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Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole: Start time, TV channel, live stream, undercard as Daniel Dubois pulled OUT last minute

JOSEPH PARKER is now facing a new name after Daniel Dubois was forced to WITHDRAW from their huge fight.

And that name is Scotland-based Congolese star Martin Bakole with the last-minute bout on the big Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 2 undercard.

Martin Bakole wins boxing match, holding two championship belts.
Martin Bakole has stepped in to face Joseph Parker
Getty
Joseph Parker and Daniel Dubois face off at a press conference.
Parker will no longer be fighting Daniel Dubois
Getty

Dubois was forced to pull out on Thursday – just two days before his hotly anticipated mega-fight in Saudi Arabia.

DDD was deemed medically unfit to compete by doctors and so Bakole, 33, will take his place in the chief support slot.

SunSport understands that the earliest whispers of a Dubois problem arose on Thursday morning when a head cold was hinted at.

Instead, Bakole – with a record of 21 wins and one loss from his 22 fights – steps in to fight Parker.

Bakole is coming into the bout on the back of a career-best victory over Jarred Anderson in August.

Beterbiev vs Bivol 2: Start time, TV channel, full card – everything you need to know for MASSIVE Saudi rematch

When is Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole?

Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole is taking place on Saturday, February 22 from the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The fight is the co-main support to the headline bout of Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol.

It is expected that the fight will start from around 9pm GMT, with the undercard beginning from 4pm.

What TV channel and live stream is Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole on?

  • Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole will be shown live on DAZN PPV, Sky Sports Box office and TNT Sports Box office.
  • The event is available on pay-per-view for £19.99.

Is there a world title on the line for Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole?

Parker’s WBO interim world title will be on the line against Bakole on Saturday night.

The winner of the huge bout will also become the WBO mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk, who holds the full title.

What happened at the weigh-in?

Parker weighed in at a career-heavy 267lb on Friday night while Bakole was still in transit from Congo and missed the weigh in.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - FEBRUARY 21: Joshua Parker poses for a photo during the weigh-in ahead of his WBO Interim World Heavyweight title against Martin Bakole as part of Beterbiev v Bivol 2: The Last Crescendo at Boulevard Fountain on February 21, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Joshua Parker weighed in at a career heavy on Friday night
GETTY

Who is fighting on the full card?

  • Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol for the IBF, IBO, WBC and WBO light-heavyweight titles
  • Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole
  • Shakur Stevenson vs Josh Padley for the WBC lightweight title
  • Carlos Adames vs Hamzah Sheeraz for the WBC middleweight titke
  • Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Israil Madrimov for the interim WBC heavyweight title
  • Zhilei Zhang vs Agit Kabayel for the interim WBC heavyweight title
  • Joshua Buatsi vs Callum Smith for the interim WBO light-heavyweight title
  • Bradley Rea vs Constantino Nanga

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Emma Raducanu’s ‘terrifying’ stalker hugged tennis star obsessively after following her 3600 miles, says coach

EMMA RADUCANU’S former coach has alleged that the stalker given a restraining order in Dubai followed her across the globe to multiple tournaments.

Roman Kelecic – who has worked with Raducanu on a temporary basis – has claimed the man stalked her in Singapore, the UAE and Qatar over the past month.

Emma Raducanu crying during a tennis match.
YouTube
Emma Raducanu’s stalker followed her across the world[/caption]

Kelecic, who is based in Dubai, says the “admirer” got “physically close to her” on Monday and started to hug the Brit when they posed for selfies.

In an article in Croatian media, Kelecic said: “So, it’s a creepy story.

“This man followed her back to Singapore, to Abu Dhabi where I was with her, again in Doha, now in Dubai and we noticed him.

“But initially we thought he was a fan, an admirer, because Emma is a really big tennis star with a huge fan base.

“Until he got physically close to her, started having contact in the form of selfies, hugging, etc.”

The man – who the WTA say “exhibited fixated behaviour” – was arrested by Dubai Police on Tuesday night after he was spotted in the stands for her second-round defeat to Karolina Muchova.

When Raducanu first noticed him, she burst into tears and hid behind the umpire’s chair before he was ejected from the premises by security staff.

Charges were later dropped but Dubai Police say the “tourist” went on to “sign a formal undertaking to maintain distance from her and has been banned from future tournaments”.

There is confusion about where exactly Raducanu was approached on Monday by the man who left her a note and took her photograph.

Croatian media reports that the incident occurred when the former US Open champion was eating alone in a restaurant.

The WTA dispute that this restaurant was connected to the tournament and highlighted that there are eating establishments and cafes outside of credentialed areas and in public spaces.

Kelecic – who coached Raducanu when she was a junior – said: “That was the only moment in a month where I, the fitness coach, the security guard who was with us, was not with her.

“So, that man was assessing the situation and looking for the best moment to get closer to her.

“He had a strategy that was terrifying, he thought everything through, calculated it.

“It’s terrifying how much he, in essence, thought about it all and planned it. His strategy worked, and it was to get closer to her.”

SunSport has approached Raducanu’s camp for comment but it is understood Raducanu had seen the man a number of times previously.

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..

The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.

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Coronation Street legend returning after seven years – and she’s back full-time

CORONATION Street bosses are bringing back a cobbles icon after seven years away.

The Sun can exclusively reveal that actress Catherine Tyldesley, 41, is making a bombshell return as Eva Price to Weatherfield after seven years away.

Catherine Tyldesley in a white dress.
PA:Press Association
Catherine Tyldesley is returning to Coronation Street after seven years away[/caption]
Catherine Tyldesley as Eva Price in Coronation Street.
The actress played barmaid Eva Price before quitting in 2018
Rex Features

She will begin filming this summer and appear on screen later this year.

A source said: “Cath has been away for a while and worked on countless other projects but she really missed Corrie.

“They’ve tried to get her back a few times but the stars have never alligned.

“But when she was approached with the idea for Eva’s return, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.

“She’ll start filming again in summer and be back on screen for autumn.

“She’s so excited and can’t wait to get back on the cobbles and it’s definitely not going to be a storyline to miss.”

The actress played Eva Price in the ITV soap from 2011 to 2018 and had a host of dramatic storylines during that time.

Eva enjoyed steamy relationships with Aidan Connor, Adam Barlow, Rob Donovan, Jason Grimshaw and Nick Tilsley.

In her most memorable storyline she fell pregnant with tragic Aidan Connor’s baby and attempted to give her daughter to Toyah Battersby.

Toyah ended up handing Susie back after seeing how devastated Eva was and their scheme was exposed.

However tragically Aidan took his own life, leaving Eva devastated.

She left Weatherfield soon after to move toFrancewith her mum Stella.

Earlier this year Catherine opened up about the possibility of returning to the cobbles – insisting she would never say never.

Coronation Street feels like forever ago, but I always look back with such great fondness,” she told Prima magazine.

“They’ve asked me to go back a couple of times over the years, and it just so happened that I was busy with other projects.

“But if they approached me with an amazing storyline and the time was right, of course, I’d go back. So it’s always a case of never say never.”

Since leaving Coronation Street, Catherine has gone on to star in BBC One series Scarborough and Channel 5 drama The Good Ship Murder, as well as compete on the 2019 series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Coronation Street's 2024 shock exits

Corrie has said goodbye to several cast members this year. Let's break down who's left the famous soap:

Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo) has said farewell to Corrie to start a new life in Germany.

The youngster moved to live with her dad Dom Everett, who went back on the £10,000 bribe Eliza’s grandfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life.

Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) will bow out of the soap this summer when he loses his fight with motor neurone disease (MND) in tragic scenes.

After being diagnosed last year, the fan favourite was devastated to learn he only had months left to live.

Viewers know he is planning to take his own life to end his suffering.

Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) departed the cobbles after being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to study in America.

Though she struggled to decide with her stepdad Paul’s impending death from MND, she was convinced she had to live her life to the full.

Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) has struggled with the sudden departure of his father Peter from the cobbles.

The Weatherfield legend left his family and loved ones behind on Boxing Day, 2023, when his wife Carla Connor encouraged him to travel around the world with a friend.

Simon’s been on a downward spiral ever since and his exit could end in tragedy.

Alya Nazir is set to leave the cobbles as actress Sair Khan prepares to go on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her first child.

It looks likely she’ll be heading to Dublin after securing a lucrative new job, leaving her colleague and fling Adam Barlow behind.

Show stalwart Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw, is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end.

Her character left the Street after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia.

She recently appeared in a guest role of Michelle Keegan’s Sky comedy Brassic.

A spokeswoman for ITV declined to comment.

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Harry Potter AirBnB owner devastated as ‘worst ever’ guests leave brown stains on bed and cover rooms in bleach

A DEVASTATED rental owner has shared footage of their Harry Potter-themed accommodation after it was trashed by cruel guests.

They said they’d been left to clean up “the most horrific scene ever” and they’ve now had to close their Watford holiday home “until it is safe” again.

A stained mattress in a Harry Potter-themed Airbnb.
A suspicious brown stain was left covering the bed – viewers said it looked like a “crime scene”
TikTok / @homelea.stays
Messy Airbnb room with bedding on the floor and items scattered around.
Furniture and rubbish was left strewn across the rooms
TikTok / @homelea.stays

TikTok user @homelea.stays posted a video clip to the platform, which they captioned “The most heartbreaking thing, how someone can be so cruel to do this to a place which was thoughtfully made to make young children smile.”

The video has so far racked up 4.9 million views online, with TikTok users offering support and sympathy.

In the clip, the owner shows the shocking mess left behind by renters.

A voiceover said: “Someone has turned our Airbnb upside down, they have literally trashed the entire place.”

Viewers can see a bare mattress which is covered in a large brown stain, a mucky bedsheet left crumpled on top.

Furniture, used towels and rubbish were left strewn around the room, covered in the same mysterious brown substance.

The TikTokker explained they’d previously had Potter-themed floating candles hanging from their hallway ceiling, which could be seen smashed into pieces on the floor.

Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger in their Hogwarts robes.
The magical venue was meant for “families with children”
Alamy
Shower with bleach stains and a Harry Potter bath mat.
The bathroom was left filthy, with bleach thrown all around
TikTok / @homelea.stays

Calling the living room a “mess” they pointed out the things that were “all out of place.”

Shockingly, their TV had been smashed and covered in bleach – with thick white stains left covering the broken screen.

The house was littered with food and drink too, as frozen chips had been thrown all over the floor and large sticky patches of Fanta were left on the walls and window sill.

Walking into the kitchen, the owner held up a shattered quidditch-themed mug, as pieces of porcelain lay around them.

They said: “We have never had anyone do this, this was made for families of children and now we have had to close it down until it is safe.”

Horrified viewers react

Users couldn’t believe the carnage that had been left behind, likening it to a murder scene.

“Thought it was a crime scene cleaning page, I’m so sorry they did this!” said one shocked viewer.

“I’d honestly call forensics because that bed does not look like just mess,” said another concerned person.

“I thought this was a crime scene clean up vid,” another person wrote.

Police – that’s criminal damage,” said somebody.

“Unfortunately the police haven’t got back to us regarding this, it’s been days. They didn’t even turn up at the scene. But they do have the name of the guest who booked with us,” replied the owner.

“I’m sorry this has happened to you, I make personalised items and I’d be happy to make you a set of 4 Harry Potter mugs to replace the broken ones,” a good Samaritan commented.

“We’re a small business in Letchworth Hertfordshire selling furniture, china, bric! We have a brand new mattress we’ll donate to you! May also have other Harry Potter stock please message us!” another kind-hearted user wrote.

What is Airbnb?

Airbnb started in 2008 and now millions of hosts use it to advertise their rental properties to guests.

The Airbnb website says: “From cosy cottages to elegant penthouses, hosts are happy to share their places. Whether it’s a work trip, weekend getaway, family holiday or a longer stay, there are millions of amazing places to visit.”

The company rules tells guests to “treat your host’s home like your own” and says they must “follow the host’s standard house rules.”

In particular, guests should be conscious of leaving their accommodation in a clean state, without any litter or damage.

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I’m a football WAG – here’s the protein-fuelled snack I make for my SPFL boyfriend, it’s so yummy

A FOOTBALLER’S girlfriend has revealed the healthy snack she whips up for him that still satisfies a sweet tooth.

So if you’re trying to up your protein or watch what you eat, then you’ve come to the right place.

Couple on a boat near a cliff.
Instagram/Jack Mackenzie
Nicola Claassen lives in Aberdeen with her footballer boyfriend Jack Mackenzie[/caption]
High-protein cheesecakes topped with blueberries in plastic containers.
TikTok @nicci_claassen
She enjoys being his ‘private chef’ making healthy meals[/caption]
Grocery items including raspberries, protein yogurt, Greek yogurt, and Weetabix.
TikTok @nicci_claassen
Nicola used these ingredients to make high protein cheesecakes[/caption]
Aberdeen soccer player on the field.
Kenny Ramsay
Jack Mackenzie plays with Aberdeen[/caption]

Nicola Claassen lives in Aberdeen with her boyfriend Jack Mackenzie who plays for the Dons.

When she’s not working her corporate job, she enjoys cheering on her beau at matches and coming up with new recipes for him to enjoy.

In a TikTok video, she said: My boyfriend is a professional footballer but there is no private chef around here. It’s me, I am the private chef.

“So I love playing around with recipes to create something that exactly suits his needs and his taste.”

She added: “Eating healthy and meeting protein goals does not mean boring and it also doesn’t mean tasteless.

“I love meal prepping different snacks and different meals so that when he gets home from training he does not have to worry about cooking at all.

“Being a supportive girlfriend means that I do what I can to make his life easier when he gets home and he looks after me.”

And the footie WAG has hailed one of her recent creations as the “yummiest, healthy snack”.

Nicola made her high protein cheesecakes using Graham’s yogurt as the topping and crushed Weetabix mixed with oat milk for the base.

She made three flavours – vanilla cookie, raspberry and lemon cheesecake – and melted some biscoff spread on top as well as fresh raspberries and blueberries.

She added: “These are so easy to make and honestly you just pop them in the fridge and they’re ready to go whenever.

“You have to try these if you’re looking for something sweet without the guilt.”

Social media users were in full agreement about how yummy the snack looked, as one gushed: “This looks gorge!!”

Meanwhile, a second echoed: “Yum that looks so tasty, hope Jack’s getting on well at Aberdeen.”

Jack Mackenzie, 24, is a left-back with Aberdeen and won his first senior Scotland call-up last year after his impressive form.

His contract is set to end this summer, with him already being linked to Championship clubs Preston, Sheffield United and Stoke City.

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Labour doesn’t care about UK becoming a cesspit… if I was in charge I’d have snipers picking off all litter louts

ONE of the things you notice if you travel round the world’s off-the-beaten-track backwaters is that some cultures see nothing wrong with throwing anything they don’t want out of the front door, and on to the pavement.

Vegetable peelings. Broken cookers. Dead pets. The street is where you put the lot.

Child scavenging for recyclables in a large rubbish dump.
Alamy
A boy picks through rubbish in Manila, home to one of the world’s most disgusting litter problems[/caption]
Household rubbish, car parts, and tires dumped in front of a house.
SWNS:South West News Service
Similar rotten mounds have appeared in Handsworth, Birmingham[/caption]
Overflowing trash bins and litter on a city street during a worker strike.
Getty
‘I don’t believe in the death penalty,’ says Jeremy, ‘but for littering, I’d make an exception’[/caption]
Northern fulmar in flight over water.
Getty
Labour are more worried about Fulmar sea birds getting tummy ache for all the biro tops they’ve eaten than Britain being turned into a rat-infested cesspit[/caption]

Some say that Manila in the Philippines has the world’s most disgusting litter problem, but I’d have to say Bolivia is up there too. And India.

But having seen a news report this week, it’s possible that Handsworth in Birmingham now trumps the lot.

It’s not just the occasional empty Coke can or burger wrapper, the pavements look like they’ve hosted an all-comers fly-tipping competition.

I’m sure there are those who’ll blame the immigrant community, saying that if you come from a country where such behaviour is normal, then you’re going to do it here too.

But you find the same problem here in the Cotswolds, where most locals can trace their ancestors back to the Piltdown Man.

Every hedgerow round my farm is full of crap and it makes me so angry as I drive along, my hair starts to steam.

If I were in charge, there would be snipers up every pylon and in every tree, with orders to blow the head off anyone who chucks even so much as a Bounty bar wrapper out of their car window.

I don’t believe in the death penalty but for littering, I’d make an exception.

Sadly, however, I’m not in charge. The Labour Party is.

Labour councils, like Handsworth, would far rather spend their money on plant-based diets for people in the transgender community than emptying bins or cleaning streets.

And the Labour government in Westminster isn’t that bothered either.

In fact, while it spends exactly no pounds, no shillings and no pence on snipers in trees, the last time I looked, it was spending half a billion on the Blue Planet Fund which helps developing countries protect their marine ecosystems from the plastic thrown into the sea by Far right extremists.

Yup, they are more worried about the wrong sort of barnacle floating in a Flora margarine tub boat on to a pristine beach in Svalbard, and Fulmar sea birds getting tummy ache for all the biro tops they’ve eaten, than they are about this country being turned into a rat-infested cesspit.

MONEY WASTE A CRIME

White Porsche Taycan Turbo S on display.
There’s so much money swilling around in the Government coffers that we could buy the Albanian prison service 15 brand new electric Porsches

YOU might think that if there’s a shortage of prison space in the UK, it’d make sense to maybe build some more.

It’s not like we don’t have the cash.

This week, we learned that there’s so much money swilling around in the Government coffers, they have to spend it on studies into TikTok dance lessons, AI robots that make a company more trans-friendly, and even a quarter of a million quid on research into “queer animals”.

And still there was enough left over to buy the Albanian prison service 15 brand new electric Porsches.

Prison reformists, however, say new prisons are not necessary and that it would be better if judges handed out more lenient sentences.

They say that in the early 90s, the average sentence was 16 months and that today, it’s 22.5 months.

But the rate of reoffending is still at nearly 40 per cent. So the crims may as well be let out earlier.

Why? So they can do their reoffending more quickly.

TRUMP WORLD WORRY

President Trump announcing reciprocal tariffs in the Oval Office.
AFP
Donald Trump seems to think America should become an isolationist state, concerned only with itself[/caption]

I’VE got to be honest; when Trump first entered the White House this time round I was pretty impressed.

Removing the ban on plastic straws, for instance, made me very happy because while he’s incorrect to say paper straws “explode”, they definitely can’t get a tasty beverage from the glass to your mouth.

However, his recent foreign policy announcements suggest he’s a bit weak on world affairs. He seems to think that America should become an isolationist state, concerned only with itself.

Forgetting perhaps that the countries it’s supported in the past will simply turn to China for help.

And then there’s this Ukraine business. All we can do is be thankful Donald wasn’t in the White House in 1939.

“Look, the French started this bigly war and de Gaulle’s a big-nosed idiot, so I say we let Hitler keep what he’s conquered so far and move on.”

GLARE STORY

Deer in the road at night, viewed from inside a car.
Modern-day headlamps automatically dip when they detect startled animals – but not oncoming headlights

MOTORISTS are complaining in increasing numbers about the brightness of modern-day LED car headlamps.

They say that even on dipped beam, they often blind drivers going in the other direction. And they’re right. They do.

To make matters worse, many new cars have a feature that automatically dips the headlights when a car’s going the other way. And it rarely works.

They dip when you’re approaching a reflective sign warning of dangerous bends ahead, or if they detect the glint from the eyes of a startled animal in the road.

But they don’t dip when they detect oncoming headlights. And modern Range Rovers are the worst offenders.

LABOUR'S NHS JOY

LABOURITES have been rejoicing all week at the news that in the last five months, there have been an extra two million NHS appointments.

But before you pass round the quinoa sandwiches and hoist a red flag, it’s probably worth pointing out that actually, there have been two million more appointments than there were in the same period the year before.

When the junior doctors were on strike.

And also that the NHS is bound to run more smoothly if you cut the OAP heating allowance, so all the arthritic old people freeze to death, long before they need a hospital appointment.

LONG ROAD AHEAD ON GREEN LORRIES, ED

Row of electric semi-trucks charging at stations.
Getty
Demand for zero-emission electric lorries has slumped[/caption]
Ed Miliband leaving Downing Street.
Ed Miliband needs to put down the bacon sandwich and get to work
Getty

THERE was alarm in the sustainable Net Zero community this week when new figures showed that demand for zero-emission electric lorries has slumped.

In 2024, very nearly 50,000 new lorries were registered but only 217 were zero emission. That’s a market penetration of just 0.5 per cent.

Naturally, people who think green energy is simple and should be adopted by everyone are baffled by this.

They reckon that as a truck driver has to take a break every few hours, he could use the time to charge up his batteries before moving on. Simples.

Yes, but there’s only one electric charging station for lorries in the whole country. And as it’s on the M61 between Preston and Bolton, it’s not much use if you’re in, say, Kent.

There’s another issue too. Lorries are heavy so it takes a lot of power to make them move.

So much in fact that the average weight of the battery pack in an electric lorry is four tons. Which doesn’t leave that much spare room for, you know, stuff.

Still, with Ed Miliband, in charge, I’m sure all these problems will be ironed out by the time diesel-engined lorries are banned in 11 years’ time. Clock’s ticking Ed.

You’d better put down that bacon sandwich mate and get to work.

FARMERS' FURY

FARMERS were told by Treasury officials this week that the Government would not budge on its plans to make agricultural land subject to inheritance tax.

So I have a simple message for our friends in the checked shirts and sturdy boots. Between April 2026, when the new law comes into force, and 2029 when Starmer and Reeves are ejected from office, do not die.

And if you do, instruct your children put you in the freezer and keep schtum until the coast is clear.

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Legendary 90s boyband announce HUGE new residency as they reveal cheeky reason they know they’ve still got it on stage

THEIR pop classics and slick dance moves were a feature of the Nineties and Noughties, and now Backstreet Boys are back – in Las Vegas at least.

Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson will play a 15-show residency at the city’s futuristic 17,600-seat Sphere venue, starting in July, when the Everybody hitmakers will become its first pop residency, following in the footsteps of rockers U2 and the Eagles.

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows The Backstreet Boys posing for a promotional photo
The Backstreet Boys are back with a new residency in Las Vegas, set to open in July

And sitting down with Bizarre’s Jack, band members Brian and Kevin told how they realised they’ve still got it — as women are still chucking their lingerie at them during gigs.

Brian said: “We still get hit with bras or panties sometimes on stage, which is kind of crazy.”

Kev added: “It’s good to have some knickers thrown at you, no doubt about it.

“We have some really cool stuff from fans too, like artwork and hand-made pieces of art as well.

“Sometimes you put a gift to the side but then you open it and see how they put so much time into it.”

But not all gifts are welcome. Brian recalled with a laugh: “I got hit with a box of macaroni cheese. It is my favourite food.

“This girl threw a box of it at me and hit me right on my side. It hurt like hell but it was kind of funny.”

Steamy shower

The new residency, opening on July 11, is called Into The Millennium, after their 1999 album Millennium.

The band are now thinking of how to use the sci-fi-esque venue to transport fans into other worlds, and Brian said: “Of course you have to analyse it and rethink what we do on stage.

“I think a lot of our fans know we put on an energy-packed show with our dancing routines — that’s what we are known for.

“But when you are dealing with a giant screen that’s over 300ft tall and 450ft wide, you have to take that into consideration.

“How does it complement the show? How can we change our staging and do something that nobody has ever seen?

“The visuals are going to be breathtaking but we have to match that energy on stage, so that is what we are focused on.”

While gambling capital Vegas lives up to its Sin City nickname for many visitors, for performers it is often a different story, with most stars who play there shunning hedonism for a more clean-living approach.

Photo of the Backstreet Boys in 1997.
The popular Nineties band say the energy they receive from the fans inspire them to continue
Getty - Contributor

Fellow Vegas regular Shania Twain previously told Bizarre she swears by not eating solids on show days, while Sir Rod Stewart has a treadmill in his dressing room.

Kylie Minogue had a good old British cuppa on her backstage rider during her residency at the city’s Voltaire venue.

Kevin also keeps things simple. He summed up his requirements: “A hot steamy shower an hour to an hour and a half before the show is needed.

“Then when I get out, I stretch. We have foam rollers and those hand- held massage guns as well as a chiropractor to do adjustments.”

After Bizarre’s Jack told the lads it sounded like a very healthy lifestyle for Vegas, Brian replied with a laugh: “Kevin stopped before we got the sip of Reposado (tequila) or a Grey Goose (vodka) before we hit the stage, but we don’t have to mention that.”

He continued: “You have to be aware of your health though. We have been doing it for 32 years — that’s a long time.

“Our bodies don’t react to things as they did in their twenties. Now it’s constantly trying to eat right and be up mentally.

“This business is an emotional rollercoaster. There are highs and lows but being ready physically and mentally for a show is what it’s about.

“It is easier to maintain your health versus getting in and out of health all the time. That is harder on your body at this stage.”

As well as celebrating 25 years since Millennium, the residency will be a celebration of the band’s greatest hits.

The boys admit that singing some of their most famous songs can get repetitive at times, but then the fans make it all worthwhile.

Kevin said: “Sometimes you can maybe get a little tired of some of the hits but it’s when you feel the energy and you see the reaction it reignites it in you.

“Look, if I didn’t get to hear Prince’s When Doves Cry I would be really upset. Fans want to hear the favourites.

“We will keep that in mind for the setlist and the shows.”

Brian added: “I used to hate singing Quit Playing Games but when you see the reaction and people singing back to you, you feel you’re 25 years old again.

“Like, is it still 1998? You find new joy and it makes you happy.”

Backstreet’s Back — and with the Sphere as their new home, you can bet it will be larger than life.

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Hollyoaks star Lucy-Jo Hudson lands new acting job after ‘taking out loan to feed children during summer holidays’

HOLLYOAKS star Lucy Jo-Hudson has landed a new acting job – after addressing ‘ the pinch’ in summer holidays while her kids are off school.

The actress, 41, said she was “absolutely buzzing” to have landed a part in an unspecified production.

Lucy-Jo Hudson announcing an exclusive.
Instagram
Hollyoaks’ Lucy-Jo Hudson revealed she’s landed a brand new acting role[/caption]
Lucy Jo Hudson as Donna-Marie Quinn in Hollyoaks.
Lime Pictures
She portrayed Donna-Marie Quinn from 2018 to 2023[/caption]
Tyrone Dobbs looking shocked as Katy Harris tells him she is seeing Martin.
The actress was formerly married to Corrie’s Alan Halsall – aka Tyrone Dobbs
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Viewers best know Lucy-Jo for her roles as Katy Harris in Coronation Street and Donna-Marie Quinn in Hollyoaks.

She wrote on Instagram: “Oh have I been dying to tell you this….

“Remember that face to face casting I had a couple of weeks ago? Well I only went and got the job.

“Ahhhhhhhhh I can’t believe it!!!! I am absolutely buzzing!!!! I honestly can’t believe it…. I am still in shock….. but so blumming happy I can’t tell you…. I am so grateful that I still get to do what I love to do.

“Thankyou for all the gorgeous messages from the last post I did about this “face to face casting” it meant the world to me.

“So I just wanted to share this news with you, not sure if can tell you what it is yet, but as soon as I can I will.”

She previously posted a humorous video on Instagram appearing to illustrate her depleting bank balance.

Lucy-Jo could be seen in her car as she captioned the video “mums bank balance during the summer holidays”.

The mother-of-two shares daughter Sienna with Coronation Street ex Alan Halsall.

She then told her followers: “Anyone else feeling the pinch? and it’s only half way through the 6 week holidays.

“Honestly if the weather was more consistent it would be “Park and Picnics” most of the time…. That simple, that easy and more importantly… affordable!

“I have to take a loan out just to feed my 2.”

However, the soap star made clear to fans through emojis that she was joking.

Elsewhere, the former Coronation Street cast member revealed how a recent audition process marked a major milestone.

She wrote on Instagram that the acting industry “has changed massively” since Covid – with in person meetings now very rare.

Lucy-Jo Hudson's career so far

Lucy-Jo Hudson has played a few TV roles throughout her acting career. Here is a look at some of her past work:

  • Coronation Street (2002-2005): Lucy-Jo’s first big role was as Katy Harris in Coronation Street. The character was first introduced as Katy Nelson, due to a witness protection storyline for the whole family. Katy’s storylines included her family’s victimisation by a gang and her diabetic diagnosis. She also notably had a relationship with much-older Martin Platt (Sean Wilson). In real-life, Lucy-Jo married Alan Halsall (aka Tyrone Dobbs) in 2009 and they welcomed a daughter, Sienna. The couple separated in 2016 and began divorcing in 2018.
  • Wild at Heart (2006–2009, 2012–2013): Next, she had a starring role in this ITV drama, which followed a vet and his family who move from Bristol to South Africa. Once there, they aim to rehabilitate wild animals and establish a veterinary surgery and animal hospital. Lucy-Jo portrayed Rosie Trevanion, the vet’s daughter.
  • Hollyoaks (2018–2023): In her second regular soap role, Lucy-Jo starred as Donna-Marie Quinn in Hollyoaks. The character was introduced with her teenage son Romeo (Owen Warner). Despite initially departing in 2019, the actress went on to reprise this role. The character left the village in 2023 upon entering rehab.

Lucy-Jo admitted she isn’t the biggest fan of self taping, which entails recording an audition from home to send in.

Therefore, she was thrilled by the opportunity to be face-to-face with a producer, director and casting directors.

The star added: “Like most people in my industry we don’t get this privilege… not anymore….

“Infact it’s been 7 years, since I was in an actual room with a casting team!!!!”

A man and woman react to surprising news.
Lucy-Jo played Katy Harris in Coronation Street
Rex Features

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