Race Across the World pals Jo and Kush on fame, friendship and family
The childhood best friends from Liverpool are the youngest duo in this series of the BBC show.
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Is Katie Price starting to see ‘real’ Lee Andrews after abandoning her on TV? As pals say ‘cracks are starting to show’
FOR someone whose face never moves, Katie Price couldn’t hide her emotion yesterday as her husband Lee Andrews stood her up on live TV.
What was supposed to be the loved-up couple’s chance to quieten the naysayers turned Katie into a laughing stock as she desperately tried to explain Lee’s absence amid claims he had been detained in the UAE. We’re told the public humiliation was a step too far for those close to Katie, 47, but has it been enough for her to see the light?
An insider said: “It’s not nice to see Katie put on the spot like that. All she ever does is try to be the perfect wife, but she’s struggling with the constant uncertainty.
“Her inner circle are worried it’s going to take its toll on her. It’s put a lot of pressure on the other relationships in her life – like with her sister Sophie, who has been terrified about Lee’s intentions from the start.
“Katie has been through so much heartache in the past and been treated so badly by men, and they think she deserves more – or at least some transparency.
“It’s one thing Lee supposedly missed the flight, but the videos of him at the airport while he desperately insists he is still coming are a hard watch. There is a feeling that he needs to accept the game is up, and they are just worried about how Katie will react when she realises that something is amiss.”
The couple, who tied the knot in January, were due to appear on GMB yesterday. It was set to be their first joint telly interview and a chance for them to set the record straight.
But while Katie, who had been visiting Lee in Dubai, made it back to the UK, Lee was nowhere to be seen. What followed was a bizarre game of will-he, won’t he, while poor Katie was left struggling alone.
There is ongoing speculation that Lee, 43, is unable to leave the United Arab Emirates city after allegedly forging his ex-girlfriend Dina Taji’s signature to secure a £200,000 loan – something he’s strongly denied.
Presenters Susanna Reid and her co-host Ed Balls told how they had approached the Foreign Office to see if Lee had a travel ban.
They said they had been informed they had “supported a British man detained in the United Arab Emirates”.
When the pair quizzed Katie as to whether this was Lee, she said he had denied it in a voice note and added laughing emoji icons to his message.
Explaining the reason for his no-show, Katie, who wore a pink shirt and gold hoop earrings for her chat, said: “He just didn’t make the flight.
“He’s coming here to spend quite a few months now. He’s been sorting out my visa, my international driving licence.
“He’s flying from Muscat, and he had things to do; he didn’t make the flight, but he’s at the airport now”.
Lee reinforced her words as he took to his social media page from the departures lounge.
He praised Katie’s appearance on GMB and said: “Yes, I am at the airport and flying to my wife, who did very well on GMB today.
“And I am on my way to her. I had a couple of things that I had to do last-minute; I couldn’t make the show. I was hoping to get on there with the Zoom link, but they carried on with Kate, and she did really, really well”.
Mum of three Susanna mused: “I wonder if he’s telling you everything, do you trust him?” to which Katie said, “Yes”.
He then asked if Lee was normally unreliable, and she replied: “Not with me”.
Our insider added: “Katie was desperate to keep painting a happy picture, but the cracks are starting to show. She will have been upset about the line of questioning about the man she loves. She is a hopeless romantic and wants to believe the best in Lee, even if no one else does.”
The interview was a disaster, and clips of Katie frantically trying to defend Lee quickly went viral, and Lee was heavily scrutinised. Some people claimed the video he shared wasn’t filmed where he said it was, while others felt sympathy towards her.
Who is Katie Price’s husband Lee Andrews?
KATIE Price tied the knot with Lee Andrews in January 2026. Yet who is he?
- Katie Price has married businessman fiancé Lee Andrews in a whirlwind wedding
- It is the fourth time Katie, 47, has been a bride. She has also been married to Peter Andre, Alex Reid and Kieran Hayler
- Katie and Lee met just after being introduced on social media
- Lee claimed he is a billionaire in a failed clip from his acting career
- He now claims to be a Dubai-based businessman
- Yet The Sun has unmasked him as a fantasist who faked celebrity links using AI-generated photos and recently talked about marrying two other women
- Failed actor is just another title to add to Lee’s questionable CV, after he claimed to have once worked as the Director of Philanthropy at The Prince’s Trust (now The King’s Trust)
- Lee also shared images – since proven to be AI – of him working with Elon Musk and Kim Kardashian
- It’s been revealed shameless Lee told former girlfriends that he had studied at Cambridge University, and has a PhD in biotechnology science
- But The Sun has seen a response from the university explaining it could not find a record of Lee being registered as a student with a date of birth they had provided
- His LinkedIn profile says Lee has been a Member of the Board of Advisors to the Labour Party since 2015
- Lee was also mocked for repeating the exact same wedding proposal on Katie – that he did for another woman just four months ago.
One person commented: “I actually feel a bit sorry for her.”
Another remarked: “This is so sad. The penny still has not dropped, even though GMB know its him that’s been detained as they would have had it confirmed. I hope Suzannah told her after the cameras stopped rolling.”
And as the day went on, it seemed less and less likely Lee would actually arrive, despite his insisting he was on his way.
There certainly seems to be some confusion with the couple’s timeline – over 12 hours before she was due on GMB, Katie posted on her social media – in a video which has now been deleted – to reveal Lee was joining her
She said on social media: “Where the hell is my husband? Lee will not be on Good Morning Britain with me!!”
She added: “Well, he is not coming, which is gutting really as he said he was coming, so I’m getting the house ready for me”.
And for the first time, the tide might be slightly turning for Katie, and in a surprise movie, she did lay down an ultimatum.
Katie said that although Lee “pays for” her flights to Dubai, she needs him to be more present in the UK.
The mum-of-five, who hasn’t even been able to introduce her kids to Lee, said: “I’ve been in Dubai, I came back on Friday.
“But because I can’t keep going to Dubai, because obviously I’ve got work and my kids here.
Susanna quipped: “And it’s expensive”, and Katie replied: “Well, he pays for it anyway.”
“But I can’t keep going to Dubai.”
Katie believes that Lee will now be joining her for a few months in the UK, but whether he ever makes remains to be seen.
Inside Tess Daly and Vernon Kay’s shock split as pals reveal all about ‘tearful heart-to-hearts’
TESS Daly and Vernon Kay tonight announced they had split up “amicably” after 23 years of marriage.
A statement from the showbiz couple, with two daughters, said no one else was involved.
The ex Strictly Come Dancing host, 57, and her BBC Radio 2 DJ husband, 52, had grown apart and become more like “roommates” than a married couple.
A source close to the couple told The Sun: “They are both sad that it has come to a natural end but happy for both of their futures.”
Tess and Vernon — who have daughters Phoebe, 21, and 16-year-old Amber — announced their “amicable” marital split in a joint statement last night.
They posted online: “After much consideration, and with a deep sense of care and respect for one another, we have made the decision to separate amicably.
Read more on Tess & Vernon
“This has not been an easy choice, but it comes from a place of mutual understanding and a shared desire of what is best for both of us.
“We remain great friends and, most importantly, fully committed to our roles as loving and supportive parents, which will always be our priority.
“There are no other parties involved in this decision.”
They are understood to have decided to go public after returning from a Caribbean holiday last month.
Both shared photographs from their sunshine getaway but failed to post snaps of each other.
A friend insisted the pair, who married in 2003 after two years of dating, had simply grown apart.
They said: “They have had many conversations about this and tears were shed.
“It wasn’t a sudden decision but it’s something they have been quietly navigating together for some time. It was very natural in a way, it’s just one of those things.
“Vernon is a real social butterfly, he loves going to parties with Phoebe and hanging out with her doing things, while Tess is a bit more of a homebody.
“They are still such great friends, which is why they went on that family holiday together.
“Amber and Phoebe are Tess and Vernon’s world and their focus is solely on them.
“They’ll continue to co-parent together and keep making happy memories with their girls.”
It was understood they will keep their six-bedroom family home in Buckinghamshire while they work out their future plans.
A pal added: “Tess and Vernon are both being very grown up about this. They became more like roommates in the end.
“Working out how to move forward is what they’re doing now.
“Vernon works in London five days a week so it’s likely he’ll get a place in the city for now until they decide what to do with the house.”
On Thursday the pair reunited in London with Phoebe, who attends university in New York.
Vernon was in a typically upbeat mood on air yesterday hosting his Radio 2 mid-morning show.
The couple both started off as models before breaking into Channel 4 – Vernon with T4 and Tess hosting the Find Me a Model segment on The Big Breakfast.
They started dating after meeting in 2001. Vernon recalled of their initial encounter: “She didn’t know anyone except me because we’d worked together that day – she spotted me in a crowd and we had a laugh.
LOVELIEST COUPLE
By Ellie Henman, Bizarre Editor
ASK anyone in the industry, Tess and Vernon were the loveliest showbiz couple you could ever wish to meet.
Whether together or alone, they’d greet you like family.
I’ll never forget Tess taking time out of her schedule in the middle of a Strictly final to chat with my mum or earlier this year, when I was knocking back booze at a Brits after-party with Vernon where he mocked my table at the ceremony as the “s***test in the house,” as he roared with laughter and gave me a hug.
Both of them are northern, working-class kids who have done bloody good.
And despite the fame and the riches, they’ve never forgotten where they came from.
When Vernon took on his epic ultra-marathon back in 2023, running over 116 miles in four days and raising over £6.1 million for Children In Need in the process, he rang me every single day from the road to update Sun readers on his journey and to urge them to donate.
He was in agony but he never let it show because he knew his struggle was nothing in comparison to those he was helping.
After being sent their joint statement online I immediately felt sad for them both because I know this won’t have been an easy decision.
Ending a marriage of over two decades is never easy.
But when you’re one of the most recognisable British telly couples, having to announce that decision to the nation, knowing the scrutiny they’ll face from online stirrers, would be even more difficult.
But knowing Tess and Vernon, they’ll be facing this together as a family and will shut out the noise and focus solely on their girls.
“I was instantly attracted by how independent Tess was, and that’s not changed at all.”
In 2003, they married at a church in Vernon’s hometown of Horwich, Greater Manchester.
Phoebe was born in 2004 — the year Tess started co-hosting BBC ballroom dance show Strictly, first with Bruce Forsyth.
In 2007, Tess and Vernon worked together for the first time, co-hosting BBC celebrity singing show, Just The Two of Us.
Two years later, Amber was born.
When they celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in 2023, Tess spoke of how proud she was of hitting the milestone.
She said: “Twenty years is a long time. We still have lots to talk about, the conversation hasn’t dried up.
“That’s a good thing.
“We’ve got lots in common and shared values.
“We just enjoy each other’s company and that’s what it boils down to, really. I’m proud of us.”
Vernon said their marriage got stronger thanks to the Covid lockdowns, saying: “You really get under the skin of your relationship with your kids and your missus.”
Tess also launched her own clothing range, and her bombshell decision to quit Strictly last year along with Claudia Winkleman was supported by Vernon.
Tess and Vernon hosted BBC’s The One Show together in a special episode in February, but those close to them said the cracks in their marriage started to form last year.
A source said: “Vernon is more outgoing than Tess is and he loves nothing more than heading out with his mates.
Last summer he was at loads of Oasis gigs. He loves going to the Brit Awards. He’s so outgoing and he loves that lifestyle.
“After quitting Strictly, Tess has been more keen to enjoy life at a slower pace.
“She’s been working really hard on her swimwear line and has loved not having to jump back on to that Strictly treadmill.
“It became clear after a while that they were becoming more like ships in the night.
“It’s not been easy but, ultimately, if the love they had for each other had gone, what is the point in staying together?”
Helen Flanagan almost spills out of plunging corset on boozy night out with pals
HELEN Flanagan almost spilled out of her plunging corset while enjoying a boozy night out with her pals.
The former Coronation Street star, 35, took to Instagram to share a sneak peek into her big night out with her friends.
She threatened to spill out of her top as she stunned in a teal blue animal-print corset top, which was held together with just one thin clasp.
The actress showed off plenty of cleavage as she went for a bouncy blow-dry and a glam make up look complete with eyelashes and a glossy lip.
She posed at a bar with a friend and took some mirror selfies in the bathroom as she took a break from mum duties for the night out.
Her followers rushed to the comments section to compliment her as one gushed: “Stunning!! Absolutely gorgeous…”
READ MORE ON HELEN FLANAGAN
Another social media user enthused: “Wow, such a beautiful face and stunning body.”
Somebody else commented: “Classy and stunning,” while a fourth added: “Looking hot there babe.”
Her evening out comes after she was axed from Celebrity Ex On The Beach after just four episodes.
She joined the likes of Towie’s Dani Imbert and Love Island’s Toby Aromolaran to shoot the new series of the Paramount+ reality show in Tenerife last year.
But a shock twist saw Helen and controversial star Rogan O’Connor sent packing just four episodes into the current run.
When it was revealed the boys had picked Helen to go home, while the others looked stunned, she wasn’t upset by the decision.
Smiling, she said: “Thank you so much!”
Speaking in a confessional, Dani, 28, said: “I’m so shocked the boys have picked Helen, I feel like they loved her so much.
“It’s going to feel so strange not having her here in the morning. Really sad to see her go.”
The Celebs Go Dating star said of her exit: “I do feel a sadness that I didn’t find a romantic spark, but I feel that the connection I have with the girls… I feel sad leaving them.”
Holly Willoughby enjoys boozy lunch with A-list pals Emma Bunton and Christine Lampard amid career ‘rebrand’
HOLLY Willoughby giggled the afternoon away on a boozy lunch with her star-studded girl squad after it was revealed she’s plotting a major career rebrand.
Former darling of ITV, Holly, 45, took centre stage in a fun video clip from a lunch date with pals Nicole Appleton, Emma Bunton, Christine Lampard and Vice President of Artist Relations at Universal Music, Shiarra Bell.
Mojitos looked to be the favoured drink for most of the girl gang, who appeared in playful mood as they looked into the camera.
Holly chose the Sex and the City theme to soundtrack the clip on Instagram and continued the US drama theme in the caption which referenced lead character Carrie Bradshaw [Sarah Jessica Parker].
She wrote: “As Carrie Bradshaw said… They say nothing lasts forever; dreams change, trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style. Love my girls…”
The post went down a treat.
READ MORE ON HOLLY WILLOUGHBY
CBB legend Kate Lawler wrote: “Love the energy of this girl gang.”
EastEnders icon Sam Womack said: “Jealous!!!! Love you lot.”
One fan added: “Love that they’ve grown up in the industry together and remained friends. Bet their WhatsApp chats are juicy!”
Holly has been lying low since her time on Netflix‘s Celebrity Bear Hunt early last year.
She’s been absent from TV screens for the longest period in her career, having previously been an ever present on This Morning, Celebrity Juice and Dancing on Ice.
But the mum-of-three, who is married to TV producer Dan Baldwin, is now branching out from traditional TV and is preparing a comeback on YouTube.
Her channel will start with a magazine show similar to This Morning – effectively marking the dawn of “Holly TV”.
Our insider explained: “Holly has been slowly shedding her This Morning self for a few years now and has been gradually letting the fans see the real her more and more.
“Once rarely posting on social media, Holly will now happily share her outfits, favourite tipples and days out with her very cool group of pals.
“When she was on This Morning her friendship with the likes of the Appleton sisters was kept on the down-low but now there’s no need for her to live up to a certain image.
“She has always been a party girl at heart, but kept it very well hidden while on the daytime TV show.”
Since stepping back from the box, Holly has posted edgier content on social media, including an out of character F-bomb.
When American hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa announced they would be performing in the UK, a delighted Holly squealed online: “Excuse my language but f**k, I’ve waited my whole life for this.”
The insider continued: “Holly would never have sworn online while she was on This Morning but is deliberately showing a different side to herself. She wants to be seen as cool and edgy.
“She was definitely keeping up appearances while on the show and can now finally be herself fully.”
Though the former kids TV presenter has maintained a clean cut image, her party girl image has long been talked about in media circles.
In 2019 she partied until the early hours at The Streets’ comeback gig afterparty at Brixton Academy with Nicole Appleton, wearing a T-shirt that read: “Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go backstage”.
Her legendary drinking stamina has led to her being labelled a “robot” by pal Keith Lemon.
“Holly is a party animal. I’m a drinker, but I can’t keep up with her,” he told The Sun.
While Piers Morgan said: “Piers Morgan backed up his comments, admitting: “If I go to a party and Holly Willoughby is there, you know your liver is in for a caning, and you could end up in a career-ending situation. She’s a very dangerous lady. Very dangerous.”