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Hollywood megastar marries Aussie actress in secret ceremony

<p>Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd and Australian actress Bianca Wallace have tied the knot in a private ceremony, two years after Gruffudd's highly publicised divorce from actress Alice Evans.</p> <p>The couple shared their joyous news through a touching video posted on Instagram, capturing intimate moments from their seaside wedding. The video, set to Martin Arteta's "Past Lives", features Gruffudd wiping away tears as he exchanges vows with Wallace. The caption read: "Mr &amp; Mrs Gruffudd. Marriage now, wedding later," hinting at plans for a larger celebration in the future. ​</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DI4RDk1PwR5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DI4RDk1PwR5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Bianca Gruffudd (@iambiancawallace)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Gruffudd, 51, and Wallace, 32, have been in a relationship since 2021 and became engaged in January 2024. Their journey together has culminated in this intimate ceremony and – despite the challenges they faced, including Gruffudd's previous marriage to Evans and the ensuing legal battles – the couple has remained steadfast in their commitment to each other. ​</p> <p>Fans and well-wishers have expressed their happiness and support for the newlyweds, celebrating their love and the new chapter they are beginning together.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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Parents of Laos poisoning victims speak out

<p>Melbourne teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, were on a the trip of a lifetime backpacking through Southeast Asia on their gap year when they fell seriously ill. </p> <p>The 19-year-old friends were staying at the popular Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng last November, when they were rushed to hospital after a night out with suspected <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/two-aussie-teens-poisoned-in-laos-identified" target="_blank" rel="noopener">methanol poisoning</a>. </p> <p>The teens were among six tourists who died in the mass poisoning. </p> <p>The backpacker hostel has since shut down, and while the Laos government said it was "profoundly saddened" by the deaths and vowed to prosecute those responsible, months later, the girls' families are still searching for answers. </p> <p>In an exclusive interview with <em>60 Minutes </em>journalist Tara Brown, their parents – Mark and Michelle Jones alongside Sam and Shaun Bowles – said the Laos government has refused to meet with them since the teenagers’ deaths.</p> <p>“We’ve heard nothing,” Mark said in the interview on Sunday. </p> <p>"For them not to reach out is, that's just not good enough."</p> <p>When it came to the Laos government's response, both families felt there was a lack of empathy and accountability. </p> <p>After the backpacker hostel was shut down and eight staff were <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/eight-people-detained-over-laos-methanol-poisoning" target="_blank" rel="noopener">detained and released</a>, the investigation has seemingly stalled. </p> <p>"It seems like a complete cover-up," Mark said, claiming there was a lack of transparency in the investigation. </p> <p>"We haven't heard anything from the Laos government. Not a thing," Shaun added. "It's appalling."</p> <p>"The Laos government sent their condolences via the federal police, and that to us means nothing, nothing at all," Shaun continued.</p> <p>The parents hope that by speaking out about the dangers of methanol poisoning, others will be able to avoid suffering similar tragedies in their own families. </p> <p>“I cannot have my daughter’s passing not mean anything," Mark said. </p> <p>"If this gets parents to have a conversation with their kids if they're off travelling, then that's something," Shaun added.</p> <p>All four parents said they had no confidence the truth could ever be revealed, but they still want justice and answers. </p> <p>"We want some form of closure," Mark said.</p> <p>"We want to understand that people who have done wrong by our daughter and Holly and the other people are going to be brought to justice."</p> <p><em>Images: Nine/ 60 Minutes</em></p>

Caring

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MasterChef UK host lashes out at wave of complaints

<p><em>MasterChef UK</em> host Gregg Wallace has lashed out at  “middle-class women of a certain age” for making complaints about him in a bizarre online rant. </p> <p>The TV host has stepped back from the program after an investigation was launched into his alleged misconduct over a number of years. </p> <p>The controversy first came to light following a report by <em>The Sun</em>, which detailed accusations that Wallace, 60, made "inappropriate sexual comments" to a female BBC staffer during his time on <em>Impossible Celebrities</em>. He has also faced claims of being rude and insulting to women on another program in 2023.</p> <p>After denying the allegations, Wallace launched into a heated tirade in an Instagram post, hitting back at the people he believes first complained about his conduct.</p> <p>Wallace said on Instagram, “I have been doing <em>MasterChef</em> for 20 years – amateur, celebrity and professional <em>MasterChef</em> and I think in that time I have worked with over 4,000 contestants of all different ages, all different backgrounds and all walks of life."</p> <p>“And apparently now I am reading in the paper there’s been 13 complaints in that time.</p> <p>“In the newspaper I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age just from <em>Celebrity MasterChef</em>. This isn’t right."</p> <p>“In over 20 years of television, can you imagine how many women, female contestants, on <em>MasterChef</em> have made sexual remarks or sexual innuendo, can you imagine?”</p> <p>“Do you know how many staff, all different sorts of staff, made a complaint about me in that time. Absolutely none. Zero. Seriously.”</p> <p>Wallace's rant comes after Sir Rod Stewart <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/tubby-bald-headed-ill-mannered-bully-rod-stewart-s-extraordinary-spray" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called out</a> the TV host in the wake of the allegations, accusing him of humiliating his wife, Penny Lancaster, during her appearance on <em>Celebrity MasterChef</em> in 2021.</p> <p>Stewart wrote, “Good riddance Wallace... You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, but you had that bit cut out didn’t you? You’re a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya.”</p> <p>Wallace has denied the allegations and stated that a previous investigation by the BBC six years ago cleared him of any wrongdoing. He insisted his comments were not sexual in nature, saying, "I don’t want anybody to misunderstand this and make it look like I was flirting with somebody. Nobody accused me of that, and I never have."</p> <p>Banijay UK, the production company behind <em>MasterChef</em>, confirmed the investigation into "historical allegations" and stated they are cooperating fully with the BBC. A BBC spokesperson said the corporation is commited to addressing any behaviour falling below its expected standards: “We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and have robust processes in place to deal with them... We will always support external production companies when addressing complaints or concerns.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

Legal

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"Tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully": Rod Stewart's extraordinary spray

<p>British TV personality Gregg Wallace has stepped down from his role as host of <em>MasterChef UK</em> amid an investigation into allegations of misconduct.</p> <p>The controversy first came to light following a report by <em>The Sun</em>, which detailed accusations that Wallace, 60, made "inappropriate sexual comments" to a female BBC staffer during his time on <em>Impossible Celebrities</em>. He has also faced claims of being rude and insulting to women on another program in 2023.</p> <p>However, adding to the public spectacle, it was veteran rocker Sir Rod Stewart's response to the drama that really raised eyebrows.</p> <p>Stewart immediately took to Instagram to express his disdain for Wallace. In a strongly-worded post, Stewart accused the TV star of humiliating his wife, Penny Lancaster, during her appearance on <em>Celebrity MasterChef</em> in 2021. Stewart wrote:</p> <p>“Good riddance Wallace... You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, but you had that bit cut out didn’t you? You’re a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. Karma got ya.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DC6_lW2JJ6g/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DC6_lW2JJ6g/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sir Rod Stewart (@sirrodstewart)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Wallace has denied the allegations and stated that a previous investigation by the BBC six years ago cleared him of any wrongdoing. He insisted his comments were not sexual in nature, saying:</p> <p>"I don’t want anybody to misunderstand this and make it look like I was flirting with somebody. Nobody accused me of that, and I never have."</p> <p>Banijay UK, the production company behind <em>MasterChef</em>, confirmed the investigation into "historical allegations" and stated they are cooperating fully with the BBC. A BBC spokesperson said the corporation is commited to addressing any behaviour falling below its expected standards: “We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and have robust processes in place to deal with them... We will always support external production companies when addressing complaints or concerns.”</p> <p>This isn’t the first time Wallace has been at the centre of controversy. Last year, he faced backlash for allegedly being rude and insulting to women on the BBC’s <em>Inside the Factory</em>. At the time, Wallace claimed his departure from the show was to focus on his autistic son, Sid.</p> <p><em>Images: Today Show / MasterChef UK</em></p>

Legal

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Father's emotional plea after death of his daughter from methanol poisoning

<p>The grieving father of 19-year-old Bianca Jones, who tragically died after consuming methanol-laced cocktails in Laos, has issued a plea to ensure his daughter’s death was not in vain.</p> <p>Bianca and her friend Holly Bowles had been travelling around south-east Asia on a gap year trip when they consumed the deadly drinks in the party town of Vang Vieng, a popular tourist area about 130km north of Laos capital, Vientiane.</p> <p>Both Bianca and Holly were rushed to seperate hospitals in Thailand, and passed away last week. </p> <p>Speaking publicly for the first time about the tragedy, Bianca’s father Mark Jones, said his daughter’s “lust for life and adventure” had “cruelly been cut short”.</p> <p>“Our daughter was on the trip of a lifetime with one of her best mates,” he said.</p> <p>“This was meant to be a trip full of lifelong memories, and was to be the first of many. Bianca wanted to explore the world, meet new friends, lead and create change for good.”</p> <p>Following the deaths of the two young women, an outpouring of sympathy flooded in from around Australia including from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, while hundreds attended a vigil held in the women’s honour in Melbourne on Saturday.</p> <p>Mr Jones thanked Australian government for its support but made a plea to authorities in Laos.</p> <p>“I would like to take this opportunity to urge the Laos government to investigate this to the fullest extent, to make sure this incident doesn’t happen again,” he said.</p> <p>“We can’t have the passing of our daughter … not lead to change to protect others. Young men and women should be able to travel, create their own life experiences and be safe."</p> <p>“We’ll forever miss our beautiful girl and hope her loss of life has not been in vain.”</p> <p>The Laotian government has promised to bring perpetrators to justice after the mass poisoning that has killed six tourists, including the two Australian women.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine News / Facebook</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Queensland MP pleads with Taylor Swift to bring her tour to town

<p dir="ltr">When international music sensation <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/music/taylor-swift-s-massive-news-sends-aussie-fans-into-a-frenzy">Taylor Swift announced her international tour dates</a>, most Australian fans fell into one of two categories: delighted or devastated.</p> <p dir="ltr">For while the star was answering the prayers of thousands and bringing her Eras Tour down under, she was only set to play in Sydney and Melbourne, leaving a number of other major cities out of the loop. </p> <p dir="ltr">And while most took to social media to share their heartbreak, some even <a href="https://www.change.org/p/get-taylor-swift-to-brisbane">launching a change.org petition</a> to bring her their way, one Queensland MP and Swift superfan opted instead to share his heartbreak with reporters down in Canberra. </p> <p dir="ltr">Andrew Wallace, who joined the Swiftie ranks thanks to car rides with his daughters and a soundtrack courtesy of the singer-songwriter’s impressive catalogue, also seized it as an opportunity to beg Taylor to reconsider her tour dates, and bless Brisbane with her presence.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Interestingly, there is about a week in between her three concerts in Sydney and two concerts in Melbourne. That is the perfect opportunity,” he pointed out. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Taylor, I’m asking you, begging you, I’m pleading with you. I’ll get down on my knees if I have to. Please come to Queensland. There are so many Swiftie fans in Queensland. I am one of them.”</p> <p dir="ltr">As he went on to note, addressing “the guys at Frontier Touring”, it wasn’t clear why Queensland had been left out, as “it’s the first time Taylor will be visiting Australia and not Queensland.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Wallace wasn’t the only one with strong feelings on the matter either, with Sports Minister - and fellow Queenslander - Anika Wells dropping by the press conference to announce that it was an “outrage” to be excluded, and Taylor should know that all too well. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, Wallace wasn’t going to hold it against Taylor, promising that their love story would continue as “no one would ever be able to develop ‘Bad Blood’ between myself and Taylor Swift. It just would not be possible.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He even went on to dedicate <a href="http://andrewwallacemp.com.au/taylorswift/">an entire section of his own website</a> to the cause, where he reiterated that he was “the dad of four daughters, and I’m an unashamed Swiftie. And I’m a proud Queenslander who knows that thousands of fans are disappointed to see Queensland left off the Eras Tour map.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m calling on Frontier Touring to extend Taylor’s tour to Queensland – and particularly to the Sunshine Coast, the heart of Queensland’s Swiftie population … we know that a visit to the Sunshine Coast would mean the world to tens of thousands of Queenslanders who think the absolute world of Taylor Swift.” </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Music

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"Proud mum": Opinions divided after mum praises teen daughter for punching bully in the face

<p dir="ltr">Bianca Austin, wife of former soccer star Charlie Austin has divided the internet after posting a tweet praising her daughter, Mallayla, for punching a bully in the face.</p> <p dir="ltr">Last week, she tweeted: “After weeks of being bullied by the same girl, numerous phone calls to the school and nothing changing, today when being called names my daughter finally punched the bully in the face.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Proud mum,” she wrote.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">After weeks of being bullied by the same girl, numerous phone calls to the school and nothing changing,today when being called names my daughter finally punched the bully in the face👏🏻👏🏻 proud mum👏🏻</p> <p>— Bianca Austin (@BiancaAustin90) <a href="https://twitter.com/BiancaAustin90/status/1635307000992260097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The tweet, which now has over 2 million views and 17,000 likes, generated varying responses from those who sympathise to those who believe that hitting back is unacceptable.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Probably deserved!” commented one user.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bianca replied: “I told the school how proud of her I was for standing up for herself when they rang up to tell me Mallayla would be sanctioned for retaliating violently. No child should be able to make school hell for another child day in day out”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We all have our breaking points and can only be pushed so far. Does she feel better now she’s stood up for herself?” commented another user.</p> <p dir="ltr">“No, but she's hoping the girl will leave her alone now. X,” Bianca tweeted in response.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bianca then posted a follow up tweet expressing her dissatisfaction with the school’s response.</p> <p dir="ltr">“2 days in-school exclusion for my daughter, whilst the other child has gone to class because she was 'only' verbally abusive🙃 No wonder bullying is never stopped in schools,” she wrote.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">2 days in-school exclusion for my daughter, whilst the other child has gone to class because she was 'only' verbally abusive🙃 No wonder bullying is never stopped in schools... head high Mallayla🙏🏻</p> <p>— Bianca Austin (@BiancaAustin90) <a href="https://twitter.com/BiancaAustin90/status/1635608089754841088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“I get that bullying is awful and harmful but when I said that your daughter’s actions would make things worse, you can now see where I was going,” one user wrote in response.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Bullying someone “back” by hitting is also bullying,” the user added.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bianca went straight to the point with her response and asked them what their resolution would be.</p> <p dir="ltr">“School couldn't stop it, it was wrecking her mental health and affecting her GCSE studies. What is the right course of action here?!</p> <p dir="ltr">“Also she didn't "bully" back. Bullying is repeated behaviour,” she wrote, defending her daughter’s actions.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bianca also tweeted that her daughter had no malicious intent and only did it because she wanted to “be left alone to quietly enjoy school”.</p> <p><em>Image: Twitter</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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Veteran Sunrise star announces sudden retirement

<p>Sunrise reporter Bianca Stone has announced her resignation from Channel 7 after 18 years with the network.</p> <p>Stone’s decision has taken her colleagues by surprise, as she revealed she was leaving the show this week to consider the next step in her career.</p> <p>Stone has been a Queensland correspondent for the Aussie breakfast show for the past six years. She said in a statement that she officially resigned from the network four weeks ago after reassessing her career over the Christmas break.</p> <p>Stone said it came as a shock to the network, but she had been considering leaving for some time.</p> <p>The long-time Sunrise reporter and mother of three children aged 22, 9 and 8, said she found Sunrise a dream job, but the wake-up calls and pressures of presenting were growing tiresome.</p> <p>Stone shared that she was still breastfeeding her youngest daughter when she started with Sunrise and has been presenting a live local bulletin Queensland since 2021 to help overcome delays caused by daylight saving, meaning she has a daily alarm of 2am.</p> <p>The Sunrise reporter revealed, in the beginning, the excitement of the show far outweighed the early starts, but as she grew older and her daughter grew up, her mind changed.</p> <p>Over the Christmas break, Stone had a chance to catch up on sleep, and her youngest daughter told her, “mum, we really like you when you’re not sleepy and cranky,” which is what led her to consider her next career move.</p> <p>In 2021, Stone made headlines after a confrontation with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk about COVID vaccines, with some people suggesting she should consider getting into politics.</p> <p>Stone said that she hadn’t made any decisions about her future yet and was open to opportunities, including returning to Channel 7 in a freelance role.</p> <p>Her departure from the show has led to speculation about who will fill her role as the new Queensland correspondent.</p> <p>Seven’s director of morning television, Sarah Stinson, said that Bianca has been such a valued member of the Sunrise family and will leave with nothing but good wishes and our thanks.</p> <p>Image credit: Instagram</p>

TV

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Prince Charles' real "soulmate" revealed

<p>A royal biographer claims Prince Charles has a real “soulmate” that he had fallen for, before Princess Camilla, or even Princess Di. </p> <p>Penny Juror said Prince Charles was romantically linked to a younger woman after he was involved with Duchess Camilla in the early seventies and before he married the late Princess Di on July 29, 1981. </p> <p>The woman was Davina Sheffield, and according to Juror was a woman who “seemed ideal in many ways.”</p> <p>Prince Charles was the most eligible bachelor in the world throughout the 70’s and 80’s. </p> <p>Juror wrote in her 2005 book<span> </span>The Firm,<span> </span>that Prince Charles ruined the relationship he began with beautiful and alluring Davina by rekindling with his old flame, Camilla. </p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwUt-IoDSuw/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwUt-IoDSuw/" target="_blank">Mrs Jake Morley [nee Davina Mary Sheffield] born 1 March 1950; former girlfriend of the Prince of Wales; sister-in-law of Miranda, Duchess of Beaufort. #DavinaMorley #DavinaSheffield #fawbs</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/ernest_fawbert/" target="_blank"> Fawbert</a> (@ernest_fawbert) on Apr 16, 2019 at 9:49am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"In 1976, the prince fell for another girl, Davina Sheffield, who could have been the soulmate he was searching for," she wrote. </p> <p>"She seemed ideal in so many ways, and they appeared to be very much in love. </p> <p>"But she already had a boyfriend when Charles met her, an Old Harrovian and powerboat racer named James Beard. </p> <p>"Davina initially rebuffed invitations to have dinner with the Prince, but he was so persistent that she eventually succumbed and the boyfriend soon fell by the wayside. </p> <p>"He was subsequently conned into talking about his relationship with Davina by what turned out to be a Sunday tabloid reporter and the story of their affair, complete with photographs of their 'love nest', made headline news. </p> <p>"It killed the relationship stone dead." </p> <p>The couple were introduced by Charle’s sister Princess Anne. Davina is the granddaughter of the first Lord McGowan and the cousin of Samantha Cameron. </p> <p>The Prince later met a beautiful Scottish heiress Anna Wallace who Juror wrote also could have been Charle’s true soul mate - despite the relationship not being supported by his family. </p> <p>Juror wrote in her 2017 book,<span> </span>The Duchess<span> </span>that Wallace had dumped the then handsome prince in a fit of rage over his relationship with Duchess Camilla. </p> <p>"Charles had taken her to two successive balls and then danced with Camilla for most of both evenings," she wrote. </p> <p>"Anna dumped him with the words: 'No one treats me like that – not even you.'"</p> <p>Prince Charles met his future wife, Princess Diana in November of 1977, whilst he was with her older sister, Lady Sarah. </p> <p>The two later married in 1981 at St Paul’s Cathedral and became the Princess of Wales. </p> <p>They shared two children, Prince William and Prince Harry, before she passed away in a tragic car accident in 1997. </p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see the two woman Prince Charles was linked to before he married Princess Diana.</p>

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The Block finale controversy: The 9 words Scott Cam said that angered viewers

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Some off-the-cuff remarks made by The Block host Scott Cam during Sunday night’s finale have landed the popular Channel Nine personality in hot water, with accusations flying on Twitter of “casual sexism”.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">He made the comments to contestants Bianca and Carla during the auction of their apartment at this year’s renovation site, the Gatwick Hotel in St Kilda, as the bid for the apartment reached $2,982,500.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">“Not bad for a couple of single girls, aye,” said Cam of the pair who made a healthy $301,000 profit after a final sale of $2,991,000.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">“You will be on the market now. Or off the market. There are two million people watching this show. A couple of good sorts with plenty of cash.”</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"> </span><span class="s1">But some viewers watching the anticipated broadcast hit out at the 55-year-old, accusing him of being “sexist”.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Casual sexism from Scotty,what else do we expect🙄 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9TheBlock?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9TheBlock</a></p> — Proud Pie Jo (@joferguson9) <a href="https://twitter.com/joferguson9/status/1056479392367489026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2018</a></blockquote> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">One viewer tweeted:</span><span class="s2"> </span><span class="s1">“Does Scott Cam always talk about Bianca &amp; Carla like it’s a miracle they can do anything because they’re two single women?!”</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Another called the remarks “inappropriate jokes” about the women’s single status, and one viewer asked,</span><span class="s2"> </span><span class="s1">“What does their relationship status have to do with the result of their work, Scott Cam?”</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Others branded the comments “casual sexism,” with one remarking that it was an attitude to be expected from the reality show host, known for his larrikin tradie persona.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">But some viewers disagreed, saying the criticism went too far and was unwarranted.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">“What type of world are we living in now where PC tossers just whinge about anything!” tweeted one. “No one was whinging when he was taking the p**s out of the two country boys a few years back for their design skills.”</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">And one asked whether the contestants Bianca and Carla we’re actually offended.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">It was banter between the three of them..some may have taken offence if that banter was said to them but the girls didn’t, neither would I if it was said to me..no one needs to speak on my behalf or theirs I’m assuming..</p> — Janine (@maxandbella27) <a href="https://twitter.com/maxandbella27/status/1056729236357017600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2018</a></blockquote> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">“We were actually fine with it,” Bianca told news.com.au. “We are always bantering with Scotty about a range of things, we had a lot of fun on the show and Scotty knows us well enough to know we wouldn’t be offended by that.”</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Do you think the comments were offensive? Let us know in the comments below.</span></p>

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Rowena Wallace reveals the biggest secret from her time on Sons and Daughters

<p>Actress Rowena Wallace has revealed the biggest secret from her time starring in <em>Sons and Daughters </em>in the 1980s.</p> <p>Wallace said when she was 35 she had a passionate night with co-star Peter Phelps, who was 13 years her junior and played her son on the show.</p> <p>“We had both had the odd drink or four," the now 70-year-old actress told the Daily Telegraph.</p> <p>“And it just happened. I knew I was very fond of Pete in a working relationship and that he enjoyed working with me, but I never imagined that we felt like that towards each other. We made jokes of course on set like, ‘Gee Pete you look good today’ but all just in jest. I blame the booze for what occurred between us.”</p> <p><em>Sons and Daughters</em> aired from 1981 to 1987 and Wallace took home a Gold Logie and four silver gongs for her performance of Pat the Rat on the show.</p> <p>Phelps played her on-screen son John Palmer and Ally Fowler played her daughter Angela Hamilton.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="374" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7266309/2_500x374.jpg" alt="2 (44)"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Peter Phelps and Rowena Wallace. </em></p> <p>The passionate night occurred after the cast had a weekly drinking session.</p> <p>“Pete and I, for some strange reason, ended up breaking away from the rest of the crew and ended up on our own,” she said.</p> <p>“We wound up in fact all the way over on the northern beaches in Sydney, where Peter lived on his own in an apartment near the surf. We were down on the beach after having a few drinks when Pete suggested we go for a late-night swim. I stripped down to my knickers.</p> <p>“Pete was incredibly tanned and handsome with a body to match. When we got out of the surf he said to me, ‘You probably had too much to drink to make your way all the way back to yours, so come and bunk down at mine’, so I did.</p> <p>“We arrived at his empty apartment, had a coffee and chatted for a while, then, before I knew it, we were in the bedroom and as we climbed into bed, the rest is history.”</p> <p>Wallace said the pair did not feel awkward the next morning.</p> <p>“We both laughed about it in fact, as I joked to him saying you know I am your mother — on screen that is. We both realised it was just something nice that had happened but it wasn’t going to continue and we both accepted that. I don’t regard it at all as a mistake.”</p> <p>Did you used to watch <em>Sons and Daughters</em>? Who was your favourite character? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

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