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BBC Springwatch presenter Chris Packham has shared a health update with fans after visiting hospital this week

Beloved Springwatch host Chris Packham has opened up about a worrying health scare that saw him rushed to Southampton hospital after spotting an alarming symptom, which led to an invasive procedure to obtain a biopsy.

This comes after his co-star Michaela Strachan was supported by fans after sharing baby news.

The BBC naturalist admitted the medical emergency required immediate investigation, telling supporters he’d anticipated the experience would be “a bit unpleasant and uncomfortable”.

He underwent both a gastroscopy and colonoscopy following the discovery of a polyp, and revealed the ordeal proved far less daunting than he’d feared.

The wildlife campaigner updated his numerous Instagram followers from the hospital café as he documented the journey online.

He admitted: “I got to watch it all… it was better than everything I saw on Netflix last night.”

A gastroscopy, alternatively termed an upper endoscopy, involves a physician using an extended, bendable tube equipped with a camera to inspect the upper digestive tract, encompassing the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum.

A colonoscopy, meanwhile, is a diagnostic examination of the large intestine’s lining utilising an elongated, flexible tube fitted with a camera, known as a colonoscope.

The procedure is carried out to explore symptoms such as stomach pain or bleeding, to check for bowel cancer, or to keep track of pre-existing health issues.

Chris verified that doctors had extracted a small polyp and that he’s currently awaiting the biopsy findings, reports the Express.

Despite facing uncertainty, he stayed positive and took the opportunity to commend the team caring for him. “I just want to say a massive thank you to all of the staff and volunteers working at this hospital and, of course, to the NHS,” he said.

“Whatever happens going forward, we’ve got to protect our NHS.”

However, the wildlife presenter’s hospital experience took an unexpected turn when he encountered one of the hospital’s cuddliest guests, Tinker the poodle. The adorable dog was visiting alongside charity volunteer Carmella, collecting donations for the Muscle Help Foundation.

The organisation delivers life-transforming “Muscle Dream Experiences” for youngsters living with muscular dystrophy. Chris was deeply touched by their cause and promised to promote their donation link, encouraging anyone able to contribute even a modest sum to support them.

“I know it’s tough times,” he said, “but anything you can afford would be most welcome.”

He remarked that the duo had been given a “fantastic welcome” at the hospital, before adding with humour: “What a place – sensational. And finishing off with a poodle… that’s what you call service!”.

This marks Chris ‘most recent health disclosure, with the broadcaster being remarkably candid about his wellbeing on social media, discussing extensively his experiences living with Asperger’s Syndrome, which he was diagnosed with aged 40 following years of feeling unlike others around him.

People were quick to comment on the post with one person saying: “Great sharing your experience of undergoing a colonoscopy Chris! Super important for men to make sure they get checked out if ever concerned!”

Someone else wrote: “Sending so much love and so pleased all went well and it’s over.” As another added: “I hope all goes well for you…take care of yourself you have spent your life dedicating to others.”

Explore amazing Cornish landscapes where you can walk in the footsteps of Poldark’s Ross and Demelza this autumn — and stay at a huge historic country house where the drama was filmed

The period drama Poldark, which aired on the BBC from 2015 to 2019, captivated us with its stunning locations and compelling storyline, and the series, which starred Aidan Turner as Ross Poldark, was watched by eight million viewers per episode.

One of the highlights of the show was the breath-taking filming locations, and now, the National Trust is inviting fans to explore these sites this autumn and winter, as Cornwall celebrates a special Poldark anniversary.

Next year (2026) will mark 80 years since the publication of the first original Poldark novel, Demelza, which continues to enchant readers to this day.

The first TV adaptation of Winston Graham’s novels aired 50 years ago, running from 1975 until 1977, and it’s been 10 years since the acclaimed remake graced our screens in 2015, reports Cornwall Live.

One review of the 2015 series sums up the enthusiasm people had for Poldark: “This is the most artistic, photogenic, captivating series ever made. Besides an outstanding, lovely cast, the excellent performance by the lighting men, cameramen, director, scenery experts, colour specialists, costume creators, music score, and quality scriptwriters is beyond all expectations.

“Their outstanding teamwork often makes me freeze the image in order to better appreciate the beauty and magic of the shots: outside and inside. Breathtaking scenery and, extremely cosy, authentic cottages, and overwhelming, rich mansions—even the flower bouquets—are mind-blowing.

“So grateful to the whole crew, they made a genuine masterpiece. A treasure to cherish forever!”

The show’s spectacular filming locations span from the wild Tin Coast and vast sandy shores to the “ancient and atmospheric” Godolphin estate, which served as Trenwith in the 1975 Poldark series.

These breathtaking spots have attracted devoted fans from across the globe. The medieval gardens and historic house at Godolphin represent just one of the numerous National Trust sites that played a crucial role in bringing the Poldark tale to life.

The enduring phenomenon of “Poldark tourism” continues to fund essential conservation efforts throughout Cornwall, and visitor numbers have played a vital role in safeguarding threatened wildlife and habitats across the county.

Autumn presents an ideal opportunity to explore the striking landscapes that sparked the beloved saga. The cooler months offer a wonderful opportunity to explore Poldark country, as visitor numbers remain lower than during the summer peak, allowing you to truly savour the tranquillity that Cornwall provides.

Since its first appearance in 1946, Winston Graham’s “love letter to Cornwall”, the Poldark saga, has won hearts across the globe, whisking readers and viewers away to 18th-century Cornwall.

The dramatic vistas of mining heritage locations and rugged coastal cliffs took centre stage in the narrative when the original television adaptation was broadcast in 1975, and once more in 2015 when the reimagined series introduced an entirely new generation to Ross and Demelza’s Cornwall.

Poldark transformed into a worldwide phenomenon, motivating thousands to journey to Cornwall and discover the scenery they had witnessed on their screens.

By 2019, approximately 14% of Cornwall’s visitors were believed to have made the trip in some capacity due to Poldark, and this enthusiasm delivered a tourism windfall to the county whilst raising crucial funds for the conservation and maintenance of Cornwall’s natural and historic locations.

A significant portion of this support has been reinvested into preserving these remarkable landscapes for generations to come, with efforts along the Tin Coast concentrating on protecting natural areas and wildlife habitats. At West Wheal Owles, better known to Poldark fans as Wheal Leisure, conservation efforts have been put in place to protect the endangered Cornish choughs.

This area is now off-limits to the public, creating a safe haven for this iconic bird species.

For those who are fans of the 1975 TV series of Poldark, Godolphin will be familiar as it was the home of Francis Poldark and the fictional grand house, Trenwith.

Back when Godolphin was still a private residence, it served as a filming location. The National Trust bought the estate in 2007 and began extensive and careful conservation work to preserve the house for future generations.

In 2006, Godolphin was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Since then, the estate has become renowned for its historic gardens and 500 acres of protected parkland — and the house is available as a holiday let for most of the year.

Autumn is the ideal time to explore Poldark country with its quieter paths, sweeping sea views, and a feeling of stepping back into history.

From rugged clifftop walks and mining heritage trails to exploring historic houses and gardens, Cornwall’s National Trust sites offer visitors a chance to experience the landscape that inspired a legend.

TV presenter and author Richard Osman has said he was asked to do the celebrity edition of the BBC gameshow The Traitors.

TV star Richard Osman has revealed that he declined an invitation to star in the celebrity edition of BBC show The Traitors.

The creator of Thursday Murder Club, 54, said he would have only agreed to participate in the inaugural celebrity series of Celebrity Traitors if he was assured of playing the role of a Traitor, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Richard was on ITV’s Good Morning Britain when he was asked if he’d been invited to do the show and replied: “I was, everyone who’s been on Celebrity Traitors won’t tell you anything.”

He added: “Normally people will say if they’ve been on Celebrity Catchphrase, they go, ‘I’d watch that I think I did quite well’, Celebrity Traitors, nobody is saying a single word.

“I’ve been working with Celia Imrie, and she won’t say anything about what happened, none of them will say. I love Celebrity Traitors, but I said I would only do it if I could be a Traitor.”

He went on: “Only because I couldn’t bear if I was a Faithful – that thing where you go back to your room at night and you’re just lying there, and you know that there’s three people up in that tower filming, having a load of fun wearing cloaks and filming something.

“I’d be lying there just going, ‘Well, I mean, I could be murdered any second’, I wouldn’t have that control, and obviously they can’t say, ‘Yes, you can be a Traitor’, so yeah, I’m just going to watch.”

Richard was later warned that he could never participate in the show as everyone would suspect him of being the Traitor, to which he cheekily responded: “Am I double bluffing?”

The star-studded line-up of the hit telly show includes Thursday Murder Club’s Celia Imrie, Olympic diving legend Tom Daley, and acting heavyweight Sir Stephen Fry. They’ll be battling it out in the Scottish Highlands for a chance to bag up to £100,000 for their chosen charity.

Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the show sees contestants trying to sniff out the Traitors among them while completing challenges to add funds to the prize pot. If a Traitor makes it to the final round, the loyal contestants lose the money and the Traitor walks away with the full prize.

Richard was promoting his latest book in the Thursday Murder Club series, The Impossible Fortune, which hit the shelves on September 25. So far, the TV presenter has penned four books in the series – The Thursday Murder Club (2020), The Man Who Died Twice (2021), The Bullet That Missed (2022), and The Last Devil To Die (2023).

Celebrity Traitors starts on BBC One on October 8.

BBC viewers tuned in to watch the second instalment of Rob Brydon’s new reality game show Destination X on Thursday night.

Viewers of Destination X were left utterly gobsmacked by the latest instalment of the BBC series, which premiered earlier this week.

The show’s debut on Wednesday initially failed to wow audiences, but it seems opinions have swiftly changed following Thursday’s episode.

As the competition heated up, the remaining contestants pressed on to an undisclosed location after Deborah became the first casualty of the game, her incorrect guess landing her miles away from the actual destination: Paris.

With the competitors still clueless about their whereabouts, they embarked on a fresh leg of their European adventure.

Drama escalated when the participants were split into groups and tasked with securing a clue for their team while precariously perched in a gondola 2,000 metres up in the air, reports Wales Online.

Amidst the mountainous backdrop, the host revealed a plot twist, one brave soul from each team had to abseil down to retrieve a clue from the bottom of their cart.

X was ablaze as viewers expressed their astonishment at seeing two daring contestants abseil from their sky-high gondola.

One viewer exclaimed: “This is INSANE he’s hanging 2,000ft above air like it’s nothing #DestinationX” While someone else tweeted: “Is this for real? #DestinationX”.

One viewer couldn’t help but express their concern, saying: “All I can think about is insurance and risk assessments.”

Another shared their personal dread, sharing: “I’d be in the corner rocking back and forth this is a nightmare to me.”

A different person pointed out the behind-the-scenes safety measures, commenting: “As well as a camera crew, there must be safety people checking the harnesses.”

Pilot Josh, reflecting on the daunting experience of being suspended mid-air, admitted: “There was a massive drop down , that was pretty nerve-racking!”

Ultimately, both teams managed to secure the clue from beneath the cart, but it was Team A who triumphed in the overall challenge by piecing together their clues more effectively.

In a strategic move, the victorious team chose to withhold some information about the clue they uncovered, hoping to gain an edge in the competition.

Despite the tactical play and the advantage it provided, it was Dawn who faced elimination, becoming the most recent contestant to exit the show.

Destination X is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

The first player to be eliminated from the BBC adventure gameshow, Destination X, has now revealed what it was really like being on the programme.

A contestant on Destination X has spilled the beans on what the BBC One gameshow is really like behind the scenes.

Deborah became the first player booted out of the competition in last night’s premiere, missing out on her shot at bagging £100,000.

The crime writer, 62, was amongst 13 strangers taking part in Rob Brydon’s adventure series, which sees the players set off on the journey of a lifetime across Europe.

With the continent turned into a massive board game, the participants must try to work out where they are in the world after being deprived of their senses on a coach and given a mix of clues and red herrings, reports Wales Online.

Combining elements of The Traitors and Race Across The World, the contestants must navigate through the lies and deception they face, with each episode seeing whoever guesses furthest from the actual location getting sent packing.

Last night, Deborah became the first Destination X star to get the chop, after three had already been abandoned at the airport and one had thrown in the towel.

She’s now spilled the beans in an exclusive interview about what the experience was truly like, and what viewers didn’t witness.

“I had the best time,” she reflected. “There’s such a great bunch of guys on the bus, and a massive team that looks after you.

“It is all a bit surreal, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Discussing her tight-knit relationship with her fellow contestants, she continued: “The BBC has only got an hour, but we were on that bus for hours and hours, they showed clips of me looking discombobulated all the time.

“But in between those points, there were times I had to get off the bus and walk away because I was laughing so much.”

Following host Rob’s revelation of one backstage secret – that a convoy of portable toilets trailed behind the bus – Deborah then laid bare the harsh realities of coach life for days on end.

“You saw the loo on the bus, it’s not even Harry Potter’s cupboard under the stairs. And you’re so close to people all the time.”

She chuckled: “You come out of there and people ask, ‘how did you get on?'”

In addition to sensory deprivation onboard the bus, in the first episode, the contestants were asked to wear goggles while flying in an aeroplane, where Deborah revealed she even had a little nap.

But being unable to see their surroundings while travelling did risk taking its toll when it came to travel sickness.

Deborah explained: “The medic came along and said, ‘Does anybody get sea sickness, I’ve got some tablets,’ so at that stage in the proceedings we said, ‘Yeah, I’ll have it,’ but we didn’t know [about the helicopter], we thought it was just because the bus was going to go around some wiggly, windy things.

“So I had a tablet, yeah, and we were on the helicopter for a long time, and you can’t see anything, so I’m not going to lie, I had a bit of a sleep.”

Despite feeling “gutted” about being the first to be eliminated from the competition, Deborah described it as a “once in a lifetime” opportunity.

She revealed that she chose to participate in Destination X after realising “there’s more sand at the bottom of the egg timer than there is at the top”.

“You need to start having some adventures and living your life, because to not do that is disrespectful to those people who didn’t get to have a bit more life,” she expressed, sharing tales of her other escapades, including near-death experiences while skiing and scuba diving.

Now, she’s gearing up for an entirely different challenge, preparing for an Arctic expedition next year in collaboration with the Sue Ryder charity.

“I’m checking on my fitness because I’ve had both hips replaced and a stomach implant thing… but the guy in the Arctic thinks I’ll be alright to do it,” she shared.

“I did Tough Mudder over the weekend, last Saturday, and that was the hardest thing I’d done in my life, but I think the Arctic will be harder.”

Reflecting her adventurous spirit, when asked about her plans for the prize money, she added: “We’d all like a bit more, but I did it for the adventure, money can’t buy that adventure and those experiences.”

Destination X continues tonight at 9pm on BBC One and is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Former MasterChef star Gregg Wallace isn’t expected to return to the BBC show following his departure but it’s now been teased that he could sign up for a project on ITV

Former MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has “quietly” parted ways with his former agent, Dylan Hearn. He’s now represented by John Miles, who is known for taking on clients who find themselves in tricky situations.

Sources said that Bristol-based Miles, who also represents Graziano di Prima, Martin Bashir, Noel Edmonds and Nick Knowles – among others – is said to have looked after the MasterChef star’s interests “for some months”. One source said: “Gregg was quietly dumped by his former agent and has since been signed up by John, who knows what he’s doing when it comes to fallouts with the BBC, in particular.”

They added: “He’s looked after many people who’ve found themselves battling in pretty intense situations. Don’t be surprised if Gregg suddenly turns up on I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here. He’s got a lot of beans to spill.”

A potential stint on I’m A Celebrity would see Gregg, 60, follow in the footsteps of restaurant critic Grace Dent, who competed on the show in 2023. Grace withdrew from the ITV reality TV show after just over a week in camp.

More recently, Grace was last year named as Gregg’s replacement on Celebrity MasterChef following his exit. She will appear alongside returning host John Torode, who had fronted the culinary show with Gregg since 2006.

It was announced last year that Gregg would step away from the BBC‘s MasterChef whilst its production company Banijay UK reviewed historical misconduct complaints, said to be from across a range of shows. As reported at the time, he said through a lawyer: “It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature.”

Earlier this week, it was reported that Gregg had been fired from MasterChef after a year-long investigation into the allegations. He issued a lengthy statement on Tuesday in which he claimed that he has been exonerated of “all the serious allegations which made headlines last year” but apologised after saying that he was found “primarily guilty of inappropriate language”.

Gregg said that he has been cleared by the Silkin report of the “most serious and sensational accusations” made against him and accused the BBC of “peddling sensationalised gossip masquerading as properly corroborated stories”. He apologised for the inappropriate language which the report found him “primarily guilty” of between 2005 and 2018 though.

He also said in the statement: “I was hired by the BBC and MasterChef as the cheeky greengrocer. A real person with warmth, character, rough edges and all. For over two decades, that authenticity was part of the brand. Now, in a sanitised world, that same personality is seen as a problem.

“My neurodiversity, now formally diagnosed as autism, was suspected and discussed by colleagues across countless seasons of Master Chef. Yet nothing was done to investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over twenty years. That failure is now being quietly buried.”

A BBC spokesperson told the Mirror at the time: “Banijay UK instructed the law firm Lewis Silkin to run an investigation into allegations against Gregg Wallace. We are not going to comment until the investigation is complete and the findings are published.”

It’s understood that Banijay will be releasing the report and that the BBC did not fire Gregg as the corporation does not employ him. He was instead reportedly employed by Banijay.

Amid the news of his departure from MasterChef, it was reported that Gregg is facing fresh misconduct claims from 50 people. The presenter is said to have denied all allegations.

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