ITV

Love Island star Hayley Hughes has announced her engagement to a mystery partner, sharing photos of her huge ring as well as her adorable son Cody

A former Love Island star has announced her engagement.

Hayley Hughes has shared a collection of glamorous proposal photographs from Dubai on Instagram, showcasing her stunning engagement ring.

The blonde bombshell appeared on the fourth series of the ITV2 reality programme in 2018, which saw Dani Dyer and Jack Fincham crowned winners.

She captioned the post: “12/12 – my forever love. I love you so much.”

Hayley has chosen to maintain her partner’s privacy by cleverly cropping his face from photographs and avoiding any social media tags, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Her son Cody, born in 2023, features in the images, with one touching moment showing Hayley’s fiancé cradling the youngster.

Unsurprisingly, Hayley’s announcement has sparked an avalanche of congratulatory messages from her supporters.

Rosie Williams, who starred alongside Hayley in the same Love Island series, commented: “Congratulations my girl! So happy for you.”

Fellow Islander Liberty Poole, from series seven, simply added: “Congratulations”.

One fan gushed: “Omg huge congratulationsssss. The ringgg. The flowerssssss.”

Another enthused: “Ahhh best news ever! ! So happy for you, wifey era pending.”

Hayley entered Love Island as an original islander in 2018, but following unsuccessful romantic pursuits with Eyal Brooker – who memorably declared “I’m not your hun, hun” – and Charlie Brake, she departed the villa.

Following her Love Island exit, she embarked on a relationship with DJ Tom Zanetti, even appearing in one of his music videos, though their romance concluded after seven months. As 2023 kicked off, Hayley penned a post about spending “another year” with her enigmatic beau.

In a chat with RadioTimes.com following her villa exit, Hayley reflected: “I did really think that Eyal was a bit full on with Megan [Barton Hanson] so soon and he wouldn’t really let Alex [George] have a chance to get to know and speak to her.”

She added: “Obviously I feel like I genuinely am Team Alex in every way because I genuinely want him to meet someone that he has a connection with, because he does have low confidence and things.”

Love Island is available to stream on ITVX

WE know Stephen Mulhern as a cheeky chappy TV host with a warm smile who is quick with a gag.

But when his mates Ant and Dec challenged him to make a travelogue, Stephen — best known for TV shows Saturday Night Takeaway, Deal Or No Deal and In For A Penny — was terrified.

Because what people probably don’t know about the 48-year-old is that he has lived, in his own words, a very sheltered life.

And of all the destinations Ant and Dec could have picked for him to visit in their new ITV show, Accidental Tourist, South Korea would be the most challenging one.

What is, in places, a funny entertainment show, turned into a life-changingly emotional experience for Stephen, not least because he had recently lost his father Christopher.

He says: “The idea of doing something out of my comfort zone was terrifying, but recently I feel I’ve wasted a lot of time doing the same things.

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“I’ve thrown myself into work for so many years that I’ve never really gone, ‘Let’s try something new’.

“So when Ant and Dec suggested this, I thought, ‘I’m going to really go for it’.

“It’s taught me a lot. I thought it would just be an experience that lasted for as long as it took to make the show, but it’s actually changed my life.”

Stephen has always stuck to the familiar, like eating roast dinners and holidaying on the Med.

Fear of the unknown has stopped him from ever swimming in the sea or eating mayonnaise.

So when Ant and Dec lined up a host of Korean challenges — including eating octopus and doing a naked sauna — Stephen panicked.

“It exposed so many fears,” he says. “But sometimes you’ve got to break patterns, because otherwise you’ll never grow. It’s too easy to say, ‘This feels comfortable’.

“For example, I’ve always eaten bland food like steak and chips, roast dinners.

“But although I didn’t like a lot of the Korean food, some of it was quite nice. And now I’ve got chilli flakes in my cupboard!”

Born in Stratford, east London, Stephen grew up with market trader parents Christopher and Maureen and siblings Vince, Chris and Susie.

Holidays were in seaside resorts such as Margate, or Butlin’s parks.

He says: “They were the best times. We’re a very working-class family: I worked from the age of 11 in Petticoat Lane with my family and we’d save up enough money to play the penny arcade machines or whatever.”

It’s understandable, then, that Stephen felt pushed out of his comfort zone when he went to Korea.

One particularly moving scene shows him wading into the sea to hand dive for fish with locals. He ends up in anxious tears and almost doesn’t go through with it, telling the producers to stop.

“I’ve never in my life felt anxiety like it,” he admits.

“But I felt so triumphant at the end when I’d done it. It was a very special moment.

“I’ve never got emotional on TV. There are times where I listen to contestants’ stories on Deal Or No Deal where I feel emotional inside, especially when my dad passed away.

“But with this, you can physically see how upset I was.

“Dec’s wife Ali said she could really feel my pain when she watched it.

“This is the most real travelogue you’re likely to see. It’s exposing because it’s the real me, not me as a host, and I’ve never done that before.

“So for the audiences that normally watch my shows, it’s going to be a bit of a curveball.”

Since returning home, Stephen says he feels more relaxed and less anxious. He is also willing to try for further adventures and is considering more travel.

He adds: “I’ve never been so nervous about doing a show but about a week later I realised I was feeling different about everything, and I’m so pleased I did it.”

• Stephen Mulhern: Accidental Tourist is on ITV1 and ITVX from today.

The ITV period drama boasts an impressive 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes

A period drama boasting a recognisable face from Outlander has landed on Netflix, with viewers insisting it’s a must watch.

Victoria originally premiered on ITV in 2016 and spanned three series before concluding in 2019. Crafted by bestselling author and screenwriter Daisy Goodwin, the show stars former Doctor Who actress Jenna Coleman in the title role of Queen Victoria.

Coleman, who audiences will recall as Clara Oswald from the time-travelling series, appears alongside fellow Doctor Who alum Tommy Knight, plus Tom Hughes (About Time), Adrian Schiller (Tolkien), and Jordan Waller (The Gilded Age).

The series follows the 19th-century monarch’s rule, spanning from her ascension to the British throne aged merely 18 through to her union with Prince Albert (portrayed by Hughes).

The ensemble also includes Outlander star Nell Hudson, known for playing Laoghaire MacKenzie, who takes on the part of Queen Victoria’s lady’s maid, Nancy Skerrett, reports the Daily Record.

Hudson was utterly charmed by her fellow performers and sang their praises enthusiastically. In a chat with Town and Country, she revealed: “I made such good friends on Victoria, and luckily I’ve forced them all to stay friends with me, and I make them all hang out with me a couple of times a month. [laughs]”.

“I really couldn’t have been around a better bunch of people. It was such a privilege, going to set everyday and hanging out with a bunch of brilliant people, who were also so talented.”

It seems the cast’s behind-the-scenes camaraderie translated brilliantly on screen, as audiences found themselves utterly captivated.

One fan took to IMDb, sharing their emotional journey: “This has been the most amazing series since Downton Abbey I have watched. I laughed, I cried, I got angry. I felt every emotion humanly possible through watching it.

“My mother and I binge watched it together and couldn’t believe how much it draws you in from beginning to end.”

Someone else raved: “The settings, costumes, and general production values were first rate, the show felt incredibly plush and lavish, I shudder to think of the budget for this series. Totally engaging, this was first rate viewing 9/10.”

A third fan added: “If you love period drama and English history, you will be enthralled by Victoria. I wish there were more shows like this on television. A definite must for fans of this genre.”

Victoria, with its impressive 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, continues to garner praise. Another fan noted: “This production seems to strive for a cross between Gossip Girl and Downton Abbey, and is thus an amusing trifle.”

Victoria is streaming now on Netflix and ITVX

The I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! Coming Out reunion will air on Saturday night and Alex Scott is not expected to be on the show

Alex Scott is expected to miss the official I’m a Celebrity Coming Out reunion due to her girlfriend’s family emergency. This news comes after the ex-Lioness avoided the final episode of the show and called out ITV chiefs for not showing her true personality.

Scott was the first person eliminated from the jungle and immediately headed back to the UK. The former Arsenal star reunited with popstar beau Jess Glynne under difficult circumstances, after her mum suffered a major stroke and needed brain surgery.

Sharing on social media after fans noticed her missing from the famous bridge walk, Glynne said: “Over the last few weeks, my mum suffered a major stroke and needed urgent brain surgery. It’s been a really life-altering time for my family, and I’ve had to stay close to home.

“Alex would always want me to be where I’m needed most. I can’t wait to have her back by my side.”

Scott was initially grateful for the I’m a Celeb experience, as she said: “It’s been such an incredible experience. I didn’t think that… mentally it is so tough, and I did struggle at times, missing home and everything.

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“But I’m so glad I got to do this series with such a great bunch of campmates. We really connected, and I never expected that coming into the jungle, to make the bonds that we all did.”

However, she is yet to reunite with any of her campmates after the show and also called out the broadcaster for not showing her true self. During an appearance on Lorraine, Scott said: “It’s me actually being out and learning what’s been aired and what’s been shown.

“I had so much fun, and that bit wasn’t shown. I had so much fun. I was called the Games Master in there, the stuff that I was doing with everyone.

“It’s only an hour show so only so much can go into the edit but when I reflect, I wish more of the fun stuff, people had seen that side of me. I wanted them to see the more fun Alex Scott that they didn’t see.”

She added: “Ginge and Aitch have had all the airtime and everyone has seen them, but my special bond with Shona, I don’t think the public have seen the real journey she’s been, she’s spoken so much about her anxiety and her fun side but I don’t think anyone has seen it.”

After missing the final episode and wrap party, Scott is likely not to appear on Saturday’s reunion show. Speaking to the Daily Mail, she added: “It’s been a hard couple of months, but Jess was like I want you to go on the show and do it for my mum.

“It’s been tough because I want to be here for the wrap party and I have to get home straight away. She’s my Jessica, and I’m going home to be her rock. My campmates knew what I was going through and I just want to thank everyone at ITV and my camp mates because they’ve all shown me so much support.”

The I’m a Celebrity Coming Out show will air on ITV1 and ITVX on Saturday, December 13 at 9:05pm.

OLIVIA Attwood has revealed she was cruelly shamed for the cosmetic procedures she has undergone by a presenter.

The former Love Island star, 34, described it as “one of the worst experiences” she has ever had.

Olivia has been open about her aesthetic preferences; often talking to her fans about which surgical enhancements she has undergone and even making a documentary about cosmetic surgery.

But the star says that she was put in an uncomfortable position during an interview, where the presenter told her she looked older due to having procedures.

Talking on her new podcast, Olivia’s House, the star said: “I had an experience with a female host and one of the worst experiences that I’ve probably had in an interview because I felt like she didn’t want me there…

“I was meant to be promoting the documentary and everything I’d learned about the industry and she very much wanted to make it about me and what I looked like.”

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Olivia continued: “She said in her second question, she said, ‘So you, what have you had done?’ And I was a bit like, whoa… I’m talking about the cosmetic industry as a whole.”

“She goes, ‘I don’t know what you were trying to achieve, but you look a lot older ‘cause of what you’ve done to yourself’.”

“It was really one of the worst experiences that I’ve probably had in an interview because I felt like… I felt like she didn’t want me there.”

“When I left that studio… I remember for 20 minutes I just sat in silence and I was like, ‘What? What just actually happened?’.”

While Olivia hasn’t named the presenter, she added that the situation felt “wrong”.

“It just felt just very like tonally wrong for a show that is meant to be about a safe space for women and uplifting women… it was just a really horrible experience and it stayed with me for a little while,” the star concluded.

Speaking on the first episode of the new podcast, Olivia candidly opened up about several topics, including her marriage to Bradley Dack.

She and the footballer have been married since 2023, but struggled this summer when their relationship hit a rocky patch.

At the time, Olivia didn’t acknowledge what was going on between them, but was pictured letting loose during a trip to Ibiza, where she cosied up to pal Pete Wicks.

Addressing the situation on her new show, the star admitted that she and Bradley have had a tough year – with issues from both sides.

And teasing that there is more to come, she told fans that Bradley would tell his side of the story “in his own words” when he comes onto the podcast.

The actor known for playing Mr Bean and Blackadder has a gentler role this Christmas on Netflix

Iconic comedian and actor Rowan Atkinson says he is finally playing a character he doesn’t hate. Atkinson, 70, plays the role of Trevor Bingley for the second time in new Christmas Netflix series Man vs Baby.

Hapless Bingley, is supposed to have left the stressful world of housesitting for the quieter life of a school caretaker. But he ends up with a penthouse to look after for Christmas and a baby dubbed ‘Baby Jesus’ to burp after a series of mix ups.

Atkinson said: “Trevor Bingley, in his basic form, is arguably one of the nicest people I’ve ever played. Because I think most people I’ve played are sort of deeply unpleasant, really, you know, Mr. Bean is a selfish, self serving, anarchic child. Blackadder, is a sort of sarcastic and sardonic and basically negative force, I think.

“Even Johnny English is a sort of vain, sort of charmless. I think actually, Trevor has turned out to be one of my more pleasant, amenable creations. I quite like playing the nice guy which I haven’t done very often.”

Speaking at the series premiere in London, Atkinson went on to say he wouldn’t even have dinner with Mr Bean or Blackadder who would “have a sarcastic remark for everything”. Atkinson also revealed ‘Baby Jesus’, the other star of the series, is actually played by four babies, two twins for the close ups and two ‘stunt babies’ for other crawling scenes as they can only ‘work’ for 45 minutes at a time.

He joked: “There’s not much chat between takes with the co-star. But you go with the flow.”

“They are great looking, aren’t they?” He added. “I say ‘they’ because when you’re trying to use babies in film, you go for twins, and our twins were great. But, yes, you’re right – the babies are scene-stealers, that’s their very nature.

“It’s that strange thing when you’re watching a baby, because you know that they’re not acting, they’re just being themselves and reacting to the situation surrounding them. As such, they’re completely unpredictable, but also completely engaging, because you know they’re giving an inherent truth that you’re not getting from an adult performer.”

Atkinson himself is a father-of-three, having had two children – Ben and Lily – with his first wife Sunetra Sastry some times ago and a third child Isla, 8, from his current relationship with second wife Louise, who he married in 2014. And he says being a real life dad helped him for the role, despite him having to play at being terrible with a tot.

“Well, experience helps! He said. “It’s a bit like when I played Maigret for ITV a few years ago, the French detective. An important aspect of Maigret was that he smokes a pipe all the time which is an incredibly unfashionable thing to do in this day and age. But it wasn’t unfashionable or uncommon in the 1950s which is when the drama was set and also when I was a student – that’s a terrible admission!

“And it’s the same thing with holding a baby. If you’ve done it in real life, you look realistic doing it on screen. I’m pretty comfortable holding a baby.”

The series launches today(THURS) and whilst there are no plans yet for a third season, as this caper follows Man vs Bee from 2022 with the same lead character, it seems like a possibility. Atkinson won’t be making the decision based on any reviews though or critical acclaim, as he only cares it viewers like it as family entertainment this Christmas.

Sounding bullish he said: “I haven’t read a review or critique of anything I’ve done since the 20th century so I don’t know what reviewers, pundits and critics think of what I do, because the only thing that interests me is how many people watch this, and would they like to watch more? That’s the litmus test, and the sign of success, to me.”

* Four part series Man vs Baby launches on Netflix on Thursday December 11.

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The Chase star Jenny Ryan has been inundated with support as she shared an exciting update

Jenny Ryan, star of The Chase, has received an outpouring of support as she shared some thrilling news unrelated to her ITV role.

The 43 year old quiz aficionado took to Instagram to post a photo of herself dressed as the Wicked Fairy Carabosse, announcing that the first performances of Sleeping Beauty had commenced at Wyvern Theatre in Swindon.

Jenny has been cast as the Wicked Fairy Carabosse in the pantomime Sleeping Beauty, sharing the stage with David Ashley and Ben Goffe.

The plot teases: “When the wicked fairy Carabosse’s evil curse causes the Princess to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall into an enchanted sleep, can anyone rescue her from the magical slumber before it is too late?

“Make your dreams come true this Christmas and visit the Wyvern Theatre to see Sleeping Beauty.”, reports Bristol Live.

Sharing a snapshot of herself in character as the Wicked Fairy Carabosse, Jenny excitedly wrote: “We are OPEN!”.

“See me and a spectacular cast in Sleeping Beauty at @wyverntheatre in Swindon from now until 4th January #panto #swindonpanto.”

Jenny’s 92.2K followers were quick to show their support. One fan commented: “Awww you look beautiful Jenny good luck xxxx”.

Another follower said: “Good luck for tonight and for the rest of the panto season”, while another added: “We saw you on Saturday. Such a great show and you are an amazing singer xx”. Another fan chimed in with: “You were BRILLIANT.”

Meanwhile, another supporter wrote: “Good luck and have a brilliant season xxx”, and yet another wished her: “Have a wonderful run xxx”.

Another commented: “You look lovely Jenny have a wonderful time” whilst a different person gushed: “Hi sweetheart you look fabulous xx.”

Jenny is widely recognised as The Vixen on The Chase, but beyond the ITV quiz show, the star boasts remarkable singing, musical and theatrical abilities.

The ITV personality first demonstrated her vocal prowess when she took part in The X Factor: Celebrity back in 2019.

Since then, Jenny has graced numerous pantomime stages, portraying the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Darlington Hippodrome in 2023 and The Enchantress in Beauty and the Beast at the Crewe Lyceum Theatre in 2024.

The ITV News journalist has opened up about the ‘agonising’ trip she made following the death of her husband, who passed away in 2022

ITV News Arts Editor Nina Nannar has shared her heartache following the death of her husband. Her partner of 23 years passed away due to complications from kidney disease in 2022, leaving behind their 19-year-old daughter Mimi.

In a recent heartfelt interview, Nina spoke about her “agonising” journey to New Zealand to scatter the ashes of her late husband, Steve Ronson.

The 57-year-old told Norfolk magazine that she had been planning and “dreading” this trip for over a year as it was a “heartbreaking mission”.

She intended to return Steve’s ashes to his homeland of New Zealand but confessed she wasn’t emotionally prepared.

The broadcaster admitted to sleepless nights worrying about whether she could manage her grief and not “be embarrassing” in front of his friends.

Nina confided in the publication: “Even though Steve has been gone three years, the sorrow I feel over his loss still manages to cripple me in unexpected moments, of leaving me still in despair and disbelief that he is no longer here.”

She expressed gratitude towards her friends for supporting her “through my irrational moments” and “times of agony”, reports the Express.

Nina added: “My grief is raw, but this trip Mimi and I made did help us in a huge way.” During their visit to New Zealand, Nina and Mimi joined Steve’s friends at his favourite surf beach where they sang their “family anthem”, Return Of The Grievous Angel.

They also congregated at a beach on the Coramandel Peninsula, where Nina captured a video and sent it to his sister, Chris.

She asked Nina if she had spotted an orb of green light traversing the video, which Nina hoped was a sign from Steve.

Kidney Research UK reported that Steve was born with reflux, a condition affecting a valve in the ureter, causing urine to flow in the wrong direction, from the bladder back into the kidney.

He endured three and a half years on dialysis before receiving a kidney transplant that lasted for 30 years. In 2021, he underwent surgery to remove a lump, but doctors found cancer cells.

A year later, the cancer cells had spread, leading to the removal of Steve’s ear the day after his 60th birthday. Tragically, he passed away in 2022, surrounded by his loved ones.

The beloved 2003 Christmas film that became a box office smash and stars some of Britain’s most famous actors airs on ITV2 tonight for the perfect festive night in

Initially launched in 2003, this beloved film has cemented its status as a seasonal must-watch, drawing audiences back year after year for repeat viewings. Tonight, ITV provides the perfect opportunity for a cosy festive evening in with this Christmas classic.

Both written and helmed by British cinema icon Richard Curtis, Love Actually perfectly encapsulates the essence of a distinctly British Christmas.

The production boasts an impressive ensemble cast, featuring several actors who have collaborated with Curtis on multiple occasions, most notably Hugh Grant.

Set predominantly in London, the narrative weaves through diverse expressions of love across multiple storylines – spanning bereavement and first romance to unreturned affection, matrimony, and workplace attraction, delivering a comprehensive emotional spectrum.

These universally relatable themes consistently draw audiences back year after year, sparking ongoing discussions across social media platforms.

A dedicated Reddit thread about the movie reveals countless viewer opinions, with many confessing to multiple viewings. One fan declared, “Freaking love it; have to watch it every Christmas season. Nothing will ever make me hate this movie.”

Another enthusiast proclaimed, “Literally the most iconic rom-com of all time. I absolutely love watching it every year. It’s not the greatest movie, but it is so comforting, and I love the entire cast. I can’t not watch this movie.”

The movie kicks off six weeks before Christmas and tracks these characters’ journeys in a weekly build-up to the festive season. We witness the interconnected stories of these families and couples across London, as many dive into fresh romantic adventures, ranging from a schoolboy’s innocent infatuation to a workplace liaison, and even the newly appointed Prime Minister developing feelings for a member of his team.

This stellar ensemble features the talents of Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, and the late, beloved Alan Rickman. The cast also features Thomas Brodie-Sangster as a child actor, portraying Liam Neeson’s character’s stepson. Additionally, we see performances from Keira Knightley and Billy Nighy in this quintessentially British star-studded mix.

Numerous memorable quotes and moments have become embedded in pop culture and remain widely referenced to this day. One fan highlights a particular sequence, noting: “I think about/watch that montage where Andrew Lincoln is walking around the city distraught while Dido plays in the background at least once a month.”

Another enthusiast shared: “I love it! It’s definitely a Christmas tradition for me, and watching Hugh Grant dance to Jump For My Love lives in my head rent-free.”

A different viewer commented: “It’s really corny. I can see it being a comfort movie for lots of people.” Meanwhile, someone else offered a more sceptical take: “I enjoy the movie, but it’s one I can’t think too hard about, because then I end up focusing on just how unhealthy and doomed all the relationships actually are.”

If you fancy a rewatch or a first-time viewing of Love Actually, you’re in luck, as it’s scheduled to air on ITV2 tonight at 9pm. If that doesn’t suit your schedule, don’t fret – the film is also available for streaming on both Amazon Prime and Netflix.

KATIE Piper has swapped the Loose Women panel to soak up the sun on Spain’s Costa Brava.

She’s battling it out with two of her ITV co-stars to find out who can organise the best excursions from horse riding to making human towers on The Great Escapers.

Katie Piper, 42, has ditched the gloomy UK weather for a slice of Spain alongside Sunetra Sarker and Denise Welch, so how did she feel about jetting off with her colleagues?

Katie told Sun Travel: “Whether you go away with friends or family, travelling in a group is difficult.

“You want everyone to be having the food they like, doing the trips they like, and everyone has different ideas of fun.

“Then, don’t forget if you throw in a bit of competition and jeopardy as well – it starts out friendly, but everyone wants to win.”

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Katie, Sunetra and Denise headed to Spain to organise the best excursions with the help of Jet2holidays‘ Gio who helped them create the ultimate holiday experience.

Once everyone has completed the excursions, the ladies take a vote to decide whose were the best and who is ‘The Great Escaper’.

For the Loose Women, activities ranged from going horse-riding, to trekking and even spending time on a luxury boat trip.

Katie however avoided the holiday stereotypes and instead, joined in the human tower festival which is a Catalan tradition.

She said: “I wanted to show people local culture and to see what brings people together.

“It happens during some evenings for people of all ages and anyone can get involved – men, women and children. It made me laugh thinking about British culture at 7pm in the evening.”

Katie continued: “We’re watching I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! with a takeaway on the sofa. But in Costa Brava, they come out straight from work and they stand on each other’s shoulders.”

The three ladies tried everything out – but there’s one thing that they couldn’t do.

Katie confessed: “The only thing we didn’t do was fly and flop, we never got a tan. I came back the same white as a sheet colour as when I went out.”

During the trip, Katie stayed in Tossa de Mar, which is on the coast and has pretty beaches, coves and is centred around a walled medieval old town.

Katie is a mum of two, Belle, 11, and Penelope, 7, and heading to the Costa Brava has meant it’s been added to their family’s travel list.

She said: “I think I’ll go back with my girls, the kids will watch the show and go ‘it’s so unfair you got to go’. It’s affordable and accessible, you can go self-catering or stay in an Airbnb – I think we will plan a trip there.”

“I’ve been to other much more touristy Spanish places, like the Costa del Sol.

“The Costa Brava is a bit of a hidden gem, it’s touristy enough to take your kids out and walk on foot to restaurants.

“But it’s not lost its culture, like along the strip there’s lots of architecture like gorgeous churches, cliffs, castles – it’s not neon signs and karaoke. It’s a great place for families as well because it’s such a short flight.”

The fact that the trip to Costa Brava was not a family holiday was a strange experience for Katie.

She said: “Usually any holiday for me is putting the kids first – we go somewhere that serves chicken nuggets.

“Our next holiday will be to Tenerife where there’s a kids’ club and water slides – we’re doing five days during half-term.

“We tend to keep it cheap and stay in and around Europe where the flights are shorter.”

Katie is no stranger to a staycation though, in fact South East of England is where she spent lots of time on holiday.

She told us: “My mum and dad didn’t have a lot of money, so we didn’t really go abroad. Instead, we went Kent most years; Margate, Deal, and Broadstairs.

“We’d watch Punch and Judy on the beach, there would be donkey rides and we’d eat big sticks of rock and go to the arcades – we absolutely loved it.

“Then as I got older, we went away with family friends to Spain, Greece or Portugal. It would be like your typical package holiday and we’d go to the kids’ club all day.

“Looking back I think my mum and dad were drinking all day and then we’d go out at night. They’d let us stay up late and we’d all play card games like Snap and Happy Families.”

For her next trip, Katie and her husband Richard, are planning on keeping it Britain-based too.

She said: “We’re looking into a trip at the moment that we want to do in the Easter which is to go to Scotland.

“We’re trying to plan to do it on the sleeper train because it’s a bit of an adventure to go on a sleeper train and my kids have never done that.

“We’ve got a dog now. We got a puppy this year if we go on a sleeper train, then we can take her on the train with us.”

Watch the Loose Women on The Great Escapers on ITV, Sunday, December 14, at 6PM.

Catch up on previous episodes starring the cast of I’m A Celebrity, Coronation Street and The Chasers on ITVX.

SCARLETT Moffatt has revealed that her fiancé Scott Dobinson has quit his job as a policeman to be a stay-at-home dad.

The Gogglebox star, 35, got engaged to Scott, 37, in 2023, five months after they became parents to baby son Jude. 

Scarlett has revealed that Scott has taken a two-year career hiatus to be with their son Jude, two, so she can continue her TV career.

The reality star has a host of projects she’s working on, including Strictly Come Dancing‘s Christmas Special and a Christmas pantomime. 

She told The Daily Mail: “I feel really lucky because for the first two years that Jude was born, I decided to take two years off.

“So I was just in full-time mum mode, it was the best.

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“And then when Jude turned two, I was like “okay, I need to go back into work now” so I can chat to adults, cause I missed that. 

“And also, you know, this industry’s so difficult, I knew that if I took any longer people might be like, “oh, there’s that girl that used to sometimes be on the telly”.

“So then Scott, my partner, he’s wonderful, he’s now took a two-year career break from the police.

“So he’s now in full-time dad mode, which is lovely. We’re somehow managing because of that, and we’ve got great grandparents too.”

The I’m A Celeb star also explained that she has never employed a nanny to help out with her family.

She said: “I’ve never had a nanny and he’s never been to nursery, but it’s not because I think that those things are bad or anything.

“I think we’ve just been so lucky that I’ve either been at home or he’s with my mum and dad, or Scott’s mum and dad or Scott.

“People aren’t always in that privileged position where they live like 10 minutes away from all of the family.

“I think it’s a very northern thing that we all sort of still live in the same village and stuff, but I can understand why people have ties and things.”

In an interview with The Sun earlier this year Scarlett spoke about when she and Scott are planning to tie the knot.

Scarlett said: “I’d hoping to do it next year but maybe that’s too adventurous? It takes a lot to plan a wedding, but I’ve got this in the bag.”

Just a few years ago, Scarlett admitted that she initially had dreams of a huge Willy Wonka themed wedding, but has now decided to scale back her plans.

However, in an interview before getting engaged, she once said: “I’ve always, always wanted a massive wedding, now I keep saying: ‘Let’s go to Vegas.’”

But, not everyone is happy about Scarlett’s return to TV, as a new Strictly fix has ignited due to her taking part in this year’s Christmas special.

The popular TV star was the first celeb to be announced for this year’s festive special after years of being linked to the BBC show.

However, show insiders are angry at her for taking part because she was trained by Anton Du Beke as a child.

And it is alleged she is now the favourite to win the festive glitterball due to her vast dancing history.

A Strictly insider said: “Scarlett is a trained dancer, she is so good at it and spent much of her childhood doing ballroom and Latin dancing.

“Anton even helped her and now he will be judging her against others. It all feels very unfair.”

But, despite being an early favourite, Scarlett insists she hasn’t picked up where she left off all those years ago.