Jon Bon Jovi has finally spoken out publicly after his son and Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown announced their engagement.
It’s fair to say the showbiz world blew up a bit when the British actress, who is best-known for her starring role as Eleven on Netflix’s hit show Stranger Things, hopped on social media to casually announce one Tuesday morning that wedding bells were ringing.
The 19-year-old confirmed that her boyfriend, 20-year-old Jake Bongiovi, had popped the question and the two were now engaged.
The young star took to Instagram to share a beaming black and white photo showing off a huge ring on her left hand and her now-fiancé embracing her – with the confirming caption: “I’ve loved you three summers now, honey, I want ’em all.”
Jake also proclaimed it was “forever” for the pair in a series of engagement announcement pictures he shared on his Instagram.
The couple are believed to have been in a relationship for three years, and struck up their romance after connecting on Instagram.
Of course, given the fact that many would consider the relationship to be in the relatively early stages, and the fact that Millie Bobby Brown is a child star who first rose to stardom after appearing on our screens at the age of 11, the engagement was slammed by fans.
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Their young age, though, was what appeared to draw the most public criticism.
But aside from the age of the pair, the other major talking point was that many were shocked to learn that Jake Bongiovi is, in fact, the son of rockstar Jon Bon Jovi – which left many questioning what the legendary Bon Jovi frontman thought of the engagement, and if he would ever publicly address the situation at any point.
Now, Jon has spoken out to have his say on everything during an interview with SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live yesterday.
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When host Andy Cohen asked the 61-year-old rocker if he was worried about Jake and Millie getting engaged at such a young age, Jon responded that he “doesn’t know if age matters”.
He explained: “If you find the right partner and you grow together, I think that would be my advice really, growing together is wise. I think that all of my kids have found the people that they think they can grow together with, and we like them all.”
The rockstar also added that Millie is “wonderful”.
“Her whole family are great, and Jake is very, very happy,” Jon concluded.
Jon Bon Jovi’s decision not to buy into the public concern of his son’s engagement will likely make sense to fans who know the musician himself found love at a young age and married his high school sweetheart, Dorothea.
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Jon and Dorothea have four children together, with Jake being the second youngest.
Drama Call opening first-ever flagship shop in Manchester
Danny Jones
Streetwear superstars Drama Call are opening their new flagship store and first-ever permanent site in Manchester city centre this weekend.
Expect massive queues and lots turning up wearing the increasingly recognisable starry logo.
Already a much-loved brand not just here in 0161 but across the nation at large, the native independent business turned street-style favourites and UK fashion phenomenon are no strangers to HUGE pop-ups in their hometown.
However, they’ve never had a mainstay location anywhere in the country, let alone Greater Manchester – well, until now, that is…
Credit: Press shots (supplied)
Debuting in the Northern Quarter this Sunday, the venue located on Tib Street will effectively serve as Drama Call‘s new HQ.
The local label has done everything from popping up vans with Manc rapper Aitch to collaborating with Man United for multiple limited edition collections, so it only felt like a matter of time before they’d make a big brick-and-mortar splash in our fair city.
Most notably, they’re also taking over the same unit as the Sheep Shop, a former skate shop and legendary urban clothing tastemaker of the 90s; they were one of the first places in Britain to stock famous names like Stüssy, Supreme, Carhartt, The North Face and many more.
With that in mind, it feels only fitting that they carry on the trendsetting tradition from the same premises, and just spitting distance from the likes of Note, as well.
And that’s not all, either: before the full launch, they’ll also be holding an exclusive cash-only shirt swap event, where a limited number of certain collector’s items will be sold for as little as £10.
Other things to note are the additions of signed vinyls by homegrown artists such as the aforementioned Aitch and even The Smiths.
In fact, the store will also feature strictly Mancunian exclusives, too.
Everything from polo shirts and tees to branded mugs, matchboxes and other accessories will be available in-store only.
NQ is bound to be buzzing across launch weekend, with doors officially opening to the public on Sunday, and we wouldn’t be surprised if you see people camping outside the front well ahead of time.
What a moment the Manc shopping scene is having right now.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via Pear)
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Andy Burnham explains why Number 10 North is so important as it officially ‘opens for business’
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has explained his key reasons for launching Number 10 North as it officially ‘opens for business’ this week.
You may remember that earlier last month, Andy Burnham revealed he had intentions to create a Number 10 North if he was to become Prime Minister, with the new base expected to be a ‘dominant driver of the UK’s economy’ once it was officially up and running… and now, fast forward to today, Number 10 North is officially ‘open for business’.
Operating from Heron House in Manchester city centre, as previously reported on, Number 10 North will be the Government’s new ‘situation room for growth’.
It also brings the ‘levers’ of local economic growth and devolution together under one roof for the first time ever.
Number 10 North has officially ‘opened for business’ / Credit: gov.uk (via Wikimedia Commons)
With the Prime Minister expected to work from Number 10 North each week, so that decisions about the country’s economic future will no longer exclusively be made in Westminster, and with other ministers also working from there on a regular basis, the Government says the move underlines its determination to ‘do things differently’.
Now that Number 10 North has officially opened, Andy Burnham and his fellow ministers have explained why this move is so important for not just Manchester, but the north as a whole.
“For 40 years, power and resources have been sucked into the centre, and too many communities have felt forgotten, without the attention and investment they deserve,” explained Andy Burnham.
“Number 10 North will change that by putting more power into every postcode across the entire country. It will be the situation room for making Britain better, the place we use to get power out of Westminster, into the hands of people at a local level, so that they can turn things around.
“The days of Whitehall resisting devolution are over, for good.”
First Secretary Louise Haigh added: “Today marks a fundamental re-balancing of where power sits in our country. Number 10 North has been set up to drive economic growth in every postcode and put power in the hands of every community.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd May 2023 
