The Casinos Ownerz

Sue Barker, one of Britain’s best female tennis stars, and her journey from competitor to commentator will draw to a close this week, when she puts down her microphone for a final time. For decades, the 66-year-old has been a crucial face on the BBC’s coverage of the much-loved tennis tournament, which is currently taking place in London. She joined the broadcaster’s coverage in 1993, appearing as a regular guest on Today at Wimbledon, with then host Harry Carpenter, before becoming the lead anchor on it a year later.

Her analysis is often hailed by viewers, and her relationship with fans has only strengthened year on year, with Sue a firm favourite.

Across the years she’s made audiences laugh, and cry, and even sing, particularly when her former boyfriend Sir Cliff Richard would entertain fans at Wimbledon when rain stopped play.

The pair dated during the early part of Sue’s career, which saw the Londoner claim a French Open title in 1976.

Previously, Sir Cliff detailed how the pair began a relationship after watching her play, and inviting the tennis star to one of his shows in 1982.

After the gig, the pair went to a “very down-to-earth congregation” that discussed religion.

While their connection was strong, the pair soon “vanished to different parts of the globe”, though they stayed in contact throughout, with Sir Cliff noting how much he missed Sue.

In 2020’s Cliff Richard: The Dreamer, Sir Cliff wrote: “It is well-known that Sue and I went on to have a close relationship for a year or more and I have only fond memories of that time.

“She and I never had a cross word, and 40 years on, if I ever see her, our friendship is as deep and natural as it ever was.

JUST IN: John McEnroe was torn apart by Billie Jean King blunt verdict

“One was Jackie Irving, a dancer whom I met in Blackpool. She was utterly beautiful and for a while we were inseparable.”

He detailed how the other was Barker.

Sir Cliff added: “I seriously contemplated asking her to marry me.

“But in the end I realised that I didn’t love her quite enough to commit the rest of my life to her.

“There were no broken hearts.”

More recently, it emerged Sue would step down from her role at Wimbledon.

The move came after she was axed from her position as host of the adored BBC quiz show A Question of Sport.

Speaking to the Daily Mail last month, Sue said: “Basically I just feel the time is right. It has been my dream job and I have loved every minute of it, working with so many great colleagues who I am going to miss so much.

“When I started I never thought I would manage 30 years. I had actually made up my mind to leave in 2017 because the hours were becoming very long and quite challenging.

“That would have been 25 years and seemed a good time, but I am so glad I made the decision to stay on.

“I’m very happy to be leaving with no regrets and on my own terms while I am still on top of the job, it just feels like the right time to go and leave it to others.”

Wimbledon is airing all week across the BBC.

Amanda Holden, 51, has taken to Instagram with pictures of her showing off her glistening legs. The presenter could be seen wearing a flowery summer dress and she posed for shots. 

In further snaps, she could be seen playfully catwalking in the Heart FM offices as she grinned and strolled slowly with her hand on her hips. 

Amanda was wearing a white summer dress with bright yellow sun patterns. 

The star wore brown heels to finish the look along with her hair in a ponytail. 

She leaned back in a chic pose as she smiled for the camera. 

Sir Ian McKellen, 83, was among spectators at Wimbledon’s eighth day of tournaments and was seated next to Prince Michael of Kent, 80, and his daughter Lady Gabriella Windsor, 41.

Pictures from Monday show the trio chatting and laughing as Ian welcomed the royals to their seats.

Gabriella looked lovely in a colourful dress underneath a tailored white jacket. She took her seat next to The Lord Of The Rings actor and watched Nick Kyrgios take on Brandon Nakashima.

Ian used a pair of binoculars to get a closer look at all the action.

The iconic actor looked smart in a grey suit over a light blue shirt and striped tie.

Nick Kyrgios, 27, and girlfriend Costeen Hatzi, 22, have been seen looking smitten with one another during a training session on Sunday. The pair started dating in December and have been in a relationship ever since. 

The loved-up couple were seen smooching courtside as Nick was clearly unable to keep his hands off Costeen. 

They didn’t appear to be getting much training done as Costeen playfully pulled away from Nick as he went to kiss her.

Costeen, an aspiring Instagram influencer and university graduate, was dressed in a white denim jacket over a crop top and black leggings. 

She completed her look with Gucci sunglasses and white Nike sneakers, and occasionally donned a pair of thick black sunglasses. 

Alicia Keys, 41, stunned in a mustard bikini top and orange joggers as she hit the beach during a family break to Formentera, Spain.

The No One singer cuddled up to her husband Swizz Beatz as they enjoyed the family outing.

Alicia, who was also in Spain to perform, looked great as she teamed her yellow ensemble with coordinating yellow-tinted sunglasses and a selection of gold jewellery.

The singer swept her curly locks in a ponytail, while also showing off her natural beauty by going make-up free.

Alicia’s husband, meanwhile, showed off his fashion sense in a dog print co-ord and a baseball cap.

The couple married in 2010 and share sons Egypt, 11, and Genesis, seven.

Carol Vorderman, 61, is known for her daily outfit snaps, and today was no different.

The former Countdown star stunned as she took to her social media platforms to show off her “old hippy leggings”.

The bright orange skintight leggings showed off the presenter’s killer curves, leaving very little to the imagination.

Carol’s trousers featured a flowing bottom, contributing to the “hippy” look.

She captioned the post on Twitter in view of her 483,400 followers: “Back home ….my old hippy leggings on and off for a chinwag and being spoiled by my friends.

“Happiest of days x.”

Spice Girls star Victoria Beckham, 48, has opened up about how she had started “burying” herself in clothing after she was called both “skeletal” and “porky”. The star described how she has been driven to “do something different” with her fashion line after all the criticism she has faced. 

Victoria, who has the fashion line VB Body, spoke about how she used to be perceived by the media in a new interview. 

“You know, it’s very much what fashion people do. I wanted to do something different. I decided I wanted to wear more fitted dresses,” she said.

“I wanted to show more skin. I wanted to celebrate the fact that I’m a woman. And I wanted to stop hiding under clothes.” 

Opening up about a time when newspapers and magazines could write scathing articles about women’s bodies, Victoria explained how her new mindset feels like a resolution. 

David and Victoria have four children altogether, including three sons and one daughter. 

Their eldest son Brooklyn Beckham, 23, got married to actress and model Nicola Peltz in a lavish wedding in Miami earlier this year. 

Their second eldest child Romeo, 19, appears to be following his dad’s footsteps on the football pitch.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old son Cruz has taken inspiration from his Spice Girls mother and appears to be pursuing a career in music.

Linda has previously opened up about her Crohn’s disease, explaining how she was diagnosed with the condition in her early 30s. 

Talking to The Mirror, Linda said she had only 70cm of bowel left now following three operations, with the length usually being around two metres.

Linda told the publication: “I’m not well a lot of the time. I have nurses come round every morning and evening to give me a special feed. 

“I’ve had Crohn’s since I was 30 and used to be in so much pain I’d be crying all the time. It was unbearable – I felt like I wanted to get a knife and punch my stomach open.”

The presenter, 41, left the YMU Group in 2020 to launch her own firm, Roxy Management. This sparked a row over a ‘sunset clause’ stating that YMU should net 15 per cent of her future salaries on contracts already arranged by them.

Willoughby reportedly earns £730,000 a year from ITV work, growing to £1.5million with commercial endorsements for Marks and Spencer, Garnier and other firms.

But it has been reported that both she and YMU have now settled their dispute out of court, which “paid off handsomely” for the mum of three.

One source revealed: “She’s now free to earn millions of pounds for years to come and become the most powerful woman in British TV.

Argued “She is now very much her own boss and agent.”

Willoughby was with YMU – which represents her This Morning co-star Phillip Schofield, as well as Ant and Dec, Graham Norton and Amanda Holden – for 13 years.

The star is said to have argued that she herself had negotiated her renewed contracts after setting up Roxy, which is an all-female firm.

She first called in her lawyers after YMU asked for a slice of her future earnings when she decided to quit.

As well as This Morning, former model Willoughby – who wed TV producer Dan Baldwin in 2007 – fronts other shows, such as Dancing On Ice.

But she also benefits from advertising deals with stores such as Dunelm, and charges £25,000 for speaking engagements. Last year she set up her own lifestyle brand, Wylde Moon.

The insider added: “Holly is thrilled and extremely relieved. She never wanted a big court showdown, but always insisted she wanted to fight for what she believed to be right and fair.”

Both Willoughby and YMU Group have been approached for comment – but it is believed that both parties have signed non-disclosure agreements so cannot discuss details.

Meanwhile, it has been claimed the BBC are hoping to signWilloughby to host another series of the reality show Freeze The Fear With Wim Hof, alongside comic Lee Mack.

The plan is part of its bid to poach her from ITV with a seven-figure pay packet.