Strictly Come Dancing pro Amy Dowden is one of the stars on the run on Celebrity Hunted
Amy Dowden was in tears on Celebrity Hunted(Image: Channel 4 screengrab)
Celebrity Hunted viewers were emotional as one of the contestants broke down in tears on the show.
Strictly Come Dancing pro Amy Dowden, who is taking part in the Channel 4 programme with fellow dancer Carlos Gu, started to cry as she talked about her fears she can’t have children after cancer.
The star announced in May 2023 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and she went on to have a mastectomy and chemotherapy.
She opened up about her concerns during the latest instalment of the show, which sees stars on the run and trying to evade capture while being pursued by experts. She and Carlos stayed with fellow Strictly star Neil Jones and his family, including his daughter Havana. When Carlos noted how good Amy was with the three-year-old, she became tearful.
“I’ve always wanted the honour to be a mum,” she said. “And obviously I don’t know if that’s going to be possible.”
Amy, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease when she was 19, went on: “A cancer diagnosis changes your life forever. I’d just got married, I had my whole life ahead of me, and all of a sudden my world fell apart in front of me.
“I’ve been given another shot at life, and I want to embrace and take every opportunity that comes my way.”
Viewers were also moved, with one posting on X: “If anyone is in doubt about why Shine & C4 make this show, watch that first part. BRB, something’s in my eye.”
Sharing a teary-eyed emoji on the platform, which was formerly Twitter, someone else said: “Amy Dowden opening up about her cancer journey on Celebrity Hunted. WE LOVE YOU AMY!”
“Awww Amy,” said another moved fan.
The latest series of Celebrity Hunted, which is in aid of Stand Up To Cancer, also features EastEnders‘ Brian Conley and his daughter Lucy, and television personalities Scarlette and Stuart Douglas.
Love Islanders Chris Taylor and Toby Aromolaran, presenters and disability advocates JJ Chalmers and Sophie Morgan, and comedians Jen Brister and Laura Smyth are also striving to escape from lead Hunter Ray Howard and his squad.
Celebrity Hunted is back with a new set of stars heading out on the run in the UK
22:09, 03 Aug 2026Updated 22:22, 03 Aug 2026
Former Love Island stars Toby Aromolaran and Chris Taylor are taking on this year’s Celebrity Hunted (Image: CHANNEL 4)
Celebrity Hunted viewers all had the same response as the new series of the show began.
The programme – which sees stars going on the run and trying to stay hidden as they are hunted by experts – last aired in early 2025, so fans were thrilled as it returned on Channel 4.
The show’s latest run, in aid of Stand Up To Cancer, sees celebs such as Strictly stars Amy Dowden and Carlos Gu, EastEnders‘ Brian Conley and his daughter Lucy and TV star siblings Scarlette and Stuart Douglas trying to hide from the Hunters. Love Islanders Chris Taylor and Toby Aromolaran, presenters and disability advocates JJ Chalmers and Sophie Morgan and comedians Jen Brister and Laura Smyth are also trying to evade capture by Ray Howard and his team.
“So happy Celebrity Hunted is back,” one person wrote on X as the series started.
“The best time of the year is back and I can’t wait,” someone else wrote on the platform, which was formerly Twitter.
“We are so back,” said another, as one fan exclaimed: “Bring it on!” as another view said simply: “Finally.”
“Great to have a new series of Celebrity Hunted!” said someone else. “It’s a show that even after 11 years on air (*civilian and celeb series*) it’s always a must watch. It seems like the civilian series is now aired every 16/22 months. @Channel4 any news about a 2027 civilian series?”
Somebody else quipped: “If I ever become a celebrity, Celebrity Hunted better still be around. It looks like so much fun.”
The celebrities on the show have been tasked with vanishing into mainland Britain, cutting themselves off from their lives – and their fame.
“For 14 relentless days they must stay hidden, think fast and trust no one because the moment they leave a trail, the hunt is on,” said a synopsis.
“Pursuing them is Ray Howard and his elite team of Hunters drawn from policing, military and intelligence backgrounds. They have the full arsenal of the modern state at their disposal including CCTV, ANPR, Facial Recognition, helicopters, drones, search dogs, cyber investigations and media appeals. Every clue, every sighting and every mistake can mean a capture.
“In a world where almost every movement leaves a footprint, can these celebrity fugitives escape the glare of the spotlight and remain under the radar or will the Hunters bring every fugitive into custody before the 14 days are up?”
While viewers were delighted to see the show return, one posted a message on social media questioning whether it was “set up” after the opening sequence, which saw the stars being tracked by helicopters.
They asked: “Has there ever been a more set up show As if the flight plans for these 3 helicopters weren’t submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) weeks ago and are all flying at the legal mandated speed, height and distance between them in London.”
“Obsessed with how fake this is now,” joked someone else, as another viewer wondered: “Hang on… heading east when the lone heli stops the pair but that looks suspiciously like Westminster Bridge under them even though they’ve just flown over the city…”
IF you’ve ever wanted to live like a celebrity, your chance has finally arrived.
A growing number of famous faces – from Hollywood A-listers to royalty – have opened up their lavish homes and cozy cottages to the public.
Alan Carr has announced he is to host luxury glamping trips in the grounds of his new luxury Scottish homeCredit: GettyThe comedian will allow people to camp out on the lawn of Ayton Castle in Berwickshire which he bought earlier this year for more than £3.3 millionCredit: Alamy
Whether you fancy relaxing poolside in a pop star’s hideaway, or spending the night on a royal estate, these exclusive stays let you step right into their world.
Here, we share some of the top celebrity-owned properties you can actually book this summer…
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1. Alan Carr – Ayton Castle Estate Glamping (Scottish Borders)
Fresh off his victory on Celebrity Traitors, comedian Alan Carr snapped up the historic £3.3million Ayton Castle in Berwickshire, Scotland, earlier this year to convert into a luxury retreat.
This summer, guests can stay in fully furnished luxury bell tents right on the 17-bedroom 160-acre castle grounds, just an hour’s drive from Edinburgh.
At a cost of between £140 and £160 a night, the luxury tents sleep up to four people, and are “fully furnished with comfy beds, warm bedding and pillows.”
Visitors have been promised ‘serene walks’ through the estate’s vast woodland and wellness offerings on site including sauna and cold water sessions.
2. George Michael – The Pool House at Mill Cottage (Goring-on-Thames)
You can also book out the late George Michael’s stunning Oxfordshire cottage on AirbnbCredit: GettySoak up the sun at the Mill Cottage pool house’s luxurious swimming poolCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Pop legend George Michael bought Mill Cottage in South Oxfordshire in 2001, where he spent 15 peaceful years living by the River Thames until his passing in 2016.
The current owners transformed the superstar’s private pool house on the estate grounds into an exclusive one-bedroom guest hideaway, which costs around £720 a night over summer.
Sitting right on the riverbank, the retreat features exclusive access to a heated outdoor swimming pool, sun loungers, an outdoor BBQ, and a cozy fireplace.
It has become a dream stay for music fans looking to sip a drink poolside and experience the peaceful surroundings George loved so dearly.
Ex Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher rents out his Stag Cottage in the Peak DistrictCredit: INSTAGRAMKelvin converted a three-bed property on the edge of his 120-acre farmCredit: Sykes CottagesThe cottage comes with a private outdoor hot tub that has incredible viewsCredit: Sykes Cottages
Featured on ITV‘s Fletchers’ Family Farm, the actor converted a stone building on the edge of the property into a luxury three-bedroom holiday home.
The interior combines a cozy country aesthetic with modern comforts, including a traditional AGA stove, flagstone floors, and a wood-burning fireplace.
Outside, guests can soak in their private outdoor hot tub while taking in sweeping views of the surrounding Cheshire countryside and Peak District.
4. Jules Hudson – Mole Hill Hut (Herefordshire)
Escape to the Country’s Jules Hudson runs his own Wye Valley retreatCredit: InstagramHe has a shepherd’s hut and a tiny cabin available to rent out for the nightCredit: molehillhut.co.ukMole Hill Hut is located in a private meadow on Jules’ landCredit: molehillhut.co.uk
As the longtime presenter of BBC’s Escape to the Country, Jules Hudson used his rural expertise to handcraft his very own bespoke shepherd’s hut.
Tucked away in a private meadow on his own land near the scenic Wye Valley, the hut offers a secluded, off-grid retreat designed strictly for two.
It features a cozy double bed, a functional kitchenette, and an adjoining timber lounge area affectionately dubbed “The Trough.”
Guests can spend their evenings around the outdoor wood-burning stove enjoying panoramic views of Herefordshire’s rolling hills.
5. King Charles III – Balmoral cottages (Scottish highlands)
Live like royalty in one of King Charles’ rental propertiesCredit: GettyThe monarch has a number of properties available to hire at Balmoral, including Knocks CottageCredit: Balmoral EstateThere are 10 cottages available on the estate, alongside Knocks CottageCredit: Balmoral Estate
Fancy a stay fit for royalty? It may be easier than you think.
If you want to earn ultimate bragging rights among your pals, these self-catered lodges could be the perfect opportunity.
And you’ve got a few to choose from, as the Balmoral estate has 10 cottages available: Connachat Cottage, Garbh Allt Shiel, Karim Cottage, Knocks Cottage, the three Milton of Braichlie properties (Farmhouse, Mill Cottage, and Stable Cottage), Rhebreck Lodge, Sterinbeg, and Tigh Na Garaidh.
Unfortunately, if you dream of bumping into the likes of King Charles or Prince William and Kate Middleton, you may not be in luck, as you can’t book when the royal family is in residence.
6. Adam Henson – Cotswold Farm Park Lodges (Cotswolds)
Adam Henson has a number of accommodations available at his Cotswold Farm ParkCredit: BBCHe has stylish lodges situated on a corner of the farm – along with glamping pods and safari tentsCredit: Instagram/@cotswoldfarmpark
Countryfile presenter and rare-breed conservationist Adam Henson grew up on the 650-acre working farm in the heart of the Cotswolds.
Each year, thousands of visitors flock to his Cotswold Farm Park, a rare breeds centre and country play park in a picturesque corner of his land.
To give visitors a true taste of country life, he also built a collection of wooden lodges, safari tents, and glamping pods on the grounds.
Each custom-built timber lodge comes with modern amenities, an outdoor deck with a private hot tub, and a fire pit for evening stargazing.
Stays include complimentary admission to the farm park, where guests can meet rare livestock breeds and participate in daily farm activities.
7. Sting & Trudie Styler – Villa Il Palagio (Tuscany, Italy)
Musician Sting and actress wife Trudie Styler have a jaw-dropping Italian villa available to rentCredit: AFPVilla Il Palagio is located in Tuscany and has panoramic views of vineyardsCredit: palagio.com/Take a dip in the property’s pool or try wine produced on the estateCredit: il-palagio.com/villa
Music icon Sting and his film producer wife Trudie Styler bought this sprawling 16th-century Tuscan estate south of Florence back in 1997.
When the couple isn’t residing there, they open up the grand nine-bedroom main villa and surrounding historic guest cottages to private rentals.
The 860-acre organic estate boasts manicured Italian gardens, private swimming pools, a tennis court, and its own wine cellars.
Guests can sample olive oil, honey, and biodynamic wines produced directly on the estate while taking in views of the Chianti hills.
If you want a holiday fit for Leonardo Di Caprio, it is now possible with his rental propertyCredit: GettyLeonardo’s Palm Springs home has six bedrooms and a tennis courtCredit: Not known clear with Features
If you want to get the full Hollywood experience, Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio has provided a way.
The star purchased an iconic mid-century modern architectural masterpiece in Palm Springs back in 2014.
Designed in 1964 by renowned architect Donald Wexler for entertainer Dinah Shore, the six-bedroom estate drips with vintage Hollywood glamour.
The compound features floor-to-ceiling glass walls, sleek stone fireplaces, a cocktail bar, a heated pool, and a private lighted tennis court.
Located in the prestigious Old Las Palmas neighborhood, it offers full luxury estate staffing and concierge services for short-term stays.
How to Book: Book through the official estate manager at 432 Hermosa.
9. Kirstie Allsopp – Meadowgate (North Devon)
Location, Location, Location host Kirstie Allsopp also has her own holiday homeCredit: AlamyMeadowgate Cottage in North Devon can accommodate up to 14 guestsCredit: http://www.classic.co.ukThe transformation of Meadowgate Cottage featured as part of Kirstie’s Homemade Home seriesCredit: http://www.classic.co.uk
Situated in the peaceful village of Welcombe in North Devon, the six-bedroom period cottage accommodates up to 14 guests.
The renovation process was even filmed as part of her Kirstie’s Homemade Home series.
The TV star personally decorated the interior with bold wallpapers, handcrafted details throughout every room, and upcycled vintage furniture.
A short walk through country lanes near the home brings guests directly to the secluded Atlantic beach at Welcombe Mouth.
10. Wayne Rooney – Royal Westmooreland estate (Barbados)
Wayne Rooney and wife Coleen Rooney also have a holiday home in Barbados that you can bookCredit: Tim StewartThe Rooneys’ £3million villa at the Royal Westmoreland estate comes with an extravagant price tagCredit: Refer to SourceThe mansion has five bedrooms and boasts an infinity poolCredit: Refer to Source
If you have lots of cash to spare, you can holiday like Coleen and Wayne Rooney who have a mansion in Barbados.
The £5million villa – located in the gorgeous Royal Westmoreland luxury estate in the Caribbean island – costs up to £25,000 a week to rent.
For that, you can expect a week of luxury at the five-bedroom pad that sleeps up to 14, which includes an infinity pool.
Sitting by idyllic palm trees, Wayne and Coleen’s white mansion opens up with a covered gated entrance.
Inside, the colour scheme is white and summery, with doors opening to the outside and fans situated above the beds to keep things cool.
The line-up for Celebrity Masterchef 2026 has been announced, with stars from Coronation Street, I’m A Celeb and Strictly Come Dancing heading to the kitchen
Comedian Chris Ramsey, who previously competed on Strictly Come Dancing, has reportedly signed up for the upcoming celebrity edition of BBC hit series Gladiators
Chris Ramsey has reportedly signed up for Celebrity Gladiators(Image: Getty Images)
Chris Ramsey has reportedly signed up for Celebrity Gladiators. The comedian, 39, could be about to join the star-studded lineup of an upcoming special of the BBC hit.
All hosted by father-and-son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh, the celebrity edition of their Saturday night series has previously other big names from the comedy world and now it’s thought that Chris, who around his stand up career has competed on Strictly Come Dancing and previously hosted The Chris and Rosie Ramsey show with his wife, is about to enter the strength-endurance game.
A source said: “They love having a comedian on Celebrity Gladiators to ramp up the fun factor, which is why they’ve always tried to sign someone like Chris.
Speaking to The Sun, the source added: “Previous names have included stand up stars Rob Beckett and Joel Dommett who were on the first ever series of the spin-off show in 2024, and they certainly delivered on laughs.”
The outlet previously reported that YouTube star George Clarke, who reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing last year, had also signed up to appear on the programme, along with Big Brother host AJ Odudu.
Both the celebrity edition and the non-celebrity edition will commence production at Sheffield sometime soon, although whilst the regular edition of is expected to air in 2027, the star-studded special is normally broadcast over the festive period.
It’s thought that Bradley and Barney will be back to front the next series as well as the special edition of their programme, which serves as a revival of the 1990s classic, just like they did last year when fitness coach Joe Wicks and I’m A Celebrity… star Vogue Williams reigned supreme when the episode aired on Christmas Day.
The pair succeeded after facing off against other celebrities, Made in Chelsea star Sam Thompson and boxing champ Nicola Adams. After winning, Joe, 40, explained that he was truly challenged by the physicality of the special.
He said: “Even though I had a bit of a breather, I still found that travelator hard. It’s much harder doing it in real life than watching it on TV. I’m really chuffed that I won but I have to say Sam has been an amazing partner.”
In defeat, Sam remained gracious and laughed about the self appointed Gladiators name he had awarded himself. He told the Utilita Arena in Sheffield: “El Cockroacho, baby – you can’t stamp him out!”
Meanwhile, Vogue, who won after only being two-hundredths of a second ahead of her opponent Nicola, gushed: “I honestly cannot believe it, I’ve had the best day ever. The crowd when I was doing so badly were so nice to me so thank you.”
And the Olympic gold medallist said in defeat: “I came down on the zipline and landed funny on my ankle and I just couldn’t get it going again. This is the first silver medal I’ve had!”
Celebrity Gogglebox viewers were left less than impressed as the Channel 4 programme began airing on Friday.
Stephen Mangan starred on Celebrity Gogglebox with his lookalike sister (Image: Channel 4)
Gogglebox viewers have been left furious minutes into the episode airing on Friday, July 24.
The beloved Channel 4 series returned with a repeat episode of the celebrity edition.
The likes of Stephen Mangan and his sister Anita, Martin and Roman Kemp, Vicky Pattison and Pete Wicks, and Jordan Banjo and fellow Diversity dancer Perri Kiely appeared in a ‘best bits’ special.
Channel 4 had teased: “The best moments of series 7 as a rolling cast of famous faces tune in for The 1% Club for Soccer Aid, Coronation Street, Open House: The Great Sex Experiment and Match Me Abroad.”
However, viewers were left fuming as they realised the episode was a repeat, with one writing: “This is boring. #CelebrityGogglebox is always c**p. And this is a repeat. So it’s double c**p.”
Another said: “Having déjà vu on this #gogglebox like I’ve seen it before.”
Someone else wrote: “Why don’t you realise we want to watch current shows not old versions – fuming as could have started a film an hour ago instead of waiting for this.”
“Urghhh a repeat,” another echoed.
The new series of Celebrity Gogglebox aired earlier this year, and featured a fresh batch of famous faces.
Joining the programme were the likes of Love Island star Olivia Attwood with her mum, Strictly’s George Clarke and his podcast co-host Max Balegde, and Gladiators Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Matt Morsia.
Ahead of their debut on the show, Olivia shared: “It’s not often that we agree on things, which I think the viewers may find entertaining. My family are huge fans of the show so it’s a real honour to be a part of such an iconic British programme.”
Matt, known as Legend on Gladiators, added: “Everyone knows how good I am at being on TV, but turns out I’m even better at watching it. Wow. Absolutely incredible sofa performance.
“I had a great time on the show and I need to say a massive thank you to Gogglebox for literally paying me to watch TV. What a time to be alive.”
Celebrity Gogglebox is available to watch on Channel 4.
There are several new additions to the new series too, including Olivia Attwood and her mum Jennifer, Harry and Matt aka Nitro and Legend from Gladiators.
However, in the latest instalment, things took an emotional turn when the celebs watched an episode of The Piano. On the show, young pianist Grace, who lost both her fingers and lower legs to meningitis as a child, performed.
The Celebrity Gogglebox cast were left in awe by The Piano scene, with several celebs reduced to tears, including Vernon Kay. He said: “Go on Grace,” before wiping away the tears from his eyes.
His co-star Paddy McGuinness said: “Innit amazing like human beings, what we do or what we go through; resilience,” as Vernon agreed.
Reflecting on the performance, Ellie Simmonds also said: “What people perceive to be how it has to be, it can be done so differently. She is breaking down barriers.”
Josh Homme also added: “This is where you’re like, the world is full of magic. No matter what is going on in the world, it’s out there.”
Meanwhile, talking about being on the new series of Celebrity Gogglebox Olivia Attwood said it “was chaotic but in the best possible way”.
She explained: “It’s not often that we agree on things, which I think the viewers may find entertaining. My family are huge fans of the show so it’s a real honour to be a part of such an iconic British programme.”
Strictly 2025 finalist George Clarke also said: “I loved it, mainly because it gave me a full excuse to take the mick out of Max on national TV. He reacts to everything, so you’re never bored. It’s so easy to get into as well, you just sit there, say exactly what you’re thinking, and before you know it, we’ve gone completely off track!”
Coronation Street legend Nigel Havers also shared: “It’s a dream come true working with Julian on Gogglebox. I can’t think of a better way to spend an evening… (Julian wrote this).”
Celebrity Gogglebox airs every Friday at 9pm on Channel 4.
Elizabeth Kobliha knows her one-eyed cat Likho has more friends than she does. So much so that on his 15th birthday last Saturday, the sidewalk outside her downtown Long Beach store where he spends most of his time transformed into a makeshift fair.
There were vendors selling peach cobbler, watches, hot dogs and offering tattoos and face paint. A DJ spun records in celebration.
“He’s a very good businessman. We’ve got stickers, T-shirts, keychains, and buttons [of him], and it all goes under his account, his name,” Kobliha said of the cat.
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Before Likho roamed the 7,000-square-foot Long Beach Vintage Etc, there was Apollo. The “big rag doll” came in with health problems but was the perfect shop cat. Apollo, a Maine coon who died at 13 following a seizure a year after his arrival in 2015, had curbed the shop’s mouse problem and brought “so much love and energy.”
Similarly, Likho, a one-eyed Russian Blue, also was ailing when Kobilha took him in at 8 years old, but she wanted him anyhow.
“I always wanted to open my own shop so I can have a shop cat,” Kobliha says, adding she was inspired by bookstores with cats “just chilling.”
Vendors line the sidewalk for Likho’s birthday party. The cat is a local celebrity.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
In 2016, Kobliha was swiping through Facebook when a video stopped her scroll. In it, a woman inside of a hoarder’s garage bobbed a feather toy in front of Likho, who jumped up to catch it.
The post was made by Sia Barbi in collaboration with animal rescue group Stray Cat Alliance after the cat had been abandoned at the Hancock Park home. During the early ‘90s, Sia and identical twin sister, Shane, made waves in the fashion and pop culture worlds, often modeling for Chanel, Thierry Mugler and Jean Paul Gaultier. Their rise to fame began after the Los Angeles Timescovered a Sunset Boulevard billboard featuring the twins wearing little clothing that had been causing car accidents.
“Guys of a certain generation would get very hot and bothered over them,” Kobliha said of the Barbi twins. As they exited the modeling industry, they pivoted into animal activism and volunteering for rescue groups and trap, neuter and return programs for cats.
Elizabeth Kobliha holds her cat Likho. When she opened her vintage store, she knew she wanted a shop cat just like chill bookstore cats.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Kobliha wanted to adopt Likho, but first he’d need a $3,000 operation to remove an infected eye, paid for by the Stray Cat Alliance.
“They took care of everything, then we had to wait because he had to recuperate,” she recalls. “The whole time I’m thinking, ‘Oh my God, what if it doesn’t work out? What if the cat gets here and is just absolutely bonkers?’”
That fear was for nothing. Likho, who lives at the shop full-time, acclimated within a day. “He has been a beautiful addition ever since then,” Kobliha says.
He’s since become the face of the shop, with a mural dedicated to him outside to welcome customers. That was done by local muralist LaJon Miller, who worked on another on the sidewalk during Likho’s party.
“I got adopted into it,” he says of the Likho fandom. “He’s been my muse on this street for a while. … He just roams around the store, chills, does his little nap thing, and hangs out with everybody, so he’s very social.”
Likho has never harmed the centuries-old objects in her shop, Kobliha says, but he has spooked suspected ghosts.
LaJon Miller, who calls Likho his muse, paints a portrait of the cat on the sidewalk outside of Long Beach Vintage Etc.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Kobliha believes ghosts once connected to shops at the 1922 building — a former patron of a grocery store shamed for his obesity and a former furniture shop owner who died by suicide — still roam her store’s stalls.
“We see shadow figures … there’s a certain area where they pass back and forth. They don’t do anything, but they’re scary as hell,” Kobliha says of unusual sightings. “Likho is very protective, and we do feel really safe when he’s around.”
“It is a little weird, though, when he’s sleeping, and then suddenly he will jump up and look around,” she adds.
Likho’s biggest fan may be a man named Dom Gomez. He lives within walking distance of the shop, and tends to visit after long shifts at a restaurant aboard the Queen Mary. He stopped by the birthday party wearing his work uniform: a white, button-down shirt and black slacks. His hair slicked; his hands behind his back.
Likho’s face graces merchandise at Long Beach Vintage Etc like this fan.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
When he speaks of Likho, he speaks with a tender cadence and dignified countenance, as if he were his own.
“Time flies, you know?” he says, smiling, of visiting Likho over the years. “He gets a lot of love from all the ladies that work here and myself … he has a lot of fans. I don’t know who’s more famous, Muhammad Ali or Likho the Cat.”
On a previous birthday, Gomez wanted to get Likho a gift. He settled on a kid’s denim jacket he modified for a cat with a patch for the Cure on the back but, regrettably, it was a “little too big.” Next year, he’ll give it another shot with a sweater.
“That’s my little buddy right there,” he says. “Today is a special day. I didn’t know a cat could live that long, but I think he’s still got a lot of energy to live … maybe another 100 years, I hope.”
Two new stars will be joining the latest Celebrity Gogglebox line-up as they showcase their TV opinions on the popular Channel 4 show
Celebrity Gogglebox has added two new stars to the line up(Image: Channel 4)
Rock stars and longtime friends are joining the Celebrity Gogglebox sofa this week.
Making their debut on the show, Jake Shears and Josh Homme will give their opinions on the week’s biggest TV moments, combining their close friendship with their signature wit.
Best known for fronting Scissor Sisters and Queens of the Stone Age, Jake and Josh have spent years performing to huge crowds around the world and building careers that have sold millions of records.
This time, they’ll be watching from the comfort of the sofa, sharing their candid, entertaining reactions to the programmes that have everyone talking.
Talking about his appearance, Jake said: “Josh and I have spent years making noise for a living, so sitting on a sofa and talking over the television felt surprisingly natural. We laughed far more than we probably should have and somehow got away with calling it work. It was a longtime dream to be part of Celebrity Gogglebox.”
Meanwhile, Josh said: “You’ve never watched anyone watch TV until you’ve watched Josh and Jake watching TV. And then you know you’ve watched it. So set your watch for 9pm on Friday. We are breaking ground that should largely have gone unbroken.”
It’s a busy week for Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh, as the band has unveiled plans for their new album, Everything Under The Sun.
The upcoming release marks the American rock group’s first studio album in three years. They also dropped the lead single, Easy Street, on Tuesday, featuring guest vocals from Nikki Lane.
Fans may already recognise the song after it made its live debut during the band’s Catacombs tour last year.
Elsewhere in the new series of Celebrity Gogglebox, singer Mollie King will be joined on the sofa by her partner, former England cricketer Stuart Broad.
Olivia Attwood has been taking part in the latest series alongside her mum, while her partner Pete Wicks has been appearing separately with his close friend Vicky Pattison.
The new season has also welcomed back a host of familiar faces, including Vernon Kay and Paddy McGuinness, Bez and Shaun, Roman and Martin Kemp, Ashley Banjo and Perri Kiely, Nick Grimshaw with his niece Liv, the Mangans, and Rylan, who once again joins his mum Linda on the sofa.
Celebrity Gogglebox airs this Friday at 9pm on Channel 4.
Two lawsuits already serve as backdrops to the unseemly sequence of events that led to Bryce Harper sending Thanksgiving wishes on behalf of FanDuel to an admitted sports gambling addict.
Could there be a third?
Legal experts say Harper might have grounds to sue FanDuel for false endorsement, misappropriation and invasion of privacy.
The Philadelphia Phillies All-Star first baseman said in a statement posted on Instagram that he created a personalized 21-second video on behalf of FanDuel but would not have done so had he known the online sportsbook allegedly intended to use it to entice VIP customer Terry Thompson to continue gambling.
“I did not know FanDuel would do this,” Harper wrote. “I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it.”
Harper said he received a request on Cameo in November 2024 to read a message provided by FanDuel VIP host Bryttanni Morgan for a personal “holiday video for Terry.”
“Hey, Terry? What’s up, brother? Hey, man, your host Bryttanni from FanDuel wanted to make sure your Thanksgiving was extra special,” Harper says in the video.
Thompson sued FanDuel, Morgan, DraftKings and the NFL in March, alleging that the sportsbooks caused him to lose about $1.6 million while betting an estimated $18.5 million over a four-year period.
“Had I known FanDuel’s true intent, I would not have made the video,” Harper said. “The same is true had I known anything about Terry or his situation, or about any alleged ‘partnership’ between Cameo and FanDuel.”
The lawsuit filed by the nonprofit Public Health Advocacy Institute on behalf of Thompson and fellow gambler Christopher Sage alleges that FanDuel and DraftKings intentionally fostered addiction by providing enticements such as Super Bowl tickets, hotel accommodations and access to athletes and celebrities.
Thompson said his home fell into foreclosure after he took out second and third mortgages. He borrowed money from family and friends and burned through his savings, losing his last $10,000 on a DraftKings parlay bet in February.
He describes in the lawsuit feeling so desperate that he reached out to his therapist, who called police officers to his home to prevent him from harming himself.
Harper, an eight-time All-Star and two-time Most Valuable Player, has earned nearly $252 million in salary over his 15-year MLB career and is owed another $75 million before his contract expires after the 2031 season. He also earns about $9 million a year in endorsements, according to Sportico.
In a legal action, Harper could seek monetary damages by alleging that the video tarnished his reputation. The perception that he urged a gambling addict to continue destructive behavior could negatively impact his ability to land endorsement deals.
“Section 43(a) of the federal Lanham Act prohibits false endorsements, including when a business draws from an athlete’s NIL and other identifying characteristics without permission,” McCann wrote. “There can be a viable claim when that unauthorized use leads consumers to believe the athlete endorses the business’s product or service.
“Harper could also sue over unauthorized use of his name, image, voice and other uniquely identifying features. To that end, he could argue the video constitutes misappropriation or invasion of privacy.”
FanDuel, in turn, could counter by pointing out that Harper agreed to create the video as part of his relationship with Cameo, a company that connects fans with celebrities and creators for personalized digital interactions.
“False endorsement and misappropriation, FanDuel could insist, are inapplicable to a personalized video setting where the video’s talent voluntarily assents in exchange for compensation,” McCann wrote. “Further, FanDuel could assert that Harper was, or should have been, aware of a potential connection between the video and FanDuel and, more generally, sports betting.”
FanDuel issued a statement after the Harper video came to light in an investigative story published July 9 in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“We are committed to fostering a culture of responsible gaming and protecting our customers,” the statement said. “Unlike illegal offshore sportsbooks, FanDuel employees are trained to recognize and flag signs of problem gambling and offer resources and tools, and we continue to review and strengthen our policies to ensure we have the industry’s strongest consumer protection initiatives.”
FanDuel and DraftKings, the leading sportsbooks since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that states could legalize sports betting, have developed lucrative partnerships with leagues in all major sports. The 2022 MLB collective bargaining agreement opened the door for players to do promotional work for sportsbooks.
Yet the collaborations have not come without problems. The MLB players union’s licensing and marketing arm filed a lawsuit in 2024 that accused DraftKings, FanDuel and Bet365 of using without permission or compensation photos of players on its betting app and in social media posts.
Coincidentally, Harper became embroiled in that lawsuit, in which the plaintiffs pointed to images of Harper’s face on the DraftKings app as evidence. The two sides reached a settlement in April ahead of trial.
The full line-up for Celebrity Hunted on Channel 4 has been released, with stars from Strictly Come Dancing, EastEnders, Love Island and more battling the Hunters.
Brian Conley is going on the run(Image: Hoda Davaine/Dave Benett/Getty I)
Celebrity Hunted is officially returning to our screens, with a fresh batch of stars going on the run to help raise money for Stand Up To Cancer.
More than a decade after the first series of Hunted aired on Channel 4, the hit show will be returning to our screens very soon – as a string of famous faces will become fugitives in August.
EastEnders icon Brian Conley will be competing with his daughter Lucy, while Strictly Come Dancing stars Amy Dowden and Carlos Gu are also hoping to go unnoticed by Ray Howard and his “elite team of Hunters”.
Love Islanders Chris Taylor and Toby Aromolaran will be taking part, beside JJ Chalmers and Sophie Morgan, and presenters and siblings Scarlette and Stuart Douglas. Comedians Jen Brister and Laura Smythe also make up the line-up.
The celebrity pairs will have to “vanish into mainland Britain, cutting themselves off from the lives – and the fame – they’ve always relied upon. For 14 relentless days they must stay hidden, think fast and trust no one because the moment they leave a trail, the hunt is on.
“In a world where almost every movement leaves a footprint, can these celebrity fugitives escape the glare of the spotlight and remain under the radar, or will the Hunters bring every fugitive into custody before the 14 days are up?”
While Hunted first aired in 2015, the celebrity version began two years later – The Wanted singers Jay McGuinness and Siva Kaneswaran outwitted the Hunters to take home the crown in 2017.
The most recent season aired at the beginning of last year, with Christine McGuinness and Duncan James defeating the Hunters.
Shedding light on the upcoming season of Celebrity Hunted, which will begin filming next month, Factual Entertainment Commissioning Editor for Channel 4 Ian Dunkley said: ”When celebrities go on the run and are forced to engage the help of us mere mortals, chaos and comedy inevitably ensue.
“Hunted down by a motivated team of police and security professionals, this series reveals what it takes to remain hidden when everybody knows what you look like.’’
Matt Bennett, Director of Programmes for Shine TV, added: “Celebrity Hunted is the only TV series – alongside its cousin, Hunted – which continues to remind us of the powers of the state in an entertaining and engaging way.
“This is our most ambitious series yet, beginning with a breathtaking aerial launch amongst the skyscrapers of London, then a daring escape at the end of the run for any who evade capture… with a great deal of entertaining mischief in between.”
Jazz star Jamie Cullum is one of the guest mentors on the new series of Channel 4’s The Piano
16:51, 11 Jul 2026Updated 16:58, 11 Jul 2026
Jamie Cullum is a guest mentor on series 4 of The Piano on Channel 4(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Jamie Cullum has been in the spotlight for decades.
The jazz star was just 20 when he reportedly produced his first album, Heard It All Before, in 1999 with just £480 and only 500 copies made.
Since then he’s enjoyed huge success as a singer and musician, releasing more albums, performing all over the world and amassing awards. The 46-year-old, who was born in Essex and grew up in Wiltshire, is also renowned for fronting The Jazz Show With Jamie Cullum on BBC Radio 2.
Fans will be able to catch Jamie on the new series of Channel 4’s The Piano, which returns on Sunday, July 12 for its fourth run. Hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Mika, the programmke searches for the UK’s best amateur piano players and Jamie will be one of the guest mentors along with Jools Holland and Hiromi.
Ahead of the show, we take a look at Jamie’s life away from the cameras, including his model wife, famous reation and his real height.
Supermodel wife and children
Jamie has been married to supermodel Sophie Dahl since 2010 and they have two daughters.
Sophie started her career as a teenage fashion model and was famously discovered by British Vogue. She was renowned for her curves and was sought after by the top designers.
She’s gone on to have a successful career as an author, journalist and TV presenter.
Speaking to Red in 2020, Jamie opened up about meeting his wife.
He said: “We just really hit it off. I thought, ‘Man, that is a cool woman,’ but I didn’t really entertain anything else. We were both in relationships and she wasn’t living in the UK, so we were just friends at first.
“Then, a couple of years later, she moved back here and that’s when our friendship became something else.
“We had a very immediate connection. While we both worked in a public way, our lives were purposefully quite private.”
Links to famous author
Sophie is the granddaughter of the late great author Roald Dahl who is renowned for children’s classics like Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr Fox and Matilda. Sophie was said to be the inspiration behind his work, The BFG.
He was born in Cardiff to Norwegian parents and served in the Royal Air Force. His first children’s book was The Gremlins, published in 1943, about mischievous little creatures that were part of Royal Air Force folklore
As well as his children’s books, he also had a successful parallel career as the writer of macabre adult short stories, which often blended humour and innocence with surprising plot twists.
Roald died in 1990, long before his granddaughter met and married Jamie.
Height
Seven years ago, Jamie released the album Taller, which some people saw as rather ironic as Jamie, himself, has described himself as “short”.
There are several new additions to the new series too, including Olivia Attwood and her mum Jennifer, Harry and Matt aka Nitro and Legend from Gladiators.
And now, it’s been confirmed that radio DJ and The Saturdays singer Mollie King will make an appearance on Friday’s episode (July 9) with her partner, former cricketer Stuart Broad.
Mollie is best known for being a member of chart-topping girl group The Saturdays. She also appeared on Strictly in 2017 and partnered with AJ Pritchard. Mollie was eliminated in the semi-final in December, finishing in fifth place.
As well as telly work, Mollie also has her own BBC Radio 1 alongside Matt Edmondson, in which they co-host from Mondays to Thursdays. Talking about her Gogglebox appearance, Mollie said: “Getting to do Celebrity Gogglebox with Stuart was such a lovely experience.
“Between juggling busy schedules, there’s nothing I enjoy more than switching off together in front of the TV, so it felt really special to share a little bit of that with viewers.”
Mollie added: “We had so many laughs filming it and, although I can’t promise we agreed on every programme, we had the best time.”
Meanwhile Stuart said about his appearance: “Celebrity Gogglebox was a genuinely enjoyable experience and a chance to show what Mollie and I are really like when the remote control is up for grabs. We had plenty of opinions, a few disagreements and a lot of laughs along the way.”
Other new faces on the latest series of Gogglebox include Strictly star George Clark and content creator Max Balegde comedian and actor, Julian Clary and actor and television presenter, Nigel Havers.
Talking about being on Celebrity Gogglebox Strictly 2025 finalist George Clarke also said: “I loved it, mainly because it gave me a full excuse to take the mick out of Max on national TV.
“He reacts to everything, so you’re never bored. It’s so easy to get into as well, you just sit there, say exactly what you’re thinking, and before you know it, we’ve gone completely off track!”
Coronation Street legend Nigel Havers also shared: “It’s a dream come true working with Julian on Gogglebox. I can’t think of a better way to spend an evening… (Julian wrote this).”
Celebrity Gogglebox airs every Friday at 9pm on Channel 4.
Celebrity Gogglebox fans were left baffled after a famous face failed to make an appearance on the programme
Celebrity Gogglebox fans confused as favourite ‘goes missing’ and replaced(Image: Channel 4)
A familiar face on Celebrity Gogglebox was missing from the latest instalment.
The Channel 4 spin-off show returned to screens on Friday (July 3) for a brand new episode, welcoming back firm favourites, such as Denise Van Outen and Johnny Vaughan, Nick Grimshaw and niece Liv and pals Richie Anderson and Ellie Simmonds.
There are several new additions to the new series too, including Olivia Attwood and her mum Jennifer, and Harry and Matt aka Nitro and Legend from Gladiators.
Finishing off the line-up are Strictly star George Clark and content creator Max Balegde, as well as comedian and actor, Julian Clary and actor and television presenter, Nigel Havers.
But for the latest instalment of the beloved show, instead of comedians Babatunde Aleshe and Mo Gilligan – who film in South London – making an appearance, Mo was with fellow comedian and I’m A Celebrity star Eddie Kadi, with Babatunde absent.
Reacting to Babatunde being missing, one confused person wrote on X: “Where’s @BabatundeComedy tonight @MoTheComedian?” Meanwhile on Gogglebox’s Instagram, Mo shared a video of him and Eddie which also left fans puzzled by Babatunde’s absence. “BABATUNDE?! WHERE THE HELL IS HE?!” declared a second fan. A third wrote: “Where’s Babatunde?”
Meanwhile, talking about being on Celebrity Gogglebox, new star Olivia Attwood said it “was chaotic but in the best possible way”. She explained: “It’s not often that we agree on things which I think the viewers may find entertaining.
“My family are huge fans of the show so it’s a real honour to be a part of such an iconic British programme.”
Strictly 2025 finalist George Clarke also said: “I loved it, mainly because it gave me a full excuse to take the mick out of Max on national TV.
“He reacts to everything, so you’re never bored. It’s so easy to get into as well, you just sit there, say exactly what you’re thinking, and before you know it, we’ve gone completely off track!”
Coronation Street legend Nigel Havers also shared: “It’s a dream come true working with Julian on Gogglebox. I can’t think of a better way to spend an evening… (Julian wrote this).”
Celebrity Gogglebox airs at 9pm on Friday at Channel 4
One of the Celebrity Gogglebox stars had to take a minute after watching a terrifying scene
22:31, 03 Jul 2026Updated 22:58, 03 Jul 2026
Jordan Banjo had a fright watching a horror film(Image: Channel 4 screengrab)
A Celebrity Gogglebox star walked off camera after viewing a creepy horror film that left everyone squealing.
The instalment of the Channel 4 show that aired on Friday (July 3) saw the celebrity armchair critics watching a range of programmes, from Countdown to Clarkson’s Farm. But many looked horrified as they tuned into horror film, Weapons.
The film is about 17 children from the same classroom who mysteriously disappear on the same night at the same time, and Jordan Banjo had to leave the sofa for a breather after watching scenes from the movie with fellow Diversity star Perri Kiely.
Many of the stars on the celebrity edition of the programme were seen looked terrified as they watched a scene where a creepy character called Aunt Gladys (played by Amy Madigan) visited a house and asked for a bowl instead of a glass of water.
Things took a nasty turn when she took a wooden stick she had been fiddling with and dragged it across her hand, cutting it open, which left Jordan gasping.
He held a cushion up to block the screen as a man in the film was then seen opening his mouth and vomiting streams of back liquid.
“I need a break, I need a break,” Jordan said, as Perri exclaimed: “No!”
But the dancer then stood up and moved away from the chair, explaining: “I need a drink. Do you want anything?”
However, he soon rushed back, explaining to Perri that he when he had got to the kitchen he had spotted a bowel of water on the side and it had given him a fright. “No!” he said, sitting back down without having poured the drinks.
Fans were tickled by the scenes, with one posting on X: “So funny.”
Someone else posted on the platform, which was formerly Twitter: “Who doesn’t just love a bit of Celebrity Gogglebox. Always such an entertaining way to spend the time.” “The perfect switch your brain off TV this time of night needs,” they added.
Celebrity Gogglebox returned to screens on Friday night, with a host of new stars
Celebrity Gogglebox returned to screens(Image: Channel 4)
Viewers of Celebrity Gogglebox settled in to watch a host of famous faces participate in a landmark episode.
The Channel 4 spin-off programme returned to screens on Friday (June 26) for a new episode, which was filmed over the previous seven days, covering the week’s TV and news highlights.
In each celebrity household, Gogglebox captures their instant reactions, love/hate relationships and fierce debates on the best and worst television shows of the past week – all from the comfort of their sofas.
From the Saturday night juggernauts and the week’s big soaps, to documentaries and gritty drama, the famous households offer witty, insightful, feisty and sometimes emotional critiques of the week’s popular and topical TV shows.
The latest instalment of the hit series welcomed back firm favourites, such as Martin and Roman Kemp, James and Clair Buckley, Nick and Liv Grimshaw, Bez and Shaun Ryder, and Joe Marler and Maisie Adam.
There were several new additions too, including Strictly Come Dancing stars Amy Dowden and Carlos Gu, actor Michael Sheen and his partner Anna Lundberg, friends Georgia Tennant and Fearne Cotton, and Chris Packham and step-daughter Megan McCubbin.
Channel 4 viewers were quick to say the same thing during the landmark 50th episode of Celebrity Gogglebox.
Fans shared how much they enjoyed the show, with one person writing on X (formerly Twitter): “Who doesn’t just love a bit of @C4Gogglebox. Always such an entertaining way to spend the time. The perfect switch your brain of TV any time of day needs.”
Another added: “Watching the always delightful Celebrity @C4Gogglebox. It’s still so fascinating how watching a show about people simply watching TV can be so strangely addictive. Watching as a host of celebs give their views on what’s on the small screen.”
A third said: “I love Celeb Gogglebox.”
Someone else shared: “All hail Celebrity @C4Gogglebox. How is it therapeutic watching people watch TV? Always the much needed relief a s****y day always requires. Love the celebrity version.”
During the instalment, the celebrities tuned into new episodes of I Kissed A Girl, The 1% Club, and First Dates, as well as watching Jennifer Lopez’s Netflix film, Office Romance.
The future of the UK’s leadership also came under scrutiny in this week’s episode. The famous faces reacted to Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation as Prime Minister, and gave their opinions on the man tipped to replace him, Andy Burnham.
Reacting to Starmer’s emotional speech outside 10 Downing Street, Michael Sheen commented: “That’s got to be tough”.
Joe Marler added: “He’s finally shown us the human side to him, that would have connected more with the world.”
Celebrity Gogglebox is available to stream on Channel 4
The second series of The Celebrity Traitors will hit screens later this year – and there’s reportedly going to be a huge plot twist that even the producers didn’t see coming
Celebrity Traitors will features a ‘shocking’ twist from contestants(Image: BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry)
The second series of Celebrity Traitors is set to feature a huge plot twist that has never been seen on the hit BBC show before – that has reportedly left producers “shocked”.
Already being billed as the “most treacherous series so far”, it’s claimed that a third of the contestants will end up as Traitors when the new season starts later this year.
Revealing how the latest celeb series will be different to anything viewers have seen before, a source told The Sun: “Those working on the programme were quite shocked by the approach adopted by the core Traitors. They went on a recruiting spree that has never been seen on either the celebrity or the ‘civilian’ version of the show in the UK.
“Last year, the original three Traitors secretly selected by Claudia remained as a trio throughout the competition — which turned out to be a winning approach. But on the follow-up series, all that changes. There’s a thrilling shift in the balance of power,” the source added.
“Even though the whole programme is based on skullduggery, nobody thought it would reach these levels.”
Filming in the famous Scottish castle is already believed to have wrapped, but fans will have to wait for the show to air to find out who the Traitors are – and which famous faces they will go on to recruit.
This year’s impressive line-up of has already been revealed and there will be 21 contestants on the celebrity version of the show that’s hosted by Claudia Winkleman.
Among those taking part this year is actor Richard E Grant, along with Mick Jagger’s ex Jerry Hall, former EastEnders star Ross Kemp, You’re Beautiful singer James Blunt and Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock.
Love Island host Maya Jama will also battle it out to win the 2026 series alongside comedians Miranda Hart, Romesh Ranganathan, Rob Beckett, James Acaster, Joe Lycett and Joanne McNally.
Actors Michael Sheen, Sharon Rooney, Bella Ramsey, Myha’la, Sebastian Croft and ex Corrie star Julie Hesmondhalgh have also signed up to the show. Journalist and broadcaster Amol Rajan, boxer and YouTube star King Kenny and mathematician Professor Hannah Fry complete the 2026 line-up.
Perrie Edwards has already predicted that her bandmate Leigh-Anne Pinnock will likely be cast as a traitor because of her affinity for mischief.
Speaking on the Hanging Out with Ant & Dec podcast, she said: “Oh she is so annoying, I already know she is going to annoy me. You don’t understand how infuriating it is, she would lie about silly things so she would do pranks and we’d be like, ‘Leigh-Anne’s that’s…’ and she’d be like ‘it’s a prank’ and I’m like ‘that’s not a prank you’ve just lied, it’s just annoying’. And so I don’t know if I’ve got it in me to watch her do that for a full series.”
*Celebrity Traitors will return to BBC One and iPlayer later this year
A Gavin & Stacey icon is tipped to be joining the celebrity line-up for the 2026 season of Strictly Come Dancing – which will see Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe take over as judges
Gavin & Stacey star Melanie Walters is reportedly joining the 2026 Strictly cast(Image: BBC)
Gavin & Stacey star Melanie Walters is the latest celebrity to have reportedly signed up to the 2026 season of Strictly Come Dancing. A report has claimed the 64-year-old actress will be throwing on sequins and hitting the ballroom floor as one of the star contestants for the upcoming 24th season of the long-running BBC show.
Sitcom fans will know Melanie as Gwen West in Gavin & Stacey – which aired its last ever episode in 2024 – and is also known for playing Bonnie Bevan in Hollyoaks, and for guest roles in a string of shows including Doc Martin, Casualty, and Beyond Paradise. Now fans may be able to see her in a whole new light as a contestant on the BBC’s iconic dance show.
The 2026 cast has started to be unveiled – with an EastEnders favourite and an Australian music icon among the confirmed cast so far. A report has now suggested that Melanie will be the next celeb to be announced as part of the upcoming line-up.
A source told The Sun on Sunday: ““Melanie is loved across the country for her role as Gwen. The Gavin & Stacey Christmas special in 2024 saw millions of fans turning in for the final episode of the series. BBC bosses are very excited to have landed Melanie given her popularity.”
When asked for a statement, the BBC responded to the Mirror to say: “We don’t comment on speculation.” EastEnders star Lacey Turner, who has played Stacey Slater in the BBC soap since 2004, was the first 2026 contestant to be announced – with Australian singer and recent Eurovision contestant Delta Goodrem also unmasked as a participant.
Fans will recall that Love Island star Dani Dyer was forced to drop out of the 2025 contest after suffering an early injury during the competition – but she has now been granted the chance to fight for the glitterball trophy again as she will return as a 2026 contestant. While celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton has also been unveiled as a season 24 participant.
After being announced as the first contestant for 2026, Lacey said in a statement: “I am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing! I am a huge fan and can’t quite believe I will be taking part and not watching at home this year! I look forward to meeting everyone and learning a new skill!”
While Love Island’s Dani declared: “I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September. I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one! I’m just over the moon and cannot wait to find out who else is doing it!”
Meanwhile, singer Delta – who was a favourite to win the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, but missed out on the crown – expressed her excitement at taking part in Strictly. She gushed: “I’ve been incredibly honoured to perform on many different stages throughout my career – from tv, theatre, film sets, to touring my own shows around the world, there is however one stage I’ve never stepped onto and that is the ballroom floor! I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Strictly and can’t wait to get started!”
Chris – who has styled the hair of celebrities including Kim Kardashian and Ariana Grande – said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Strictly Come Dancing and coming home to the UK for this incredible experience. I’ve always believed that the best things happen when you take a chance and try something new. I may know my way around a salon floor, but the dance floor is a whole different story – and I can’t wait to get started.”
A lot is riding on the 2026 season of Strictly – which will be the first to air since the shock resignations of hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Fans were blindsided last year when they abruptly announced they were to exit the show at the end of 2025 just weeks after the 23rd season started to air.
Model-turned-presenter Emma Willis will front the show alongside former Strictly professional Johannes Radebe and stand up comedian Josh Widdicombe. Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood have all been confirmed as returning as the panel of judges.
As news of the new presenting line-up last month, Emma declared: “To be stepping into the Strictly ballroom is something I can’t quite comprehend.” While Josh added he was: “giddy with excitement, honoured and a little overawed to be given the chance to step into the biggest shoes in television”.
And Strictly pro Johannes – who danced professionally on the series from 2018 through 2025 – said returning to the series as a new presenter was “beyond anything I ever imagined”. The 2026 season of Strictly is expected to begin airing in September.
There are several new additions to the new series too, including Olivia Attwood and her mum Jennifer, Harry and Matt aka Nitro and Legend from Gladiators.
Finishing off the line-up are Strictly star George Clark and content creator Max Balegde comedian and actor, Julian Clary and actor and television presenter, Nigel Havers.
And for the latest instalment, show favourites Stephen Mangan and his sister Anita were back on the sofa – and fans were over the moon. On X, one person declared: “So glad Stephen and Anita are back!” Someone else wrote: “My favourites!” A third chimed in: “Love these two.”
Stephen is a presenter and actor who found fame playing Nathan Stern in The Split, alongside Nicola Walker, Fiona Button, Annabel Scholey, and Barry Atsma.
Beyond his acting credentials, the star also hosts Artist of the Year on Sky Arts. He also fronted the ITV game show The Fortune Hotel. Meanwhile, his sister Anita is an artist, illustrator, and designer. The brother-sister duo frequently collaborate on popular children’s books, with Anita illustrating the stories that Stephen writes
In 2023, Anita opened up about working with her brother on the books. When asked whose idea it was to work together, she told The Bath Magazine: “Mine! I’ve been an illustrator and designer for years and have wanted to work with Stephen for a long time.
“Stephen is brilliant at writing but can’t draw (his words!), so it’s a great match! I convinced him to consider it. Initially he thought we’d be doing picture books, where I did most of the work … but no, I said ‘40,000 word chapter books please!’ I got my way, mwahahahaha.”
Talking about their relationship, Anita added to the publication: “We have always been close and have been making each other laugh since we were children. Now we’re still making each other laugh – and our readers too (hopefully!). I always look forward to reading the first draft of Stephen’s books to see what drawing challenges there will be. I once told him that drawing horses is hard, so he put horses in The Fart that Changed the World, goats in The Unlikely Rise of Harry Sponge and The Great Reindeer Rescue is full of reindeer.”
Stephen added: “Well, I am the big brother – that’s what we do. I love working with Anita. It’s a treat to see how she illustrates my characters, and she always makes me laugh.”
Celebrity Gogglebox airs every Friday at 9pm on Channel 4
If any fan can be excused for using “we” when speaking of their favorite sports team, it would probably be Lee.
The “Do the Right Thing” star, director and screenwriter was 13 when he witnessed the Knicks defeat the Lakers in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. And he was on hand in San Antonio at age 69 when the Knicks finished off the Spurs with a title-clinching 94-90 victory in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
In between, Lee has become the Knicks’ most famous and visible fan. He has been a season-ticket holder since 1985, the rookie season of Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing, and has been a courtside fixture for decades. In 2024, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s superfan gallery.
During a 2020 appearance on ESPN’s “First Take,” Lee laughed when he was informed that his Knicks seats cost around $300,000 a year and that he had spent roughly $10 million on tickets over the years.
So, yeah, he’s considered by many to be an honorary member of the Knicks — and as such, he’s also considered by many to be more than worthy of an NBA championship ring. The idea has taken off on social media, with several celebrities offering their support.
“Give @officialspikelee a CHAMPIONSHIP RING DAMN IT!!!!!!!!” comedian and actor Kevin Hart wrote Sunday on Instagram.
Legendary sports broadcaster Dick Vitale wrote Monday on X: “I agree with Kevin Hart – yes the LOYALTY of SPIKE LEE to the @nyknicks should be recognized & rewarded- Spike is truly a dedicated & genuine LOYAL Knicks fan .YES I agree with Kevin – SPIKE should get a Championship ring !”
“First Take” host and fellow die-hard Knicks fan Stephen A. Smith reposted on X a graphic calling for Lee to receive a ring for his “decades of loyalty.”
Spike Lee celebrates with a crowd of New York Knicks fans after Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday in San Antonio.
(Darren Abate / Ap Photo/darren Abate)
“I completely support this for Spike Lee,” Smith wrote. “No Knicks’ fan deserves this more than him.”
The Times reached out to a representative for Lee and the Knicks for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Lee is likely less concerned with a championship ring for himself and more concerned with his beloved team earning another one in 2027.
“You know what I’m thinking?” Lee asked during an on-court interview with WABC-TV in New York immediately following Saturday’s victory, before shouting the answer to his own question: “Back to back!”
Countless famous faces have appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox over the years – but for some, it appears working on the Channel 4 show left a rather bad taste in their mouths
Celebrity Gogglebox stars who have slammed show from being ‘sacked’ to ‘torture’ filming(Image: Channel 4)
A brand new episode airs tonight.
Celebrity Gogglebox has seen several famous faces come and go over the years – and for some of them, it seems they are not exactly fans of the programme…
But for some former stars, it seems the show left a rather bad taste in their mouths, as since their exits they have not been afraid to air their thoughts on the programme.
Maureen Lipman
Coronation Street’s Maureen Lipman, who appeared on the show with friend Gyles Brandreth, spoke about her experience on the show in 2021. On Loose Women, Maureen was asked: “Are you not going to be on it any more?”
Laughing, she said: “I’ve seen all the male tackle I need to see for this lifetime to be honest. We had such a good time, but none of the clever things we said went into it. So no.”
Maureen had previously spoken to Radio Times about how being on the show was different to what she had imagined. She told the mag: “I’d seen Gogglebox and I thought, ‘Oh, [ours] is the grown-up version, is it?
“I’m going to go on, and make a lot of comment now about the oeuvre and ‘I did like his first trilogy, but then I felt in some ways that perhaps over the years…’ But it’s your reaction to 12 dangling willies they want.
“They’re searching for ways to make me go ‘Urgh!’ So I thought, ‘Well, actually, no, life is too short to watch a series of hopeless men dangle their bits and pieces in my direction. So I’m going’.”
Frank Skinner
Frank Skinner also didn’t hold back either when airing his thoughts on working on Celebrity Gogglebox. During an episode of his podcast Frank Off The Radio: The Frank Skinner Podcast in 2024, he even went as far as to liken his experience to that of tortured monkeys.
Speaking about his Isle of Man disaster and the TV show, he said: “You know when I said I didn’t enjoy doing the gig on the Isle of Man, well it was a glorious pleasure compared to filming Gogglebox.”
He continued: “There’s a place in Wareham in Dorset called Monkey World, and it’s beautiful because they’re often monkeys that have been rescued from unkindness on the continent, and a lot of Spanish, in particular, there’s a thing of having your photo taken with a monkey.” He added: “The way to make them behave – and you can see this when you get close – is they’ve got cigarette burns on their skin that they use to make them do what they want them to do. And doing Gogglebox was a very similar experience.”
When asked if he was exaggerating, he was adamant his claims were true as the show was heavily “produced.” He explained: “So you sit in a room – you only watch like ten minutes of a programme.”
Exposing the behind the scenes process further, he went on to say: “We’re sitting watching the telly and we start talking, and a voice says ‘Say something about his jacket’. Then it would stop, and they’d say ‘Can you not go into digressions, it’s funny if you keep it close to what’s actually happening’. And pretty soon I’m thinking ‘just please make this stop’. And when I left – I’d made it pretty clear in a politer way – I said ‘Sorry, I thought this was going to be like enjoyable’.”
Frank felt the constraints stifled the fun, saying: “It’s such a shame because I think we could have had a laugh and stuff. ” Despite his gripes, Frank did acknowledge the expertise behind the scenes: “But to be fair to them, they know how to make it – they’ve been making it for years.” However, it wasn’t all bad – Frank gave a shoutout to the kind team who treated him well: “The producer was a really nice guy, they were nice people, they got me fish and chips.”
Sheila Hancock
Dame Sheila Hancock first appeared on the star-studded Channel 4 spin-off series alongside pal Gyles and quickly became a fan favourite. However, she claimed in 2023 she was “sacked” for complaining about how much nudity she had to watch when Naked Attraction was the TV show of choice
The acting legend admitted she and Channel 4 bosses clashed over the racy clips which she had to comment on for the series.
She told The Mirror: “I used to love doing it with Gyles, but they sacked me from that. Well, they did not ask me back. I think it was because there were a lot of shows with penises in and because it went down [well] with the audience, they kept showing them to us.
“Eventually I phoned up the lady on the edit and said, ‘I am enjoying the show, but do you think we can have anything other than penises?’ and she was quite angry.”
Reach contacted Channel 4 for comment at the time.
Celebrity Gogglebox airs every Friday at 9pm on Channel 4.
Perrie Edwards has explained why Leigh-Anne Pinnock has likely been cast as a traitor after her former Little Mix bandmate was announced as part of the lineup for the hit BBC show
Perrie Edwards thinks Leigh-Anne Pinnock might have been cast as a traitor(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
Perrie Edwards has explained why Leigh-Anne Pinnock has likely been cast as a traitor on the next series of Celebrity Traitors. The Little Mix star, 32, was asked for her opinion after her bandmate Leigh-Anne, 34, was announced as part of the lineup for the upcoming edition of Claudia Winkleman‘s hit BBC series.
Earlier this year, comedian Alan Carr schemed his way to victory after being cast as a traitor and now that Leigh-Anne, along with a host of other huge names like Love Island host Maya Jama and Coronation Street legend Julie Hesmondhalgh have been chosen to enter the famous castle as either a Faithful or a Traitor, Perrie has weighed in
Speaking on the Hanging Out with Ant & Dec podcast, she implied she’d be a good traitor because of her affinity for mischief: “Oh she is so annoying, I already know she is going to annoy me. You don’t understand how infuriating it is, she would lie about silly things so she would do pranks and we’d be like, ‘Leigh-Anne’s that’s…’ and she’d be like ‘it’s a prank’ and I’m like ‘that’s not a prank you’ve just lied, it’s just annoying’. And so I don’t know if I’ve got it in me to watch her do that for a full series.”
Despite her enthusiasm and ability to come up with a theory for her bandmate, Perrie admitted that this will be the first time she has ever seen the hit game show.
She said: “I’ve never seen it, never! I can’t get into it but now I am going to have to because Leigh-Anne’s on it and so I need to watch it now!”
Initially, the star avoided using words and simply shared two emojis after the announcement was made that she was set to take part. She posted a looking eyes emoji as well as an emoji covering its faces with its hands to signal she isn’t sure what she’s signed herself up for in the new season.
Leigh-Anne will line up with some huge names in the industry, including Michael Sheen and Jerry Hall. The 21-star list also includes Richard E Grant and Miranda Hart.
Also taking part is BBC presenter Amol Rajan, The Last of Us actress Bella Ramsey and comedian James Acaster – not to be mixed up with You’re Beautiful singer James Blunt, who has also signed up. Comedy stars Joanne McNally and Joe Lycett, and social media content creator King Henry were also announced.
Industry actress Myha’la and BBC maths guru Professor Hannah Fry. Rob Beckett with be bringing laughs alongside TV sidekick Romesh Ranganathan, flanked by former EastEnder Ross Kemp and My Mad Fat Diary star Sharon Rooney.
Game of Thrones actor Sebastian Croft completes the line-up as former Strictly Come Dancing presenter Claudia gets ready to choose her Traitors.
While they will all take part exactly like the usual Traitors series, rather than take any winnings themselves, the celebrity players will be donating anything they get from the potential £100,000 jackpot to their chosen charities
