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Dr Alex George has revealed that more than 150 days without alcohol has been “a challenge” but has made a “huge difference” to his life. The former Love Island star, TV doctor and now the UK government’s youth mental health ambassador shared that drinking at weekends would sometimes affect him for up to four days afterwards. The 32-year-old quit his A&E doctor job 18 months ago to focus on bringing the public accessible health advice, often on TV – including Channel 4’s Naked Education – and five months ago, he cut out booze too. “It’s made a really huge difference,” George says. “I get to bed at 9pm every night, I wake up at 6am, I listen to music, I play music, I go to the gym, I spend quality time with a small number of people – I’ve developed really, really strong boundaries about how I spend my time and who I spend it with.” It’s an “investment” in himself, he says, but it isn’t always easy. “When you’ve got a bank holiday weekend and a lot people are sat in a beer garden – that is a challenge. Because even if you’re not addicted to alcohol, and you’re just a part of the British culture, you’ll feel challenges of not drinking in those times. “But it’s looking at what will future Alex be grateful for – you know, that delayed gratification.” It’s a topic he explores in his latest book, The Mind Manual, on the mental fitness foundations to give us all a boost – just in time for Mental Health Awareness Week (May 15-21) – including how to hold better boundaries and why mistakes are part of life. “I didn’t like how alcohol made me feel,” George, who also hosts the walking and wellness podcast Stompcast, says. “I was drinking pretty standard-ish for a young person in their 30s, but after four, five or six beers on a Saturday night, I’d feel bad – that would affect me a small percentage [of the time] all the way up to Tuesday or Wednesday.” “It affected my desire for the gym, it affected the way I ate, it affected the relationship I had with myself – so I had a really honest conversation with myself.” His book is about asking people to challenge things: “Question why are you doing this behaviour?” During some self-reflection when he was still working in A&E, George says he realised he wasn’t practising what he preached. “I thought, ‘I’m here talking about finding balance and looking after your own mental health, and I’m actually damaging my own mental health by doing too much.” Self-worth is often so tied up with the roles we have in our careers, so it was a difficult decision to leave, he says. “Since the age of 12 or 13, I’d wanted to be a doctor. You sacrifice a lot, university is tough, I worked in King’s College Hospital then Lewisham Hospital [London]. It was my passion, I covered a lot of the pandemic – on social media, it was my identity. “But I think sometimes, it’s really, really important to remember that just because your identity is a part of your life, it doesn’t have to be your identity your whole life. Walking away or changing direction [doesn’t mean] that time of your life is now devalued. “Even though I am not ‘Alex the A&E doctor’ anymore, it is all ingrained in who I am.” He’s had a significant impact as a public health doctor though, securing £79million of funding towards mental health support teams in schools in 2021. He’s thankful for the platform Love Island fame afforded. “Of course, if it wasn’t for that show, I wouldn’t have got that [money] for the kids.” He also started the #postyourpill campaign on social media – trying to banish the stigma around taking medication for mental health issues, like the anti-depressants he was prescribed last year. He’s also tirelessly campaigned for suicide prevention awareness and better early intervention for people with mental health issues, after his 19-year-old brother Llyr died by suicide in 2020. Heartbreakingly, George had been due to go home to Carmarthen, Wales, to see his family for the first time since the pandemic. “The week before my brother passed away, my best friend’s dad was terminally unwell and I stayed in London. In that time that I stayed, my brother passed away, so I could have seen him. “You question whether that’s a mistake or not. It’s very complex, because you don’t see the bigger picture always. [If] you know that a decision would have a certain outcome and it was a negative outcome, you wouldn’t make that decision a lot of the time. “I think that’s probably one of the biggest ones that I’ll have to live with.” Now though, George says he’s received “thousands – if not tens of thousands – of messages” and comments in person from strangers struggling in a similar way to Llyr, but saying they’ve now got help. “How many lives have been saved off the back of Llyr’s death? There’s an element of, ‘What can we control?’ I can’t turn back time, all I can do is try and support other people with their mental health.” The book discusses the ‘mental health toolkit’ George developed while he was grieving and growing – “Not just as a tribute to Llyr but as a tribute to the mental anguish I have faced in life, both before and since his death”. It includes written exercises to help readers audit their feelings as well as ‘universal truths’ to cling to in dark times, like “sleep is a saviour” and “connection is your superpower”. He adds: “Grief is with us for life. It’s never OK that person has died.” But we can find ways to “organise” that grief in our minds. Plus, difficult times are key for personal growth. “Sometimes, you have to walk through hell,” he says, “It sounds really dark, but in some ways, through difficult experiences, you learn a lot by yourself. You will know your resilience and your ability to cope with things. You also learn what helps you cope.” For George, that means walking (“a lifeline for me”), a few close friends and hiit classes at the gym. “In the last few years, there have been some significant highs and lows, but I do think what I’m grateful for is that in adversity, you learn a huge amount. I endured.” The Mind Manual by Dr Alex George is published by Aster, £20. Available now in paperback, and also as an ebook and audiobook. The Samaritans helpline is available 24/7 on 116 123. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Everything you need to know about Sophie, the new Duchess of Edinburgh Beyonce kicks of Renaissance tour in string of glamorous outfits Pensioner, 85, shares the simple switch that’s helped him to do 650,000 press-ups

Ricky Gervais has given fans a health update after “living through the worst eight hours of illness” of his life. On Thursday (11 May), the After Life star, 61, tweeted he isn’t “well today” and shared that he was suffering from symptoms such as severe abdominal pains, vomiting, hot sweats, and chills. “Oh, and I really want to know who planted the 12 gravy bombs up my a***,” Gervais quipped. Some Twitter users suggested he might be suffering from norovirus – or the “winter vomitting bug” – in the comments section. “Sounds like it is Noravirus [sic] that is going around. My friend and my daughter and son-in-law have had it. It is awful. Hope you get better soon,” one person said. Gervais replied: “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Another person wrote: “Eight hours seems like a magic number when I get norovirus. I’m good for a full shift every time.” Other fans joked about the abundance of detail in Gervais’s descriptive post, with one person calling it the “perfect sick note”. “Just copy and paste that description, and voilà – you’ve got yourself a guaranteed day off. Even your boss will be too terrified to question it,” the comment read. In March this year, the number of norovirus cases in England rose to their highest levels in nearly a decade. The count fell from its peak shortly after but remained above levels reported in March 2022. Norovirus is one of the most common kinds of stomach bugs in Britain, and reportedly affects between 600,000 and a million people in the UK every year. The six most common symptoms include sudden onset of nausea, projectile vomiting, diarrhoea, high temperature, abdominal pain, and aching limbs. It spreads from contact with an infected person or contaminated surfaces. Most people who contract the virus will recover within two to three days. Norovirus, however, can cause dehydration, especially among the very young, elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Read More Chrishell Stause and G Flip announce marriage after one year together Duchess of Edinburgh ‘praying’ for elderly woman hit by her royal motorcade Sir Karl Jenkins responds to claims that he was Meghan Markle in disguise at coronation: ‘I was surprised’ What is sepsis? Five symptoms you need to know A man thought he felt spaced out from drinking coffee. Then came a ‘huge shock’ Pensioner, 85, shares the simple switch that’s helped him to do 650,000 press-ups

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Beyonce has kicked off her Renaissance World Tour in Stockholm, Sweden, in suitable style. This is the Texan singer’s first world tour in seven years, and she performed the 36-song set list in at least nine different outfits. Styled by regular collaborator Shiona Turini, a stylist and costume designer, the glittering array of custom looks called upon high fashion designers from all over the world. Beyonce, 41, kicked off the show in a heritage British brand Alexander McQueen, designed by Sarah Burton. The heavily beaded and crystal-bejewelled bodysuit featured ‘anatomical embroidery’, according to the brand, had geometric accents on the hips and was inspired by outfits from the label’s autumn/winter 2023 collection. Another look was a sparkly catsuit that had a slightly surreal edge with hands creeping over the design. This was a custom outfit by Loewe, which is helmed by Northern Irish fashion designer Jonathan Anderson. Loewe has been responsible for some major pop culture moments this year – most memorably dressing Rihanna in all red for the Super Bowl half-time show. Beyonce has been a longtime fan of French fashion house Mugler – famously wearing a structured gold bodysuit from the label in the 2008 music video for Sweet Dreams. She once again turned to the brand for her onstage fashion, wearing at least two Mugler looks in Stockholm. One outfit seemed to be inspired by the brand’s iconic spring/summer 1997 couture collection, which was based around insects. Beyonce’s outfit was black and yellow and had an insect-style headpiece, emulating a bee – perhaps a nod to the name of her fandom, the Beyhive. In theme with the disco fashion of the night – to match the 70s-inspired sound of the Renaissance album – Beyonce also wore a silver bodysuit from French brand Courreges. Other outfits included a black look heavily embroidered in pearls, designed by Balmain’s creative director Olivier Rousteing – with whom Beyonce created a collaboration fashion collection in March – a silver caped outfit by cult designer Coperni, and an iridescent look by London-based designer David Koma. The tour is set to include several UK dates, including London’s Tottenham Hotspur stadium, Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Murrayfield in Edinburgh and Sunderland’s Stadium of Light. According to Forbes, the Renaissance tour could gross between up to 2.4 billion dollars (£1.9 billion) from tickets alone by the time it ends in September. Beyonce released her seventh studio album, Renaissance, last year, with the sound inspired by house music and dancefloor-focused Afrobeats. It was met with wide acclaim, and in February she became the most decorated Grammy artist of all time after collecting her 32nd trophy at the 65th annual ceremony. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Pensioner, 85, shares the simple switch that’s helped him to do 650,000 press-ups 10 clever ways to style up your home office 5 sunglasses trends that will be everywhere this summer

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Tori Spelling has documented how “extreme” mould impacted her family’s health, revealing they have been caught in a “spiral of sickness” for months. On Wednesday (10 May), Spelling, 49, gave her fans a health update on Instagram after discovering mould in their rental home. She shared pictures of her youngest children, Finn, 10, and Beau, 6, at an urgent care centre, explaining that they’ve been “so sick they are sleeping all day and say they feel dizzy even [while] standing”. Spelling captioned her post: “We’ve all been on this continual spiral of sickness for months. Sick. Get better. To get sick again. Used to think… well that’s what happens when you have young kids in school. They just continually bring sicknesses home. “But, when it gets to the point where they are at home sick more than being in school we had to reassess what was going on,” she wrote. After an inspection, Spelling discovered the “extreme” mould infestation which was making her family sick. “You just keep getting sick, one infection after another. Respiratory infections. Extreme allergy like symptoms too and, like my poor Finn, skin rashes as well,” the Beverly Hills 90210 alum said, outlining the various health conditions that had been triggered by the infestation. She said Finn was also suffering from Strep throat and had a high fever. Calling the house a “health hazard”, Spelling said she would be moving her family into an AirBnB or a vacation rental “till we can even grasp what to do”. The mother-of-five also criticised her children’s school for not believing “our kids were as sick as they’ve been continually”. Fans thanked Spelling for “bringing light to this public health emergency in our country” and shared recommendations for doctors who can help with mould-related infections. A recent survey found that more than a fifth of UK homes are suffering from damp. Read More Rihanna’s baby son’s Wu-Tang Clan-inspired name is finally revealed Viral coronation song: No, the choir did not sing ‘I love vagina, Camilla’ Chrishell Stause and G Flip announce marriage after one year together ‘Queen of the mommy bloggers’ Heather Armstrong dies aged 47 Man diagnosed with brain tumour after putting symptoms down to drinking coffee One in five people may be suffering from ‘dangerous’ sleep disorder

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It’s that time of year again, when we settle down in front of the telly to watch the glorious pop parade that is the Eurovision Song Contest. Liverpool will be the setting for the grand final on May 13, taking on hosting duties as last year’s winner, Ukraine, isn’t able to. Of course, the music is what matters when it comes to picking a winner, but let’s be honest, who doesn’t love checking out the performers’ weird and wonderful fashion choices? These are just some of the most epic on-stage outfits in Eurovision history… 1. ABBA ABBA was victorious at the 1974 contest with Waterloo, taking to the stage in glitzy satin and suede ensembles. Agnetha Fältskog and Björn Ulvaeus completed their look with knee-high silver platform boots. 2. Co-Co Representing Britain in 1978, six-piece pop group Co-Co chose super shimmery clown-inspired, rainbow coloured costumes. 3. Buck’s Fizz Previously a member of Co-Co, Cheryl Baker returned to Eurovision in 1981 with Buck’s Fizz, taking home the winner’s trophy for Making Your Mind Up. The memorable performance saw singers Bobby G and Mike Nolan whipping off the knee-length skirts of Baker and Jay Aston to reveal mini skirts underneath. 4. Youddiph We’re not sure if she was a bit chilly on stage, but Russian contestant Youddiph pulled her flowing red dress over her head like a shawl while performing in the 1994 final in Dublin. 5. Dana International Opting for the bird of paradise look, 1998’s winner Dana International teamed a plain black gown with a fabulous feathered jacket. 6. Lordi Long-time fans of Eurovision have learned to expect the unexpected. Finnish heavy metal band won in 2006 with Hard Rock Hallelujah, while kitted out in what looked like Halloween monster costumes. 7. Scooch Pop quartet Scooch was ‘Flying The Flag’ for the UK in 2007 with these Britney-esque cabin crew costumes. Sadly, they crash landed at the final in Helsinki, coming joint 22nd out of 24 finalists. 8. Verka Serduchka Also in 2007, Ukrainian drag singer Verka Serduchka fared significantly better than Scooch, coming in second place with a bonkers but brilliant military-themed performance. The singer donned a silver snakeskin trench coat with a matching star-topped hat and glitterball tie. 9. Conchita Wurst Austrian winner Conchita Wurst continued Eurovision’s drag tradition in 2014, accessorising her glittering golden gown with glossy hair and a perfectly groomed beard. 10. Kate Miller-Heidke Australia has, somewhat confusingly been allowed to participate in Eurovision since 2015. The nation may not technically be part of Europe, but it sure knows what’s required of a contestant on the fashion front. In 2019, Kate Miller-Heidke was dolled up in a voluminous fairy princess dress and crown, the singer performing Zero Gravity while being flung from side to side on a long, bendy pole. 11. Sheldon Riley Also representing Australia, Sheldon Riley gave us one of 2022’s most dramatic outfits. Dressed in all white, Riley wore a gown with a long feathered train, paired with a tuxedo-style cropped jacket and a crystal mask covering his face. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Can I go to work if my child has chickenpox? What is mitochondrial donation treatment and who can get it? Pensioner, 85, shares the simple switch that’s helped him to do 650,000 press-ups