Thongs Steal the Spotlight at the 2026 Golden Globes

Thongs made a bold statement at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards, signalling that butt cleavage is firmly back in fashion. At Coveteur, the revival comes as no surprise, especially after predicting the return of the bumster trend. Recent red carpet looks have only reinforced that call.
The bumster has always carried a complicated and controversial history, closely tied to conversations around female self-expression and sexuality. This year’s Golden Globes, however, showed that stars are embracing the look unapologetically.
Leading the trend was Best Supporting Actress winner Teyana Taylor, who has consistently delivered daring fashion moments throughout her One Battle After Another press tour. For the ceremony, she accepted her first Golden Globe wearing custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture by Daniel Roseberry. The asymmetrical black satin gown featured a draped bustier, an elegant scarf detail, and dramatic styling from the front. But it was the back of the dress that truly stole the spotlight, revealing a sparkling silver rhinestone thong finished with a bow.
Jenna Ortega also nodded to the bumster revival with her Golden Globes outfit from Dilara Findikoglu’s Spring 2026 collection. Her look blended a gothic edge reminiscent of Wednesday Addams with tasselled sleeves and side cut-outs, connected by straps that formed a thong-inspired detail.
Originally popularised in the 1990s, the bumster and whale-tail trend has clearly made a return—and judging by its high-profile presence on this year’s red carpet, it’s not disappearing anytime soon.

EastEnders star Derek Martin dies at 92

Veteran actor Derek Martin, widely recognised for his role as Charlie Slater in EastEnders, has died at the age of 92.
Martin joined the BBC soap in 2000 as the Slater family patriarch, arriving in Albert Square alongside his four daughters Lynne, Kat, Little Mo and Zoe. He remained a regular cast member until 2011 and later returned for guest appearances before his character died from a heart attack in 2016.
His death was confirmed in a statement released on Sunday by his agent, Sharon Henry, who shared words from Martin’s family. They described him as a devoted father and loyal friend who stood by them through life’s challenges and said he would be “missed terribly”.
Born in Bow in east London, Martin passed away on Saturday. His family said he spent more than five decades bringing an authentic working-class voice to British television and film.
Henry said it had been “a privilege” to represent Martin and noted how much he valued his time playing Charlie Slater. She added that he was a committed family man, a proud member of the charitable Water Rats, a keen golfer and a kind, generous individual.
Martin began his acting career in the 1960s after working in factories and as a butcher at Smithfield Market. Despite having no formal training, he built a long television career with appearances in shows including Doctor Who, Z-Cars, The Sweeney, Eldorado, Law & Order and Hart to Hart, before achieving widespread recognition on EastEnders.
Paying tribute, an EastEnders spokesperson said the production team was deeply saddened by the news. They praised Martin’s portrayal of Charlie Slater, calling him the heart of one of the soap’s most memorable families.
The statement added that, like his on-screen character, Martin was fiercely loyal to those he cared about and was greatly loved by colleagues, who will remember him with lasting affection.

Nadhim Zahawi Joins Reform UK After Conservatives Reject Peerage Bid

Former UK Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK, becoming the most senior former Tory to join Nigel Farage’s party so far.
Zahawi announced his move on Monday, describing Britain as being in a “dark and dangerous” place and saying the country needed what he called a “glorious revolution”. He said Reform UK was the team he believed could deliver real change.
However, senior Conservatives claimed Zahawi’s decision followed his failed attempt to secure a peerage. Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said Zahawi had made several approaches to party leader Kemi Badenoch seeking a seat in the House of Lords, but was turned down.
Hollinrake said the party was concerned about Zahawi’s past tax issues, which previously led to his dismissal from a senior role, and decided he was not suitable for elevation to the Lords.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage unveiled Zahawi at a press conference, dismissing claims that Reform was becoming “Conservatives 2.0”. He said many current Tory MPs had approached Reform, though not all were being accepted.
Zahawi, who served as chancellor for two months under Boris Johnson, said the Conservatives were a “defunct brand” and predicted they would soon cease to be a national party following elections in Scotland, Wales and English councils later this year.
A source close to Zahawi denied claims he had pushed for a peerage, saying instead that Badenoch had contacted him for advice on saving the party, prompting him to decide Reform UK was the better option.
Zahawi was sacked as Conservative Party chairman in January 2023 after an ethics investigation found he had failed to properly disclose that his tax affairs were under investigation by HMRC. He later admitted errors in his declarations but said this should not prevent him from serving the country.
Labour and Liberal Democrat figures criticised the move, describing Reform UK as a “retirement home” for disgraced former Conservative politicians.
Born in Iraq in 1967, Zahawi fled the country with his family as a child and grew up in the UK. He previously served as vaccines minister during the Covid pandemic, overseeing the rollout of the UK’s vaccination programme.