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I’m A Celebrity has announced its famous contestants for this year’s series, with stars from the worlds of pop music, international football and soap among the 2021 group.

The ITV show will head back to Gwrych Castle for a second season after uncertainty surrounding international travel meant producers could not be sure they could return to the Australian jungle.

Ant and Dec are back as hosts once again, taking the new set of celebs through their paces in the Welsh castle – take a look at the 2021 line-up below.

Dame Arlene Phillips - I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Pic: ITV/Lifted Entertainment

Dame Arlene Phillips

Dame Arlene became a household name in the UK when she joined Strictly Come Dancing’s first series as a judge in 2004.

She later left in 2008 and went on to work on shows such as Britannia High and So You Think You Can Dance?

She is also a prolific theatre choreographer and director, and has been part of shows such as We Will Rock You, Starlight Express and Saturday Night Fever.

At 78, she is I’m A Celebrity’s oldest-ever contestant – but says that isn’t going to hold her back.

Danny Miller is one of the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 2021 contestants. Pic: ITV/Lifted Entertainment

Danny Miller

Miller has played Aaron Dingle in Emmerdale since 2008.

He has been part of some key storylines in the soap, including themes of child sexual assault, car crashes and heists.

Miller has also appeared in Grange Hill, Scott & Bailey and Cruel Summer.

David Ginola - I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 2021. Pic: ITV/Lifted Entertainment

David Ginola

There aren’t many sporting fans in the world who don’t know who David Ginola is – a French footballing legend who had stints at teams including Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle, Spurs, Aston Villa and Everton.

Since then, he’s become a regular on the BBC, BT Sport and CNN, as well as the French version of Strictly Come Dancing.

He has also worked as a model and an actor.

Frankie Bridge - I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 2021. Pic: MUST CREDIT ITV/Lifted Entertainment

Frankie Bridge

Bridge was part of noughties girl band The Saturdays for seven years, with hits including Up, Ego and Higher.

Before that she was a member of S Club Juniors, a spin-off of S Club 7.

After her music career, the singer went on to marry footballer Wayne Bridge, a former contestant himself, and has presented TV shows and spoken openly about mental health.

Kadeena Cox MBE - I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Pic: ITV/Lifted Entertainment

Kadeena Cox MBE

A decorated British Paralympian, Cox has medals for both sprinting and cycling at the game – including gold.

Suffering from multiple sclerosis, she has broken world records on the track and represented the UK at two games.

Away from the track and the velodrome, she won this year’s series of Celebrity Masterchef.

Louise Minchin - I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 2021. Pic: ITV/Lifted Entertainment

Louise Minchin

Journalist and presenter Minchin has recently departed the BBC Breakfast sofa after 20 years on the flagship show.

She has had a long career at the BBC, which has also included projects such as Sunday Life, The One Show and Olympics coverage.

Minchin says she hopes her stint in the castle will show her fun side after being known as a “serious news presenter”.

Matty Lee - I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Pic: ITV/Lifted Entertainment

Matty Lee

Diver Lee took home the gold medal with Tom Daley in the 10 metres synchronised event at the Tokyo Olympics earlier in 2021.

The 23-year-old says taking part in I’m A Celebrity ticks off another life goal.

“Nothing ever prepares you for what life will be like after you do well in the Olympics,” he says. “I was and still am mainly in shock that I am doing I’m A Celebrity. My two childhood dreams were to win an Olympic medal and take part in my favourite TV series. And now I am doing both this year!”

Naughty Boy - I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 2021. Pic: ITV/Lifted Entertainment

Naughty Boy

A DJ, songwriter and producer, Naughty Boy has worked with some of the biggest names in pop, including Beyonce and Sam Smith.

The star, whose real name is Shahid Khan, thinks his background working with artists will stand him in good stead when he enters the camp.

“I would love to see more musicians go into the castle this series, Sir Elton John would be incredible,” he says. “We (musicians) are more equipped than people think as we spend such a lot of time in the studio.”

Richard Madeley is one of the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! contestants for 2021. Pic: ITV/Lifted Entertainment

Richard Madeley

As one half of Richard and Judy, there are not many light entertainment jobs that Madeley has not been involved with.

He hosted This Morning with his wife Judy Finnigan between 1988 and 2001 before moving to their own show, Richard and Judy on Channel 4. The pair have hosted quiz shows and chat shows, appeared on comedy panel shows and even been contestants on reality shows.

Madeley says I’m A Celebrity… has “become part of the fabric of British life and part of the countdown to Christmas”, which is why he wanted to take part.

Snoochie Shy - I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 2021. Pic: ITV/ Lifted Entertainment

Snoochie Shy

BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ Snoochie Shy landed her late-night slot on the station two years ago.

Colleague and fellow DJ Jordan North was a runner-up on I’m A Celebrity… last year, so she is following in his footsteps.

The 29-year-old says she is looking forward to her listeners finding out more about her.

“I am actually quite a shy person when I am outside my comfort zone,” she says. “I think my shy side might come out and I might be quite shy in the first couple of days but I also will definitely be a team player.”

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! begins on ITV and ITV Hub on 21 November

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Oasis tour: What you need to know – and why Cardiff is the first stop

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Oasis tour: What you need to know - and why Cardiff is the first stop

Oasis are set to kick off their reunion tour in Cardiff this weekend, with thousands expected to descend on the Welsh capital.

The 41-date Oasis Live 25 tour begins in the city on Friday and Saturday, amid warnings for people to plan ahead before they travel.

The Gallagher brothers’ last performance together was in 2009, and the tour sold out within hours of its announcement last August, with fans eager to catch a glimpse of the reunion.

But where is the tour heading – and why was Cardiff chosen as the city where the brothers will perform for the first time together in almost 16 years?

When does the tour start and where is it heading?

After Cardiff, Oasis will go on to perform at Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin on their UK and Ireland leg of the tour.

See below for a full list of tour dates:

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Oasis tour dates

  • Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales – Friday 4 July
  • Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales – Saturday 5 July
  • Heaton Park, Manchester, England – Friday 11 July
  • Heaton Park, Manchester, England – Saturday 12 July
  • Heaton Park, Manchester, England – Wednesday 16 July
  • Heaton Park, Manchester, England – Saturday 19 July
  • Heaton Park, Manchester, England – Sunday 20 July
  • Wembley Stadium, London, England – Friday 25 July
  • Wembley Stadium, London, England – Saturday 26 July
  • Wembley Stadium, London, England – Wednesday 30 July
  • Wembley Stadium, London, England – Saturday 2 August
  • Wembley Stadium, London, England – Sunday 3 August
  • Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland – Friday 8 August
  • Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland – Saturday 9 August
  • Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland – Tuesday 12 August
  • Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland – Saturday 16 August
  • Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland – Sunday 17 August
  • Toronto, Canada – Sunday 24 August
  • Toronto, Canada – Monday 25 August
  • Chicago, USA – Thursday 28 August
  • East Rutherford, USA – Sunday 31 August
  • East Rutherford, USA – Monday 1 September
  • Los Angeles, USA – Saturday 6 September
  • Los Angeles, USA – Sunday 7 September
  • Mexico City, Mexico – Friday 12 September
  • Mexico City, Mexico – Saturday 13 September
  • Wembley Stadium, London, England – Saturday 27 September
  • Wembley Stadium, London, England – Sunday 28 September
  • Seoul, South Korea – Tuesday 21 October
  • Tokyo, Japan – Saturday 25 October
  • Tokyo, Japan – Sunday 26 October
  • Melbourne, Australia – Friday 31 October
  • Melbourne, Australia – Saturday 1 November
  • Melbourne, Australia – Tuesday 4 November
  • Sydney, Australia – Friday 7 November
  • Sydney, Australia – Saturday 8 November
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina – Saturday 15 November
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina – Sunday 16 November
  • Santiago, Chile – Wednesday 19 November
  • São Paulo, Brazil – Saturday 22 November
  • São Paulo, Brazil – Sunday 23 November
Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Pic: PA
Image:
Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Pic: PA

Why was Cardiff picked as the first stop?

Asked on X in May why Cardiff was chosen as the location for the opening leg, Liam Gallagher said “because Cardiff is the bollox”.

Principality Stadium is a 74,500-seat venue, known as the home of Welsh rugby, which played host to Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift concerts last year.

Businesses in the area are hoping the arrival of Oasis will bring an influx of trade to the city.

Gary Corp, manager of the City Arms, told Sky News that he was expecting the concert would “treble if not quadruple the footfall on the street”.

Meanwhile, Ethan John, events manager at Tiny Rebel, said Oasis choosing Cardiff to kick off their tour was “surreal” and that previous events such as Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour had a “massive impact” on footfall.

What travel advice is there in Cardiff?

Train operators say trains will be busy and people should allow plenty of time for their journey home.

Georgie Wills, from Transport for Wales, said the company was “thrilled to welcome thousands to Cardiff this summer”.

“Look out for our queuing systems and travel tips – and let’s make it a safe and smooth experience for everyone,” she added.

Cardiff Council has confirmed that roads around the stadium will close from 12pm until 12am on both Friday and Saturday.

The road closures come into force three hours earlier than is planned for upcoming Stereophonics, Kendrick Lamar and Catfish and the Bottlemen concerts later this summer.

The Cardiff Bus Interchange will close at 3pm and Cardiff Queen Street railway station will close at 10pm (apart from accessible travel or journeys to Cardiff Bay).

Liam Gallagher (left) and Noel Gallagher (right). Pic: PA.
Image:
Liam Gallagher (left) and Noel Gallagher (right). Pic: PA

What time does the show start and who are the support acts?

Principality Stadium’s doors open at 5pm on both Friday and Saturday.

The band will be supported by indie rock band Cast and Richard Ashcroft (who formed alternative rock band the Verve) in Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin.

Cast start their Cardiff set at 6pm, followed by Richard Ashcroft at 7pm.

Oasis will take to the stage at 8.15pm, and should finish by 10.30pm.

American rock band Cage the Elephant will support Oasis in Canada, Mexico and at the Chicago gig.

They will be joined again by Cast for the East Rutherford and Pasadena dates.

Australian indie rock band Ball Park Music will support in Australia.

Are tickets still available for the shows?

The tour is sold out, but the band has said it is possible some additional tickets may be released.

In an Instagram post on 25 June, the band advised members of Oasismynet to “keep an eye” on their inbox.

The final releases would come “over the coming days” once production was “fine tuned”, the band said.

Read more from Sky News:
The Gallagher brothers back together
The story of the rock ‘n’ roll brothers so far

What’s the weather going to be like?

Cardiff is set to be cloudy with sunny intervals on Friday afternoon, with highs of 21C and lows of 15C.

On Saturday, however, it will be slightly cooler with light rain during the afternoon, before clearing up in the evening.

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Oasis reunion: It felt like it might never happen – but the Gallagher brothers are finally back

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Oasis reunion: It felt like it might never happen - but the Gallagher brothers are finally back

Listening to Noel Gallagher over the years, for a long time it didn’t feel like this was part of the masterplan.

He has spoken several times of the difficult decision he made to quit Oasis in 2009. The band was his life and the choice not made lightly, but ending things then was the best thing for everyone, he told Sky Arts a few years ago. The fact they didn’t continue was a big part of the reason they are now “up there with all the greats”.

The older Gallagher brother was well aware that the years apart – the brothers’ often funny but frustrating feud, the unanswered question of whether they would ever bury the hatchet and the hope that maybe, one day, it might just happen – all amplified their legend.

Liam and Noel Gallagher. Pic: Simon Emmett
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The Gallagher brothers got together for this picture in July, their first photograph together in years. Pic: Simon Emmett

Rumours have come and gone over the years, propelled in no small part by messages from Liam Gallagher on social media. He often teased, but never made any secret of wanting to bring Oasis back. The sticking point seemed to be Noel.

But in 2022, Liam played gigs at Knebworth – the site of Oasis’s most famous, history-making gigs. Last year, he got in early to mark the anniversary of their debut album Definitely Maybe with his own solo tour, no sign of the man who wrote the songs.

Noel created the music; Liam brings it snarlingly, viscerally alive. Him doing those shows alone felt like it could be a death knell for a reunion. When asked about Liam by a fan during one of his shows with his current band, the High Flying Birds, last summer, Noel reportedly said his younger brother should be “thankful for my genius” and told the crowd: “Just remember who wrote all the f***ing songs.”

The Definitely Maybe cover has been reworked to mark the 30th anniversary of the album, with the band now removed from the image. Pic: Oasis/Michael Spencer Jones/ Microdot
Image:
Pic: Oasis/Michael Spencer Jones

‘They hadn’t spoken in goodness knows how long’

Even last year’s new artwork for Definitely Maybe (pictured above), released for the 30th anniversary, showed a reworking of that famous album cover – shot at guitarist Bonehead’s house in Manchester – this time with the band members absent from the room. With no Liam on the floorboards, no Noel staring up at the spinning globe, it felt like a statement: Oasis really had left the building.

Designer Brian Cannon, who worked on the artwork for all of Oasis’s early music and now runs the Microdot memorabilia stores, says he was as surprised as anyone by the reunion announcement.

“A lot of people say to me, it’s all a big marketing ploy,” he says, of the brothers’ fall-out. “No, it isn’t, they genuinely hadn’t spoken to each other for goodness knows how long. And Noel’s got a very successful solo career that he’s very content with and doing very well. I didn’t see this coming, I really didn’t.”

Photographer Michael Spencer Jones, who captured the images for all the Oasis albums and singles in the band’s heyday, says the sibling rivalry was always there. “It’s such a major part of the potion that was Oasis.”

Read more:
Cool Britannia: Life in the UK in the ’90s
A timeline of Britpop’s most successful band

Noel Gallagher sings as Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds perform, at Twickenham Stadium, London, Britain, July 8, 2017. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
Image:
Noel Gallagher has had success with the High Flying Birds. Pic: Reuters/Dylan Martinez

But there had been whispers for months, reports from industry insiders saying it was only a matter of time. In January 2023, Noel announced his separation from his now ex-wife Sara MacDonald, who did not get on with Liam, leading to speculation he might become more open to making amends.

Then last year, following reports of shows booked for Wembley, fans once again pointed to teases from Liam on social media – “I never did like that word FORMER” he posted in the days before the announcement – and an interview given by Noel in which he spoke in complimentary terms about his little brother’s voice: “When I’d sing a song it would sound good. When he’d sing it, it would sound great.”

Neither of these things made a reunion a certainty. While Noel may not have liked his brother at times, he never underestimated the shared power their bristling sibling rivalry brought to Oasis. “I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without him, he wouldn’t have got anywhere without me,” he told journalists at an awards ceremony in 2019.

File photo dated 29/06/19 of Liam Gallagher, who along with pop band Haim and electronic duo The Chemical Brothers, will headline the next Latitude music festival, it has been announced.
Image:
Liam Gallagher has been performing as a solo artist for several years. Pic: PA

‘The stars have aligned’ – but statement gives little away

Oasis in their heyday were like no other live band. The shows were electrifying, the energy raw, in an era of optimism and fun in the 1990s that the Gallagher brothers defined. In later years, Noel may not have been a fan of the Cool Britannia tag, but that’s exactly what it was.

So now, will this reunion just be about the gigs? Will there be new music? Could the Gallagher brothers even be friends again?

The reunion statement gave little away. “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised.” Further details said there was “no great revelatory moment”, but rather “the gradual realisation that the time is right” – but the Gallaghers have still not really addressed the small matter of not being on speaking terms for years. We want to know who reached out first? How did they finally come to an agreement? And what did their mum, Peggy, say about her sons finally getting their acts together?

Whatever has happened behind the scenes, the frost has definitely thawed. In 2020, Liam said Oasis had been offered £100m to reform – a claim quickly denied by Noel, who suggested the remark was a publicity move to promote a single. The deal they have signed now is worth millions. But even before the announcement was made, Liam was quick to put anyone suggesting this was only about the money in their place.

“Your attitude stinks” was his reply to anyone questioning their motives. Positivity received a different response: “Your attitude is BIBLICAL.”

Read more:
‘Everyone was out of control in the ’90s’
The ‘unsolvable conundrum’ of Oasis’s biggest album

You only have to look at the crowds at Liam’s solo shows – full of teenagers, as well as those of us who were there the first time round – to see how the music has filtered through generations. The singer has said several times he would like younger fans to see the full Oasis live experience.

Now, they just have to deliver.

“There’s two schools of thoughts on this and at one time I would have fallen into the latter,” says Cannon. “One being: great, yes, fantastic. The second: no, leave it be, let it lie, it’s gone, you might tarnish the past.

“But. We’re living through strange times in this country at the minute, globally as well. There’s a lot of division, recent events have been quite shocking. [A reunion] will undoubtedly bring a lot of happiness to a lot of people and I’m all in favour of a lot of people being happy. So, yeah, it’s got to be a good thing.”

“There should be an album, I think,” says Spencer Jones. “It would be great if there was more music to come.”

This year also marks the 30th anniversary of their second album, (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? Both Noel and Liam will be well aware of the expectation, how much these shows mean to fans.

Get them wrong, and there’s the potential for the legacy, the memories, to be spoiled.

Get them right, and Oasis live forever – all over again.

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Michael Madsen, who starred in Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, dies aged 67

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Michael Madsen, who starred in Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, dies aged 67

Actor Michael Madsen, who starred in a number of Quentin Tarantino films, has died at the age of 67, according to Sky’s US partner NBC News.

Chicago-born Madsen died on Thursday morning from cardiac arrest, his manager, Ron Smith said.

He appeared in dozens of films during a career that spanned more than 40 years, with screen credits including Thelma and Louise, Free Willy, Donnie Brasco and Sin City.

But he was well known for his collaborations with Tarantino, who cast him in Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill: Vol. 2, The Hateful Eight and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Tributes poured in for Madsen, whose career started in the 80s.

Captain America co-director Joe Russo posted a picture of Madsen in Reservoir Dogs and said on X: “Michael Madsen ALWAYS had bite. RIP.”

“In the last two years Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film including upcoming feature films Resurrection Road, Concessions and Cookbook for Southern Housewives, and was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life,” managers Susan Ferris and Ron Smith, and publicist Liz Rodriguez said in a statement.

More from Ents & Arts

“Michael was also preparing to release a new book called Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems, currently being edited. Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.”

Michael Madsen played Mr Blonde in Reservoir Dogs. Pic: THA/Shutterstock
Image:
Michael Madsen played Mr Blonde in Reservoir Dogs. Pic: THA/Shutterstock

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