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BRAWL OVER
Chris Hughes axed from Sport Relief challenge after punch-up with photographer at National Television Awards
CHRIS Hughes’ brawl at the National Television Awards may have done serious harm to his career.
The Love Islander had been set to take part in Sport Relief’s The Heat Is On Challenge, but was not included in the line-up following last month’s incident.
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Organisers were about to announce the TV line-up when Chris was involved in a punch-up with a photographer outside London’s 02 Arena.
Within days, Sport Relief bosses contacted him to discuss his participation.
Nick Grimshaw, Judge Rinder and Frankie Bridge are among the celebs who have flown out for the 100-mile trek across a Namibian desert, which starts today.
An insider said: “The fact this incident occurred so close to the challenge meant there was always the risk it could be a distraction.
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“Chris’s fight overshadowed his girlfriend Jesy Nelson’s NTA win for her BBC Three documentary Odd One Out.”
The fundraising challenge, set to air on BBC One in the run-up to Sport Relief on March 13, also features former EastEnders star Samantha Womack and newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murthy. The celebs were due to trek, skate and cycle across a frozen lake in Mongolia, before coronavirus fears forced a location switch last week.
A Comic Relief spokesman refused to say whether Chris had been dropped because of the NTAs bust-up.
He said: “There were plans for Chris Hughes to be involved, but he is no longer taking part.”
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A spokesman for Chris claimed he could not take part due to “filming schedules” — but declined to say what he was filming.
He added: “Chris is gutted it didn’t work out.
“It was a mutual decision and he has been invited to discuss future projects with Comic Relief.”
I’d stick with a bake sale, Chris.
Karim has Poppy appeal
STRICTLY Come Dancing star Karim Zeroual has managed to waltz back into his ex’s life after being dumped for sending explicit texts to another woman.
The CBBC host charmed childhood sweetheart Poppy Birtwistle into taking him back following their split while they show screened in December.
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He sealed the day by whisking her away on a Valentine’s trip to a luxury resort in Dubai. A source said:
“Karim and Poppy called it quits after his messages were revealed. She was devastated.
“But Karim has worked hard on winning her over. He spent weeks sweet-talking her and eventually Poppy forgave him. She loves him and they have so much history.
“They went on a make-or-break holiday and that was the moment they decided to officially make a go of it again. Karim made a foolish mistake and he’s learned from it.”
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The Sun on Sunday revealed how Karim tanked his relationship after sending raunchy messages to office worker Rebbecca Perrins for a year and a half.
He and Poppy individually chronicled their stay at the Five Palm Jumeirah hotel on Insta but kept each other out of the posted pictures to avoid their reunion being rumbled.
He’s lucky he’s allowed to have a phone at all.
We've got the Becks on ice
AFTER decades of living with his famously frosty wife, David Beckham should be right at home in a chilly climate.
The football ace showed off his skiing prowess during a family trip to the Canadian town of Whistler.
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Gushing Victoria posted a snap of David looking happy with himself, below, after conquering the slopes on a snowboard, writing: "Is there anything you can’t do? I’m impressed.”
Turns out the answer to Posh’s question is “pull off quirky hats”, as Becks looked a tad ridiculous in his floppy-eared headwear on a boozy break from skiing with Victoria and son Brooklyn.
The lads were surrounded by glasses of beer and a bottle of wine, while sensible Victoria plumped for high-end water.
The couple’s other sons, Cruz and Romeo, and daughter Harper joined them for a mountaintop shot that Posh put on Instagram with the caption: “Kisses from us all!!”
It’s all so heartwarming I worry the snow might melt.
Rihanna the mauvey star
WHEN it comes to her wardrobe, Rihanna has never been a no-frills type of girl.
Dressed in this eye-catching purple gown, she reigned over the red carpet at the NAACP Image Awards in LA on Saturday.
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Despite not releasing a new record since her 2016 album Anti, the singer still managed to walk away with a gong, receiving the impressive-sounding President’s Award for her philanthropy.
In a rousing acceptance speech, she called for unity, saying: “If there’s anything that I’ve learned, we can only fix this world together – we can’t do it divided.”
Also celebrated was Lizzo, who looked very excited to be named Entertainer of the Year.
Paying tribute to “all of the big black girls”, she said: “We are so special – we are such beautiful people.”
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Beyonce was the ceremony’s biggest winner, bagging six awards including Outstanding Duo/Group for Brown Skin Girl, which she shared with her daughter Blue Ivy.
That win means Blue has landed her first major entertainment award at just eight years old.
Anyone else’s pride taken a bit of a denting?
Gigi boxes clever
GIGI Hadid delivered a knockout blow in defence of boyfriend Zayn Malik.
She hit out at online irritant Jake Paul after he claimed he “almost had to clap up” the singer for “yelling and freaking the f*** out” when they met at Tyson Fury’s title fight in Las Vegas on Saturday.
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MOST READ IN BIZARRE
Referencing Jake telling Zayn to “stop being angry cause u came home alone to ur big a** hotel room”,
Gigi tweeted: “Home alone with his best friends like a respectful king cause he has me, sweetie. Unbothered by your irrelevant ugly a**. Go to bed.”
Round one to Gigi.
Instaglam
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bizmeter
- FILM director Quentin Tarantino has become a father for the first time at the age of 56. The Once Upon A Time In Hollywood ace welcomed a son with singer wife Daniella Pick, who is 20 years his junior and gave birth in Tel Aviv at the weekend. The couple married in 2018.
- AFTER lecturing on animal rights at the Oscars, vegan Joaquin Phoenix is producing a movie about the feelings of pigs. Documentary Gunda will focus on the lives of a swine and her farmyard friends, a pair of cows and a chicken. I wouldn’t make more room in your trophy cabinet just yet, Joaquin.
- ELTON John fans will get to belt out the legendary musician’s hits at a one-off singalong screening of biopic Rocketman. Taron Egerton’s Golden Globe-winning performance will be celebrated at the event at London’s Clapham Grand on Saturday, which will also feature a fancy dress contest..
- KIM Kardashian has paid tribute to her late father on what would have been his 76th birthday. Posting a black and white photo of herself with dad Robert, best known for defending OJ Simpson during his 1995 murder trial, Kim said: “Miss you beyond understanding. Wish you were here to see it all!”
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