The past year has delivered a whirlwind of major entertainment stories, from celestial journeys and viral scandals to poignant farewells and dramatic comebacks. 2025 proved that the world of showbusiness never fails to captivate, with several incidents dominating headlines and social media feeds across the UK and beyond.
Celestial Journeys and Earthly Scandals
In a landmark moment for celebrity exploration, pop icon Katy Perry blasted into the cosmos in April. The 41-year-old singer was part of a historic, all-female crew aboard Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin New Shepard rocket for an 11-minute suborbital flight. Joined by figures like CBS presenter Gayle King and Bezos's wife Lauren Sanchez, Perry sang 'What A Wonderful World' upon entering space. A widely shared video captured the crew floating in zero gravity, proclaiming "taking up space" in unison. After landing, Perry honoured her daughter Daisy with a flower, stating the experience revealed "how much love you have to give". This cosmic adventure followed her headline-making split from actor Orlando Bloom earlier in the year.
Back on Earth, a moment of unexpected fame at a Coldplay concert in Boston during July spiralled into a major corporate scandal. When frontman Chris Martin jokingly commented on a couple trying to hide their faces on the band's 'KissCam', the viral clip led internet sleuths to identify them as Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot, both executives at New York-based tech firm Astronomer. The ensuing media frenzy and meme avalanche resulted in both individuals resigning from their posts. In a strikingly ironic twist, the company later hired Gwyneth Paltrow—Chris Martin's ex-wife—as a spokeswoman, though she sidestepped the KissCam drama entirely in her announcement.
Farewells and Comebacks
The music world mourned the loss of a true legend in July, when Ozzy Osbourne died of a reported heart attack at age 76. The Black Sabbath frontman's passing came just two weeks after his farewell concert in Birmingham. Fans flocked to the city centre on July 30 to pay respects as a hearse carried the 'Prince of Darkness' past Broad Street to the dedicated Black Sabbath bench and bridge. His family laid pink roses amongst a sea of floral tributes, while Bostin Brass played Sabbath songs—a fitting send-off for the theatrical and controversial rock icon.
In contrast, October marked a powerful return for Lily Allen. Her first studio album in seven years, 'West End Girl', grabbed immediate attention for its candid lyrics, widely interpreted as detailing the alleged infidelity of her ex-husband, US actor David Harbour. Allen described the record as a mix of "truth" and "fantasy". The comeback was cemented with a memorable December appearance on Saturday Night Live, where actress Dakota Johnson emerged as the enigmatic mistress from the track 'Madeline', adding a dramatic spoken-word outro to the performance.
Shake-ups and Honourable Mentions
The glitterball stopped spinning for two beloved figures as Strictly Come Dancing hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced their departure following the 2025 Christmas special. Daly had co-hosted since the show's 2004 launch, with Winkleman joining the main show in 2014. Both MBE recipients expressed deep emotional gratitude to fans, with Winkleman calling it "the greatest relationship of my career".
Other notable stories from the year included Charli XCX's dominant five-award win at the Brits for her 'Brat' album and her subsequent marriage to The 1975's George Daniel. Taylor Swift sparked engagement rumours with NFL star Travis Kelce before releasing another chart-topping album. The year also saw high-profile divorces, including TV presenters Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty. An unlikely romance blossomed on ITV's Celebrity Big Brother reboot, with US dancer JoJo Siwa and reality star Chris Hughes eventually confirming their relationship. Furthermore, Strictly faced continued controversy as former contestant Thomas Skinner made claims of the show being "rigged" following his elimination.
From the heights of space to the depths of viral scandal, 2025 provided a full spectrum of entertainment news, reminding us that drama, innovation, and human emotion continue to drive the showbusiness agenda.
