Archives for February 2024

Vito Coppola has given a glimpse at the toll preparing for the Strictly Come Dancing semi-final is having on him as he shared his latest update on social media. The Italian dancer is training celebrity dance partner Ellie Leach for not one but two dances this weekend after they made it to the penultimate week of the competition. Former Coronation Street star Ellie and her professional dance partner Vito were seen back in the ballroom on Saturday night which wasn’t just the quarter-finals but also the Musicals week special. The actress and the Italian professional dancer performed a quickstep to the song Belle from Beauty And The Beast. But they weren’t competing for a place in this Saturday’s (December 9) semi-final as actor Nigel Harman’s sudden exit through injury meant there was no public vote and subsequent elimination so the remaining four couples automatically made it through with the judges’ scores carried over into the next live show. READ MORE: BBC Strictly Come Dancing’s Vito Coppola declares ‘I’m in love’ as hidden message to Ellie Leach uncovered READ MORE: Read more of today’s top stories from the Manchester Evening News Ellie, 22, and Vito, 31, are now set to perform Cha-Cha to the Bette Midler version of ‘Mambo Italiano’, and a Couples’ Choice dance to a Dua Lipa medley in the penultimate week of the competition with a week to go until the grand final on Saturday, December 16. Taking to Instagram on Thursday morning (December 7), Vito appeared to be struggling to wake up as he travelled in the back of a car, presumably to get back to work. He confirmed it was 6.30am and typed alongside the clip of him struggling to open his eyes as he snuggled into his coat: “It’s hard for me to say good morning if there is no sun in the sky.” And we can certainly agree with him there. It comes after Ellie joked he’d done a “good job” during their mid-week training session as he showed off his latest ‘injury’. The dance was nursing his leg, explaining that as he skidded across the floor during their Charleston, the friction managed to burn off some of his leg hair, which he held up for the camera, causing a little sore. “@vitocoopla you’ve worked so hard today. So proud of you,” Ellie, famed for playing Faye Windass in ITV’s Corrie, typed alongside the clip on her Instagram Story. It comes after she mocked her dance partner for getting his grandmother to ‘cure’ his headache. Ellie took to Instagram to show the pair travelling by car. She captioned the post, featuring a video of her dance partner: “Here he is. Number one most dramatic person I’ve ever met.” In the clip, Vito was holding on to his head before it was confirmed he was nursing a headache. He suddenly said: “I have to call my grandmother,” before realising Ellie was filming him. She asked “why” to which he said: “I have to call my grandmother to cure my of my headache.” Ellie then shared another clip of Vito facetiming his beloved relative, alongside which she typed: “So glad you’re cured of your headache.” Then in the final clip, Vito said “I feel much better,” as Ellie started laughing. “I really felt ill before,” he added before Ellie said: “No, guys. He felt ill because we’ve just been for a walk outside and it’s cold outside. Now we’re in the car and it’s nice and warm, so he’s warmed up and feels better now.” But throughout her explanation, Vito disputed her claims and said: “No, I had a headache. It’s an Italian thing and if you have people like my grandmother… she cures you. She does all the praying and stuff that only she know and now I feel better.” Ellie did mock her to which he jokingly snapped: “You think this is a joke. This is actually a real thing… It’s a south Italian thing. So thank you, Nonna.”

Hugh Grant well and truly stole the show on Baftas night, when he showed up to present the award for Best Director. Last year, the former Bafta winner played an Oompa Loompa opposite Timothée Chalamet in the musical Willy Wonka origin story Wonka – and has made no secret of the fact that it wasn’t exactly a high-point of his lengthy film career. During Sunday night’s Bafta ceremony, Hugh introduced the Best Director award while simultaneously sending up his grumpy media persona and his recent big-screen role. “Oompa Loompa doompity-dee, now the best director categor–y,” a deadpan Hugh began. “Oompa Loompa doompity-dong, most of these films were frankly too long. Oompa Loompa doompity-dah, but for some reason the nominees are…” The moment sparked a big reaction on social media: Last year, Hugh caused a similar stir when he reunited with his former Four Weddings And A Funeral co-star Andie MacDowell to present an award at the Oscars. Catching the audience off guard, he joked: “Andie’s been wearing [a good moisturiser] for the last 29 years, and I’ve never used one in my life.” “Still stunning,” he said, gesturing towards the US star, before pointing to himself and remarking: “Basically a scrotum.” Oppenheimer was the runaway success at this year’s Baftas, picking up five of the 13 awards it was nominated for. This included Best Picture and Best Director for Christopher Nolan, while cast members Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr also received individual acting wins. Check out the full list of this year’s Bafta winners here.

Home is where the humor is. Blake Lively had a hilarious response to her husband, Ryan Reynolds, wondering where she was during the 2024 Super Bowl. “Honey I’m home,” the “Gossip Girl” star wrote on her Instagram Story late Monday after returning to the couple’s New York City apartment from Las Vegas, where she had cheered on the Kansas City Chiefs with Taylor Swift. Alongside a photo of herself standing next to a TV showing Reynolds, 47, in the new “Deadpool & Wolverine” trailer, Lively, 36, added, “My day was good. Yours?” The actress’ post came one day after the “Proposal” star posed next to the same TV at their house and jokingly asked his Instagram followers, “Has everyone seen the #Deadpool trailer? Also has anyone seen my wife?” Anyone who tuned in to Sunday’s big game between the Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers knew Lively was in attendance, as the cameras flashed to Swift’s star-studded suite at Allegiant Stadium multiple times. Follow Page Six’s coverage of Super Bowl 2024 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce kiss after Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl win Shirtless Usher brings out Alicia Keys, Ludacris, more special guests during halftime show Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s dating timeline Beyoncé announces new country album, drops two songs during Super Bowl Patrick and Brittany Mahomes’ relationship timeline The “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” star stunned in a red tracksuit and a cropped white tank top, accessorizing with nearly half a million dollars worth of jewelry. Lively was later captured celebrating with Swift, 34, as the pop superstar’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, won his third Super Bowl ring. The Chiefs secured their victory over the 49ers with a score of 25-22 in a nail-biting overtime period. Later Sunday night, Lively attended Kelce’s afterparty, where the tight end, 34, and Swift were spotted kissing and dancing together. While Lively was out celebrating until early Monday morning in classic Serena van Der Woodsen style, Reynolds’ Instagram post about her whereabouts went viral, garnering more than 3.5 million “likes.” “She’s TSwift’s wife tonight, bud,” one fan commented. Even the official Instagram account for HomeGoods chimed in, writing, “hey Ryan, looks like she’s having a girls night out, hope this helps.” Later on, Reynolds shared a snap on his Instagram Story of Lively’s arm at the game, covered in bangle bracelets and featuring a Deadpool charm, writing, “Found my wife.”

Though we know why we want to be friends with dogs, sometimes we wonder why they want to be friends with us? No doubt your dog makes you smile, but if you pick a funny dog name for your pooch, you will have an extra reason to grin. Scroll down to see some of the cutest Beagles, compiled into a list by The Dogman, and let us know what you think in the comments. in Awww

Erik ten Hag said Douglas Luiz’s goal celebration ‘may have fuelled’ Manchester United’s late winner. The Brazilian shimmied in front of the Holte End after he equalised Rasmus Hojlund’s early strike. But it appeared that some of the Dutchman’s players took offence after Scott McTominay thundered home a late header to seal a 2-1 victory. Raphael Varane had to be stopped from approaching Luiz by referee Robert Jones in the aftermath of the visitors’ own celebrations. Ten Hag said: “I don’t have an opinion on it. I haven’t spoken to the players. It may have fuelised (fuelled) the players. I don’t know. “We have to think about our game. Not about the opposition. We always want to control the game and dictate it. That should be our approach.” It didn’t stop heavy reaction on social media afterwards with former Manchester United great Rio Ferdinand posting several laughing emojis on Twitter with the caption: ‘U ok @dgoficial,’ with a picture of Villa’s midfielder celebrating the goal underneath. The Red Devils managed to get their own revenge on the Brazilian as they broke Villa hearts late on. McTominay, brought on as a substitute, powered home a header four minutes from time as the Red Devils closed the gap on fourth-placed Spurs. Defeat against Unai Emery’s men would have left them with 11 points to make up to the Champions League spots – but now the difference is just six. That goal should make the rest of the squad ‘believe’ for the remainder of the campaign, according to Ten Hag. Who was Man United’s man-of-the-match vs Aston Villa? Share your thoughts in the comments below The Dutchman added: “I think we can beat any opponent – away or at home. We have to believe it more away from home. We could have won at Arsenal, at Liverpool – it’s about belief. This team believed it could win this game.” Ten Hag also saluted matchwinner McTominay who jumped off the bench to meet Diogo Dalot’s right-wing cross in the dying stages. He said: “Scott is great – he can score many goals – he’s done it this season and last season as well. “He’s now an example for many others. Not many players can bring this to every minute of a game. He is always contributing. He’s doing the right things, giving the max. He’s ready for one minute and ready for 90. It’s great to have such a player.” TNT Sports gives you access to games across the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, Serie A and many more. You can also watch the biggest clashes in boxing, UFC, WWE and the get exclusive action from MLB all for one payment every month. You can watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media. This triumph was Manchester United’s fourth in a row – the first time they have recorded such a run this season. On his team’s current form, Ten Hag said: “This was massive for us. The aim was to get closer. That was our target and we’ve done it. It was such an open game – like a tennis match – it could have gone either way but we found the mentality and character to win.” Villa boss Unai Emery said: “I’m proud of our work. Everything we planned we did on the pitch. We deserved more. We had the opportunity to put a big gap between us and them. We created more than them. Their keeper was fantastic. “We weren’t clinical. They were. It’s one of the best matches we have played since I arrived at the club. How we played today is what I want.” Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.