behindthescenes

Celebrity Traitors stars Kate Garraway and Tom Daley have opened up about their experiences on the BBC show – as the Good Morning Britain star opens up about how healing it was for her

Celebrity Traitors has kept us on the edge of our seats for weeks with backstabbing, betrayal and Traitor like ways. However, it was quite the healing experience for Kate Garraway.

Kate tragically lost her husband Derek Draper following a lengthy health battle and was instantly launched into being a single mum to their beloved children Darcey and Billy. Whilst many would find Celebrity Traitors difficult and mentally draining, Kate actually found it therapeutic and said it really gave her time to slow down and think.

Speaking about the show, Kate said: “The process was fun, intense and eye-opening. It was a rollercoaster. It was also a wonderful time to do some thinking of my own.

“No phones, access to the internet or live TV were allowed, and my wonderful sister-in-law was with the kids. So I could distract myself from the worries of the past few years and immerse myself in game play but also take stock and let my mind wander and dream about the next chapter of my life.”

Kate is adamant to keep Derek a huge part of her and the kids’ life despite his tragic death. Speaking to Prima, Kate added: “As a family, we think about Derek and I think about him all the time.

“We’ve ended up with this strange conversation that takes place where Derek’s almost there. So, if Darcey is asking to do something or suggesting something, I’ll say, ‘What do you reckon Dad would think about that?’ And she’ll say, ‘Well, I think Dad would think this. But actually, I think he’s wrong because of this.’ I quite like that because it feels as though he’s still constantly involved.”

Olympic diver Tom Daley had a much shorter stint on the show but in the time off screen, he was able to focus on his other passion in life – knitting. He explained: “Yeah, any time I was in the hotel I was just knitting, knitting, knitting.

“You get your phone taken off you, you can’t talk to anyone, you’re just in your room, so I was very glad I had knitting because I think lots of people were bored. We wanted to do a knitting lesson in our downtime, but we never quite got around to it.”

His son Robbie is a huge fan of the show. He told Radio Times: “Robbie is a huge fan of The Traitors, and the boys spent some time on the Game of Wool set. Phoenix is only two! He’s definitely not into it [knitting] yet. He likes grabbing the wool, then running away with it and unravelling everything. Robbie, to be fair, has made a hat with a knitting loom machine and has crocheted a chain.”

The December 2025 issue of Prima is on sale today and Tom’s full interview is available in the new edition of Radio Times.

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House of Guinness stars Game of Thrones star Jack Gleeson as Byron Hedges.

House of Guinness is set to drop on Netflix imminently, featuring Game of Thrones legend Jack Gleeson as Byron Hedges.

Appearing alongside Anthony Boyle, who portrays Arthur Guinness, Gleeson’s character is quirky and mischievous – a far cry from his notorious Joffrey Baratheon persona.

During a screening event for the upcoming Netflix drama, which also stars James Norton, Gleeson chatted exclusively to Reach publications about his time on set.

He confessed that some “accidental improv” ended up on the cutting room floor, revealing: “There is a scene where Byron is getting chased through the streets of New York, that was quite a fun sequence.

“There were real chickens I was jumping over. I don’t think they actually used it in the moment but I’m getting chased and there is a pram in the way, without a child in it.”

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“And I shove the pram to block my pursuers and just by accident I sort of said ‘pramise!’ as if that was some kind of phrase that people say.

“Anyway, I think they made the right decision not to keep that bit of improv in.

“But that was so much fun to play, it was like three days of running around old New York.

“They did up the northern quarter in Manchester. That will be fun to view.”

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He disclosed that portraying such a quirky character led to some entertaining behind-the-scenes moments.

The actor continued: “I guess the reality is you have to learn your lines and you have to be professional, I do like to do a lot of preparation.

“I guess there were a few days where me and Anthony [Boyle] were vibing off each other, kind of taking the p*** a bit, in a really fun way.

“Maybe there is a bit of light relief there in some of Byron’s scenes and I think me and Anthony just have a similar sense of humour so we were just sparking off each other.

“That was really fun because it keeps it fresh for us as actors and that gets transmitted to the audience, I hope.”

House of Guinness airs on Netflix on September 25

As a new season of Married at First Sight UK begins today, we look at some behind-the-scenes facts, including how weddings are planned and how couples are matched

A new season of Married at First Sight UK will premiere this evening – with 18 singles lined up to marry a complete stranger on the show.

The programme, which airs on E4, is known for its dramatic moments and has proved extremely successful with fans in the past. The first trailer for the latest series dropped on Monday, revealing the first four couples and promising many twists and turns.

This year, producers have also announced a schedule shake-up meaning the show will air from Sunday to Wednesday each week at 9pm on E4 and Channel 4 on demand, which deviates from the usual Monday-Thursday episodes. Here, we look at some behind-the-scenes curiosities die-hard fans may want to know ahead of tonight’s premiere.

READ MORE: Inside Married At First Sight UK’s ‘most explosive’ reunion yet for E4 series

How are contestants matched?

MAFs contestants are matched by a team of relationship experts who use extensive questionnaires and interviews to understand each person’s personality, core values, life goals and preferences. Initially, producers select the participants through a rigorous application and vetting process, which includes medical and mental fitness checks.

Then, experts such as Paul Brunson, Charlene Douglas and Mel Schilling pair individuals based on their psychological profiles, their lifestyles and believes to create compatible couples. The matched couples meet for the very first time on their wedding day – and sparkles don’t always fly between them.

How are weddings planned?

Contestants have a say in what they want their wedding day to look like, but ultimately it is the show’s production team that arranges all the details including the venue, catering, floral arrangements and other logistics. The matched couples can select their engagement rings and wedding attire and can select their preference for different aspects of the wedding through a booklet.

The production team then compares the preferences of the matched couple and tries to find compromises that align with both individuals’ tastes. The fact that producers are behind the organisation means many elements are often surprising for the couple – even key choices such as their honeymoon destination.

Costs, including everything needed to prepare the ceremony, stag and hen dos, as well as the honeymoon, are covered by the production.

Limited freedom while filming

While filming, the brides and grooms have limited freedom – and can only leave the house a certain amount of times per week, former contestant Luke Worley revealed. Stars also have their personal phones confiscated and are given a device by production which prevents them from having too much contact with the outside world.

Those who take part in the show are also not allowed to drink too much alcohol, according to Erica Roberts, who was matched with Jordan Gayle. She previously shared: “If [the crew] could see someone was having too much, or it was getting a bit out of hand, the alcohol would stop.”

Do couples actually get married?

Even though the show is called Married at First Sight, the couples don’t actually enter into a legally binding marriage on their wedding days. A spokesperson for the show previously said: “Following the Australian format, rather than legal marriages, the couples will make a lifelong commitment to one another at a glamorous ceremony, overseen by a wedding celebrant, that includes guests, bridal gowns, dancing, speeches and cake.

“After the ceremony and celebrations are over, true love is well and truly put to the test, as they embark on a luxurious honeymoon, before moving in with each other AND their fellow couples. Relationships will be put under the microscope, by fellow brides and grooms at weekly dinner parties – as well as by the experts, at recurring commitment ceremonies, where couples choose whether they want to stay in or leave the process.”

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EXCLUSIVE: BBC Destination X winner Judith has opened up about her time on the gameshow and revealed the ‘close bond’ between host Rob Brydon and one of the contestants

Judith, the triumphant contestant of Destination X, has spilled the beans on what Rob Brydon was like behind the scenes of the gameshow and his rapport with the contestants.

In a nail-biting finale last Thursday, Judith clinched victory, narrowly edging out Saskia and Josh to take the top spot.

It had been an emotional journey for her, and she broke down in tears when host Rob laid out a briefcase of £100,000 and declared, “You’ve done it, you went from 13 players, and you’ve won”.

While viewers were over the moon that the self-confessed “underdog” had won, just one episode earlier several had admitted they were “gutted” that taxi driver Daren had been eliminated.

Judith has now disclosed that Daren and Rob shared a special camaraderie during filming, often keeping spirits high among the group, reports the Manchester Evening News.

She recounted: “Rob was really funny, he would come up with really good, quick, one-liners as well sometimes, so it was nice to see that side of him and get to know him a bit.”

Continuing, she said: “He was rooting for everyone, there’d be times even during random challenges where it wasn’t shown but he really would root for everyone.

“He’d pick up on little things and make jokes about the alliances and jokes about everyone, and him and Daren actually had some really good banter, they were quite funny when they were together as well.”

Gavin and Stacey actor Rob has previously opened up about his role in the series, revealing he drew inspiration from Claudia Winkleman’s hosting style on The Traitors.

He expressed his admiration for her approach, saying: “I did look to Claudia on The Traitors, I love the lightness of touch there… I didn’t want to get in the way of the show, so I was very aware of that.

“I just wanted to be the bridge between the viewer and the contestants, because people say this, but it’s true, they are the stars.

“Their personalities really come out over the course of the series and for me, watching that first one, you see the beginnings of relationships and people’s characters blossom.”

Despite the alliances and apparent divide between contestants, Judith went on to say she felt as though she had learnt something from each of them.

She elaborated on her learning experience: “I took something from everyone on that show. I don’t think it was shown so obviously in one of the first episodes, when Dawn left, she was so headstrong on France, and it was her and I that actually fought for France but she was so headstrong on it, and the fact that she didn’t let other people lead her decision-making or anything like that in this pressured scenario where you don’t know if your answer is correct, I took that from her and just knowing I had to play the game that way. You can’t trust anything that you don’t see with your own eyes.”

Reflecting on the game’s dynamics and the other two finalists, she said: “Honestly, the way that Saskia and Josh played it was amazing, like it went from Josh and Saskia against me, Claire, Daren and Nick, two against four and they whittled us down to one which just shows how powerful an alliance is. A good alliance can get you anywhere.”

Meanwhile, during an appearance on BBC Breakfast on Wednesday, Daren spoke about how far he came in the game and winning over the nation’s hearts.

He said: “It’s been mad but I’ve absolutely loved it. It’s all been so positive and for some reason kids seem to like it and I think it’s because of the emotional side of it, I suppose parents are saying ‘look blokes do cry’.”

Daren continued: “Honestly I’ve loved it. People coming up to me and wanting selfies. I’m a London cabbie, what am I doing here?”

Destination X is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

EastEnders icon Diane Parish took to social media over the weekend to share a fun-fuelled video of highlights from the 2025 British Soap Awards – which did not give away any of the winners

Diane Parish was in a celebratory mood on Saturday night as she joined her EastEnders castmates and headed to Hackney for the British Soap Awards 2025. The 55-year-old soap icon, famous for playing Denise Fox on the BBC show since 2006, had been on the long list for one of the show categories.

The star had been initially nominated for the Best Leading Performer gong, but did not advance to the second round of nominations for the prestigious award. Instead, EastEnders co-stars Lacey Turner and Kellie Bright were nominated for the gong alongside Emmerdale stars Beth Cordingly and Eden Taylor-Draper.

Stars from Hollyoaks and Coronation Street were also at the glitzy awards show on Saturday night, which was hosted by singing sensation and cruise ship enthusiast Jane McDonald. The full list of winners was announced on Saturday night, but some fans are waiting to find out who took home which prize when highlights from the ceremony are broadcast on ITV on Thursday night.

With this in mind, Diane took to social media on Sunday to share her own highlights from the night, which did not give anything away. She shared a two-and-a-half-minute-long video from the celebrations, which included footage of her partying with fellow soap stars before, during and after the event.

Uploading the footage to her main grid, Diane wrote: “NO SPOILERS for those who don’t wanna know. But I am sooooo PROUD of everyone who works on @bbceastenders What a night!”

Clips showed her laughing and chatting with co-stars, encouraging members of the public in the live audience to cheer, spotlighting Anita Dobson in the crowd, and partying at the after party. Soap stars were thrown into a panic at the party, however, as the after-show venue was hit by a bomb hoax.

The event was held at London’s Hackney Town Hall after the main awards. But attendees were suddenly asked to leave the venue shortly before 1am after the event had reportedly received a bomb threat.

“We all got evacuated just before 1am. No reason was given at first and security came round and told us we had to leave immediately,” a source told The Mirror – recounting the nerves shredding experience.

“As we all waited in the street outside, security told us there had been a bomb threat. We weren’t allowed back in the building so people started making their way home.”

In a video shared with The Mirror, some of TV’s biggest soap stars can be seen waiting outside the venue as more evacuate – with the likes of EastEnders’ Tameka Empson and former Hollyoaks star Emmett J Scanlan among them.

A show source also told The Mirror: “Owing to a security alert after the recording of the awards, it was necessary to evacuate the after party venue. Everyone was cleared from the building safely.”

Meanwhile, fans of soaps took to social media to slam ITV for failing to broadcast the event live – with many annoyed that they would have to wait until Thursday before being able to see who would take to the stage.

Taking to X to slam the delay in broadcast, one fan raged: “It’s ridiculous that the British Soap Awards isn’t live… there’s more hype for the soap stars arriving outside for something not even airing on tv for another week than there is the Britain’s Got Talent final… sort it out for next year please @itv.”

The British Soap Awards 2025 will be broadcast via ITV1 and ITVX on Thursday 5 June 2025 at 8pm.

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