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LadBaby have claimed their fifth Christmas number one with their reimagining of Band Aid’s “Do They Know it’s Christmas”.

Social media star Mark Hoyle and his wife Roxanne collaborated with MoneySavingExpert’s Martin Lewis and a host of celebrity lookalikes on the track titled “Food Aid”.

In the run-up to Christmas, the track sold more than 65,000 units to become the fastest-selling single of 2022 to date.

Bob Geldof and Midge Ure’s 1984 classic was reworked by Grammy-winning songwriter Amy Wadge.

LadBaby have clinched the top spot for the last four years with their sausage roll-themed parodies: We Built This City (On Sausage Rolls) (2018), I Love Sausage Rolls (2019), Don’t Stop Me Eatin’ (2020), and Sausage Rolls For Everyone with Ed Sheeran and Elton John (2021).

This year’s festive win makes them the first to get five Christmas number ones, putting them ahead of The Beatles on four and The Spice Girls who got three.

100% of the profits will be donated to charity, with half of the money going to food bank charity the Trussell Trust and the other half to the Band Aid Trust.

The couple said: “I can’t quite believe it! We’re number one. The charity has made it five years in a row. How have we done this again?

“We want to say thank you to everyone who has supported us for the last five years. A massive apology to The Beatles, and to all The Beatles’ fans… I’m sorry!

“The charity wins. The Trussell Trust gets Christmas number one again!

“Thank you to all the people who have downloaded, all the people who believed in us and brought a bit of Christmas magic. We love you all. Yes mate!”

In at number two was Last Christmas by Wham! which was, coincidentally, beaten to the top spot by the original Band Aid record when they were both released in 1984.

The number three spot was claimed by YouTube supergroup Sidemen with their festive rap record “Christmas Drillings” followed by Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You”, a perennial Yuletide fixture since its release in 1994, at number four.

Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s “Merry Christmas” which debuted last year, came in at number five.

The top album spot this year was taken by Taylor Swift’s Midnights, beating festive favourites Cliff Richard and Michael Buble.

LadBaby Christmas single video, titled Food Aid, with a group of celebrity lookalikes  and MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis
Image:
LadBaby with a group of celebrity lookalikes and MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis

Christmas top ten

  1. Food Aid – LadBaby
  2. Last Christmas – Wham!
  3. Christmas Drillings – Sidemen
  4. All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey
  5. Merry Christmas – Ed Sheeran & Elton John
  6. Escapism – RAYE & 070 Shake
  7. F*** The Tories – The Kunts
  8. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee
  9. Let Go – Central Cee
  10. Firebabe – Stormzy

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Harry and Meghan extend Netflix partnership – but it’s no longer exclusive

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Harry and Meghan extend Netflix partnership - but it's no longer exclusive

Harry and Meghan have signed a new “multi-year, first-look deal” with Netflix, following the deal they struck with the streaming giant five years ago.

Described by the Sussexes as “extending their creative partnership”, while the news quashes rumours the relationship might not be renewed, it would appear to be a less prestigious deal than their first.

With Love, Meghan, has a second season out later this month. Pic: Jake Rosenberg/Netflix
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With Love, Meghan, has a second season out later this month. Pic: Jake Rosenberg/Netflix

As a “first-look deal” rather than an overall deal, the entertainment giant will be able to say yes or no to their content before anyone else, but they will not be under an obligation to stream it.

Several US outlets have suggested it is a downgrade from the Sussexes’ previous contract, which saw the streaming giant pay for exclusive rights for the content and was thought to be worth more than $100m (£74m).

British PR expert Mark Borkowski described the deal as a “downgrade” and suggested Netflix was “pivoting away” from Harry and Meghan.

Read more: Some call the deal a demotion – but the company still sees them as a power couple

Harry and Meghan set up their media company, Archewell Productions, after quitting as senior working royals in 2020.

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Their partnership with Netflix had promised documentaries, docuseries, feature films, scripted shows and children’s television, but has so far only delivered documentaries and docuseries.

These include Harry & Meghan, a six-part series about their departure from the royal household, which is Netflix’s fifth most popular series of all time, and most recently, the lifestyle show With Love, Meghan, which is the streamer’s most-watched culinary show since its release earlier this year.

Speaking about the new deal, Meghan said: “We’re proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As ever brand.”

As ever is Meghan’s lifestyle brand, launched in 2024, and rebranded this year, selling products including jams, shortbread and wine.

Meghan went on: “My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally and celebrates our shared vision.”

(R-L) Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Mindy Kaling. Pic: Netflix
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(R-L) Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Mindy Kaling. Pic: Netflix

Netflix’s chief content officer Bela Bajaria called the Sussexes “influential voices” and said their stories “resonate with audiences everywhere”.

New output includes the second season of With Love Meghan later this month, and a Christmas special in December.

Archewell Productions is also working on a documentary about orphaned children in Uganda’s Masaka region, an area heavily hit by the HIV/AIDS crisis, titled Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within, and is developing a feature adaptation of the bestselling romantic novel by Carley Fortune, Meet Me At The Lake.

It comes as Harry has cut ties with his Sentebale charity but has said he still intends to do what he can to help young people in Lesotho, Botswana and Southern Africa.

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Some call the Sussexes’ Netflix deal a demotion – but the company still sees them as a power couple

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Some call the Sussexes' Netflix deal a demotion - but the company still sees them as a power couple

While we’re all desperate to know what this new deal is really worth in dollars and pounds, one thing I can tell you for certain is that Prince Harry and Meghan want us to know they’re delighted that Netflix again wanted to get a deal done.

“Absolutely over the moon” is how it was described to me.

But they’ll also be aware of the attention it’ll attract as we all try to pick apart what it means.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Pic: Jake Rosenberg/Netflix
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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Pic: Jake Rosenberg/Netflix

Firstly because of that ongoing fascination in how they’re making money since stepping away from royal life and losing financial support from the King, but also because of the recent reports that Netflix were intending to cut ties.

Yes this is a different type of deal from their original one in 2020. Some have argued that a “first look deal” looks like a demotion from what they previously signed up to.

With no real clarity on how much their original deal was worth, and no numbers being publicly thrown around this time, that is hard to judge.

But talking to those who know something about these kinds of deals you do get a sense it could potentially be more lucrative than it looks on face value.

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With first look deals, yes there is often financial commitments from the likes of Netflix to get that first exclusive look at projects and first refusal.

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Harry claims: War of words continues

But there could be other significant monetary incentives for the Sussexes to sign.

For example, when the Obamas signed a first look deal with Netflix, the streaming service agreed to pay the operational costs for their production company “Higher Ground”.

Could it be that Netflix are also now covering the costs of Archewell Productions?

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It’s stating the obvious to say that Harry and Meghan continue to divide opinions, some wanting to watch their programmes from a place of respect and fondness, others as a reason to grumble about them.

But signing on this latest dotted line shows Netflix still sees them as a power couple, who attract significant attention and are worthy of investment, whatever that really adds up to.

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Mandalorian actor Gina Carano settles lawsuit with Disney – and thanks Elon Musk for funding it

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Mandalorian actor Gina Carano settles lawsuit with Disney – and thanks Elon Musk for funding it

Actor Gina Carano has settled her lawsuit with Disney and Lucasfilm after claiming she was wrongfully dismissed from The Mandalorian for expressing her political opinions.

Carano was fired in February 2021 after starring as Rebel ranger Cara Dune in two series of the Disney+ Star Wars series The Mandalorian.

According to court documents, it came after the 41-year-old referenced the Nazis’ treatment of Jewish people while discussing current political differences in the US.

At the time, production company Lucasfilm said in a statement that her “social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable”.

But late on Thursday, she posted on X: “I have come to an agreement with Disney/Lucasfilm which I believe is the best outcome for all parties involved.”

She added that she “hopes this brings some healing to the force”.

The details of the financial settlement have not been disclosed.

When filing her lawsuit at the Californian District Court last year, she had sought $75,000 (£59,000) in damages.

She also thanked Elon Musk for financing the lawsuit, despite the two having never met.

“I want to extend my deepest most heartfelt gratitude to Elon Musk, a man I’ve never met, who did this Good Samaritan deed for me in funding my lawsuit,” she wrote in her post. “Thank you Mr. Musk and X for backing my case and asking for nothing in return.”

The X owner is an ardent advocate of free speech and has funded similar legal battles previously.

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Carano as Cara Dune.'The Mandalorian'. Pic: Lucasfilm/Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock
Image:
Carano as Cara Dune.’The Mandalorian’. Pic: Lucasfilm/Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock

Carano signed off: “I am excited to flip the page and move onto the next chapter.

“My desires remain in the arts, which is where I hope you will join me. Yes, I’m smiling. From my heart to yours, Gina.”

In response to the settlement, Lucasfilm said in a statement: “Ms Carano was always well respected by her directors, co-stars, and staff, and she worked hard to perfect her craft while treating her colleagues with kindness and respect.

“With this lawsuit concluded, we look forward to identifying opportunities to work together with Ms. Carano in the near future.”

In legal documents, Carano’s team claimed both Disney and Lucasfilm had “targeted, harassed, publicly humiliated, defamed, and went to great lengths to destroy Carano’s career”.

She also alleged she was treated differently to her male colleagues. Neither company commented on these claims.

Pic: Lucasfilm/Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock
Image:
Pic: Lucasfilm/Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock

Lawyer Gene Schaerr, managing partner at Schaerr Jaffe, said at the time: “Disney bullied Ms Carano, trying to force her to conform to their views about cultural and political issues, and when that bullying failed, they fired her.

“Punishing employees for their speech on political or social issues is illegal under California law.”

Carano, who began her career as a mixed martial arts fighter, has starred in other Hollywood franchises, including Fast & Furious 6 as Riley Hicks, and Deadpool, in which she played Angel Dust.

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