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TOWIE’S James ‘Diags’ Bennewith and Jodie Wells come face to face in excruciatingly awkward scenes from the show’s upcoming series.

The 33-year-olds, who haven’t seen each other since their breakup, meet in a retro American-style diner, and the tension between them is undeniable.

ITV

TOWIE’S James ‘Diags’ Bennewith and Jodie Wells come face to face in excruciatingly awkward scenes from the show’s upcoming series[/caption]

ITV

They meet in a retro American-style diner, and the tension between them is undeniable[/caption]

ITV

As Jodie approaches Diags, she sweetly plants a brief kiss on his cheek[/caption]

As Jodie approaches Diags, she sweetly plants a brief kiss on his cheek, but it’s clear from the start that the encounter is far from comfortable.

“Hi. You ok?” Jodie awkwardly opens the conversation.

To which Diags responds, “Yeah, you good?”

The uncomfortable atmosphere continues as Diags awkwardly mentions, “I got you a drink,” handing her a fruit bubble tea.

“I was worried you were going to get a milkshake,” Jodie admits, adding, “No, I know you don’t like milkshakes.”

The awkwardness doesn’t end there, as Diags asks, “How you been?” with Jodie responding, “Good. How have you been?”

Diags, clearly not at his best, sighs and admits, “Well, not great, but, yeah.”

It’s clear that both are struggling to find their footing, but Jodie adds, “It’s good that we’re here, though, because we need to, like, actually talk.”

Diags agrees, “I know.”

The Sun revealed last month how Diags and Jodie had broken up after first getting together in 2023.

But we later learned the pair decided to reunite after their explosive Bali trip, with the full cast backing them.

A source told us: “Jodie and Diags have had some time apart to reassess things and have realised that they want to give their relationship another go.

“It’s still early stages but they are hoping to reconcile properly and work things out.

“Jodie has a young child and wants to do the best for him.

“She believes Diags still loves her and if they both put the graft in, they believe it will work.

“The pair are dating again and have the full support of the rest of the Towie cast.

“It’s complicated but they’re ready to iron out any issues after getting advice from their friends and having some time apart.”

On/off romance

The couple sparked rumours of a break-up last month when they unfollowed each other on social media.

They had endured an on/off romance and often left fans guessing about the status of their relationship.

But we were told that Diags and Jodie had decided to call it quits for good, despite the mum-of-one gearing up to relocate with her son to Essex.

A source said: “The pair have been desperately trying to make things work, but just couldn’t keep things on track and have decided to split.

“There was a big disagreement over moving in together, but in the end it wasn’t just that.

“They hadn’t been getting on for a while and they were very different people.”

Just the week before, they sparked rumours of rift when eagle-eyed fans noticed the pair has unfollowed each other on social media.

Jodie even went as far as removing all traces of Diags from her Instagram account.

She also seemingly took a swipe at the Towie star when she posted a video to TikTok that fans have called “shady”.

In the video, which has been viewed over a quarter of million times, the TV star can be seen lip-syncing to the words: “It’s because your son is a f*****g p***y.”

Many fans believed she was referring to Diags.

The pair have had fans hooked on their relationship from the start.

Meeting when Jodie was an extra in the reality TV show in 2023, Diags asked her and her son to move in with him the following summer.

Speaking to OK! Magazine at the time, Jodie said: “I like where James lives now. I would like somewhere a little bit more quiet. A bit more countryside.

“Somewhere, you feel like it would be quite a nice place to bring up a child, and I feel like it could be good for James as well.

“It’s bringing him away slightly from the party lifestyle and to think about more of a family lifestyle.”

Following that however, a love triangle threatened their relationship when Diags sent a drunken text to his ex Elma Pazar saying he missed her.

While he admitted it was a joke that “wasn’t funny”, Diags, who is one of Towie’s longest running cast members, said: “There couldn’t have been a worse person to send that message to.”

Jodie was quoted as saying at the time: “He’s just an idiot – he has a drink and he just thinks all of his jokes are funny, and they’re not.”

“I don’t think there was anything behind it. I just think he was just trying to be funny. But it’s a joke at my expense.”

More recently, the pair spent Christmas and New Year apart, sparking further speculation their relationship was on the decline.

Instagram

Instagram

They first got together in 2023[/caption]

A PERSON has been confirmed dead in a horror car fire at a popular seaside spot.

Cops confirmed a person has tragically died in a car fire in the village of Ynyslas, Aberystwyth, on Wednesday evening.

Alamy

A person has been confirmed dead in a car fire[/caption]

Mid and West Wales Fire Service rushed to the scene at around 7.30pm to tackle the blaze and cops arrived after 8pm.

Response teams were aimed at a vehicle that was “well alight.”

The fire crew used a hose reel jet, a breathing apparatus set, and a thermal imaging camera to put out the fire.

When Dyfed-Powys Police arrived, a car was found on fire and the occupant was confirmed to have died. 

A spokesman for Mid and West Wales Fire Service said: “At 7.26pm the crew from Aberystwyth Fire Station was called to an incident at Ynyslas in Aberystwyth.

“The crew responded to one vehicle that was well alight.

“Crew members utilised one hose reel jet, one breathing apparatus set and one thermal imaging camera to extinguish the fire.

“Sadly the vehicle’s one occupant was confirmed to have died.”

Cops said there doesn’t seem to be suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident.

A spokesman for the force said: “Dyfed-Powys Police were called by Mid and West Wales Fire Service just after 8pm on Wednesday, February 19 to a fire at Ynyslas, Aberystwyth.

“Upon attendance a car was located on fire and sadly the occupant was confirmed to have died. 

“A joint investigation with MWWFS has commenced but there are believed to be no suspicious circumstances at this time. Their next of kin have been informed.”

Alamy

The fire occurd on a beach in Ynyslas in Aberystwyth on Wednesday evening.[/caption]

THE Rangers Charity Foundation has been credited with helping turn the life of a Glasgow man around.

Alex Scott attended – and now volunteers at – the organisation‘s Recovery Drop Ins which are run every week in partnership with South Community Recovery Network.

Rangers Charity Foundation

Alex Scott turned his life around with help from the Rangers Charity Foundation[/caption]

Rangers Charity Foundation

Now he volunteers to help those who need it most[/caption]

These sessions provide a safe and friendly space for people, like Alex, who are recovering from addiction to meet and help each other.

Alex is from Possilpark and has been sharing his experience: “Growing up in the seventies in Glasgow, there was a lot of poverty.

“You could say my childhood was difficult. I grew up with alcoholic parents, which for me seemed standard. Going through school I was a shy wee guy and with alcohol being involved at home and there being fights and things like that, I was always quite reserved.

“I was introduced to solvents at the age of 12 and through using those, I started feeling a bit more confident in myself and rebelling in class. I ended up becoming the class clown and at the time, I thrived on that because I didn’t get that attention in the house.”

This led to a destructive spiral of increasing substance usage.

Alex had grown up dreaming of being a footballer, but being dropped from the football team dented his confidence – he left school and his aspirations became just to get by.

As a teenager he tried boxing to pass the time, but solvent use impacted his commitment. He said: “When I wasn’t involved in anything to keep me occupied, I started hanging around in streets and closes with the wrong crowds and before I knew it, I had a needle in my arm at the age of 16.

“From that point on, my life revolved around using hard drugs.

“I didn’t have any real role models in my life, so the only people I could look up to were the same individuals that I was up the closes with and that’s how I ended up myself.

“I found myself in a lot of codependent relationships and not knowing how to live a real life free of solvents and hard drugs. In fact, you could probably describe it as existing rather than living.

“In 1998 I heard about methadone, and I was on that for 25 years while still using different drugs because I didn’t know how to stop.

“I did try to stop, and I had mild success, if you could call it that, but I could never stay completely clean. I was in and out of hospital, and I was just isolating myself away from the world.

“My life just became monotonous, and my mental health took a real dip. I thought I was in control of my using but through working on myself and looking back, I can see that I clearly wasn’t.”

The “utter carnage” continued until Alex was 52, when he landed in hospital and told a nurse he couldn’t continue living that way. This led to an outreach worker bringing him to a Recovery Drop In.

Connecting with others and telling his stories seemed daunting at first, but the support from volunteers helped him towards recovery: “For me, the main thing coming here gave me was a chance to escape the isolation I was imposing on myself.

“Connecting with other people that were on their own recovery journey and getting a bite to eat and chat really put me on a better path.

“It also gave me some structure to my life and a purpose to get up and out the door in the morning and try break that cycle of monotony.”

Once he was consistently attending he was asked to start volunteering, which he says has changed his life completely:  “It wasn’t an easy journey because when I came down at first my behaviour could probably be described as erratic, but the volunteering definitely helped with that, and I feel like I’ve matured a lot.

“What volunteering and chairing these meetings is teaching me is how to be responsible, punctual, committed and all these things are helping me prepare for employment because that’s probably my next step.

“My life has changed dramatically since attending Recovery. Just one example of that is that I had never had a passport before coming here.

“Now I can say I’ve been abroad and worked with Erasmus, which has been a great experience and something I never would have been able to do.

“I feel more at peace within myself, and I’ve got more self-esteem and self-worth which has turned me into the person that I am today. I am proud to say that as of a couple of weeks ago, I’m three years clean. It’s amazing to think that for 40 years I couldn’t go a day without using.”

The foundation’s Recovery Drop Ins take place on Mondays and Wednesdays, you can find more information here.

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

PET OWNERS are being hit by soaring vet fees due to soaring inflation and a lack of competition in the industry.

Laura Purkess takes a look at what is happening and explains how you can avoid being stung.

WHILE enjoying the holiday of a lifetime in Tanzania last September, Sarina Kastendiek received a call that shattered her world.

After returning to her hotel from a day of exploring, the media executive was told by reception she had a message waiting for her.

It was from her local vet, who asked her to call them back as soon as possible.

Sarina, 31, from London, said she felt a wave of dread and feared the worst had happened.

On calling, she received the devastating news that her beloved cat, Calypso, urgently needed surgery to treat life-threatening injuries — and it was going to cost her £8,000.

Calypso had eaten 80cm of string, which had got wrapped around her tongue and was pulling on her internal organs.

The vets said they needed Sarina’s consent — and card details — to perform the surgery or Calypso would die.

“I was in utter shock,” said Sarina.

“The vet put me on FaceTime so I could see and talk to Calypso before the surgery. It felt like a goodbye.

“The next day, I lay alone on one of Zanzibar’s most beautiful beaches crying, waiting for news and wondering how I would pay for the extortionate operation.”

Thankfully, the surgery was a success and Sarina was able to fly home and visit Calypso while she was recovering.

Sarina had pet insurance, but it would only cover about half of the bill due to various exclusions and excesses, meaning she still needed to stump up another £4,000 herself.

And the spending didn’t stop there.

“Over the past two years, Calypso has cost me around £13,000 in non-routine vet bills,” Sarina said.

“When I look at her curled up on my lap, when she comes in the middle of the day wanting a cuddle and when she gets under the duvet at night to sleep next to me, it’s all worth it.

“But to this day, I am still paying off all the vet bills I’ve racked up on my credit card and I’ll be paying them for years.”

Sarina is just one of thousands of pet owners stumping up exorbitant fees to save their animals as the prices soar year on year.

Experts say this is due to an increasing lack of competition in the market as independent practices are being bought by larger firms.

Claims data from John Lewis Insurance, provided exclusively to Sun Money, shows average vet bills for a range of common incidents have risen anywhere from 70 per cent to 105 per cent over the past four years alone.

The average cost of treating a lack of appetite in cats soared by 105 per cent from £547.72 in 2020 to £1,125 in 2024, the data showed.

While the typical cost of treating a lump for a dog jumped from £554.83 in 2020 to £940 in 2024, a rise of 70 per cent.

Bills are rising much more steeply for some animals than others.

For example, the price of treatment for vomiting, one of the most common ailments, increased by 28 per cent for dogs between 2020 and 2024, but just 2.6 per cent for cats.

Meanwhile analysis by Tesco Insurance found that the average cost of a claim for illness for cats was £796, while for dogs it was £964.

The huge rise in fees has led to owners being pushed into debt.

More than 11million people are thought to have less than £1,000 in savings to cover unexpected bills, according to the Resolution Foundation.

Other owners are not giving their pets treatment because they can’t afford it, even if it means that their beloved animal suffers.

Research by John Lewis Pet Insurance found almost a quarter (23 per cent) of customers had been forced to stop treatment for their pet due to unexpected or increased vet fees.

And Tesco Insurance found a quarter (25 per cent) of owners said they were concerned they would not be able to afford their pets’ upkeep in future.

Axel Lagercrantz, boss of store Pets4Homes, explained many independent veterinarians have been bought by six larger corporations, and this is creating a monopoly in the market.

He said: “The UK vet industry has changed massively over the past decade.

“The share of independent vets in Britain has dropped from 98 per cent to a staggering 40 per cent, and those that remain are being bought by six big players.

“The lack of competition this situation creates means that practices can charge much higher prices.”

He added that veterinary care has witnessed “rapid technological advances” which could reduce costs but there is no incentive for large practices to offer these cheaper methods.

He said: “Large corporate groups in the veterinary sector may have incentive to promote more comprehensive, advanced treatments because they have already invested in costly equipment to offer services.”

PROTECT AGAINST PET COSTS

WHEN you visit a vet, ask about the specifics of what treatment is needed plus how much it will cost – then see if there are areas you could cut costs on without compromising on care.

Vet Martin Stevens said: “My number one piece of advice is to always ask questions about any treatment that is recommended.

“Be sure to check about any potential medicines, necessary overnight stays, and any post-treatment needs.

“This will give you a full picture of the costs and care required.

“Vets are always happy to help and want pet owners to feel comfortable.”

Pet insurance can help protect you from vet bills.

Depending on the type of cover, it should pay out a lump sum to cover the cost of your vet bills.

According to Compare The Market, the average cost of pet insurance is £116 a year but cover for dogs tends to be more expensive, costing around £137 a year, while for cats the average yearly cost is £76.

Be aware that insurance costs tend to rise as your pet gets older or if they have any pre-existing conditions.

Always compare prices using at least two comparison websites as well as getting quotes from insurers such as Direct Line and Petplan who don’t appear on them.

Some pet owners choose to self-insure, which is when they put money aside each month into a savings account to pay for any potential pet emergency.

But make sure you would be able to come up with the money in an emergency or you could be in trouble if your pet needs aid before you have built up savings.

You may be able to get free or cheaper vet treatment if you are on certain benefits through charities such as the PDSA and Blue Cross.

Check if you’re eligible at pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/eligibility.

Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.

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A COUPLE believe they were destined to wed — as they have consecutive birth certificate numbers.

Chris and Julia Miles said they could not believe their eyes when they spotted the coincidence eight years into their marriage.

Doug Seeburg

Chris and Julia Miles are convinced they were meant to be after discovering their birth certificates have consecutive numbers[/caption]

Doug Seeburg

The numbers on the birth certificate suggest both sets of parents must have been at the register office at the same time on February 27, 1975[/caption]

Doug Seeburg

The couple’s moment of ‘destiny’ at their wedding in 2002[/caption]

They put the paperwork side-by-side and saw Chris’s number was 081419, and Julia’s 081420.

It meant their parents must have been at the register office at the same time on February 27, 1975.

Electrician Chris said: “When we saw the certificates I was like, ‘Bloody hell!’. It shows it was fate from the day we were born.

“We believe this is totally unique to the world. We will have been next to each other in the registry office waiting room.”

Both were born at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital — Julie on February 23, 1975, and Chris on the 26th.

“Eighteen years later their paths crossed again when they fell in love at first sight at an Oxford pub.

They bought a home together in 1999, wed in 2002 and have sons Ben, 20, and Harry, 14.

They clocked the certificate coincidence when sorting paperwork in 2010.

Today, the couple, who still live in Oxford, are holding a huge party for their 50th birthdays.

Chris added: “We’ll take the certificates to display on the way in.

“Our parents don’t remember seeing each other when they registered us, but they must have been sat together in the waiting room, and in front of the same registrar. It’s just bonkers.”

Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches its brand new membership programme – Sun Club.

RTE Late Late Show viewers were all left praising Fiona Shaw after tonight’s interview.

The BAFTA-winning actress joined host Patrick Kielty to discuss her renowned career in film and TV which spans over five decades.

RTE

Fiona Shaw sat down with Patrick Kielty tonight[/caption]

RTE

Fiona spoke fondly about Cork[/caption]

RTE

RTE viewers all adored Kathryn Thomas[/caption]

The Cork star spoke about her iconic roles in hit TV shows such as Bad Sisters and Killing Eve, as well as her much-beloved film character in the Harry Potter franchise and My Left Foot.

She came to the RTE studio straight from the Dublin premiere of her latest film Park Avenue at the Dublin International Film Festival.

Fiona grew up in Cobh, Cork, with her mum Mary, dad Denis and three brothers, John, Mark and Peter.

And Fiona revealed tonight that despite her busy schedule, she often heads back down to the rebel county to see her elderly mum.

She explained: “I’m there a lot because my mother is very old now. She’s 99 next month.

“We seem to go back and forth a lot and that’s been very, very nice. I mean, you kind of feel you’re getting off a horse, and you’re thinking, ‘God, this place has changed’.

“I was away, I was often in the theatre and therefore away or on tour so often. I mean, I was always back for Christmas, but I’m getting to know Cork and West Cork and if ever I can escape up west.

“And I’m kind of discovering the country like a tourist and like a Yank.”

RTE viewers were all blown away by Fiona and raced to social media with compliments.

Ciara tweeted: “Didn’t realise Fiona Shaw was from Cork!!! What a woman.”

Grace said: “Fiona Shaw is our current favourite Irish actor. She’s actually phenomenal.”

Amanda commented: “Fiona Shaw the most underrated actor.”

Karen remarked: “I want her to be my best friend.”

Doieann Garrihy also sat down with Patrick and opened up about being bullied as a teen.

The 2FM host had noted that being held responsible is the nature of her profession, but some people also go over-the-top in calling her out.

TOUGH TIME

And a specific experience in her youth has afforded her a thick skin meaning much of the negativity sent her way doesn’t affect her.

She said: “I was in secondary school around the time Bebo was a big thing. And listen, it comes with being a teenager as well.

“You’re sometimes in the firing line. Sometimes you’re not. I happened to be for about two years, and my parents actually were amazing at that time.

“They’ve always been very good at actually saying to us what’s going on, and sitting down every day and saying, ‘Is there anything you want to say to us’, or, ‘Anything you want to tell us?’, and just be really open with us?

“I had a tough time in fourth and fifth year, and I’m really glad actually, that my it wasn’t in my pocket. Mobile phones weren’t a big thing then, because I think that’s a massive challenge for parents and for teenagers these days and trying to navigate that.

“I’m sure it’s really difficult, but I think being open with young people and just saying, ‘You can tell me if there’s something going on’, ‘We can figure it out’.

“My parents, they didn’t intervene. They just kind of went, ‘Okay, at least we know you need to try and figure this out, because if we intervene, it’ll undermine you, and you were able to sort it out’.”

From one Phoenix Suns generation to the next, Ex-Suns owner Jerry Colangelo sees what current owner Mat Ishbia is building. Although the 26-30 record looks bleak, the new owner has made his fair share of big moves. For instance, he helped the Suns to make a blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant within his first month […]

The post Ex-Suns owner drops Mat Ishbia truth bomb appeared first on ClutchPoints.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell is in the midst of a career year, both on and off the court. At age 31, the LA Clippers guard is the leading scorer on a team that’s surprised everybody in the West, and maybe even a couple of folks in the Manhattan Beach […]

The post Exclusive: Clippers’ Norman Powell reveals why he joined Skechers and commitment to Understand The Grind foundation appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Los Angeles Lakers will battle the Denver Nuggets on Saturday at Ball Arena. It will be a Western Conference showdown as we continue our NBA odds series with a Lakers-Nuggets prediction and pick. The Lakers lead the head-to-head series 113-80. However, the Nuggets are 8-2 against the Lakers over the past 10 games, including a […]

The post Lakers vs. Nuggets prediction, odds, pick, spread – 2/22/2025 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

We’re back with another betting prediction and pick in the NBA as we take a look at this next cross-conference matchup with Regular Season play resuming after the All-Star break. The Charlotte Hornets (14-40) will visit the Portland Trail Blazers (23-33) as the two squads conclude their season series. It’s time to continue our NBA odds series with a […]

The post Hornets vs. Trail Blazers prediction, odds, pick – 2/22/2025 appeared first on ClutchPoints.