NICOLA Peltz has hit back after she was accused of “controlling” husband Brooklyn Beckham, as the family feud continues.

It comes after the couple attended a birthday celebration for Nicola’s dad, after appearing to distance themselves from Brooklyn’s family.

AFP

Nicola Peltz has hit back after she was accused of ‘controlling’ husband Brooklyn Beckham[/caption]

Instagram/nicolaannepeltzbeckham

It came after she received a backlash from sharing photos of her and Brooklyn celebrating her father’s birthday[/caption]

Instagram/nicolaannepeltzbeckham

Brooklyn joined all of Nicola’s family for the celebrations[/caption]

David Beckham/Instagram

The son of David and Victoria Beckham has hit the headlines recently after a distancing from his family[/caption]

Rumours about a feud with the Beckham clan and Nicola, 30, have circulated since her £3million wedding to Brooklyn, 26, in Florida.

Since then, the alleged clash has intensified after Brooklyn snubbed all four parties that were thrown for his ex-footballer dad David to celebrate his birthday.

Further upset was caused when photos were shared showing Brooklyn enjoying a party for his father-in-law, Nelson Peltz’s birthday.

Photos from the Peltz family party were shared on Instagram by Nicola yesterday.

She wrote how “lucky” she was to be his daughter before adding that he provided them with “constant love and support”.

The post received some backlash from Beckham supporters, with some accusing Nicola of “controlling her husband.

However, there were also supportive messages, with one fan writing: “The fact people are in this comment section talking bs about someone controlling a GROWN man is absurd.

“The guy is an adult and can make his own decisions, leave them be and stop blaming women for everything.”

Nicola then was seen “liking” the comment, as she agreed with what the fan was saying.

It comes as Brooklyn was recently backed by his godfather Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish, after he posted a photo with wife Nicola last week.

Elton wrote: “Happy Anniversary to the sweetest, most loving couple,” followed by love hearts, and his husband David added his own comment, which read: “Happy Anniversary to the gorgeous couple.” 

Elton is Brooklyn’s godfather and they’re very close, regularly going on trips abroad together over the years.

Both Victoria and David failed to comment on or like their son’s anniversary post. 

It was recently revealed that the situation has become so severe that Brooklyn is no longer on speaking terms with his siblings.

According to The Mail, his family – which include Romeo, 22, and Cruz, 20 – refer to the aspiring chef as ‘The Hostage’.

Instagram

Brooklyn also shared a photo of Nelson wishing him a happy birthday[/caption]

Instagram/nicolaannepeltzbeckham

Another photo from the birthday celebrations[/caption]

A KILLER dolphin is on the loose after being caught on video slaying one of its own kind — and then a shark.

The bottlenose dolphin, dubbed Jack the Flipper, targeted a smooth-hound shark last week having previously attacked a juvenile common dolphin three months ago.

Jam Press/Sarah Michelle Wyer

The killer bottlenose dolphin was caught slaying one if its own kind[/caption]

Jam Press/Sarah Michelle Wyer

‘Jack The Flipper’ also killed a smooth-hound shark last week[/caption]

He is part of a pod in Cardigan Bay, off the coast of Mid Wales, and had actually been named Anakin, after the Star Wars character, by dolphin watcher Sarah Michelle Wyer.

She told The Sun: “I’ve not seen a dolphin throw a shark out in the eight years I’ve been watching them.

“One of the skippers has seen them throw topes, which is another small member of the shark family, but not smooth-hounds.

“But when Anakin killed the young common dolphin, it was the first recorded instance of this behaviour happening in Cardigan Bay. It is unknown why this dolphin chose to do it — as it would have been of no threat. Bottlenose dolphins are highly intelligent creatures and are capable of many unusual behaviours.

“They are not ‘friendly flipper’. This particular dolphin seems to have a very unusual personality.

“Despite the name, common dolphins aren’t common around here. And we now think this could be because of the bottlenose dolphins.”

Smooth-hounds can grow up to 4ft in length — while bottlenose dolphins can reach up to 12ft.

Dolphin Spotting Boat Trips, who Sarah works with, added: “We were very surprised when one of our local dolphins, Anakin, brought what we originally thought was a large salmon past the boat and then threw the fish out the water.

“To our surprise, it was not a salmon but a member of the shark family called a smooth-hound.

“We aren’t sure if there are many records of smooth-hounds being part of a bottlenose dolphin’s diet.

“Bottlenose dolphins are opportunistic feeders and have a varied diet of fish, squid and crustaceans.

“Anakin’s dolphinality is a very unusual one to say the least.”

Jam Press/Sarah Michelle Wyer

I’ve not seen a dolphin throw a shark out in the eight years I’ve been watching them, said dolphin watcher Sarah Michelle Wyer[/caption]

FIVE years have passed since Megxit tore apart the Royal Family.

It gave Queen Elizabeth II undue stress and upset in the last few years of her life.

PA:Press Association

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The Queen and Meg watch a flypast to mark the centenary of the RAF from the balcony of Buckingham Palace[/caption]

PA

The Queen and Charles accompanied by Lady Elizabeth Anson[/caption]

But according to royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith, the late monarch and her innermost circle had had their doubts about Prince Harry’s marriage to Meghan Markle long before they dropped the proverbial bomb and quit royal life in 2020.

In fact, the Queen feared her grandson was “besotted and weak” and said he had been “rude” to her in the lead-up to his and Meghan’s wedding at St George’s Chapel in Windsor in 2018.

She also worried that his bride-to-be had manipulated the prince, while getting away with a raft of bad behaviour.

Now, for the first time, the Queen’s private concerns have been made public in heartbreaking detail — showing just how perceptive she proved to be.

This week Sally published “explosive” revelations made to her by one of Her Majesty’s closest confidantes, her first cousin once removed, Lady Elizabeth Anson, in several conversations in 2018 and 2019.

Lady Elizabeth claimed there were serious concerns in the upper echelons of the Palace, long before Harry and Meghan made themselves royal pariahs.

In fact, just days before the wedding, she told Sally: “We hope but don’t quite think [Meghan] is in love.

“We think she engineered it all.”

She added: “It’s worrying that so many people are questioning whether Meghan is right for Harry.

“The problem, bless his heart, is that Harry is neither bright nor strong, and she is both.”

In another exchange, Lady Elizabeth said: “I don’t trust Meghan an inch.

“Meghan could turn into nothing but trouble.”

Musty smell

The shock revelations were released this week in Sally’s Royals Extra feature on publishing platform Substack.

The observations by Lady Elizabeth, who died from lung cancer in November 2020 aged 79, show the warning signs were there from the start — and proved well-founded.

She said Meghan had initially appeared “natural, intelligent and thoughtful” after getting engaged to Harry in 2017.

But as their wedding approached, they both caused a stir with their poor behaviour — and blatant disrespect for the Queen.

Harry was reportedly “rude to her for ten minutes” in one meeting and upset her by asking the Archbishop of Canterbury to perform the wedding service in May 2018, without first seeking permission from the Dean of Windsor.

As a high-society event planner herself, Lady Elizabeth — who was born at Windsor Castle in 1941 and was also King George VI’s goddaughter — understood all too well just what an embarrassing situation this put the Queen in.

She said at the time: “Harry seems to think the Queen can do what she wants, but she can’t.

“On the religious side, it is the Dean of Windsor’s jurisdiction.”

She added that as a result, “Harry has blown his relationship with his grandmother.”

They did later “patch things up” — but the hurt remained.

As for Meghan, allegations of her “diva-like” behaviour in the run-up to her big day is nothing new.

Indeed, at the time, it was rumoured that she had been nicknamed “Me-gain” by Palace courtiers, thanks to her extensive demands, and among her many complaints, had moaned about the “musty” smell in the chapel.

Nicknamed ‘Me-gain’ by Palace courtiers

She had even allegedly ordered staff to “go around with these atomisers, like spritzer guns, and spray the chapel with scent before anyone arrived.”

 This follows  years of allegations about Meghan’s “bullying” behaviour — something that even sparked an internal investigation at Buckingham Palace.

However, this is the first time we have heard about the Queen’s thoughts on the matter — and they were not good, according to Lady Elizabeth, who was a great-niece of the Queen Mother and a goddaughter of King George VI.

In 2018 she told Sally that Meghan had rattled the Queen days before the wedding, revealing: “They had tea with her the day before yesterday.

“She was trying to find out about the wedding dress, and Meghan wouldn’t tell her.”

This was enough to spark concern in the Palace, with hushed fears brewing that Meghan could “turn into nothing but trouble” and that — despite royal protocol — “she sees things in a different way”.

As Sally revealed this week, “I asked her if Meghan was being bossy. ‘So I gather,’ Lady Elizabeth replied. ‘Very much so.’”

What’s more, the Queen is said to have worried about Meghan’s infamously frosty relationship with her soon to be sister-in-law, Kate Middleton — telling her confidante that Meghan and Kate were “not working well”.

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Sally Bedell Smith, Queen Elizabeth’s biographer[/caption]

As history’s proven, the Queen was right again.

Around the time of the wedding, it was widely reported that Meghan had made Kate cry over a disagreement about Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress.

Then, in their explosive sit-down with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, Harry and Meghan claimed the “reverse” was true.

Meghan said that she was in fact the one in tears, adding, “I don’t say that to be disparaging to anyone, because it was a really hard week of the wedding and she was upset about something, but she owned it, and she apologized.”

Two years later, in his 2023 memoir Spare, Harry doubled down on Kate’s allegedly “icy” behaviour towards Meghan, claiming she’d made a “grimace” when the latter had borrowed her lipgloss.

Clearly, as the Queen and Lady Elizabeth foretold, that bad blood between Kate and Meghan and their warring husbands only worsened.

Despite their concerns, there was — of course — hope that Harry and Meghan would take the mantle as loyal and popular senior members of the royal family.

Harry seems to think the Queen can do what she wants, but Her Majesty can’t… Harry has blown relationship with his grandmother

And, initially, at least, they showed some promise.

Just weeks after they got married, they proudly stood on the balcony at Buckingham Palace alongside Harry’s family for Meghan’s first Trooping the Colour.

But by February, a then pregnant Meghan was sparking concern yet again.

Writing on her recent Substack, Sally revealed, “By late February 2019 when Liza [Lady Elizabeth’s nickname] and I spoke on the phone, she said, ‘I don’t trust Meghan an inch.

“To begin with, she was not bad — a straightforward starlet, used to public speaking and charity work.

“The wedge between the brothers is really too bad.’”

Sadly, the wedge only widened.

In January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced they’d chosen to “transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution”.

At first, it seemed they wanted to keep one foot in the royal fold, while pursuing financial and commercial opportunities on the outside — but, after months of negotiations, the Queen and the then Prince Charles laid down the law: they were either fully in or fully out.

There was no in-between.

They opted for the latter and moved to the US later that year, infamously launching a crusade of palace-bashing and complaints against the royals in the aftermath.

Their first attack came in 2021 when, as mentioned, they sat down with Oprah Winfrey, and claimed — among several accusations — that the palace hadn’t protected Meghan when negative stories circulated about her, and hadn’t supported her during a mental health crisis.

They also claimed there had been racially-charged speculation over the colour of their future child’s skin.

In response, the Queen — who lived by her mantra to ‘Never complain, never explain’ — made the unprecedented move to respond to their attacks.

The Queen and Meghan had tea days before the wedding. Her Majesty was trying to find out about the wedding dress, and Meghan wouldn’t tell her

A palace statement said on her behalf: “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.

“The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning.

“Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.

“Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.”

As we all know by now, the schism has only grown.

The Queen died in September 2022 at the age of 96 — before Harry and Meghan upped their outbursts against the royals.

Thankfully, she didn’t live to read his memoir, which made pointed attacks against his father and brother, accusing the latter of physically attacking him amid their Megxit negotiations.

She also didn’t live to see his legal battle against the UK government over the removal of his publicly funded police protection — an issue which, Harry says, has alienated his father for good.

Over the past year, both Kate Middleton and King Charles have fought respective cancer battles — yet even poor health hasn’t helped to bridge the divide between the royal family and the estranged Sussexes.

As things stand, Harry and Meghan have fully severed every royal tie — though Meghan did recently refer to herself as HRH The Duchess of Sussex (despite previously promising the Queen they would not use their royal titles).

In the wake of Sally’s revelations, neither the Palace nor the Sussexes’ team have responded.

But her unearthed conversations with Lady Elizabeth, who was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order shortly before she died, came at a momentous time for Meghan — on the same day she launched her lifestyle brand’s new rose wine.

Whether she will be raising a toast this week — despite the fresh allegations stacked against her and Harry — remains to be seen.

DEAR DEIDRE: ONE question confirmed what my instincts had told me about my boyfriend – that something was off.

Completely out of the blue, he asked if I would ever be in an open relationship.

When I questioned why he’d asked me, he claimed he had seen something on social media and wondered what I thought about it.

Suspicious, I asked to check his phone, and he immediately became defensive.

I am 33 and my boyfriend is 35. We have been together for 12 years and have two children, who are aged ten and nine.

A couple of days after he’d asked me about an open relationship, I finally had the opportunity to go through his phone — and found explicit texts sent to another woman.

He had clearly met up with her but when I confronted him, he said it had been so brief, it was hardly worth mentioning.

Now I’m questioning everything.

He won’t take responsibility for anything and when I pushed for more answers, he got up and went to a friend’s house for the evening.

He obviously went to delete all the evidence, which was on social media. When he came home all the messages had disappeared.

But he had forgotten to purge his email and I found he had also signed up to a dating site.

I created a fake profile and found his. It stated he lived in a shared house and implied he was single.

While I am trying my best to get past this and build trust, because he has deleted everything, there is more to this than meets the eye.

His betrayal has really hurt me. I am struggling to move past this.

How do I regain trust in him?

DEIDRE SAYS: Discovering that your partner has cheated can feel like your world has imploded.

He is trying to downplay his betrayal but don’t let him off the hook.

This has deeply hurt you and unless he faces up to his disloyal behaviour, it will be impossible for you to genuinely move on.

You still love him, so tell him how you feel and ask him to work on your relationship together. My support pack Cheating, Can you Get Over It? can help.

Couple’s counselling would also be very helpful but he has to be open and honest about what he did in order for you to be able to move on.

Find a counsellor at Tavistock Relationships (tavistockrelationships.org, 020 7380 1975).

IT’S SO HARD TO COPE WITH DAUGHTER’S MELTDOWNS

DEAR DEIDRE: My daughter is showing signs of autism and is on a waiting list to be assessed.

I am struggling to cope with the angry outbursts which happen randomly.

I am her 35-year-old mum and she is ten. Recently I took her to the doctor, who suggested she might be autistic.

This came like a bolt out of the blue.

She has had a few behavioural problems, but it didn’t really cross my mind that she might be autistic.

I love her but sometimes I feel so helpless. My partner, her dad, left us when my daughter was five.

When she has a meltdown I struggle because I can’t get through to her at all.

She can be so difficult, but she is OK at school. My parents work and live miles away.

The lack of sleep is making me impatient, and I feel so guilty and a failure.

DEIDRE SAYS: You’re not a failure. You’re doing your best.

A diagnosis of autism can come as a shock to most parents at first, and as a single parent you will feel particularly alone, with no one to share it with.

When she has a meltdown, stay calm and keep her safe.

You can’t always prevent meltdowns but letting her wear headphones to listen to calming music, turning down lights, and distraction techniques such as focus toys, may help her.

Also, see the National Autistic Society’s website for information and support (autism.org.uk).

DRINKING HABIT RUINING MY LIFE

DEAR DEIDRE: WHILE I am not dependent on alcohol, I go on binges that can last up to four days at a time. During them, I don’t eat or look after myself.

I have been like this since I was 20. I am 35 now.

Not a weekend goes by where I don’t get completely obliterated with cider or wine.

I drink to the point where I black out and have big memory-loss gaps. It is destroying both my physical and mental health.

After saying some nasty things to my family while drunk, I have fallen out with them.

Despite the fact I didn’t mean any of it, they won’t forgive me. I am feeling so isolated. Recently I moved to the north of England from Wales and don’t know anyone, so I drink to try to make myself feel better and to numb how I am feeling.

As I am relatively new to this area, I don’t have a GP I can discuss this with.

Alcohol also makes me very impulsive. I have little recollection of the things I have done when I come out of a binge.

I would love to get sober. I understand the negative impact alcohol has on me but at the same time, it helps me numb the bad way I feel at times. But it is slowly destroying me as a person.

DEIDRE SAYS: Now that you have recognised you have a problem, you can really get the support you need.

Binge-drinking is particularly dangerous, as you are at risk of a serious accident as well as alcohol poisoning.

Find a GP in your area as soon as you can and please be assured there is a lot of help available.

We Are With You can assist you with taking your first steps to a healthier and happier lifestyle (wearewithyou.org.uk).

My pack on drinking gives more information and details of other organisations to turn to.

FOUR in ten babies born in Britain last year had at least one foreign-born parent, shock new figures reveal.

The share of births to families with at least one parent from overseas jumped to 40.4 per cent in 2024, up from 35.1 per cent just three years earlier.

PA

More than half of all babies had a foreign-born mum or dad in 17 per cent of English council areas, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The capital is leading the change.

The City of London topped the table at 84.4 per cent.

This was followed by Brent on 83.9 per cent and Newham 82.4 per cent.

Then came Harrow on 82.2 per cent, Ealing on 81.4 per cent and Westminster on 80 per cent.

Migration expert Nuni Jorgensen, from Oxford University’s Migration Observatory, told The Telegraph: “The rise in births to migrant parents is largely due to more people moving to the UK.

“Since most new arrivals are young adults, more births to migrants are expected.

“Areas with a high share of births to foreign-born people tend to have larger migrant populations.”

ONS data also shows 33 per cent of all births last year were to foreign-born mothers, with Indian mums making up 4.4 per cent.

This was followed by Pakistan on 3.6 per cent, Nigeria 2.5 per cent and Romania 2 per cent.

MIGRANTS jumped back on food delivery bikes yesterday — 24 hours after immigration officers raided their hotel.

One appeared to pedal off on rounds with a Deliveroo bag strapped to an electric bike.

Ray Collins

The man was seen just 24 hours after an immigration officers’ raid on their hotel[/caption]

Hours later a second young man in a blue hoodie was seen hopping on a bike with a Just Eat container.

On Monday, over 20 officers in stab vests swooped on the Barbican Thistle Hotel and arrested asylum seekers suspected of working illegally while housed and fed by the taxpayer.

The operation, triggered by a Sun investigation, saw officers confiscating phones and an electric bike. But bikes hidden behind a screen were not seized.

A business owner said: “The moment the cops left, they are back at it.

“I thought they’d take away the bikes then they would not carry on.

“Last weekend one resident chucked a TV from the third-floor on a car.

“We just want our street back.”

A migrant questioned on Monday told The Sun yesterday: “I did not give them my papers.

“I said I’m not working for the delivery drivers.

“My English is not good enough.

Chris Eades

A masked rider challenges a cop about his rights[/caption]

“I was told it was okay to go back to the hotel.”

This week we revealed migrants can earn £1,000 a week on apps like Deliveroo within hours of reaching the UK.

FORMER Olympics coach George Gibney has been arrested in the US on foot of an Irish extradition request, it has emerged.

The one-time swimming trainer was lifted in the States, where he has been based for several decades, as part of an investigation into historical child sexual abuse allegations.

Gibney who is now in his 70s, is wanted here to face over 50 historical sexual abuse charges from his time working here.

He was arrested in Florida on Tuesday afternoon by US marshals on foot of an Irish extradition warrant, according to RTE News.

Gibney is being detained pending a court appearance there and can decide whether to accede or contest his extradition.

A Garda spokesperson told The Irish Sun: “An Garda Síochána is aware of the arrest of a male aged in his 70s in the United States on foot of an Irish international arrest warrant.

“As this is currently a matter for the US authorities, An Garda Síochána will not be commenting further at this time.”

Investigators re-opened their probe into the former high profile coach after a number of people made allegations against him on a BBC and Second Captains podcast over five years ago.

The award-winning production, entitled Where Is George Gibney?, re-examined the controversy and prompted more than a dozen new alleged victims of the swimming coach to come forward.

A number of the alleged abuse victims who came forward following the hit series made criminal complaints to An Garda Siochana, who at the time had already opened a fresh investigation into Gibney.

The new case reportedly relates to different instances of alleged abuse to those Gibney was previously charged with in the 1990s.

It is understood gardai submitted the extradition request to US authorities late last year, at which point it became a matter for US officials to review and process the paperwork.

Gibney previously faced charges in 1993.

He appeared before Dun Laoghaire District Court in April of that year, charged with 27 counts of indecency against young swimmers and of having carnal knowledge of girls under the age of 15.

However, his prosecution was stopped after he took a judicial review in the High Court and, in July 1994, secured an injunction preventing the DPP from prosecuting him on those charges.

RTE

ARSENAL are in advanced talks to sign Viktor Gyokeres after honing in on the Swede over their other target Benjamin Sesko, according to reports.

The Gunners have been weighing up their options for a new centre-forward and it would appear they are now focusing on Gyokeres.

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Arsenal are reportedly in advanced talks to sign Viktor Gyokeres[/caption]

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The Gunners other centre-forward target, Benjamin Sesko, could now fall to the wayside[/caption]

According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Arsenal feel like they are “touching the final line” when it comes to agreeing a deal for the Sporting Lisbon star.

While it’s also claimed they have already agreed a five-year contract with Gyokeres himself.

Gyokeres has found himself trying to force a move away from Sporting this summer after claims that a gentleman’s agreement to leave for a cut-price fee between him and the club has not been honoured.

Sporting president Federico Varandas has claimed the club are happy to let Gyokeres leave for less than his release clause, but will stand firm when it comes to getting a fair price for the Portuguese league’s top scorer.

Citing the prices paid for some other players this summer, Varandas told O Jogo: “Sporting does not need to sell him, but we remain sensitive to the dreams of Viktor and any of our athletes.

“After weeks of meetings, we are not asking for the release clause and will be reasonable regarding the price we ask for Viktor. Today, I believe there is a strong probability he will leave.

‘We have been watching the market and I saw [Martin] Zubimendi, who is six months younger than Viktor, leave for €65million.

“I saw Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, both forwards but who, in my opinion, do not have Viktor’s market value or quality, being negotiated for around €75million.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

“Given the demands we consider fair, I believe Viktor could leave – unless he has the worst agent in the world, which is hard for me to believe, because he is one of the best footballers in the world.”

Adding: “I’m not going to say what the price is, the player knows what it is.

“I can tell you that Viktor won’t leave for €60million plus €10million he won’t, he just won’t.”

Meanwhile Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the club’s stance has left Gyokeres feeling “betrayed and tired”.

It’s been claimed that Gyokeres has informed Sporting that he won’t be returning to the club and has no intention of playing for them again.

Gyokeres scored 39 goals in 33 league appearances last season, more than any other player in Europe’s top 10 leagues.

Arsenal have also been linked with a move for Sesko, but advancements in the Gyokeres deal would likely spell an end to those talks.

The Gunners today announced the arrival of Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea on a £5m deal, with the Spanish goalkeeper set to play backup to first choice shot-stopper David Raya next season.

While deals for Brentford‘s Christian Norgaard and Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi are also thought to be on verge of completion.

Alamy

Sporting president Frederico Varandas has been bullish with his demands for a Gyokeres transfer[/caption]

A BRAVE mother has opened up on how she won £25,000 on her birthday, but before long had lost everything. 

Gabby Walker, a mum-of-two from the UK, explained that her hefty prize should have been life-changing, but instead, it made her realise that she had a very serious issue to deal with.

tiktok.com/@gabbywalker360

tiktok.com/@gabbywalker360

Now, the recovering gambling addict is on a mission to raise awareness, as she candidly shared her gambling story on social media.

Posting online, the brunette beauty acknowledged that her “big win” was the “worst thing” that has ever happened to her.

As she sat in her car, she said: “Two years ago, on my birthday, I won £25,000 – it might not seem a lot to everyone, but to me, that was life-changing. 

“I should have been able to do so much with that money but because of my gambling addiction, I couldn’t.”

Gabby claimed that “the urge to gamble is horrible” and described it as though something has “taken over you.”

She voiced that during the height of her addiction, she was “always” on her phone, “constantly trying to get that next win.”

And rather than treating her family to a trip abroad after receiving her prize, Gabby instead put the money straight back onto betting, and even spent £1,000 on gambling in a single day.

She confessed: “After winning that £25,000 I felt like I’d lost everything, I put it all straight back on [gambling sites], when I should have been spending it on a holiday or activities to do with the children, but I didn’t.”

Opening up on her “regrets”, Gabby described her actions as “selfish” and admitted that her “gambling issue” has even put a “wedge” in her relationship. 

Getting candid on her partner’s support, she recalled: “He has to always fund for me to survive for the month and for the children to survive for the month and it’s awful, it really is.”

But looking to days free from gambling, the mother explained: “I’m glad I’ve got to the stage now where I’m wanting to change and wanting to get better, and I know it’s gonna be difficult at times.”

Gabby stressed that she has a “long road ahead”, but “needs to stop gambling”, as she acknowledged if she doesn’t, she is “gonna lose everything” and will have “no family” to turn to for support.

Social media users react

The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @gabbywalker360, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 72,900 views, 981 likes and 135 comments. 

Social media users were stunned by Gabby’s story and many eagerly raced to the comments to share their support. 

I’m glad I’ve got to the stage now where I’m wanting to change and wanting to get better

Gabby Walker

One person said: “I wish I could have that much money!! But good luck hun!!! Being honest with yourself is always the first step!!!”

Another added: “You got this, this is so brave sharing with everyone. I wish you all the luck getting through this.” 

A third commented: “Honestly massive well done for reaching out it’s not an easy thing to do! Massive love to you.” 

At the same time, others bravely opened up on their own gambling addictions, as one man shared: “I won £36,000 & in 6 days.. lost it all in 4.. years later I won £40,000 in 3 months, lost it all in 5 days.. when gambling you lose respect for money.”

A woman voiced: “I won over £60k in the space of 6 weeks and still managed to get into £23k worth of debt, it literally ruined my life.”

Whilst someone else wrote: “I had £34k in and out of my account last April.”

What to do if someone you know has a gambling addiction

As previously reported, some 2.5% of the population gamble in a “severe and harmful way”, Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones, national clinical adviser on gambling harms at NHS England, said.

As well as this, a Public Health England (PHE) study in 2021 found the rough overall cost of health harms caused by gambling was around £960million.

That includes suicide, which costs £619.2million.

The study also found an estimated 409 suicides were linked to gambling in England every year.

There are a number of steps you can take if you believe someone you know is struggling with a gambling addiction.

Be Gamble Aware’s website suggests ways you can help someone who might need help and some of the steps include: understanding what an addict is going through, knowing how to talk to someone with a gambling addiction, and avoiding rewarding gambling behaviour.

If you personally are struggling with an addiction, the NHS has a useful webpage which offers a range of helpful tips.

Some include trying cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), a talking therapy that can help change the way you think and behave.

There are also treatment and support groups available for people wanting to stop gambling.

Additionally, GamCare offers free information, support and counselling for problem gamblers in the UK.

It runs the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) and also offers face-to-face counselling.

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Tbo Touch and Hope Mbhele will host the luxe marquee at Durban July, featuring performances by Kabza De Small and more.