Mitchells

Victoria Coren delighted fans with a major announcement about her BBC2 show – following her husband David Mitchell’s emotional confession about their relationship

Victoria Coren excited quiz enthusiasts everywhere with an update on social media this Saturday. The 52-year-old presenter, who has been hosting the mind-boggling BBC programme Only Connect since 2008, shared details about the release of new episodes with her fans.

Victoria informed her 665,000 followers on X: “We are past the mid-point of July, the air is warm, the dahlias are flowering. Is it time to start relaxing for the summer, winding down and having some fun? NO IT ISN’T. She then added: “Only Connect returns on Monday night, 8pm @BBCTwo.”

Her announcement was met with a flurry of messages from fans thrilled by the news that the quiz show would be back on screen in just a few days. One enthusiastic fan tweeted: “Thank heavens, you’ve answered my wife’s question of last Monday, or quiz night on BBC2 as we know it, ‘when is Only Connect back?’ Well now we know – thank you.”

Victoria then responded: “Did they not mention it last week? Understandably embarrassed, perhaps,” as another fan noted: “This feels early, reports the Express.

Another added: “This isn’t a problem, it’s delightful news, but it does feel early,” as Victoria agreed, saying: “It is a bit early, isn’t it?

Fans were overjoyed with the announcement, as another penned: “Whoop whoop , Monday night’s bbc 2 back to normal, I’ll sleep well tonight. While another chimed in: “Always chuffed when I get a connection or a sequence right.”

Victoria’s announcement follows a heart-wrenching revelation made by her husband David Mitchell. In his autobiography Back Story, the Peep Show actor revealed that he harboured deep feelings for his now-wife, Victoria, for years before they got together, but concealed his emotions from those closest to him.

In a heartfelt and honest confession, the 50 year old comic disclosed that his one-sided love for Victoria left a profound impact on his life following her initial rejection.

“I was hopelessly in love. I told no one about it,” he reveals in his memoir. “I didn’t tell my closest friends or my parents of the enormous sadness that overshadowed my life.”

Recently, Victoria shared a rare glimpse into her home life. The Only Connect host has two daughters – Barbara, 10, and June, two – with David, 51, and they have always shielded them from the public spotlight.

She told the new issue of Radio Times magazine: “My 10 year old loves The Masked Singer and old episodes of Poirot, just like her mother. The baby doesn’t have any screen time; she’s only 18 months old.

“She loves Bluey – an excellent TV show – but she doesn’t know it’s a TV show. She just thinks it’s a source of really great plastic dog Weebles.”

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Amongst all the drama with Bernie and Felix’s exit in tonight’s EastEnders, fans were left in shock when Johnny and Callum shared a passionate kiss – despite his marriage to Ben

In tonight’s EastEnders, Felix Baker was left in tears after spotting his boyfriend Johnny Carter share a kiss with Callum Highway, despite him still being married to Ben Mitchell.

During Pride celebrations in The Albert, Johnny was seen apologising to Callum after berating him for putting his life on hold while Ben serves time in prison in America.

“You are a young, hot man with a life, a job, a future. When is your life going to be about you?” Johnny questioned before the two shared a passionate kiss.

A devastated Felix decided to pack his bags and leave, and although Callum is still married to Ben, spoilers for next week confirm things will go one step further between the pair, as they’re set to spend the night together.

It’s been rumoured that Max Bowden will be reprising his role as Ben Mitchell, and now fans think is return is sooner than we think.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan penned: “I bet this will be a actual affair between Callum and Johnny and it’s funny they have Callum hooking up with someone when Ben is about to come back.”

Another Ballum fan penned: “I know I’m late to the conversation but I only have this to say regarding Johnny/Callum – it’s unfortunate but irrelevant. Ben is coming back so drama was inevitable. I’m not worried.”

Earlier this year, it was reported that Max Bowden, who played Ben Mitchell, would be back for a brief stint in the show later this year, with a possibility of it becoming full-time. However, this has not yet been confirmed by bosses.

A source told the Sun of the reported return: “Ben [Wadey] had a list of characters he wanted to bring back, and Ben Mitchell was one. It’s taken a little while to sort out, but Max will be back filming on Albert Square later this year.”

“Ben wanted to meet Max and see where his head was at,” the source continued, revealing that the new boss went to see the actor in the musical Midnight Cowboy.

“Things hadn’t ended particularly well, and Ben wanted to assure him this could be his fresh start,” the source continued. They then revealed that Max had “agreed to come back for a short stint” after Ben pitched a comeback storyline for the character.

Ben was last seen on screens in 2023 after being arrested for an international crime. He’s currently in prison in America but the character is mentioned regularly by his father Phil and husband Callum. Will we be seeing his return in the near future?

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. *

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