Bursting

Ruth Langsford has opened up about her time on Strictly Come Dancing, admitting that she often felt ‘really rubbish’ and would ‘always burst into tears’ behind-the-scenes

Ruth Langsford has disclosed that whilst her former dance partner Anton Du Beke may appear to be “a laugh”, there’s another side to his character that Strictly Come Dancing fans might not recognise.

In an exclusive chat, the former This Morning presenter confessed that she frequently felt “really rubbish” backstage, as she measured herself against other competitors, including Debbie McGee and Gemma Atkinson, who had advanced to become “so good” on the dance floor.

Luckily, Ruth had the backing of Strictly professional-turned-judge Anton, who provided a shoulder to lean on during her difficult moments, describing their bond as “the best thing” to emerge from her time on the BBC programme.

The Loose Women host revealed: “I always want people to know that, Anton’s such a laugh – he’s laugh, laugh, laugh – but he’s the kindest man.”

Ruth added: “I was always bursting into tears as the show went on, because it gets hard and everyone’s so good, and then I would feel really rubbish because I would think, ‘I can’t do it’. And he’d go, ‘you’re fine’.”

“I felt like I was letting him down, but he never criticised me, he was just fun, and in fact, sometimes we’d do a step and he’d say, ‘that’s good’ and I’d go, ‘oh thanks’ and he’d say, ‘it’s not what I taught you, but it’s good!’ And he just made me laugh!”.

Ruth proceeded to disclose that Anton possessed the ideal technique to soothe her nerves when things weren’t working out in the rehearsal studio.

She remembered: “If he ever said, ‘no, no, because we’re supposed to be going right’, and then he’d look at me, and my bottom lip would start to tremble, and I’m about to cry, he’d be like, ‘right, come on, cup of tea!’ Honestly, the nicest man.”

Ruth was also brimming with praise for Anton’s abilities as part of Strictly’s judging panel, where he has been seated alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse since 2021.

Nevertheless, Anton’s elevation on Strictly means he won’t be able to take part in the competition anymore, which Ruth believes is the sole drawback, as she would be keen to “have another go” with her mate alongside her.

She declared: “Let me have another go with Anton! I can’t now, because he’s a judge.

“I’m so delighted he’s a judge, he’s a very good judge, but I always say to him, ‘I think they should let you have another go, I think I’d be better at it!'”.

Ruth just missed out on reaching Blackpool with Anton in 2017, after facing the feared dance-off against Jonnie Peacock and Oti Mabuse, whilst Joe McFadden and Katya Jones ultimately claimed the Glitterball Trophy that year.

Made of fiberglass and painted by different artists, the exciting large-scale public art project was conceived by the Volunteers of America and the Catholic Big Brothers and made a reality thanks to the L.A. Convention & Visitors Bureau and the mayor’s office.

The project, called “Community of Angels,” riffed on the city’s name by scattering literal angels across the city. It was said to be inspired by Chicago’s 1999 public art display of a similar theme: “Cows on Parade.”

If you lived in Los Angeles in the early 2000s, it was impossible not to see these angels. Unfortunately, the project only took flight for a short time, with the statues eventually being auctioned off to benefit youth programs around the city. A little over $100,000 was raised with the remaining angels sold online.

Twenty-five years later, most are now in the hands of private collectors and businesses who proudly display them in their offices, but there are still a few to be found in public if you know where to look. Santa Monica tends to have a few scattered around, including one in front of the XYZ Media building on Olympic Boulevard. One angel still stands in its original spot at the main entrance to Los Angeles General Medical Center, and the so-called Travel Angel, created by artists Dean and Laura Larson, is tucked away in a corner of the Original Farmers Market. Further out, an angel statue can be found at the 27-acre Century Villages at Cabrillo campus in Long Beach, and there’s one in Claremont’s Mallows Park.

There are more angels out there in the wild, but to date there is no updated database of where they are.

Over 13,000 shops closed across the UK last year – including thousands of independents – but Stamford’s high street continues to flourish and there’s a reason why

High streets across the nation are facing closures, with many empty shopfronts, but one little town is thriving instead.

Stamford, a market town with a population of just over 20,000 in Lincolnshire, boasts the most listed buildings for a town of its size, with more than 600, and is home to around 170 independent shops. Whilst other retailers may be feeling the pinch, Stamford continues to buck the national trend, with businesses thriving thanks to a loyal community, a strong tourist pull and a close-knit network of traders supporting one another, the Express reports.

“The message is pretty clear – use us or lose us,” says Ben Stevenson, owner of jewellery shop Rubirox, which just marked its 15th birthday. “If you want us to stay here then you need to keep shopping in the town. And people do! It’s a great town to be based in.”

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Rubirox sits proudly on St Mary’s Street – crowned the UK’s best high street for independent shops last year. Ben credits the success to Stamford’s unique sense of community and said: “A lot of the locals want to support their businesses.”

Over 13,000 shops closed across the UK last year – including thousands of independents – but Stamford’s high street continues to flourish. Sarah Sewell, who runs Energy Clothing and is chair of Shop Stamford, started the initiative to promote the town’s shops eight years ago.

“We’ve got a good regular customer base from the local community,” she says. “That sense of trust we’ve built over time.”

Their annual Little Book of Stamford highlights shops, includes a town map, and is distributed around local hotels and campsites. Shop Stamford started on social media as a campaign to promote the town but now it’s in its fifth edition being published as a book as disturbed widely so when people arrive they can get their hands on it and know exactly what’s on offer.

Markets play a vital role in the town’s success, with over 70 stalls filling Broad Street and Ironmonger Street every Friday. From produce and flowers these markets along the farmers’ markets and weekend stalls in Red Lion Square regularly draw crowds to the town.

Stamford’s historical charm also keeps the visitors coming. Burghley House, a grand Elizabethan mansion just outside the town, was used as Windsor Castle in The Crown, while Pride and Prejudice fans might recognise scenes shot in the town centre.

For Molly Clegg, who runs Murano Silver, the town’s success lies in its community of shops, not competition. “You can have the best shop in the world but if you’re the only shop in the town, you’re trying to bring people in yourself,” she says.

“Because there’s lots of us, and we work well together as a community, it brings people to the town rather than to an individual place. I’m not the only jewellers’ in Stamford, there are other brilliant ones here. But we always refer each other to customers.”

Support from local landlords also plays a role. Nicholas Rudd-Jones, who helps produce the Little Book of Stamford, says: “You get relatively smaller scale landlords in Stamford who own 20 to 30 properties and favour the independent sector. This is quite important in helping the businesses.”

Stamford has also held onto its reputation as a top spot for a weekend break or relaxing day out. The Crown Hotel, a coaching inn dating back to the 1800s remains a staple.

“You can come here and have a coffee, have your brunch, have your lunch, do some shopping, you can have an hour wandering around looking at architecture, you can visit a church. We’ve got the whole experience here,” says its owner Michael Thurlby.

He says even in November, business is steady.

It seems that Stamford has found the perfect mix to keep thriving and to keep its community happy and it all comes down to community and neighbourly spirit, businesses working together to bring in crowds and promote one another and landlords being invested in businesses thriving.

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This market town in Northumberland is ideal for history buffs and nature-lovers, home to plenty of impressive monuments, walking trails and within close proximity of one of the UK’s most iconic ruins

The UK certainly has no shortage of picturesque destinations to explore, but if you are trying to avoid the summer crowds you’ll need to expand your horizons. Instead of opting for hotspot staycation sites like the Cotswolds and the Lake District, consider a trip to Northumberland – this one spot in particular.

Hexham in Northumberland is a petit market town that has been highlighted as a top staycation destination by the travel blog The Crazy Tourist, as previously reported by The Mirror. Located 25 miles from Newcastle, the town is home to about 13,000 residents and attracts about 120,000 visitors annually.

Situated between the Northumberland National Park and the North Pennines National Landscape, visitors will have plenty of stunning vistas and landmarks to explore. Hexham is also home to family-friendly parks and green spaces, including the Sele, Hexham House and the beloved Hexham Abbey grounds.

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Originally built in 674AD with materials repurposed from Roman ruins, Hexham Abbey was rebuilt in the 13th century. Markers of the grounds’ Roman history are present in the form of pagan dedications as well.

Hexham Abbey has restored much of its medieval monastery complex – the Priory Buildings – to an impeccable standard. The impressive buildings are fully licensed premises and can thus be rented out as an event space for weddings, banquets and luncheons.

For those interested in diving further into the area’s rich history, Hadrian’s Wall is conveniently close. Just a short drive from the town’s centre, the Wall stretches 73 miles from coast to coast. It was originally built to serve as the north-western frontier of the Roman empire.

Construction of Hadrian’s Wall began in 122AD by order of emperor Hadrian and was defended by regiments of 500 to 1,000 infantry and cavalry men. Today, the Hadrian’s Wall Path allows travellers to follow directly in the footsteps of Roman soldiers.

There are plenty of trails for curious visitors to traverse given the Wall’s unique settlement across two of England’s most picturesque counties. Following the popular Birdoswald Roman trail will set visitors along a path set against the River Irthing and down the longest continuous stretch of the Wall.

Another moderate path is the Housesteads Roman trail, which covers some of the most peaceful parts of the Northumberland National Park. This specific trail provides access to Walltown Crags – the majestic countryside area – and the Dark Sky Discovery Site of Cawfields.

One final historic landmark that must be highlighted is the Hexham Old Gaol, which is England’s oldest purpose-built prison. Constructed in 1333, the medieval prison served as a detention site for nearly half a millennium, where inmates were required to fund their own sustenance and attire.

A Scheduled Ancient Monument, the Gaol is both a fun and educational destination. Visitors can uncover a bounty of music, poetry and books about the English-Scottish border in the interior Border Library Collection while more daring guests can try out the stocks.

The town is not just a hub for history, it also has many modern attractions to boast. For instance, the Hexham Racecourse is the only racecourse in Northumberland and considered one of the most scenic in the country. Another modern marvel is the Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre. The contemporary glass building is a community hub and learning centre, hosting an array of exhibits throughout the year. The centre also offers impressive views of the Northumberland National Park.

Finally, the Queen’s Hall Arts Centre – located opposite the Hexham Abbey – is a draw for the best international and national artists. The Victorian building boasts a 350-seat theatre to watch dancers, musicians and dramatic artists and is also home to two art galleries.