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Brenda Song has admitted that she loved working with her 'Last Showgirl' co-stars.

Movie star Jesse Eisenberg concedes that fame and success can be fleeting.

'Deadpool' star Ryan Reynolds has insisted women in and out of Hollywood are "held to a different set of standards".

January 7, 2025 at 12:14 IST Chef Nikunj Vasoya, who has cooked for business tycoon Mukesh Ambani and Bollywood star ...

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A WILLIE MULLINS horse labelled ‘extraordinary’ after his most recent win has been absolutely hammered in the betting for the Supreme – despite not being seen for over 200 days.

Salvator Mundi has been wrapped in cotton wool by his Closutton trainer – with a Christmas return aborted.

https://twitter.com/RacingTV/status/1790783219958252027

But it looks like he will finally be unleashed in the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer over two miles at Punchestown on Sunday.

The weather will need play ball for the fixture to go ahead, with the right-handed track currently unraceable due to snow and ice.

But, being 5-4 for that race, punters are desperately trying to snap up the remaining value about him for the Supreme.

Having been available at 10-1 just two days ago, Salvator Mundi has been absolutely smashed into 5-1 fav.

A second-season novice, Salvator Mundi last took to a racecourse in May, when he pulverised a sorry Tipperary field by 62 lengths.

The margin looked even bigger on TV, with Racing TV joking in their replay that he had won by ‘10,000 miles’.

Owned by Joe and Marie Donnelly, of Sir Gino and State Man fame, Salvator Mundi was sixth in last year’s Triumph Hurdle.

And he finished second to Arkle favourite Sir Gino on his one run in France.

The two-mile novice hurdling division has been screaming out for a horse to take it by the scruff of the neck.

And it looks like punters have finally decided that horse will be Sir Gino.

Although he is unlikely to have it all his own way, should racing go ahead on Sunday.

Mullins has also entered Kel Histoire and Ballygunner Castle, who are 3-1 and 7-1 respectively.

And Salvator Mundi’s performance could have huge ramifications for the future of Kopek Des Bordes.

A solid winner of a Leopardstown maiden hurdle on Boxing Day, he could go up in trip for the Turners Novice Hurdle if Salvator Mundi establishes himself as Mullins’ No1.

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Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chases their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

MOST bargain-mad fashionistas will know that Primark is buzzing and jam-packed with shoppers during the day – but what happens inside the store once the doors shut?

Well, now employee of the mega retailer, Akasha Rose, has taken to TikTok to reveal what the late shift staff get up to when the last customers leave the store.

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Mum-of-two Akasha, from London, revealed what the store looks like at night when all the customers have left[/caption]

TIKTOK/@akasha_rose1

Although the late shifts are exhausting, Akasha was happy she doesn’t have to deal with customers[/caption]

According to the mum-of-two, her shift only starts at 9pm – and she won’t be able to go home until just before 7am.

To make sure she gets through the long shift, which includes adding new stock to the ever-growing range, Akasha arrives with plenty of food and snacks, such as a breakfast bar and nutritious salad.

Once the staff member gets to her Primark and has clocked in for the shift, she will deal with several boxes full of different items that need to be put out.

Going through the dozens of bargain buys customers will then later snap up, Akasha – who chuckled and admitted she was already ”tired” by this point – is responsible for placing these where they belong.

Some of the goodies TikTok users saw the mum-of-two pack out in the video included colourful socks and smart trousers.

By around 11.30pm, a few hours after she had clocked in, Akasha went on a small break, devouring the salad and some coffee she had taken with her.

30 minutes later, the short break was over and Akasha had to return back to her duties, this time tackling a massive box that contained Primark’s Lilo & Stitch collection.

”Back to it. Primark loves Lilo & Stitch,” the mum-of-two chuckled in the clip.

According to Akasha, who also went on a second hour-long break at 3am, ”night shifts are not for the weak”.

However, whilst her body was ”feeling it” after several hours at her workplace at night, there’s one major benefit – not having to deal with any shoppers.

” It is ideal. Just the tiredness gets real sometimes.”

According to Akasha, who applied for the position online, several of her colleagues who work day shifts ”hated” it – however, she has no personal experience.

What’s more, she revealed in the comments, the employees are also entitled to a ”staff discount” which they can allegedly use ”on your shift towards the end”.

Since being posted on the platform, where the mum-of-two regularly shares content under the username @akasha_rose1, the clip has garnered huge interest.

One person praised Akasha, writing: ”I love seeing real ppl doing real jobs.

”I hate all that fake aesthetic n fake glamourising on social media. Keep working hard n keep doing u sis.”

Another one admitted they had no idea about the late hours, writing: ”Why did I not register that primark did night shifts?”

Someone else chimed in: ”oh I’d love to do night shift, you don’t have to deal with the public and can just get on with your work.”

”I used to always wonder how do workers at Primark get the store tidy before they go home. I never thought they had night workers,” a fourth added.

JAI OPETAIA scored a very early contender for Knockout of The Year following his brutal stoppage over David Nyika.

The Aussie defended his IBF cruiserweight title Down Under against rival Nyika on the Gold Coast.

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Jai Opetaia knocked out David Nyika[/caption]

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he retained his cruiserweight titles[/caption]

And a thrilling bout came to a crashing halt in round four after Opetaia landed a stunning right uppercut.

Somehow, Nyika made it to his feet but a left hand sent him tumbling to the canvas face-first and out for the count.

Opetaia – who like Nyika formerly sparred Tyson Fury – retained his title and called out WBA and WBO champ Gilberto Ramirez to a unification.

He said: “Ramirez, I’m coming for the belts. We’re coming for the rest of those belts.”

Ramirez, 33, is coming off a big points win over Brit Chris Billam-Smith, 34, to add the WBO to his WBA title.

But despite Opetaia’s plans to unify the 200lb titles – fans were more bothered about having him fight YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

One said: “Jake Paul should fight this fella. He said he wants to fight for a cruiserweight belt.”

Another added: “Give Jake Paul next.a boxer same weight, same age.”

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One joked: “He’s ready for Jake Paul, the uncrowned king of Cruiserweight.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn wants Opetaia to become undisputed champ at cruisweright before moving up to challenge Oleksandr Usyk, 37.

He said: “Jai is going to pick up all the belts in the cruiserweight division to become undisputed.

“And then we want to push him into a fight with Oleksandr Usyk as well to try and become undisputed at heavyweight as well.

“You have to search for greatness, he’s good enough to do it.

“I believe he’s the only person now in the division, cruiserweight or heavyweight that can genuinely give Oleksandr Usyk a real, real fight.

“But to do it, we have to pick up every belt in the cruiswerweight division first.

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Fans want Opetaia to fight Jake Paul[/caption]

Reuters

Oleksandr Usyk is another option for Opetaia to fight[/caption]

THE EFL have responded to Mikel Arteta’s suggestion that the Carabao Cup balls “fly different”.

Arsenal were beaten 2-0 at the Emirates by Newcastle in their semi-final first leg thanks to goals either side of the break from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.

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Mikel Arteta hit out at the ball used in the Carabao Cup match against Newcastle[/caption]

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The Carabao Cup responded to Arteta with a 50 Cent meme[/caption]

The Gunners had 23 shots and 11 corners that led to just three efforts on target, and also recorded an xG of 3.12 – the highest from a Prem club without scoring in any game this term.

Boss Arteta appeared to suggest post-match that the Carabao Cup Puma ball was a factor in his side’s lack of efficiency in front of goal.

The Spaniard said: “We kicked a lot of balls over the bar, and it’s tricky that these balls fly a lot so there’s details that we can do better.

“It’s very different to a Premier League ball, and you have to adapt to that because it flies different. When you touch it the grip is very different as well, so you adapt to that.”

But an EFL spokesperson said: “As is required throughout the professional game, the Puma ball used in this season’s Carabao Cup and in EFL competition since 2021/22 is tested in accordance with the Fifa Quality Programme for Footballs, and meets the FIFA Quality Pro standard.

“In addition to the Carabao Cup, the same ball has been successfully used in other major European leagues, including both Serie A and LaLiga and our three divisions in the EFL.

“All Clubs play with the same ball, and we have received no further comments of this nature following any of the previous 88 fixtures which have taken place in this season’s Carabao Cup.”

Puma will also be in the Premier League from the 2025/26 campaign, replacing Nike after 25 years in what has been described as a lucrative deal.

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Managers criticising variations between manufacturers is not new.

The League Cup was still using a Mitre ball in 2017 when Manchester City beat Wolves on penalties in the last 16.

Pep Guardiola – who had Arteta as his assistant – said at the time: “It is not acceptable, the ball was unacceptable for a high-level competition.

“It is too light, it moves all over the place, it is not a good ball. It is impossible to score with a ball like that and I can say that because we won, I’m not making excuses.”

Nike’s Prem ball consists of ‘four fused panels’, whereas the Carabao Cup Puma ball has a ‘unique eight-panel configuration’.

It is understood that all clubs competing in the Carabao Cup are provided with the balls to train with ahead of their fixtures.

The official X account of the Carabao Cup also responded to a post which showed Arteta discussing the ball.

The post included a snap of rapper 50 Cent from a viral clip in which he says “why you say f*** me for.”

Arsenal will look to overturn the two-goal deficit on February 5 in the second leg at St James’ Park.

Meanwhile, Arsenal fans were left convinced that Isak’s opener should not have counted.

They spotted a push from the forward on Martin Odegaard moments before hitting the net.

More fans were left stunned when Gordon scored his goal as he pulled off a Thierry Henry-inspired celebration in North London.

Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka was left in tears at full-time as he appeared to say farewell ahead of a move to Saudi Arabia.

HE’S the fitness guru who kept the nation moving during lockdown – and amassed a £55million fortune in the process.

Now Joe Wicks is about to share the secrets of his success and inspire other budding entrepreneurs as a guest Dragon on Dragons’ Den.

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Joe Wicks has become one of the UK’s biggest fitness stars[/caption]

BBC

The fitness coach is appearing as a guest dragon on Dragons’ Den[/caption]

Super-fit Joe boasts an even healthier bank balance, a £4.4million luxury Surrey mansion and a second sprawling home in Santa Monica in California where he, wife Rosie and their four children split their time.

But it wasn’t always that way for newbie personal trainer Joe, who would spend hours handing out flyers and was often the only person who would turn up to his boot camps in Richmond when he started out 15 years ago.

He recalled: “I’d cycle 40 minutes to Richmond really early in the morning and set up all my equipment but no one would turn up. I found that whole period really challenging.

“I wasn’t depressed but when I think back I get emotional because I feel proud I kept going when lots of people wouldn’t. I’d borrowed off my dad to do my personal-training course and thought I was never going to be able to pay him back.

“I remember getting really upset one night and he said, ‘Joe, I don’t care if you never pay me back, as long as you do what you love.’

“It’s always emotional for me when I think back to that moment.”

But Joe soon hit on a simple idea that was to turn him into a global superstar with millions of social media followers and the impressive fortune to match.

He started sharing 15 second videos online of simple, healthy meals that would take just 15 minutes to cook.

The videos with Joe’s cheeky chappy persona and his description of broccoli as ‘midget trees’ captured the imagination of the nation.

He then began posting workout films to his YouTube Channel, The Body Coach TV, and his first ever video has since amassed 6million views. His channel now has over 2.7million subscribers and has had over 282million views. 

When he first started his online coaching business he ran it all himself. 

But as his popularity soared he needed to build a team around him. In a savvy move he brought in his brother Nikki as his right-hand man and CEO to concentrate on the business side of the empire – and it paid off.

Joe launched his first book – Lean in 15 – in December 2015 and it sold 77,000 during its first week, breaking a world record previously held by cook Delia Smith. 

He has since gone on to publish 11 more best-selling books shifting more than four million copies, followed by a successful series of workout DVDs.

His fitness app also helped him rake in the cash. Back in 2020 more than 130,000 people took out £69.99 annual subscriptions to Joe’s app between Christmas and the new year.

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He has two homes including a £4.4m mansion in Surrey[/caption]

Instagram

Joe’s workouts became a national phenomenon during lockdown[/caption]

David Cummings - The Sun

He has even taken to the stage at Glastonbury for his workout sessions[/caption]

It means the fitness guru was pulling in the UK average salary of £31,000 every 39 minutes.

So during lockdown he could well afford to donate the profits from his lockdown “PE with Joe” workouts to the NHS.

As soon as schools shut during the pandemic, Joe launched daily online “PE lessons” to keep the nation’s kids active as they were stuck inside.

The initiative helped raise more than £580,000 for NHS charities, the videos were matched by millions of people worldwide and Joe was awarded the MBE in the New Year’s Honours for his efforts.

And the six-pack king’s charitable activities didn’t stop there. He did a 24 hour workout challenge for Children in Need raising more than £2million.

Den debut

But despite his success, Joe is nervous about his Dragons’ Den debut, telling The Times: “I would never have sat at home thinking I’m going to go on Dragons’ Den, but they reached out.

“I was quite nervous. The other dragons were lovely, but I don’t feel like a businessman.” 

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Joe’s 15-minute healthy meals proved a smash hit[/caption]

The Body Coach

Joe, pictured with brother Nikki, was awarded an MBE in October 2020 for his daily live ‘PE’ workouts during lockdown which kept the nation moving[/caption]

And he says his own meteoric rise was an “accident”, adding: “I have a proper business with 30 employees, but it was an accidental success story.

“I never had ambition to build a company. So when I sit in there with those others that have got multimillion-pound businesses and loads of experience, I don’t feel qualified.”

But he has more to offer than business acumen and hopes his rags-to-riches story of the council estate kid done good will give others hope that they too can emulate his success.

“My childhood and drive and passion can hopefully inspire,” he says. “Because entrepreneurs don’t just need money, they need motivation, discipline, resilience. They’re the things I advised on.”

And not only that he seems to have nailed the work/life balance.

He and wife Rosie and their four children Indie, Marley, Leni and Dusty spend at least three months of the year at their home in California.

And the couple home-school all their kids – with the help of both grandmas.

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Joe in his early career[/caption]

Joe admits that if he worked harder he could be even richer – but he doesn’t want more money – he wants more time.

“I’m very content with my life and I just want to protect it. I’m not on a constant conveyor to be bigger and bigger and bigger and global,” he says.

“Most people who are as successful as me would have to work really hard and spend a lot of time away from their family, but my greatest gift is that I have time with my kids and the freedom to actually slow down and say, ‘I’m not going to work every single day. I’m not going to do every opportunity that comes my way.’

“Maybe my career is not spreading as big as it could, but I would regret my kids being teenagers and me going, ‘Look how much money I’ve got in the bank,’ if I hadn’t had that time with them.”

And with his multi-million pound fortune, who can blame him?