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Angela Webb – Milinkovich, 47, from Minnesota, believes she and her sister are descended from the lovechild of Queen Victoria and her loyal servant John BrownNicola Methven TV Editor and Kelly Williams Assistant News Editor (Live)21:39, 01 Aug 2025She’s in the C4 doc Queen Victoria: Secret Marriage, Secret Child?A woman convinced she could be the illegitimate great, great granddaughter of Queen Victoria says her ultimate ambition is to secure acknowledgement from King Charles.Angela Webb-Milinkovich, hailing from Minnesota, believes she and her sibling possess ancestry tracing back to Victoria’s lengthy, passionate affair with her devoted servant John Brown.Fresh investigation by historian Dr Fern Riddell indicates that whilst officially Angela’s great grandmother Mary Ann was recorded as the sole offspring of John’s brother Hugh and his spouse Jessie, there exists compelling evidence suggesting the infant may actually have been born from his secret romance with the sovereign, during which they were clandestinely wed.Angela, 47, is now preparing to undergo DNA testingAngela, 47, is now preparing to undergo DNA testing as definitive confirmation of her regal bloodline.She insists she has no desire to profit financially from the revelation, seeking only to ensure her family’s historical significance receives proper acknowledgement, reports the Mirror.”My main goal is to have the story acknowledged – I want their relationship to be recognised and for the royal family to stop saying it didn’t happen,” she explains.”If I’m going to reach for the top, it would have to be from King Charles,” she adds, when asked who she’d most like to hear from.”I mean, it’s a great story and it has his family involved, too. So he would be interested in it.”Or Prince William perhaps?Queen Victoria who was born in Kensington Palace (Image: Popperfoto/Getty Images)”That’d be great. That’s acceptable,” she laughs. Angela was raised with the belief that her family lineage traced back to the Royal bloodline through baby Mary Ann.She can’t pinpoint exactly when she first heard this tale, only that the family knew of a story involving “a big boat trip… and a baby given to the family.”During her four years of research for her new book Victoria’s Secret, Dr Riddell reached out to Angela, revealing she’d uncovered that childless couple Jessie and Hugh had sailed to New Zealand in 1865, officially registering Mary Ann’s birth there shortly afterwards – which could account for the maritime journey.Speaking on Channel 4’s accompanying documentary, Dr Riddell suggested that the widowed Victoria could have easily hidden a pregnancy during the 1860s, before having the infant – what would have been her tenth child – secretly transported to the opposite side of the globe to prevent scandal.Records show that in 1874, Victoria funded the family’s return voyage to Scotland, even providing them with a substantial residence on the Balmoral estate. Following John’s death, she also relocated Hugh’s family to be close to her at Windsor.John Brown was personal attendant to Queen Victoria(Image: Getty Images)Angela granted Dr Riddell access to a wealth of new evidence from the Brown family archive, which includes items and documents that have been in their possession for decades. Some of this material comes from a safety deposit box that Angela and her sister, who prefers to remain unnamed, opened about five years ago following their father’s death.”We didn’t know what we had, just that they were items from John Brown and Queen Victoria,” she reflects now. “It was always something in the back of our minds – we should probably get these looked at.”Despite longstanding family suspicions that they were related to Queen Victoria, Angela was still taken aback when Dr Fern reached out. “I believed my family was being truthful with it, but we could never prove it. Once she sent that message, I thought ‘What the heck? Is there actually validity to this?'”.Angela, who is employed as a mental health care worker, expressed that her aim is for the love affair, which was concealed both during and after Victoria’s lifetime, to be recognised as the truth. “It’s something that I’m very proud of,” she stated.”I want the vindication essentially for John Brown and just for my lineage, because they were not able to talk about it. It was something that just became that secret that we couldn’t really share, but we knew.”Victoria and John Brown(Image: Getty Images)If Dr Riddell’s account is accurate, and there’s substantial evidence backing it up, Victoria and John shared a passionate romance spanning nearly 20 years, right up until his passing in 1883.Beyond exchanging mutual declarations of love on his deathbed – “I told him no one loved him more than I did and he answered ‘nor you – than me'” – she had also created a plaster cast of his hand, precisely as she had done for Albert. When her own end came in 1901, she requested to be interred alongside a lock of hair and photograph of the man who had stood beside her for two decades following Albert’s demise in 1861.Letters that have survived show her addressing him as “my beloved” and “darling one”.Yet, at the insistence of her eldest son Bertie – poised to become Edward VII – the Palace began systematically wiping John from history. Victoria’s diaries were transcribed and altered, with the originals then destroyed.Bertie, who had frequently feuded with Brown, also commanded that the sculptures and personal tributes Victoria had erected in his honour be torn down. Angela’s grandfather passed away when she was in fifth grade, but she recalls his distress over how the Browns were completely erased from history.Letters that have survived have been unearthed”My understanding from my Mum was that he was just really upset and bitter about it,” she revealed. “He didn’t like to talk about it. Now, having both my parents and my aunt gone, we don’t have those resources any more. So the bulk of the story I have been learning from Fern, which is amazing, and I’m so grateful.”Angela remains hopeful that the royals will eventually be forced to acknowledge the legitimacy of the claims surrounding her ancestors, which are also featured in a Channel 4 documentary airing Thursday. “My gut says it’s going to have to get acknowledged at some point,” she argues.”Scandals are always very exciting so I’m sure there’ll be a lot of questions for them to answer. If they don’t say anything, that’s their choice. But I’d like them to acknowledge the truth of this love, to recognise that it wasn’t cool to cover up and destroy evidence of the relationship they shared. Let’s be real, Bertie was a bit of a d**k to the Browns.”That story deserves to be known, to have its own breath out there in the world. You don’t get that kind of romance every day. It’s what you’d hope for anybody, that you would find another chance at love. So I don’t see why we should look down on that. It’s like an opportunity presented itself and they embraced it, and I think that is beautiful.”Angela reveals she’s hoping to undergo a DNA test to confirm her lineage, but has been cautioned it may take considerable time due to the requirement for pristine source material when testing across the four-generation divide. “I’ll let the scientists do the science,” she says brightly.Angela Webb and Dr Fern Riddell look into the case”I’m a supporting character in this journey, and so I will follow wherever the story leads me. I’m totally open to it. So far it’s been so exciting, so cool. I’m just really stoked.”The tattooed American, who sports a nose-ring, maintains that she’s not merely attempting to profit from the royals’ fortune. “Money is the furthest thing from my goal in telling this family story. It has always been to get Queen Victoria and John Brown’s story the truth it deserves.”She claims she cannot fathom any other explanation for why her family would possess treasured keepsakes from Victoria and John, including a brooch and lock of hair. “Their relationship was authentic and genuine. They obviously had feelings for each other. It went well beyond a queen and man servant situation.”There was considerable speculation at the time about the pair, portrayed by Dame Judi Dench and Billy Connolly in the 1997 film Mrs Brown. In 1865, after Victoria requested John’s transfer to the Royal Household at Windsor, two of her daughters, Helena and Louise, openly referred to him as ‘Mamma’s lover’.Article continues belowAnd the following year a Swiss newspaper published a story claiming Victoria, then aged 46, had privately married John and become pregnant. Angela is content with any outcome regarding Mary Ann’s parentage, stating: “Either John Brown is my great, great uncle or he is my great, great grandpa. My family still played a key role in history with their friendship and closeness to Queen Victoria. I’m proud of their steadfastness in keeping the legacy of John Brown alive and their word to holding the secret close. It’s still a beautiful romance that deserves its moment of recognition in history.”With her mum hailing from Scotland, Angela cherishes her time in the UK and confesses she sometimes feels more British than American. “I’ve always felt a little disconnected in the sense that I feel more at home over there. Scotland is my happy place. I would move there if I could, for sure.” More

EXCLUSIVE: Fans of Love Island have grown tired of the series’ predictable format and repetitive storylines, but for the 2025 series producers made one big decision that changed everything…21:19, 01 Aug 2025Updated 21:43, 01 Aug 2025Love Island 2025’s success is down to one major decision from ITV producers.Until now, viewer numbers have been dwindling and fan reaction to show drama has been disappointing to say the least, but this year’s summer series has sparked a new love for the reality show.Speaking exclusively to Daily Star on behalf of Betfred, PR Specialist Kayley Cornelius analysed the response to the show shake-up and told us: “The main criticism that tends to surround Love Island centres on authenticity, whether it’s the lack of diversity among contestants or doubts about the legitimacy of the stars’ feelings and actions. Many are convinced the Islanders enter the villa with strategic game plans, aiming to secure their share of the prize.”Kayley explained that for many viewers, watching the stars “develop fairy-tale-like romances in an isolated villa in the heart of Spain feels far from relatable” which no doubt “adds to the sense of disconnect some feel toward the show”.However, there has been a notable shift this year as Love Island “has strayed from that formula” which has given the ITV dating show a “much-needed shake-up”.Toni is the first American contestant to appear on the UK version of the show(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)Kayley continued: “As chaotic as this year’s series has been, it’s the themes that have emerged amid the drama that seem to have resonated most with viewers.””The Gen Z target audience have likely found themselves relating to divides in the girl group and rows over men, to giving someone a third or fourth chance like Toni, finding yourself stuck in a love triangle like Helena and Shakira, falling for Harrison’s sweet talk like Lauren, or struggling to make things official like Meg.”Meg and Dejon are now in a relationship(Image: ITV)All of the Islanders have faced scenarios was “reflect the reality of modern dating,” which has stripped the show down to “a layer of relatability”.Although the contestants still fit the typical Love Island look, this year the “different cultures and broader age groups” have created new situations and a more dynamic storyline. The US version of the show has been praised for inclusive casting and greater diversity, which Kayley says has “set a new benchmark that the UK series can no longer ignore”.Harry and Helena’s Hideaway escapade changed the course of the series(Image: ITV)”Opening up more areas of the villa such as the hideaway, for example, allowed Harry and Helena the space to explore their connection and kick-start the love triangle with Sharkia, something that might never have happened otherwise. Additional tests, such as the extra sleepover, also began to expose cracks in Dejon.”Kayley noted that the switch-up has worked in the show’s favour, but producers need to be aware that a “one-size-fits-all approach is unlikely to work going forward,” meaning that they will need to “keep the format fresh”.”If producers continue to prioritise variety in casting and push for genuine dynamics, this could mark the beginning of the much-needed redemption arc Love Island has been waiting for!”Join the Daily Star’s WhatsApp for the sexiest headlines, showbiz gossip and lots moreThe Daily Star is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join us!Through the app, we’ll send you the sassiest showbiz stories, some naught headline and a seismic smattering of aliens…along with the latest breaking news of course.To join our community, all you have to do to join isclick on this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in!No one will be able to see who has sign up and no one can send messages except for the Daily Star team. We also treat our community members to competitions, 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. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.CLICK HERE TO JOINHave you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz hereArticle continues belowWant all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter More

Steven Knight is known for his striking work on BBC smash hit Peaky Blinders, but while he’s no longer writing about Tommy Shelby, his next project is a lot more well-known21:00, 01 Aug 2025Steven Knight says he is “honoured” to write the upcoming James Bond film(Image: Getty Images)Screenwriter Steven Knight is going all Peaky Bonders after being chosen to write the next 007 film.The Brummie Peaky Blinders creator has been hired by Amazon MGM Studios to pen the screenplay. He said: “It has always been on my bucket list and it’s fantastic to be invited to do it – I can’t wait to get started.“I’m hoping that, being a Bond fan for so many years, it will be imbued into me and I will be able to produce something that’s the same but different, and better, stronger and bolder.” He recalled meeting producer Amy Pascal and “very quickly discovered what it was about and became very, very excited and hopeful”.“And then a process is followed where you do some meetings, you discuss some ideas, and then you find out you’ve got it,” he said. He accepted it was a “high pressure” job but said “you’ve just got to do what you do, do it as well as you can”.Steven Knight was announced on Friday that he would be in charge of writing the upcoming film(Image: No credit)But he refused to be drawn on what actor will replace Daniel Craig as the suave spy. The 65-year-old said: “That is a very, very good question, and one I can’t give you the answer to.”Dune’s Denis Villeneuve will direct the film, it was announced in June. The director said: “Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007.“I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr. No with Sean Connery. I’m a die-hard Bond fan.While he refused to reveal who was cast as the next Bond, he admitted his favourite iteration of the character was Sean Connery(Image: Sygma via Getty Images)“To me, he’s sacred territory. I intend to honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honour.”Steven has already had a long and well-appreciated career as a writer and a producer, having helped to create iconic gameshows including Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? His own directing skills have seen him conquer Hollywood after he was able to direct the 2013 film Hummingbird, starring Jason Statham and Vicky McClure.Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders(Image: BBC)Article continues belowBut as a screenwriter, Steven made his major marks on the TV industry, helping to produce the likes of an adaptation of Shutter Island, as well as Locked Down, starring huge names in the acting scene, including Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor. He also helped to write the screenplay for other big Netflix blockbusters, including Spencer – starring Twilight legend Kristen Stewart.However, not every project has worked out well for the stellar scriptwriter. In March 2023, it was announced that Steven had been brought on to write for upcoming instalment of the Star Wars franchise; but by October 2024, it was announced that Steven had left the team.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters. More

Revellers going to the Oasis gigs at London’s Wembley Stadium are downing a staggering 250,000 pints a night – smashing the amount of beer knocked back at Coldplay and Taylor Swift shows19:47, 01 Aug 2025Updated 19:48, 01 Aug 2025Booze-mad Oasis fans are sinking a record-busting quarter of a million pints a night at the band’s Wembley comeback gigs.Hospitality staff at the London stadium have had to transform space under escalators into makeshift fridges to meet the highest demand for beer ever to face the arena. At £8.20 a pint, it means bosses are making more than £2million a gig in beer sales alone. Numbers from catering company Delaware North, which operates Wembley’s food and beverage spaces, show Oasis’ fans will be the biggest beer fans to ever grace the stadium.The band’s fans are far thirstier than Coldplay’s, who bought up around 120,000 pints when they played the ground in 2022. And only 40,000 were sold when Taylor Swift performed at Wembley in August 2024.Around 80,000 fans have been flocking to each of the Gallagher brothers’ Oasis gigs at Wembley since last week. It means if alcohol sales were evenly spread among punters, every fan would sink around three pints during each gig. But taking into account the thousands who will be sober at the shows, it means drinkers are downing far more than that at the shows.Oasis fans have managed to down a whopping 250,000 pints during the Mancunian’s stint at Wembley(Image: Lewis Evans/Big Brother Recordings)Bars around the tube lines leading to the arena have also been packed before and after the shows, industry experts say. Delaware North said the demand for beers at Wembley led to a “turf war” for storage space erupting between hospitality bosses and those running cleaning and maintenance teams.About 4,500 full and empty kegs are constantly being moved in and out of the stadium. It’s been described as a “challenge” the stadium has not had to previously face.4,500 kegs of alcohol are being swapped out constantly to deal with the demand for a pint(Image: PA)Hard-hit hospitality bosses are welcoming the Oasis reunion gigs after nearly 70,000 jobs in the industry have disappeared since Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced staff wage and national insurance increases last October. Martin Williams, chief executive of hospitality group Evolv which runs a host of high-end restaurants across London, said his locations near Wembley have been heaving on gig days.He said South Place Hotel, near Liverpool Street which sits on the Metropolitan Line serving Wembley Park, have been “packed to the rafters”. Mr Williams added: “It’s a very welcome boost to the industry which, no thanks to the chancellor, has not had an easy ride over the past year.Local businesses have been thrilled to see their bars packed thanks to the huge reunion tour(Image: William Lailey / SWNS)Pubs near Baker Street, known as a regular stopping off point for fans on the way to Wembley, have also been packed before gigs. When Oasis played their opening comeback gigs in Cardiff, one microbrewery in the city said its sales had quadrupled as a result of the shows. Data also shows there was an increase of close to 60% in beer and cider sales in Manchester when Oasis performed there.Article continues belowIt comes as Oasis continue their sell-out tour across the UK before heading out across the world to the likes of America and Australia. Tickets sold out in just a matter of hours as eager fans clambered to get a hold of an admission into the stadium.However, while fans have been loving the reunion tour, both Noel and Liam have taken different approaches to handling the return to fame. One music critic at the duo’s first gig of the tour revealed that while Noel had stopped to speak with stragglers, Liam immediately sped off in a car as soon as the gig was over.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters. More

Brooklyn Beckham has ended his ongoing feud with Beck’s after a long running row and both parties have managed to figure things out between themselves19:02, 01 Aug 2025Updated 19:35, 01 Aug 2025Brooklyn Beckham has settled a dispute with Beck’s.The son of football legend David Beckham has reportedly settled a trademark dispute with beer company Beck’s over the term “Becks Buns”. The hot sauce entrepreneur found himself in a legal tussle with the lager brewery involving the US Patent and Trademark Office.In 2024 Brooklyn’s Buster Hot Sauce Inc firm sought to officially trademark the phrase under categories such as sauces, beers, wines, clothing and kitchen knives. However Brauerei Beck and Co contested the phrase, fearing it was too similar to lager brand Beck’s.The company also disputed other terms like Secks, Brasserie Beck, Becks Master Brew and Buck’s Landing.However, Brooklyn faced a tough battle, reports the Mirror. The feuding parties reached an agreement that he could use the term, provided he removed the classifications related to “Beer” and “Distilled spirits; wine; mirin in the nature of Japanese shochu-based mixed liquor” in “compliance with a third party agreement”.Brooklyn launched his hot sauce brand back in 2024(Image: Booklyn Beckham/Instagram)Relations between Brooklyn and his currently estranged family have not been as cordial.For now there is no indication of a reconciliation between Brooklyn, his wife Nicola Peltz and the rest of his formerly tight-knit family. The alleged rift has reportedly now extended to the rest of the family, including his younger brothers, Romeo, 22, and Cruz, 20.Both brothers seem to have unfollowed their eldest sibling Brooklyn on social media. Meanwhile, Brooklyn has distanced himself from his family and appears to have grown closer to his in-laws, Nicola’s parents Nelson and Claudia Peltz.Brooklyn still appears to be feuding with his family(Image: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images)Brooklyn missed his dad’s 50th birthday celebrations in May, Father’s Day and family holidays. He also did not publicly recognise David’s long-awaited knighthood achievement.However, he has holidayed with Nicola’s family, publicly wished his father-in-law Nelson a happy Father’s Day and visited the UK without seeing his parents.Join the Daily Star’s WhatsApp for the sexiest headlines, showbiz gossip and lots moreThe Daily Star is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join us!Through the app, we’ll send you the sassiest showbiz stories, some naught headline and a seismic smattering of aliens…along with the latest breaking news of course.To join our community, all you have to do to join isclick on this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in!No one will be able to see who has sign up and no one can send messages except for the Daily Star team. We also treat our community members to competitions, 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. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.CLICK HERE TO JOINHave you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz hereArticle continues belowWant all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter More

Former glamour model Katie Price has shared her “pregnancy worries” with fans and recently admitted that she is feeling “scared” about her new family members18:09, 01 Aug 2025Katie Price has admitted she is “scared” about an upcoming birth.The former glamour model has shared an update on her cat’s pregnancy and has admitted she is worried for her feline friend. The 47-year-old recently revealed news of her pet Doris’ pregnancy on her podcast with sister Sophie.This comes just weeks after the mother-of-five was criticised by PETA for her treatment of one of her pets. She faced accusations of “sunburning” one of her Sphynx cats, Kevin.While filming her podcast Katie shared: “Doris is pregnant and I don’t know how many weeks she is but her belly has gotten bigger and bigger. I’ve noticed she’s been nesting and she keeps wanting to get on me.”Katie told fans that she is keeping an eye on her pregnant cat(Image: BANG Showbiz)”I’ve gone and bought a separate cat litter, another bed and all of that. I’m going to set it up in my room and leave her in my room because I’ve got the other cats and I’m scared that if she goes into labour they might eat the kittens.”She continued: “I’m setting her up a nice little corner in my bedroom with her own cat litter, her own little bed and I’ll feed her separate and I’ll let her chill in here so she can nest in here. So then if she does go into labour I can hear it and help her and just be there for support,” reports the Mirror.The model has come under fire over the treatment of her pets(Image: Getty Images)”I don’t know how many she’s going to have but I know the kids want me to keep one and then I know what I’m like, I can’t.”Katie recently had suggested her cat had “been in the sun” in a recent social media post, which showed her petting the cat while saying: “Oh Kevin you have been in the sun today, you have got sun burnt despite us putting sun cream on you. Look at his little face.”The caption accompanying the video read: “Trying to keep the cats out of the sun is hard work.”Article continues belowJoin the Daily Star’s WhatsApp for the sexiest headlines, showbiz gossip and lots moreThe Daily Star is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join us!Through the app, we’ll send you the sassiest showbiz stories, some naught headline and a seismic smattering of aliens…along with the latest breaking news of course.To join our community, all you have to do to join isclick on this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in!No one will be able to see who has sign up and no one can send messages except for the Daily Star team. We also treat our community members to competitions, 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. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.CLICK HERE TO JOINHave you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz hereWant all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter More

The actor, who played Ted Hastings in the BBC’s bent coppers’ drama, said the role touched so many because folk want those in power to do the right thing20:12, 01 Aug 2025Adrian Dunbar said viewers love his Line of Duty character so much they want him to be Prime Minister.The actor, who played Ted Hastings in the BBC’s bent coppers’ drama, said the role meant so much because folk are desperate for those in power to do the right thing. He said the idea of ‘civic duty’ appeared to have disappeared from real public life.Dunbar hinted a long-awaited seventh series of the smash hit show could soon be underway. He said series creator Jed Mercurio was ‘doing something’ and he himself would be ‘very busy’ next year.Speaking on the White Wine Question Time podcast the star, who turned 67 on August 1, said: “There was a bit of a perfect storm of idiots running the place, especially Boris. I’m glad he’s keeping his head down.Adrian Dunbar hinted towards a potential new series of the smash BBC show(Image: BBC/World Productions/Steffan Hill)“One of the reasons people gravitated towards the character was because they wanted to think there was somebody in charge who would do the right thing despite what personal issues it might throw up. There’s a certain thing called ‘civic duty’ which seems to have disappeared.“Ted embodies that old school civic duty where you do the right thing no matter what. That’s why people gravitated towards his character and thought, ‘that’s who we need in charge, we need someone like that in charge’.“Therefore I was getting all kinds of offers coming down the line including PM. People were sending me texts and things were appearing online, ‘Ted for Prime Minister’.”Speaking about a possible return for the show he did not rule it out. “We’ll see if there’s going to be, probably going to be something else happening in the near future,” he said.“Jed’s doing something, we’re all kind of waiting on the BBC to say, ‘yay, it’s all happening, let’s go’. But they will be making some kind of statement some time.He added that the cast is waiting for the BBC to give the green light for a new season(Image: BBC)“I decided this year I wasn’t going to go chasing any work because I think next year is going to get busy. Famous last words of course; I have a feeling next year might be busy.“It could have something to do with Jed. Who knows it could be another musical?”Line of Duty – which also starred Martin Compston and Vicky McClure – started out charting the antics of police Anti-Corruption Unit 12 on BBC Two in 2012 and was such a hit more series were quickly commissioned. It became the highest-rated show on BBC Two in 10 years before being promoted to BBC One in 2017.Adrian admitted fans have loved his character so much they want him to run the country(Image: BBC/World Productions/Steffan Hill)Article continues belowWhen its sixth series ended four years ago it was the highest-rated drama in the UK since 2002. Mercurio, 58, a former RAF officer and hospital doctor who penned all 36 episodes, directed some and served as producer, was awarded a fellowship of the Royal Television Society in 2017.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters. More

Former Top Gear icon Jeremy Clarkson has received a message from the military after he recently took to social media to make a request regarding their Apache gunships16:55, 01 Aug 2025Jeremy Clarkson has caught the attention of the military.In a recent interaction on X/Twitter, the Top Gear icon made a cheeky appeal to those piloting the “Apache gunships” above his Diddly Squat Farm situated between Chipping Norton and Chadlington in Oxfordshire.The presenter sought assistance with “drying” his wheat with a rather cheeky declaration, reports Gloucestershire Live. He posted a plea on the social media platform: “If you’re flying the Apache gunships over Diddly Squat today, can you hover over the wheat for a bit. It still needs drying.”The Army Air Corps replied and noted that this specific duty isn’t part of their daily agenda, but still offered some help to the farm owner: “Hi Jeremy, that was us. Wheat drying wasn’t in the mission brief, but if Diddly Squat ever needs close air support from the world’s most advanced gunship you know where to find us.”Jeremy received a reply from the Army Air Corps(Image: Prime Video)The Army Air Corps (AAC) serves as the combat aviation wing of the British Army. This interaction comes amid reports of a potentially “awkward” situation brewing between Clarkson and US Vice-President JD Vance, who is said to be planning a Cotswolds visit with his family this summer.Rumours suggest the politician has booked a holiday rental in Charlbury, a market town in Evenlode valley close to Diddly Squat.Clarkson is known for his blunt approach and no-nonsense attitude(Image: BANG Showbiz)Clarkson recently made scathing remarks about Vance in his Sunday Times column and branded him a “bearded God-botherer” and even a “t**t,” following Vance’s description of the UK as “some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years”.The Top Gear star wrote: “Now I don’t want to stoop to his level, but I’m going to. Vance is a bearded God-botherer who pretty much thinks that women who’ve been raped should be forced to have the resultant child.””I’ve searched for the right word to describe him and I think it’s ‘t**t’. He also has no clue about history.”Article continues belowJoin the Daily Star’s WhatsApp for the sexiest headlines, showbiz gossip and lots moreThe Daily Star is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join us!Through the app, we’ll send you the sassiest showbiz stories, some naught headline and a seismic smattering of aliens…along with the latest breaking news of course.To join our community, all you have to do to join isclick on this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in!No one will be able to see who has sign up and no one can send messages except for the Daily Star team. We also treat our community members to competitions, 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. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.CLICK HERE TO JOINHave you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz hereWant all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter More