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STEPS star Ian ‘H’ Watkins has revealed he has been battling an “awful” health issue for four months.
The singer, 48, says he has lost half of his vocal range after being struck down with a mystery virus.
Claiming the illness has ‘knocked him for six’, H said he would have had to put the brakes on if Steps was currently touring.
H told Heat magazine: “When we launched Steps The Musical in Birmingham, I had this awful virus and I still have not recovered from that.
“So, if I had been asked to do a show, I would have had to have cancelled.
“Half of my range has just gone. It knocked me for six.”
Welsh singer H was 20 years old when he found fame as one fifth of pop group Steps.
But prior to that, he had debated a career in art.
Age 18, he had been offered a place at Cardiff School of Art and Design but he turned it down to focus on music.
H has now returned to his first love and will soon be teaching art to school kids.
He also told Heat: “I am going to our local school to teach the kids art. I’m very privileged that I can do the school run, paint, take a little job here and there.”
H has transformed his Instagram account into a gallery of his most recent art work.
Last week, he shared a stunning painting of a field full of yellow flowers alongside a video of himself creating it.
H told his followers: “Since my art is such a heartfelt tribute to Wales and its landscapes, I wanna take this moment to wish you all a very happy St David’s Day.
“It’s also a chance for me to reflect on how lucky I am to call this beautiful and inspiring place both my home and my muse.”
H also told BBC News: “I packed up my artistic dreams in a box and put it on the top shelf.
“I always knew I would open it up one day. And now’s that time.”
Meanwhile, last November Steps launched their musical tour Hear & Now.
The show is packed with the band’s hit songs and will be touring the UK this summer and into 2026.
Steps told The Sun last month that they hope to turn Hear & Now into a movie, while also plotting a plan to perform at Glastonbury.
MARRIED At First Sight Australia has a groom who has a glowing acting career – and despite trying to keep it under wraps, it has been exposed.
Hunky groom Ryan Donnelly, 36, has a secret acting career which has now been exposed amid his appearance on the hit dating-reality show.
The Aussie hunk has starred in a Hollywood movie, and has also popped up in a legendary TV series.
Despite his glowing acting credits, Ryan doesn’t want people to know about it – but due to his MAFS stint, this has all been exposed.
Ryan, who was described as “adventurous, confident and instinctively protective” ahead of his MAFS appearance, is paired up with Jacqui Burfoot – whom he married on the hit show.
But despite him currently starring in Married At First Sight, just last month Ryan was spotted on the streets of Sydney on as he filmed for a major Hollywood film.
Ryan was seen donning a suit as he filmed for the flick at the start of February, with Hollywood hunk Dylan O’Brien also spotted filming for the movie.
Last September when it was publicly revealed that Ryan was joining MAFS, the aspiring actor deactivated his StarNow and TheRightFit profiles, according to several reports.
Trying to keep his acting career concealed, Ryan didn’t manage to wipe EVERY trace from the internet because there are pictures circulating social media that were on his Instagram account from his acting antics.
In some of the snaps, Ryan can be seen all dressed up as a police officer, with it reported that he previously had roles in Neighbours and NCIS: Sydney.
But that isn’t the end of Ryan’s appearances on the big and small screens, because he was previously on ANOTHER reality show before his MAFS stint.
Appearing on Beauty and The Geek, one fan even took to TikTok to say: “Do I need glasses or is that Ryan?” after discovering him in an old episode.
“Yes, he is an actor,” said one person.
“Oh I have HEARD they’ve been recycling actors on these shows,” penned a second.
This comes after the episode aired in the UK that showed Ryan marry Jacqui on MAFS Australia.
Fitness lover Ryan was even apologetic and said “I’m SO sorry” to his bride after a rookie move, just hours after they said “I Do”.
Lauren, 37, Business Owner, and Clint, 43, Pro Golfer
Eliot, 35, Business Owner, and Veronica, 32, Personal Trainer/Actor
Beth, 28, Salon Manager, and Teejay, 28, Business Development Manager
Jacqui, 29, Consultant, and Ryan, 36, Project Manager
Morena, 57, DJ/Fitness Instructor, and Tony, 53, Charter Captain
Rhi, 34, Account Manager, and Jeff, 39, Electrician
Ashleigh, 34, Dance Studio Owner, and Jake, 30, Teacher
Awhina, 30, Aged Care Worker, and Adrian, 30, E-Commerce Business Owner
Sierah, 31, Financial Associate Advisor, and Billy, 31, Plasterer
Jamie, 28, Account Manager, and Dave, 36, Builder
Katie, 37, CEO and Tim, 38, Primary School Teacher
Carina, 31, Digital Marketing Manager and Paul, 30, Wellness Advisor
Surrounded by loved ones at their wedding reception, the couple could be seen dancing with one another as their friends and family watched on in delight.
“I’m going to dip you, ready?” Ryan then said to Jacqui as the pair danced on the dancefloor.
As Ryan dipped his new bride backwards, she was leaned too far back and dramatically fell over.
Ryan ended up dropping Jacqui instead of dipping her, with him then taking a tumble too.
Losing his footing, Ryan went to save his wife before he landed on top of her.
One of the wedding guests then exclaimed that he had “ruined everything”.
A PREGNANCY test is always a nerve wracking moment.
But for Kristi Schmidt seeing two lines would change everything. She was about to discover if she was pregnant at 52 – with her own grandchild.
“I looked over at my daughter Heidi, then 28, who was gripping my hand as the seconds ticked by,” Kristi says.
“Was I about to make her a mum at last?”
The Californian mum and daughter had always been close.
“Heidi was always such an upbeat, positive girl,” Kristi says.
“And from the time she was a teenager, talked about being a mum one day.”
With two easy pregnancies at 22 and 24, Kristi had no reason to suspect that Heidi would struggle to conceive when the time came.
“I conceived so quickly and loved being pregnant,” Kristi says.
“I didn’t suffer from any of the usual side effects and had easy deliveries.
“It really felt like my body was made to be pregnant.”
When Heidi Lampros married fiancé John in 2015, they wanted to grow their family right away.
“We were both so excited,” Heidi remembers.
“I love children and couldn’t wait to have one of our own.
“For years we tried, and as time passed my excitement turned to sadness and worry.
“Mum tried to reassure me, but all around me, friends were having babies. When would it be our turn?”
Then finally in 2020 it happened and the couple
Heidi says: “I felt so excited walking into our first pregnancy scan. I had no idea what we were about to hear.”
The scan revealed that Heidi had uterine didelphys, meaning that she’d been born with two wombs.
“Then I heard that I was pregnant with twins, and one baby was growing in each uterus,” she says.
“It’s incredibly rare and only happens to one-in-three-million people.”
Tragically, their joy didn’t last.
At ten weeks a scan found that one of the babies didn’t have a heartbeat. Heidi and John were heartbroken.
“Then at 24 weeks, we learned that we were also losing our son,” she recalls.
“I was devastated, and because I was so far along, I needed to deliver him, a little boy we called Malakai.”
There was more awful news to come.
“My doctor said that I would be able to get pregnant again, but that I shouldn’t try. It would simply be too dangerous,” Heidi says.
“I was grief stricken and lost. All my dreams of building a family seemed to be shattered.’
Kristi could only watch her daughter’s anguish.
“I felt so helpless,” she says.
“As her mum, it was my job to help take away her pain, but it felt like there was nothing I could do.
“Then two months later Heidi called, her voice happier than it had been in so long. She’d discussed it with her doctor, she said, and IVF and surrogacy would be the next best step.”
As soon as she heard those words, Kristi made a decision.
“I knew immediately that I was going to be her surrogate,” she says.
“Heidi needed someone to take care of the embryo that she and John would create. Who better to do it than the baby’s own grandma?
“I didn’t say anything to Heidi at first. I wanted to sit with it for a few days and see if I might change my mind. In fact it only made me more determined that it was what I wanted to do.”
“I was speechless when mum told me about her plan,” says Heidi. “She was 52 and I knew from my own experience that pregnancy is unpredictable.
“I did feel a surge of hope at the idea. I’d read about a mother carrying a baby for her daughter.
“But I loved mum so much and would never put her in danger.”
Kristi pointed out how fit and healthy she was.
“As a retired teacher I had the time to really take care of myself,” Kristi says.
“And surely it was better for me to carry their baby than a stranger?”
“She was so sure,” adds Heidi. “And I knew she had the energy of someone twenty years younger.”
After speaking to John, who agreed that it was a good plan, the two of them went to see a fertility doctor.
I did have some people comment that by being pregnant, I was taking that experience away from Heidi
Kristi Schmidt
“I still hadn’t told my husband Ray,” Kristi says. “There didn’t seem much point until we knew it was possible.
“I was thrilled to hear that the doctor was open to the idea, so long as I passed all the medical checks.”
Kristi’s reproductive system, heart, lungs, hormones and blood pressure were all checked. She got the green light to start.
The grandmother says: “Ray didn’t hesitate when he heard about my offer to Heidi, just smiled and said, ‘Let’s go!’”
The first step was to create the embryos.
For ten days Kristi drove the 30 minutes to Heidi’s house to give her the hormone injections she needed to start her IVF cycle.
“Six months later, when our five embryos were safely in the clinic freezer, it was my turn to hold the needle,” laughs Heidi.
“Twice a day for ten days I needed a progesterone injection in my bottom, to prepare my uterus,” says Kristi
With her body ready, it was time for the embryo transfer.
“I didn’t look at the screen,” Kristi remembers. “My eyes were firmly on Heidi’s hopeful, excited face.
“I silently promised her that she’d have this baby in her arms in nine months’ time.
“As we left, the doctor gave her an envelope. Heidi opened it, showed me the card that said,
‘Hi Mummy, I’m a little girl’ and we both dissolved into tears.’”
Nine days later they stood together and saw the pregnancy test turn positive.
Surrogacy is the name given for a type of pregnancy where a woman carries and gives birth to another person's baby.
The surrogate mother is then expected to give up the baby at birth, so it can be raised by the couple who originally wanted the baby.
Surrogacy is often an option for those unable to have children themselves, or for male same sex couples.
According to surrogacy charity Childlessness Overcome Through Surrogacy (COTS), there are two different types of surrogacy.
Kristi says: “Heidi grabbed her phone to call John, and I called Ray. ‘I’m having a baby at 52!’ I said, laughing through the joyful tears.”
After 28 years, Kristi was amazed at how normal her pregnancy felt.
“Everything just flooded back,” she admits.
“If I was tired or had morning sickness I could sleep. In fact, it was easier than it had been with Heidi and her brother.”
There were some challenges as her bump grew, and it became clear that she was pregnant at 52.
“The counsellor at the fertility clinic had warned us that not everyone would be totally supportive of what we were doing,” says Kristi.
“I did have some people comment that by being pregnant, I was taking that experience away from Heidi.
“Others thought that by being their surrogate, I was somehow having a baby with John.
“I’d just smile and reply, ‘I had nothing to do with conceiving this baby. I’m just a safe place for my grandchild to grow.’
“As for Ray, he loved cheerfully announcing to strangers, ‘This is my wife, she’s pregnant and it’s not mine.’ Then, when he saw the confusion on their faces, he’d continue: ‘She’s carrying our grandbaby.’”
Heidi admits that she did struggle with anxiety.
“Mum would update me constantly and I was there for every scan and appointment,” she says.
“But after the trauma of losing my twins, I knew things don’t always go to plan.
“I desperately wanted mum and the baby to be safe and I couldn’t quite let myself believe that this was real.
“Finally at our baby shower I believed, for the first time, that I was going to have a child of my own. All because of my incredible mum.”
For Kristi, there was never a question that this baby she was carrying was hers.
“I never felt like a mum-in-waiting,” she says.
The three of us spend so much time together, it’s so joyful to be her ‘Gigi’
Kristi Schmidt
“I loved the baby growing inside me, but I was just a loving babysitter, a grandma-in-waiting.”
In a planned caesarean in March 2022, with Heidi by her side, Ekko Joy was born.
“My incredible 6lb 4oz granddaughter was handed directly to Heidi, just as we’d planned, and I was overwhelmed with happiness,” Kristi says.
“Cuddling her close I felt like I was coming to life,” says Heidi.
“After all the heartbreak, grief and anxiety, she was here at last. I’d never felt love like it.
“And she was only there, safe in my arms, because of what mum had done for me. I knew that I’d never be able to thank her enough for bringing me my daughter.”
Ekko was kept in the NICU because of a heart murmur and an issue with her bowel. But Kristi, who expressed milk for Ekko, was able to go home after three days.
“When I held Ekko for the first time the following week, I felt like I’d known her forever,” Kristi says.
“We were all in tears. I was the happiest grandma in the world.”
Ekko is now a happy, boisterous three-year-old, and her bond with Kristi is stronger than ever.
“The three of us spend so much time together,” says Kristi. “It’s so joyful to be her ‘Gigi’.
“I don’t need any thanks for what I did. It was an honour to help heal Heidi’s heart and make her a mum at last.”
THIS is the chilling moment an evil teen was filmed laughing with his older sister on holiday – days before he stabbed her to death.
Mali and Luka Bennett-Smith are seen sipping beer together outside a pavement cafe in Amsterdam, Netherlands, with dad Andy heard saying they are “living the dream”.
But just 49 days later on October 20 last year, 17-year-old Mali brutally attacked his “annoying” sister at the family home in Bristol.
While alone together at the property, in Cromwell Road, Luka allowed her brother to get her in a headlock, a playful act they’d done before.
However, rather than eventually letting go, he continued to hold her before stabbing her repeatedly.
Then, 20 minutes later, he called 999 and told the operator: “I stabbed my sister to death.”
Mali, who has ADHD, said they had not been arguing but admitted: “I hated her my whole life and I don’t know, I just didn’t want to ever see her again.
“On this occasion I had decided I was not going to stop, I wanted to kill her, I had enough with regards to how she had been treating me over the years and recently.”
The siblings had grown up together on a remote farm in New Zealand, where they also home-schooled by mum Liz.
They later moved to Bristol, with Mali aspiring to join the army, the court heard on Monday.
He had dropped out of college, with Ray Tully KC, defending, saying his “somewhat unconventional” upbringing meant he didn’t mix with other kids and spent a lot of his time playing video games.
He added: “Mali did not know how to manage his increasing feelings of frustration and resentment towards Luka.”
Mr Tully said his client had “genuine remorse” for his actions.
Soon before the three-week trip to the Netherlands, Liz and Andy had split up, with the teens and their mum moving to the Cromwell Road home.
Andy stayed in Auckland, New Zealand.
Mali was jailed for at least 10 years and five months. Judge William Hart said the chilling murder was “every parent’s worst nightmare”.
He added: “The horror of the loss of their daughter at the hands of the son they still love is beyond even the worst nightmares.”
He continued: “The killing was shocking and brutal.
“It has deprived Luka of her life, your parents in effect of two of their children, and will deprive you of your liberty.”
The judge said Mali “undoubtedly intended to kill” during the knife attack.
He added: “The scene that met the paramedics on arrival at that house will, I imagine, live with them forever.”
BRITAIN is in “no position” to fight a war and the government “must” consider conscription now, former UK defence chiefs have warned.
Ex-Nato officers told The Sun that the UK must “wake up” to the looming Russian threat and recruit thousands more soldiers and reserves now – before it’s too late.
The UK and Europe have been forced into action after Donald Trump suggested the US will no longer act as our backstop for defence.
European leaders have been scrambling to bolster Nato defences across the Baltics amid the emerging threat of a Vladimir Putin attack – which defence chiefs fear could happen in a few years.
Some nations – including Poland and Latvia – have already brought back conscription to prepare themselves for the worst.
But the UK government disagrees – despite talk of British boots on the ground in Ukraine and Keir Starmer spearheading Europe’s peace efforts.
Cabinet minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat MacFaddon has clearly stated the government is “not considering” introducing conscription.
But military chiefs and defence analysts say this mindset is wrong and Labour should rule “nothing out at the moment”.
Sir Richard Shirreff, who served as Nato‘s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told The Sun we need to look to conscript now – or it’ll be too late.
The former commander, said the only way Putin can be stopped is if Europe bolsters its defences and creates an effective deterrence.
And that means boosting our forces across Nato‘s eastern flank as well as filling the gap that could be left behind if Trump pulls out of the alliance.
The military chief says as it stands, the British forces stand no chance against Putin’s meatgrinder forces with over a million still prepared to fight.
Colonel Hamish De Bretton Gordon told The Sun that Britain must start conscription “if things go really badly” to avoid surrendering to Putin.
He said: “Militarily, Britain absolutely needs to look at all the options as has been described.
“We are not in a position at the moment to fight a ground war.
“There’s no way we’ll avoid [conscription] unless we surrender, and I don’t think anybody in this country is going to surrender without a fight, especially to Putin.”
With just 70,000 active troops in the British army – the smallest since the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 – De Bretton Gordon said there is a massive need to modernise our military equipment.
He added: “What is important is to modernise our military. Make sure that we have the right kit, enough ammunition, and enough training, and that we are in a position to support Ukraine.
“While conscription will take a huge focus away from our regular military – which we cannot afford at the moment – we need to plan for it.”
And Sir Shirreff said Britain needs to “think the unthinkable” and start planning to prevent a catastrophic event.
Militarily, Britain absolutely needs to look at all the options as has been described. We are not in a position at the moment to fight a ground war
Colonel Hamish De Bretton Gordon
He suggested that the government should look to launch “selective conscription”, which will help the British public get ready for war.
He told The Sun: “The government should rule nothing out at the moment. I can’t see how an army of just 70,000 is going to be able to deter Russia in the long term and maintain the mass it needs.
“If you look at the size of our regular army, it’s tiny and they’d find it difficult to deploy a brigade for any period of time.
“You need mass and you achieve mass through alliance and through creating larger forces but you’ve also got to build up your own army.
“Selective conscription must be looked at. We’ve got to think the unthinkable and one of the things we must be considering is selective conscription.”
While Starmer’s long-awaited defence hike of three per cent was widely welcomed, many experts say it’s “too little too late”.
The cash boost will add an additional £13bn a year to armed forces coffers from 2027, according to the PM.
The capability gap is extremely wide. The PM talks about deploying British forces to Ukraine, but the reality is we couldn’t field a significant military force
Colonel Richard Kemp
“We must change our national security posture, because a generational challenge requires a generational response, that will demand some extremely difficult and painful choices,” he said.
But only £6 billion of that is new money – calculated as the difference between spending 2.3 per cent and 2.5 per cent of GDP.
British MP and Afghan veteran Mike Martin said Starmer’s response fell short of what was needed at this critical moment.
Speaking to The Sun, the former Army Reserve Officer said: “Starmer made a big speech about us facing a ‘generational challenge’.
“And his response was to increase spending by 0.2% and be a bridge between the US and Europe? We’ve been doing that for 60 years.
“It hasn’t been a generational response.”
He urged the government to help the British public grow a military backbone.
“It’s the duty of the government to get the public ready – to lead on this issue,” Martin said.
“We could be looking at conscription after a period of getting the public ready,” the war veteran added.
Meanwhile, veteran Air Marshal Greg Bagwell who served in the RAF for 36 years, said he believes the UK’s military needs an extra 26,000 personnel across all forces – warning that the current 130,000 isn’t enough to put up a good fight.
The airman told The Sun: “There are 70,000 in the Army and 30,000 in the Navy and RAF and you might think that’s not bad to have 130,000.
“But they’re not all going to be on the front line, they’re not all going to be in planes or ships.”
And he warned that’s not even taking into account the sheer scale of losses Britain and Nato as a whole could suffer on the battlefields against Russian troops.
That means Britain needs to recruit and train up thousands more soldiers and reservists so that there’s a constant backlog of troops ready to fight.
However, there are no signs from the UK government that it is working to fill in the gaping holes.
Lt Col Stuart Crawford, who spent 24 years serving in the Royal Tank Regiment, told The Sun that Britain has been doing the “absolute minimum” to maintain its military, and “the problem is deep”.
He said: “Politicians don’t get it yet… they are still banging on about other priorities for spending.”
Those priorities have to change – and fast, Crawford added.
Retired army officer Colonel Richard Kemp said there is an “extremely wide gap” in the capabilities of the current forces and that he government certainly needs to have plans for conscription “if the situation deteriorates”.
Speaking to The Sun, he said: “The capability gap is extremely wide. The PM talks about deploying British forces to Ukraine, but the reality is we couldn’t field a significant military force.
“The British armed forces need to be dramatically expanded both in manpower and fighting equipment such as ships, tanks and planes.
“We could no longer deploy troops on the scale of the Falklands War, Afghanistan or Iraq.
“We don’t have adequate numbers of infantrymen, armoured vehicles, artillery, engineers, air defences or munitions to keep them fighting.
“I’m sure we’re up to strength in diversity officers but they don’t win wars.”
Lt Col Stuart Crawford, author of Defence Review, said the armed forces have “failed to recruit enough people for the last 10 years”, so we must first sort out the regulars.
He said: “The forces are seen as declining organizations – which they are – and have been for at least the last 25 years, because of a lack of resources and funding.”
At the moment, there’s “nowhere to train these people”, “nothing to equip these people with”, and “not enough people to instruct them.”
Colonel Richard agrees, adding the British military needs to rampantly improve recruiting.
He said: “Our ridiculously small armed forces are undermanned. But I believe not only could this be reversed but also the size of the forces increased by fixing two things: recruiting and retention.
“The recruiting organization needs radical change.
“The situation is grave at present, and if the MOD continues to fail to get a grip of recruiting or if the situation deteriorates, the government certainly needs to have plans for conscription.”
ESTONIA, Lithuania and Latvia have all condemned Putin's grinding war in Ukraine.
These major Russian-speaking cities in each country are of historical importance when thinking about the Russian empire Putin follows on from.
Geographically they also all provide important elements, like coastal locations, sea ports, industrial centres or key borders.
NARVA – ESTONIA
Narva – which sits on the border between Russia and Estonia – was first occupied by Russia between 1558 and 1581, and then again in 1704.
97 per cent of the almost 60,000 residents there speak Russian.
It borders a river between the two countries – not far from Narva Bay.
On the edge of Nato’s eastern flank by the Baltic Sea, Narva is Estonia’s third biggest city.
There is a red line painted on the point where Narva crosses into Russia – on a bridge over the river.
Estonian border police told the BBC that thousands of Ukrainians have escaped war zones and fled into Estonia through this border crossing.
Narva has welcomed Ukrainian refugees during Putin’s war, the BBC reports.
KLAIPEDA – LITHUANIA
Lithunia downgraded its diplomatic relations with Russia after Putin invaded Ukraine.
It closed its Russian consulate in Klaipeda, which is bordered by Latvia, Belarus and Poland on the Baltic Sea coast.
The third largest city in Lithuania, Klaipeda is a major seaport.
It has the highest number of native Russian speakers among Lithuanian cities.
Under the USSR, Russia turned Klaipeda into a valuable marine base.
DAUGAVPILS – LATVIA
This Latvian city, in the south, is bordered closely by Belarus and Lithuania.
It is the second largest city in the country and well populated.
It is also only 75 miles from the Latvian border with Russia.
Daugavpils is historically a major railway and industrial point – and was part of the Russian Empire in the late 1700s.
It has an overwhelmingly Russian speaking population.
Latvia has strongly condemned Putin’s war in Ukraine, and has been added to a list of all EU countries dubbed “unfriendly” by Putin.
THIS is the uncomfortable moment internet sensation Yung Filly makes a cheerful comment as he leaves court just moments after entering a rape plea.
The YouTube star broke his silence as he told reporters “it’s a lovely day” when asked how he was feeling about his situation – in his first public sighting in five months.
The 29-year-old star – whose real name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos – is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her 20s in his hotel room in Perth, after performing at a nightclub.
After pleading not guilty to eight charges relating to the alleged rape, he was caught on camera leaving court confidently, telling reporters “good afternoon, good afternoon” in a nonchalant tone.
He walked towards a car wearing a grey sweatshirt and cap and responded to reporters calmly: “I’m enjoying the weather man, it’s a lovely day.”
The internet personality – who has appeared on several BBC shows – faces three charges of assault, one count of impeding a person’s normal breathing or blood circulation by applying pressure to the neck, and four counts of sexual penetration without consent.
The alleged incident took place on September 28, 2024, after the star had finished performing at Bar1 Nightclub whilst on tour in Australia.
Barrientos was arrested in Brisbane and extradited to Perth by West Australian detectives on October 9.
YUNG Filly’s rise to fame saw him start out as a social media star.
The influencer got his big break on YouTube before moving into mainstream TV.
Although he goes by Yung Filly, his real name is Andres Felipé Barrientos.
He was born on August 6, 1995, and moved to the UK from Colombia when he was two years old.
Filly then relocated to southeast London during his childhood.
When asked what it was like growing up in the capital, he told Indy100: “I come from the bottom of the barrel…and that’s why I’m so grateful for the position I’m in now.
“My mum definitely shaped me with the lessons she taught me.
“She’s a single mum with three kids, my dad was a s*** dad so she just had to make it happen.
“She did loads of cleaning jobs. My mum worked at Poundland at the time I had some mad BBC series…just getting my mum out of the position she was in was just the biggest motivation.”
Filly is best known for being a member of the comedy group known as The Wall of Comedy.
Over the years, Filly has also taken part in The Sidemen‘s Charity Football Match, organised by members Josh Bradley, Simon Minter, Tobi Brown, KSI, Ethan Payne, Vikram Barn and Harry Lewis.
He is affiliated with fellow YouTuber Chunkz and the pair have collaborated on many videos and tracks.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges at Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
According to court documents, Barrientos pleaded guilty to a reckless driving charge on December 5 whilst on bail which began in October.
He was caught driving over 96mph on the Roe Highway on 17 November.
Barrientos became a popular social media personality and rapper under the alias Yung Filly and has appeared on several TV shows, charity football matches and YouTube videos.
He is known for working with Beta Squad, a group of YouTube stars, and has also featured on Soccer Aid as well as The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up To Cancer.
The court will hear the matter in June – and he remains free on £52,000 bail under strict conditions.
MILLIONS of households have only a few weeks remaining to submit their meter readings before energy bills ris this April.
From April 1, Ofgem‘s energy price cap is set to rise by approximately 6%, adding an extra £111 per year to the average household bill.
It’s a blow to 22million households on standard variable tariffs which are subject to the price cap, and will see their bills rise from £1,738 to £1,849 per year.
However, many households are likely to face costs exceeding this headline figure.
This is because the energy price cap does not limit the total amount a customer pays for their energy.
Instead, it sets a maximum charge per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of gas and electricity, alongside the daily standing charges.
Another factor affecting how much you pay is the area you live.
That’s why it’s essential for customers without a smart meter to provide a meter reading before the price cap changes come into effect, ensuring they are billed accurately.
Octopus Energy has now confirmed the deadline for doing so.
While customers are encouraged to submit their meter readings by the end of March, the supplier has confirmed that any readings provided by April 8 will be backdated.
This ensures customers are charged accurately based on the energy prices in effect from the date the changes were implemented.
An updated meter reading will mean your supplier has a more accurate idea of your usage and bill you accurately.
Energy suppliers usually require you to take regular meter readings from your gas and electricity meter to work out how much they should charge you.
Customers who don’t do this are billed on estimated usage and will likely pay more.
Octopus Energy customers can submit their reading via the phone, website, or mobile app.
If you have a smart meter you do not need to submit a manual reading, as their readings are sent to suppliers automatically.
BELOW we reveal how you can calculate your own energy bill.
To calculate how much you pay for your energy bill, you must find out your unit rate for gas and electricity and the standing charge for each fuel type.
The unit rate will usually be shown on your bill in p/kWh.The standing charge is a daily charge that is paid 365 days of the year – irrespective of whether or not you use any gas or electricity.
You will then need to note down your own annual energy usage from a previous bill.
Once you have these details, you can work out your gas and electricity costs separately.
Multiply your usage in kWh by the unit rate cost in p/kWh for the corresponding fuel type – this will give you your usage costs.
You’ll then need to multiply each standing charge by 365 and add this figure to the totals for your usage – this will then give you your annual costs.
Divide this figure by 12, and you’ll be able to determine how much you should expect to pay each month from April 1.
The easiest way to take a meter reading is to take a photo of your gas and electricity meters.
This means you have evidence in case you need to dispute a bill.
You can send in your meter reading online via your energy account.
Some providers will also let you send in the numbers by text or through their app.
Check which options your supplier offers on their website.
If you have a digital electricity meter then you will see a row of six numbers.
Five of them will be in black and one will be in red.
Write down the five numbers in black, which are shown from left to right.
If you are on an economy 7 or 10 tariff, which gives you cheaper electricity at night, then you will have two rows of numbers.
You need both to take a reading.
If you have a traditional dial meter then you need to read the first five dials from left to right.
Ignore any red dials.
If the pointer is between two numbers then write down the lowest figure.
If it is between nine and zero then write down the number nine.
If you have a digital metric gas meter showing five numbers followed by a decimal point then you need to write down the first five numbers.
If you have a digital imperial meter then you will see four black numbers and two red numbers.
Write down the four black numbers only.
If you have a digital gas meter, follow the same steps as the digital electricity meter.
There's a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill.
Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
MORE than 5,000 Brits have missed out on lifesaving cancer checks thanks to an NHS mishap.
Health chiefs have since rushed out letters to every person affected, apologising for the failure, which dates back to 2008.
About 10 people are thought to have died of cancer after not being invited for screenings, according to a written ministerial statement published yesterday.
However, it is not clear whether any checks could have prevented those deaths.
The screening included checks for possible cervical, breast and bowel cancer, as well as abdominal aortic aneurysm.
All 5,261 people impacted have been offered catch-up scans, NHS director, Steve Russell, confirmed.
The error surfaced in 2024 when people flagged to the health service that they hadn’t received screening invitations.
It happened because some GP registrations weren’t fully completed, so their details never made it to the NHS screening system.
“This issue has now been fixed and everyone affected will be offered support and any catch-up screening as soon as possible, including where they may now be above screening age,” Steve explained.
He added: “We would like to extend our sincere apologies to those affected for this error and any additional worry this may have caused.
“Anyone who is concerned they may have missed an invitation to screening can call our dedicated helpline for support and further information.”
Around 15 million people are invited to NHS screening every year.
NHS England says it has given guidance to GP practices and Integrated Care Boards to ensure all patient registrations are properly completed.
It has also introduced new measures to make sure everyone eligible gets a screening invite.
Those who are no longer eligible can still opt in if they wish, with details on how to do so included in the letters sent to those affected.
Last year, it emerged that nearly 1,500 women at high risk of breast cancer missed vital MRI checks due to an NHS clerical error.
The mistake affected women who had radiotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma between 1962 and 2003, putting them at greater risk of breast cancer.
Guidelines since 2003 recommend annual MRI scans, but some were never invited.
Doctors were told to track down affected patients, but NHS bosses only learned of the issue in 2023 – ministers weren’t informed until 2024.
CATCHING cancer early gives you the best chance of survival, and a huge part of that is attending regular screenings.
NHS programmes can help diagnose the disease, or risk of it, and improve the likelihood of successful treatment.
There are three national screening programmes in England: cervical screening, breast screening and bowel screening.
“If you are eligible, please make every effort to have your screening test as they can detect a problem early, before you have any symptoms. ,” the NHS says.
“Finding out about a problem early can mean that treatment is more effective.”
Cervical screening
This is offered in England to people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 and is routinely carried out every three years up to the age of 49, and every five from 50 to 64.
Depending on the result, people may be recalled earlier.
During a cervical screening, samples are tested for high risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which causes nearly all cervical cancers.
Those that test positive are then analysed further.
Breast screening
Breast screenings, which involve an X-ray test called a mammogram that can spot cancers when they are too small to see or feel, are usually offered to women aged 50 to 71 in England.
But the NHS is trialling them for women under 50 if they have a high risk of developing breast cancer.
Bowel screening
This test detects whether patients are showing any early signs of cancer.
It is available to everyone aged 54 to 74, with the programme gradually expanding to those 50-plus after The Sun’s No Time 2 Lose campaign.
Currently, those aged 54 to 74 are automatically sent an at-home test kit every two years, so make sure your GP has your correct address.
The at-home test involves providing a small poo sample to be checked for tiny amounts of blood, which could be caused by cancer.
If you’re 75 or over, you can ask for a kit every two years by phoning the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60.
Source: NHS
THERE’S no doubt that Maura Higgins is a no-nonsense woman who cuts straight to the chase, never mincing her words.
And when it comes to her sexual antics, the 34-year-old who stormed into the Love Island villa as the ultimate bombshell back in 2019, is not one to hold back.
From being ‘loud’ in bed to her drunken lesbian fling, the brunette beauty, who is worth an impressive £3.2 million, is a mega sex symbol who often leaves men utterly intimidated.
The star, who has 4.1 million Instagram followers and previously dated The Only Way Is Essex icon Pete Wicks, 36, has candidly claimed to ‘love sex’ and isn’t afraid to get frisky even when her mother is home.
Famed for her iconic “fanny flutters” catchphrase, Maura, who has travelled the world as a Monster energy drinks girl, is loved by millions thanks to her sass and sexy innuendos.
And just days after Maura appeared to share a brief drunken kiss with married I’m A Celebrity campmate Danny Jones, 38, at a Brit Awards after-party, here, Fabulous takes a look inside what really goes on behind closed doors for this straight-talking star.
While on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!, Maura got candid on her openness when it comes to talking to her mother about what goes on in the sheets.
She explained: “I talk to my mum about… I mean if I slept with a guy, my mum will ask me, ‘Well, what was he like in the bed?’ and she will get every gory detail.”
Not only this, but the star, who is said to have battled a crippling company debt of £678,000 before her jungle stint, also discussed being open about sex.
According to Maura, who has her own beauty line with Inglot, her frank and often honest discussions about sex are what she has always considered “normal”.
She told Her: “Growing up in my house, I was always able to speak about things like that.
“I always talked to my mammy about sex, and I still would now. That’s normal to me.
“You always hear men talking about sex. Why can’t I do the same?
“Even in the villa, so many of the other contestants were so shocked when I’d come out with things, but I was just like, why? It’s normal.
“Men and women are equals so it shouldn’t be shocking.”
EVER since Maura Higgins burst onto the scene back in 2019 as a sassy, bikini-clad babe on Love Island, she has had a number of public relationships...
As well as this, Maura has also said: “I’d never be ashamed to talk about sex, I was always open about it.
“I could tell my mam about someone I slept with after a night out, I didn’t have to filter anything.”
But that’s not all, as when asked whether she had slept with someone while her mum was home, she replied: “Yes, yes I have.”
Not only this, but she also got candid on her honesty with Daily Star and admitted: “I am upfront about what I want and people respond to it very well.
I’d never be ashamed to talk about sex, I was always open about it
Maura Higgins
“They appreciate the fact that I’m not afraid to talk about whatever I want.
“I don’t think anyone should be afraid to do that. We should be able to talk about anything and not be judged for it.
“I have had a lot of young women come up to me and say I have inspired them. That puts a tear in my eye.”
During her Love Island stint, Maura was seen trying to seduce pro dancer Curtis Pritchard, 29, under the covers.
After he told her: “Tonight’s not the night”, she fumed to the other islanders the next day: “A coffee? An orgasm would be grand.”
Shortly after, speaking to Metro, Maura revealed the real reason why the pair didn’t get intimate – and it’s to do with her volume in the bedroom.
Maura confessed: “I think it was more about keeping people awake! Curtis knows how loud I am.”
Despite this, just days after quitting the villa, Maura wasn’t afraid to hold back when it came to sharing the details of her first bonk with Curtis.
At the time, Maura confirmed that the loved-up pair had sex when they travelled to her home in Ireland.
She told The Sun on Sunday: “I’d give him a ten out of ten.”
Not only this, but Maura also added: “We’ve had a good time. Was he worth the wait? Definitely, 100 per cent.
“I did try a few times in the villa, in the bedroom and on the outside bed.
“I tried but I didn’t succeed. Curtis said that it was for me and him alone, and he didn’t want to do anything in there. And that’s absolutely fine.
“Actually I’m glad now that we waited, because it made it even more special.”
I’m a girl who knows what she wants and goes for it
Maura Higgins
Not only did Maura not succeed in doing the deed whilst filming for the ITV show, but she also stirred up a storm in her first episode when she set her sights on Tommy Fury, famously giggling that he gave her “fanny flutters”.
She raised eyebrows when she tried to kiss the boxer, who was then coupled with Molly-Mae Hague, and asked him: “Does she turn you on like I do?”
The episode sparked 709 viewer complaints to Ofcom – the highest over a single incident for the whole series – with fans accusing Maura of “predatory behaviour.”
But she hit back: “I’m a girl who knows what she wants and goes for it.
“Tommy and I had chemistry on our date but a lot of what I said was banter and I think Tommy would agree.
“Watching it back I could have approached it differently, but I just went for it.”
Not only was she candid on her bonk with Curtis, but just months later, she also revealed more on what happened in the sheet with her and BFF Chris Taylor.
Eight months after Maura’s split from Curtis Pritchard, it dawned on her that she and Chris had something much deeper than friendship.
And during their joint interview with Fabulous after falling head over heels for each other, when asked, ‘Is this the best sex you’ve ever had?, Chris confirmed: “Yeah. I was pleasantly surprised! How much do you want me to say?”
Following this, Maura then confirmed: “Yeah. I do love sex.”
Moments later, Chris chimed in: “We have great sex, and lots of it.”
Despite Maura having ‘lots’ of ‘great’ sex with Chris, 34, Maura previously revealed that she spent a “drunken night” with a woman when she was younger.
The reality TV star spoke about the steamy fling on ITV2‘s Shopping with Keith Lemon.
During the programme, Maura went toiletry shopping with the comedian, who grilled her about her love life.
Whilst he asked, “Have you been with a lady?”, Maura confirmed: “I actually have.”
The Irish beauty then explained: “It was years and years ago and it was just a drunken night thing.”
But despite this, she admitted: “I am more… man.”
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Keith then questioned if she found it different kissing a woman instead of a man, to which Maura confirmed: “It was but I was very drunk, you know.”
However, Maura said she doesn’t consider herself bisexual, as she clarified: “I’m 100% into guys, it was just a drunken crazy night.
“A bit of fun. It was a work friend.”
Also on ITV2’s Shopping with Keith Lemon, Maura got candid on her belief that women need to stop relying on men being “good” in bed and instead should learn how to give themselves an orgasm.
She stressed: “Most girls I know have never had an orgasm.
“But do you know what it is? I don’t think people understand – you actually have to teach yourself how to orgasm, it’s not about how good the man is or whatever, it’s about you as a woman.
Be open if you are not happy with how it is going, but don’t fake a f*****g orgasm
Maura Higgins
“Us women don’t understand how lucky we are, the women that can, do you know what I mean?”
As well as this, as reported by the Irish Independent, Maura claimed: “Sex is a natural thing.
“Be open if you are not happy with how it is going, but don’t fake a f*****g orgasm.
“He is not going to fake it for you. No guy is going to fake it, are they?
“I don’t know why some girls do that. Like, some of my friends would, and I am like, ‘Why? Why would you do that?'”
And on the top of orgasms and self-pleasure, whilst the pubs, clubs and restaurants shut down across the UK during the Coronavirus lockdown, it appeared that Maura didn’t seem to mind the self-isolation too much.
At the time, the Dancing on Ice star was seen waving around a sex toy on Instagram.
During a social media clip, Maura held a large pink sex toy and joking around, told the person filming: “His name is Jerry.”
The brunette then turned the toy on, before waving it around manically at two men who were sitting on the sofa.
Joking about the cheeky video, the bombshell quipped: “I am about to ruin my own life with these videos.
“But…this is a bit of entertainment for you all.”
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By Emma Kenny, a TV presenter and psychologist
Raucous Role Play: If your partner enjoys dressing up for fun, it shows creativity and a desire to keep things exciting. However, it might signal that he struggles with responsibility.
Multi-Partner Fantasies: Craving variety doesn’t always mean he wants to cheat. However, it could indicate deeper feelings of unfulfillment.
Power & Control: A little dominance is normal, but if it’s always about control, it may hide insecurities.
Adventure: Men seeking thrills may push boundaries, so be sure your comfort zone is respected.
Passion: If he’s romantic, he’s emotionally tuned in—though occasionally avoiding tough conversations.
Flexibility: Openness to new experiences is great, but constant novelty-seeking could mean avoiding emotional connection.
Red Flag: If control is his ultimate fantasy, it may signal a deeper struggle with power dynamics.