Abbey

King’s Christmas speech to come from Westminster Abbey

Sean CoughlanRoyal correspondent

PA Media King Charles III in front of Christmas tree delivering speech in Westminster AbbeyPA Media

The King will give the traditional message from the Abbey’s Lady Chapel

This year’s Christmas message from King Charles III will be delivered from Westminster Abbey.

This traditional speech, filmed in the Lady Chapel of the medieval church in central London, follows his “good news” earlier this month about responding well to cancer treatment.

The King is expected to talk about the “pilgrimage” of life, and the lessons it can teach about the issues of the day, in a message broadcast at 15.00 on Christmas Day.

Last year the speech was given in the Fitzrovia Chapel, which once served hospital staff, and was a symbolic location for a message focusing on the King’s thanks for health workers.

PA Media King Charles in front of Christmas trees in Westminster Abbey which were used for the Princess of Wales's carol concertPA Media

The King was able to re-use the Christmas trees from Catherine’s carol concert

This year’s setting is below the Lady Chapel’s famous medieval vaulted ceiling, in a chapel where 15 previous kings and queens are buried, including Elizabeth I, Mary I and Charles II.

It also means that for a second year the Christmas message won’t be delivered from behind a desk inside a palace.

The King will be seen standing in front of Christmas trees which were brought to decorate the Abbey for the Princess of Wales’s carol concert held earlier this month.

Westminster Abbey was also the venue for the King’s recent Advent service, where there were prayers and music from different Christian traditions, including Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox.

There was a display of icons in the Abbey for that service – and when the King visited Pope Leo earlier this year he gave him an icon of St Edward the Confessor, a saint with strong connections to Westminster Abbey.

The Advent service and the trip to the Vatican had reflected one of the King’s longstanding causes – his efforts to build bridges between people of different faiths and backgrounds.

The tradition of an annual Christmas broadcast from the monarch, looking back on the year and addressing current events, dates back to 1932, when George V delivered a speech on the radio.

The first televised Christmas speech was delivered by Elizabeth II in 1957. It’s usually among the most-watched programmes on Christmas Day.

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Netflix fans urged to ‘not waste time’ on Downton Abbey star’s twisty thriller

The drama has landed on Netflix and is currently on the streaming giant’s Top 10 chart.

A recent drama featuring one of Downton Abbey‘s most familiar faces has made its way to Netflix, and it’s certainly stirred up mixed feelings.

The suspenseful thriller, Captivated, also known as Too Good To Be True, hails from 2024 and currently holds a middling 5.6/10 rating on IMDb.

The plot centres around Rachel, a single mum and cleaner, who is offered an improved job by a wealthy businessman. However, as she becomes more entangled in his affairs, her suspicions about his intentions grow.

Allen Leech, fondly remembered for his portrayal of Tom Branson in Downton Abbey, stars as Elliott Fielding, while EastEnders legend Kara Tointon takes on the role of Rachel Connor.

Despite its initial airing on Channel 5 last year, the series has gained renewed interest after being added to Netflix UK, where it now ranks third on the streaming behemoth’s Top 10 chart.

While some viewers have clearly enjoyed the show, others have taken to IMDb to caution potential watchers “not to waste their time” on the thriller, reports the Express.

“An utter waste of time,” ane disgruntled viewer lamented, adding: “Just finished this series, of which all 4 episodes can be seen on My5. It gets steadily worse with each episode with a paper thin and entirely predictable plot.”

Another echoed the sentiment, advising: “Don’t waste your time like I did. I kept thinking it would get better. It absolutely does not.”

A third chimed in with their critique, branding it “predictable and unconvincing,” and describing it as “a disappointing crime miniseries”.

Another viewer chimed in: “As usual with this type of drama, this started off OK and went downhill rapidly. It is very predictable and some of it makes no sense at all.”

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This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things and The Last of Us.

Yet not everyone shared such a dim view, with some fans finding merit in the programme, one describing it as “strangely entertaining”.

“I’ve read some scathing reviews about this show, and whilst I don’t think it’s great, I still think it’s watchable,” reasoned another viewer.

A third defended it as “not as bad as ratings suggest”, adding: “This is a little predictable but is easy to watch and does have a storyline.”

Another supporter urged: “Despite the low rating and some negative reviews it’s surprisingly good. So don’t be fooled.”

One enthusiastic fan encouraged patience: “The first episode was good just persevere with it as the series does get better. It’s little predictable but a good watch ! Too Good To Be true is intense and thrilling to watch!!”

Those curious to form their own opinion can stream Captivated on Netflix and Channel 5 in the UK, or BritBox in the US.

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Abbey Clancy ‘heartbroken’ after sharing sad news that beloved family member has died

Abbey Clancy shared the sad news that her family pet – her cat Maggie – has passed away at the age of 20 just weeks after they welcomed a new puppy

Abbey Clancy has said she is ‘heartbroken’ after the death of her beloved cat Maggie. The 39-year-old model took to social media to share the sad news their family pet had passed away at the age of 20.

Posting a photo of two of her children cuddling Maggie to her Instagram stories, she wrote over the top: “‘Goodnight my beautiful baby. You were one in a million. 20 years with you I’m heartbroken.”

In another snap the mum-of-four posted a pic of one of her sons cuddling Maggie on what looked like the kitchen floor and wrote: “Lost without you baby,” followed by a red love heart.

Her sad news comes just weeks after Abbey – who shares daughters Sophia Ruby, 14, Liberty Rose, 10, and sons Johnny, seven, and six-year-old Jack with football pundit husband Peter Crouch, 44 – welcomed a new furry friend into the family.

READ MORE: Abbey Clancy ‘gutted’ as she prepares for major personal milestone

Speaking on The Therapy Crouch podcast she does with Pete, Abbey revealed she’d recently got a new pet dog for her daughter Liberty. This is in addition to their black labrador, cavapoo, tabby cat, a stray kitten they recently adopted from Portugal and a lizard, which was a birthday request from her youngest son Jack for his fifth birthday.

The latest addition is a ‘teacup’ Maltese dog called Bambi, which is the same breed as Abbey’s mum’s dog, Bella. She said: “Lib was saying please, mummy, can I get a Bella? And I just thought, you know what? I’m going to get one.”

Though Pete protested he didn’t want any more pets in the house, Abbey didn’t listen and came home with Bambi in November. He recalled: “I’m sitting there on a Sunday, and Abbey walks in with it under her jumper, saying ‘It’s arrived!’ I just couldn’t believe it. We talk about losing the dressing room, right? I’ve lost the household.”

Abbey has insisted her love of having animals in the house stems from her own childhood when she wasn’t allowed pets. And the one pet she did have – a kitten – was given away by her mum to a policeman. She shared: “I’ve still got PTSD from my childhood because I was never allowed a pet. The one kitten I had, my mum gave away to a policeman.”

In a chat with OK! magazine, Abbey said: “I wasn’t allowed pets growing up. My mum was a bit of a clean freak, too – so I’m reliving my childhood through my kids. Every time they want a pet, I’m like ‘yeah’.

“I’m surprised Pete let us bring the stray cat home. He’s often said that if we introduce another human or animal in this house, he’s running away.”

Abbey also has a horse called Enzo that she rides every day and is in talks with animal charities to offer mistreated horses a new lease of life in the grounds of her sprawling country estate in Surrey.

Husband Pete joked: “I’m worried that, you know, we’re basically opening up a horse sanctuary.” It’s said that animal-mad Abbey is just waiting to be vetted before their new houseguests can move in.

She said: “Some have been rescued, they’ve been treated badly, they are rehabilitated but are homeless. You won’t be able to ride them, they’re just companions. But what better way to live out their remaining years than in the Crouch clan?”

READ MORE: M&S’ coffee and cake hampers are now under £5 in time for Christmas gifting

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‘Must watch’ period drama dubbed ‘Gossip Girl meets Downton Abbey’ now on Netflix

The ITV period drama boasts an impressive 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes

A period drama boasting a recognisable face from Outlander has landed on Netflix, with viewers insisting it’s a must watch.

Victoria originally premiered on ITV in 2016 and spanned three series before concluding in 2019. Crafted by bestselling author and screenwriter Daisy Goodwin, the show stars former Doctor Who actress Jenna Coleman in the title role of Queen Victoria.

Coleman, who audiences will recall as Clara Oswald from the time-travelling series, appears alongside fellow Doctor Who alum Tommy Knight, plus Tom Hughes (About Time), Adrian Schiller (Tolkien), and Jordan Waller (The Gilded Age).

The series follows the 19th-century monarch’s rule, spanning from her ascension to the British throne aged merely 18 through to her union with Prince Albert (portrayed by Hughes).

The ensemble also includes Outlander star Nell Hudson, known for playing Laoghaire MacKenzie, who takes on the part of Queen Victoria’s lady’s maid, Nancy Skerrett, reports the Daily Record.

Hudson was utterly charmed by her fellow performers and sang their praises enthusiastically. In a chat with Town and Country, she revealed: “I made such good friends on Victoria, and luckily I’ve forced them all to stay friends with me, and I make them all hang out with me a couple of times a month. [laughs]”.

“I really couldn’t have been around a better bunch of people. It was such a privilege, going to set everyday and hanging out with a bunch of brilliant people, who were also so talented.”

It seems the cast’s behind-the-scenes camaraderie translated brilliantly on screen, as audiences found themselves utterly captivated.

One fan took to IMDb, sharing their emotional journey: “This has been the most amazing series since Downton Abbey I have watched. I laughed, I cried, I got angry. I felt every emotion humanly possible through watching it.

“My mother and I binge watched it together and couldn’t believe how much it draws you in from beginning to end.”

Someone else raved: “The settings, costumes, and general production values were first rate, the show felt incredibly plush and lavish, I shudder to think of the budget for this series. Totally engaging, this was first rate viewing 9/10.”

A third fan added: “If you love period drama and English history, you will be enthralled by Victoria. I wish there were more shows like this on television. A definite must for fans of this genre.”

Victoria, with its impressive 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, continues to garner praise. Another fan noted: “This production seems to strive for a cross between Gossip Girl and Downton Abbey, and is thus an amusing trifle.”

Victoria is streaming now on Netflix and ITVX

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