MARK Wright and Michelle Keegan made no secret of their desire to be parents.

The couple, who tied the knot in 2015, have this week welcomed their first baby into the world.

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Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright have become parents for the first time[/caption]

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They have welcomed a little girl called Palma Elizabeth[/caption]

Maria Hibbs

The couple announced Michelle’s pregnancy with a stunning photo in Mallorca[/caption]

Before little Palma Elizabeth’s arrival, both Mark, 38, and 37-year-old Michelle lifted the lid on their plans for parenthood.

Just three days before Palma was born at London’s private Portland Hospital, Mark couldn’t hide his excitement about becoming a dad.

In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Mark told us how he hoped to be a father just like his own dad, Mark Snr – or ‘Big Mark’, as he is affectionately known.

The Heart FM presenter told us: “I’m just excited for the whole process. I’m just really excited and can’t wait for it to happen.

“A parent shapes you. If you haven’t got a good upbringing, you can still end up being a good person but if you’ve got good parents, like we have, you’re going out into life [with] a massive head start.

“My dad is everything you’d dream [of] in a dad. He’s always put us first, no matter what, whether that was financially or in terms of love and care.

“We’ve always felt so loved and that’s one of the most important things for any parent – to make your child feel loved and to [let] them know [you’re] there.”

Mark and Michelle announced their pregnancy news in December.

The couple revealed that Michelle was expecting a baby by sharing a gorgeous bump snap taken on the beach in Mallorca.

In homage to their “favourite place in the world”, Mark and Michelle have even named their daughter Palma, which is the capital of Mallorca.

Last month, Michelle spoke about her pregnancy in a candid interview with Grazia magazine.

The actress also revealed her blooming baby bump in a stunning ‘at-home’ style photo shoot.

Michelle, whose parents split up when she was nine, spoke about her own plans for motherhood and insisted “discipline and respect” were incredibly important to her.

She said: “Mum and Dad broke up when I was nine and my brother was seven, but it didn’t affect us on a personal level because we felt so loved.

“My dad was always very involved in my life. They put the children first, above their own needs – which is probably very difficult when going through a break-up.”

Echoing her husband’s sentiments, Michelle added: “As long as a child feels loved and safe, you can’t go far wrong.”

The star, who has just finished wrapping the final series of Brassic, also revealed she is set to take a well-earned break this year to enjoy motherhood with Palma.

“I’m going to take a good chunk of time off to enjoy being a mum,” she said.

“I’m never normally at home in the summer, I’ve always been away working, so I can’t wait.”

Mark and Michelle’s daughter Palma was born on March 6.

Following her arrival, they shared a beautiful black and white photograph of their little girl and said: “Together we have a new love to share… Our little girl Palma Elizabeth Wright. 06.03.25.”

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Mark said he hopes to be a father like his own dad, ‘Big Mark’[/caption]

Danny Lowe

Michelle has echoed his sentiments about ensuring their child feels ‘safe and loved’[/caption]

“SORRY, it’s taken me a while to post this”, wrote woe is me Danny Jones as he fessed up to his very public kiss with Maura Higgins.

Could the delay be a case of that devilish writer’s block? Or maybe he penned his lacklustre statement while trying to dodge the blows his wife Georgia will have been metaphorically raining down on his head?

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The Sun

He and Maura were snapped sharing a kiss during glam event[/caption]

YouTube

“I want to deeply apologise,” Danny continued, “to my wife and family for putting them in this situation.”

It’s not getting much better is it? And given Danny is rather decent with a pen and paper – after helping write countless hits for McFly, he definitely could have done a little more soul searching. 

How about this, Danny…

“I want to deeply apologise to my wife and family for my selfish and thoughtless actions in a room full of people when I should have showed a modicum of self control. 

“I embarrassed myself and the people I love the most and I deeply regret what I have done.”

A little more believable, no? 

His statement goes on to say he and Georgia will “continue to deal with this privately”.

I’d hazard a guess that in reality, and when writing this, Danny was actually kicking himself that his brief and fleeting kiss with Maura had not happened “privately” because then he wouldn’t have to squeeze out this banal and blasé turd.

All the signs point to his brief drunken clinch with Maura being a moment of madness. A smooch fuelled by alcohol – and sheer stupidity on Danny’s part.

But why even put out a statement if you’re going to be so wet about it all?

You’ve already taken a public bullet on your first walk of shame with Georgia – a picture you knew was inevitable unless you never left the house again.

And your face was etched with the humiliation.

Those photographs, in a way, said it all. 

So if you then choose to write a statement, Danny, at least own it.

Tell the world you’ve made a massive bloody f**k up and then reiterate how desperate you are to try and make it right.

Make the public realise you’re just a human who makes mistakes.

Show them how truly sorry you actually are. 

If you can’t do that, why bother at all?

BBC Breakfast was cut short on Saturday as part of a huge schedule shake-up.

The programme change – which saw the show wrap at 930am instead of 10am – also sparked knock-on effects for weekend TV staple Saturday Kitchen.

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BBC

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Saturday Kitchen host Matt Tebbutt was also forced to start his weekly show earlier[/caption]

BBC Breakfast viewers tuned in to the daily programme at the regular 6am time slot to see Charlie Stayt, 62, fronting the BBC One show alongside Sarah Campbell, 50.

They chatted to Lord Peter Ricketts about the Prime Minister’s virtual summit for world leaders over peace in Ukraine as well as Pepe Di’Iasio from the Association of School and College Leaders about dynamic pricing in the travel industry.

They also welcomed the father of murdered Southport schoolgirl Alice Da Silva Aguiar onto the iconic red studio sofa.

They chatted to her proud father Sergio about his marathon training and fundraising mission in memory of the little girl.

Alice, nine, was one of three little girls tragically killed in a brutal attack at a Taylor Swift Yoga and Dance Workshop in Merseyside on July 29.

She died on Tuesday, July 30, a day after the atrocity which also saw Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Bebe King, six, killed.

Yet after a jam-packed show, it was revealed it would wrap half an hour early.

As the clock struck 930am Sarah told viewers: “That’s all from Breakfast for today.

“As we have just said we will be back for all the news from tomorrow at 6am.”

Charlie then added: “Enjoy whatever you’re doing for the weekend, goodbye now.”

This meant Saturday Kitchen then kicked off at 930am instead of 10am, with the show running until 11am.

From then, Football Focus took over before space was created in the schedule for a 10-minute news segment at 1130am before live coverage of the Women’s League Cup Final was due to start at 1145am.

The clash will see Chelsea women’s team take on their Manchester City counterparts – with Chelsea’s Millie Bright saying she was willing to put her “body on the line” to win.

FOND FAREWELL

The significant BBC Breakfast change came just days after a fan-favourite host announced her departure.

Nina Warhurst, 44, has been working on the Beeb’s morning offering since 2018 as their resident business reporter.

However, she will be stepping down from that role at the end of the month.

Nina wrote on X: “Hanging up the high-viz & hairnet as I join the BBC’s News at One.

“Our London team built a gem of a programme & it’s a privilege to be on the Salford team taking it forward.

“The teenage me who lived half a mile from here & dreamed of journalism would NOT believe it.”

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It came just days after BBC Breakfast anchor Nina Warhurst announced her departure[/caption]

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The schedule shake up is to make way for the Women’s League Cup coverage between Chelsea and Man City, being covered on the channel[/caption]

FIVE people have been charged over the death of a “bubbly” mum-of-four who was shot dead on the doorstep.

The horror shooting of Joanne Penney, 40, in South Wales took place on March 9 in Llys Illtyd.

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Five people have been charged after the fatal shooting of Joanne Penney[/caption]

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Athena

Tributes poured in for the late mum at Green Park[/caption]

Five people, two women and three men, have now been charged in connection with her death, cops today revealed.

Marcus Huntley, 20, of Cardiff, Melissa Quailey-Dashper, 39, of Leicester, and Joshua Gordon, 27, of Leicestershire, have been charged with murder.

Kistina Ginova , 21, of Leicestershire, charged with assisting an offender.

Tony Porter, 68, of Leicestershire, charged with murder and participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group.

South Wales Police said: “They will appear at Cardiff Magistrates Court on Saturday.

“Detectives also arrested a 32-year-old man in Suffolk on Friday evening.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Ceri Hughes said: “Our team of detectives and specialist staff are continuing to piece together the circumstances behind Joanne’s tragic death and I would still urge anyone who has information, either about her death or what happened at the property in Llys Illtyd on Sunday evening, to come forward – the smallest piece of information could be of vital importance.”

Armed police swooped on the scene in the quiet town of Talbot Green near Cardiff after concerned reports but Joanne was tragically pronounced dead on the scene.

Neighbour Rebecca Morris said she was good friends with Ms Penney and described her as a “bubbly character who I liked a lot”.

“We will miss her dearly here,” she said after the incident. “She was a popular person. I’ll be going down to lay flowers shortly.”

ONE Irish dancer took a major stumble on live TV as she performed with the popular international troupe, Riverdance.

The hit dance group appeared on BBC’s The One Show on Friday to promote its 30th anniversary theatrical tour and ahead of St Patrick’s day on March 17.

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Riverdance performed live on BBC’s The One Show on Friday[/caption]

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But one dancer took an embarrassing fall on live TV[/caption]

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But ever the professional, she bounced back to rejoin her fellow dancers[/caption]

Lead dancer, Keeva Corry, chatted to The One Show hosts Clara Amfo and Lauren Laverne to tell them how Riverdance got its start and what fans can expect from its latest tour.

“It’s a huge spectacle, it’s not just Irish dancing. There’s amazing music, flamenco dancers, folk dancers. We’ve got brand new costumes and brand new lighting, and of course, it’s a new generation of people with lots of fresh energy,” Keeva explained.

She then took to the stage outside the BBC studios with her fellow dancers to showcase their talents.

But only a few minutes into the performance, one dancer fell to the ground at the unfortunate moment the camera cut to her for a close-up.

The dancer managed to jump up quickly without missing a beat and never losing the smile on her face.

Viewers watching at home also caught the embarrassing moment and shared their thoughts on X, formerly Twitter.

“Riverdance celebrating St Patrick’s Day on The One Show the same way I do – falling flat on my a**e,” wrote one person.

A second commented: “Poor lass – but what a professional smiling all the way.”

Keeva explained on episode of The One Show that Riverdance first started 30 years ago as an interval act during the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994.

Riverdance made a household name of its original star, Michael Flatley, who was the first American to win a title at the World Irish Dance Championships and claimed to be the dancing troupe’s original choreographer.

Since it debuted its theatrical show in 1995, around 30 million people have seen Riverdance live, across 49 countries and six continents, according to its website.

Keeva explained that the newest tour is full of a fresh cast who is excited to hit the stage, but also acknowledged the generations of creatives who had gone before them.

“I think the amazing people behind us and Bill Whelan our producer, and the older performers and creatives that have gone before,” Keeva said of Riverdance’s lasting popularity. “That, of course and the new generation that we have now, and all of them coming up.” Well, this arc, you mentioned, you know, you are marking the occasion with this Milestone special anniversary tour.”

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Riverdance star Keeva Corry speaks to Lauren Laverne and Clara Amfo[/caption]

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Keeva spoke about Riverdance’s upcoming UK tour[/caption]

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The Irish dance troupe is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year[/caption]

A CITY-KILLER asteroid could be hurtling towards Earth but going completely undetected, a space agency chief warned.

Humanity has only just recovered from the near-miss of asteroid YR4, which threatened to blow huge hole into Earth’s crust.

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The Chelyabinsk asteroid burned up as it shot through the atmosphere in 2013[/caption]

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An ‘city-killer’ asteroid could be heading for Earth – but obscured from view by the Sun[/caption]

If YR4 did hit our planet, it would have packed a punch equivalent to eight billion kilos of TNT, scientists calculated.

But there could be another asteroid like YR4 – or worse – lurking in our blind spot, an astronomer has warned.

The problem is, we still don’t have the tech to let us search the space between Earth and the Sun – because it is simply too bright.

To get around the issue, the European Space Agency (ESA) is building a cutting-edge planet-defence system that will boost our space vision.

Luca Conversi, an ESA scientist, told The Sun there is “a chance that something the size of YR4 is approaching from the Sun, but we just haven’t detected it”.

That’s how the last major asteroid to hit Earth slipped through through the net.

It went “completely undetected, because it came from the direction of the Sun”, Luca explained.

He’s talking about the Chelyabinsk meteor, an asteroid which scorched through Earth’s atmosphere in 2013 and smashed through the icy plains of southern Russia.

Luca said: “It didn’t hit anything – but it triggered a sonic boom which shattered all the windows in the nearby town Chelyabinsk.

“Hundreds of people who were watching through windows in their homes were injured by the shattering glass.”

Despite the Chelyabinsk wakeup call, we “still cannot detect objects coming from the direction of the Sun”, Luca said.

The ESA says: “Hidden in the glare of our sun are an unknown number of asteroids on paths we cannot track, many of which could be heading for Earth, and we just don’t know it.”

But it has plans to change that.

DEFENCE MISSION

The agency is working with Nasa to develop a floating telescope called Neomir that will let us look straight into that Sun-blocked blind spot.

The name stands for near-Earth orbit mission in the infrared.

Luca said: “It will be between our sun and Earth, and it will detect objects using infrared waves, rather than visible light, so we will be able to see objects in the Sun’s direction.”

It will act as a sentry for those asteroids that can’t be seen from the ground – detecting anything larger than 20 metres across.

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The Neomir telescopes will sit between Earth and the Sun, allowing us to see asteroids in the blind spot[/caption]

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The telescope is expected to launch into orbit around 2032.

But even away from the Sun’s glare, we’re not able to be watching everywhere, Luca warned.

He said: “We know of fewer than one per cent of the objects the size of YR4. We’ve identified around 40,000 near-Earth objects, but there are millions of them.”

“We’ve spotted basically all of them down to a kilometre across, but far fewer of the smaller ones.

“We still cannot see the whole night sky every night. If the telescope that found YR4 had looked at that bit of sky the next day, it wouldn’t have been detected then.”

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A hole in the ice of Chebarkul Lake made by the Chelyabinsk asteroid in 2013 which went undetected by astronomers[/caption]

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The sonic boom made by the Chelyabinsk asteroid shattered nearby windows[/caption]

To increase our detecting ability, the ESA is also developing a set of “bug-eyed” telescopes called Fly Eye – directly inspired by insects.

A network of up to four “eyes” spread across the globe will “work together to carry out night sky surveys” and “automatically identify” objects that could be on an Earth-bound collision course, according to the ESA.

Just like a fly’s eye, the telescopes will split incoming light into different channels.

Each light channel is then focussed by a second lens onto a separate detector.

This will allow the telescopes to “watch” a much wider area of the sky.

But Luca admitted: “There’s still a long way to go with the technology before we can identify most asteroids.”

WHAT HAPPENED TO YR4?

For a few weeks, the world watched in horror as the probability of a “city killer” asteroid called YR4 hitting Earth crept up and up.

At the height of the anxiety, Nasa reportedly feared the chances of a collision could rise past 20 percent – before it plunged to almost zero.

Luca explained why the probability of YR4 striking Earth changed so dramatically.

He said: “When we are trying to foresee where an object will be in many years time there is a lot of uncertainty.

“The uncertainty shrinks as we take more data.”

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Asteroid 2024 YR4 can be made out as the bright white smudge in the latest telescope photos[/caption]

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An asteroid threat like YR4 happens about once every 20 years[/caption]

Luca explained that, to begin with, physicists calculated an area of around a million kilometres where YR4 could travel.

Earth took up about one percent of the possible path zone – so the chance of an impact was said to be one percent.

With more calculations the area decreased.

This meant that Earth took up more of the possible path zone – and so the probability of a strike increased.

That continued until the zone shrank even further, and Earth was eventually outside the possible path.

At that point, the probability plunged to virtually nothing.

Luca said: “That is what happens every single time, unless the object is actually going to hit Earth.”

Even though the process was predictable, Luca said YR4 “was not a false alarm”.

He said a threat like YR4 only comes “once every 20 years or so” – so the world was right to take it seriously.

YR4 now has more chance of hitting the moon than Earth – standing at about 1.7 percent.

Luca said: “If that happened it would be a fantastic thing to see, but wouldn’t pose any danger to us.”

MANCHESTER UNITED reportedly never submitted a bid for Geovany Quenda before Chelsea agreed to sign the winger from Sporting Lisbon.

Chelsea agreed a fee of £42million for Quenda, 17, and he will join the Portuguese club in the summer in a seven-year deal.

The 17-year-old sensation is a former protege of Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim.

But after biding his time, Chelsea stepped in with what reports called a “secret blitz” to land the right winger, who can also wing-back.

Quenda underwent a medical in private and agreed to join after being impressed by Enzo Maresca‘s vision for the West London giants.

But the Manchester Evening News has since debunked the theories that he snubbed United for Chelsea.

United reportedly met with the influential agent Jorge Mendes in November as his agency was tasked with negotiating on Quenda’s behalf.

But United’s interest didn’t extend beyond informal discussions.

A source familiar with the talks said United’s preference was to wait to sign Quenda.

And the mid-season addition of Patrick Dorgu, a fellow left-footed wide player, impacted the Red Devils’ interest.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

Quenda has been called up to the Portugal squad again for their Nations League double-header against Denmark this month.

But Chelsea fans will have to wait over a year to see their new man in action.

Quenda, who turns 18 next month, will stay at Sporting for the entirety of the 2025-26 season before linking up with his new Stamford Bridge pals in July 2026.

The left-footer has played 35 times for Sporting already this season, including huge Champions League games, scoring just once.

He had been expected to join Man Utd, given his links to Amorim and the fact he’d be considered a perfect fit on the right of his old boss’ preferred 3-4-3 formation.

Quenda joined Sporting in 2019, aged just 13, with Amorim coming aboard a year later.

But instead, he will join fellow wonderkids Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez – who join this summer – in West London.

FABIAN HURZELER is ready to KO Manchester City after taking up boxing.

Brighton’s boss was inspired to pull on his gloves following a pep talk from Chris Eubank Jr’s cousin Harlem.

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Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has developed a love of boxing[/caption]

YOUTUBE@ BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION

The German has recently struck up a friendship with Hove-based hitman Harlem Eubank[/caption]

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Eubank Jr visited the Brighton boss ahead of their 2-1 win over Fulham last weekend[/caption]

He took up the sport this year and reckons it helps him get away from the pressure of being a Prem boss.

And like local fighter and Albion fan Harlem, Hurzeler wants to bring sporting success to the city.

The German has the Seagulls punching above their weight — and victory today at the Etihad would take them past City.

He said: “It’s a thing where I can really switch off.

“When I’m boxing I can’t think about the starting eleven or the next training session, otherwise I will have a problem in the ring.

“I don’t see my future as a boxer but I always want to face new challenges.”

He became a Eubank fan after watching the Brighton boxer win the IBF Inter-Continental welterweight title eight days ago, stopping Tyrone McKenna in the tenth.

Eubank played in the Albion youth system alongside Lewis Dunk and Solly March before deciding on boxing as a career.

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Harlem Eubank was once part of Brighton’s youth system[/caption]

And he met up with Hurzeler before parading his belts at last weekend’s 2-1 win over Fulham.

Hurzeler said: “My interest in boxing is growing and I had a chance to see a boxing match live for the first time and to support a local guy with Harlem.

“I want to completely identify myself with this city and the personalities who have achieved amazing things here and Harlem is one of them.

“He has another big supporter with me and, hopefully, he can keep doing great stuff in the ring.”

KO’ing City today will boost Brighton’s chances of a European place.
And Hurzeler sees plenty of comparisons between football and the noble art.

He said: “It’s co-ordination between legs and hands, protecting yourself and then at the right moment you have to attack. It’s a little bit similar to our season.

“We got a lot of hits, we had some bad results but the main thing is that, the same as a boxer, you have to get up.

“If you don’t stand up again you’ve lost and I don’t want to be a loser, I want to be a winner.”

Disney's big-budget remake has seemingly fielded controversy after controversy.

Joanne Penney, 40, was shot in the chest at an address in Llys Illtyd, in Talbot Green, on Sunday evening.