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Christmas is a time for the whole family, including the very youngest members of the household.

With Christmas Day just hours away, families are on the hunt for festive films that cater to all ages.

A flurry of new Christmas movies have recently hit the screens, from Netflix‘s Champagne Problems and My Secret Santa to Prime Video‘s Oh. What Fun.

However, these might not be the most suitable picks for the younger audience. So, here’s a guide to where you can catch some of the top-notch Christmas films for children.

Christmas films for children and toddlers

The Snowman

The 1980s classic fantasy animation, The Snowman, is an iconic and charming viewing experience for the entire family.

The Snowman spins the story of a young lad who crafts a snowman that springs to life while everyone else is fast asleep, whisking him off on an extraordinary journey.

Adding to the thrill is the fact that the narrative is introduced by none other than the late glam rock legend David Bowie.

The Snowman is available on Channel 4.

Mickey Mouse’s Once Upon A Christmas

Mickey Mouse also has his own holiday film with Once Upon A Christmas, a compilation-style movie featuring three separate tales about love, kinship and the spirit of giving.

This animated Disney gem stars Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Daisy Duck, Pluto, and naturally, Mickey Mouse himself.

Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas is available to watch on Disney+.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

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A Charlie Brown Christmas may be celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, but it remains a timeless classic for good reason.

Disheartened by the commercialisation of the holiday season, Charlie embarks on a quest to uncover the true essence of Christmas by directing his school’s nativity.

Through this venture, he discovers that Christmas isn’t about material possessions but love and the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth.

A Charlie Brown Christmas is available on Apple TV.

Arthur Christmas

Featuring the voices of James McAvoy and Bill Nighy, Arthur Christmas centres around Santa Claus’ well-meaning but bumbling grandson, Arthur.

Upon realising that Santa has overlooked delivering a present to a little girl on Christmas Eve, Arthur embarks on a frantic last-minute quest to ensure it reaches her before daybreak.

Arthur Christmas is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video, or for streaming via Sky Go or NOW.

Klaus

Another contemporary Christmas family favourite is Klaus, which explores the origin story of Santa Claus.

After spoilt postman Jesper is banished to the desolate town of Smeerensburg, he teams up with reclusive woodsman Klaus to distribute toys, igniting community spirit and a cherished new tradition.

Klaus can be streamed on Netflix.

The Polar Express

Voiced by the legendary actor Tom Hanks, The Polar Express follows a young lad who, doubting the magic of Christmas, embarks on an enchanting train journey to the North Pole.

During his voyage, he forms new friendships and experiences the true essence of Christmas.

The Polar Express is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video, or for streaming via Sky Go or NOW.

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Often hailed as one of the greatest Christmas films ever, the 1990s flick The Muppets Christmas Carol holds a special place in many hearts.

Featuring Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Rizzo and the rest of the Muppets crew, these endearing puppets breathe life into Charles Dickens’ timeless story, A Christmas Carol.

At the centre of this yuletide film is none other than actor Michael Caine, portraying the curmudgeonly Ebenezer Scrooge.

The Muppet Christmas Carol can be viewed on Disney+.

THE Muppet Show is making a 50th birthday comeback — with pop superstar Sabrina Carpenter joining as a special guest. 

Disney has revealed Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the gang are back for a one-off special, more than four decades after the curtain came down on the beloved original series.

The show will stream on Disney+ from February 4, promising fans “music, comedy and a whole lot of chaos” from the original Muppet Theatre.

In a teaser clip, Kermit’s green arm can be seen turning on the lights of an old studio, before placing down a mug with his name on it.

The show originally ran from 1976 to 1981, with a generation of kids singing along to the theme tune: “It’s time to play the music. It’s time to light the lights.”

The series became so popular that big name stars clamoured to be guests, including Sir Elton John, Johnny Cash, Diana Ross, John Cleese and Debbie Harry.

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It was broadcast in more than 100 countries and in 1978 Time magazine called the show “the most popular television entertainment now being produced on Earth”.

The series won a host of awards, including Emmy, Grammy and Bafta gongs.

Despite the lights going out on the main series, the Muppets Tonight talk show ran from 1996 to 1998.

Other short-lived TV projects followed, including a mockumentary series in 2015, the Muppets Now short form series in 2020 and The Muppets Mayhem musical comedy series in 2023.

A host of movies included The Great Muppet Caper in 1981 and The Muppet Christmas Carol in 1992.

The last film, Muppets Most Wanted, in 2014, starred British comedian Ricky Gervais.

Muppets creator Jim Henson died in 1990 and Disney bought the rights in 2004.

Sabrina, who has had four UK No1 singles and two UK No1 albums, is an executive producer for the new show, as is Canadian comedian and actor Seth Rogen, who was in the 2020 series.

Jimmy Kimmel, the US chat show host, has recorded Channel 4’s 2025 Alternative Christmas Message, during which the 58-year-old star has lauded a “really great year”

US chat show host Jimmy Kimmel has said it has been a “great year” from “a fascism perspective” in his Christmas address.

The presenter, 58, was chosen to deliver Channel 4’s 2025 Christmas Message, an alternative to the monarch’s annual televised address on December 25. Jimmy, who was taken off air by Donald Trump earlier this year, is expected to say: “From a fascism perspective, this has been a really great year.”

The comedian was suspended indefinitely in September following comments he made on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! after the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, an ally of the US President. Staff were reportedly “shocked” when the programme was yanked off air minutes before it was due to broadcast.

But Jimmy’s fans expressed their outrage at Mr Trump’s decision, and the programmne was swiftly reinstated. Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars and political figures towards the US administration for infringing on their freedom of speech and free press.

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Mikey Smith

In the Christmas Day address, Jimmy, born in Brooklyn, New York City, will continue by reflecting on the events of the past year, sharing his own personal experiences and insights after being at the centre of one of the stories that shocked the US and its foundational democratic values.

A Channel 4 spokesperson said: “Donald Trump’s return to the White House and wide-ranging impact on the world has been the story of 2025 and it would be hard to think of a better person to address it than Jimmy Kimmel, who has found himself on the front line of America’s battle over free speech.”

The channel’s annual broadcast, which first aired in 1993, aims to bring viewers a message about that year’s events. Kimmel’s address follows on from previous messages delivered by a wide range of presenters, including comedian Chris McCausland who addressed ableism last year after becoming the first blind person to win Strictly Come Dancing.

He playfully said: “Discrimination is never a good thing. Well, I mean sometimes I suppose. Many, many years ago before I got into comedy, I applied to be a spy for MI5. I got down to the last 30 out of 3,000 applicants. The top 1 per cent of potential spies that this country had to offer before they decided no, a blind spy wasn’t what they were looking for but, you know, I think they had a point. I think sometimes discrimination can be vital for the safety of the nation, but usually, we can do better.”

Other presenters have included former president of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, actor and TV presenter Sir Stephen Fry, whistleblower Edward Snowden, former speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow, and actor Danny Dyer. The Alternative Christmas Message will air on Channel 4 at 5.45pm on Christmas Day.

Celebrated actor Will Sharpe is taking the lead in a must-watch new Sky drama, so what do we know about his life away from the screen?

British actor Will Sharpe stars alongside Paul Bettany in one of Sky’s biggest new shows of the year, Amadeus.

A brand new, star-studded interpretation of the classic Peter Shaffer play, this sumptuous five-part drama reimagines the fierce rivalry of two iconic composers; Antonio Salieri (played by Bettany) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Sharpe).

Created by Joe Barton, the series is set to catapult the star to even loftier levels of fame after already landing acclaimed roles in The White Lotus, A Real Pain and Too Much.

But, did you know the actor, writer and creator already won himself a BAFTA nomination over a decade ago and is married to an equally familiar name from the world of streaming TV?

Let’s take a look at what we know about Will Sharpe’s life and career so far.

Early Life

Will Sharpe is half-Japanese on his mother’s side and, despite being born in London, was raised in Tokyo until he was eight. The family then settled in Surrey.

After schooling at Winchester College, he went on to study classics at the University of Cambridge and became the president of the Cambridge Footlights comedy troupe.

However, his first attempts at a showbiz career didn’t go as planned. Upon graduating, Sharpe moved to London and began performing at open-mic comedy nights in Whitechapel.

Speaking to GQ, he recalled: “The thing that I’d sometimes do was see how long I could act as if I wasn’t sure about the performing space, like moving chairs around and adjusting the mic, before it stopped being funny for them. And then seeing if I could do it for so long it became funny again.”

Unfortunately, he was eventually approached by a comedy agent who admitted she couldn’t represent him because it was unclear if he was actually performing comedy. He opted for a different approach instead, joining the Royal Shakespeare Company for its 2008-2009 season.

Career Success

Thankfully, it didn’t take long for Sharpe’s talents to be recognised as his 2011 film Black Pond, co-directed by Stath Lets Flats and Ghosts’ Tom Kingsley, was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer. They had previously worked together on the 2009 short film, Cockroach.

A few years later, Sharpe received more awards recognition for his Channel 4 comedy-drama series Flowers, starring Olivia Colman, Julian Barratt, Daniel Rigby and Sophia Di Martino, as well as himself. This won Sharpe his first BAFTA, for best scripted comedy.

A few years later, he won his first acting BAFTA for his critically acclaimed turn in Amadeus writer Barton’s hit crime drama Giri/Haji. He went on to have similar success in Hollywood for his Emmy-nominated turn in The White Lotus season two. Sharpe also directed the biopic film The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular troubled artist.

Mental Health Struggles

Many of Sharpe’s projects tackle mental health issues and the actor/director has drawn from his own experiences to bring those personal stories to life.

Following the release of the second season of Flowers in 2018, the creator revealed he had been diagnosed with type two bipolar disorder.

Writing in a blog for the mental health charity mind, he shared his wish for the series was for “the audience to get a sense of how helpless you can feel in the face of mental illness, of how relentless and confusing it can be, and how painful it is to love somebody who is suffering.

“Because, for me, the only way to feel truly hopeful is to look at that stuff head on and still feel like there’s a way through.”

He added: “My experience of mental illness is that it can sell you an overpoweringly compelling – and fictional – narrative about your life, to which it can eventually start to feel like there is only one possible conclusion.

“The final episode of the second series of Flowers, I hope, challenges that and offers, if you like, a break in the narrative.”

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Famous Spouse

Sharpe is married to his Flowers co-star Sophia Di Martino, with whom he has had a relationship since 2009. The pair met while filming Casualty, in which they were both main cast members. They have two children born in 2019 and 2021.

The actress is perhaps best known for portraying Sylvie, an alternate female version of Tom Hiddleston’s iconic Marvel villain Loki, in the Disney+ superhero drama based on the fan-favourite character.

She has also appeared in Sharpe’s The Electrical Life of Louis Wain and reunited with him again in an episode of Netflix’s Too Much. Di Martino will also star in her husband’s upcoming Apple TV series Prodigies, alongside Ayo Edebiri.

Amadeus is available on Sky and streaming service NOW.

The former This Morning guest shared how Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan treated her off-camera, following a “disastrous” moment on the show

A former This Morning guest has revealed how her appearance on the show ended in disaster. Hosted by Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan at the time, podcast host Louise Boyce said she was invited onto the show as a teenager for a live haircut, though was mortified by the outcome.

Joined by Richard and Judy’s daughter Chloe Madeley on her podcast, she told her: “Your mum and dad, it [This Morning] was the first TV show that I went on when I was 15. And, I really want to find the footage, it must be in the archives somewhere, but I went on there to have my haircut, a live haircut.

“I was 15 years old, I was still at school and very aware of how I looked and the haircut was disastrous.”

Recalling her immediate reaction, she said she instantly knew it was “horrendous” but politely told the hairdresser she “really liked it” with a shaky voice.

“But, your mum and dad were so kind to me because they must’ve seen or felt that I was just like, ‘I hate what you’ve just [done to me’]’,” she continued on the No Parental Guidance podcast.

“‘You have just violated my hair live on TV, my first ever TV [experience]’. And they were so, your mum and dad, even off-camera they were like, ‘Hair grows, it’s okay’.”

In response, Chloe gushed: “I can’t say it enough how kind he is and how fair of a man he is and how unbelievably good his values and [morals] are. I get really angry when people go for him because I’m like, ‘You don’t know how good this person is’.”

The fitness guru continued by revealing she’d also picked up valuable lessons from her mum, especially regarding being “a calm” and “well adjusted” parent.

Richard and Judy presented the ITV programme from 1998 to 2001. When previously asked about their decision to leave the show, they said it felt like the right moment to move on and explore new ventures.

The duo went on to front their own programme, Richard and Judy, which was broadcast during early evening slots on Channel 4.

Richard remains a familiar presence on ITV as a presenter on Good Morning Britain, while Judy has stepped away from the public eye.

The former broadcaster was most recently spotted on television during their daughter’s ITV documentary, Chloe Madeley: A Family Affair.

However, after running for just one series, it didn’t return following Chloe’s split from rugby player James Haskell.

The pair, who are parents to two-year-old daughter Bodhi, announced their separation in 2023 after five years of marriage.

During her recent podcast chat, Chloe revealed that the former couple are still navigating a “stressful” divorce.

Providing an insight into her love life situation, she said she’s content with being single after having a disliking her experience on dating apps.

Gogglebox’s Helena Worthington has been a fan favourite since joining the Channel 4 show eight years ago and now her family is expanding

Everything you need to know about pregnant Gogglebox star Helena Worthington

• Helena Worthington joined Channel 4 show Gogglebox back in 2017 for series 10 with the rest of the Worthington family: her mum Alison and Alison’s partner George. And it didn’t take them long to become firm favourites with fans. Over the years, the family – who live in Manchester – have had fans in stitches thanks to their hilarious one-liners and comical takes on the telly highlights.
• Away from the programme, Helena is in a relationship with partner Dan. She is also a proud mum to six-year-old son Erwin. Recently, Helena confirmed she was pregnant as she reflected on welcoming another child into the family. Taking to her Instagram, Helena shared several snaps from a recent day out.
• In the caption she penned: “Pregnant. Tired. Raging indigestion. Still crouching down to explain why we don’t dig up all the bullbs. 33 weeks pregnant at RHS Bridgwater with my first baby, while waiting for my next one. We took Erwin here often when he was a new bean. These in-between moments feel really precious lately — messy, slow, and very real. I’m excited but I feel weird that Erwin will seem so big all of a sudden.”
• While the Worthington family films their segments for Gogglebox at Alison and George’s abode, Helena has made a cosy nest of her own in Salford with Dan and Erwin. Her Instagram is a gallery of domestic bliss, featuring everything from handmade crochet blankets to walls adorned with artwork, all set against a palette of vibrant colours.
• When she’s not on Gogglebox, Helena is an accomplished artist and focuses on sculpting and painting. Her artwork has been displayed in prestigious venues such as The Whitworth Art Gallery and The Manchester Open at Home, and her paintings have found homes in various private collections. In a candid chat with ilovemanchester.com, Helena opened up about her personal life. Reflecting on what sparked her artistic journey, she shared: “When I was very little I used to draw on the walls and in my mum’s cook books and then blame it on my brother… so I guess that was the start of things.”

READ THE FULL STORY: Gogglebox star confirms she’s pregnant as fans rush to congratulate

WHEN it comes to A Place in the Sun most house hunters are on the lookout for a bargain along the Spanish coast.

But actually, there are plenty of affordable spots to be found outside of Europe – from beautiful Caribbean islands to cities less than an hour to huge theme parks.

Sun Travel got the inside scoop from A Place in the Sun presenters Laura Hamilton, Jean Johansson and Craig Rowe on where Brits should look in 2026 for cheap property outside of Europe.

Jean told us: “If you can stretch to the Caribbean, St Lucia has blown me away – and it’s quite cheap compared to Europe to eat out.

“If you want a paradise lifestyle, you can fly out this time of year and get beautiful weather. It’s so laidback too and everyone slows right down.

“The last time I was there for A Place in the Sun, one couple had a budget of £200,000 and they bought an amazing two-bedroom apartment on a little island that you have to get to via a water taxi – it was just absolutely idyllic.

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“If you’re willing to have that Caribbean way of life and something a bit different, your money can go far.”

Another destination that is becoming more popular with Brits as being an affordable holiday spot is Thailand.

Craig said: “I’ve not done any shows in Thailand yet – I think the show may have gone there a long time ago, but that’s somewhere else I think has great value property.

“It might be far, around 14 hours on a plane, but in terms of investment, and perhaps if you’re retiring and can stay there for months at a time, it’s a great option.”

Property prices can vary in Thailand depending on the destination with Chiang Mai being more affordable than the beachside property in Phuket.

Once you get there, the likes of food are so much cheaper – you can pick up a meal from as cheap as 150baht (£3.55).

But out of all destinations, there was one that every presenter mentioned as being one of the best places to invest – and for a good price next year.

Laura told us: “Florida is a place offering exciting opportunities and it’s always been a place we’ve visited on A Place in the Sun.

“I filmed there just before Christmas and it’s quite interesting. In Florida there are lots of properties that 20 years ago were prime luxury houses along the 192 route which is within 30 minutes to the Disney Parks.

“The location is still amazing, but the houses are a bit tired, so the rental opportunities are incredible. In terms of being able to make properties over and add value to them, I think that’s an exciting market.”

Jean added that she did some Florida shows last year where she headed to Fort Lauderdale.

“I think Florida’s always been popular and it’s nice for us to get away from Orlando and away from the Disney parks.

“Fort Lauderdale is a dream with the classic American lifestyle up there – locals start their day with a coffee on the beautiful promenades and there’s a lovely community feel.”

According to Palm Paradise Realty Group, some of the most affordable areas in Fort Lauderdale include Lake Aire Palm View and Flagler Village where the average property price is $343,000 (£255,543).

New episodes of A Place in the Sun will return from Sunday 21 December, and you can catch up on previous episodes on Channel4.com.

A Place in the Sun experts reveal coastline worth buying on NOW where you can ‘still get bargains’ – and flights are £15…

When we asked Laura Hamilton, Craig Rowe and Jean Johansson where exactly Brits looking for a holiday home should buy right now in Europe – they all had the same answer.

Laura Hamilton, who has been working on the show since 2012, explained: “There are still places in Spain which are great places to invest, especially around Costa Tropical.

“The area has increased in value and is still going up. It’s the opposite side of Málaga to Marbella and Puerto Banús, and it’s much cheaper.

“If you go out to a bar or a restaurant, the prices will be significantly cheaper but still great quality.”

Laura revealed that the Costa Tropical has accessibility to both the mountains and the beach.

She added that it’s marketed so that “you can be on the slopes in the morning and beach in the afternoon”.

To get from the beaches to the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains takes just an hour and a half in the car.

Laura continued: “I love that part of Spain and the scenery around Granada is spectacular. If you love the beach, skiing and hiking then it’s a stunning part of Spain – but prices are on the rise.”

Also in southern Spain is the region that presenter Craig Rowe recommended and like Costa Tropical, the region sits between the coast and Sierra Nevada mountains.

Craig told us: “Costa Almería in Spain is really good, especially for anyone on a lower budget.”

Jean Johansson, who has been working on the show for seven years, the same question, she agreed with her colleagues.

Jean said: “It’s got to be Murcia and the south of Spain because you can still get bargains there.”

“When I started on the show seven years ago the area wasn’t as popular at all, but now people are really understanding the value for money.”

For those jumping in to buy a property abroad, one woman who was on A Place In The Sun and bought her dream Spanish home for £45k – I have one regret and need to warn others of pitfalls.

And another presenter from A Place in the Sun took on her own renovation project on the Costa del Sol.

Davina McCall broke down in tears when a patient on Channel 4’s Cancer Clinic Live asked how she was

Davina McCall met with patients at a cancer clinic in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge as part of a special episode for Stand Up to Cancer.

In one emotional moment, Davina, who revealed she had breast cancer earlier this year, spoke to Stuart who was waiting to hear how their treatment was going.

Before they went into their appointment, Stuart asked Davina how she was doing since her diagnosis earlier in the year.

The TV presenter broke down in tears as she thanked Stuart for asking if she was okay: “Can I just say, thank you for asking me that after everything you’ve been through? I’m really good, thank you.”

It came after Davina opened the programme by recalling the moment she discovered a lump in her breast and her sister’s death.

She told viewers: “Earlier this year, I found a lump in my breast. It quickly led to tests and scans and then the word that no one ever wants to hear, cancer.

“It was found early and surgeons were able to remove it. But not everyone gets that chance. I took my sister Caroline to A&E, she fainted and she couldn’t get up.

“They gave her a brain scan but then they scanned her chest and I couldn’t understand why. It turned out it was late stage lung cancer.

“She died seven weeks later. I was holding her hand. And that’s why early diagnosis matters to me.”

In November, Davina revealed on her Instagram account she was “very angry” to discover she had cancer.

The presenter said the lump “came and went” but after seeing a poster urging women to check their breasts she went to the doctors.

“It [the lump] was still there, and then one morning I saw myself in the mirror and thought “I’m going to get that looked at”. I had a biopsy. I found out it was indeed breast cancer,” she shared.

“I think my message is: get checked if you’re worried. Check yourself regularly. If you are due a mammogram, then get it done.”

Earlier in the Stand Up for Cancer coverage, Amy Dowden became emotional as she spoke about how cancer had impacted her dreams of becoming a mother.

She shared: “A cancer diagnosis changes you forever… I’ve been put into menopause… I don’t know if I’ll ever have the honour of becoming a mum which I desperately want to… Five weeks ago I have another mastectomy.

“I’m so grateful for another shot of live, to be able get back on the dance floor… I’m so grateful for my medical team, the doctors and nurses who have kept me alive. A cancer diagnosis changes you forever, I’m no longer the person I was and that’s not by choice.”

Married At First Sight UK contestants Leigh and Davide have discussed behind-the-scenes secrets about phone use and restrictions

A star from Married At First Sight UK has opened up on a little-known secret about the show that might leave fans gobsmacked.

The tenth series of the popular E4 dating programme was full of drama and chaos, with a fresh batch of singletons hoping to meet their soulmate at the altar. For some, it was smooth sailing with immediate sparks flying, but for others, there were numerous hurdles to overcome.

This series had everything from shocking revelations to accusations of cheating. Despite several couples making it to the final vows and continuing their relationships outside the show, only one pair – Abi and John – are still together weeks after the series ended.

Post-show, a string of breakups were announced, including Rebecca and Bailey and Davide and Keye, as cast members continue to share their experiences from the show.

Now, one participant has unveiled a behind-the-scenes secret that could astonish some viewers, reports OK!

During an appearance on the Private Parts Podcast, a snippet of which was posted on Instagram, members Leigh and Davide were asked if they were allowed to use their personal mobile phones during filming. The answer, unsurprisingly, is no – they were given production phones.

But what fans might not know is that the production teams allegedly monitor their phones and don’t permit them to form groups of four outside of filming.

On the podcast, Leigh – who was paired with Leah on the programme, confessed it was “f***** chaos” behind the scenes when the cast went out for drinks, with Davide comparing it to “like being at uni again”.

Davide, who was coupled with Keye on the series before they announced their separation, revealed: “We’re not supposed to be in more than groups of four, because they track your phones, the production phones they gave us, they track them.”

After confirming they weren’t permitted to use their personal mobiles, presenter Olivia questioned how participant Steven managed to access dating platform Hinge – following revelations he’d been active on the app.

Davide explained: “He got his phone back when he went home.”

Leigh chimed in: “This is the thing about this story right, I don’t think that this has ever been explained. So Nelly and Steven had got to a point where I think they both knew it wasn’t going to work.”

Taking to Instagram to respond, Steven posted: “We both had the conversation the day we came back together after partner swap about it being done. We were asked to leave it open so we could do the Dinner Party & Commitment ceremony & between partner swap and the last CC it was about 10 days wait… so we both knew it was done.”

Married At First Sight UK can be viewed on Channel 4