Entertainment

Cancer campaigner Dame Deborah James has died at the age of 40, her family has said, describing her as an “inspiration”. Dame Deborah was awarded a damehood by the Queen in recognition of her work, raising awareness of bowel cancer. The former deputy head mistress was diagnosed with the disease in 2016. In 2018 she

Mel C drew a big crowd when she DJ’d at the Glastonbury Festival on Thursday. The morning after, she told entertainment correspondent Colin Paterson on BBC Breakfast that playing on the Sunday afternoon legends’ slot with the Spice Girls in the future would be “the absolute dream” – and that Victoria Beckham might even rejoin

An upcoming band has landed a headlining spot at Glastonbury festival after Sir Paul McCartney recommended them. Hardwicke Circus, from Carlisle, are set to play the Rabbit Hole stage after the former Beatle personally reached out to organisers to praise their music. The group, who are unaware of how Sir Paul discovered them, say they

Kate Bush’s song Running Up That Hill has topped the charts in the UK – 37 years after it was first released. The artist has gained a whole new audience after the song was featured in the new series of Netflix’s Stranger Things. She spoke to Emma Barnett on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.

Kamala Khan is Marvel’s first Muslim superhero headliner, played by 19-year-old Pakistani-Canadian actress Iman Vellani. She tells the BBC Asian Network’s Haroon Rashid it’s exciting to bring in “an entirely new diaspora” of fans into the MCU. “We had so many conversations, the directors and I, just incorporating so much of my real life and

Festival-goers on the Isle of Wight have been enjoying sunny skies and hot temperatures as the annual music festival gets under way. Organisers have warned attendees to stay safe during expected high temperatures at the weekend. The UK Health Security Agency issued a level two alert, meaning temperatures could affect the public’s health. Organisers said

Love Island star Demi Jones was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in May 2021. Following the diagnosis, the 23-year-old kept her social media followers updated with regular posts about her treatment. Former Hollyoaks actress and singer Abi Phillips was one of those watching – and it was after seeing Demi’s videos that she discovered lumps on

A gig by The Killers in Manchester was stopped when frontman Brandon Flowers jumped off the stage to see if a 67-year-old crowd surfer who fell was OK. Doug James from Sale, Greater Manchester, cut his head when he tried crowd-surfing for the first time. Flowers, who named Mr James Billy, checked to see if

Former Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis has told the BBC that co-star Hilary Devey, who has died at the age of 65, “totally commanded” her position after joining the business investment show in 2011. Devey came to public attention when she replaced James Caan on the programme, later saying her best investment had been a

Artist Anna Chonjnicka has shied away from traditional canvas in favour of… bananas. The north London artist bruises the skin to create elaborate drawings that she shares daily on her social media. Her artwork ranges from landscapes and portraits to social justice messages and even the TV cartoon character Homer Simpson. But the bananas she

ITV’s Love Island returns for a new series on Monday. Previously the show has attracted criticism for promoting fast fashion so this year contestants will be wearing a wardrobe of pre-owned items. Amy Bannerman, who has styled the likes of Dua Lipa was selected to curate their outfits. She gave the BBC a sneak preview

The Queen has made an appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, on the final day of celebrations. She was surrounded by Prince Charles and Camilla, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their three children. She watched Friday and Saturday’s events from home after experiencing “discomfort” on Thursday.

The Queen has met Paddington Bear, in a sketch which opened the BBC’s Party at the Palace marking her 70 years on the throne. The animated children’s character was seen having tea with the Queen – during which they both confessed to carrying around a marmalade sandwich. You can watch the Party at the Palace

A 104-year-old dance teacher says she is “honoured” to receive a British Empire Medal for her life’s work. Angela Redgrave, from Bristol, took over the Bristol School of Dancing in 1970, after dancing herself since the age of 10. “I feel proud, we take in every child who comes to us with open arms, and

Jamal Edwards, founder of SBTV and a huge influence on the UK music scene, died in February 2022 after a sudden illness. The news left fans in shock, and mum Brenda “devastated”. Now, three months on, Brenda’s been speaking with BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Nadia Jae about the loss, and the legacy her son has left

A Belfast poet wants to challenge perceptions that working-class communities are less interested in poetry. Scott McKendry is originally from the mainly unionist Shankill estate in Belfast. After leaving school at 16, he initially began to train as an electrician, but inherited a love of poetry from his grandfather. In 2019, he won the Patrick