Strictly Come Dancing fans were left in tears as they watched the results show
20:19, 09 Nov 2025Updated 20:20, 09 Nov 2025
Amy Dowden appeared in the special routine(Image: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing viewers were left reaching for the tissues during Sunday night’s emotional elimination show.
The evening featured a musical performance from James Morrison, belting out ‘Fight Another Day’, accompanied by a dance routine from Jowita Pryzstał and Neil Jones.
The Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment also graced the stage alongside the Strictly Professional Dancers for a group performance in honour of Remembrance Sunday, set to Sam Fender’s poignant track ‘Remember My Name’.
However, it was this particular performance that had fans welling up, with many taking to social media to express their emotions – and eagle-eyed viewers spotted that Amy Dowden was part of the special pre-recorded routine.
One viewer posted on X, “Amy dancing recorded in August, then, hate these ‘Sunday’ shows and dances recorded months ago.”
Another fan gushed, “Love seeing Amy in the performance. I am sobbing.”
While another added, “Dancing to Remember My Name by Sam Fender on #Strictly making me VERY emotional.
“Not one for sentiment when it comes to war, but brass bands really do choke me up #strictly,” another viewer shared.
Yet another wrote, “That was a beautiful pro dance and the music was spot on, can’t believe I’m now in tears over strictly. I almost never cry, yet I’ve cried two shows in a row tonight!”
Tonight’s results saw the departure of one celebrity, as Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer found themselves in a dance-off against La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec.
Both pairs took to the floor once more; La Voix and Aljaž reprised their Foxtrot to Make Your Own Kind of Music by Cass Elliot, while Harry and Karen Hauer danced their Samba to Samba by Gloria Estefan.
However, it was a unanimous verdict as all judges opted to save La Voix, resulting in Harry being sent packing.
It was a poignant moment for Harry, and when quizzed by Tess Daly about his Strictly experience, he said, “I think, first things, I just want to thank Karen, genuinely, you have given me an opportunity to shine.
“You’ve understood my crazy brain. I’m a logical person, trying to dance – and obviously doing what I do – an Olympic sprinter and a Gladiator; now I’m trying to be a dancer.
“I just want to thank you so much for the time and effort, the hard work that you’ve put into me. You show up, you turn out. I want to thank everyone here. Literally, this has been a dream come true. This is a celebration. It’s a celebration.”
The Gladiator continued, “I spoke to my daughter and she didn’t like seeing her dad sad, and when she saw me sad last week, she was like, “Daddy, what’s wrong?’ and I wanted to show everyone that, no matter what happens, there’s always a silver lining.
“But this is an experience for me. So, thank you for this lovely gift, and at the end of the day, we carry on, we give it to them, and we continue to shine. Do you know what I mean?”
Karen also became emotional as she shared with Tess what being paired with Harry had meant to her.
She said, “I am extremely proud. We’ve had the best time.
“You’re such a gentleman, you’re a hard worker, you listen, and you get into those times where I don’t know what you were thinking, but you know what? I loved you in every kind of way because of the person that you are, and it was an honour to teach you, so thank you so much.”
Strictly Come Dancing is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Zoe and Danny are celebrating moving into their new homeCredit: Instagram / zoeraeThe couple were previously staying in Molly-Mae’s Cheshire mansionCredit: Instagram / zoeraeHusband Danny is absolutely smitten with the house’s home gymCredit: Instagram / zoerae
But now Zoe and Danny have finally settled into their perfect pad, and they couldn’t wait to share some of the interior details with their followers.
Over the weekend, Zoe posted happy snaps with her man, literally floating on air.
Danny picked her up inside of their new kitchen, decked out with zigzag wooden flooring and white cabinetry, in celebration of the move.
She’s smiling from ear to ear, one palm stretched out to the ceiling in a white longsleeve.
“Our happy home,” the duo simply captioned the blissful snap, excited for what’s yet to come.
Fans of Zoe couldn’t be happier for her either, and rushed to the comment’s section to send their well wishes.
“So happy for you both, new era!,” said one user.
Others chimed in with similar sentiments, gushing: “Congratulations!,” “SO so happy for you guys, enjoy every single moment,” and “exciting times ahead”.
But no one was happier for them than Zoe’s sister Molly-Mae who couldn’t help adding a comment of her own.
“Wooohoooo!!!! So happy for you guys…. But gonna miss you both so much.”
“Miss you already,” Zoe quipped back, followed by a red love heart.
Husband Danny posted a photo of his own on his socials: a snap of the home gym he’s “always dreamed of” in their new place.
“You get that home gym you’ve always dreamed of,” he said, showing off a treadmill, sets of weights, an exercise bike and more.
The couple are known to work out together and have even frequented HYROX intense training events.
Just before the couple’s move out of Molly’s home, Molly had been reflecting on whether she wants to expand her family and give her daughter Bambi – who she shares with boxer and Tommy Fury – a sibling.
She described how close her and Zoe are, and worried Bambi would miss out if she chose not to have another child soon.
“I’ve never had any regrets about starting a family young, but if I could go back and maybe go again, would I have waited a few more years? Potentially,” the star said, speaking on the pressure she feels to have a second child soon.
Meanwhile Zoe appears to be happily settling into her new home, adding a video of herself making a healthy breakfast yesterday to her social media feed.
Zoe and sister Molly-Mae are closeCredit: GettyThey used to go out on double datesCredit: Instagram
Soundgarden, the seminal Seattle grunge rock group, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at a star-studded ceremony at the Peacock Theater on Saturday night. Before they accepted their awards from comedian Jim Carrey and ripped into “Black Hole Sun,” and “Rusty Cage,” the band reflected together backstage on their topsy turvy journey into the ranks of rock’s immortals and the lasting impact of their departed frontman Chris Cornell.
“I like the honor of it and I’m really happy for our fans,” bassist Ben Shepherd said. “I can’t wait to play.”
For guitarist Kim Thayil, there’s a measure of validation in their induction which he recalled from conversations with Cornell. “Chris would say, ‘Remember how you and I, and [bassist] Hiro [Yamamato] would sit around in a room and talk about the bands we really liked…and that influenced us to play together?” It’s like, ‘Well, that’s the kind of band we should be. The band that makes us want to get together and play music.’”
Soundgarden members (from left) Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron, Chris Cornell and Ben Shepherd in 2014.
(Jack Plunkett / Jack Plunkett/invision/ap)
The induction was a long-time coming for Soundgarden. They originally formed in 1984 and steadily moved to the forefront of underground indie rock scene on labels like Sub Pop and SST while touring the country in a red Chevy van. “It was almost like a camping trip with sleeping bags,” Cameron recalled. “I remember I brought this one blue blanket to sleep on.”
“I’d bring my own breakfast. I’d bring a cooler, and I’d put cereal and yogurt in there,” Yamamoto said. “These guys would go to Denny’s every day. I can’t do that!”
After moving to A&M Records, Soundgarden spent the 1990s crafting some of the most innovative, heavy and dynamic albums of their generation. Groundbreaking records like “Badmotorfinger,” “Superunknown” and “Down on the Upside.” Soundgarden disbanded in 1997 but got back together 13 years later in 2010 and resumed working on music and touring.
As rewarding as the Rock Hall honor is, the absence of Cornell –- who took his own life after a concert in Detroit in 2017 – carried a bit of somber note into the festivities. “It’s nice to hear the power of the music that we created, but it’s extremely bittersweet as well that we don’t have [Chris] with us,” drummer Matt Cameron said. “In the few instances where we have performed this music since his passing — it’s only been a few occasions — it’s empowering, but it’s also really, really bittersweet.”
In the meantime, Cornell’s bandmates are continuing to work on a collection of tunes they were recording with him just before his passing. “Once we were able to work on the music again, it all just kind of came back to just how powerful the music still is and how meaningful it still is to us,” Cameron said. “I think we’re going into it with just those types of intentions of trying to make it natural and real, which at this stage of the game, there’s a few things that sound amazing.”
The reunion with Yamamoto – who left Soundgarden around 1989 — for the Rock Hall show went a long way to livening the festivities. As soon as the band kicked into one of their early cuts, “Entering,” during rehearsals in Seattle, Shepherd recalled with a hint of awe that, “It instantly sounded like Soundgarden.”
“That was one of those things where I might have gone to YouTube and had somebody else teach me how to play it again,” Yamamoto said with a laugh. Nevertheless, Shepherd snapped a picture of the moment and gleefully sent it around to friends.
“We weren’t sure how it would work, but Hiro’s so adaptable and he’s such an amazing musician that it sounded great from the get-go,” Cameron said. “A lot of low end, but the band has always had a pretty sizable bass presence in our sound. It was just nice.”
Inductee Kim Thayil of Soundgarden, Taylor Momsen and inductee Matt Cameron of Soundgarden perform onstage during the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Peacock Theater on November 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
(Amy Sussman/WireImage)
To bring Cornell’s vocals to life at the Peacock Theater, Soundgarden turned to a pair of younger powerhouses. Brandi Carlile and the Pretty Reckless frontwoman Taylor Momsen. Both are tried and true Soundgarden fans and represent the group’s impact on the next generation of musicians that followed in their wake. It’s something they are particularly proud about.
“It’s still surprising, but it is something that was probably on our wishlist as something we would hope to expect,” Thayil said. “If we’re honest with ourselves and we’re honest with what we’re creating and honest in how we communicate together, then this should happen. But it’s still a surprise and still heartwarming.”
“It is sort of nice to be able to contribute to that continuum of music and have younger generations hopefully be inspired by what we were grooving on with the band, which was you know, self-expression and collaboration and trusting your own instincts and things like that,” Cameron said. “I think is a nice thing to impart on other young musicians.”
As for who they think should follow Soundgarden into the Hall next, Thayil has some thoughts. “Alice in Chains is the first thing that comes to mind, of course,” he said. “I’m surprised to learn that these six people aren’t in the Hall of Fame: Sonic Youth, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, the Pixies, the New York Dolls and the Black Crows.”
Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden has shared an emotional cancer post with her Instagram followers just days after she underwent her second mastectomy
Amy Dowden has shared a poignant update on her cancer journey with her Instagram followers, just days after undergoing her second mastectomy.
Sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea and surrounded by her loved ones, the pro wrote, “Home, resting up, still got my drain in but rrrrrready for the best entertainment and medicine there is for me….. @bbcstrictly good luck everyone.”
She added, “Cheering you all on from home! Lots of luck and love xxxxx.”
Host Claudia was the first to comment, leaving Amy some red heart emojis.
Joanne Clifton also sent the pro some love hearts, while Karen Carney said, “Sending so much love.”
One fan wrote, “Have a lovely and restful evening.”
Another follower commented, “Sending love and healing hugs your way, Amy.
“The strongest person!! Hope you have a speedy recovery, gorgeous girl!! sending so much love,” another added.
MICHELLE Keegan has shared rare photos of her baby girl Palma as the mother and daughter duo twin in matching Christmas pyjamas.
The actress, 38, took to her Instagram stories today to post an adorable snap of her and her daughter both wearing the same white nightwear adorned with Christmas trees, mountains and a snow home.
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Michelle Keegan shared a rare snap of baby Palma as they twinned in matching pyjamasCredit: instagramThe doting mum gushed over her little girlCredit: instagramMark and pal Olly Murs brought their girls together for a play dateCredit: Instagram
Michelle rested her face into Palma’s as they enjoyed a cuddle and spent some quality time together.
The former Coronation Street star wrote: “Matching with my girl,” alongside a white heart emoji.
In another story, she uploaded a collage of snaps with Palma’s little toes coming out her adorable pyjamas.
As well as a link for customers to purchase the sets from her Very collection, she penned: “Matching family PJs.
Oscar-winner Reese, 49, wrote crime thriller Gone Before Goodbye with American author Harlan Coben, who was behind Michelle’s Netflix hit show Fool Me Once.
Harlan introduced the women to each other at the launch of the book at the London Literature Festival, held at the capital’s Festival Hall last weekend.
A source said: “Harlan has been singing Michelle’s praises to Reese and she was keen to meet her. They got on really well and it was clear Reese was really taken with Michelle.
“The plan is to turn the book into a film and Michelle is their first choice to take on the role of the lead character, Maggie McCabe.
“She is a combat surgeon and Michelle previously played an Army medic in Our Girl on the BBC, so it’s a role they know she could take on with style.
“It’s early days but Harlan and Reese think Michelle is tailor-made for this role and would love her to come on board when the time is right.”
Mark and Michelle announced the arrival of Palma in March this yearCredit: InstagramMichelle is reportedly set to star in Reese Witherspoon’s next projectCredit: Instagram/michkeegan
Ever since the ascent of BTS, the Grammys have been K-pop-curious, but not typically in its marquee categories. This year marks a notable change — several acts with roots in K-pop have major-category nominations, which suggests the Academy has embraced the genre as a staple part of pop music.
First off, while the success of “KPop Demon Hunters” and its flagship soundtrack single, “Golden,” might need a qualifier for being a piece of film music for a fictional band, the tune’s nomination for song is a milestone. It caps a huge year for the animated ladies of Huntr/x — they also scored nods in pop duo/group performance, remixed recording and song written for visual media. Whatever comes next for the human artists Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami and “Golden” co-songwriter Mark Sonnenblick, it’s part of a big moment for K-pop in the Grammys’ top categories.
They’re far from alone there, though. Rosé of Blackpink had a monster hit with Bruno Mars on “Apt.,” which scored even more Top 4 nods in record and song and pop duo/group performance. The snazzy Motown rocker was one of the year’s undeniable singles, hitting No. 3 on the Hot 100.
These nods showed just how far the Blackpink members’ solo careers can reach into the broader music and entertainment industries — including TV, major festivals, the Hot 100 and now the Grammys elite categories.
A K-pop act finally got a new artist nod as well, with the polyglot girl group Katseye landing alongside Addison Rae, Lola Young and Sombr. The band was conceived as a global twist on what constitutes as K-pop, given the members’ varied backgrounds (they hail from the United States, the Philippines, South Korea and Switzerland, and trained under BTS’ parent label, Hybe, in the United States).
“Beautiful Chaos” hit No. 4 on the Billboard 200, and the group’s “Gabriela” also got a nomination for pop duo/group performance, so the experiment clearly resonated with Academy voters on its own terms.
While Grammy voters have often looked upon K-pop as a fandom phenomenon more than a musical one, this year’s class suggests the genre has been taken on its own terms like any piece of pop, which can only bode well for its future at the Academy.
Big Brother star Richard Storry has been on the ITV show since its return in September
Big Brother star Richard has been at the receiving end of ‘brutal’ comments from ex housemate Caroline(Image: ITV)
ITV2’s Big Brother is approaching its finale this month as viewers are having their say on who they reckon should triumph, with one clear frontrunner emerging victorious.
Since the revamped series made its comeback to ITV2 screens in September, there’s been plenty of explosive moments, from bitter rows erupting to personalities clashing spectacularly.
However, as she’s now been evicted, Richard stays in the house, with massive backing from the public – so much so that, according to betting odds last week, the star was tipped to win, with odds at 5-4.
Coral’s John Hill said: “We have seen a strong wave of support for Richard in our Big Brother betting after he escaped Friday night’s double eviction.
“There is no doubt punters are siding with Richard in his feud with Caroline.”
Richard is also the champion for some viewers, as one person wrote on X: “RICHARD TO WIN!”. Another added, “Looks like Richard is the winner of Big Brother 2025.”
Who is Richard Storry?
Richard entered the Big Brother house later than the others, arriving alongside Cameron B, Feyisola, and George.
At 60 years old, he was among the eldest within the house. On the programme, Richard disclosed he is a writer and composer with expertise in classical music.
Based on his Instagram profile, Richard’s books belong to the supernatural and fantasy categories. His debut novel was published in 2015, whilst his most recent work emerged in 2021.
According to Amazon, his bestselling title is The Cryptic Lines, which takes place in a “sprawling gothic mansion”.
Richard and Caroline feud explained
Caroline and Richard’s dynamic has dominated social media discussion since their apparent clash started the instant they encountered each other.
Despite viewers condemning Caroline as a bully, Richard has characterised their dynamic as “pantomime-like”. Former housemate Farida also revealed details about their connection, telling Heatworld that it was simply “banter.”
Nevertheless, during her departure interview, Caroline stuck to her position that she considered Richard “boring”, leaving presenters Will and AJ baffled about whether she was being honest or not. Comparing him to Mr Bean, she declared, “Richard is not funny.”
Richard’s adoption story
Throughout his stint on the programme, Richard confessed he was unmarried and has, indeed, remained single throughout his life; nevertheless, he has an adopted son. Viewers will recall Richard’s touching tale about how he adopted his son, who was then a 33-year-old refugee.
While in Malaysia, he encountered a young man, who is now his son, and shared: “He was a refugee from Myanmar, which is the next country up if you know your geography, and he told me quite early on that he had lost his father when he was a kid.”
As their bond grew stronger, Richard frequently visited the country, and eventually, they decided to formalise their father-son-like relationship.
One viewer posted on X: “Richard’s adoption story is already one of the most intriguing and beautiful stories I have ever heard on Big Brother. I am sobbing.”
Another commented, “Can’t cope with Richard adopting a 33-year-old refugee. Stop the show and crown him already.”
Big Brother airs Sunday to Friday on ITV2 and ITVX at 9pm.
CHAPPELL Roan was left gasping in horror when she dropped an F-bomb live on air at the 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
The singer, 27, appeared on stage at the glitziest night in the rock and roll calendar in Los Angeles at the PeacockTheatre on Saturday evening.
Chappell Roan gasped in horror as she dropped a f-bombShe appeared on stage to introduce Cyndi Lauper at the 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
She was tasked with introducing Cyndi Lauper, who was receiving the honour, but things went from bad to worse for Chappell as she struggled to read the prompter.
The songwriter, who sported a huge headpiece and glittery costume began: “I think we can all agree that the best art comes from the most authentic people.
“When artists stay true to themselves, even when some people say they’re too much, too loud, too eccentric, or all of the above, their honesty becomes their greatest strength.”
At this point, the Good Luck, Babe! singer began to squint as she went silent and attempted to read the prompter.
She then said: “I f**k,” before putting her hand over her mouth, in shock at what she had just said.
The audience began laughing and cheering as she attempted to compose herself after her blunder.
Chappell admitted: “I messed up so bad by refusing to get contacts. Holy cow.”
She attempted to carry on as she was clearly struggling to read what was written and said: “It’s that courage that not only creates incredible art, it gives everyone who experiences the permission to be themselves.
“It opens their hearts, it changes their minds and that is it’s power. Tonight we honor a woman who redefined what a pop star could look like, sound like, sing like and be.”
Putting the faux pas behind her and ending on a high note, Chappell concluded: “A music legend whose authenticity has inspired us for the last four decades with her four octave range and the amazingly fabulous Cyndi Lauper.”
Fans flocked to social media to share their reactions to Chappell’s F-bomb mic drop moment as one joked on Instagram: “Someone get her glasses.”
Another supportive fan commented: “Even with the difficulty to read, the speech was beautiful! @chappellroan is the best thing that happened to the music world lately!”
Somebody else enthused: “Her speech was the best part of the night hands down.”
Yet another said: “She looks like she’s doing some major multi taking with the speech and balancing that thing on her head.”
She made sure all eyes were on her for different reasons also as she a huge skirt made out of newspaper clippings which she paired with a glitzy bralette complete with chain detailing.
As if her look wasn’t dramatic enough, she donned a massive diamond headpiece reminiscent of a chandelier, on her head and opted for her signature heavy make-up with eyeshadow and a red lip.
Chappell has had a phenomenal year after playing her biggest headline show ever in August for 60,000 fans at Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Centre as part of Summer Sessions.
The two-night shows saw concert-goers attend in their thousands to see the songstress live, a stark difference to her UK debut two years prior, in which she performed for an intimate 600-person crowd in London.
She earlier walked the red carpet in an elaborate number
If you see “Christy,” you’ll remember Christy the person, not “Christy” the movie. This biopic of West Virginia’s other famous coal miner’s daughter Christy Martin, the first female boxer to make the cover of Sports Illustrated, is an efficiently inspiring and harrowing one when the physically transformed, emotionally present Sydney Sweeney is holding the screen as Martin. But otherwise, under David Michôd’s direction, it’s one more machine-pressed product that may as well have been chatbot-prompted into existence.
That’s a shame because early on, when butch, athletic, semi-openly gay Christy is just a picked-on high schooler punching her way into feeling good about herself, you can detect a keen level of attention, especially in the script by Mirrah Foulkes and Michôd, to what’s unspoken in these types of tales: the violence and verve that can mark a boxing talent and the pressure to conform in a male-dominated sport. In this case, it leads Christy to deny a part of her identity.
It’s a very specific tension that has made movies about female boxers in the 21st century — from “Girlfight” and “Million Dollar Baby” through last year’s “The Fire Inside” — so much more interesting as empowerment case studies than the male-centered ones, which still seem rooted in conventional mythmaking. (We’re still living in the Rocky Balboa Universe.)
As memorably conveyed with twang, sweat and tenacity by Sweeney, the young Christy is a natural competitor whose fists give her an out from the judgmental eyes of small-town life, most notably those of her mom (an effectively chilly Merritt Wever). She fights as if she’s been attacked, but can make winning in the ring look both spirited and a foregone conclusion.
That energy and commitment to turn boxing into a career gets an opportunistic fine-tuning — a feminizing pink kit — when she’s hooked up with trainer Jim Martin, played by an eerily dead-eyed Ben Foster as the ghoul-in-waiting he turned out to be. Foster’s Jim, believably disturbed and shady but a bit on the nose, isn’t the movie’s first problem. That would be Michôd’s addiction to montage-ifying every significant dramatic turning point, slathering on the music to keep the timeline moving.
But the famously chameleonic Foster’s portrayal is the film’s most curious dilemma, because it doesn’t allow us to see why Christy would trust her future to his judgment, much less marry him. It’s as if “Christy,” looking backward through a bloody yet unbowed lens, is afraid of presenting Jim Martin as anything but a shifty sleazebag, when what that does is undercut Sweeney’s more delicate job of convincing us why she’d stay with him for decades.
Sweeney manages it anyway, because, despite what you may have assumed, she’s a sturdy in-the-moment actor, especially with her eyes. Still, the movie’s lack of nuance about how toxic relationships develop makes this central twosome a head-scratchingly imbalanced one. Everyone invariably falls into two camps: unfailingly supportive (a sensitive dad played by Ethan Embry; Katy O’Brian as a former rival) or, whenever Wever reappears, jaw-dropping callousness. Much more galvanizing as a combo platter of high-wattage persuasion and dominance is Chad L. Coleman in his handful of scenes as Don King.
The central problem with “Christy” — which needs to be both uplifting about its star subject’s achievement and complex about her journey of sexuality and trauma — is that it screams for a treatment grittier than the slick melodrama we’ve been given. It’s all highlights and lowlights, rarely interested in the in-between stuff that makes watching all the rounds of a bout so necessary to appreciating what it means to survive on the canvas.
‘Christy’
Rated: R, for language, violence/bloody images, some drug use and sexual material
The latest series of Strictly Come Dancing is off to a brilliant start and plenty of celebrity faces have been taking to the dancefloor to impress the judges
10:26, 09 Nov 2025Updated 10:26, 09 Nov 2025
The results show may be changed(Image: PA)
The Strictly Come Dancing results show could be axed due to ongoing leaks, it has been reported. The results show has been a Sunday staple for years but it could be coming to an end.
Despite the results show airing the day after the main programme, it is all actually filmed on the same night. However, this means that the person who has been dumped from the show tends to be leaked.
Many viewers are fed up with the Saturday night leaking and are calling for both episodes to be aired on a Saturday instead. Strictly bosses are now under pressure to make a change due to the undercover mole ruining the results for thousands of fans.
The Daily Mail has reported that some BBC bosses think that the hit show needs to go back to its original format. This included the viewers voting after the Saturday main episode while The National Lottery was aired.
The live results programme then followed afterwards and the contestant with the least public support left the show.
There was no dance-off like there is now which meant that the judges didn’t have the opportunity to save anyone. However, with the current format, within just an hour of filming finishing at Elstree Studios, the Strictly mole leaks the results online which means that thousands of people know the results before the Sunday episode airs.
The current Sunday show brings in more than seven million viewers but these views would most likely be transferred over to Saturday evening if it was to be moved.
It was reported that a source said: “It’s become a complete farce, everyone watching knows that it was filmed the night before – but more significant than that, the result is out on the internet almost immediately.
“It’s fair to say that this mole is a thorn in the BBC’s side. You can find out by 11.30pm on a Saturday night what happened.
“A full readout appears on social media and they have no way of stopping it. Fans have to spend all day Sunday trying to avoid the spoiler online or hearing who went in the dance-off over their Sunday lunch. With Tess and Claudia (Strictly’s hosts, who are leaving at the end of this series) going, it is the ideal time to change things.”
Strictly Come Dancing is broadcast live on BBC1 on a Saturday night then after a break, where the judges and presenters change their outfits, they start pre-recording the Sunday night results show.
The presenters, judges, celebrities and professional dancers all refer to what happened “last night” as it is revealed who is in the bottom two and will face the dreaded dance-off despite it actually being on the same night.
This isn’t the only potential Strictly shake-up as presenters Claudia and Tess also revealed that they wouldn’t be back next year. They announced via Instagram that they would be leaving the show despite being fan favourites.
KELLY Brook touched down in Australia this morning ahead of her I’m A Celebrity appearance.
The model, 46, looked in good spirits as she arrived at Brisbane Airport on Sunday after her 24 hour flight.
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Credit: The SunKelly Brook arrival Australia I’m a celebrityCredit: The SunKelly looked stunning as she arrived at Brisbane Airport in a bright yellow dressCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Despite the long journey, Kelly looked fresh-faced and raring to go with a full face of makeup and rocking a stunning yellow dress.
However, the star kept tight-lipped about her I’m A Celeb appearance.
Kelly joked as she arrived at Brisbane Airport: “I haven’t seen my auntie Sheila for a long time so I can’t wait to see her, and I’m so excited that you’re all so excited for me.”
Asked about how she is with creepy-crawlies, Kelly quipped there might be some in her “relative’s” garden and added: “I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m visiting a distant cousin.
“I’m looking forward to surfing. Like I said, I’m looking forward to seeing my distant cousin that I’ve not seen for a long, long time… the koalas and the kangaroos.
“So much to look forward to.”
Asked about sleeping under the stars, she replied: “I’m hoping that I’ve got a spare room. I’m not sure about that.”
She said she is an “Australian sunset” in her yellow and orange dress – before being covered by an umbrella from light rain.
She joked: “Is it raining? Wherever I go I take the weather with me.”
It comes after Kelly revealed the secret fear that could see her struggle in the I’m A Celebrity camp.
Kelly, told Loose Women that she struggled to go anywhere without her husband Jeremy Parisi, 40 – and would even turn down trips if he could not attend.
She said: “I’m very co-dependent. Jeremy and I just want to be together all the time.
“Well I definitely want to be with him all the time. Not sure if he would say the same!
“We schedule things to make sure we are together.”
Kelly will be facing the challenges of the jungle alone without Jeremy.
During the programme, Loose Women panelist Jane Moore asked Kelly: “But if you were, say, going abroad for the night or whatever, on a job, would he come with you?”
Kelly replied: “Yeah he would either come with me or I just wouldn’t go.”
In response, Mariella Frostrup joked: “I’m feeling quite suffocated just listening to you!”
Over the last few months, The Sun has announced a string of names heading down under, and now we can exclusively reveal Celebs Go Dating star Tom Read Wilson will complete the line-up.
Since her breakout into the mainstream last year for her scorched-Earth set on “The Roast of Tom Brady” and a top-notch comedy special “Someday You’ll Die,” Nikki Glaser has become an A-lister in the stand-up comedy world. But did that success translate for her first time as “Saturday Night Live” host?
Not too surprisingly, Glaser did well given that her best qualifications for the gig are that she’s very good at delivering jokes for a living and that she’s not shy about pushing the boundaries of taste in her comedy. That’s a good fit for the current incarnation of “SNL,” which tends to have at least one gross-out scatological sketch per episode and lots of “Weekend Update” segments and jokes that either land in the “just dirty enough” or “way over the line” camp.
A sketch about a stalled plane and a chatty pilot (James Austin Johnson) was good, but only because of Johnson’s perfect impression of flight intercom chatter.
Less successful were a half-baked mashup, “Beauty and Mr. Beast,” about the popular YouTuber, and a sorority sketch with Mikey Day as an interloping man wearing a bad facial disguise.
Glaser’s lengthy monologue may not have been as perfect a fit as it should have been, but her sketch performances were spot-on.
Musical guest Sombr performed “12 to 12” and “Back to Friends.” There was also a sweet and funny animated short, “Brad and His Dad,” about a divorced father trying to connect with his video game-obsessed 11-year-old.
In this week’s cold open, President Trump (James Austin Johnson) commented on the bizarre White House incident where a pharmaceutical representative (Jeremy Culhane) collapsed in the Oval Office while Trump was captured on camera looking away. As Trump put it in the sketch, “Someone dying in my office, I stand there and stare like a sociopath.” “Each week I try to create a visual,” he said, that represents what’s going on in the country like last week’s White House demolition. Trump walked over the fallen man to deliver a monologue on the week’s events, starting with the New York City mayoral election and concluding with SNAP benefit cuts and rising food prices. He offered that the cancellation of flights caused by the government shutdown will help by keeping families apart for Thanksgiving. “Killing two birds with one bird. Can’t afford food? Have some cheap Ozempic,” he said. Next up: stealing Christmas. “We’re doing Grinch!” Trump said.
Like a lot of “SNL” monologues from stand-up comics, Glaser’s was a microdose of her comedy act. As such, it was full of jokes about race, politics, sex acts and, for one uncomfortable stretch, the idea that someone (not Glaser, but maybe!) might suddenly realize they’re a pedophile. Glaser began by calling New York City “Epstein’s original island” before discussing white women being cultural appropriators by spray tanning, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (“I’m no health expert, but neither is he”), dating a short man with anger issues and PSAs in public bathrooms about human trafficking. In her 20s, Glaser joked, the only fear she had was “good old-fashioned rape.” The barrage of jokes was exactly what you expect from Glaser, but some of the jokes didn’t seem to land as well on the “SNL” stage as they typically would on roasts or in her own comedy specials.
Best sketch of the night: When declining a Jennifer Hudson spirit tunnel invite is the only option
“The Jennifer Hudson Show’s” signature bit, in which guests dance through a hallway while staffers clap and cheer them on, has become such a big deal that celebrities like Glaser, playing herself in this commercial, have major anxiety about their dancing. Glaser, a self-described “uncoordinated white woman” claims her dance moves are so bad they’re potentially career-ending. “I even tried to put my ass into it. But I don’t have one,” she laments. But luckily there’s a drug, Hudsacillin, that makes you so violently ill that the celebrity in question has to cancel their appearance. “What’s the alternative?” the ad asks, “lightening up and being fun?”
Also good: Maybe this pilot shouldn’t be texting, even on the tarmac
With all the flight delays and cancellations happening, this topical sketch was about a couple (Sherman and Andrew Dismukes) sitting on an airport runway waiting for their flight to take off while their pilot (Johnson) announces delays and also shares updates about a woman he’s texting that he met on a dating app. What really sells the piece is Johnson’s delivery as the pilot, but also the funny interactions he has with the co-pilot (Kam Patterson), Glaser as the disaffected flight attendant and a set of passengers who argue nonverbally about whether or not to get involved (Kenan Thompson and Bowen Yang).
‘Weekend Update’ winner: A way to visit Staten Island without going to Staten Island
As the only guest segment on “Weekend Update” this week, Pete Davidson’s check-in on the Staten Island Ferry he purchased a few years ago with Colin Jost wins by default. Davidson referenced a New York Times article about trouble with their business venture, but said, “I cant spend $5 on a paywall when I have a kid on the way.” He promised to give parenting, “all the enthusiasm I never had for this show.” Davidson revealed that the new plan for the ferry is to convert it to a city on the water, New Staten Island, with all the things that make Staten Island great: pizza (it turns out it’s just one thing). Davidson couldn’t resist getting in a dig at his old boss after saying he’s not giving up on the ferry. “If Lorne Michaels has taught us anything, it’s never give up even if everyone says the time has come and Tina Fey is ready to take over.”
They called him a “national treasure” and “true consumer champion”, stating: “Quentin brought the joy of motoring, from combustion to electric, into our living rooms.”
The statement added: “The void he has left can never be filled. His knowledge was not just learned but lived; a library of experience now beyond our reach,” reports the Express.
Besides serving as Top Gear’s used car specialist, and working as an campaigner and electric vehicle supporter, Willson appeared on Strictly in 2004.
He created history on the programme when his Cha Cha Cha with partner Hazel Newberry received the lowest score ever awarded by judges on the show, at just eight points.
He subsequently remarked he was “very proud” of it, acknowledging his poor dancing ability and saying: “I ‘m very proud to have the lowest recorded score on Strictly Come Dancing. Builders ran up to me to shake my hand because I failed so badly. I tried, but I was the dancing equivalent of a JCB.”
BBC Breakfast presenters paid tribute to Willson this morning, with Roger stating: “Jeremy Clarkson and James May have lead tributes to the former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson, who has died from lung cancer at the age of 68. His family said that he brought the joy of motoring into people’s living rooms.”
Reporter Graham Satchell said: “Quentin Willson’s presenting style on Top Gear was unforgettable. Direct, forthright, with a wry sense of humour.
“After Top Gear, Willson began campaigning to reduce the amount of tax that motorists paid on fuel, and then to try and make electric cars more affordable.
“He holds the ignominious record of having the lowest ever score on Strictly, 8 out of 40, his performance described as a Robin Reliant trying to make love to a Ferrari.
“Willson loved it, it was important, he said, for people in the public eye to make fun of themselves.
“The car was his first and last love, he named his daughters Mercedes and Mini.”
Satchell continued: “Tonight Quentin Willson’s family said the void he left can never be filled. His knowledge was not just learned but lived, a library of experience, now beyond our reach.”
The tributes follow heartfelt words from James May and Jeremy Clarkson, who wrote: ” I’m far away so I’ve only just heard that Quentin Willson has died. We had some laughs over the years. Properly funny man.”
May commented on X: “Quentin Wilson gave me proper advice and encouragement during my earliest attempts at TV, back in the late 90s. I’ve never forgotten it. Great bloke.”
BBC Breakfast airs from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.
HER face is her fortune, but Sydney Sweeney told co-stars not to hold back from punching it during her new boxing biopic.
The scenes for her role as US fighter Christy Martin may have been carefully choreographed, but they were so ferocious she suffered a bloodied nose and concussion.
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Sydney Sweeney told co-stars not to hold back during fight scenes for her new boxing biopicCredit: SplashSydney shows off the results of her intense trainingCredit: instagram/sydney_sweeneySydney in her role as US fighter Christy MartinCredit: Alamy
The 28-year-old actress said: “The girls and all the fights you see are real. When I walked in and I met with everyone, I said, ‘I want you to hit me. And I want you to hit me hard. And can I hit you?’.
“So when you watch all those fights, we’re actually hitting each other. We were knocking each other out, we were getting bloody noses. I got concussion. We were actually fighting.”
Sydney added of co-star Katy O’Brian, who plays ring rival Lisa Holewyne: “Katy is a badass. I mean, she is strong.
“Katy’s only request was, ‘Please don’t break my nose’.”
Sydney’s childhood in Idaho saw her “kickboxing and grappling” from the age of nine to 19, which helped with the fight scenes.
But her astonishing physical transformation — putting on more than 2st of muscle over three months — was hard-earned, with up to five hours of training a day and countless protein shakes chugged.
She said: “I built my own ‘Rocky’ gym in my grandma’s shed and I trained back home in Idaho.
“I worked with my weight trainer in the morning and night, and then I had a boxing coach I worked with every day for two to three hours.
“I put on 35 pounds during that time.”
The movie, called Christy, which opens in cinemas on November 28, tells the story of WBC female super welterweight champion Christy, now 57, who was a trailblazer in the 1990s and put women’s boxing on the map.
But her biggest battle was behind closed doors, as her marriage to her older manager Jim Martin descended into violence.
When she tried to leave him in 2010, he shot and stabbed her. He was found guilty of attempted murder and died in prison last year.
But for Sydney, it was the strained scenes between Christy and her mum that she found the hardest to film.
She said: “Everything that happens within the house towards the end of the story of her life in the film weighed on me emotionally. But the one I had the hardest time doing and just processing was when she asked for her mum’s help.
“I have such amazing parents and I can go to them for anything. And I couldn’t imagine how hard it was for Christy and for others that deal with that as well.
“And it broke my heart while I was making that scene.”
Christy Martin and Sydney Sweeney at the film’s premiereCredit: GettyReal-life champ Christy winning bout in 1997Credit: Reuters
As soon as Sydney heard Christy’s story, she told her team she had to have a part.
She said: “When I first read the script, I was completely blown away that I didn’t know who this woman was. She is one of the most inspiring women I’ve met in my life.”
For her part, Sydney’s grit and determination to succeed began at the age of ten, when she made a “five-year business plan presentation” to persuade her parents to let her try to become a movie star.
When they realised she was serious at 13, they made 38-hour round trips for auditions before relocating to Los Angeles to give her a better shot at stardom.
Sydney said: “It’s not easy. I didn’t get a project that helped open more doors until I was, like, 19, 20. And you get told ‘no’ endlessly by everyone.”
Sadly, her parents’ decision to relocate was a catalyst for them going bankrupt and they divorced in 2016.
But that setback only served to fuel Sydney’s drive.
She worked as a cleaner and babysitter before her break came in 2018, with roles in three big TV shows — The Handmaid’s Tale, Sharp Objects and Everything Sucks!.
A year later, she was cast as Cassie Howard in global hit Euphoria, and The White Lotus followed in 2021.
‘Really scary’
Movie hits also came with 2019’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, 2023’s Anyone But You and last year’s Madame Web and Immaculate.
In her love life, she has been linked to 44-year-old US record executive Scooter Braun, who she met at Amazon boss Jeff Bezos’ wedding to Lauren Sanchez in the summer.
But she has insisted: “I’m single.”
She was previously engaged to movie producer Jonathan Davino, but they split in March.
For now, she’s firmly focused on her career as it goes stratospheric.
Speculation has also been rife that, with Amazon now owning the James Bond franchise, Bezos wanted her to be a Bond Girl in the next movie.
She responded that it would depend on the script and that she would have “more fun” playing 007.
She said of her upcoming roles: “Of course I have projects that I’m working on and I’m developing and I can’t wait to do. It’s kind of like this crazy rollercoaster.
“You’re never sure if it’s going to go up or down or upside down.”
Her path to success, Sydney admits, has been a battle at times.
I was so nervous. It’s so weird when you’re playing somebody and then you meet them.
Sydney Sweeney
She said: “I know what it feels like to be underestimated, to have people define you before you have a chance to define yourself.
“I know what it feels like to have to prove that you deserve to be here, to be seen, to be taken seriously.”
During filming of the boxing biopic, Christy herself turned up every day on set with her Pomeranian emotional support dog Champ.
And Sydney has since formed a friendship with her, with the pair going to a Nascar event in Phoenix together last week.
It is a leap forward from their first meeting.
Sydney recalled: “I was so nervous. It’s so weird when you’re playing somebody and then you meet them.
“You’re like, ‘Do you like me? Are you going to like what I do?’. It’s really scary.”
And the star admits the role has made her see life differently.
She said: “I think Christy has changed me. I’m a huge believer in separating yourself as much as possible from your character.
Strictly Come Dancing’s Vicky Pattison and her professional partner Kai Widdrington topped the leaderboard on Saturday night (November 8) with 39 points
Vicky and Kai(Image: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing’s Vicky Pattison was over the moon as she achieved her highest score of the series, topping the leaderboard.
On Saturday night (November 8), Vicky and her professional partner Kai Widdrington wowed the audience with a Tango to Taylor Swift’s The Fate Of Ophelia.
The pair ended the night on a high note, achieving their personal best score of the series – an impressive 39 points. Craig Revel Horwood was full of praise, describing the performance as “perfect”, while Anton Du Beke admitted he was “a bit stunned” because it was “that good”.
He enthused: “I thought it was absolutely marvellous. I loved it. Your line is the best line I’ve ever seen. It was immaculate.” Meanwhile, Motsi Mabuse and head judge Shirley Ballas declared it their “dance of the night”, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Motsi gushed: “Last week I said you were a contender for the final, and this dance just proved what I meant. You confirmed my intuition. Without a doubt, you are on fire. Whatever is giving you that fire – keep it up. This was for me, till now, the dance of the night.”
After the show, Vicky took to Instagram to share her disbelief, posting a snapshot of the leaderboard with the caption: “This can not be real”. Saturday’s episode marked the halfway point of the series, with nine couples taking to the dance floor.
Hot on their heels in second place were West End star Amber Davies and professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin, who performed a Salsa to You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) by Sylvester.
The duo bagged two perfect 10s, racking up a total of 38 points – their highest in the series, which Craig enthusiastically labelled as: “Ah-mazing”.
HOLLYWOOD royalty Ariana Grande has arrived in the UK on a whirlwind stay fit for a princess.
The singer and actress flew in from Paris yesterday by private jet ready for the Wicked: For Good premiere in Leicester Square tomorrow.
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Ariana Grande has arrived in the UK on a whirlwind stay fit for a princessCredit: GettyAriana Grande is staying at the Raffles London at the OWOCredit: Alamy
The pint-sized pop queen touched down at Farnborough airport in Hampshire and was whisked away with her entourage to the five-star Raffles London at the OWO hotel.
I’m told the star, who plays Glinda, has hired six suites at £5,000 each a night for her trip — and chose the stunning building in Whitehall because she can easily enter and exit via the underground car park.
A source said: “Ariana’s team and the production crew from Wicked put their heads together to ensure Ariana is in luxury and comfort and has plenty of privacy.
“She will need plenty of time and space to prepare for her big red-carpet moment with her glamour squad.”
Ariana is believed to be attending the movie premiere with her boyfriend and Wicked co-star Ethan Slater, having ignored rumours that they have split.
But she will be mostly joined at the hip with British actress Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba.
Production company Universal has splashed out £100,000 on hiring art deco French restaurant Brasserie Zedel in Piccadilly for the after-party, where Ari will let her hair down.
On Friday night, Ariana showed off her hand tattoos at the film’s Paris premiere, and many fans believe the inkings are linked to the movie and her friendship with Cynthia.
She was joined by another co-star, Michelle Yeoh, as she greeted the crowds.
In just over a week’s time, Ariana is due back in America for the film’s premiere in New York.
Ariana was last week forced to miss the Wicked premiere in Brazil due to flight issues.
She had been expecting to walk the red carpet at the Sao Paulo event on Tuesday evening but was forced to get off the plane because of safety issues.
Taking to Instagram to share her disappointment, Ariana said that her team failed to find an alternative arrangement to get her to Sao Paolo in time.
Hopefully her stay in Blighty will be much smoother.
LILY TO CLEAN UP WITH GIRL BRAND
LILY ALLEN is certainly soaking up the success of her latest album, West End Girl.
She released the 14-track record last month following her split from husband David Harbour, who appears in supernatural TV series Stranger Things.
Lily Allen has applied to trademark the name West End Girl ahead of a tour that kicks off in MarchCredit: Daniel Arnold for Interview Magazine
I can reveal Lily, pictured here in her bra enjoying a bubble bath and pulling a funny face for a magazine shoot, has now applied to trademark the name West End Girl ahead of a tour that kicks off in March.
The trademark covers beauty items including cosmetics, fragrances, perfumery, sun cream and shampoo.
It also includes sunglasses, jewellery, bags, clothing, footwear and headgear.
Her album jumped to No2 in the Official Albums Chart this week.
Lily was left devastated when her four-year marriage to American actor David broke down last December.
The couple met on celebrity dating app Raya and moved to New York after tying the knot in 2020.
However, she has since moved back to London with her two daughters from her first marriage.
It comes as the Not Fair singer is gearing up for her 14-date tour in March, which starts at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall.
Fans are begging for more dates after the tour sold out in minutes this week.
If I can’t pin down a ticket, at least I’ll be able to get my hands on some Lily Allen bubble bath instead.
AFRICA A WINTER WONDER LAND
FORMER Love Islander Faye Winter is swapping her beach bag for a backpack to do community and conservation work in Africa.
The reality star, left, who found fame on the ITV2 dating show in 2021, is running a volunteer trip to Zimbabwe this month.
Faye Winter will be doing community and conservation work in AfricaCredit: Getty
She has already given up the party lifestyle in London to return to her roots in Devon, where she lives with her golden retriever Bonnie and two rescue ponies, Keith and Kevin.
Faye told me: “I was out of my comfort zone living away from the countryside.
“The only thing that kept me going was my guide dog volunteer work. I find it so fulfilling, I’m not a party girl at all.”
Looking back on her life after the show, Faye admits that she wasn’t happy.
She said: “I struggled with the fact it was all about where you were seen.
“It felt materialistic. Giving back is so much more meaningful.”
HOLLY’S HAPPY MEALS
HOLLY WILLOUGHBY is a woman after my own heart when it comes to hangover cures.
The TV presenter said only a McDonald’s can soothe her after too many drinks the night before.
Holly Willoughby said only a McDonald’s can cure her hangoverCredit: instagram/hollywilloughby
Asked what her go-to recovery meal is, Holly told a magazine: “I want a McDonald’s quarter pounder with cheese and if it hasn’t got a pickle on it, I’m gonna throw it back at you.
“I order extra pickles every time. Then I want skinny fries that are as salty as possible.
“I know some people think McDonald’s makes you feel rotten, but I just love it.
“You can tell how often I go because there are so many selfies of me sat in my car, taken by the drive-thru staff.”
Sounds like Holly is lovin’ it.
SLIMLINE JEN KIDS AROUND
HOLLYOAKS’ Jennifer Metcalfe has revealed the secret to her trim figure – she orders child portions.
The actress, who plays Mercedes McQueen in the Channel 4 soap, said smaller helpings mean she can have more of what she fancies.
During the show’s 30th anniversary celebrations at St George’s Hall in Liverpool, she said: “I eat what I want, when I want – small portions.
“Yesterday, me and my friend were out for five hours.
“We wanted a roast dinner, so I got a child’s portion, then we went to our local Indian and had poppadoms and all of the chutney.
“I have been eating loads recently, but my motto is ‘eat small amounts of everything you want’.”
Jennifer said she has just signed a year’s contract with Hollyoaks, adding: “We are making this 30th year count.”
WHAT WE ATE: Mini burgers, pigs in blankets and pick ’n’ mix sweets.
Emily with Santa at Tangle Teezer’s Christmas partyCredit: Supplied
WHAT WE DRANK: Aperol spritz, Moscow mule and appletini cocktails.
WHO WAS THERE: Molly-Mae Hague’s hairdresser Jack Luckhurst, model Amanda Chrishell, influencer Tyra Baylis and our Emily, pictured with a handsome Santa.
TAYLOR & SABRINA’S HEIGHT ON THE TOWN
IT was the little and large show as chart superstars Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift went on a night out in New York.
Sabrina, who is 5ft, looked glamorous in a white roll-neck jumper and trench coat for the evening in SoHo restaurant.
Sabrina Carpenter wore a white roll-neck jumper and trench coat for a night out with Taylor SwfitCredit: GettyTaylor showed off her long legs in a pleated mini-skirt and polo shirt.Credit: GettyThe pair recently collaborated on The Life Of A ShowgirlCredit: Getty
Meanwhile, 5ft 9in Taylor showed off her long legs in a pleated mini-skirt and polo shirt.
It comes after Sabrina recently collaborated with Taylor on The Life Of A Showgirl track from her album of the same name.
CORKING HAT, LIAM
LIAM GALLAGHER gets into the Aussie spirit as he struts his stuff in a cork hat on tour Down Under.
The Oasis singer, who is normally known for wearing a bucket hat, was on stage in Melbourne, complete with maracas, as part of the Live ’25 tour with brother Noel.
Liam Gallagher on stage in SydneyCredit: instagram/oasis
The band played in Sydney last night and will head to Buenos Aires in Argentina for a show next Saturday.
NBC’s new primetime comedy “Stumble” is a love letter to cheer. Or should that be “Cheer,” the hit Netflix docuseries that catapulted a sport with high-flying stunts, squad drama, bedazzled uniforms and lots of makeup, into the cultural zeitgeist?
For “Stumble” showrunners Liz and Jeff Astrof, it’s both. Like much of America, the siblings say they became obsessed with the champion cheerleaders of Navarro College and their no-nonsense coach Monica Aldama, whose exploits were captured in Greg Whiteley’s two-season series that premiered in 2020. The show broke the notion that cheerleading was simply made up of pony-tailed girls waving pompoms on the sidelines, showcasing the athleticism of the sport, its competitiveness and its diversity — the cheerleaders, male and female, came from varying social, economic and racial backgrounds.
Jeff watched the documentary at the insistence of his sister and was quickly hooked.
“I said, ‘You know what we should do? We should do a show where Monica goes down to the worst college in America. We’ll call it ‘Stumble,’” he recalls during a recent video call with Liz.
The idea tumbled in their heads for a time, but it took a while for it to lift off the ground. Both siblings were busy working on different TV projects — Liz on her Fox sitcom “Pivoting,” and Jeff on his Starz horror comedy “Shining Vale” — when the 2023 Hollywood strikes hit. But the timing allowed them to think about “Stumble” again.
“That’s when I really dug in,” Liz says.
“And we got to call Monica,” Jeff adds. “She’s our best friend. We even put that in the pitch, that she’s our best friend now.”
When I relay the sentiment to Aldama over a separate video call from New York, where the show is being filmed, she smiles and laughs. “Oh my goodness, they are the absolute best,” she says in her soft Texan twang.
The former Navarro coach serves as an executive producer on “Stumble” and also as its cheer consultant, bringing her decades of experience as one of America’s top collegiate cheer coaches. And while the show, premiering Friday and streaming next day on Peacock, takes some elements from the docuseries — it’s a mockumentary — it’s important to note that “Stumble” isn’t a one-to-one adaptation of “Cheer.”
The series follows Courteney Potter, played by Jenn Lyon (“Justified,” “Dead Boy Detectives”), a champion cheer coach at the fictional Sammy Davis Sr. Junior College, who is fired after a problematic video surfaces. Tammy Istiny, played by Kristin Chenoweth, takes over as interim coach — though she’s not as heartbroken about Courteney’s departure as she initially lets on. Courteney isn’t deterred, however, and she finds another coaching job at Headltston State Junior College in Oklahoma (the team mascot is a candy button, the town’s main industry), where she works to build a squad from the ground up. The character is very loosely based on Aldama, sporting the same flowy blouses, skinny jeans, heeled boots and all-business attitude.
Courteney Potter, center, played by Jenn Lyon, is very loosely based on Monica Aldama.
(Matt Miller / NBC)
“She is incredible,” said Aldama about Lyon. “I can tell she has put so much time into studying me [and] cheerleading coaches. She asks very thoughtful questions when it comes to how to deliver a line, or if the wording is correct. We never actually sat down and spent a long time with questions. And it’s fascinating to me because it’s body language, it’s delivery, it’s everything — she really did a great job.”
Meanwhile, the squad is composed of misfits, hotheads, third-year “seniors” and even a narcoleptic tumbler with a solid split. Some of the characters feel familiar — they’re an amalgamation of personalities from “Cheer.” Krystal (Anissa Borrego) might remind you of Gabi Butler, the cheer influencer, and Dimarcus (Jarrett Austin Brown) has a fiery spirit similar to La’Darius Marshall, whose combative relationship with Aldama came to a head in Season 2 of “Cheer.” But otherwise, the similarities are fleeting.
For Aldama, working on the series marks yet another shift in her life and career, much of it spent in Corsicana, Texas, where Navarro is located and where she still calls home. After serving as head cheer coach for nearly three decades, she retired in 2023.
“You know, it’s scary to have change,” she said. “What I have learned about being in the spotlight is that there are going to be a lot of things said about you. … I view things a lot differently now.”
Her retirement came after a series of events: First, Jerry Harris, one of the breakout stars of “Cheer,” was charged with sex crimes involving minors in 2020. Season 2 showed how the team grappled with his arrest; Harris pleaded guilty in 2022 and is currently serving a 12-year sentence. Then in early 2023, a civil lawsuit was filed by a former Navarro cheerleader, who accused Aldama of attempting to keep a sexual assault claim quiet. Aldama steadfastly denied the accusations, and her name was later dropped from the suit.
The Astrofs’ goal was to lean into the good things that “Cheer” showcased, emphasizing how much “Stumble” is a loose adaptation. “There’s darkness in everything, and we don’t go there,” said Jeff in reference to Harris. “For me and for Liz, the music is fun, the underdog nature of these kids and … seeing these actors do cheer and some of them … hadn’t even been in TV shows before. It’s like that excitement — it’s contagious. That’s what we’re looking at.”
Ultimately, the events of the past haven’t deterred Aldama from trying new pursuits. After all, her path was already curving toward Hollywood. After “Cheer” became a hit in 2020, she was cast in Season 29 of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” giving her a taste of the limelight outside of her world. She also released a memoir in 2022. Now, she’s trying her hand at scripted television with “Stumble.”
“It’s obviously very different because I am learning a lot. I ask a lot of questions,” she said. “They [Liz and Jeff] asked me many times, ‘How deep do you want to go?’ I want to be in every meeting. I want to learn. I want to hear every conversation … but I do a lot more listening than anything at this moment.”
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1.Showrunners Jeff and Liz Astrof on the set of “Stumble.”(Matt Miller / NBC)2.The cast on set with Monica Aldama, who is the show’s cheer consultant.(Danielle Mathias / NBC)3.Aldama on set.(Matt Miller / NBC)
The Astrofs have been in the industry as writers and producers for more than two decades, each creating their own projects for television. Though they’ve worked together before — Liz on Jeff’s series “Trial & Error” and on Season 2 of “Shining Vale” — it’s the first time the pair have joined forces as showrunners.
Working on “Stumble” and coming up with a pilot together was easy for the siblings (Jeff: “We wrote the whole thing on Post-it notes”). It’s evident they are close, often completing each other’s sentences in the course of the interview. And they agreed that having Aldama was essential to making the series, particularly when it came to depicting the cheer routines and getting the nomenclature right.
“We needed to have authenticity to cheer, because we didn’t know anything about [the] cheer world,” Jeff said.
“We had to have Monica,” Liz said. “I really just wanted to meet her. I wanted her to be involved in every single thing, just so I could see her every day.”
Her expertise was important to them as was getting the world of cheerleading right. To help with that, Aldama enlisted Dahlston Delgado, who was featured on “Cheer,” to work as a choreographer on the show. Together they recruited extras with cheer experience via social media and through their many contacts in the cheer world. The cast did many of the routines, but stunt doubles were used in some instances, and real cheerleaders were used as part of the Buttons, Headltston’s squad.
Aldama and Delgado were given freedom to decide what routines would look like, while the Astrofs would focus on writing the dialogue for the show. “In a script, we’ll just write, ‘The team does an incredible cheer,’” Jeff says. “We’ll be in a production meeting, and Monica and Dahlston will be like, can you explain what you mean by ‘incredible cheer’?”
They ran with the limited guidance, however, putting together routines quickly, rehearsing in a couple of hours and taping them. “I think everybody not in our world just could not believe how quickly they learned a routine, with most of them not knowing each other and not ever working together,” Aldama said of the cheer squad. “They were just talented.”
“She’s magical,” Liz said.
“Monica is, even from the pilot, she’s so good at what she does, I would let her do toe surgery on me,” Jeff said.
Kristin Chenoweth as Tammy Istiny, left, and Monica Aldama as herself in the “Stumble” pilot.
(Matt Miller / NBC)
Aldama even makes a cameo in the first episode, comforting Chenoweth’s Tammy when the Sammy Davis squad learns Courteney has been let go. While she may be used to being in front of the camera nowadays, Aldama considers what more she’d like to do behind the scenes.
“I think everybody has their strengths,” she said. “And writing … I like where I’m at right now, where I can read the script and say, ‘Well, maybe this,’ and add a little bit to it. I would definitely be open to producing other shows in the future.”
For the showrunners, the compressed timeline between when the show was picked up by NBC in July to production to air meant that they had to make some compromises, including where the show was filmed. The pilot was shot in Georgia, but they wanted to shoot the series in L.A., where the writers’ room is based, but it eventually landed in New York because of the financial incentives and it’s where much of the cast is located. (The Astrofs wouldn’t mind if it ended up in L.A. at some point.)
Nonetheless, they’re optimistic about how the show will be received and having Aldama on board to add credibility from a cheer perspective was the ultimate goal for them because they love the sport.
“We just want to be funny with heart and, like, just people root for it,” Jeff said.
Sir Rod Stewart performed at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance on BBC One
Frankie Collins and Abbie Bray Deputy Editor for Screen Time
22:26, 08 Nov 2025
Sir Rod Stewart’s lively performance at this year’s Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at London’s Royal Albert Hall left some viewers unimpressed.
The 79-year-old music icon kicked off the annual event, attended by high-ranking royals and military veterans, with a spirited rendition that split opinions among home audiences.
Despite the evening being dedicated to honouring the nation’s fallen heroes, some fans suggested his hip-shaking moves were “not exactly in the spirit of remembrance.”
One disgruntled viewer posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Because Rod Stewart gyrating his hips is how we all want to pay tribute to the fallen.”
Another commented, “Rod Stewart’s really going for it, but I’m not sure those hip gyrations are exactly in the spirit of remembrance,” and questioned, “Is this appropriate?” according to the Daily Express.
Someone else added, “Rod Stewart is totally inappropriate for the Festival of Remembrance.”
However, many came to the defence of the veteran singer, highlighting his decades-long history of entertaining troops and supporting military charities.
One fan praised, “Sir Rod Stewart on bbc1 tonight made me so very proud and all our soldiers and airmen, and LADIES GOD BLESS YOU ALL THANKYOU YOUR ALL AMAZING THANKYOU.” (sic)
Someone else complimented, “Sir Rod Stewart isn’t looking (or sounding) half bad for a man of 80! Good for him.”
Sie Rod, who previously performed at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, has a long-standing commitment to charity work supporting the armed forces. He returned to the stage a second time to perform his hit song, Sailing.
The evening, held at the Royal Albert Hall and presented by Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham, also saw performances from Sam Ryder, Keala Settle, Blessing Offor, and The Wellermen, alongside moving displays by the Central Band of the RAF and Royal Marines Band Service.
This year’s Festival of Remembrance commemorated the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II and paid tribute to the bravery of those who served, while also recognising the resilience of military families and the advancements made since the prohibition on LGBT service personnel was removed 25 years ago.
Viewers applauded the entire show, sharing their thoughts online: “The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance is always so beautifully put together. An incredible tribute to those who serve & have served our country.”
Some acknowledged the sacrifices being remembered whilst criticising the current state of Britain’s borders. One viewer commented: “In the year that our government admitted that they have lost control of our border, it makes the #festivalofremembrance more poignant than ever. Let us pray we don’t see the day when we admit they all died in vain.”
Many were left feeling emotional during the annual commemoration, with one viewer confessing: “10 minutes in and I’m already in tears.”
Another shared: “Imagine not seeing your baby until it was 9 months old. It’s incomprehensible. We owe these men and women so much.”
Hannah Waddingham received acclaim for her “simply superb” hosting and “stunning” vocal performance as she sang “We’ll Meet Again”.
MOLLY-MAE Hague has revealed that she is struggling to sell her home as she admits ‘it’s an end of an era’.
The 26-year-old former Love Island icon’s gated mansion, which was bought for £3.8m in April 2022, is proving to be tricky for the mum-of-one to flog.
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Molly-Mae Hague admitted that she is struggling to sell her homeCredit: YoutubeShe got candid on her latest YouTube uploadCredit: Youtube
Speaking on her latest vlog, Molly-Mae said: “Like I still don’t know what I’m doing in terms of this house.”
She added how it has got to the point where “a lot of big decisions need to be made in terms of what I’m going to do with this house and I’ve mentioned it [but] I don’t want to sell it”.
The influencer went on: “I don’t particularly want to rent it out but then equally, what am I keeping it for? I don’t know.
She later added: “Like there’s some things, that I know in my mind like I’m ready to do, and I want to do, but like in terms of this house…
“This house will always be so incredibly sentimental to me.”
Molly-Mae said how the house “is everything to me” and “represents so much more than just a house”.
“I don’t know. I think just like need to figure out like what the next few months is going to look like in terms of where I basically go from here and with this house.”
She then said how she would ideally like her mum to move up from down south, but she cannot as her mum’s husband has an amazing job down south.
Molly-Mae continued chatting about her situation before saying how she felt “emotional and a bit weird, just like it’s kind of the end of an era”.
She added: “I told him the quotes I had from the other companies and he was like, ‘Yeah, like they’re basically charging you about basically triple what it should be.’
“I didn’t think I was going crazy.”
Molly-Mae also revealed in her vlog how she had almost gotten ripped off by some gardenersCredit: YouTubeMolly-Mae is currently renovating a stunning home in CheshireCredit: Instagram
