JK Rowling has said she is ‘burning with fury’ after Amnesty International blacklisted her women’s charity in a row over trans rights. 

The author, who founded Beira’s Place in 2022 to support victims of sexual violence, was named among a list of nearly 200 organisations that the NGO has accused of moving the dial back on the rights of women and the LGBT community. 

Ms Rowling, who is best known for writing the Harry Potter book series, is an outspoken women’s rights campaigner, focusing on single-sex spaces.

The author’s charity describes itself as a ‘safe and supportive sexual assault service for women in Edinburgh‘ which ‘offers support, advocacy and information in a safe, women-only space’. 

Ms Rowling has now said she is ‘burning with fury’ after Amnesty blacklisted Beira’s Place alongside 176 other organisations that the NGO accuses of rolling back LGBT and women’s rights. 

Also featured in Amnesty’s report are Sex Matters, a charity which supports legal action to protect single-sex spaces and For Women Scotland, the campaign group whose legal action led to the Supreme Court to rule that ‘women’ in equality law refers to biological females, and therefore does not include trans women. 

In scathing social media posts criticising her charity’s inclusion in Amnesty’s list, Ms Rowling said: ‘Amnesty is no longer the organisation that defended all who were persecuted for their freedom of speech. 

‘It has become a self-appointed, vainglorious policeman of wrongthink. It tweets out ideological slogans. It demonises those who disagree with those slogans. It intervened in FWS v Scottish Ministers, on the side of those determined to keep men in women’s prisons and rape crisis centres… 

Amnesty International produced a report of organisations that it believes are holding back women’s and LGBT rights – including Ms Rowling’s Ediburgh rape centre Beira’s Place

‘You cannot be simultaneously an impartial defender of freedom and speech and a wealthy international witch hunter that publicly vilifies and intimidates small campaigning groups with whom you disagree. 

‘As for “silencing” Amnesty, I have neither the power nor the desire to do so. I want them to explain as loudly and extensively as possible why they are using their might and formerly lustrous reputation to attack small non-violent campaigning organisations with legally protected beliefs.’

Ms Rowling added: ‘Amnesty’s attack on Beira’s Place has left me burning with the kind of fury that mounts with every passing hour.’

She also said: ‘I am still f*****g furious, thanks for asking.’

On Friday, the head of Amnesty International UK was urged to resign after a report by the charity suggested ‘gender-critical’ feminists were anti-trans rights. 

The report by the global charity’s British arm claimed gender-critical people – who believe someone’s true gender is based on biology rather than how they identify – represent ‘a movement against the rights of women and LGBTI people’.

Published in May and available on its website, it claims ‘the growth and influence of the GC [gender–critical] movement’ is ‘worrying’ and has been normalised by the media. 

It also calls on journalists to ‘qualify GC and explain that it is an ideological stance that seeks to restrict the rights of trans people’ in their reporting. 

Advertisement

Ms Rowling took to X to share her ‘fury’ over Amnesty’s report, which listed more than 170 organisations it considers anti-trans

The emergence of the document, called ‘Like a snowball: the growth and impact of the gender critical movement in the UK’, sparked calls for Kerry Moscogiuri to consider resigning after a separate report also sparked a backlash last week.

It had to be removed after it dubbed Beira’s Place ‘anti-rights’. 

The Harry Potter author later threatened to bankroll legal action over the report, including other organisations who were listed – prompting Amnesty to remove it from their website.

Beira’s Place claimed the briefing has caused ‘extremely serious’ damage to the service, its staff and the women who rely on it and that it was bombarded with threats and abuse.

It emerged on Thursday that Amnesty UK had referred itself to the charity regulator after backlash from the report. 

The NGO apologised and removed the report, saying it had not gone through the ‘established internal review processes’. 

Campaigners have said the latest document proves Amnesty is aiming to target gender-critical feminists.

The Times has uncovered a video posted on Amnesty UK’s Bluesky account on June 1 in which the NGO’s gender justice spokeswoman, Chiara Capraro, said its new research had found that the number of ‘anti-trans organisations’ had risen from three in 2017 to 51. 

Ms Rowling has threatened Amnesty International with legal action, prompting the organisation to remove the report from its website. The NGO has now referred itself to the charity regulator

Advertisement

She claimed such groups formed part of a global network, adding: ‘That’s why we’re exposing them.’

The Charity Commission watchdog said it was aware of complaints against Amnesty, saying: ‘We are assessing the matters raised to determine what, if any, role there might be for us as charity law regulator.’

An Amnesty International UK spokesman previously said: ‘”Like a snowball: the growth and reach of the gender critical movement in the UK” examines the role of mainstream media coverage in shaping public debate about trans issues in the UK.

‘Among its findings, it reported that four major UK newspapers published nearly 17,000 articles on trans-related topics over a five-year period, equivalent to around nine articles per day.

‘The report argues that trans people have become a highly contested subject in public discourse, while trans voices have often been underrepresented in that coverage.’

A spokesperson told the Daily Mail: ‘We regret that this briefing was uploaded to our website without going through the established internal review processes that are in place to ensure consistency, accuracy and alignment with Amnesty International UK’s position. 

‘Its use of language does not reflect the position of Amnesty International UK which is why it was promptly removed. We are conducting a thorough review into how this serious issue occurred.

‘We remain committed to defending human rights, including the rights of women and girls, and the rights of trans people.

‘The rights of one community do not diminish the rights of another. Human rights protections are strongest when they apply equally to everyone. 

‘No community should be singled out for unfair treatment or denied their dignity and rights.’

Like many locations in the region, Lanchester is one that heavily relied on mining previously – with a small mining development closing in the 1970s.

However, following the industrial period for the village, it has been replaced by a great visitor village with several cultural attractions around it, several walking routes through it and nearby, and a culture of pubs, cafés and independent shops. 

Boasting picturesque locations, such as Dora’s Wood and Waters’ Meet, there are plenty of options when it comes to food and drinks – which sees The King’s Head pub, The Lanchester Fish Bar, and Serendipity Café. 

This is in addition to independent shops in the village, including Get Ahead Hats, Hanley and Sons Family Butcher, and Lanchester Hardware.

Cultural attractions near Lanchester include Potter’s World, Lanchester Garden Centre, and Lanchester Country Homes & Gifts.

According to TripAdvisor, those visiting Lanchester have been impressed by what they have seen – with many dishing out high praise to the village and all it offers. 

Recommended reading: 

Get more content including the stories that matter to your community from The Northern Echo for just £5 for 5 month for a limited time only here.

One person who visited Potter’s World said: “Amazing Value family day out. What’s not to like – the animals where all were well cared for and the venue is spotless.

“Spent a good couple of hours with our 7-year-old grandson who was captivated with the parrots snakes lizards and the whole experience. Finished our visit with amazing ice cream”

Meanwhile, another person who visited Lanchester Garden Centre added: “We just popped in by chance very well presented to be fair didn’t need any plants just a hot drink but when we saw the special and menu decided to take part well worth a visit meals great value service very good.”

A remarkable photo of Lionel Messi cradling a baby Lamine Yamal has resurfaced ahead of the 2026 World Cup final — taken 19 years ago at Camp Nou when Yamal’s family won a raffle to meet a Barcelona player.

Lionel Messi is poised to go head-to-head with Spain’s teenage prodigy in the World Cup final – 19 years after their first extraordinary meeting.

In 2007, the parents of Spain’s Lamine Yamal secured a competition prize to meet a Barcelona player when their son was merely five months old. That player turned out to be Messi, who was 20 at the time and already establishing himself as a rising talent for both Barcelona and Argentina – the same country that eliminated England in the 2026 World Cup semi-final.

Photographer Joan Monfort documented the encounter in a collection of memorable photographs. They resurfaced two years ago when Yamal played a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, after his father posted one of the images online with the words “The beginning of two legends”.

Advertisement

In the photographs, a smiling Messi can be seen holding and bathing a tiny infant who would later trace such a strikingly similar path in his football career.

“It is a true miracle of destiny,” Monfort said. “It is serendipity – when you find something extra special, so much bigger than you ever thought. If you wrote this in a film it would not seem possible.”, reports the Mirror, reports the Irish Mirror.

The photoshoot took place in the away changing room at Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium, with Yamal’s family having won a competition to be there. His parents – Moroccan-born Mounir Nasraoui and Sheila Ebana, originally from Equatorial Guinea – met after both moved to Barcelona as youngsters.

Yamal is their firstborn child, and shortly after his arrival, the couple entered a raffle organised by Catalan newspaper Sport in conjunction with Barcelona shirt sponsor and global children’s charity Unicef.

Those picked at random would have professional photographs taken of their newborn alongside a Barcelona first-team player. Yamal was among those chosen, and on the day the family turned up, they were paired with Messi entirely by chance.

“I had no idea it was Yamal in the photo until one my friends called me in 2024 and told me his father had posted it to Instagram,” Monfort recalled. “Messi is a really introverted guy, very timid and shy.

“He came into the dressing room and suddenly had to take these photos with a little baby – not even a kid, a proper baby and his face changed like he had no idea what to do! It is difficult for a young man, but Lamine was a very happy, smiley little baby.

“His mum Sheila helped us, she was a young girl and they were a very poor family, but they were very nice to work with.

“Messi was always a professional in these kinds of things and he adapted to the situation very quickly.”

At the time in 2007, Messi still sported the number 19 shirt for Barcelona, only taking on the iconic number 10 jersey a year later following Ronaldinho’s exit from the club. By the time he reached his 19th birthday, Messi had scored 11 career goals and secured La Liga and the Uefa Champions League once each.

Advertisement

Now having celebrated his 19th birthday on Monday, Yamal has already amassed a remarkable 56 goals, alongside three La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey and Euro 2024.

Yamal isn’t actually the player’s surname, but the second of his two given names. His full name is Lamine Yamal Naraoui Ebana, and he wears the first two on his shirt for both Barcelona and Spain as a mark of respect to two people who helped his family around the time of his birth.

Spanish media have widely reported that Yamal’s father vowed to name him after two friends who offered financial support to the family, allowing them to pay their bills during a spell of financial difficulty.

Lamine is a common male name in Arabic. It means honest or trustworthy in English.

Yamal is a variant of Jamal, meaning elegance or beauty.

He grew up in Rocafonda, a working-class neighbourhood in Mataro, 20 miles north of Barcelona. Yamal has celebrated some of his goals by forming a 3-0-4 sign with his fingers, a nod to Rocafonda’s postcode.

Speaking to El Pais earlier in the tournament, Yamal said: “What my mother has done, what my father has done, I couldn’t have done that for anyone who is not my child. If you don’t have money, it’s very hard to help your child play football.

“And my parents managed to make all that happen. It’s something I’ll never be able to repay them for.”

Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the latest sports news, headlines and top stories

On the ground floor are a welcoming entrance hall; a generous light-filled sitting room, centred around a wood-burning stove and with double doors opening into the adjoining garden room, which takes full advantage of the property’s elevated position to frame the panoramic views; a utility room; cloakroom and the dining kitchen.

A well-proportioned open-plan space, this encompasses a stylish kitchen with modern fitted units, integrated appliances and a central island with breakfast bar seating at its heart and has ample room for a family-sized dining table and seating adjoining the kitchen, making it perfect for both everyday family living and entertaining.

This family home in Stillington offers buyers spacious and attractive accommodation and plenty of outdoor space. (Image: YoungsRPS)

French doors provide access from the dining area onto a garden terrace.

Upstairs off the spacious landing is the family bathroom and four double bedrooms.

The principal bedroom – which benefits from a dedicated dressing alcove – is particularly well proportioned and enjoys south-facing views.

Above the main garage is an ancillary space, which has the potential for a variety of uses, subject to obtaining any necessary consents.

This family home in Stillington offers buyers spacious and attractive accommodation and plenty of outdoor space. (Image: YoungsRPS)

The property sits in generous grounds with approximately 0.25 acres of formal gardens, predominantly laid to lawn.

It also has three garages, a workshop/home office, potting shed and private gated driveway.

While enjoying a rural position close to the village of Bishopton, this family home is also within easy reach of Sedgefield, Darlington and Yarm.

This family home in Stillington offers buyers spacious and attractive accommodation and plenty of outdoor space. (Image: YoungsRPS)

PROPERTY FACTS

2 Bishopton Crossing, Stillington

Price: £495,000

YoungsRPS 01740 622100

www.youngsrps.com

This family home in Stillington offers buyers spacious and attractive accommodation and plenty of outdoor space. (Image: YoungsRPS)

This family home in Stillington offers buyers spacious and attractive accommodation and plenty of outdoor space. (Image: YoungsRPS)

Man Utd announced the signing of midfielder Andrey Santos from Chelsea at the beginning of the week.

Michael Carrick described Andrey Santos as a “fantastic player and character” ahead of his pre-season debut for Manchester United. Santos completed a £50million move from Chelsea on Monday.

The deal was structured as an initial £48million for the 22-year-old, with a further £2million in add-ons, and he signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford.

Santos was behind Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in the midfield pecking order at Chelsea, but a move to Manchester will give him the opportunity to kick on in his career following Casemiro’s departure.

The Brazilian will make his pre-season debut against Wrexham in Helsinki on Saturday afternoon. Michael Carrick spoke to MUTV ahead of that game, and he was asked how Santos had settled in this week.

“Yeah, he’s settled in really well,” Carrick said. “Fantastic character. Settled in so quickly and he’s buzzing to be here. You can see that. He’s a fantastic player, so again, you know, not expecting anything crazy special today.

“It’s just a step, you know, get your eye in, get back on the pitch again, and he’ll do really well for us. So I’m really looking forward to the progression that will show the longer he is here, to be honest. But today, the first one, it’s nice to get that first one out of the way.”

Carrick also explained his team selection, adding: “I’m just trying to get the understanding between the relationships a little bit and the boys knowing each other and trying to develop that as we go through pre-season.

“I think the senior kind of senior boys that we’ve had that haven’t been away kind of make up a good team, so yeah. It fits quite nicely, you know? Sometimes you overload in certain areas and it fits quite nicely, so I think it makes sense to go with that and then look forward to the younger players’ second half.”

By ISABEL BALDWIN, US ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Published: 15:38 BST, 18 July 2026 | Updated: 15:56 BST, 18 July 2026

Bryson DeChambeau has arrived at Royal Birkdale to compete in the third round of The Open Championship following his furious penalty row. 

The LIV Golf star had threatened to not continue competing at the major championship in the wake of being assessed a two-stroke penalty during the second round. 

The American’s second-round 66 was downgraded to a 68 on Friday – seeing him drop to three shots back of the overnight leader – over accusations of improving his lie on the fifth hole.

He had floated the possibility of an extraordinary withdrawal during a livid outburst with officials in the immediate aftermath of the ruling. 

Advertisement

However, after cooling down, he later confirmed on social media that he would contest the third round.

True to his word, DeChambeau stepped onto the tee box for his 3:30pm (10:30am ET) tee time at Royal Birkdale to chase down leaders Ryan Fox and Lucas Herbert. 

Bryson DeChambeau has arrived at Royal Birkdale to compete in the third round of The Open

Advertisement

The LIV Golf stepped onto the first tee box for his tee time – despite threatening to pull out

Despite the animosity of the end to Friday, DeChambeau received a warm welcome as he strolled out onto the tee. 

He was loudly cheered and applauded by the British crowd gathered around the first tee box as he was announced ahead of beginning his third round. 

Ironically, he first shot suffered a similar fate as Friday’s tee shot at the fifth. While it wasn’t as far off line, it stray left of the fairway, finding the rough.

Advertisement

Thankfully for DeChambeau, he didn’t need to do any trampling this time with the grass not as long or as treacherous, He was left with a manageable lie from which he found the green and walked off with a par. 

It marks the first time this year that DeChambeau has made it through to the weekend at a major championship after missing the cut at the Masters, PGA Championship and US Open. 

Even with Friday’s two-shot penalty, he finds himself only three shots back of the lead heading into Saturday’s round. 

Despite backtracking on his petulant claim that he would not return for the third round, DeChambeau still could not resist taking a dig at the R&A. 

Advertisement

In a series of photos shared to Instagram on Friday night, DeChambeau posted two images that had been edited to show him floating above the fescue of the prestigious links course. 

The American received a warm welcome from the crowd as he strolled out onto the tee

His first tee shot found the rough on the lefthand side of the fairway 

DeChambeau was embroiled in a dramatic argument with rules officials at The Open

Advertisement

He was driven back to the fifth hole to discuss whether he improved his lie

He had been assessed the two-stroke penalty after appearing to inadvertently improve his lie by trampling over the thick rough around his ball at the fifth hole.

The saga will rank among the most dramatic in the 154 editions of the Open, with DeChambeau notified after his round that a breach had been flagged on the television footage. He quickly demanded to be taken by buggy back to the spot of the incident, where he erupted at two rules officials.

DeChambeau was visibly irate as he protested his innocence against what was later clarified by chief referee Grant Moir as an ‘inadvertent improving of the area’ behind his ball.

Advertisement

Footage of the original incident showed DeChambeau wading through the long grass before planting his right foot directly behind his ball – an act that flattened the fescue and would have allowed an easier backswing.

Chief referee Moir said: ‘Bryson has been penalized two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of his intended swing, so intended backswing on the 5th hole when he was playing his second shot.

‘Ruling 1 restricts what a player may do to improve any of the protected conditions affecting the stroke, and this includes the area of the player’s intended swing. So an improvement means to alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke so that the player gains a potential advantage for the stroke.

‘Now, I’ll stress that this applies even when the action is accidental, as it was in Bryson’s case.’

Advertisement

ITV’s competition show The Voice has apologised after being called out for asking a bakery to provide food, unpaid.

Last week, Get Baked UK, run by Rich Myers, shared an email from a producer which he initially believed was a ‘wind up’ before realising the request was ‘totally real’.

They, alongside production company Lifted Entertainment, have since reached out to apologise for ‘any upset caused’.

In the original email, a producer had reached out and asked that Get Baked supply their ‘amazing products’ to be in the green rooms and talent dressing rooms at The Voice.

The catch was that they were ‘unable to offer anything monetary or otherwise’ as payment for the goods.

Instead, the producer highlighted the ‘exposure’ to presenters and coaches who are ‘highly influential’ as well as contestants.

Rich branded ITV and Lifted Entertainment a ‘total disgrace’, asking ‘how did we get here’ when he posted on social media.

He said in another post that a company making £350million in profit asking for free cake, should be made illegal.

Advertisement

The baker replied to the producer, writing: ‘I must admit I’m trying really hard not to bite at this stuff as of late, but on this occasion I simply cannot resist.’

He insisted he wasn’t blaming the person who sent the email but asked them to tell their ‘boss, boss’s boss, and boss’s boss’s boss’ to ‘f off’.

Within hours, Rich’s post had gone viral with hundreds of comments from other prominent food businesses and disappointed viewers.

Haircare brand Silkie claimed to have received the same email, with Choc on Choc saying they ‘fell for’ the offer in 2020.

Advertisement

In response, ITV emailed him again, which read: ‘We wanted to reach out to apologise for any upset caused by our email.

‘This was not in line with our usual way of working nor does it reflect the standards we expect of ourselves. We’re truly sorry to have caused offence.’

In a statement to Metro, Lifted Entertainment said: ‘We apologise for any upset this has caused and are reaching out to Rich Myers directly.  Immediate steps have been taken to ensure this type of request is never made again.’

Posting the email on Instagram, Rich wrote: ‘You know what, all jokes aside — if ITV stay true to their word here, and this whole thing actually results in the end of them asking for freebies from independents, then it’s a massive win. Time will tell.’

To his followers, he added: ‘If you own an independent business, and ITV do happen to come knocking, please be sure to let me know. I feel like I’m the new presenter for WatchDog or whatever it’s called.

Advertisement

‘Maybe I’m on about Crime Watch? Either way, I’m here for you.’

Ultimately, Rich did accept the apology as he was ‘not one to hold a grudge’ but warned the company not to do it again.

MORE: Every star tipped for I’m A Celebrity 2026 so far including Gavin and Stacey icon

MORE: Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero blast ‘stupid’ Gary Neville after Argentina beat England

Advertisement

MORE: When are Emmerdale and Coronation Street next on amid the final stages of the World Cup?

Comments


Add as preferred source

TV Newsletter

Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.

Advertisement

Trained in physical theatre at East 15 Acting School, Roan Armitt-Brewster, Lennie Longworth and Samuel Cunningham draw inspiration from another Rowan, Atkinson’s Mr Bean, as well as the black-and-white cinema of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton.

There are shades too of Nick Park and Aardman Animation’s Wallace & Gromit comedies and Belgian surrealist René Magritte in the design for this hour-long “silent love story with a very loud heart”.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Armitt-Brewster, who appeared on the Theatre Royal main stage in Around The World In 80 Days-ish and the 2024 pantomime Aladdin, has described A Brief Case Of Crazy as “the sweatiest, stinkiest show in the world”.

In 1940s’ vintage woollen tank top, cardigan and fitted suit respectively, and sometimes in coats and bowler hats too, in such hot conditions for performing, Armitt-Brewster, Longworth and Cunningham must have felt even sweatier, even stickier. Nevertheless, they put everything into such a physically demanding show, one that keeps them constantly on the move, regularly breaking into ever-faster dance routines.

They do not speak a word, but their facial mannerisms speak volumes, and all manner of sound effects and recorded songs and incidental music are the trigger for crisply choreographed movements of exquisite comic timing, especially in scenes on the London Underground.

Armitt-Bewster’s Thomas, in his specs and tank top that have not changed since childhood, is an introverted, nervy, nerdy office drone with a hidden crush on Longworth’s just-as-shy co-worker Daisy, in woolly hat, green cardigan and red skirt, who turns out to be equally secretly love struck (both of them keeping a photo of the other in a stashed-away folder).

Always standing in the way of love’s true path Cunningham’s office boss Simon, a preening poltroon with a large mirror in his briefcase, a snarling growl for Armitt-Brewster’s timid Thomas on every entrance and a red rose for Daisy, stolen each time from knock-kneed Thomas.

Can love prevail or will dastardly Simon spoil everything?  The office “romance” is played with mime and clowning, dance steps and slapstick set-pieces, sometimes involving the drawers of the office chest, where one opens as another is pushed shut. Always keep an eye out for the unexpected, such as the office sunflower suddenly growing taller in the pot when love is declared.

The characters are caricatures with familiar tropes, but beneath the comedy lies pathos too, as bullying and grief suddenly rise to the surface in a brief, deeply moving puppetry scene that takes Thomas back to his childhood.

In the blink of an eye, amid the changing sounds of a hospital, the scene recalls how Thomas was picked on, how he injured himself in a fall, how his mother tended to his injuries, and how that handkerchief went from her hand to his after she dies all too young. When theatre is this economical but visually rich in its storytelling style, it is all the more impactful.

Indeed, the timing is so well judged throughout that only once – in a sequence of love-blossoming dance routines in quick-quick succession, where Armitt-Brewster plays Astaire to Longworth’s Rogers – could the editing be tighter. Maybe trim a song, but definitely keep in Armitt-Brewster tap-dancing finale.

All three performances are a delight, from Armitt-Brewster’s tragicomic office nerd to Longworth’s toothy, Chaplinesque Daisy – you could picture her playing Shakespeare’s Puck – topped off with Cunningham’s vainglorious Simon, the cadaverous cad of the piece.

From a trio of misbehaving briefcases to the cast’s ability to put both commotion and emotion into motion, A Brief Case Of Crazy is an utter joy in its celebration of the romance of the underdog, its empowerment of being different, its love and refinement of a time-honoured but increasingly neglected performance style. You’d be crazy to miss it.

Skedaddle Theatre & Shoddy Theatre present A Brief Case Of Crazy, York Theatre Royal Studio, today (July 18) 7pm. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk. Age guidance: Five upwards.

Olivia Attwood stripped down to her underwear in a racy Instagram video on Saturday morning as she shared a behind the scenes get ready with me from her event on Friday night. 

The TV personality, 37, left little to the imagination as she showcased her incredible figure in a pink lace bra and nude thong. 

With her dress at her ankles, Olivia’s stylist was seen crouched at her feet as she explained: ‘He is helping down below.’ 

And as he got near her crotch she joked: ‘You won’t like it down there, it’s not for you.’ 

Olivia celebrated the launch party for her new collection with Tatti Lashes on Friday and she set pulses racing in a lingerie-flashing pink sheer dress.

The outing marked the first time the star had been seen since her boyfriend Pete Wicks set the internet ablaze by making their romance Instagram official. 

With her dress at her ankles, Olivia’s stylist was seen crouched at her feet as she explained: ‘He is helping down below’

 After weeks of hints and speculation, the former TOWIE star, 37, hard-launched their relationship with a loved-up Instagram post on Thursday featuring snaps from their PDA-filled trip to Ibiza.

Olivia has joked that she and Pete were the ‘worst kept secret’ after they were caught kissing and cuddling on several occasions, following her split from her ‘husband’ Bradley Dack at the start of the year.

And just hours later, Pete posted loved-up pictures of them all over each other on a trip to Ibiza, marking the first time he has ever publicly shared a relationship online.

Smitten Pete’s declaration came following a nudge from Olivia, who had declared hours earlier that she ‘wouldn’t post first’, while she was working out what the relationship was as she was ‘protecting herself’ in the early stages of their romance.

Before the post earlier this month, Pete couldn’t keep his hands off Olivia when she was sporting a pair of tight Roberto Cavalli leather trousers as they put on a PDA-packed display during dinner at Cala Gracioneta in Ibiza.

Around the same time he also sent Olivia 100 red roses to her hotel room when she was battling a hangover after a boozy few days on the island with her friend.

All this culminated in Olivia’s recent statement on her podcast, Olivia’s House, where she heavily hinted that Pete should be the one to post her on his Instagram.

Olivia declared she wouldn’t be posting him first, and hours later Pete took the bold step, proudly sharing pictures of them together on his Instagram page on Thursday.

Olivia celebrated the launch party for her new collection with Tatti Lashes on Friday and she set pulses racing in a lingerie-flashing pink sheer dress

The outing marked the first time the star had been seen since her boyfriend Pete Wicks set the internet ablaze by making their romance Instagram official

After weeks of hints and speculation, the TOWIE star hard-launched their relationship with a loved-up Instagram post on Thursday featuring snaps from their PDA-filled trip to Ibiza

Advertisement

It came just hours after Olivia declared she ‘has a person’ but wouldn’t be making the first move and posting them first on her social media page.

Olivia gushed over her new romance and said once she starts to talk about it publicly ‘she won’t be able to stop’. 

In the clip, she said: ‘The other day I got 100 red roses sent to my door and they were banging the door and it was housekeeping. I was going “not today”, they kept banging and Mark was in bed and I was telling him to get up and he told me to get up.

‘And I opened the door and then felt bad because there was this huge bouquet of red roses and I turned round and went “look what I got”, and the first thing Mark said was “what makes you think they’re for you!”.

‘I do have a person. It’s the worst kept secret. But also I’m keeping it very close to my chest at the moment while I know what it is. Just in the way that I don’t send the first good morning text. I’m not f***ing hard launching anyone first.

‘So I’ll just be sitting here. I’ve got roses coming, I’ve got people grabbing my arse on beaches, but I don’t know, make what you want of it.

‘I understand the interest, Olivia’s House will be the place where I talk about things, when I feel like I know how to put them into words. I’m trying to protect myself a little bit, I’m in a better place. I was in a better place a few days ago when I was in Ibiza.

‘Once I’m talking about it I won’t be able to stop, so just enjoy the peace and quiet.’

Someone in the background quips: ‘Let’s hope he stays relevant’, referencing the name of Pete’s podcast with his pal Sam Thompson.

Appreciating the play on words, Olivia said: ‘Ha! Nice!’

Proving he is taking their relationship seriously after Olivia’s heavy handed hint, Pete went Instagram official with their romance.

Seemingly confirming their official boyfriend-girlfriend status, the former TOWIE star shared an array of loved-up snaps from their holiday.

Sending fans wild, Pete confirmed the hard launch as he captioned the post: ‘I guess someone has to go first…IBIZA’.

Pete’s best friend Sam Thompson was quick to comment as he replied: ‘Never thought I’d see the day YOU hard launch!! couldn’t be happier for you brother’.

Olivia and Pete began dating back in February after she split from her husband and last week they were seen cosying up together during their Ibiza holiday.

Rumours of Olivia and Pete’s romance began last summer after intimate pictures of the pair on a boat that were captured. 

The pair went on a trip with KISS and were seen putting on a flirty and cosy display on a yacht. 

It caused uproar at the time as Olivia was still married to Bradley – who she split from months later, in January this year.

Addressing the snaps on Olivia’s House, a Platform Media original show, Olivia said: ‘Okay, let’s talk to my listeners about the yacht pictures with Pete.

‘Because there is a funny story here. Just as a subtext, okay I was obviously leaning back on [Pete] on the yacht, but nothing happened.’

Pete spoke about their romance for the first time the week before, after the couple enjoyed a holiday together in St Tropez.

The couple were spotted sharing steamy kisses by the pool at the celeb-favourite haunt Nikki Beach club this month.