By Stacy Liberatore For Dailymail.com

Published: 17:36 EDT, 11 September 2023 | Updated: 17:50 EDT, 11 September 2023

The Cheetah Girls film was released on the Disney Channel 20 years ago on August 15, 2003.

The television musical starred Raven-Symoné, Adrienne Bailon, Kiely Williams and Sabrina Bryan, becoming a hit film that led to two more films in the franchise. 

The four stars appeared in the sequel The Cheetah Girls 2 in 2006, but only Adrienne, Sabrina and Kiely appeared in the final film – The Cheetah Girls: One World in 2008.

The Cheetah Girls was based on the novel with the same name by Deborah Gregory, with the film’s premise around four teen girls named Galleria, Aqua, Chanel and Dorinda who want to win a school talent show.

Dailymail.com takes a closer look at where the stars of The Cheetah Girls are now, 20 years after the film aired.

Raven-Symoné 

Raven-Symoné played the character Galleria ‘Bubbles’ Garibaldi in The Cheetah Girls.

The actress, now 37, got her start in Hollywood in 1989 on The Cosby Show, before landing roles in The Little Rascals, Dr. Doolittle and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Raven was a mainstay on Disney in the 1990s, starring in Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century and her own TV show called That’s So Raven.

She voiced a number of characters of hit shows for the channel: Stephanie in The Proud Family, Monique in Kim Possible

By the time she landed The Cheetah Girls, Raven was already a household name for ten years. 

Following the movie, Raven appeared in a number of Disney projects: Tinker Bell, Sonny With a Chance, K.C. Undercover, Cory in the House and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. 

Raven stars on Raven’s Home on the Disney Channel – it is a spinoff of her previous show That’s So Raven.

The show premiered in July 2017, and is currently in its sixth season. 

Raven also voices the character Maria Media in Big City Greens, an animated series on Disney Channel.

She has appeared on Nasville, Black-ish, The Masked Singer and a co-host on The View for four years from 2012 to 2016.

The star and wife Miranda Malay launched their podcast The Best Podcast Ever in July.

Raven and Miranda, a social media manager, tied the knot on June 16, 2020 in LA at Grey’s Anatomy star Debbie Allen’s home by the front garden.

Adrienne Bailon

Adrienne Bailon starred as Chanel ‘Chuchie’ Simmons in The Cheetah Girls. 

The star, 39, was discovered in 1999 at the age of 16 by Ricky Martin.

The star performed in a church choir in Madison Square Garden and was one of the chosen four of the group that was asked to join him on his Livin’ La Vida Loca tour stop that night as a backup dancer.

Soon after, Adrienne was spotted by a producer and asked if she wanted to join a new girl group called 3LW.

She joined Kiely Williams – her fellow Cheetah Girls co-star – and Naturi Naughton in the group, which was signed on to Epic Records.

3LW hits include the 2000 song No More (Baby I’ma Do Right) and Playas Gon’ Play in 2001, with their debut self-titled album going platinum.

Naturi announced she was no longer a member of the group and by 2022, 3LW was only Adrienne and Kiely.

A new third member named Jessica Benson joined the group in 2003.

After The Cheetah Girls film became a hit, Adrienne, Kiely and Sabrina became a real-life group, releasing a Christmas album called Cheetah-licious Christmas  in 2005 – Raven had declined working on the album and also being in the group in order to focus on her solo endeavors.  

Their follow up album TCG dropped 2007.

Adrienne starred in The Cheetah Girls 2 and The Cheetah Girls: One World.

3LW officially announced they disbanded in 2008 so Adrienne and Kiely could focus on The Cheetah Girls.

Adrienne appeared on That’s So Raven, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody; she starred in Empire Girls: Julissa and Adrienne in 2012, served as a co-host on The Real from 2013 until 2022 and is currently a co-anchor on E! News.

 Adrienne, who previously dated Rob Kardashian, is married to musician Israel Houghton.

The singer/host and Israel, 52, are parents to one-year-old son Ever James, born August 5, 2022 via surrogate. 

He has six children from previous relationships.

Adrienne and Israel started dating in 2016, got engaged six months later and wed November 11, 2016. 

Kiely Williams

Kiely, 37, played the character Aquanette ‘Aqua’ Walker in The Cheetah Girls, The Cheetah Girls 2 and The Cheetah Girls: One World.

She joined the girl group 3LW with Adrienne and Naturi in 1999, and like Adrienne, found success with both the band and The Cheetah Girls franchise.

Adrienne and Kiely were working on a 3LW album when they both signed on to star in the first Cheetah Girls film. 

After The Cheetah Girls disbanded in 2008, Kiely worked on a solo music career as well as acting.

She starred in Elle: A Modern Cinderella Tale and Stomp Yard: Homecoming – both released in 2010.

Kiely released a single called Spectacular in 2009.

Kiely and Sabrina starred together in several web series: Dinner With Friends, March Moms and Bad Sex With Good People. 

She also starred in BET Presents: The Encore.

Kiely has two children with husband Brandon Cox: a daughter born in 2018 and a second in March 2022. 

Sabrina served as a bridesmaid for Kiely.

Sabrina Bryan

Sabrina played Dorinda ‘Do’ Thomas in all three Cheetah Girls films.

In addition to the Cheetah Girls franchise, Sabrina has appeared in Mrs. Santa Claus, Mostly Ghostly, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Gina Davis Show, The Jersey and Grounded for Life. 

She appeared in season 5 of Dancing With The Stars in 2007.

Sabrina also starred in the All Stars season of Dancing With The Stars in 2012.

The actress has also served as a correspondent for Dancing With The Stars for E! News, TV Guide and also abc.com.

Sabrina is also an author; she co-wrote a book called Princess of Gossip Julia DeVillers. 

Sabrina has two children with husband Jordan Lundberg.

They tied the knot in October 2018; they started dating in 2011 and got engaged in 2017.

She welcomed a daughter named Comillia Monroe in August 2020 and a son named Ledger Grey in May 2023. 

Dorothy, Glinda, the Wicked Witch of the West, the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion are characters that would likely be recognized anywhere – but the stars behind the beloved roles have a very different story.

While some of the cast members from The Wizard of Oz went on to have flourishing careers, starring in a slew of other movies and TV shows, others struggled to land prominent roles following the movie’s immense success.

Some even went on to lead troubled lives, before eventually turning to other work or stepping out of the spotlight completely.

Most notably, actress Judy Garland – who portrayed the teenager determined to get back home after she was sent over the rainbow with her dog Toto during a horrible storm in Kansas, only to discover a shocking new world filled with flying monkeys, evil witches, a bizarre talking scarecrow, and a magical wizard – went on a downward spiral after starring in the cult classic.

She struggled to deal with the immense fame after being propelled into the spotlight at age 16, and suffered from severe alcohol and drug addictions that left her hospitalized on multiple occasions. 

The star was kicked off of multiple movie sets after failing to show up and was eventually left in $500,000 in debt, before she tragically died of an accidental overdose at age 47.

It was certainly a heartbreaking ending to the former teen star who captured the nation in her pigtail braids and blue plaid dress decades earlier.

The Wizard of Oz, based off of L. Frank Baum’s novel, titled The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, hit theaters in 1939 and went on to become one of the most popular movies of all time.

But what happened to the rest of the cast? The question has come back into everyone’s minds amid the recent passing of Betty Ann Bruno, who was best known for playing one of the munchkins in The Wizard of Oz.

It was announced this morning that Betty, who spent much of her career as a news reporter after the Wizard of Oz, had died at age 91 on Monday after suffering from ‘a massive heart attack.’ 

As fans of the film come to grips with her death, FEMAIL went ahead and recapped everything that came of the rest of the Wizard of Oz stars – including Judy’s devastating fall from grace and what really happened to her costars from the 1939 film.

Dorothy played by Judy Garland

Judy, born in 1922 in Grand Rapids, Minesota, was only 16 years old when she was cast as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz. 

The young actress blew almost everyone away with her performance, which earned her an Academy Juvenile Award and turned her into one of the most sought after stars on the globe practically overnight.

Within one year of its release, she had landed three more movie roles – Andy Hardy Meets Debutante, Strike Up the Band, and Little Nellie Kelly. 

During the ’40s, she starred in a slew of other films like the musical flick For Me and My Gal (alongside Gene Kelly), the comedy Presenting Lily Mars, Meet Me in St. Louis, the drama The Clock, and The Harvey Girls.

But in 1947, while filming the movie The Pirate, Judy suffered from a nervous breakdown and attempted suicide, which resulted in her being sent to a treatment center. 

While Judy appeared in the popular musical movie Easter Parade one year after that, things continued to spiral for her and she soon developed a severe drug and alcohol addiction. 

She was cast in the 1949 flick The Barkleys of Broadway, but after missing several days of shooting due to her continued partying, she was replaced by Ginger Rogers. 

The former child star was also forced to drop out of Annie Get Your Gun that same year.

Judy was eventually sent to a hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, where she underwent electroconvulsive therapy for depression and was weened off the drugs.

However, after she was cast in the 1950 movie Summer Stock, she started taking pills again in an attempt to lose weight – and later that year, she was once again kicked out of a movie, this time, it was the flick Royal Wedding, after she failed to show up to set multiple times.

The Wizard of Oz alum attempted suicide a second time in 1950, and parted ways with MGM Studios soon after that.

She made many appearances on Bing Cosby’s radio show between 1950 and 1951, while taking a break from acting.

She then embarked on a four-month concert tour across the UK, which was wildly successful.

In 1954, she returned to the big screen to star in A Star Is Born, for which she received the Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

Despite its success, she focused most of her time on performing in the following years.

One of her most notable performances came in 1961, when she sang to a sold out crowd at Carnegie Hall. A live recording of the show was released later that year, which spent 13 weeks at number one on the Billboard chart and won her four Grammy awards.

She landed a few more acting roles during the ’60s, including the courtroom drama Judgment at Nuremberg (which garnered another Oscan nom) and the drama A Child Is Waiting. 

In 1962, she launched her own weekly talk show, called The Judy Garland Show, which earned her a $24 million paycheck from CBS (equivalent to $167 million as of 2021).

However, during the late ’60s, it was revealed that Judy was $500,000 in debt after her managers, Freddie Fields and David Begelman, parted ways with her and allegedly took almost all of her earnings.

Her final acting role came in 1963, when she starred in I Could Go On Singing. She sadly passed away in June of 1969 from an accidental barbiturate overdose.

As for her love life, she married musician David Rose in 1941, when she was only 19, but it was short-lived, and they split just two years later. 

The star then tied the knot with director Vincente Minnelli – who she met on set of Meet Me in St. Louis – in 1945, and together, they welcomed a daughter, named Liza Minnelli. Their marriage also ended in divorce in 1951. 

She wed for a third time in 1952, marrying her tour manager and producer, Sidney Luft, and they had another daughter, named Lorna Luft, later that year, followed by a son, named Joey Luft, in 1955. 

They went their separate ways in 1963, and afterwards, she claimed he had been physically abusive to her during their marriage. 

She then tied the knot with her tour promoter Mark Herron in 1965, but they separated five months later. 

The star married her fifth husband, a nightclub manager named Mickey Deans, in 1969, just months before her passing. 

The Wizard of Oz played by Frank Morgan

Frank Morgan, who was born in 1890 in New York City, played a total of six roles in the Wizard of Oz.

Most notably, he portrayed the titular character, but he also appeared as the Emerald City gatekeeper, Dorothy’s carriage driver, the guard at the Wizard’s door, and Professor Marvel.

Afterwards, he continued to act, landing roles in a slew of movies like the 1940 comedy The Shop Around the Corner, the drama The Mortal Storm, Tortilla Flat (which earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor), The Human Comedy in 1943, the rom-com Casanova Brown, Courage of Lassie, and the movie adaptation of The Three Musketeers.

He also launched a major career as a radio DJ, co-hosting a series of shows throughout the ’40s and creating his own successful radio segment, called The Frank Morgan Show, in 1944. 

He married a woman named Alma Muller in 1914, and together, they had one son, who they named George.

He sadly died of a heart attack in 1949 at age 59. At the time of his death, he had just been cast in the comedy Annie Get Your Gun as Buffalo Bill, but the role was ultimately replaced with actor Louis Calhern. 

The Scarecrow played by Ray Bolger

Ray, who was born in 1904 in Boston, Massachusetts, played the Scarecrow and Hunk the farmhand in The Wizard of Oz. 

Following the success of the flick, Ray, who was already a booming Broadway star when he was cast in The Wizard of Oz, spent much of his time on stage.

He began starring in a nightly live show at the Paramount Theater in New York, which involved him tap dancing alongside the Harry James Band.

He also appeared in a slew of Broadway plays like By Jupiter, All American, and Where’s Charley?, the latter of which won him the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical. 

While he mainly spent his time doing live theater, he did star in a few more on-screen titles like the World War II movie Stage Door Canteen, The Harvey Girls – which saw him reunite with his Wizards of Oz costar Judy – the biographical musical film Look for the Silver Lining, the movie adaptation of the play Where’s Charley?, and the comedy Just You and Me, Kid.

He also created and starred in the ABC sitcom Where’s Raymond?, which went on to be renamed to The Ray Bolger Show. 

He was married to a woman named Gwendolyn Rickard for 57 years – up until he passed away from bladder cancer in 1987, at age 82. They had no kids together. 

The Cowardly Lion played by Bert Lahr

Bert Lahr, who was born in 1895 in New York City, starred as the Cowardly Lion and Zeke the farmhand in the Wizard of Oz.

Like Ray, Bert mainly focused on theater work after that, starring in the Broadway productions of DuBarry Was a Lady, Hotel Paradiso, The Beauty Part, Burlesque, Two on the Aisle, Foxy (for which he won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream over the years.

He also acted in the play Waiting for Godot across Europe, followed by a short-lived Broadway run of it in 1956.

He did appear in a few movies and TV shows after the Wizard of Oz, including the musical films Ship Your Worries Away, Ship Ahoy, Meet the People, Always Leave Them Laughing, as well as the comedy Mister Universe, the movie adaptation of Anything Goes, and the western film Rose Marie.

He was married twice. His first wife was dancer Mercedes Delpino, who he wed in 1929 but divorced 10 years later, in 1939. They welcomed a son, named Herbert, together.

He then tied the knot with a woman named Mildred Schroder in 1940. She gave birth to his second son, named John, in 1941, followed by a daughter, named Jane, in 1943.

He died in 1967 at age 72, and while the initial cause of death was listed as pneumonia, it was later revealed that he had cancer.

The Tin Man played by Jack Haley

Jack Haley, who hails from Boston, Massachusetts, and was born in 1897, famously portrayed the Tin Man and a farmhand named Hickory in the Wizard of Oz.

And making the beloved movie was not easy for him. He actually suffered from a severe eye infection during the production – due to the silver paste they used to make him look like he was made from tin – and he had to go under the knife to prevent permanent damage to his eyes. 

Despite the health scare, his role in Wizard of Oz propelled Jack into mega stardom.

He went on to star in the musical film Moon Over Miami, the adventure flick Beyond the Blue Horizon, the comedy Take It Big, mystery One Body Too Many, Scared Stiff in 1945, People are Funny, and Vacation in Reno. 

He also had an impressive Broadway career, acting in the shows Higher and Higher, Show Time, and Inside USA over the years.

In the late ’40s, however, Jack took a break from acting and stepped out of the spotlight for nearly 25 years.

He returned to the big screen in 1970, when he starred as Mr. Reese in the movie Norwood, which was directed by his son, Jack Haley Jr. 

He also appeared in the 1977 musical movie New York, New York – which marked his final role before his passing.

He married to a woman named Florence McFadden in 1921, and they welcomed two kids together, Jack – who went on to marry Judy’s daughter Liza – and a daughter named Gloria.

The star died of a heart attack in 1979 at age 81. A postmortem autobiography, called Heart of the Tin Man, was released in 2000.

Glinda played by Billie Burke

Billie Burke, who was born in Washington, D.C., in 1884, appeared in the Wizard of Oz as Glinda, the Good Witch of the North – and by the time she was cast in the movie, she had already been acting for decades.

And she certainly didn’t slow down afterwards. In the years that followed, she starred in Father of the Bride, Father’s Little Dividend, In This Our Life, The Man Who Came to Dinner, the sitcom Doc Corkle, and the western film Sergeant Rutledge.

She was also offered the role of Aunt Pittypat in Gone With the Wind but turned it down. 

In addition, she hosted her own immensely popular radio show called The Billie Burke Show, which was followed by a talk show, entitled At Home With Billie Burke during the ’50s, making her one of the first female talk show hosts to be featured on television.

The Wizards of Oz alum also starred on Broadway, appearing in This Rock, Ziegfeld Follies of 1943, and Mrs. January and Mr. X in the years after Wizard of Oz.

She married Broadway impresario Florenz Ziegfeld in 1914, and together, they had a daughter, named Patricia. The actress passed away of ‘natural causes’ in 1970, at age 95. 

The Wicked Witch of the West played by Margaret Hamilton

Margaret Hamilton, originally from Cleveland, Ohio, was born in 1902, and she played the villain we all know and love – The Wicked Witch of the West – as well as her Kansas counterpart, Almira Gulch, in The Wizard of Oz.

While making the flick, she suffered from second-degree burns on her face and a third-degree burn on her hand while filming her fiery exit from Munchkinland, which left her in the hospital for six weeks.

It’s been said that her character was meant to be much scarier, but executives cut some of her most frightening scenes out last minute because they were worried it would traumatize young children. 

Margaret became very well-known for her role, with her line, ‘I’ll get you my pretty, and your little dog too,’ becoming one of the most known movie quotes of the decade.

And that was just the beginning for her, as she went on to star in more than 40 movies afterwards, and made appearances in over 40 different shows.

Her biggest acting credits include the movie adaptation of the Broadway play Babes in Arms, the rom-com Meet the Stewarts, the crime drama Bungalow 13, the Lassie movie The Sun Comes Up, the comedy Angel in My Pocket, the show The Addams Family, the sitcom Valiant Lady, The Partridge Family, and the CBS soap opera The Secret Storm.

She also voiced Aunt Em in the animated movie Journey Back to Oz in 1972. 

In addition, Margaret starred in a slew of radio shows, and appeared on Broadway numerous times. Her biggest plays included Goldilocks, Show Boat, Oklahoma!, and A Little ight Music.

She married a man named Paul Boynton Meserve in 1931, but they divorced seven years later. They had one son together, named Hamilton.

In the later years of her life, Margaret – who was very passionate about helping children – worked as a Sunday school teacher in Manhattan, where she resided. 

She sadly developed Alzheimer’s disease near the end of her life, and passed away in her sleep following a heart attack in 1985, when she was 82. 

Uncle Henry played by Charley Grapewin

Charley Grapewin, who played Uncle Henry in The Wizard of Oz, was born in 1869 in Xenia, Ohio. 

He was actually in the original 1903 Broadway production of the movie, 36 years before he was cast in the film.

Charley was already a huge star when he joined the cast, with over 60 acting credits under his belt.

Afterwards, he continued to act, starring in Hero for a Day, the drama Dust Be My Destiny, Grapes of Wrath in 1940, the crime flick Johnny Apollo, the western Texas Rangers Ride Again, the mystery series Ellery Queen, the Academy Award-nominated movie Sand, and the drama When I Grow Up.

He married actress Anna Chance in 1896, and they were together for 47 years until she died in 1943.

He then wed a woman named Loretta McGowan Becker in 1945, but they divorced after five years together. He died in 1956 at age 86. His cause of death was not shared.

Aunt Em played by Clara Blandick

Clara Blandick was born in 1876 on a ship in Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, since her father was a captain. 

She played Aunt Em in The Wizard of Oz, and afterwards, her career continued to soar.

She went on to star in the movie adaptation of the popular book Anne of Windy Poplars, the Marx Brothers’ The Big Store, the 1944 musical Can’t Help Singing, the mystery movie Philo Vance Returns, Pillow of Death, the comedy Key to the City, and the crime drama Love That Brute.

She retired from acting in 1950, at age 74, and lived a quiet life out of the spotlight after that.

She married an actor-turned-mining engineer named Harry Stanton Elliott in 1905, who she met on set of The Christian, but they divorced in 1912. 

After her health began deteriorating in the ’50s, Clara sadly took her own life by overdosing on sleeping pills. She was 85 when she died. 

Cath Kidston closed its last remaining shop in London’s Piccadilly this week after it was last year salvaged from administration in an £8.5million takeover by Next.

Next bought the the vintage-inspired clothing and homeware firm’s brand, domain names and intellectual property, but the retail giant saw Cath Kidston’s bricks-and-mortar presence as surplus to requirements.

But Cath Kidston is just one of several major British brands Next has acquired, partnered with or invested in over recent tumultuous years. 

Gap, Victoria’s Secret, Reiss, Joules, JoJo Maman Bebe and Made.com are all now helping to drive the group’s growth via its ‘Total’ platform.

The retail giant’s flexibility and size has taken it from strength to strength since 2019.

Next was a major beneficiary of the pandemic, and has continued to thrive against a backdrop of high costs and consumer pressure that drove its smaller rivals to the edge of extinction.

It revealed an £870.4million pre-tax profit for the year to January, up 5.7 per cent on the previous year and 16.3 per cent up on the 12-month reporting period before the emergence of Covid-19 in Britain in 2020.

Next’s online presence left it in a relatively strong position as Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions were brought in, while other retailers with a weaker or no e-commerce offering suffered by comparison.

Since the pandemic hit, Next’s active online customers have grown by around a third.

And when Covid-19 curbs began to dissipate, Next again thrived during the rebound in footfall to its bricks and mortar stores.

Head of money and markets at stockbroker Hargreaves Lansdown Susannah Streeter said: ‘Next’s prowess as an omnichannel retailer has really come to the fore.

‘It’s really diversified – It’s not just diversifying in terms of the brands on its platform, but also the services that are offered to other retailers.’

High Street giants profit from selling smaller brands 

Next is not the only retail behemoth to use its size and scale to take advantage of what relatively weaker brands can offer. 

Marks & Spencer is now selling Skechers, Crocs and Toms footwear via its ‘Brands at M&S’ platform, and House of Fraser and Sports Direct owner Frasers – owned by Mike Ashley – has been buying up chunks of Curry’s, Boohoo, Asos and AO World.

Streeter said: ‘It’s a similar strategy. I think what’s happened is that other companies have seen how well Next does it and are almost emulating it.’

She added that there has been a ‘survival of the fittest’ shift in the retail sector, as larger firms have shown their dominance in a difficult trading environment.

For the firms Next scooped out of administration, partnered with, or invested in, its Total platform allows them to leverage the group’s size to grow the business via services like logistics, distribution and customer service.

Next also sells third-party brands online via its Label business, which is primarily for commission, and through its licensing unit.

Streeter said: ‘By bringing them onto the Total platform, Next is enabling brands to become slicker in terms of ordering and delivery, for example.

‘The idea is they rehabilitate these brands and rebuild that brand power.

‘And the very fact that it’s able to offer this kind of umbrella of brands on its platform has actually helped its resilience.’

Investment in the Total platform appears to be paying off, with the unit’s revenues rocketing 269 per cent last year to £144.4million.

The impact on its bottom line, when including gains in the equity value of the stakes it has taken in these businesses, has been a 135 per cent increase in pre-tax profit to £16.3million. Next expects this figure to top £20million this year.

John Stevenson, analyst at Peel Hunt, said: ‘That’s a relatively small percentage [of Next’s total profits], but for something relatively nascent with respect to the overall business, [the group] is getting a meaningful contribution by participating in the equity upside it has created in those businesses. And that’s exactly the rationale.

‘You’ve had retail businesses that have gone into administration, like Made, Cath Kidston and Joules, and these are businesses that resonate strongly with and are relevant to consumers.

‘The other side of the coin to that is [Next] creates a very consumer-relevant offering that makes people want to shop on Next – and that’s also going to drive sales of [Next-brand goods].’

Sale of Princess of Wales’ favourite brand Reiss could spell further success for Next

Next could also soon be set for the strategy’s biggest success yet, with the group reportedly lining up a sale of upmarket favourite of the Princess of Wales Reiss.

New York-based fund manager Elliot is said to among bidders in a deal that could value Reiss at £500million. This would represent a significant profit to Next, which has built a 51 per cent stake in the group.

It was dubbed ‘an outstanding brand with enormous potential’ by Next chief executive Lord Wolfson when he first snapped up a 25 per cent stake in the company in 2021.

HL’s Streeter said: ‘If that offer comes through at the top end of expectations, it would certainly show Next has done very well with Reiss. It’s too early to say how well it has done with some of the others.

‘But in terms of Next’s overall strategy, it’s clearly working because it keeps surpassing expectations.’

Surprisingly strong UK consumer spending over the festive period helped Next boost profit expectations early this year and warm weather-driven clothing sales aided another upgrade in June, though the group did caution that it expects sales to moderate in the second half of 2023.

Streeter added: ‘The mix Next has on the platform now appears to be the right mix, and that suggests these turnaround strategies appear to be working.’

While insolvency levels are expected to calm later this year, government data shows a 40 per cent year-on-year rise in company insolvencies in May as businesses continue to crumble under high costs, rising interest rates and weak economic growth.

Should more attractive opportunities emerge through this route, Streeter said ‘Next could look to snap [other businesses] out of the bargain bin’.

But Peel Hunt’s Stevenson cautioned Next faces a logistical challenge in ensuring it has sufficient systems and distribution capabilities to bring in new brands while also building up existing ones. 

He said: ‘These deals have been on pause while Next lays down sufficient capability.

‘But Next has been getting faster and faster at onboarding brands, so we should get to the stage in the next 12 to 18 months where it can bring brands in much more easily.’

Is Next a good investment? 

While Next’s growth ambitions have been largely successful so far, investors are arguably yet to be fully rewarded.

Next shares have jumped 50.2 per cent since October 2022 when it ramped up deals, but they have yet to regain their pre-Covid crash price of £71.28.

Streeter said: ‘Next’s share price hasn’t regained complete form despite the fact that it keeps surprising on the upside. 

‘If you compare it to Inditex, the owner of Zara, its price to earnings ratio is a lot higher compared to Next. So you could say that there is still potential for Next going forward in terms of its share price.’

A tourist who carved his name and that of his girlfriend into the 2,000-year-old Colosseum in a video seen by millions is a fitness instructor who lives in Britain, MailOnline can reveal.

Ivan Dimitrov, 27, who also goes by the name Ivan Hawkins, was caught on camera by American holidaymaker Ryan Lutz as he carved the words, ‘Ivan and Hayley 23’ into the brickwork with a set of keys.

Bulgarian-born Ivan was in Rome with his long-term girlfriend Hayley Bracey, 33, last weekend and officials were left furious at the wanton vandalism and vowed to track the culprit down.

MailOnline has established that Ivan who is originally from Lovech, works as a fitness coach in Bristol but also has a job as a delivery driver.

Hayley is thought to run her own sports nutrition business and the pair live together in the suburb of Keynsham not far from the Longwell Green gym where Ivan coaches.

In a statement released this afternoon a spokesman for the Carabinieri said: ‘Following investigations, subsequent to the complaint presented by the Colosseum Park Authority, the Carabinieri of the Command of Rome Piazza Venezia, coordinated by the Public Prosecutor of Rome, have identified, through traditional investigations and photographic comparison, the person seriously suspected of be responsible for engraving his own name and that of his partner, at the Colosseum, filming the scene, then published on social media.

‘The Carabinieri have ascertained that it is a couple, man and woman, residing in England.

‘It should be noted that the proceeding is in the preliminary investigation phase, therefore the suspect must consider himself innocent until a final sentence is issued.’

Meanwhile in a statement Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano said: ‘I am grateful to the Arma dei Carabinieri for having promptly identified the alleged perpetrator of the uncivilized and absurd act committed at the Colosseum.

‘An act that has offended all those throughout the world who appreciate the value of archaeology, monuments and history.

‘Now I hope that justice will take its course by rigorously applying the laws. If it comes to a trial, the Ministry of Culture will appear as a civil party’.

Builders were at the couple’s home in Bristol and a workman told MailOnline: ‘They left last week and aren’t due back for a fortnight. We are just doing the groundwork. They said they were touring Europe.’

Hayley’s mother told MailOnline: ‘No, that can’t be right. She wouldn’t do anything like that. She’s on holiday in Italy. Ivan is her partner, and they are both away.’

Her father refused to comment when approached by MailOnline saying: ‘I’ve got nothing to say.’

Sources in the Italian police say they believe that Mr Dimitrov is staying in Bulgaria with family.

His Facebook business page – Ivan Fitness and Coaching – there are several photos and videos of him at the gym and he tells prospective clients: ‘Always hungry for results and always ready to work and do my best! (and be silly lol)’.

Another series of pictures shows Ivan and his girlfriend posing together in the gym with a well-wisher adding: ‘Ah sooo cute. Happy Birthday Hayley.’

Ryan posted the video online after stumbling across Ivan – dressed in a blue T shirt and shorts – as he defaced the brickwork and can be heard in the footage saying: ‘Are you serious man? That is f***** up man. Stupid a******.’

A distinctive black sports watch with a round face on his wrist matches one he is wearing on his fitness training Facebook page – while Hayley who is dressed in a white and wearing a backpack remains facing the wall.

When challenged Ivan simply turns and grins inanely at Ryan before turning his attention back to carving his name and Hayley’s on the wall.

Geographer Ryan posted the footage on the Reddit website entitling it ‘A***** tourist carves his and girlfriend’s names on Colosseum wall’ and it quickly went viral with the clip viewed on YouTube alone more than 220,000 times.

There was also outcry from officials in Rome, with the country’s furious Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano saying:’ I consider it very serious, unworthy and a sign of great incivility that a tourist defaces one of the most famous places in the world, a historical heritage such as the Colosseum, to engrave the name of his fiancée.

‘I hope that whoever made this gesture at the Flavian Amphitheatre will be identified and sanctioned according to our laws.’ 

Alfonsina Russo, director of the Colosseum, said: ‘The Carabinieri police are now tracking down this man and we will see if we can get him. When you get uneducated people at the Colosseum this kind of hooliganism happens, and I hope there are no copycats.

‘What is worse is that he scratched his name right next to a large sign telling people not to write on the walls.’

Russo said the damaged brickwork was part of a wall built in 1840 during restoration rather than the original façade but she added it was nevertheless still serious.

A Carabinieri paramilitary police spokesperson in Rome said: ‘An investigation has been launched after a complaint of vandalism was made by the authorities at the Colosseum. We are trying to identify the person in the video and as yet we have no update.’

Punishments for defacing historical monuments include fines of up to 15,000 Euros and a maximum five years in prison and this is the fourth time this year the Colosseum has been vandalised.

After filming the incident, Ryan exclusively told MailOnline earlier this week: ‘I couldn’t believe it when I saw what this jerk was doing to the brickwork.

‘I’m fascinated by history and culture and here was this dumba** defacing it which is a crime and I wanted to do something about it.

‘That’s why I took the video and I showed it to the security guard at the site and I pointed the couple out to them.

‘He said there was nothing he could do as he hadn’t actually seen them defacing the wall but he said I should speak with his boss. So I did and he told me the police had been called.

‘That was the last I heard and then I left the Colosseum and carried on with my day. I posted the video in the hope that someone would recognise and identify them and then they will be punished.

‘I think both of them, whoever they are, are idiots and I have a horrible gut feeling these two jerks are American because it’s the sort of thing we have a reputation for doing.

‘But I respect culture and history and I’m grateful to be a visitor to a place like Rome and be hosted by such wonderful people and then two idiots do something like this.

‘They clearly have no shame and when he looked at me in that bizarre way and he just smiled you can hear what I thought of him. 

‘I don’t understand what would possess someone to do something like that and I really hope that are caught and punished.’

This is not the first time tourists have been fined for vandalising what is believed to be the world’s largest amphitheatre. 

In 2020, an Irish tourist was arrested for allegedly carving his initials into the Colosseum. 

The Carabinieri police said a 32-year-old man was caught by the Colosseum’s private security and immediately reported to officers.

The man’s two initials, about 2in high, were said to have been carved with a metal point on a pillar of the first floor in September 2020.

The unnamed man was accused of damaging a historical and artistic landmark.

Archaeologist Federica Rinaldi, responsible for the ancient Roman amphitheater, said people who carve their initials into the monument want to ‘appropriate’ it.

She added: ‘The Colosseum, like any monument that represents the history of all of us, must be preserved and handed over to future generations.’

The Colosseum, considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world, is a World Heritage Site.

This is along with 54 other Italian sites which comprise the city’s historic centre.

In January 2017, the Colosseum was vandalised with black spray paint, officials have said.

The name ‘Balto’ and the word ‘Morte’ (death) were sprayed onto the pillar overnight.

Two Brazilian men who attempted to climb over a gate into the Colosseum on the same day were apprehended by the authorities when they fell 13 feet (four metres), one fracturing his hip bone.

CCTV was studied to see if they were responsible for the the graffiti.

Francesco Prosperetti, special superintendent for the Colosseum, said: ‘We worry that this could become a game and people could start competing over it.’ 

In 2015, two American tourists were arrested for carving initials into the Colosseum.

Before they were spotted, the women, 21 and 25, were able to carve a J and an N into a brick wall on the first floor of the west side of the Colosseum.

After carving the 8in-high letters, the women posed together for a selfie. 

The women, just two of six million tourists that flock to the Colosseum every year, used a coin to engrave the letters, La Stampa reported.

They are said to have broken away from their tour group – but other tourists saw what had happened and alerted security.

Police charged the women with ‘aggravated damage on building of historical and artistic interest’, according to Repubblica. 

After they were caught, the women apologised to Piazza Dante police and Captain Lorenzo Iacobone.

They said: ‘We apologise for what we did. We regret it but we did not imagine it was something so serious. We’ll remember for a lifetime.’  

According to The Guardian, the section damaged dates back to the 1800s – a key period of restoration.

A spokesman for the Special Superintendency for the Archaeological Heritage of Rome is quoted as saying: ‘It’s not an original wall but it’s nevertheless antique.’ 

In 2014, a Russian tourist was fined £17,000 (20,000€) for carving the letter ‘K’ on a section of brickwork.

Construction on the Colosseum began sometime between 70 and 72CE and seated around 50,000 spectators.

They came to watch gladiators in combat with each other and dangerous animals, including lions.

Other tourists have repeatedly caused chaos in Rome, like in 2018, when two British tourists stripped and posed for photos in a fountain at one of Rome‘s most famous monuments.

One of the Britons can be seen removing his underwear as the two men frolicked in the water at the foot of Altare della Patria in the Italian capital.

Others filmed as the men laughed and jokingly flexed their muscles in front of bemused tourists.

Their antics were captured on camera by a tour guide at the landmark – a monument to war dead that was originally built in honour of Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of the unified Italy. 

In the footage, two men – reported as being British by local media – are seen posing for photos in the fountain wearing only their briefs. 

Several people position themselves by the wall, dipping their feet into the water and taking photos.

One of the men then pulls his underwear down and hides his genitals between his legs to pose naked for photos. Numerous visitors walk past the Britons as they continued to misbehave.

The footage caused outrage on social media. One Italian wrote online: ‘English sons of b*****s, always playing up and attention-seeking.’ 

Local media said at the time that this was yet another assault on Italy’s heritage. 

Plug in and chill out: Why Volkswagen’s modern take on the iconic ‘hippy’ camper van is a great option for a no-frills summer break

By Simon Heptinstall For The Daily Mail

Updated: 09:33 EDT, 28 June 2023

Port Adelaide‘s only AFL premiership coach Mark Williams has used his Hall of Fame induction to issue an emotional call to fight racism in the sport – and explained what led to one of the most iconic images in Power history.

In a passionate and wide-ranging speech at Melbourne‘s Crown Casino, the life-long football champion ended the function in stirring style.

Joking he was given the hard task of following iconic broadcaster Bruce McAvaney, Williams need not have worried as he delivered a memorable acceptance speech.

The 64-year-old said he remained in football, currently at Melbourne, due to his love of working with people from all backgrounds.

‘The Aboriginal people, I absolutely love. I really admire the AFL for talking and standing up for the ‘Yes’ vote for the Voice,’ Williams said.

‘I am saying we have to do the right thing and understand how bloody hard it is for the Aboriginal players to make their way in the AFL.

‘We need to support them and understand them.

‘When we get them there, make sure we give them opportunity and then absolutely demand the best from them and expect the best.’

Williams used the 2004 grand final when he coached Port to their sole premiership as an example of First Nations players starring on the biggest stage.

Byron Pickett won the Norm Smith Medal, while fellow Indigenous Power teammates Gavin Wanganeen, Peter Burgoyne and Shaun Burgoyne also played key roles in Port’s 40-point victory over the all-conquering Brisbane Lions.

‘I want them to be best on ground, not just making up the numbers,’ Williams said.

‘On grand final day, that’s what we saw when Port Adelaide won.’

The iconic image from Port’s breakthrough AFL premiership was Williams’ mock tie-choking gesture after the siren.

Williams reflected on just how tough things were for him and his family at that time in his life.

‘We were getting a lot of flack, it was hard living in Adelaide. Walking down the streets, my family was getting bullied and abused,’ he said.

‘People see the pulling of the tie and try and understand it. (But) If you walked a mile in my shoes or theirs (my family), you would understand how difficult it was.

‘To everyone’s credit, the Port Adelaide players, staff and board — everyone stuck together really closely. We worked on it and worked on it and kept going and kept believing in ourselves and finally got there.’

Three-time Geelong premiership heroes Jimmy Bartel and Corey Enright have become the latest Cats legends to be inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

The pair both ended their playing careers at the end of the 2016 season following Geelong’s preliminary-final loss to the Sydney Swans.

Despite ending their time with the Cats on a low, Bartel and Enright played a central role in an extraordinary period of success for the regional Victorian club.

The dynamic duo starred in Geelong’s 2007 premiership, the club’s first in 44 years, before being part of further grand-final success in 2009 and 2011.

A courageous midfielder, Bartel was awarded the 2007 Brownlow Medal and took out the Norm Smith Medal for his best-on-ground performance in the 2011 grand-final win over Collingwood.

Now a respected media analyst and a GWS board member, Bartel finished his career with 305 games and 202 goals.

Enright remains one of the greatest defenders in modern AFL history, named All-Australian six times, including in his final season.

Geelong should continue to dominate the Hall of Fame intake in coming years with fellow premiership greats such as Gary Ablett Jnr, Steve Johnson, Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins almost certain to be included when they become eligible.

One of Bartel and Enright’s former adversaries, Sam Mitchell, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame after a stellar four-premiership career for Hawthorn, followed by a one-season stint at West Coast.

Mitchell skippered the Hawks’ 2008 grand-final victory over Geelong, before handing the captaincy reins over to Luke Hodge ahead of the 2011 season.

Hawthorn added to their premiership cabinet with a 2013-15 flag three-peat.

Mitchell was retrospectively crowned a joint winner of the 2012 Brownlow Medal after Essendon’s Jobe Watson gave up his award following the Bombers’ supplements saga.

Now coaching Hawthorn after taking over from his long-time mentor Alastair Clarkson at the end of 2021, Mitchell finished with 329 games and is a five-time Hawks best-and-fairest winner.

Port Adelaide’s only AFL premiership coach Mark Williams received a belated induction, 13 years after he stepped away from the Power.

Williams enjoyed an illustrious playing career in the SANFL with Port Adelaide, before taking his talents to the VFL/AFL at Collingwood and Brisbane.

AFL Commission chairman Richard Goyder confirmed St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt had accepted an invitation into the Hall of Fame.

However, the former Saints captain is living in the United States with his family this year and will be officially inducted when he returns to Australia.

2023 AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn, West Coast)

Jimmy Bartel (Geelong)

Corey Enright (Geelong)

Michael Aish (Norwood, SANFL)

Tom Leahy (West Adelaide, North Adelaide SANFL)

Bruce McAvaney (broadcaster)

Mark Williams (Port Adelaide as player and coach, Collingwood, Brisbane)

EastEnders has been hit by a huge scheduling shake-up as fans finally learn the truth about George Knight’s past this week.

In an epic two-night affair, viewers will finally learn the truth about George (Colin Salmon) and his ex-wife Rose and fans convinced they already have worked out her true identity. 

The BBC soap have teased the upcoming reveal with mysterious trailers with fans scouring through them in a bid to find clues.

And it seems some have come to the conclusion that Rose is actually the alter ego of former character Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) an identity she used after faking her own death. 

One teaser sees a red bloom in a vase at the Queen Vic with the words ‘Every Rose Has A Thorn….’.

Following the news that Michelle Collins would be reprising her role as the villainous and presumed dead Cindy, alongside Adam Woodyatt as her ex-husband Ian, rumours have been rife that Cindy and Rose were actually the same person.

And one soap fan spotted a detail in the latest trailer that links the characters in an unlikely way. 

They noted that if the letter ‘E’ was taken from Rose and added to Thorn, the two words would then spell ‘Ros Thorne’.

Ros appeared in the show between 1997-1998 as a private detective hired by Ian to track down his wife and sons Peter and Steven, after she fled the country after paying a hit man to try and kill him.  

The investigator, played by Scottish actress Clare Grogan, tracked Cindy down in Italy and helped Ian take his sons back to Walford.

Cindy eventually returned to the UK before being jailed for attempted murder and later died in prison during child birth.

Taking to the comment section another fan wrote about the theory: ‘Omg you’re a genius!’. 

While a second said: ‘ I mean that’s very clever if it’s intentional’.

Someone else wrote: ‘Good spot. Maybe [Ros] was in on it?’. 

And a fourth said: ‘Omg this is so clever if this is true!!’ 

EastEnders typically releases each day’s episode at 6am on BBC iPlayer before they are broadcast that evening for busy fans to plan their daily soap fix.

However, these two episodes will be aired simultaneously at 7:30pm on BBC One and iPlayer, so that all of the fans can watch the dramatic truth unfold.

Linda Carter has been determined to find out the truth about George’s past after fearing he’s using her mother Elaine to gain control of the Queen Vic. 

She’s enlisted Phil Mitchell’s help, and he convinces Callum Highway to search the police database for information about George.

While Callum confirms that George’s record is clean, he’s concerned that he couldn’t find any information about his ex-wife Rose, and Phil confronts him.

Actor Colin Salmon previously addressed the mystery surrounding George’s past, which will finally be revealed in the upcoming episodes.

He said: ‘Conflict is drama, and drama is our business. It’s complex! Life is complex, and there are so many things that can send people off on the wrong trajectory. 

‘I love the idea of exploring that in drama because the catalyst doesn’t have to be some huge thing.

‘It can just be a misunderstanding. It’s more real like that. Being misunderstood is a nightmare for a straight shooter like George.’

EastEnders airs the truth about George’s past on Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and iPlayer. 

Welcome back to the Soul of Sport. For our latest episode of the series, ANDY HOOPER travelled to Epsom Racecourse for the iconic Derby on Saturday.

The 244th running of Britain’s most important Flat race didn’t disappoint as Auguste Rodin showed why Aidan O’Brien’s faith in him was undiminished with the Ryan Moore-ridden 9-2 shot giving the trainer a remarkable record ninth Derby win with a half-length win from King of Steel. 

The excitement, anguish and elation of the race was felt by thousands at the sell-out event, with many more watching from afar in what is no doubt one of the greatest occasions in the British sporting calendar. 

On this year’s Derby Day, our man captured all the build-up, atmosphere and drama – which included 19 arrests made by Surrey Police as animal rights protesters descended on the event.

The action was captured using a Nikon Z9 Camera, and 24-70mm and 70-200mm lenses.

Volkswagen’s iconic Type 2, the nostalgic camper van of hippies, surfers, and cross-country wanderers, is coming back to the US as an electric vehicle. 

Rebranded as the ‘ID Buzz’, the new VW Bus promises to have more storage space and power than its cousins overseas: three rows of seating compared to the two-row European model and a 91 kWh battery pack over EU version’s 82 kWh battery.

Purely showing off, the VW emblem emblazoned on the Buzz, American-style, glows with its headlights, very likely the largest illuminated logo of anything on the road.

VW unveiled the three-row, American ID Buzz in California today — but any nostalgic eco-conscious hippies who want to get their hands on one will have to wait until the van officially hits the marker in 2024. In the meantime, here’s what else to expect from the US variants of VW’s new throwback EV.

The eco-friendly car is made with recycled synthetic materials and the interior is completely free of any real leather – making it totally ‘animal-free’ but still giving a luxury, ‘lounge-like’ feel.

Autonomous features include the ‘Car2X’, which uses signals from other vehicles and the transport infrastructure to spot hazards in real time, and ‘Memory Function’ for automated parking on a previously saved route.

Volkswagen believes the van will be part of ‘the future of inner-city transport’, where trips are shared by multiple passengers in vehicles hailed by apps.

ID Buzz was first shown off in concept form at the 2017 Detroit motor show, with the promise that it would go on sale in 2022 – a date that Volkswagen has actually delivered on.

Prices are still to be officially confirmed for the US model due in 2024, although it will reportedly start in the region of $50,000, according to Kelley Blue Book.

Volkswagen has also announced a second version of the model, called ID Buzz Cargo in European markets, which will feature space for two euro pallets for more heavy duty loads. ID Buzz Cargo isn’t due until 2025 and could cost £50,000.

‘The ID Buzz is a genuine icon for the electric era – a car the likes of which only Volkswagen can build,’ said Ralf Brandstätter, chairman of the board of management of Volkswagen Passenger Cars.

‘In the 1950s, the Volkswagen Bulli [as the VW Bus is called in Germany] stood for a new feeling of automotive freedom, independence and great emotion.

‘The ID Buzz picks up on this lifestyle and transfers it into our time – emission-free, sustainable, fully networked and now ready for the next big chapter: autonomous driving.’

According to Volkswagen, ID Buzz has an ‘iconic front’ with its V-shaped front panel between ‘charismatic’ LED headlights and two-tone paintwork.

With five people on board, there’s room for approximately 39.6 cubic feet (1,121 liters) of luggage, but if the second row of seats is folded down, this load capacity increases to up to 77.8 cubic feet (2,205 liters).

ID Buzz is all electric, making it carbon-neutral, and has an on-board 91 kWh battery, which should achieve a range well over 250 miles before drivers need to recharge.

170-kW charging also means the vehicle’s battery can be charged from 5 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.

ID Buzz and ID Buzz Cargo are zero-emission vehicles, letting owners ‘counter the climatic challenges of our time’, according to the firm.

In typical American style, the US ID Buzz is fitted with a new 12.9-inch screen across all models, compared to the EU version’s 10-inch or 12-inch touchscreen options.

The display, next to the driver’s line of vision, provides information including current speed and range remaining on the electric battery.

ID Buzz also has something called ‘bidirectional charging’, which allows users to take energy from car batteries and put it back to the power grid to help balance spikes in electricity demand.

In other words, it allows electric cars to be used as temporary energy reserves, potentially charging your TV and kitchen appliances for you.