen marks 70 years on the throne with a weekend of exciting events in June.The whole country is invited to join in the celebrations from street parties and picnics to colourful parades attended by the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace. If you’re partying at home, Kate Middleton’s mum Carole has got us covered with a sweet range of Platinum Jubilee decorations, tableware and accessories. From Great British bunting to Union Jack hats, cups and plates, you’ll find the whole collection on the Party Pieces website.

“What’s up, Instagram? Amanda Bynes here,” said Amanda, 35, in the first post on her new @amanda.bynes1986 Instagram account. In the short video, published on March 7, the former Nickelodeon star gave an update concerning her legal battle to end her nine-year conservatorship. “My court date is coming up in two weeks. I want to thank you all so much for your love and support. Peace out,” she said while tagging a handful of news outlets in the video caption.

Sam Heughan, 41, is charming women both on and off screen. The Outlander star sparked dating rumors with Australian model Monika Clarke after the two were spotted kissing during a lunch date at Soho’s Café Select in New York City this past weekend. Other photos showed the pair looking like they’d stepped out for coffee together. Sam has been linked to a few different lucky ladies over the years, he’s been a noted bachelor the past few years. Fans are now assuming that he and Monika are a full-fledged couple.

Kim Kardashian’s relationship with Pete Davidson will be a topic of conversation on the reality star’s upcoming Hulu show, Kardashians. However, Pete will not be appearing on the show himself (at least not yet). “I have not filmed with him,” Kim told Variety. “And I’m not opposed to it. It’s just not what he does. But if there was an event happening and he was there, he wouldn’t tell the cameras to get away. I think I might film something really exciting coming, but it wouldn’t be for this season.”

Hayden Panettiere, 32, gave an emotional call for support for Ukrainians as the country’s battle with Russia rages on. The actress announced that she’d started a new organization called Hoplon International to help raise money for Ukrainians fighting against Russian forces. The actress said that it was “gut-wrenching” to watch people that she loves going to war to defend their country.

The National‘s Bryce Dessner has said that the band’s upcoming new album harks back to their “classic” sound, as well as having a “lot of energy in it”.The guitarist and composer was speaking to The Up Coming about his and the band’s work on the music for the new Peter Dinklage-starring movie adaptation of Cyrano when he was asked when new material would arrive from The National.Admitting that he “wasn’t sure when new music will come”, Dessner did insist that they were “working on it” and it should be “imminent at some point” ahead of the band’s packed summer of festivals and live dates – as well as revealing that it would take a much more stripped-back approach than the lush predecessor of 2019’s ‘I Am Easy To Find‘.“It’s all very exciting: it kind of feels back to the classic National sound in a way, which was really just the five of us, and it has a lot of energy in it,” said Dessner. “Maybe it’s like bursting out of the closed doors of COVID or something? I don’t know.

BBC's Dragons' Den - but not so many have gone on to become household names.But there are a few choice products that made millions even after a brutal grilling by the five business moguls, and one such product - slammed for looking "like a horse brush" by Deborah Meaden - went on to sell one unit every 20 seconds.That product is the Tangle Teezer, a hairbrush constructed in a way that isn't supposed to pull on knots, making it less painful to run through matted tresses.Entrepreneur Shaun Pulfrey entered the den way back in 2007 to pitch the Tangle Teezer to the dragons, but found himself falling at the first hurdle.He was seeking £80,000 investment for 15 percent of the Tangle Teezer brand.Theo Paphitis ripped a chunk out of Paul, as he didn’t yet know if wholesalers would take it - as he "had no product to sell".Theo fired back: "That’s absolute rubbish. Having no product to sell is irrelevant, actually knowing whether they’re going to take it, you can go and make the product."No point going to make the product, having 20,000 sitting in your back bedroom and them going, ‘Shaun, it’s rubbish, mate’.

Channel 4 hit show in 2014, was one of the five strangers who took turns to host "dinner party" for the hosts and the winner could get a £1,000 cash prize.But it doesn't seem to be all genuine as she found out that the voting was staged and the results were fixed by the producers.She answered on TikTok: "During my week, one of the people absolutely should have won, their food was the best."But, it's hugely edited, massively staged – and they know who they want to win right from the get go."Some viewers asked if she got paid a lot to participate in the show, and sadly she revealed she only got £250 to cover her food, entertainment and cutlery that she needed."Being that you take a gift to each contestant's house, it cost me five or six hundred pounds – that's not even including the fact that I couldn't work for the week because I was filming from about three or four o'clock every day."There's MUCH more where that came from! Want all the jaw-dropping stories from the world of showbiz and up to the minute news from TV and soaps?Well, we've got you covered with our showbiz, TV and soaps newsletters - they'll drop straight into your inbox and you can unsubscribe whenever you like.We'll bring you the inside track from telly expert Ed Gleave and soap specialist Sasha Morris. Oh, and your daily fix of Piers, Katie Price, Demi Rose and all your other Daily Star favs.You can sign up here - you won't regret it...And some wondered if Katy tended to get drunk on the show."Sitting down for dinner for about six hours, all the while you're being stared at by four or five people around you.

Dearest reader, “Bridgerton” season 2 is almost upon us and so, Netflix and Shondaland have dropped the official trailer and exclusive new images.

Dolly Parton may have dazzled as host of the recent ACM Awards but there was something weighing heavily on her mind which she's since opened up about. On the night of the country music ceremony, Dolly took a moment to think about the people of Ukraine and send prayers to the citizens of the war-stricken country. MORE: Inside Dolly Parton's 56 year marriage to husband she met when she was 18During a virtual appearance on the UK's The One Show, Dolly explained why she felt she had to cast light on it and shift the focus to a more serious one. WATCH: Dolly Parton makes heartfelt confession about hosting ACM Awards "Well," she said. "I felt that it was not only important but urgent to do it because there's so much grief and so much sorrow.

is back! Season 2 of the hit Netflix and Shondaland Regency drama is returning with a romantic new full-length trailer documenting Lord Anthony Bridgerton's (Jonathan Bailey) quest for love. Though Lord Anthony sets his sights on Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran), he is told that he must «tame her sister,» Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). This seems to be a dangerous course of action as Lord Anthony tries to get in Kate's good graces only to find himself in a bit of a steamy love triangle. Lady Whistledown (Julie Andrews) then narrates, «What happens when duty is in conflict with the heart's true desire?» The show's second season will follow the plot set out in Julia Quinn's bestselling romance novels.

Javier Bardem discusses his very short-lived stripping career as he chats to Ellen DeGeneres on her show Wednesday.

Diane Warren is in an elite club. Her 13th Oscar nomination in the Best Original Song category puts her among some of the greatest songwriters of all time.

Susanna Reid stunned Good Morning Britain viewers with her dressed up “disco” appearance as she presented the show on Wednesday. During the live episode, the 51 year old, who was joined by co-host Richard Madeley, could be seen wearing a dark red snake print dress with long sheer sleeves, cinched at the waist with a black gold-buckled belt highlighting the presenter’s curvy figure.

Stacey Solomon looked stunning as she arrived at an event in London on Wednesday, opting for a chic, all-black outfit.The TV star, 32, was in the capital to promote the launch of Amazon’s new Handmade Pocket Money range at a pop-up in Soho on Wednesday morning. Mum of four Stacey, who recently made her return to her presenting duties on Loose Women, wore a casual black cardigan with statement buttons over a leopard print top.

Lucky in love? Kim Kardashian is opening up about her relationship with Pete Davidson for the first time — and she’s ready to start her new chapter.

Debbie McGee, 61, has spoken out about news that her role in a pantomime production of Cinderella has been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.