Rio and Kate Ferdinand have reportedly signed up for an I’m A Celebrity: Wild Frontier, a new spin-off of Ant and Dec’s classic reality show which will be filmed in Canada
22:39, 05 Aug 2026Updated 22:39, 05 Aug 2026
Rio and Kate Ferdinand have reportedly signed up for an I’m A Celebrity: Wild Frontier(Image: WireImage)
Rio and Kate Ferdinand have reportedly signed up for an I’m A Celebrity: Wild Frontier. The football star, 47, who tied the knot with Kate in 2019, is said to be in the final stages of signing up with bosses of the ITV reality show.
A source said: “Bosses are overjoyed to have landed the Ferdinands. It’s a real coup for the show. They have brilliant chemistry and are great fun. It will be the first time viewers have really seen Rio away from football chat, too.
Speaking to The Sun, the source added: “ITV are still in talks with some other brilliant names and this show promises to be absolutely spectacular — and a real social media talker.”
Just weeks ago, it was claimed that Westlife star Brian McFadden and Boyzone singer Keith Duffy, who have joined forces in recent years to tour as Boyzlife, had also agreed to appear on the show.
Unlike the Australian series, the spin-off will see celebrities competing in pairs, with friends, relatives and couples taking on Bushtucker-style trials together before facing elimination as a duo.
The show is reportedly due to air in 2027, as part of celebrations marking 25 years of I’m A Celebrity – which first hit screens in August 2002 and saw DJ Tony Blackburn crowned as the first King of the Jungle.
It was thought that the long-time friends had signed lucrative deals to appear in the series, with a source claiming: “Bosses are delighted that Keith and Brian will be taking part, they’ll each bring a lot of fun and mischief to the camp.”
The insider added that producers are excited by the new format, claiming it is expected to get viewers talking as famous duos battle it out together.
Rather than competing individually, contestants will reportedly tackle challenges as pairs, working together to win food and survive eliminations before one winning duo is crowned.
Filming is expected to take place in Canada’s Callaghan Valley, near Whistler Olympic Park, replacing the Australian jungle for the special spin-off series.
The area is known for its rugged wilderness and is home to wildlife including grizzly bears, black bears and mountain lions, providing a dramatically different backdrop for the celebrity survival show.
Brian already has a link to the I’m A Celebrity franchise through his former wife Kerry Katona, who was crowned Queen of the Jungle in 2004. Meanwhile, the main I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! series will continue to be filmed in Australia as normal later this year.
KENDRA Wilkinson was reduced to tears recounting how she was fired by one of her clients at her ‘normal job’.
The star took to Instagram on Sunday to share the teary tale with her followers, where she was both upset and frustrated.
An I’m A Celebrity star broke down in tears online after getting fired from her jobCredit: Instagram/kendrawilkinsonKendra Wilkinson got fired by one of her real estate clientsCredit: Instagram/kendrawilkinson
Chatting to the camera while crying, the 41-year-old Playboy star began: “We’re living in a world of struggle right now – I know that. But it’s just … it’s so hard – it’s so hard to know.
“I feel like I’m doing everything right in my life. I’m raising my kids and putting them first.
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“I’m doing everything good – I’m a good person. It’s just such a struggle right now.”
Kendra then touched upon some of the issues she’s been facing at work lately, including “fighting people that work with me, getting fired [and] people being rude and mean.”
She competed on I’m A Celebrity in 2014Credit: HandoutKendra has gushed about how much she loves her job onlineCredit: InstagramShe used to be one of Hugh Hefner’s three Playboy model girlfriends in the 2000s – pictured here on the right with Holly Madison (L) and Bridget Marquardt (middle)Credit: AFPShe traded in her reality TV fame for a ‘normal’ lifeCredit: Instagram
Over the top of the video clip she posted, Kendra wrote: “When a client fires you… after all the work you put in. Ya, I’m struggling guys.”
Kendra rose to fame throughout the 2000s thanks to being the decade’s most famousPlayboyPlaymate.
Her fame led to her entering the world of reality TV, where she started her own reality show called Girls Next Door.
However, in the years that followed Kendra turned away from fame and instead began working in real estate.
In 2020 she passed theCaliforniareal estate exam after taking several classes and qualified as a fully-fledged real estate agent.
She was soon taken on by luxury Los Angelesfirm, The Agency, before moving to Carswell & Associates in 2021.
Kendra is still proudly working with the company to this day and sometimes posts about her 9-to-5 online.
In November last year she gushed about how happy she is in her role, sharing: “I’m so happy I’m evolving into myself and growing who I want to be. Everyday I’m pouring myself into this business.
“I just opened escrow on a property in Venice beach today and it just keeps growing. I’m so proud of myself.”
Music sensation – and I’m A Celeb star – Aitch will feature in a huge new Netflix documentary later this month. The show follows the star as he undertakes a monumental challenge for charity.
Aitch has announced a new Netflix documentary, Aitch: Don’t Be Afraid(Image: Supplied)
Rap sensation Aitch will star in a new Netflix documentary, chronicling his gruelling quest to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The 26-year-old rapper – real name Harrison James Armstrong – took on the challenge last year with the special doc streaming later this month.
Aitch rose to fame in 2018 with his hit track Straight Rhymez – and went on to unleash his number 2 album Close to Home in 2022. While reality TV fans will recognise the rapper from Manchester thanks to his star turn in the 2025 season of ITV’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! – where he finished in fourth place.
Fans will soon have a chance to see Aitch endure a trial more challenging than anything he faced in the jungle – by climbing the biggest mountain in Africa. The task was not just for fun, however; he also raised a substantial amount of money for charity in the process.
The musician took on Mount Kilimanjaro alongside his closest friends, family members, and team, and the climb was recorded on film as they undertook the monumental task. The resulting footage has been edited into a brand-new Netflix documentary titled Aitch: Don’t Be Afraid.
Directed by Aaron Fitzmaurice and Harry Tatem, the BRIT Award-winning star is shown taking on the unforgiving conditions as he makes his way up the huge mountain, which stands 19,341 feet above sea level. The Taste (Make It Shake) rapper raised over £160,000 following his challenge, with the funds going to the Down’s Syndrome Association, for which he is an ambassador.
The documentary promises emotional scenes as cameras captured every moment of the challenge. Fans will see “the physical and emotional realities of the journey”, a press release about the special stats.
“As the altitude rises and the conditions become increasingly unforgiving, viewers witness the determination, vulnerability and camaraderie that carry the group towards the summit,” it continues.
“Through candid moments on and off the mountain, the documentary explores the motivation behind the challenge, highlighting the strength of family, resilience, and the importance of raising greater awareness and creating opportunities for people with Down syndrome. More than a story of endurance, Aitch: Don’t Be Afraid, which was shot last year, shines a light on a cause deeply personal to Aitch, celebrating his younger sister Gracie’s impact on his life while encouraging audiences to support the Down’s Syndrome Association and the work it does for individuals with Down’s syndrome and their families across the UK.”
Aitch’s 16-year-old sister, Gracie, frequently features in his social media output – and his 2022 song, My G, featuring Ed Sheeran, is dedicated to her. The star has opened up about his special relationship with his younger sibling – and has previously stated he makes music to support both Gracie and her twin sister Hattie.
Opening up about their relationship at the Pride of Britain Awards last year, he said: “Gracie is my hero because she’s just an absolute soldier. Just what she’s been through and all that. She just lights up every room she walks in.”
And heaping praise on Hattie, whom he branded “the superstar in my family”, he added: “Them two are my heroes, even though they do my head in sometimes.”
Fans were touched to hear the singer open up about his sisters while in the I’m A Celeb camp last year. He gushed to fellow contestants – including Shona McGarty and Jack Osbourne: “My baby girls, my two sisters, everything I do is for them two… Bottom line, I’m on this show for them two. I make music for them two. I try to make a living for them two. Yeah, they’re my girls.”
And during a previous appearance on Made In Chelsea star Jamie Laing’s podcast, Aitch explained how Gracie had helped shape his life. He said: “I wouldn’t even be half the person I am if [Gracie] wasn’t here.
“She actually teaches you lessons that you don’t realise till after. It’s taught me, and this sounds bad, but it taught me more to treat everyone the same. And to understand that everyone is a human.”
Aitch: Don’t Be Afraid will be available to stream via Netflix from Sunday, 26 July.
AngryGinge has revealed what caused the fire in his mum’s house earlier this year, which saw the property destroyedCredit: TIKTOKGinge and his family were left devastated when the home was ‘blown up’Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Now, he has revealed what actually caused the fire to happen.
Explaining that the fire was caused by one of the family’s late cats, Ginge – whose real name is Morgan Sam Lee Burtwistle – said it was “mental”.
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He shared: “It’s actually like something out of f***ing Tom and Jerry, so what actually caused it, I believe – well the investigation found – is when my mum was out, she was down in the hotel for Soccer Aid, one of the cats jumped on the hob, turned the hob on.
“Knocked something on the hob, that’s then been set alight. It could have gone alight like that [finger click] but it could have also took an hour and then set the whole kitchen alight.
He returned to the home after the accident to share the sad news with fansCredit: InstagramThe house was completely destroyed, with Ginge’s mum moving in with him following the fireCredit: Instagram
“Whole kitchen went on fire, then it went to the living room, whole carpets and stairs etc.”
Ginge continued: “It’s crazy.
“They figured it out because the hob that had four things, one side was more burnt than the others, which means that would have had to start it.
“So, that’s how it started, it’s mental. It is genuinely something you’d see in, like, Tom and Jerry.”
The TV and online star has showed fans inside the home since the fire, filming the devastating ruins as he returned to the property following the incident.
I’m A Celeb legend Carol Vorderman has revealed that she was rushed to hospital after a horror fall left her unconsciousCredit: InstagramThe Countdown star took to Instagram to reveal the ordeal with her followersCredit: Splash
Carol, 65, was then rushed to hospital in an ambulance before being discharged and then rushed straight back to A&E.
She also revealed the condition she was left battling for weeks after the fall.
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Taking to Instagram to share a video about her ordeal, Carol said: “I’ve got a bit of a story to tell you about my concussion, which might also explain why I was a bit offline in June.”
She then explained: “So right at the very end of May, I was walking just outside my house on a public footpath, and I tripped over a tree root, which I didn’t see.
“And I went smash here on the tarmac path, and I was unconscious.
“I can’t remember what happened then, but I do know that an ambulance came, and I was taken to the BRI, Bristol Royal Infirmary.
“By the way, I also know that they were playing the final countdown in the ambulance on the way. It’s another story, but it did make me laugh.”
Carol then went into detail further, noting how she was: “Discharged next day, massive vomiting, all the bad signs.
“Straight back into hospital, they were wonderful. The A&E did all the CT scans and everything.
“Out again. I had the biggest black eye or bruises all down my face for three or four weeks.
“But what it did leave me with after about two or three weeks was dizziness. So I felt as though I was kind of walking on a moving ship, like sort of knocking into the wall a little bit.”
She explained how when she was in bed, it felt like the room was spinning.
But Carol swiftly revealed how this was soon remedied thanks to the “Epley technique” and a lady called Sophie who introduced her to it.
Carol urged: “I am not a doctor. I am not advising people about this, but I’m just telling you what’s happened to me.”
She then explained how it is BBPV adding how “it’s all about the inner ear and this little sort of sack of crystals that gets dislodged, and she puts it back together again”.
After three sessions with physio Sophie doing the Epley technique, Carol says she has been discharged from the service and “couldn’t be happier”.
Fans rushed to the comments to support Carol, with many sending their love.
SCARLETT Moffatt has heartbreakingly revealed that her fiancé Scott Dobinson’s mum has passed away.
In an emotional tribute to his mum Janice, the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! star – who is expecting her second child – said she was “so upset” that Janice wouldn’t be around to meet their second son.
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Scarlett Moffatt has heartbreakingly revealed her mother-in-law, Janice, has passed away
Announcing the sad news that Janice has passed, the star wrote to Instagram: “My heart is broken for Scott and all of his family at the loss of his mam Janice 💔
“You were the best Nanna to Jude, the kindest mother-in-law and one of the loveliest people I’ve ever known.
“I’m so upset that you won’t get to meet your second grandson but I know you will be watching over us all, I’ll forever be grateful for all the love, kindness and warmth you showed me from the very beginning, and especially for the love you gave Jude.”
Shortly after the announcement, she told fans how she had been struggling with sickness, hot flushes and migraines.
And alongside the health woes, the star has also had a wave of pregnancy cravings.
She told The Sun in May: “I’m having different cravings to last time,” she says. “With Jude, it was honeydew melon. Sometimes I’d have a whole melon a day.
“Now it’s cheese — specifically grated cheese. I think it’s a texture thing. I want grated cheese sandwiches all the time. I can’t have the pre-grated, it’s too hard, so I’ve got Scott grating me cheese at 11pm.”
Sources claim the cheeky chaps have joined the new series, set in Canada, that will air as part of the celebration to mark 25 years of I’m A Celebrity…
Keith and Brian have reportedly signed up for a new show(Image: PA)
Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy have reportedly become the first stars lined up for ITV’s brand new I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! spin-off.
The Westlife singer, 46, and Boyzone star, 51, are said to have agreed to take part in The Wild Frontier, a new version of the hit reality show which is expected to begin filming in Canada later this year.
Unlike the Australian series, the spin-off will see celebrities competing in pairs, with friends, relatives and couples taking on Bushtucker-style trials together before facing elimination as a duo.
The show is reportedly due to air in 2027, as part of celebrations marking 25 years of I’m A Celebrity – which first hit our screens in August, 2002.
According to The Sun, the long-time friends have signed lucrative deals to appear in the series, with a source claiming: “Bosses are delighted that Keith and Brian will be taking part, they’ll each bring a lot of fun and mischief to the camp.”
The insider added that producers are excited by the new format, claiming it is expected to get viewers talking as famous duos battle it out together.
Rather than competing individually, contestants will reportedly tackle challenges as pairs, working together to win food and survive eliminations before one winning duo is crowned.
The Sun also reports that casting teams are hoping to secure a mix of celebrity friends, couples and famous faces alongside their non-famous relatives or partners.
Filming is expected to take place in Canada’s Callaghan Valley, near Whistler Olympic Park, replacing the Australian jungle for the special spin-off series.
The area is known for its rugged wilderness and is home to wildlife including grizzly bears, black bears and mountain lions, providing a dramatically different backdrop for the celebrity survival show.
Brian already has a link to the I’m A Celebrity franchise through his former wife Kerry Katona, who was crowned Queen of the Jungle in 2004.
Meanwhile, the main I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! series will continue to be filmed in Australia as normal later this year.
The Mirror has contacted ITV, Brian McFadden, and Keith Duffy for comment.
An ITV show starring GK Barry and Reverend Richard Coles has reportedly been dropped by the network after the duo filmed the pilot episode for the series
GK Barry and Reverend Richard were set to star in their own series(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
During their time in the Australian jungle, GK, who found fame online, and Church of England vicar Richard instantly struck up a bond and became inseparable, and a fan-favourite duo.
Last year, GK confirmed that the project was in the works and revealed that the pilot episode had already been filmed. But ITV has decided not to go ahead with the full series.
“There were high hopes for the project because producers were excited by the dynamic between GK and Richard, not least because it seemed to amuse viewers,” a source said.
They added to The Sun: “They enjoyed the idea of the wise older man interacting with the streetwise millennial as they explored some pretty deep subjects.
“But after provisional filming took place, it was decided not to proceed with it as a series, much to the disappointment of everyone involved.”
Speaking last year, GK hinted that she would even rope her footballer girlfriend, Ella Rutherford, into the show. She told Attitude Magazine : “We are exploring walks of life from two different generations — one from a gay godly man and a gay ungodly woman.
“There are some depressing bits in there, but one thing about me is that I will make a joke about it.” She went on to add: “We’ve filmed the pilot, so if we film the full series, then I will force this girl into it.”
Richard went on to say: “Me and GK struck up the best of friendships and I’m happy to say we’ve taken that with us out of the jungle into the wider world.” But he later joked that viewers could see something “surprising with coffins.”
And GK even said on social media that it had been “a dream” working with Reverend Richard on the show. On Instagram, the influencer said: “Working with you has opened my eyes to worlds I’d never heard of or dreamt of before.
“Some of them have been nightmares, but some of them have been dreams — and today has been a dream.” Sadly, it remains unclear why ITV bosses decided to pull the show after shooting the pilot episode.
During her stint in the jungle, GK opened up about her experience and said that she hadn’t expected to become close with Richard before they became friends. Speaking in the Bush Telegraph, she said: “I came into this jungle maybe not knowing who I would gel with or who I would be close with in here, and never in a million years if you told me that I would be getting on best with a reverend would I have believed you.
“But, he is honestly… I think he might be my favourite person in here.” Meanwhile, Richard said of their bond: “We got on so well and it was such an unlikely friendship and people seemed to enjoy it.
“I like visiting her world and trying to figure out what’s going on and I think she quite likes visiting my world, so maybe a little trip together would be fun to do. I love the TV reality format because you always have a ‘bromance’, but I’ve never had a bromance with a 25-year-old lesbian before, and that’s great.”
ADAM Thomas has revealed that he was ROBBED in a local corner shop by the owner.
The actor, who appeared on the latest I’m A Celebrity All Stars, explained that he was charged £100 for a couple of bags of sweets.
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Adam Thomas revealed the shock moment he was ROBBED in local supermarketCredit: At Home With The Thomas BrosThe actor said the owner of the shop charged him £100 for a few bags of sweetsCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Adam was left stunned when he confronted the shopkeeper, who told him he didn’t think the soap star “needed the money” after his latest stint on the ITV jungle show, where he received a sizeable fee for his appearance.
The Emmerdale star said he spotted the error on the card reader after he had already paid for it.
Speaking on At Home with the Thomas Bros podcast, Adam said: “I got robbed the other day!’
“Listen right, so I went to my local off-licence, I was buying some sweets for the kids, and I went to pay for it, and I paid for it, and then I looked at the card machine, and it said £100, and I was like ”bro what are you doing?”
Adam had a tough time in the jungle after he admitted he felt ‘bullied’ by some campmatesCredit: Shutterstock EditorialThe Waterloo Road star said he had finally moved on from his I’m A Celeb feud dramaCredit: ITV
He went: ”Come on you don’t need it!” and I was like ‘what do you mean I don’t need it?’”
Adam went on to say that the owner told him: ”You’ve just come off the jungle man, you don’t need it’.”
He continued: “I looked him dead in the eyes, and don’t get me wrong I had a banter with this guy, we have a little bit of a laugh back and forth and everything. I was just a bit caught off guard.
“That’s what I think, he’s getting his money back. But I was like ‘bro you can’t do that’.
‘He said ‘oh come on man, you don’t need, I need some money, I need some.’
“I said ‘I listen, I like you and everything, but don’t take the p**s out of me’.”
The Waterloo Road star revealed that the owner finally paid him back and apologised for it.
“Weeks passed and everything, and I sort of forgot about it, and I was walking through my village again, and I went in there, and he was like ‘bro where have you been? You’ve not been back, I’ve been wanting to give you the money, come in, come in, come in,’ and he was so apologetic.
“Like counting the money out, and he was giving it to me, and he was like, ‘I’m so sorry, like I was just doing it as a joke. I didn’t really mean to offend you or anything like that.”
“And I felt really bad, and at one point I was gonna go ‘you know what, keep the money, it’s not about the money.”
“And anyway, he gave me my money back, and then I ended up giving him the bacon roll, and the croissant.”
Last month, Adam said he had finally moved on from his I’m A Celeb feud drama, saying “a weight has been lifted” from his shoulders.
On a recent episode of their podcast, Adam’s brother Scott noted: “Ever since all this jungle stuff, you’ve become a proper man, mate, you’ve got a different presence. You’ve god a new strength, mate, about you.
“Even the way you talk, everything.”
Admitting he agreed, Adam responded: “I don’t know, I feel like, for months, I just feel like there was a big dark cloud over me.
“It was for a while until after the final. And then, literally, about a week and a half after the final, I was like, ‘Oh my god, it’s gone’.”
As Scott, Adam and brother Ryan continued to discuss the tough time, the jungle winner admitted he was finally feeling back to his best.
“I just feel like a big weight has been lifted.
“Even when I did the podcast when I first came out, it was straight after as well so I was resenting it a lot, I was angry a lot, I was sad.
“But now I can see the light between the trees a little bit. I just feel like, you know what? It was what it was, it was meant to be, that was my journey and I feel like a better man for it.”
Following the chaotic I’m A Celeb live final, which saw boxer David and former footballer Jimmy stand against Adam, the actor broke down on tears on his podcast with Ryan and Scott.
At the time, he said: “I’m just tired, I want it all to go away and just be forgotten about.
“The sad truth is that everyone will go on with their lives but for me, this will be in for me the rest of my life”.
Harry Redknapp has revealed his plans to quit Soccer Aid after almost 20 years, noting that he would rather “bow out” when things are going well rather than waiting for his team to lose
Harry Redknapp has revealed his plans to quit Soccer Aid (Image: PA)
Harry Redknapp has revealed his plans to quit Soccer Aid after almost 20 years. The sports star, 79, has been involved with the annual charity event, which has raised millions for UNICEF UK, since 2008 and after recently leading England to victory against Soccer Aid World XI, has admitted he will take a step back from it all sooner rather than later.
The former I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! star has acted as Manager and Coach for various teams made up of former players and celebrities over the years but would rather quit amid a rather successful period instead of waiting until things start to go wrong for his team.
He told The Sun: “I think I’ll probably retire myself off. I think I’d better get rid of me now, yeah. We won this year so you know, that might be it for me. I’ll bow out. Best to go out at the top rather than being booted out for getting beat again or something.”
This year, Harry, who has managed Tottenham, West Ham, QPR and Birmingham during his mammoth career as a football manager, teamed up with The Chase star Bradley Walsh to choose the England squad, which was eventually made up of actors Chris O’Dowd and Damson Idris along with former England striker Jermain Defoe amongst a host of others.
Speaking about working with Bradley, who has become one of the UK’s most famous television presenters after appearing in Coronation Street in the early 2000s, Harry was full of praise but joked he would have rather been on the inside when it came to the World Cup.
He said: “Me and Bradley were like a dream team. We picked the winning team between us. Bradley was fantastic and just having a few days with Bradley was worth all the money. It would be lovely to be in on the action for the World Cup, but I had Soccer Aid instead!”
This year, the annual charity football match raised a staggering £16.5million for the children’s aid organisation. The match, which was created by Robbie Williams and Jonathan Wilkes in 2006 , aims to raise millions for UNICEF every year but has never raised as much as it did this year. By raising over £16m, the celebs taking part have increased the total ever raised from the event to £137million.
The grand total was revealed in the last few moments before Soccer Aid went off air, in an announcement made by Robbie, who also performed his song Feel for the halftime performance.
Over £1million of the total amount was raised by Olly Murs. The singer had taken on a mammoth challenge that involved cycling, rowing and running the 400km distance from Old Trafford to the London Stadium. Prior to the match beginning, Tom Hiddleston revealed on air that Olly had raised £1,342,214 for the total pot.
The rest of the funds were raised throughout the event, including the build up to kick off. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen came out to the pitch to deliver the football and revealed that before play had even begun, the event had raised over £4.6million. Tim delighted fans as he said his Toy Story character Buzz Lightyear’s catchphrase: “To infinity and beyond!”
Roughly 15 minutes before the teams headed out, GK Barry caught up with Tom Hanks and Tim Allen with the latter catching many off guard courtesy of his comments.
While stood in the tunnel, upon GK Barry asking for their attention, the latter stated: “I’m just just b****ing about penalty shots.” The comment went unacknowledged by ITV, despite airing pre-watershed.
As Americans, the pair aren’t used to European football. Tim continued to say he was going to “try to work out how you win or lose a game on a penalty shot”. Tom, who said he did have some knowledge of the UK game, jokingly hit back: “You cannot use your hands.”
Soccer Aid celebrated its 20th anniversary with a massive showdown at the London Stadium. The fixture occurs every year and its mission is to raise vital funds for UNICEF while bringing together a unique mix of world-class football legends and beloved celebrities.
Beverley Callard has suffered a “down day” amid her cancer battle but the Coronation Street star and her husband have made the best of the situation by inviting friends over for drinks
22:55, 28 May 2026Updated 22:57, 28 May 2026
Beverley Callard has suffered a ‘down day’ amid her cancer battle (Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
Beverley Callard has suffered a “down day” amid her cancer battle. The actress, 69, announced in February that she had been diagnosed with the early stages of breast cancer and attended her first oncology appointment on Thursday.
Earlier this week, Beverley, who recently relocated to Ireland with her husband Jon McEwan so she could star in the RTE soap opera Fair City, had previously explained that there had been a bit of a delay with her treatment because it had “taken a while” for her medical records to arrive from England.
The Coronation Street legend, who played Rovers Return landlady Liz McDonald on the ITV soap for 30 years, told fans that she is hopefully set to begin her treatment within the coming days.
But, in a turn of events, it was Jon who provided the star’s latest update and spoke to the camera himself, as Beverley chatted with friends in the background.
He said: “We’ve been to the hospital, got some news, trying to start radio therapy as soon as they can. But we’ve come home, we’ve got some friends here. It’s been a down day, but I’ve made Sangria, we’re cooking a barbecue and Beverley is like…[pans camera around].”
It was then that the former I’m A Celebrity…South Africa star waved to the camera and yelled: “Cheers!” as her friends joined in.
When her husband asked how much Sangria they had had, Beverley exclaimed: “It’s the fifth jug, there could be more!” Jon concluded the message as he said: “Sometimes, you’ve just gotta let go.”
Beverley herself captioned the post: “Sometimes all you need is @jonmmac60, good friends and 5 jugs of sangria! It feels like it’s been a long week, but this was a pretty good ending to a day of mixed feelings! F*** cancer!”
In a quick Instagram Story, Beverley was dancing with her friends as she declared: “Me and my best friends say ‘F*** cancer! I’m drunk!”
As always, the former Two Pints star was inundated with support from fans in the comments section. One said: “Enjoy your night I’ve been with you through your journey you’ve been so inspiring hope radiotherapy goes well you’ll be amazing breathing in therapy xx” whilst another said: “Blessings to you Beverly We love you.”
A third said: “Keep smiling and keep fighting,” and a fourth added: “You all deserve a few sangria’! cheers to better times.”
Just hours beforehand, Beverley had told fans following her first oncology appointment: “They’re trying to get me my first appointment for radiotherapy tomorrow but it could be next week, so it’s imminent.
“Everything was really great, they treated me so well and I’ve had loads of other ladies, and ladies’ husbands, coming up, who are all going through the same thing and we were all chatting.”
Beverley first revealed news of her diagnosis in February during an appearance on RTE’s Late Late Show, and explained that she received the diagnosis just minutes before she was due on set for her new soap role.
She said: “I’ve had some tests just before I left the UK, and literally, 15, 20 minutes before I was in my dressing room at Fair City, getting ready to go on, and I was quite nervous and thinking, ‘I hope everybody thinks I’m all right’, whatever.
“And my consultant rang me and said, ‘you’ve got to come back to the UK’ I said, ‘Well, I can’t possibly, I’ve just taken a new job’. I said ‘I’m away for a month’, and I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“But I’m fine, I’m absolutely fine. My head was a bit mashed for the first few days. It’s very early stages, and I’m along with thousands of other women as well.”
If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at Breast Cancer Support.
It has been reported that a Strictly Come Dancing star is in advanced talks to star on the new series of I’m A Celebrity following her axe from the BBC dancing show
23:02, 28 May 2026Updated 23:02, 28 May 2026
I’m A Celebrity will be back soon(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
An axed Strictly Come Dancing star is reportedly in advanced talks for I’m A Celebrity.
The ITV jungle show will be back in a matter of months and it has been claimed that professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova – who was axed from the BBC show earlier this year – is a favourite for the new series.
Nadiya was one of five professionals to exit the show this year, including Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas. However, it doesn’t look like it will be long until Nadiya’s back on our screens.
“Nadiya has always been on the radar but has been unable to take part because of her commitment to Strictly. Now she’s a free agent, the offers have been coming in thick and fast,” a source told The Sun, “She’s had a number of chats about doing the jungle. Bosses are so impressed with her it’s even been suggested she turns down other shows.”
Nadiya released a statement to announce her sad exit from Strictly after nine years. Four other professional dancers exited the show and five new stars will step in to replace them.
Speaking about the programme, she said: “After nine wonderful years, this part of my journey with Strictly Come Dancing is evolving. There is something truly special about being part of a programme that plays such a big part in so many people’s lives and I want to thank all those who have sent beautiful messages over the last few weeks and those who have voted, shouted, supported, celebrated and cheered during every series.
“I also want to take a moment to appreciate all those who have helped me along the way: my partners, my fellow professionals, the judges and brilliant people behind the scenes. I joined the show as an athlete and a double world champion.”
She added in a lengthy message: “Along the way I have learned so much about myself and other people. I have grown, not only professionally, but personally and creatively. Strictly has allowed me to discover new sides of myself, develop new skills, and evolve as an artist in ways I will always be grateful for.”
She went on to insist it isn’t the end. “I look forward to being part of the Strictly world for many years to come in ways I am beginning to explore,” she shared on social media.
“I’ve changed a lot since I first stepped onto that dance floor, not just as a performer, but as a person and I can honestly say I’ve never felt more like myself. I’m excited to have time to focus on new projects, and to spend more precious time with my beautiful daughter. Life feels full of possibilities.”
Ruby Wax will be with Tom Read Wilson as they host the British LGBT Awards together
22:52, 27 May 2026Updated 22:52, 27 May 2026
Ruby Wax and Tom Read Wilson will host the LGBT Awards(Image: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)
Ruby Wax will be with Tom Read Wilson as they host the British LGBT Awards together. The comedienne, 73, competed alongside Celebs Go Dating star Tom, 39, on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! towards the end of last year.
She said: “Glamour, chaos and emotion, as well as me trying not to say anything that gets me cancelled before dessert! But seriously, it’s going to be a celebration of brilliant people doing extraordinary things. There’ll be laughter, there’ll be tears, and there’ll probably be someone giving a speech that makes everybody rethink their life choices.”
The star, who has had a stellar career in stand up comedy and worked on Absolutely Fabulous with Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley, was then asked why “visibility” was still so important in this day and age.
She said :”Because visibility changes lives. When people see themselves represented, honestly and proudly, it gives them permission to exist fully. We’ve made progress, but progress can’t be something we assume is permanent. Events like the British LGBT Awards remind people that community matters, ally ship matters and joy matters too!”
Meanwhile, Tom, who has also appeared on This Morning, and presented a host of one-off documentaries, insisted that the whole thing meant “more” than a typical awards ceremony.
He said: “It feels profoundly special. I’ve always believed that visibility is a kind of kindness, and being here among so many extraordinary people who are actively shaping a more inclusive world is humbling.
“This isn’t just an awards ceremony – it is a celebration of courage and community. To play even a small role in that feels like a real privilege.”
Some of the biggest names leading this year’s awards, include Wicked star Jonathan Bailey, Loose Women panellist GK Barry and former X Factor host Dermot O’Leary. They are joined by an influential and diverse mix of nominees spanning entertainment, sport, media and activism, all recognised for their powerful contributions to advancing LGBTQ+ equality.
Additional standout nominees include Charlie xcx, Claudia Winkleman, and Jill Scott MBE, further cementing this year’s ceremony as a landmark moment for representation and recognition.
Rebecca Twomey, Head of Showbiz at the Mirror said: “We’re thrilled to put our support behind this incredible award ceremony which champions the LGBTQ+ community. The Mirror is all about bringing people together and championing all voices from the heart of Britain.”
The glittering ceremony will take place on 28 May 2026 in London, bringing together celebrities, business leaders, campaigners and community champions for an unforgettable evening celebrating progress, pride and possibility.
HIS fans have been speculating that something isn’t quite right between Jake Quickenden and his wife Sophie Church over the past couple of days.
And now his pals have confirmed to me that the couple, who married in 2022 and have two children together, have formally separated.
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Jake Quickenden and Sophie Church have split after 4 yearsCredit: RexInsiders have revealed the couple, who married in 2022 and have two children together, have formally separatedCredit: Instagram/@jakequickenden
Former X Factor star Jake, who has also appeared on I’m A Celeb and Dancing On Ice, and Sophie are understood to have told their close friends and family about their decision to split.
“Jake and Sophie have ended their marriage but they remain incredibly amicable,” a pal told me.
“There is still a huge amount of love and respect between them.
“Their main priority has always been, and continues to be, their children, and they are fully committed to being the best parents possible.
“Over time, they started to grow apart and Jake and Sophie have had some long and honest conversations about this.
“While they might not be together any more, they are still on great terms and are looking to the future, co-parenting together. Maintaining a happy and supportive family unit together is their focus now.”
Sophie with one of her and Jake’s childrenCredit: Instagram/@jakequickendenSophie are understood to have told their close friends and family about their decision to splitCredit: Instagram/@jakequickenden
Jake and influencer Sophie got together in 2018.
They dated for three years before he popped the question during a holiday to Rhodes in 2021.
Jake spoke about his love for Sophie in the days following their wedding in Ibiza a year later, saying: “I thought it was an angel walking down the aisle.”
He went on to admit they wrote their own vows, joking: “I was saying, ‘I won’t leave empty wrappers in the cupboard any more’. I said, ‘I’ll still love her when she makes a noise when she eats like a squirrel’.
“I said at the end, ‘I think there’s only one true love and you’re my soulmate’.”
Although it hasn’t worked out, I’m glad to hear they’re still on good terms.
MGK’s swipe after Yung’s ticket rap
Machine Gun Kelly has now declared war on Yungblud, pair pictured in 2019Credit: Getty
The US nonentity took a swipe after Doncaster rocker Yung spoke out about the rising cost of live music tickets.
In a video posted on Instagram, Yungblud – who cancelled several dates of his North American tour last year – said: “Live music has become inaccessible, that’s a fact. Artists are cancelling all the time based on lack of ticket sales, because it is an issue, it’s completely unaffordable for people.”
But MGK lashed out: “You cancelled a tour because you couldn’t sell tickets, blamed it on mental health then got paparazzi’d at Nobu the next day Pinocchio. Your tour tickets are the same price as every other artist. Shut the f* up you silver-spooned preachy w**r.”
Taking the higher ground, a rep for Yungblud – real name Dominic Harrison – replied: “He genuinely hasn’t got time to engage in this.”
Dom should now let his music do the talking. His last three studio albums went straight to No1, and earlier this year he landed a Grammy for his rendition of pal Ozzy Osbourne’s 1972 hit Changes.
MGK, meanwhile, has never hit the top spot here . . .
Kylie strikes chord with pal Chris
Kylie Minogue has revealed Chris Martin helped bring a new song to lifeCredit: GettyColdplay hit-maker Chris sent the singer a voice noteCredit: Getty
I joined a handful of Kylie’s biggest fans at Spotify’s Listening Lounge in London ahead of the launch of her new Netflix docuseries simply titled Kylie, which dropped yesterday.
She explained: “I was coming out from the studio on the phone to Chris while I was working on [album] Tension.
“I told him some of the lines I had, and he asked if he could put some chords to them. Within half an hour, I had a voice note back from him.”
She added: “I can’t imagine Chris is ever very far away from a guitar or drums.”
As well as her new music, fans are finding a new resonance in Kylie’s older tracks following the docuseries – particularly 2023 release Story.
She sings: “I didn’t let the world know, I was fighting a big fight. Fighting a dark light. Raging hard on the inside.”
Kylie is one of life’s fighters.
Madge point
Madonna has taken a swipe at Charli XCXCredit: instagram/madonnaCharli said dance floors are ‘dead’Credit: Getty
MADONNA has taken a swipe at Charli XCX after the Guess singer said she reckons dance floors are “dead.”
On her new song Rock Music, Charli sings: “I think the dance floor is dead, so now we’re making rock music.”
Madge’s dance-heavy new album, Confessions On A Dance Floor: Part II comes out on July 3, and she certainly doesn’t agree.
Her original Confessions On A Dance Floor in 2005 was one of the top albums that year and one of the best-selling records of the 21st Century.
So in response, Madge posted this snap on Instagram last night and wrote: “If your dance floor feels dead, maybe you’re playing the wrong music.” Ouch.
All dolled up
The Pussycat Dolls want us to know it is business as usualCredit: instagram/nicolescehrxinger
Ahead of Euro 2028, Frank has written a new poem to kick-start BT’s partnership with the competition.
“If you properly care, then you’re properly there,” the poem reads.
“Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, West Bromwich, ready to cheer, to revere and pay homage to our teams and our dreams, our fists punching the air or clenched in despair.”
Let’s hope it’s not the latter.
UNA HEALY has quit alcohol because she was sick of having a “rotten hangover”.
The Saturday’s star, who is five months sober, said on Instagram: “I’ve been asked, ‘Is it hard? Is it tough?’ Well, it is hard.
“Sometimes you feel like you’re missing out but you’re not missing out on that rotten hangover.
“If it’s one day without feeling like s**t because of drink, then bring it on.”
Benidorm star Crissy Rock has warned that political correctness has possibly “gone too far” for the beloved sitcom to make a comeback but has a new project that she says is perfect for fans of the show
Benidorm star Crissy Rock, who played Janey Yorke, says political correctness has gone ‘too far’(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Crissy Rock has warned that political correctness might put a stop to a reboot of Benidorm. The actress, 67, starred as Janey Yorke in the first four series of the sunny sitcom, which ran from 2007 until 2018.
She told The Mirror: “There’s always whispers [about a reboot], this, that and the other. I’m sure there would be a place for it because it’s so in demand, but with all this political correctness you can’t say this and you can’t say that now.
“You can’t even smoke! I was watching something the other day and a thing came up saying ‘May contain smoking!’ What’s wrong? The world’s gone mad!”
The former I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! contestant, who starred on Benidorm alongside other TV favourites like Siobhan Finneran, Johnny Vegas and Sheridan Smith amongst a host of others, tries to stay away from politics when she performs her stand-up routines, but still thinks that it has all “gone too far” with what can and can’t be said these days.
She added: “In my own show, I don’t do politics. My act has been practically the same for years but I just think [political correctness] has all gone too far the other way. In pantomime, you can’t have the Prince kiss Snow White anymore but you can have a dog come on and lick her face, I mean, it’s gone too far! Someone said I couldn’t say ‘Alright, love’ anymore. It’s just gone stupid!”
Despite her willingness to make a comeback should the chance ever appear, Crissy doesn’t have all good memories from working on the set in the Spanish city.
She said: “It was lovely, and then the reality kicked in that you were stuck in a building with no air conditioning, really roasting with the lights and, half the time you couldn’t hardly breathe. Then you have to start turning the lights off and put the air conditioning on because it was really, really hot, especially when they’re doing all the indoor scenes in the club.”
But for now, Crissy, who shot to fame when she took on the leading role of the 1994 film Ladybird, Ladybird, is happy to be back on stage with a new production of Desperate Scousewives. She stars as Lily, who along with Susan and Vanessa, must navigate things when Trisha, a single mum from Manchester, arrives on their tight-knit backstreet in Liverpool.
All set during a hen do, where the bride is preparing to get married to man in prison she has never actually met, Crissy thinks it will be the perfect night out for fans of the ITV sitcom.
She explained: “Desperate Scousewives is a bit like Benidorm, because the reason Benidorm was so successful is people would watch it and go, ‘Doesn’t that remind you of that drunk around the corner, oh what about her? I know someone just like her!’
“So everyone recognised themselves as someone. And with Desperate Scousewives, everyone who goes will say, ‘I remember that,’ and ‘I recognise her!'”
Desperate Scousewives is written by Lynne Fitzgerald, who also stars as Susan in the production, and embraces the kind of Northern humour that has become synonymous with programmes like Coronation Street, The Royle Family and Shameless.
Liverpool-born Crissy was challenged by someone who wondered how that kind of humour would go down across the nation but she remained full of confidence that it is a universally funny piece of work.
She said: “I met someone who wasn’t from up north who said ‘How do you think this is going to travel?’ and I said ‘Perfectly!’ because we are the street anywhere in the country.
“There’s three or four women exactly like that in every other street in the county. It’s not about your voice or where you’re from, it’s… individuals, their lives, So it could be any street in any part of England.
“I play bit of a matriarch. Nosey, absolutely nosey. And she wants to know everyone’s business but she doesn’t want anyone to know her business and then when she meets anyone new she puts this telephone voice on, trying to talk posh.
“The others will be telling her to shut up and she’ll go ‘Oh, take no notice of those little b*****s!’ It’s been such good fun [in rehearsals], we can’t look at each other without laughing!”
Desperate Scousewives is on tour across the UK. For tickets and more information, go to www.scousewivesonstage.com