SPOILER ALERT: THIRD gay character in Albert Square, as Ben Mitchell reveals sexuality

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Coming out: Joshua Pascoe, who plays Ben Mitchell, will be the third gay member of the soap

As Coronation Street comes under fire for broadcasting too many gay plotlines, EastEnders introduces its third gay character to Walford.

At just 15-years-old, teenager Ben Mitchell will reveal his true sexuality, devastating his masculine father Phil in the process.

Actor Joshua Pascoe, who is the fourth actor to play the part of Ben, joins couple Syed Masood and Christian Clarke as 'the only gays in the village'

An EastEnders source told The Mirror: 'Since the day Ben returned to Walford, he’s been a bit of a disappointment for Phil.

'With his love of dancing and musicals, Ben was not cast from the same tough guy mould as his father.

'It’s ironic that Phil’s efforts to turn his son into a mini version of himself backfire spectacularly when he encourages Ben to go boxing with Duncan.'



Homosexual characters: Syed and Christian will empathise with Ben


The insider added: 'But no one could anticipate the chain of events this will spark around Walford as Ben tries to keep his sexuality secret from his father.
'Poor Ben is terrified of Phil’s reaction but the truth will come out, sooner or later.'

The controversial storyline sees Ben and Duncan's relationship blossom when Ben takes a risk by planting a kiss on his friend.
He is stunned when Duncan returns his affections, rather than pushing him away in disgust.

But when Patrick Trueman spots them, Ben is terrified the shopkeeper will tell his father and heads to his mini-mart to intimidate him.

The situation goes from bad to worse when terrified Patrick calls the police, leaving Phil fuming and demanding an apology.

Loyal Patrick refuses to say sorry, but does keeps the truth about Ben.

Fellow EastEnders Syed Masood and Christian Clarke, played by Marc Elliott and John Partridge, caused controversy during a recent scene that saw them lying in bed together, apparently naked beneath the sheets.

Over 100 viewers complained, saying the intimacy was 'inappropriate'.
But the BBC hit back, saying the show has a duty to reflect 'real life'.


source: dailymail

Home at last: Atlantis makes historic final landing as Nasa's 30-year shuttle programme comes to a glorious end

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Home, and job done: Commander Chris Ferguson, right, shakes hands with pilot Doug Hurley after Atlantis landed at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. To their left are crew members Sandra Mangus and Rex Walheim

Atlantis made the perfect landing as dawn broke this morning, gliding down on to the tarmac at Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral to bring to an end 30 years of shuttle missions.

It the 135th mission for the fleet, which has covered an astonishing 542 million miles and circled Earth 21,150 times.

And considering this accomplishment, none of the record 2,000 gathered by the landing strip to witness the historic spectacle was complaining that Atlantis was precisely one minute late.

The five shuttles have carried 355 people from 16 countries - and here were the last four astronauts safely home to cheers and tears.

As Commander Christopher Ferguson eased Atlantis on to the runway, he radioed: 'Mission complete, Houston'.

'Job well done, America,' replied Mission Control.



A final stop: Commander Ferguson checks one of Atlantis' chocks and right, addresses the crowds who gathered to watch the historic landing


Incoming: Atlantis Commander Chris Ferguson gently steers the 100-ton spaceship high overhead, then nose-dives toward the swamp-surrounded landing strip


Touchdown: Atlantis lands at Kennedy Space Center one minute behind schedule at 5.57am (10.57am BST) today, bringing to an end Nasa's 30-year shuttle programme


Ferguson added: 'After serving the world for over 30 years, the space shuttle's earned its place in history. And it's come to a final stop,' radioed commander Christopher Ferguson.

The twilight landing, just before dawn, came exactly 30 years and three months after the very first shuttle flight in 1981.

It will be another three to five years at best before Americans are launched again from U.S. soil, with private companies gearing up to seize the Earth-to-orbit-and-back baton from Nasa.


Final farewell: Hundreds of spectators gathered near the runway to welcome Atlantis home - and to bid Nasa's space shuttle programme goodbye


The long-term future for American space exploration is just as hazy, a huge concern for many at NASA and all those losing their jobs because of the shuttle's end.

Asteroids and Mars are the destinations of choice, yet NASA has yet to settle on a rocket design to get astronauts there.

Today, though, belonged to Atlantis and its crew: Ferguson, co-pilot Douglas Hurley, Rex Walheim and Sandra Magnus, who completed a successful space station resupply mission.
Atlantis' main landing gears touched down at 5:57 a.m. (0957 GMT), with 'wheels stop' less than a minute later.

'The space shuttle has changed the way we view the world and it's changed the way we view our universe,' said Ferguson. 'There's a lot of emotion today, but one thing's indisputable. America's not going to stop exploring.


Atlantis' mission was to resupply the International Space Station, ending a 12-year programme to build and service the orbital research outpost



Atlantis comes to a standstill on the runway. Private companies will now take over trips to the ISS. Nasa's next stop with astronauts will be an asteroid, then Mars


Hugs and cheers inside Johnson Space Center's mission control as staff congratulate themselves on a job well done


NASA employee Jerry Davison, center, and his wife, Maureen, right, take photos, while colleague Sean Carter, right, watches with his family


Fingers crossed: Johnson Space Center employees Jeremy Rea, right, and Shelley Stortz hold hands


Homeward bound: An image of the ISS that was taken by an Atlantis crew member shortly after the shuttle departed the station on Tuesday and, right, docked with the space station



Last lift-off: Hundred of thousands of spectators watched blast-off at Cape Canaveral and millions tuned in to watch the crew chat to President Obama during the mission


NASA - PARTE 1.mp4


source :dailymail

Home at last: Atlantis makes historic final landing as Nasa's 30-year shuttle programme comes to a glorious end

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Home, and job done: Commander Chris Ferguson, right, shakes hands with pilot Doug Hurley after Atlantis landed at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. To their left are crew members Sandra Mangus and Rex Walheim

Atlantis made the perfect landing as dawn broke this morning, gliding down on to the tarmac at Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral to bring to an end 30 years of shuttle missions.

It the 135th mission for the fleet, which has covered an astonishing 542 million miles and circled Earth 21,150 times.

And considering this accomplishment, none of the record 2,000 gathered by the landing strip to witness the historic spectacle was complaining that Atlantis was precisely one minute late.

The five shuttles have carried 355 people from 16 countries - and here were the last four astronauts safely home to cheers and tears.

As Commander Christopher Ferguson eased Atlantis on to the runway, he radioed: 'Mission complete, Houston'.

'Job well done, America,' replied Mission Control.



A final stop: Commander Ferguson checks one of Atlantis' chocks and right, addresses the crowds who gathered to watch the historic landing


Incoming: Atlantis Commander Chris Ferguson gently steers the 100-ton spaceship high overhead, then nose-dives toward the swamp-surrounded landing strip


Touchdown: Atlantis lands at Kennedy Space Center one minute behind schedule at 5.57am (10.57am BST) today, bringing to an end Nasa's 30-year shuttle programme


Ferguson added: 'After serving the world for over 30 years, the space shuttle's earned its place in history. And it's come to a final stop,' radioed commander Christopher Ferguson.

The twilight landing, just before dawn, came exactly 30 years and three months after the very first shuttle flight in 1981.

It will be another three to five years at best before Americans are launched again from U.S. soil, with private companies gearing up to seize the Earth-to-orbit-and-back baton from Nasa.


Final farewell: Hundreds of spectators gathered near the runway to welcome Atlantis home - and to bid Nasa's space shuttle programme goodbye


The long-term future for American space exploration is just as hazy, a huge concern for many at NASA and all those losing their jobs because of the shuttle's end.

Asteroids and Mars are the destinations of choice, yet NASA has yet to settle on a rocket design to get astronauts there.

Today, though, belonged to Atlantis and its crew: Ferguson, co-pilot Douglas Hurley, Rex Walheim and Sandra Magnus, who completed a successful space station resupply mission.
Atlantis' main landing gears touched down at 5:57 a.m. (0957 GMT), with 'wheels stop' less than a minute later.

'The space shuttle has changed the way we view the world and it's changed the way we view our universe,' said Ferguson. 'There's a lot of emotion today, but one thing's indisputable. America's not going to stop exploring.


Atlantis' mission was to resupply the International Space Station, ending a 12-year programme to build and service the orbital research outpost



Atlantis comes to a standstill on the runway. Private companies will now take over trips to the ISS. Nasa's next stop with astronauts will be an asteroid, then Mars


Hugs and cheers inside Johnson Space Center's mission control as staff congratulate themselves on a job well done


NASA employee Jerry Davison, center, and his wife, Maureen, right, take photos, while colleague Sean Carter, right, watches with his family


Fingers crossed: Johnson Space Center employees Jeremy Rea, right, and Shelley Stortz hold hands


Homeward bound: An image of the ISS that was taken by an Atlantis crew member shortly after the shuttle departed the station on Tuesday and, right, docked with the space station



Last lift-off: Hundred of thousands of spectators watched blast-off at Cape Canaveral and millions tuned in to watch the crew chat to President Obama during the mission


NASA - PARTE 1.mp4


source :dailymail

Home at last: Atlantis makes historic final landing as Nasa's 30-year shuttle programme comes to a glorious end

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Home, and job done: Commander Chris Ferguson, right, shakes hands with pilot Doug Hurley after Atlantis landed at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. To their left are crew members Sandra Mangus and Rex Walheim

Atlantis made the perfect landing as dawn broke this morning, gliding down on to the tarmac at Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral to bring to an end 30 years of shuttle missions.

It the 135th mission for the fleet, which has covered an astonishing 542 million miles and circled Earth 21,150 times.

And considering this accomplishment, none of the record 2,000 gathered by the landing strip to witness the historic spectacle was complaining that Atlantis was precisely one minute late.

The five shuttles have carried 355 people from 16 countries - and here were the last four astronauts safely home to cheers and tears.

As Commander Christopher Ferguson eased Atlantis on to the runway, he radioed: 'Mission complete, Houston'.

'Job well done, America,' replied Mission Control.



A final stop: Commander Ferguson checks one of Atlantis' chocks and right, addresses the crowds who gathered to watch the historic landing


Incoming: Atlantis Commander Chris Ferguson gently steers the 100-ton spaceship high overhead, then nose-dives toward the swamp-surrounded landing strip


Touchdown: Atlantis lands at Kennedy Space Center one minute behind schedule at 5.57am (10.57am BST) today, bringing to an end Nasa's 30-year shuttle programme


Ferguson added: 'After serving the world for over 30 years, the space shuttle's earned its place in history. And it's come to a final stop,' radioed commander Christopher Ferguson.

The twilight landing, just before dawn, came exactly 30 years and three months after the very first shuttle flight in 1981.

It will be another three to five years at best before Americans are launched again from U.S. soil, with private companies gearing up to seize the Earth-to-orbit-and-back baton from Nasa.


Final farewell: Hundreds of spectators gathered near the runway to welcome Atlantis home - and to bid Nasa's space shuttle programme goodbye


The long-term future for American space exploration is just as hazy, a huge concern for many at NASA and all those losing their jobs because of the shuttle's end.

Asteroids and Mars are the destinations of choice, yet NASA has yet to settle on a rocket design to get astronauts there.

Today, though, belonged to Atlantis and its crew: Ferguson, co-pilot Douglas Hurley, Rex Walheim and Sandra Magnus, who completed a successful space station resupply mission.
Atlantis' main landing gears touched down at 5:57 a.m. (0957 GMT), with 'wheels stop' less than a minute later.

'The space shuttle has changed the way we view the world and it's changed the way we view our universe,' said Ferguson. 'There's a lot of emotion today, but one thing's indisputable. America's not going to stop exploring.


Atlantis' mission was to resupply the International Space Station, ending a 12-year programme to build and service the orbital research outpost



Atlantis comes to a standstill on the runway. Private companies will now take over trips to the ISS. Nasa's next stop with astronauts will be an asteroid, then Mars


Hugs and cheers inside Johnson Space Center's mission control as staff congratulate themselves on a job well done


NASA employee Jerry Davison, center, and his wife, Maureen, right, take photos, while colleague Sean Carter, right, watches with his family


Fingers crossed: Johnson Space Center employees Jeremy Rea, right, and Shelley Stortz hold hands


Homeward bound: An image of the ISS that was taken by an Atlantis crew member shortly after the shuttle departed the station on Tuesday and, right, docked with the space station



Last lift-off: Hundred of thousands of spectators watched blast-off at Cape Canaveral and millions tuned in to watch the crew chat to President Obama during the mission


NASA - PARTE 1.mp4


source :dailymail

Prince William and Catherine spotted at the local multiplex as Royal couple take in bawdy film Bridesmaids

By DEBORAH ARTHURS

Movie buffs: Prince William and Catherine are huge fans of film and were keen to visit the cinema as soon as they returned from their royal tour

Following news that William and Catherine were left twiddling their thumbs on the plane home from the U.S. when their in-flight film service failed, it is no surprise the two were left with a thirst for drama.

Any plans the Royal couple had to take in a movie during the transatlantic flight were scuppered when the system broke down on the London-bound British Airways flight.

So when the newlyweds feet finally touched down on British soil, the first thing they did was to head for the nearest cinema.


Bringing back memories? Catherine and William went to see the American buddy film Bridesmaids at the Llandudno Junction Multiplex, 40 miles from Anglesey


Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge then headed to their local multiplex cinema in Llandudno Junction, 40 miles away from their home in Anglesey.

The two took in a showing of the outrageous American comedy Bridesmaids, a female 'buddy film' that features some fairly grotesque scenes and plenty of bawdy humour.

Cinemagoers were stunned to find they were rubbing shoulders with Royalty at the Butterkist stand, and immediately took to Twitter to share the news.

'My friend from Uni has just seen Prince William and Kate Middleton in my local cinema,' one Twitter user wrote excitedly.


Bawdy: The film, praised by critics for its excellent script, has been a huge box office hit - thanks in part to its outrageous humour


Cineworld confirmed the reports, saying in a Tweet on Monday morning: 'Prince William & Kate Middy saw "Bridesmaids" at Cineworld Llandudno this W'end. Wonder what they made of Kristen Wiigs 'one eyed' impression?'

The aforementioned Kristen Wiig not only takes a lead role in the film, delivering many of the funniest lines, but co-wrote the screenplay, winning praise from critics for her sharp script and excellent comic timing.

Catherine and William are known to be film buffs and on the royal tour enjoyed meeting Hollywood's own royalty in the form of Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon and Tom Hanks.


Hollywood royalty: Catherine was excited to meet film stars she'd seen on screen, the Palace said


Of the Duchess of Cambridge's meeting with the stars, the Palace commented to PEOPLE magazine that Catherine was 'as thrilled as anyone else would be to meet people who she has seen on the screen.'

The couple's understated date was in keeping with their statement that the two wanted to spend their first summer as newly-weds living 'under the radar' on Anglesey.

Catherine and William are expected to spend a low-key summer as William fulfills his duties as a helicopter pilot and Catherine adapts to her new role.

She told royal aides while on her tour of Canada that following the 11-day trip she intended to spend the rest of the summer ‘just enjoying being a newly-wed’.

source: dailymail

Prince William and Catherine spotted at the local multiplex as Royal couple take in bawdy film Bridesmaids

By DEBORAH ARTHURS

Movie buffs: Prince William and Catherine are huge fans of film and were keen to visit the cinema as soon as they returned from their royal tour

Following news that William and Catherine were left twiddling their thumbs on the plane home from the U.S. when their in-flight film service failed, it is no surprise the two were left with a thirst for drama.

Any plans the Royal couple had to take in a movie during the transatlantic flight were scuppered when the system broke down on the London-bound British Airways flight.

So when the newlyweds feet finally touched down on British soil, the first thing they did was to head for the nearest cinema.


Bringing back memories? Catherine and William went to see the American buddy film Bridesmaids at the Llandudno Junction Multiplex, 40 miles from Anglesey


Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge then headed to their local multiplex cinema in Llandudno Junction, 40 miles away from their home in Anglesey.

The two took in a showing of the outrageous American comedy Bridesmaids, a female 'buddy film' that features some fairly grotesque scenes and plenty of bawdy humour.

Cinemagoers were stunned to find they were rubbing shoulders with Royalty at the Butterkist stand, and immediately took to Twitter to share the news.

'My friend from Uni has just seen Prince William and Kate Middleton in my local cinema,' one Twitter user wrote excitedly.


Bawdy: The film, praised by critics for its excellent script, has been a huge box office hit - thanks in part to its outrageous humour


Cineworld confirmed the reports, saying in a Tweet on Monday morning: 'Prince William & Kate Middy saw "Bridesmaids" at Cineworld Llandudno this W'end. Wonder what they made of Kristen Wiigs 'one eyed' impression?'

The aforementioned Kristen Wiig not only takes a lead role in the film, delivering many of the funniest lines, but co-wrote the screenplay, winning praise from critics for her sharp script and excellent comic timing.

Catherine and William are known to be film buffs and on the royal tour enjoyed meeting Hollywood's own royalty in the form of Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon and Tom Hanks.


Hollywood royalty: Catherine was excited to meet film stars she'd seen on screen, the Palace said


Of the Duchess of Cambridge's meeting with the stars, the Palace commented to PEOPLE magazine that Catherine was 'as thrilled as anyone else would be to meet people who she has seen on the screen.'

The couple's understated date was in keeping with their statement that the two wanted to spend their first summer as newly-weds living 'under the radar' on Anglesey.

Catherine and William are expected to spend a low-key summer as William fulfills his duties as a helicopter pilot and Catherine adapts to her new role.

She told royal aides while on her tour of Canada that following the 11-day trip she intended to spend the rest of the summer ‘just enjoying being a newly-wed’.

source: dailymail

Blitz Britain: Amazing colour pictures of London under siege from Nazi bombers during World War II

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Clearing up: Workers remove rubble from a building decimated in a heavy German air raid during the Blitz. Wallpaper inside the shattered bedrooms can even be seen in the gap left in the row of houses


For many, photographs from the World War II have only been seen in grainy black and white.

But now, new colour images have emerged that show the full horror of the destruction inflicted by Nazi bombings across London.

The powerful images were released to mark the 70th anniversary of the launch of Winston Churchill's 'V for Victory' campaign on July 19, 1941.


Standing tall: The spire of the Central Criminal Court - better known as the Old Bailey - rises defiantly while all around it buildings have become jagged shells in a landscape scarred by the relentless German bombings


The sheer power of the explosives used is demonstrated here by the depth of the crater which has swallowed up this bus. The tiny figures of passers-by further heighten its size


In this extraordinary picture, a double-decker bus is still visible amid crumbling tarmac and bent girders left in an enormous crater caused by a bomb which landed in the middle of a London high street



Ablaze: Firemen battle to control flames raging through a town house ravaged by a direct hit in 1940, while right, this eerie image shows a London road deserted and covered in rubble after an air raid


Preparing for battle: A noticeably young ground crewmen prepare a Spitfire in a field outside of London during the height of the Battle of Britain. In the foreground a group of pilots pause to discuss tactics


Stiff upper lip: A man determined to keep a sense of normality reads a book on a park bench as a moored barrage balloon, designed to scupper air attacks, floats in the background and a second, right, soars above


The random nature of the bombing is clearly demonstrated here as a church, right, remains untouched while a vast swathe of buildings close by were reduced to rubble


Wreckage: Workers wielding pick-axes and shovels are tasked with clearing away the remains of bombed building that would have once stood next to this Central London church



A symbol of resilience: The Houses of Parliament with part of them covered in scaffolding are seen across the River Thames on a sunny day in 1941

source: dailymail