First Dates barman Merlin Griffiths gives health update amid cancer battle

Amanda Holden has been described as the "hostess with the mostest" after hosting a star-studded dinner on Friday night.The actress reunited with old friends, including former Britain's Got Talent co-star, Piers Morgan. Amanda's friends gushed as they posed by side for a sweet snap where they were joined by a full table of stars, including Alan Carr, Ruth Lansford and Eamonn Holmes.The group sat around an elegant marble table as they beamed for the camera as private chef and Michelin-trained Euan Peach sat proudly in the centre. Get exclusive celebrity stories and fabulous photoshoots straight to your inbox with OK!'s daily newsletter.

Simon Cowell is thinking about bringing back The X Factor after axing it just one year ago.The iconic programme ran from 2004 until 2018 before and saw two spin-offs in 2019 - The Band and The X Factor Celebrity.Last summer, ITV confirmed that the show wouldn't return but Simon seems to have other plans.He is apparently planning to resuscitate The X Factor one year on from ITV declaring they had no plans of airing it again.The TV boss has hinted that it may be the right time for the show to make a return to the US.An insider told The Sun on Sunday: “The X Factor is far from dead in America. Simon always felt the show needed some rest and some revamping.“He and the producers are looking at making it appeal to a wider audience and incorporating more social media platforms and streaming possibilities.”Simon also told the publication: “I’m proud of the show.

It was one of Greater Manchester’s most notorious estates. Once described as an “island of deprivation in a sea of affluence”, The Racecourse estate in Sale was considered a no-go zone.

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family after they struggled to treat it at home. Sadly the 12-year-old's disability meant she could not handle the combing process so the parents visited Rachel for professional help.When she came in, the hairdresser was stunned by the huge infestation with lice crawling all over her scalp, neck and clothes.She said: "I was extremely surprised to see the amount of eggs her thick hair was housing."Rachel added: "Typically this case would have been better solved in shaving the hair."But for a 12-year-old who basically was a brunette Rapunzel I did not want to take that away from her."I spent about three hours over each appointment combing through her hair."Some spots I couldn't even go near on the first treatment – above her ear was filled with eggs."We took our time and just went with what she was comfortable with – and we did it."Over the course of three appointments, which all took three hours, the expert was able to remove all traces of lice from her head.Rachel, from Australia, filmed the huge infestation and shared it on TikTok where it racked up over 23million views and 648,000 likes.One user said: "I suddenly feel very itchy."Another added: "Honestly the people that do what you do are heroes."One time my kids brought home life and I tried for months to get rid of it spent all kinds of money."Want all the biggest Lifestyle news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Hot Topics newsletterA third commented: "Poor girl that must have been so sore."Glad there are people like you out there that can help it can be hard getting rid of them."After the removal, the child was unsurprisingly thrilled with the results.Rachel revealed: "I could tell immediately that she felt the difference.

Tyson Fury was so distracted by the atmosphere at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night that he "messed up" his ring walk.The Gypsy King is no stranger to an elaborate entrance before his fights, and he didn't disappoint as he made his way into the arena to face Dillian Whyte. In his first UK fight in four years, he made sure the 94,000 people packed into the stadium were given a show.Ahead of defending his heavyweight title, Fury's entrance was a message to his opponent that he was the king and would have to be knocked off his perch.

Neighbours has sadly seen the loss of many of its great actors since the series began in 1985 - including the death of actress Miranda Fryer earlier this year.Actresses including Anne Haddy and Cathy Godblod, who played fan favourites Helen Daniels and Sondra Pike respectively, along with Miranda Fryer, are just three of the stars to have died in the decades since the soap first aired.Fans and fellow cast members have been left devastated by the deaths, some of which occurred suddenly while the stars were still appearing in Neighbours.Here, Daily Star looks back on the Neighbours stars who have sadly died.Anne Heddy was one of the longest reigning on-screen matriarchs in Neighbours - with both her on-screen and real life deaths leaving fans devastated.During her time in Ramsay Street, Helen had romances with residents including Reuben White and James Condon, saw members of her family mysteriously disappear, and left viewers in tears following her tragic death in her sleep while watching Scott and Charlene's wedding in 1997.Her portrayal of the character Helen won the Penguin Award for Sustained Performance by an Actor in a Series in 1987.Away from our screens though, Anne had encountered multiple health battles including a heart attack that led to multiple bypass operations, angina and kidney troubles - leading the actress to retire in 1997.However the actress died on June 6, 1999 at the age of 69 years old, just two years after she left Neighbours.Cathy Godbold was one of Australia's most famous TV actresses, having appeared in both Home And Away and Neighbours during her career - as well as playing Deborah Hale Regnery in The Saddle Club.In 1997, she was cast as Sondra Pike in Neighbours, who was involved in story

Dillian Whyte faces losing a chunk of the cash he earned from being blown away by Tyson Fury as he contests a different sort of fight outside the ring.Whyte had his shot at the WBC belt on Saturday night, but was outboxed throughout the contest. And then his challenge came to an end in the sixth round when he was flattened by a huge uppercut which Fury admitted was one of the best punches of his career.Still, the Body Snatcher earned a pretty penny for his night's work, with his guaranteed take-home amount set at £6m.

X Factor's "Tesco" Mary Byrne says she has "picked herself back up" after TV work dried up.Mary, 62, shot to fame when she appeared on the ITV show back in 2010, the same year that One Direction garnered a following and subsequent success. She was quickly given the jovial nickname "Tesco Mary" while on the show, which came from her job prior to finding fame when she worked at the supermarket.Irish sweetheart Mary made it to the semi-final of The X Factor after singing her heart out and making a name for herself around the United Kingdom.After the show she then signed a record deal with Sony Music Ireland – but as with many careers in the entertainment industry, Mary has had ups and downs.Speaking to Star Chic Magazine, and reported in RSVP, the singing sensation has opened up about her life after appearing on X Factor.

Tyson Fury has already backtracked on his plans to retire by calling out UFC champion Francis Ngannou for a hybrid heavyweight showdown.The Gypsy King dismantled Dillian Whyte before delivering a brutal uppercut in the sixth round to secure a knockout victory and retain his WBC belt on Saturday night. Cameroonian fighter Ngannou flew in from Las Vegas to watch Fury in action at Wembley, with the pair appearing to verbally agree a future fight post-bout.Fury confirmed in his post-fight interview he would be retiring from boxing after making a promise to his wife. But he contradicted his words just seconds later by claiming he was interested in a crossover fight with knockout artist Ngannou.Fury said: “Francis Ngannou was here today.

The Emmy winner stars as Tessa in the play, a barrister who loves to win, after working her way up from working-class origins to be at the top of her game.Directed by Justin Martin, the production features set and costume design by Miriam Buether, lighting design by Natasha Chivers, sound design by Ben and Max Ringham, music by Rebecca Lucy Taylor, and video by Willie Williams for Treatment Studio.Prima Facie is produced by James Bierman for Empire Street Productions, along with Echo Lake Entertainment, Faliro House, Filmnation Entertainment, L.T.D. Productions, and Moudy Al Rashid.Jodie recently revealed her reasons for giving up a leading role in the Ridley Scott-directed Napoleon. “That decision was actually taken out of my hands.The scheduling kept changing, and I was always committed to the play," she said. “So it came to a point where it was impossible to do both.

A man and woman have been charged with attempted murder after an alleged suspected gas leak in a Scots town.

Outlander star Annette Badland, 71, played fan favourite character Mrs. Fitz in the first season of the show and told Express.co.uk how she got along “terribly well” with fellow cast members Sam Heughan, 41, and Caitriona Balfe, 42.She also admitted that it was “great fun” to be surrounded by such “naughty lads”.Now in its sixth season, Outlander is a historical drama show that takes place around the time of the Jacobite rising.With Sam’s character Jamie Fraser leading his Scottish clan into battle, a huge cast of young actors is needed for filming the epic scenes.Annette, who played Mrs.

The brother of a missing Scot has launched a frantic online appeal in a bid to bring him home.

Molly-Mae Hague has opened up on her hopes to marry her boyfriend Tommy Fury "soon", three years after falling in love. Love Island star Molly-Mae, 22, met her boxer beau Tommy, also 22, during the fifth series of the ITV2 dating show in 2019.The couple soon moved in together and have been loved-up ever since, leading fans to hope that Tommy will propose to Molly.

Ben Whishaw has reportedly "split" from his long-term husband of 10 years due to "hectic travel and work schedules", it has been claimed. The James Bond actor and Australian composer Mark Bradshaw have been an item since 2009, and later tied the knot in a civil partnership in Sydney in 2012. According to reports, friends say the split is civilised and that they continue to live together at their home in Hackney, East London, whilst they see other people.

This post is sponsored by Unshackled Wines, official wine of VIP at Coachella. Create your own Coachella VIP experience at home by purchasing the Unshackled Coachella Bundle. The first 100 purchases will be gifted a FADER poster.

Declan McKenna has shared new track ‘Elephant’ with all proceeds going to charity – however it’s only available for the next two weeks.Described by McKenna as a demo, ‘Elephant’ carries on the dystopian themes of 2020’s second album ‘Zeroes’ but pushes things further, taking on a more industrial vibe.The track is available until May 6 with at least £1.30 of the £1.99 price tag going to Brian Eno’s climate change charity EarthPercent. Check out the song here.Announcing it on Twitter, McKenna wrote: “A new tune ‘Elephant’ is available from Bandcamp for the next 2 weeks only.

First Dates star Merlin Griffiths is reportedly preparing himself for a "robotic" surgery as he continues to battle bowel cancer.The 46 year old TV favourite is best known for his role as a bartender on the popular Channel 4 show. Merlin has often been caught teasing and joking with hopeful daters on the show. He also encourages the contestants as they're shown waiting nervously at the raised bar.

First Dates has told fans that he will be having a hi-tech "robotic" operation as he battles against cancer.Merlin Griffiths, 46, shared the emotional news with fans on social media this week after being given a bowel cancer diagnosis last year.Doctors had told him he had a 75% chance of living beyond five years after they found a 4.5cm (1.7 inch) stage three tumour.The fan favourite from the Channel 4 TV programme is often praised for his calm and friendly presence while nervous participants get to know each other over a drink.Talking about his upcoming surgery, he posted on Twitter: "Operation scheduled. 3 weeks to get my s**t together.

Channel 4’s series First Dates, has shared an update on his health battle.The star was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year and has now opened up on his latest surgery.Back in September 2021, Merlin shared the news that a tumour was found.He was diagnosed with stage three cancer and was given a prognosis that he was unlikely to live beyond five years.The 46-year-old publicly shared the news as he detailed his plans to battle his cancer.Over the past few months, the star has been updating his fans on his cancer journey.Taking to Twitter on Thursday, Merlin explained how he has a new surgery booked to his 42,000 followers.He wrote: “Operation scheduled. 3 weeks to get my s**t together.“Robotic surgery, welcome to the future!”The surgery in question sees doctors use a robotic system to help with keyhole surgery, according to Cancer Research UK.They explain this allows the surgeon to sit slightly away as they watch the operation on a magnified screen.The machine has four arms, with one holding the camera, and the others holding the instruments needed for the surgery.These arms are controlled by the surgeon monitoring the operation.Following on from the update, Merlin was inundated with supportive messages from fans.Austin Ventour wrote: “Sending unlimited love Merlin.