Coronation Street has shared new spoiler for next week episodes with two villains under the spotlight, while an iconic character faces grave danger after a revenge twist
It’s a really big week on Coronation Street next week, with danger, bombshells and discoveries(Image: ITV)
It’s a really big week on Coronation Street next week, with danger, bombshells and discoveries that could change everything.
One soap legend could be left fighting for his life after a deliberate act of arson. Details are being kept under wraps in terms of what unfolds, but recent hints suggest Roy Cropper’s life will be at risk.
There’s also a killer bombshell for one character, while a villain is finally exposed by his victim for their cruel and abusive behaviour. More than one baddie’s true colours come to light, very much paving the way for the dramatic murder episode airing later this month.
It’s certainly a week to watch as things become clearer, motives for the shock death grow and we see multiple characters taking centre stage. Kicking things off, Summer questions Theo about Billy’s last moments, but she’s shocked by Theo and Todd’s plans to move to Belfast.
Summer tells Todd her fears that Theo killed Billy, while George and Sarah try to stop Todd leaving. At the flat, Todd makes his bid for freedom, but will he get away?
Todd finally speaks out, standing up to Theo in a special episode before reporting the abuse to Lisa and Kit. Theo is desperate to flee, but will he make his escape or will he be stopped?
Sarah vows to find video evidence of the abuse Todd has endured, while Todd struggles to return to normality. Roy is in grave danger when Mal takes revenge, as the café is set on fire.
With everyone thinking Roy is out, they have no idea he’s unconscious in the smoked out flat upstairs, so will he be saved? Debbie sees Carl’s true colours when Summer tells her about Carl’s offer to give her information about Billy’s death, in exchange for his life insurance payout.
Debbie kicks Carl out, while Ronnie makes him an offer. Mal reports Kit for assault, but Kit plays it down to Lisa, claiming Mal is unhinged. Later, Lisa misplaces her police badge as she sets off for work.
Elsewhere, Jodie’s latest actions spark a rift with the family, and Ben quizzes Steve about their dad Jim. George confides in Glenda that he might have to sell the business, and Eva tries to get the Driscolls on good terms again.
There’s some big moments ahead on the soaps next week according to teasers shared, with big decisions, realisations, new twists and turns and a plan to save a business
There’s some big moments ahead on the soaps next week according to teasers(Image: ITV)
Spoilers for next week tease fire drama, some big choices to be made and some realisations. Next week’s full spoilers have yet to be released, so check back on the Mirror on Tuesday for all the gossip.
For now, some publications have revealed little teasers for the big week, and there’s so much drama and the rest. One soap sees a wedding loom, while a character could be in danger.
Another soap sees concerns for a legend as a fire takes place, after it was previously reported Roy Cropper’s café would be deliberately set on fire. There’s also hard scenes and some happy scenes for a soap.
According to the BBC website, Inside Soap magazine and What’s On TV magazine, next week sees some big moments. On EastEnders, Vicki Fowler and Ross Marshall’s hen and stag parties arrive.
A situation soon escalates for Vicki, with her left paranoid and left with little option. Elsewhere, Bea Pollard’s obsession with Honey Mitchell escalates, and she’s clearly jealous of her – while she soon makes a decision about her love life.
Jasmine Fisher starts to feel part of the Slaters, while Oscar Branning attempts to avoid Josh. Oscar then spends his time putting Max and Lauren Branning to the test as they compete.
Finally, Priya Nandra-Hart continues to worry about Ravi Gulati. Over on Coronation Street, Summer Spellman drops a horrifying truth on Todd Grimshaw.
In a fire twist, the residents of Weatherfield see smoke coming from the café. Both Christina Boyd and Glenda Shuttleworth try to help George amid his business troubles.
Eva Price attempts to bring the Driscolls back together, and Mal Roper continues to cause trouble. Finally on Emmerdale, Dr Todd escalates her cruel manipulation towards Jacob Gallagher.
Charity Dingle decides to throw a baby shower for Sarah Sugden, while some new evidence appears. But what is it, who is it linked to and will to help someone in need?
Vanessa Woodfield gets a new housemate, DS Walsh makes an accusation and someone takes action when they notice a spark between two characters, after it seemed things were over.
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Beverley Callard has addressed the apparent confusion that some fans have had ahead of her appearance on I’m A Celebrity…South Africa amid her breast cancer battle
Beverley Callard will appear on this year’s edition of I’m A Celebrity…South Africa (Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
The soap star, who initially appeared on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! in 2020, will be seen again on-screen from Easter Monday, where she joins a whole host of other former campmates from the ITV survival series as they battle it out to become the next Jungle Legend.
She will be seen facing challenges alongside the likes of Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt, who was crowned Queen of the Jungle in 2016, and TOWIE legend Gemma Collins, who infamously quit the show after just three days in 2014, but some fans have been left wondering how this is possible when she is going through major health issues.
The former Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps star has been open and honest about her health woes since the start, and took to Instagram late on Sunday night to remind fans that the show is pre-recorded, and doesn’t go out live like the main series.
She said: “Well, I’ve just got to, first of all, I’ve got to say Happy Easter – even though it’s a bit late – to everybody. Not a bad day today, but I didn’t eat chocolate because I just didn’t fancy it. And also, I want to remind everyone that tomorrow at 9pm, Easter Monday, I’m A Celebrity…South Africa begins.
“And I know everybody thinks I’m suddenly going away to South Africa. I’m not. We did film it a little while ago. So please watch it because it’s frightening, wonderful, horrifying, funny – it was terrifying, exhilarating, everything. But believe me, it’s great television, honestly, so I hope you enjoy it.”
The update comes after Beverley, who underwent her first operation at the beginning of March and was due to receive her results at the start of April, revealed she had received some by bad news just before the onset of the long Easter weekend.
Speaking to her followers again, she heartbreakingly admitted she couldn’t pretend any longer that everything was all right as she headed to a photoshoot to promote her new role on Irish soap Fair City.
She said: “Well, I had to do a photoshoot yesterday and on the way there – it was for a magazine about Fair City – and on the way there, Jon [my husband] was driving, and I was in the passenger seat. My phone rang, and it said the caller ID. Usually, it’s the hospital or one of the consultants from the hospital and I thought ‘Okay, this is it, my results.’ It was one of the amazing cancer care nurses from Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, they are fantastic.
“She wanted to know how I was doing. I told her that I’ve got quite a lot of soreness, which I’ve not had for ages but it came on a few days ago. She said I could be overdoing things, hopefully I’m not, I’ve had a lazy day today. But then she said ‘No results yet because there is a backlog,’ so hopefully I will get them next week.
“You know when your heart is in your mouth? You think ‘This is it. It’s coming now, any minute,’ and then, no, nothing. Obviously, we were still moving in the car, and I just thought ‘I can’t do this now, I cannot paint a smile on my face again.’
At the beginning of March, Beverley told fans that she had around four weeks of waiting to find out if the operation had been a success, and at the time, seemed optimistic about the situation.
She said: “So, the next stage, is, in about four weeks, we will find out if she managed to get all the cancer out and we’ll also get the results of whether it was in the lymph nodes or not.
“If I’m cancer-free, then, a few weeks after that, I will begin radiotherapy. If I’m not cancer-free, then we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. But I have a feeling I will be. I don’t why I have that feeling but I just have.”
If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at Breast Cancer Support.
Patsy Kensit is reportedly returning to Emmerdale as villain Sadie King 20 years after her big exit, with ‘explosive’ scenes on the way when she heads back later this year
22:04, 04 Apr 2026Updated 22:06, 04 Apr 2026
An Emmerdale villain is reportedly heading back to the ITV soap after 20 years(Image: ITV Network)
An Emmerdale villain is reportedly heading back to the ITV soap after 20 years.
Later this year, it’s been reported that TV star Patsy Kensit will be reprising her role as fan favourite Sadie King. The character debuted on the show back in 2004 as part of the King family.
The former wife of Jimmy King, who is still in the village with his new wife Nicola King, Sadie turned against the family when she teamed up with Cain Dingle to target them.
Cain ended double-crossing his former flame and her plan backfired, sparking her exit from the show in 2006. According to reports though she will soon be back, with “explosive” scenes on the way.
According to a publication, the top secret signing was planned to shock fans. Of course there will be a little less “shock” now that the apparent signing has been leaked.
Emmerdale have yet to confirm if the news is true, while the Mirror has contacted ITV for comment. A source is said to have told The Sun: “This signing has been kept a top secret as bosses want Patsy’s return to shock fans.
“She is apparently delighted to be get her teeth back into the meaty role. Scriptwriters want to keep the show going with explosive plots and divisive characters.”
Fans began sharing the possible news online, not expecting it while several viewers have been calling for the twist for some time. One fan said: “SADIE KING IS COMIMG BACK? OH MY GOODNESS!”
Another posted: “Sadie King potentially making a return, ok I am sat for that!” A third fan added: “SADIE IS BACK,” while another simply said: “Sadie king is returning to Emmerdale.”
It comes amid another villain trying to kill a soap legend. Graham Foster was exposed for poisoning Kim Tate in a recent episode, tampering with her pain medication.
Kim collapsed and was rushed to hospital, where it was assumed she had accidentally taken too many of her tablets. But fans soon learned the shocking truth.
Graham was shown swapping her medicine bottles over, before explaining he’d swapped out her usual pills for a double dose of her medication. He suggested the plan was to kill Kim but it did not work, so now he was figuring out another way to get rid of “the pain in his neck”.
Emmerdale favourite Cain Dingle is hit by a car in deadly scenes next week with three possible culprits teased, but will he survive and does the driver leave him for dead?
Emmerdale: Cain left bloodied and unconscious after being hit by car
A horrifying new clip for Emmerdale shows the moment Cain Dingle is left lifeless after being hit by a car.
Next week on the ITV soap, Jeff Hordley’s character is on the phone to his wife Moira Dingle when he is struck at speed. A clip appears to tease the identity of the mystery driver, with one of three characters behind the wheel.
Kerry Wyatt, Jacob Gallagher and Graham Foster are all seen emotional or distracted before they speed off in their own cars. Jacob has just faced more drama with his bullying boss Dr Todd, and we see him breaking down in his car.
Graham has a run-in with Paddy and Marlon Dingle it seems, after his near-kiss with Marlon’s wife Rhona Goskirk. Kerry is crying over something – but is it linked to Dr Todd, or Eric Pollard?
As all three of them drive off, suddenly someone speeds towards Cain who is in the middle of a road. Slamming into him, Cain is left bleeding and unconscious as he hits the floor.
He’s not in a good way, but the clip ends there. So will Cain die and who runs him over? Whoever it is seems to leave Cain there as in another clip, it’s Cain’s young son Carl calling desperately for an ambulance.
Kyle confirms his dad isn’t waking up and is badly injured, as he tells the emergency services what has happened. The fact that Kyle is alone and making the call could suggest no one else is there, and it’s a hit and run.
All will be revealed soon in terms of who the driver is, but the clips certainly hint it will either be Graham, Kerry or Jacob. As for Cain’s fate, the spoilers do not reveal if he lives or dies.
It isn’t thought he will die given his huge cancer storyline that is ongoing. Cain has been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer, with him deciding whether or not to have treatment, and only recently did he tell his family including his wife Moira.
So surely they wouldn’t kill Cain off in such a brutal way when there’s still a way to go with the cancer storyline. So it’s safe to assume Cain will survive being hit by the car, but it’s not certain.
It’s also not clear if he will be badly injured and if there will be any consequences. Fans will have to stay tuned to find out what happens to Cain and who is to blame.
And there might be an eighth one too – with bosses staying tight-lipped on how many take the £1million this time around
Jeremy Clarkson is going to be thrilled with the drama on the quiz during its 36th run
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is to get its seventh UK jackpot winner in the new series – and the eighth could also follow as TWO contestants make it all the way to the the £1million prize question.
While one player will definitely triumph, producers are not yet revealing what happens the second time. ITV bosses have promised that the 36th series, which starts later this month, will be one of the most dramatic ever seen.
Only six players have previously taken home the life-changing £1million prize – starting with Judith Keppel 26 years ago in 2000. She was followed by David Edwards and Robert Brydges the following year, Pat Gibson in 2004 and Ingram Wilcox in 2006. Donald Fear then became the sixth winner in the ITV show’s history in 2020, after an agonisingly long gap of 14 years.
The revelation means the upcoming series, which starts on ITV later this month, is guaranteed to contain highs – but there will also be lows. One contestant will lose £186,000 with a single answer – one of the biggest losses in the show’s history.
One insider said: “The new series will see not one but two contestants make it all the way to the £1million question – putting them just one answer away from the big prize. One of them definitely takes it home.. But does the other one? Viewers will have to watch to find out. And the tension in series 36 will be off the scale as one player also gambles a huge amount – and loses.”
Bosses are not revealing where the wins – and the big loss – will come during the run. Hosted by former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, the nail-biting new series will again see contestants attempt to climb the Million Pound Money Ladder, using their four lifelines – Ask the Audience, 50:50, Ask the Host and Phone a Friend.
Clarkson said: “I think this may be my favourite series so far. Seeing two people get to the £1 million question was extraordinary. When they’re sitting there on that final question the tension in the studio is incredible, you can really feel it. Can’t wait for people to watch it.”
Last year one contestant broke the record for the biggest amount ever lost on the show. Nicholas Bennett, a data analyst from London’s West Hampstead, got all the way to the £500k question without using a single lifeline – leaving host Clarkson hugely impressed.
But things then took a turn for the worse on the £1million quesion. As he approached the previous one, worth half a million pounds, the host told him that he seemed “quite relaxed”, to which Nicholas responded: “It’s not relaxed inside my head.”
He was asked: “Which of these long-running US sitcoms had the most episodes? a) The Big Bang Theory b) Friends c) The Office or d) Seinfeld. Unsure of the answer, he asked the audience who thought it was Friends – but only 37% – so not wanting to take chances , he used 50/50, which left The Big Bang Theory and The Office (which meant the audience was wrong). At this point, he felt that he knew it was The Big Bang Theory – and he was right.
But then came the £1million question. Clarkson asked: “Which of these words, each coined by a famous writer, was derived from the title of a fairytale about three princes? a) Pandemonium b) Serendipity c) Utopia or d) Yahoo.”
After mulling for some time – and asking a friend, who didn’t know – Nicholas decided that the answer was “yahoo”. But sadly for him, the computer then revealed the answer to be serendipity, coined by Horace Walpole from The Three Princes of Serendip.
As Clarkson admitted he’d be “sobbing on the floor” if he’d just lost £375,000, Nicholas took it on the chin, saying philosophically: ”I’ve still got £125,000.”
Coronation Street newcomer Ben Driscoll will be left ‘absolutely devastated’ in the fallout to a sickening plot, while another bombshell leads to him hitting the bottle
Coronation Street newcomer Ben Driscoll will be left ‘absolutely devastated’ in the fallout to a sickening plot(Image: ITV)
It’s a tough time ahead for the Driscolls on Coronation Street, especially newcomer Ben.
Actor Aaron McCusker who has played him since October has spilled on two big moments ahead for his character. Ben will be left “devastated” in the fallout to his teenage son Will Driscoll’s grooming ordeal.
But Ben will also be left blindsided about a DNA twist that sparks heartache for him, tearing apart his relationship with his mother Maggie. It’s not yet clear if Ben will find out his real father is former character Jim McDonald, but we do know that Ben learns the man he thought was his father actually wasn’t.
Actor Aaron teased of what is ahead: “Ben and Maggie are having a row and in the heat of the argument, Maggie says something that just doesn’t make sense to Ben. Maggie tries to backtrack and pretends she didn’t know what she was saying but Ben won’t let it go.
“It’s digging at him, why did she say that, and he just needles at her till eventually she says right here’s the truth. Maggie’s also being blackmailed by Ben’s ex Melanie who knows the truth from Ben’s brother who witnessed things, and is using this to try to force Maggie to convince Ben to let Will go live with her.
“Eventually it all just gets too much for Maggie and she makes the decision to tell Ben herself. Then the truth comes tumbling out.” On the impact of the paternity news, Aaron went on: “He’s stunned and he’s also livid, made worse by the fact he can’t go back and talk to the man who he always thought was his dad because he’s dead.
“He also finds out that Alan knew he wasn’t Ben’s dad and still stuck by Maggie and that endears him to Alan even more. He has a huge argument with Maggie then he goes straight out to the bar and gets stuck into the whiskeys.”
Aaron hinted that it could be it for Maggie and Ben. He said: “Let’s be honest he’s forgiven his mum for quite a lot already! He threw her out of the house on Christmas Day, then let her back in.
“He sits back 50% of the time and lets her get away with how she treats Eva and he does realise that she was a single mother and sacrificed a lot to bring him and Fin up. But maybe it will go a different way this time, I think it will take a while to get over this but time’s a healer so I hope in the end they will be alright.”
He then discussed the plot involving Ben’s son Will, who has been sexually abused by his athletics coach Megan Walsh. With Will still manipulated into believing they are in a relationship, and with Megan pregnant with his child, ben is left blaming himself.
Aaron explains: “He’s absolutely gutted, he’s been through a stage of blaming himself, maybe he’s been too wrapped up in the move to Weatherfield, been stuck in the middle of the war between Maggie and Eva, focusing on his two other kids and it just slid by him. He’s disappointed in himself and he’s going out of his way now to try to make things better but with a teenage son it’s not easy and he’s going to have to work hard to repair the relationship.”
New motives look set to be revealed on Coronation Street next week that could give away which of the five potential victims is killed off in April, with one killer possibly exposed
New motives look set to be revealed on Coronation Street next week that could give away which of the five potential victims is killed off(Image: ITV)
Spoilers for next week on Coronation Street could tease which character dies in the murder plot in April, as there’s new motives and new confessions.
Fans know that either Jodie Ramsey, Maggie Driscoll, Megan Walsh, Carl Webster or Theo Silverton will be brutally murdered in a dark episode next month. While moments on screen have proven why each of them is a worthy candidate for the grim death twist, new spoilers could make one character a front runner.
Next week, one character’s killer secret could finally be exposed by another villain. While all five potential victims take centre stage and are causing drama, there’s one villain in particular that could see his dark actions come to light very soon, and it could give away that Theo is the one who dies.
Spoilers for next week reveal that, Ben who’s facing drama with his ex-wife, suffers a dizzy spell, and his mum Maggie wants to call an ambulance, but Ben insists he’s fine. When he demands the truth about his dad, Maggie finally admits that Alan wasn’t his real father, but she doesn’t say who is.
Will Maggie be forced to reveal all when a situation between Amy and Ollie leaves her panicked? Ben tells his mum he wants nothing to do with her. Elsewhere, Kevin reveals Debbie has won her prison appeal, but she soon goes missing.
Carl soon finds her, and asks for £10,000 to pay off his debt to Fiona. Ronnie’s suspicious and calls Fiona, but will she back Carl’s claim? Later in the week, Debbie sparks concern at the hotel when she offends Tracy and Mary’s customer.
Will offers Sam an apology over the Megan situation, and Sam reluctantly shakes his hand but it’s clear he still doesn’t trust him. He tells Hope he’s been looking into grooming cases, as Toyah urges him to stop worrying about Megan and Will.
Soon a clash between Sam and Will leaves their loved ones rowing too, but is Will really to blame? When a paranoid Sam spots Megan and Will at the precinct he rushes to get someone, only for Will to claim he’s been at the pub all morning.
Also next week, Jodie pulls a sickie at work to spend the day with David, while Tim prepares to confront Trisha over their past. Lisa announces her divorce from Becky has come through, and as they celebrate they ask Jodie to look after baby Connie.
Meanwhile, Sarah shares her concern for Todd, leading to her meeting with Theo’s ex Danielle to ask if Theo was ever violent towards her. The incident leaves Theo furious, and he tells Todd their moving to Belfast in a matter of days.
Finally next week, Abi suggests to Summer that Debbie might not have been driving the car on the night of the crash. When Summer asks Debbie if Carl was driving, she panics and ends up injuring herself.
After a scan, Debbie learns she’s deteriorated after her dementia diagnosis. As for Summer, she’s told by Carl that if she wants to know who killed Billy she needs to stop pointing the finger at him and look closer to home.
So does this final spoiler make it clear that Theo will finally be exposed for killing Billy? Will this lead to residents finding out the truth and then taking revenge?
Tom Frith tragically died in July last year from the brain swelling condition, encephalitis. However, he spent a month in the hospital before his death after he was first admitted with flu-like symptoms and confusion.
Initially, Julia claims her husband spent over 30 hours in a corridor bed as A&E was overrun. His family was told he wasn’t able to have a vital MRI scan because it was the weekend. Tragically, after he eventually had an MRI scan, it confirmed Tom had a brain clot, and he died weeks later.
Speaking to ITV stars Kate and Paul on Good Morning Britain, Julia broke down in tears, speaking about her grief and anger at the care her husband didn’t receive. She commented, “I’m doing my best, I’m trying to find a new normal.
“I have to have a voice for Tom, because he’s not here. I’m learning to live with Tom here (her heart) rather than here (physically), and when you take that away, that’s a big hole to fill. He was the love of my life, and yeah, he was failed, I think.
“He might not have survived encephalitis, but if he’d been given a fighting chance, he could have. He was in critical care for seven weeks after that, but the damage was done, the damage was done in the first week. It was too late.”
As she became overcome with emotion speaking about Tom, Kate was seen grabbing for tissues to give to Julia as she wiped her tears away.
However, while speaking to the ITV stars, Julia shared that her anger isn’t with the NHS staff, as she told the duo that it takes a certain person to take on a caring role.
She said: “When they’re in an environment where they can’t deliver that, without the resource, the personnel, the finance, it must be absolutely demoralising for them.
“I saw the look on the nurses’ faces there. On Sunday afternoon, I left Tom for half an hour, and I asked a nurse to watch him for me because he couldn’t go to the toilet on his own.
“He was getting very agitated. I left and came back, and he was leaning against the side of the bed. He’d ripped his ID band off, and he’d relieved himself in his jeans, a grown man. I said to a nurse, ‘What is this?’
“She said, ‘I’m so sorry’, and she had tears in her eyes. I said, ‘This isn’t care’. He didn’t get a bed until the Monday morning.”
Now, Julia is taking legal action against the trust for medical negligence.
Kate read a statement from Dr Clare Hammell, the Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who said, “My thoughts are with Tom’s family and loved ones.”
It said: “We are very sorry for the distress that they’ve experienced as a legal claim has now been issued, it wouldn’t be appropriate for the Trust to comment on the specific circumstances of Mr Frith’s care or the allegations that have been raised.”
Good Morning Britain is available to watch on ITV weekdays from 6am.
Comedian Jason Manford, who will tonight present the BBC’s Big Night of Musicals is a father to six children from two marriages. While he prefers to keeps his family largely out of the spotlight, the funnyman has offered glimpses of his life behind the scenes
Jason Manford is heading up The Big Night of Musicals (Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/TBI Media/Scott Garfitt )
Jason Manford might be a household name for his comic prowess, but his personal life is far less well-known. The 41-year-old funnyman, actor and impressive vocalist has been captivating audiences since making his television debut back in 2007 with a minor role in the BBC Three comedy Ideal, and now he’s taking on hosting duties for the BBC Big Night of Musicals by the National Lottery.
He said ahead of the show tonight (28 March) that it was a “real honour” to head up the night of musical performances, but said in his view, “The real talent is in the orchestra and the performers on stage, and I just love being a part of it.” His illustrious career has certainly flourished over the years, with highlights including presenting the prestigious Royal Variety Performance twice and serving as a panellist on ITV’s Starstruck alongside fellow judges Adam Lambert, Beverley Knight and Shania Twain.
Beyond his professional achievements, what else is there to discover about the entertainer’s personal life? Here’s what we’ve uncovered.
The funnyman tied the knot with his first spouse, Catherine, back in October 2007. The couple went on to have twin daughters in 2009, followed by a third daughter in 2010, and then a son in 2012. Their relationship encountered difficulties in 2010 when it emerged he had been messaging female admirers online. The 34-year-old subsequently chose to step down from his presenting duties on The One Show to prioritise his family commitments.
Speaking at the time, he stated: “I have decided after careful consideration to stand back from The One Show to concentrate on my family.” The marriage ultimately ended in 2013. During a frank conversation with the Mirror in 2021, Jason acknowledged he hadn’t devoted sufficient “care and time” to his first marriage.
He reflected: “My first marriage really disintegrated on my theory of, ‘I don’t want my children to have the childhood I had’. So I was out working all the time, and I didn’t put the care and time into that relationship that it deserved and needed. “It’s only now I’m starting to realise, ‘Oh, I’m not giving the children the childhood I had’, which is good in one thing but bad in another. Because I got to spend so much time, and we had laughs with my parents.”
Jason’s second marriage
Jason wed his second wife, Lucy Dyke, in December 2017. The pair exchanged vows in an intimate Manchester ceremony surrounded by loved ones, before celebrating at a local curry house. Lucy, like Jason, works in television as a producer, with an impressive portfolio including Black Mirror, The Split, Ripper Street and numerous other productions. Jason has frequently championed his wife’s professional accomplishments, even encouraging his followers to tune into BBC’s Better, a drama she produced.
Sharing promotional images of the crime series on Instagram, he enthusiastically wrote: “My wife made this excellent show! It’s an absolute smasher and will fill the hole that Happy Valley has left. “BETTER! Starts tonight 9 pm, BBC1. Crime thriller with a twist!”
While largely keeping their domestic life private, he revealed in 2021 that he’d tested Lucy’s tolerance while cultivating sideburns for his theatrical role in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Speaking on the Manatomy podcast with Danny Wallace and Phil Hilton, he recalled: “When I was Caractacus Potts in Chitty [Chitty Bang Bang] I grew big sideburns and I got them right down to here, right down to below the lip sort of thing and my wife hated them, like genuinely hated them.
“I guess a lot of fellas do this, once you are married and they can’t leave you for trivial reasons, like having mutton chops. You can do what you like, but if you have dated someone once and they have got mutton chops, you don’t have to have a second date, but once you have got kids, that’s a really trivial reason to go through the process of divorce.
“So I think we as men do things that sort of annoy our wives, but it’s sort of like us testing the boundaries. I knew she hated it, but I still grew them and I was in that show for 18 months.”
Jason’s children
The funnyman is dad to six youngsters in total – four from his initial marriage and two from his current one. Jason shields his offspring from public attention and seldom posts pictures of his clan online.
That said, he does occasionally offer glimpses into family moments on social media. In July 2022 the beaming father shared an uncommon snapshot of his lad observing him perform live.
He wrote beneath the touching Instagram image: “My little boy watching me on stage today at @festunderthestars,” adding a broken heart emoji. During Father’s Day 2020, Jason uploaded an unusual picture showing him embracing all six of his children.
He appeared delighted as the youngsters gathered round for a cuddle while Jason positioned himself before a table displaying a PlayStation Four game and Celebrations chocolates. Within the caption, Jason informed followers: “A lovely Father’s Day. Recording radio show first thing, had pancakes and Nutella!
“Lots of cards and cuddles. Last of Us 2 on PS4 (and a promise of a day off chores this week to actually play it!). A visit to our new house/building site which is finally back up and running and ended the day with a lovely 5k walk which left everybody knackered. Early nights all round. Hope you all had a lovely day, and for those that had a tough one for various reasons, tomorrow is just a Monday and that’ll be easier.”
Big Night of Musicals airs this evening (March 28) from 7:45 pm on BBC One.
A classic period drama, one that popularised the genre globally, is still regarded as one of the finest to ever grace our screens. Period drama enthusiasts will be familiar with the show in question — Upstairs, Downstairs.
Upstairs, Downstairs laid the groundwork for Downton Abbey with a story that will be familiar with fans who have only seen the modern sensation. As the definitive period dramas of their era, the parallels between Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey are self-evident.
Both shows portray the personal struggles of an aristocratic family and their servants against a backdrop of social and political upheaval on an overlapping timeline.
Like Downton Abbey, it spans three decades, covering both World Wars and the roaring 20s through to the Great Depression. The classic show chronicled the turbulent lives of the aristocratic Bellamy family and their servants in the early 1900s.
They diverge in numerous ways, however, and one is immediately apparent.
The seventies programme is less high-end, a quality that can taken as nostalgic or a dealbreaker. Upstairs, Downstairs premiered in 1971 and ran for five years, predating Downton Abbey by a good 50 years.
In fairness, Downton’s setting is inherently more luxurious. The Bellamy family inhabit a London townhouse, a far cry from the Crawley family’s lavish country estate that was a character in its own right.
And while Downton’s visuals proved a triumph, a frequent criticism from audiences is that the programme descended into melodrama. In contrast, Upstairs, Downstairs has been likened to a stage play for its more understated visuals and plotlines.
Fans of both period dramas shared their preferences. One viewer sparked a debate on Reddit, asking: “If you have seen both shows, which show do you think is better?”
“Upstairs Downstairs without question,” replied one viewer decisively. Another agreed: “I like Downton Abbey better, but Upstairs, Downstairs is the better show.
“I have tried watching the Upstairs/Downstairs remake multiple times and I always end stopping after about two episodes,” commented a third. “It just doesn’t grab me like Downton.”
Upstairs, Downstairs is available to watch on ITVX.
JACQUELINE Jossa and Dan Osborne’s 13-year relationship has finally come an end and the reason is far less explosive than their scandal-hit time together would suggest.
Jacqueline Jossa has ended her relationship with Dan OsborneCredit: Louis Wood
Having forgiven multiple cheating accusations over the years, there was no other woman involved this time, instead, Jac has decided to put herself first and refuses to put any more effort into a relationship that’s ran its course.
We take a look back at some of the biggest moments they faced during their time together.
GABBYGATE
Dan sent a flirty message to Love Island All Stars’ Gabby AllenCredit: PA
Jac quietly took out a six-month lease on a new property and moved out of the family home.
A source said at the time that Dan “begged for one final chance” and Jac wanted to fight for the marriage for the sake of their kids.
Gabby wanted no part in the drama and previously told us: “I mean me and Dan were just mates, but we weren’t that good mates to like warrant continuing a friendship.”
It was on a sun-soaked holiday in Spain that the suspicion over Dan and Gabby’s connection first arose.
Photos of the pair looking close on a yacht added fuel to the fire, but Dan dismissed the speculation, saying he was simply “speaking and laughing with a friend”.
At the time, Gabby’s ex-boyfriend Marcel Somerville accused her of cheating with Dan during the trip to Marbella, a claim both parties strongly denied.
CBB STAR THREEWAY
In December 2019, model Chloe Ayling claimed she had a threesome with DanCredit: GettyShe said it was with US reality star Natalie NunnCredit: Getty
Around the same time, Jacqueline became the first winner in I’m A Celebrity history to cancel live TV interviews due to the allegations.
Despite previous champions appearing on daytime shows the next day, Jacqueline is said to have refused to go on any and said she wanted to spend time with her children instead.
A source told The Mirror: “She has to film for the ‘coming out’ show which airs later this week, so cancelled all other TV offers like GMB and Lorraine to spend more time with the family.
“Jacqueline and Dan spent time together in the hotel and probably had a lot to talk about.”
LOVE ISLAND LINK
Dan was accused of having a fling with Love Island’s Alexandra Cane in 2019Credit: Getty
Dan Osborne and Jacqueline Jossa: A Relationship Timeline
2013 – The Beginning Dan and Jacqueline’s love story began in 2013 when they started dating. Dan was known from The Only Way Is Essex, while Jacqueline was starring as Lauren Branning on EastEnders.
February 2015 – Welcoming Baby Ella The couple welcomed their first child, Ella, in early 2015, strengthening their bond.
June 2015 – Engagement News Dan proposed during a family holiday in Greece, and Jacqueline said yes!
June 2017 – The Big Day The pair tied the knot in a beautiful wedding surrounded by family and friends.
2018 – Marriage Troubles Rumors of trouble began surfacing, and Dan briefly moved out of their family home.
December 2018 – Baby Mia Arrives The arrival of their second daughter, Mia, brought the family closer again, though challenges persisted.
2019 – Public Challenges The couple continued to face difficulties, with Dan being linked to infidelity rumors, though both parties remained relatively tight-lipped.
2020 – Jacqueline’s Jungle Confession After winning I’m a Celebrity, Jacqueline addressed the ups and downs in their marriage, admitting they were working on things behind closed doors.
2021 – Separation Speculation Reports of time apart and ongoing issues fuelled speculation, though neither confirmed an official split at the time.
2025 – Uncertain Future Dan and Jacqueline’s relationship remains a topic of fan theories, with Jacqueline seen without her wedding ring in January.
Dan denied cheating with another Love Island star in 2019, Alexandra Cane.
Onlookers told The Sun how the dad-of-three made a move on the reality star in the middle of Manchester’s Neighbourhood bar.
One eyewitness said: “Dan was all over Alexandra. At one point he grabbed her and kissed her.”
Another onlooker added: “He was putting his hands all on her – grinding against her and thrusting his hips.
“He’s a married man so it was pretty shocking. She didn’t seem that into it but she laughed it off.
“Everyone was talking about how he was acting. There were loads of women there but he was only interested in Alexandra.
“They left together in a taxi with a couple of friends when the party was over.”
Dan denied he did anything but dance with Alexandra and insisted they had been mates for a while, despite him only following her on Instagram the morning after.
FAILED VOW RENEWAL
They married in June 2017, tying the knot at a Cheshire manor houseCredit: Instagram
She said: “The thought of it cringes me out slightly but we might do something like renew our vows when the time is right.
“We would like all five of us in the photos – we’d do it for the kids.
“It does feel like we have a new relationship though, so it might be quite nice to celebrate that.”
However, they never appeared to follow through with the plan.
MONEY WOE
Dan appeared on Towie for two years until 2015 and then came third on the 2018 series of Celebrity Big Brother for which he was paid £60,000.
But the money didn’t last long and in 2019 his personal business had just £978 left on the books and his firm Storms Entertainment was £7,469 in debt.
Another company he owned called Charlie Entertainments was dissolved in 2017.
It went bust with undisclosed debts after HMRC petitioned the high court to put it into liquidation.
Despite this, Dan’s fortunes turned around and he was able to accumulate enough to secretly buy a £1.3m property close to the family home in 2024.
The Mail reported that Dan made the purchase as “security” amid the deteriorating marriage, and it did nothing to help things with Jac who reportedly felt “betrayed” by the decision.
BURGLARY NIGHTMARE
The couple were left shaken in 2024 when thieves targeted their villa in Marbella during a family holiday.
Jac woke in the night to see two men in balaclavas with torches in the property.
She startled them and they made off with £20,000 of cash and jewellery.
The couple’s daughters, Ella and Mia were in the villa, too, as was Dan’s son, Teddy.
Jacqueline first started dating Dan back in 2013Credit: PA:Press AssociationThey share daughters Ella and MiaCredit: Instagram
A BELOVED actress has been remembered as a “powerhouse of vitality and goodwill” after tragically dying following a battle with breast cancer.
Carrie Anne Fleming, 51, passed away in Sidney, British Columbia, and was best known for her role in the fantasy drama Supernatural.
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Carrie Anne Fleming, 51, has tragically died after a battle with breast cancerCredit: GettyFleming’s death was confirmed by her Supernatural co-star Jim Beaver in a touching Facebook tributeCredit: Alamy
She is survived by her daughter Madalyn Rose.
Fleming was confirmed dead by her co-star and friend Jim Beaver in a statement to Variety.
The star died on February 26, from complications after battling the deadly illness.
Later, in a lengthy heartfelt tribute posted to Facebook, 75-year-old Beaver called Fleming his “soulmate”.
“To find a soul mate once in life is something of a miracle. To find one twice is almost unimaginable,” he said.
“To love and be loved is a pearl above price, but such pearls do come more than once or twice to the lucky.”
Beaver said loving her had been devastating, after losing Cecily – the mother of his child – to the same disease.
“I lost Cecily to cancer in 2004,” he said.
“Thursday, I lost Carrie to the same disease. I never thought my heart could break so badly more than once.
“But it has. But, oh, the two torches I carry – what bright, bright light they shed.”
He continued, recounting the first time they met on the set of the popular television series.
“Carrie Anne Fleming was cast as my wife on Supernatural in my fifth season on the show,” he said.
Beaver revealed he had “fallen for her hard” just seconds after meeting her for the first time.
He said he had been “shocked” to find she felt the same way.
“To find oneself paired with someone who not only loves and is loved, but who seems by magic or the grace of the gods to understand you, to want what you are, to want you to be what you are, who GETS you and never feels the need to have you defend who you are, and about whom you feel the same – how many of us can say that spark of divinity has alighted on us once, much less twice? I can,” he said in the heartbreaking tribute.
The pair bonded over both having daughters named Madeline Rose, with Beaver saying the discovery had been “the beginning of a beautiful friendship”.
The star was known for her roles in numerous popular TV showsCredit: GettyShe was born in Digby, Nova ScotiaCredit: Alamy
“We ran lines of dialogue together in my trailer and talked for hours that first day, and the electricity between us was practically visible,” he wrote.
Beaver said the actress had “an amazingly good nature … a rapturous laugh and an utterly adorable personality that didn’t seem to have an off switch”.
“I was so in love I think my eyes turned silver,” he said.
“She seemed to think I was worth hanging around with, too.”
Fleming also starred in other popular shows including iZombie, Smallville, Good Luck Chuck, The L Word, Married Life and Supergirl.
Born on August 16, 1974, in Digby, Nova Scotia, Fleming studied at Mount Douglas Senior Secondary in Victoria, British Columbia, and later attended the Kaleidoscope Theatre as well as the Kidco Theatre Dance Company for drama.
She broke into the industry through an uncredited appearance in Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore, and later in a role in Viper.
In 2005 she was cast in Dario Argento’s show Masters of Horror, starring as a disfigured woman with cannibalistic urges.
She went on to appear and star in other horror shows, including Bloodsuckers and The Tooth Fairy.
More recently Fleming played Candy Baker on five seasons of the CW’s iZombie.
She also appeared in the 2015 TV film The Unauthorized Full House Story, exploring the behind-the-scenes making of the hit sitcom.
Fleming played the mother of Full House star Candace Cameron Bure, who portrayed D.J. Tanner on the show.
Fleming also performed in a number of British Columbia stage productions, including Steel Magnolias, Noises Off, and Romeo and Juliet.
ITV viewers were left saying the same thing as a new reality show debuted on Saturday night.
21:21, 21 Mar 2026Updated 21:22, 21 Mar 2026
ITV viewers issue same complaint minutes into new reality show Celebrity Sabotage (Image: ITV)
ITV viewers were not impressed as new reality show, Celebrity Sabotage, premiered.
The new series sees Joel Dommett, Judi Love, Sam Thompson and GK Barry sabotage ordinary people who think they are taking part in various reality shows, with the aim of winning them money.
In each episode, a fresh set of unsuspecting contestants will arrive, believing they’re participating in a brand-new ITV show. But what they don’t know is that hidden away in their very own high-tech Mission HQ are celebrity saboteurs, who are secretly watching the contestants’ every move and are being set their own sabotage missions.
Hosting the fake shows are a string of stars, including Emma and Matt Willis, Sara Davies and Clare Balding, while celebrities will also join Joel, Judi, Sam and GK to help with the sabotaging.
The first episode aired on Saturday (March 21), with a group of business enthusiasts embarking on a set of challenges under the watchful eye of entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den star Sara Davies.
The celebrity saboteurs were joined by comedian Jo Brand as they set about disrupting wedding video filming, deleting the contestant’s filmed footage, and sabotaging a wellness away-day face mask activity by using lashings of green food colouring.
After watching the first episode, several ITV viewers shared their complaints about the show’s premise.
“#CelebritySabotage This is as much fun as having a toothache, @ITV churns out some rubbish & this one is right up there. It’s a waste of our time, it makes you look forward to seeing the adverts! I’m going to sit outside & watch the car electric battery top up, a lot more fun!” one person wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Another added: “How do programmes like these ever get commissioned. Utter rubbish,” while a third said: “What a s*** show.”
A fourth fan echoed the sentiment, saying: “This is a kids TV show that got mixed up in the schedule surely. Utterly dreadful hate watch,” with another similarly sharing: “This is appallingly bad even for ITV. How long before it’s shunted to 4.30 Sunday afternoon?”
Meanwhile, other viewers enjoyed the silliness of the show, with one person writing: “Honestly I knew I was going to like #CelebritySabotage, it’s a great show with a great cast and I really like how the fake shows are rip offs of others. Definitely will be watching next week.”
Another added: “I know it’s all very childish but I absolutely love it. This is what Saturday night telly should be,” while a third said: “This is incredible. I could listen to @1Judilove laugh all day long, absolutely howling.”
Someone else commented: “Cackled with laughter for this whole show. What a vibe.”
After two days of sabotaging, the contestants eventually found out about the celebrities’ antics, before learning that they’d won a shared prize of £29,000.
LOVED-UP Pete Wicks and Olivia Attwood kiss in a packed hotel bar — just weeks after she split from her footballer husband.
The couple, snapped in London’s Soho on Friday, are said to have begun their fling earlier this month.
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Olivia Attwood and Pete Wicks were seen kissing in a packed London barCredit: The SunPete and Olivia chatting over drinks at Flute bar in SohoLong-time pals Pete and Olivia arrive at the 2025 BritsCredit: Ian West/PA Wire
ITV star Olivia, 34, separated from Bradley Dack in January.
Olivia and Pete have seen their friendship “blossom into an unexpected romance”, pals said last night.
The pair had insisted they were just friends but their public kiss in front of cheering pals proved they are a couple.
Loose Women favourite Olivia, 34, screamed, punched the air and beamed in delight afterwards.
An onlooker snapped their snog at rooftop bar Flute in London’s Soho, where they partied for 3½ hours on Friday night.
The venue is where Towie star Pete, 37, was spotted kissing Love Island’s Maura Higgins in 2024.
Last night a pal of Pete and Olivia confirmed: “They have been spending a lot of time together and an unexpected romance has blossomed from friendship.”
“They have got closer and Pete has held a torch for Olivia for a really long time.
“She is hurting and vulnerable, and he was in the right place at the right time.”
Olivia recently split from footballer husband Bradley DackCredit: GettyThe Flute bar, in London’s Soho, where Pete and Olivia partied for 3½ hours on Friday nightCredit: TripadvisorOlivia and Pete at a yacht party off Ibiza last AugustCredit: BackGrid
The friend added: “They get on really well and are taking it slow, there is no label at the moment.”
Since her marriage separation, speculation has mounted that Olivia has moved on with lothario Pete.
The pair have known each other for around nine years and both starred in Towie in 2019.
Last August they partied with friends on a yacht off Ibiza.
“She was beaming in delight and couldn’t have looked happier.
“And at one point she rose in front of her friends, took Pete by the hand, and they kissed passionately as a group of ten to twelve people cheered them on.
“Olivia and Pete didn’t seem to mind who saw them.
“The noise and spectacle they were making caused everyone in the room to stop what they were doing and look.”
Olivia looked stunning in a black top and skinny jeans, with Pete in a smart jacket.
She stopped and chatted to other revellers in the dimly-lit, discreet venue, even asking other drinkers if they felt she looked OK.
A source said: “She was very sweet and so obviously madly in love with Pete.
“She was anxious that she looked good for her man. They had a blissful night.
Olivia only announced her marriage split in JanuaryCredit: SplashPete has bedded a host of TV personalitiesCredit: Splash
“Friends came and went from their table and when they were alone they were very intense, whispering and pausing conversation to kiss.
“And they were just as tactile when in a bigger group.
“Whatever hardships she has been through, it was very clear that Olivia was ecstatically happy with him next to her at their table.”
Our snaps of the loved-up pair are a hammer blow to her estranged hubby Bradley, who plays for League Two Gillingham.
We told how he blocked Pete on Instagram weeks after the marriage split was revealed.
She was on the ITV table while he was with Kiss FM.
That night Olivia told The Sun on Sunday: “If you are going to be single anywhere this’d be the place. Is Harry Styles single?”
She and Pete later left an after-party together and took a taxi to the Edwardian Manchester hotel.
At 3am Pete was seen carrying two pizza boxes through the lobby before getting into a lift.
Hours later the couple emerged together, with both wearing baseball caps, and were driven off at around 12.30pm.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony Pete told their podcast: “What always happens at these events is Liv and I gravitate towards each other and basically just stick together, don’t we?”
Pete and Maura Higgins share a kiss in Soho in 2024Credit: The SunMaura Higgins and Pete pictured together in 2024Credit: Splash
Olivia replied: “Because I feel like we both have the same objective. And talk to as few people . . .” Pete then added: “As possible.”
Pete then said: “Although we are not going big this year, are we?”, to which Olivia countered: “What do you mean?” Pete continued: “You have a flight the next day.”
Olivia replied: “I know, you need to keep me lucid enough that I don’t get stopped at immigration.”
Pete said: “The danger being that I jump on the flight with you in what I am wearing from the Brits.”
The Sun on Sunday revealed in January that Olivia had split from Dack – following what sources said was a “breach of trust” on his part.
In 2017, she went on Love Island, later saying it was revenge on Dack for cheating on her at the time.
They reunited, and she joined Towie in 2019, on which Pete was already a regular. He went on to dance on Strictly in 2024.
Piglets is a British comedy that’s set in a police training college. The first series aired on ITV1 in July 2024, shortly before getting renewed for a follow-up instalment.
The series follows a newly-recruited group of six very different would-be cops, and the handful of key staff whose task it is to knock them into shape.
Sarah Parish and Mark Heap lead the cast as no-nonsense Superintendent Julie Spry and Superintendent Bob Weekes, whose job it is to oversee the training of the next batch of new recruits.
The new recruits include Steph (Callie Cooke), Leggo (Sam Pote), Geeta (Sukh Kaur Ojla), Afia (Halema Hussain), Dev (Abdul Sessay) and Paul (Jamie Bisping). The cast also features Rebecca Humphries as Head of Admin Melanie, as well as Ukweli Roach and Ricky Champ as police trainers Mike and Daz.
Despite pulling in 5.6 million views for its first six episodes, the show was at the centre of huge controversy shortly after its premiere.
The Police Federation of England and Wales described the comedy’s title – which is based on the slang term “pig” for police – as being “highly offensive” and “insulting”. Piglets also received several Ofcom complaints from frustrated viewers when it was broadcast.
Now, the show’s second season has landed on ITVX, with The Traitors favourite Maddy Smedley joining the cast.
Maddy took to her Instagram earlier this week to promote the new series, saying: “So apparently, ITV aren’t really promoting Piglets series two, so this is the advert for it.”
After explaining how fans can find the show on ITVX, the star added: “I worked my butt off on that show, so this is the advert now, like it or lump it. Let me know what you think of the show, and thanks for your time.”
Despite the controversy surrounding the programme, there are lots of viewers who have shared their praise since its release.
One person wrote on IMDb: “This show is an absolute riot. While it may not be for everyone, the hate this show gets is completely unjustified… It’s a simple comedy with funny characters that mesh together perfectly, combining to create one of my favourite shows from this year. I can’t recommend this show enough. I’d love to have more of this show to watch.”
Another added: “I thought this was absolutely brilliant, well written, funny and such a mixed bunch of characters who gel well together for this type of show. A much needed comedy show in today’s TV world!”
A third said: “Piglets has a lot of laughs and is a lot of fun. Yes, it’s silly, which is why it’s so good. Who doesn’t like laughing at silly jokes and puns and references??? It’s a classic comedy and we need more of this on TV.”
James Martin has been vocal about his three stone weight loss and has even shared his favourite two-ingredient breakfast that he enjoys as part of his new diet
(Image: ITV)
Celebrity chef James Martin has shared his go-to two-ingredient breakfast following his impressive 3st weight loss, describing the meal as “simple and very tasty”.
The presenter of James Martin’s Saturday Morning on ITV recently travelled to Spain, gathering his favourite regional recipes for a new cookbook called ‘James Martin’s Spanish Adventure’.
The 53-year-old’s remarkable three-stone transformation has reportedly seen fish makeup 80 per cent of his diet nowadays, though he hasn’t given up his beloved butter.
He explained that the recipes featured in his books have been “specifically created” using ingredients they found during their travels. However, his absolute favourite dish can be whipped up at home using just two simple ingredients.
James revealed to Hello!: “Grilled tomatoes on toast. It’s very simple and very tasty. And the barbecued leeks with lardons and hazelnuts.”.
During an appearance on the Spooning with Mark Wogan podcast, James disclosed that his passion for motor racing motivated his significant weight loss, as he would “struggle to get out of them”.
He explained: “It comes down to the fact that I race cars, or I still try and race a few cars and I actually struggle to get out of them now. Getting in them, you kind of fall in them, but then you’ve got to get out of them and it just doesn’t look very good.” Nevertheless, it appears that another of his passions, butter, continues to feature prominently in his diet. The chef’s devotion to the dairy staple is legendary, having written an extensive 517-page tome on the subject.
Named ‘Butter: Comforting, Delicious, Versatile – Over 130 Recipes Celebrating Butter’, James joked that whilst others were releasing books on nutritious eating approximately five years ago, he’d “brought out a book on butter”.
The Home Comforts presenter’s weight loss wasn’t achieved through gym sessions, though, instead attributing it to his “farmer’s kid” upbringing, explaining that he enjoys “simple food” and “great ingredients”.
Indeed, he was candid about avoiding the gym, stating, “I don’t go”, and revealing that his weight loss simply comes down to being able to “get my a**e in and out of a car.”
He explained: “I’m a farmer’s kid, I like pure food, I like simple food and just love great ingredients. I like simple cooking, but also bringing out the flavour of the ingredients is more important than anything else.”
James is back on our screens today for Saturday Morning on ITV1 at 9.25am.
Davina McCall has opened up about one of her concerns ahead of the Comic Relief programme due to be broadcast on the BBC and YouTube simultaneously for the first time
Davina McCall is presenting Comic Relief (Image: Getty Images for BAFTA)
TV host Davina McCall has joked that she is “mildly terrified” of one of her Comic Relief colleagues.
Davina, 58, will be co-hosting Comic Relief alongside a bevvy of different comedians and television personalities and has opened up about her fears ahead of the programme this evening (Friday, March 20).
Speaking to Bella magazine, Davina said: “What’s so nice is that I’m hosting with Joel Dommett, and Joel’s actually one of my best friends!
“So, it’s great to be presenting with him. Knowing that I’m with him while also presenting with Nan (Catherine Tate) is very reassuring, because actually, I am mildly terrified of Nan, if I’m honest.”
Davina also spoke of her job in making sure all the celebrities who do appear and take part on stage don’t break any rules, including when it comes to swearing.
She added: “How I’m going to stop her from swearing, I just don’t know! Obviously ‘please do not swear’ was my catchphrase – so I’m going to have to stay on my toes.”
Davina’s opening up about being on guard and making sure everyone behaves during Comic Relief comes after the former Big Brother spoke out about her health.
Earlier this year, she backed a call by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) to improve the understanding between menopause and mental health.
The menopause occurs when periods stop because of a drop in hormone levels. It can take place between the ages of 45 and 55, but can sometimes happen earlier. During the transitional phase, known as the perimenopause, a variety of symptoms can hit people.
Speaking about the impact of those symptoms Davina, an honorary fellow of RCPsych spoke of the wider impact of the menopause on someone’s life, reports the Independent.
Davina, who has also battled breast cancer and a brain tumour in recent years, said: “Some women sail through the menopause unscathed. But some don’t, and the impact on their mental health can be devastating and have a huge impact on their lives and their relationships.
“Together, we must make the link between mental health and menopause known across society, among health professionals, NHS, government, members of the public and employers, to improve the policies, care and support provided for all women experiencing menopause.”
Meanwhile, the Comic Relief broadcast is set to begin at around 7pm on BBC One from MediaCityUK in Salford. As well as streamed on the BBC, it will go out live on the BBC’s YouTube channel.
The winners of Jonathan Ross’ new Channel 4 reality series, Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing, appeared on Friday’s Good Morning Britain
The winners of Jonathan Ross’ new Channel 4 reality series, Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing, appeared on Friday’s Good Morning Britain (Image: ITV)
Channel 4 recently aired a new reality series that saw 18 people chained to someone who is their polar opposite for as long as they can manage, all in an effort to win a £100,000 prize.
Hosted by Jonathan Ross, Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing, saw nine couples forced to spend their every moment together, bound by a pair of handcuffs.
They slept in the same bed, showered together and even used the toilet in close proximity with their new companion.
Earlier this week, viewers saw Staffordshire porn star Rob, 32, and West Sussex homemaker Charlie, 44, who is a self-professed prude, make it all the way to the end, winning the show and a suitcase bulging with £100,000.
Appearing on Friday’s Good Morning Britain, the duo spoke about their time on the show and winning the programme. As per the reality series, GMB decided to handcuff the duo together for their interview.
Host, Ranvir Singh, said: “I’m afraid we’ve handcuffed you again… to really, like, hammer home the point that you were handcuffed.”
Talking about how they got involved with the show and if they knew what it was about, Charlie admitted: “I didn’t find out for quite a while!
“They approached me, found me on TikTok, and said, ‘We’re casting for a social experiment. We’re bringing two opposing worlds together, and we think you’d be great.’
“So I said to the family, ‘I’ve just had this message, what do you think?’ They were like, ‘Yeah, you’d be great, mum, go for it!’ Then it was down the line, weeks down the line, they said the show was called Handcuffed.
“[I thought I was getting involved in] a social experiment to bring two different worlds together and see if they could work together. I knew it would be a challenge, but I didn’t realise…”
It was a similar story for Rob, who recalled: “I was reached out on Instagram and I was like, in 2025, for me, was a Yes Man year. I don’t know if you’ve seen the film Jim Carrey Yes Man.
“That year, for me, was just like, whatever comes at me, I’m going to say yes to it and I did. I thought, you know what, I don’t care what it is, I’m just going for it and that’s what I did.”
Talking about why they think they won the show, Rob said: “Respect! Respect and communication, I think they’re the two biggest things.”
To which Charlie added: “And kindness. Rob was really kind and thoughtful and made the whole thing easier from the first moment.”
Good Morning Britain continues on weekdays at 6am on ITV and ITV X.
Jordan Wright was found dead in Thailand aged 33Credit: instagramHaunting CCTV showed him running down a streetCredit: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPressHe was seen running around frantically before being discovered in a drainage canalCredit: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress
Chilling CCTV captured the beloved TV personality running erratically past a truck before taking a sharp left turn.
The clip was timestamped to 11:25pm on March 12 – about 36 hours before he was found dead on Saturday.
Wright, 33, appeared to be somewhat disoriented and panicked as he rushed through the hotel complex.
He even grabbed onto a white pickup truck to help propel himself forward as he jolted away while turning.
Police now fear he may have been trying to lose someone as he sprinted through the streets of Phuket.
Lieutenant Colonel Sutthirak Chuthong of Choeng Thale district station has refused to rule out foul play.
He said: “The circumstances leading up to the death are quite unclear. It is possible that other people were involved.”
Wright was weaving erratically through the Hotel COCO Phuket Bangtao grounds in the video.
Authorities have also confirmed that they will be reviewing CCTV again throughout Friday in order to get any more details from the haunting clip.
The grainy night-time footage has raised questions over what Wright was doing in the moments leading up to his death.
The CCTV shows him pacing back and forth before suddenly bolting out of the complex again and vanishing into the darkness beyond the hotel perimeter.
From there, his final movements become even more disturbing.
Wright is believed to have sprinted across rough, uneven fields surrounding the hotel before leaping down a 10ft creek.
He is then thought to have splashed through a shallow stream and scrambled towards a nearby construction site.
Wright grabbed onto a white truck as he took a sharp leftCredit: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPressThe drainage canal where Wright was foundCredit: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress
That site, which is a desolate, half-built area with no CCTV, would become the place where his body was found.
Two days later, a Myanmar worker harvesting morning vegetables made the grim discovery – around 300 metres from his hotel.
A hotel insider revealed he had been staying alone and had no visitors.
They said: “He would go out at night like other guests. There was nothing unusual until we could not find him when he was due to check out.”
Records show Wright checked into the hotel alone and was due to leave on March 13, but never showed up.
JORDAN Wright’s death has been shrouded in mystery as the Towie star was seen pacing erratically before he was found in a drainage canal.
The beloved TV personality, whose new iPhone was found nearby, also checked in to a luxury hotel alone before his tragic passing.
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Jordan Wright was found dead on March 14Credit: Instagram/@jordanwrightsHis body was found in a drainage canal in ThailandCredit: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress
It also remains unclear how long Wright, who used to date Vicky Pattison, had been missing for – or whether he was under the influence of intoxicants.
Wright was due to check out of his room on March 13, according to staff at Hotel COCO Phuket Bangtao where he was believed to have been staying.
But employees told police he never did check out – meaning he could have been missing for days.
It is currently unclear who the last person to see Wright was or how long he had vanished for.
Cops said they were led to Hotel COCO due to the key card inside Wright’s pocket at the time he was found.
He was reportedly seen pacing frantically shortly before his death, but it has not been confirmed whether anyone saw Wright at this time in person.
Why was he pacing around on CCTV?
Despite footage reportedly showing the ITV star looking restless before he was found dead at 12.30pm local time – it is not clear why he was in this alleged frantic state.
Cops said: “CCTV footage showed that he appeared restless and was moving back and forth in front of the hotel before leaving the area.”
An autopsy is currently being carried out to determine his cause of death.
But it will also conclude whether drugs or alcohol were involved.
No signs of physical assault or struggle were found on his body, authorities confirmed.
There were also no signs of forced entry or disturbances at his hotel room.
Police have launched an investigation into the case to probe the full circumstances of Wright’s death.
He had checked in at Hotel COCO in PhuketCredit: Coco PhuketWright pictured with Vicky PattisonCredit: Fame Flynet
When did he end up in the canal?
It is also unclear when exactly Wright entered the canal drain.
He was said to have been wearing a grey shirt and black trousers but no shoes on when he was found.
Authorities said Wright had been in the canal for some time, but didn’t elaborate on how long he was in there.
They only said the Brit star was believed to have been dead for no longer than two days.
Police said: “His movements eventually led to the location where his body was later discovered.
“We are still waiting for the autopsy results from Vachira Phuket Hospital to determine whether drugs were present in his system.”
Why was his phone left on a nearby bank?
Police explained that Wright’s new iPhone 17 was found on a nearby bank.
It was not in his trouser pockets, unlike the hotel key card police discovered.
Both Wright and the location of his phone are about a 20-minute walk away from Hotel COCO.
The Towie and Ex On The Beach star had posted photos online of his life in Thailand in the weeks leading up to his tragic death.
His “new life” showed him enjoying beach trips and taking part in martial arts classes.
It is unclear why the popular TV personality, from Basildon, Essex, had left the smartphone behind.
The star was best known for Towie and Ex On The BeachCredit: ITVTributes have poured in for the late starCredit: MTV
Why did he check into the hotel alone?
Wright had also checked into a hotel room alone before he was found dead on Saturday.
It is not understood why Wright checked into the luxury hotel alone, and what day he checked in.
He was reportedly seen in security camera footage outside the hotel.
But police have said: “CCTV footage related to the incident is part of the case file and cannot be released at this stage.”
They also confirmed: “Hotel records showed that he had checked in alone and was due to check out on March 13, but staff reported that he never checked out.”
Did he have drugs or alcohol in his system?
The star’s autopsy will determine whether or not Wright had any drugs or alcohol in his system.
Wright was seen pacing frantically before his death, but it is unclear what caused him to do this.
Pictures showed police scouring the scene in the aftermath of his death.
Several reality TV figures have paid their respects to Jordan online, including his The Only Way is Essex co-stars.
Fellow Towie star Chloe Brockett wrote in an emotional tribute “Rest in peace Jordan” followed by a red heart emoji.
While Love Island star Chloe Crowhurst also took to the comments, penning “Rest in peace Jord” with a white heart and cloud emoji.
Before Wright was named, an FCDO spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities”.
Wright pictured in uniform as a firefighter at the age of 19Credit: Instagram/@jordanwrights
