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Professional dancer Jowita Przystal has been a part of Strictly since 2022 – and even won that year. But now fans have been left fearing she is set to walk away from the ballroom for good.

Strictly Come Dancing professional Jowita Przystal has addressed her future on the show after hinting she has quit. The 31-year-old dancer joined the cast of the BBC show in 2022 – winning that year alongside wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin.

She then danced with cyclist Jody Cundy, 47, in 2023 – and caused a frenzy when she danced with notorious Lothario Pete Wicks, 37, during the 2024 competition. But fans are now fearing that the 2025 contest has been the last for Jowita – after she shared a cryptic message online.

For the latest season of the show – which concluded over the weekend – the Polish dance star was partnered with Scottish presenter Ross King, 63. However, the pair were the second couple to be booted off the show after failing to impress viewers and the judges.

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Following Saturday night’s live final – in which footballer Karen Carney and dancer Carlos Gu won – Jowita took to Instagram to share a photograph of herself alongside Ross. Fans were left startled and alarmed when she added a caption stating: “Last dance partner on strictly floor x.”

Her comment provoked a flurry of speculation, with one fan fearfully commenting online: “Jowita just shared this! Is this her last year?” Another, fearing the worst, replied: “I wondered also. I hope not she is my fav female pro.” While a further fan remarked “it would be a weird way to announce something like that.”

Jowita later returned to Instagram Stories to share a photo of herself posing alongside other Strictly professionals. And in an accompanying caption, she clarified her prior comment. She wrote: “So grateful for being a part of the best show on tv. And just to clarify my last post it was about my last dance with ross, not me leaving the show. Hopefully far from my last dance on that dance floor.”

Fans of Strictly have been left devastated, however, by the fact that hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman won’t return to the show. The duo stunned fans in October when they abruptly announced that they would be quitting the show at the end of the year and won’t return to host the 2026 season.

And on Saturday night, the ladies bid farewell to the series. Tess, 56, who has hosted the show since it began back in 2004 shared an emotional message to fans on social media after working through the final.

She wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post: “So that’s a wrap. What an incredible Final – fitting for what, for me, has been an absolutely brilliant series. Strictly is a show that is made with love, where joy is the currency and the only agenda. That love is down to every single member of the brilliant team that makes it, because to none of them is it just a job. It is a gift, and it is truly treasured. I will be forever grateful for the unforgettable years I have spent sharing this magical show with you. I’ll miss the Strictly viewers, because they are the very best, the most loyal and supportive, and as passionate about the show as I have always been. It has been the most wonderful privilege to have shared it with you all for so many years.”

She concluded: “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the memories of a lifetime.” Her post included a montage video from the final night, with the star dazzling in a sequin gown. While co-host Claudia looked sharp in a tailored suit, with the catchphrase “Keep dancing” emblazoned across her back.

In a post of her own, Claudia shared a backstage photo of herself with Tess as they walked hand in hand to the main stage. In a simple message, she wrote: “For the last time… I love you @tessdaly,” and added a red heart emoji.

And in a later post, she shared a photograph of Karen and Carlos accepting their trophy after winning the show. She wrote alongside the image: “Massive congratulations to our amazing winners @kazcarney and @gkx_carlos and also to the brilliant @amb_d @nikita__kuzmin and @georgeclarkeey and @alexis_warr – what a final, what a team.”

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THE Muppet Show is making a 50th birthday comeback — with pop superstar Sabrina Carpenter joining as a special guest. 

Disney has revealed Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the gang are back for a one-off special, more than four decades after the curtain came down on the beloved original series.

The show will stream on Disney+ from February 4, promising fans “music, comedy and a whole lot of chaos” from the original Muppet Theatre.

In a teaser clip, Kermit’s green arm can be seen turning on the lights of an old studio, before placing down a mug with his name on it.

The show originally ran from 1976 to 1981, with a generation of kids singing along to the theme tune: “It’s time to play the music. It’s time to light the lights.”

The series became so popular that big name stars clamoured to be guests, including Sir Elton John, Johnny Cash, Diana Ross, John Cleese and Debbie Harry.

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It was broadcast in more than 100 countries and in 1978 Time magazine called the show “the most popular television entertainment now being produced on Earth”.

The series won a host of awards, including Emmy, Grammy and Bafta gongs.

Despite the lights going out on the main series, the Muppets Tonight talk show ran from 1996 to 1998.

Other short-lived TV projects followed, including a mockumentary series in 2015, the Muppets Now short form series in 2020 and The Muppets Mayhem musical comedy series in 2023.

A host of movies included The Great Muppet Caper in 1981 and The Muppet Christmas Carol in 1992.

The last film, Muppets Most Wanted, in 2014, starred British comedian Ricky Gervais.

Muppets creator Jim Henson died in 1990 and Disney bought the rights in 2004.

Sabrina, who has had four UK No1 singles and two UK No1 albums, is an executive producer for the new show, as is Canadian comedian and actor Seth Rogen, who was in the 2020 series.

Kevin Hart is almost impossible to avoid.

The stand-up comic turned actor has spent the past decade as one of Hollywood’s most bankable and visible stars, headlining megahits like the “Jumanji” films alongside a steady output of comedies and animated features, while still selling out arena tours and releasing hit Netflix comedy specials. Off-screen, his face turns up everywhere: pitching banking apps, tequila and energy drinks.

For a long time, that kind of omnipresence carried real security in Hollywood.

In the era of artificial intelligence, though, that guarantee has begun to erode. A quick Google search for “Kevin Hart AI” turns up unofficial versions of his voice, available with a few clicks.

A series on how the AI revolution is reshaping the creative foundations of Hollywood — from storytelling and performance to production, labor and power.

That helps explain why, one evening last month on the Fox lot, the head of Hart’s entertainment company, Hartbeat, was on an industry panel talking not about box office or release strategies but AI. Jeff Clanagan painted a picture of a landscape in which movie stardom is no longer protected by traditional channels, as attention splinters across platforms and audiences fragment. In that environment, AI can be both a risk and a lever.

“The most valuable resource right now is attention,” Clanagan told the audience of 150 studio executives, filmmakers, investors and technologists gathered at Hollywood X, an invitation-only event focused on responsible adoption of AI. “You’re competing for it everywhere — everybody is always on a second screen. That fragmentation is where the disruption is.”

Hollywood was built on the idea that a small number of stars could reliably command attention and turn it into leverage. As AI and algorithm-driven platforms reshape how attention is created and distributed, even the most recognizable names are newly exposed — not only to dilution but to the prospect of being replaced altogether.

Jeff Clanagan, right, president and chief distribution officer of Kevin Hart’s entertainment company, Hartbeat, speaking on a panel at last month’s Hollywood X event.

(Randall Michelson)

In parts of Asia, synthetic performers are no longer hypothetical. In Japan, the anime-style virtual pop star Hatsune Miku has sold out concerts and headlined festivals. In China, AI hosts run shopping streams on the video platform Douyin. And in the U.S., Lil Miquela, a computer-generated influencer created by the Los Angeles startup Brud, has amassed millions of followers and appeared in major fashion campaigns, including a Calvin Klein ad with Bella Hadid.

For studios, brands and producers, the appeal isn’t hard to see. A virtual performer doesn’t call in sick, miss a shoot or carry off-screen baggage. There’s no aging out of roles, no scheduling crunch. They don’t need trailers, negotiate contracts or arrive with riders, entourages and expense accounts in tow.

The old mythology was that a star might be discovered at Schwab’s lunch counter or in an audition room. Hollywood has always chased the “it factor.” What happens when the performer is, quite literally, an it?

That question came into sharp focus this fall with the appearance of Tilly Norwood, a photorealistic, AI-generated character that took the guise of a rising British actor, styled to read mid-20s and approachable — exactly the kind of star Hollywood is always looking for.

It landed in an industry already on edge. Hollywood was still reeling from strikes, layoffs and a prolonged contraction, with anxiety about AI simmering just below the surface. The response was immediate and visceral.

SAG-AFTRA warned that projects like Tilly risked relying on what the union called “stolen performances,” arguing that AI-generated actors draw on the work of real performers without consent or compensation, concerns that were central to the union’s 2023 strike. On a Variety podcast, Emily Blunt was shown an image of Tilly and paused. “No — are you serious? That’s an AI?” she said. “Good Lord, we’re screwed.”

SAG-AFTRA members march in one “Unity Picket” on strike day 111 at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank on Nov. 1, 2023.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Even some of Hollywood’s most tech-forward figures have drawn a line. On the press tour for his latest film, “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” James Cameron — the director who once warned of Skynet in “The Terminator” — called the idea of AI replacing actors “horrifying,” arguing that human performance would become increasingly “sacred.”

Yves Bergquist, an AI researcher who directs the AI in Media Project at the USC Entertainment Technology Center — a think tank supported by major studios and technology companies — expects AI to continue to encroach on territory once reserved solely for humans.

“Will we see AI movie stars?” Bergquist asks. “Probably.” But he draws a line between what the technology can generate and what audiences are willing to invest in emotionally.

“Prince writing his songs is a great story,” he says. “Pushing a button and making music is not. Very soon — it’s already starting — we’re going to have this us-versus-them mentality. These are the machines and we’re the humans. And we’re not the same.”

The actor that didn’t exist

“Are you allowed to speak to me from L.A.?” Eline van der Velden, the creator of Tilly Norwood, asks with a quick, nervous laugh on a video call from London — a nod to how radioactive the subject of synthetic performers has become.

The question isn’t entirely a joke. Three months ago, when Van der Velden presented her latest project at an industry conference in Zurich, it touched off one of Hollywood’s most heated debates yet over AI and performance, one that still hasn’t fully cooled.

Van der Velden, 39, came up as an actor before pivoting into production, eventually landing in London, where she founded Particle6, a digital production company known for short-form video work for broadcasters and major platforms. She was in Zurich to introduce its newest offshoot, Xicoia, an AI studio designed to build and manage original synthetic characters for entertainment, advertising and social media. “It’s not a talent agency — we’re making characters,” she says. “So it’s really like a Marvel universe studio in a way.”

Eline van der Velden, creator of the AI-constructed Tilly Norwood, at Web Summit 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal.

(Florencia Tan Jun/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Tilly Norwood was meant to be the first and most visible example of that approach. Conceived as a recurring character with an unfolding story arc, Tilly was built to exist across short-form videos and scripted scenarios. As part of the Zurich presentation, Van der Velden screened a short satirical video titled “AI Commissioner,” introducing Tilly as a “100% AI-generated” actor — smiling on a red carpet and breaking down on a talk-show couch.

Other short videos featuring Tilly had already circulated online, including a montage placing her in familiar movie genres and a parody riffing on Sydney Sweeney’s controversial American Eagle jeans ad (“My genes are binary”). The “AI Commissioner” video itself had been posted on YouTube months earlier. By then, photorealistic synthetic characters were no longer novel and similar experiments were spreading online.

In Hollywood, it triggered an immediate backlash. Press accounts out of Zurich, amplified by Van der Velden’s remark that Tilly might soon be signed to an agent, collided with an industry already on edge about AI. Van der Velden was stunned at the intensity of the outcry: “Tilly was meant to be for entertainment,” she says. “It’s not to be taken too seriously. I think people have taken her way too seriously.”

Across the industry, working actors, already facing shrinking opportunities, recoiled at the idea of a fabricated performer potentially taking real jobs. Some called for a boycott of any agents who might take on Norwood. Speaking to The Times, SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin demanded that the real-life actors used for AI modeling be compensated. “They need to know that it’s happening,” he said. “They need to give permission for it and they need to be bargained with.”

As the coverage ricocheted far beyond the trades and went global, the reaction escalated just as quickly. Asked when she knew Tilly had struck a nerve, Van der Velden answers matter-of-factly: “When I got the death threats. That’s when I was like, oh — this has taken a very different turn.”

Van der Velden understands why the idea of a synthetic performer unsettled people, especially in a business already raw from layoffs, strikes and contraction. “Tilly is showing what we can do with the tech at this moment in time, and that is frightening,” she says. But she argues that much of the backlash rests on fears that, in her view, haven’t yet materialized — at least not in the way people imagine them.

Tilly Norwood, an AI construct created by Particle6.

(Particle6)

“There’s a bad reputation around AI,” she says. “People try to swing all sorts of things at it, like, ‘Oh, it’s taking my job.’ Well, I don’t know of anyone whose acting job has actually been taken by AI. And Tilly certainly hasn’t taken anyone’s job.”

Union representatives argue that displacement is already occurring through subtler mechanisms: background roles increasingly filled by digital doubles, commercials replacing actors with synthetic performers and projects that never get greenlighted because AI offers a cheaper alternative. The impact shows up not in pink slips but in opportunities that vanish before auditions are ever held.

Even as the controversy grew, Van der Velden says she began hearing something else privately. Producers and executives reached out, curious about what Tilly could do, with several asking about placing the character in traditional film or television projects — offers she says she declined. “That’s not what Tilly was made for,” she says.

Van der Velden insists the character was never intended to replace actors, framing Tilly instead as part of a different creative lineage, closer to animation. “I was an actor myself — I absolutely love actors,” she says. “I love pointing a camera at a real actress. Please don’t stop casting actors. That’s not the aim of the game.”

With a background in musical theater and physics, Van der Velden spent her early career in Los Angeles acting, improvising at Upright Citizens Brigade and making YouTube sketches. An alter ego she created, Miss Holland — designed to make fun of rigid beauty standards — won an online comedy award and helped launch her career in the U.K., where she founded Particle6.

Tilly began as an exercise: Could Van der Velden design a virtual character who felt instantly familiar, the kind of approachable young woman audiences would naturally be drawn to? “It’s like building a Barbie doll,” she says, noting at one point she considered making Tilly half robot. “I had fun making her. It was a creative itch.”

She pushes back on the idea that synthetic characters are simply stitched together from parts of real people. “People think you take this actress’ eyes and nose and that actress’ mouth,” she says. “That’s not how it works at all.”

Over six months, a team of about 15 people at Particle6 worked on developing Tilly, generating more than 2,000 visual versions and testing nearly 200 names before selecting Tilly Norwood, one that fit what Van der Velden calls the “English rose” aesthetic they were looking for and wasn’t already taken. “It’s very human-led,” Van der Velden says, likening AI tools to a calculator for creatives. “You need taste. You need judgment. You still have to call the shots.”

Even as the technology advances, the uncanny valley remains a stubborn barrier. Van der Velden says Tilly has improved over the last six months, but only through sustained human steering. “It takes a lot of work to get it right,” she says.

That labor, she says, is what separates an emerging form of storytelling worth taking seriously from AI slop. “I’ve seen some genuinely amazing work coming out of AI filmmaking,” she says. “It’s a different art form but a real one.”

She sees Tilly less as a provocation than as a reflection. “She represents this moment of fear in our industry as a piece of art. But I would say to people: Don’t be fearful. We can’t wish AI away. It’s here. The question is, how do we use it positively?”

Her focus now is on what she calls Tilly’s “inside” — the personality, memory and backstory that give the character continuity over time. That interior life is being built with Particle6’s proprietary system, DeepFame, software designed to give the character memory and behavioral consistency from one appearance to the next.

“People ask me things like what her favorite food is,” Van der Velden says. “I’m not going to answer for Tilly. She has a voice of her own. I’d rather you ask her yourself — very soon.”

Hollywood fights back

While Van der Velden wishes the industry were less afraid of what AI might become, Alexandra Shannon is helping Hollywood arm itself for what’s already here.

As head of strategic development at Creative Artists Agency, one of the industry’s most powerful agencies, Shannon works with actors, filmmakers and estates trying to navigate what generative technology means for their work — and their identities.

The questions she hears tend to fall into two camps. “First is, how do I protect myself — my likeness, my voice, my work?” she says. “And then there’s the flip side: How do I engage with this, but do it safely?”

Those concerns led to the creation of the CAA Vault, a secure repository for approved digital scans of a client’s face and voice. Shannon describes it as a way to capture a likeness once, then allow performers to decide when and where it can be used — for example, in one shot created for one film. It doesn’t eliminate uncertainty, she says, but it gives talent something they’ve rarely had since AI companies entered the picture: control.

“There’s a legitimate way to work with them,” she adds. “Anything outside that isn’t authorized.”

Creative Artists Agency’s headquarters in Century City, where talent representatives are grappling with how to protect clients’ likenesses.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Those risks are no longer abstract. Unauthorized AI-generated images and videos resembling Scarlett Johansson have circulated online. Deepfake ads have falsely enlisted Tom Hanks to promote medical products. AI-generated images have placed Taylor Swift in fabricated scenarios she never endorsed. Once a likeness becomes live and responsive, Shannon says, control can erode quickly.

For all the panic around AI, Shannon rejects the idea that digital likeness will undercut human stars overnight. “It’s not about all of a sudden you can work with Brad Pitt and you can do it for a fraction of the cost,” Shannon says. “That is not where we see the market going.”

What CAA is intent on preserving, she says, isn’t just a face or a voice but the accumulated meaning of a career.

“For an individual artist, their body of work is built over years of creative decisions — what roles to take, what brands or companies to work with, and just as importantly, what roles not to do, what companies not to support,” she adds. “That body of work is a fundamental expression of who they are.”

Shannon doesn’t dispute that the tools are improving or that some AI-native personas will find an audience. But she believes their growth will sharpen, not weaken, what distinguishes human performance in the first place. “In a world where there’s this vast proliferation of AI-generated content, people will continue to crave live, shared, human-centered experiences,” she contends. “I think it’s only going to make those things more valuable.”

Not everyone is convinced the balance will tilt so neatly.

“The genie’s out of the bottle,” Christopher Travers says by phone from Atlanta, where he runs Travers Tech, advising companies and individual creators on generative video and digital-identity strategy. “There are now more than a million characters across all sorts of media, from VTubers to AI-generated performers.”

Travers got his start in generative AI with the backing of Mark Cuban, founding Virtual Humans in 2019, a startup focused on computer-generated performers and digital identities. These days, his journey would have been much easier. “It costs nearly nothing now,” he says. “And when cost drops, volume increases. There’s pressure on celebrities to keep up.”

Having watched countless virtual characters come and go, Travers wasn’t particularly impressed with Tilly Norwood herself. What mattered to him was the reaction.

“Tilly is maybe 1% of the story,” he says. “The other 99% is the worry and the fear. What it did was strike a chord. We all needed to have this conversation.”

What stardom looks like now

Few people have spent more time inside Hollywood’s old star-making system than mega-producer Jerry Bruckheimer, whose films like “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Top Gun” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” helped turn actors into global commodities.

Even amid the disruption reshaping Hollywood, he believes the industry still knows how to discover and elevate stars. “It’ll happen,” he told The Times earlier this year. “Timothée Chalamet is a star and Zendaya is a star. Glen Powell is becoming a star — we’re going to bring him up. Damson Idris is going to be a star. Now they have to be smart and make good choices on what they do. That’s up to them.”

Stellan Skarsgård as Luthen Rael in the series “Andor.”

(Des Willie / Lucasfilm Ltd.)

The industry may still know how to make stars, but keeping them there has become harder. Chalamet’s biggest box office successes, like “Wonka” and the “Dune” films, have arrived as part of franchises rather than as standalone vehicles. Powell’s latest film, last month’s remake of “The Running Man,” fell short of expectations.

Bruckheimer himself has been pragmatic about AI. During postproduction on his recent Brad Pitt–led Formula One drama, an AI-based voice-matching tool was briefly used to replicate Pitt’s voice when the actor was unavailable for looping, a demonstration of how AI can extend a star’s reach rather than replace them. “AI is only going to get more useful for people in our business,” he says.

If Hollywood has been having more difficulty launching fresh faces, it has become adept at keeping familiar ones on the screen. AI tools can smooth a face, rebuild a voice or extend a performance long after an actor might otherwise have aged out. Stardom no longer has to end with retirement — or even death.

Stellan Skarsgård, for one, is uneasy with the idea. In recent years, the veteran actor — a current Oscar front-runner for “Sentimental Value” — has been part of two of Hollywood’s most valuable franchises, playing Luthen Rael in the “Star Wars” series “Andor” and Baron Harkonnen in the “Dune” films, roles built to carry on through sequels and spinoffs.

Asked about the prospect of an AI version of himself playing those characters after he’s gone, the 75-year-old Skarsgård bristles. The question carries particular weight. Three years ago he suffered a stroke, an experience that forced a reckoning with his craft and sense of mortality.

“SAG has been very adamant — there was a strike about it,” Skarsgård says. “And I do hope it won’t be like that in the future, that it will be controlled and that money won’t have all the rights.” He pauses. “You should have rights as a person, to your own voice, your own personality.”

Those questions — about control, consent and what survives a person — moved from the abstract to the practical last month at Hollywood X on the Fox lot.

Onstage, Jeff Clanagan mentioned a documentary that Hartbeat, Kevin Hart’s entertainment company, is producing with the estate of comedian Bernie Mac, who died in 2008. Built around Mac’s own audiobook narration, the documentary will rely on authorized existing recordings, not newly generated performances, pairing traditional animation with AI-assisted imagery to visualize moments Mac had already described. Clanagan said the technology offered a faster, less expensive way to bring those scenes to life.

But that took some convincing. An Oscar-winning director attached to the project initially wanted to tell the story entirely through traditional animated reenactments. Clanagan said it took months of persuasion — including creating sample scenes to demonstrate the approach — before that resistance eased. “Once he saw it, he was converted, and now we’re doing a little bit of a hybrid,” he said.

That work, Clanagan added, has become part of the job, not just externally but inside Hartbeat as well. “Part of it is educating the talent community on what you can do and still be aligned,” he said, noting that much of the hesitation comes from fear stoked by headlines and unfamiliarity with the tools. “It’s about helping people understand the process. People are starting to believe.”

As the Hollywood X panel ended, attendees filed out of a theater named for Darryl F. Zanuck, one of the architects of the studio-era star system, then crossed the Fox lot toward a reception. Along the way, they passed by cavernous soundstages, some painted with towering murals: Marilyn Monroe in “The Seven Year Itch,” Julie Andrews in “The Sound of Music,” Bruce Willis in “Die Hard.” Faces from another era, still watching as the industry weighs what will endure.

Death in Paradise star Don Warrington has been happily married to actress Mary Maddocks for many years with the couple sharing two children together

Death in Paradise is set to grace our television screens once more with a Christmas Special in just a few days, promising “even more heart” according to the BBC.

The beloved Death in Paradise Christmas cast makes their way back to Saint Marie for another year of holiday celebrations, though what begins as the ultimate office party quickly descends into darkness.

Broadcasting on December 28 at 8.30pm on BBC One, the BBC reveals: “The office Christmas party of a lifetime takes a dark turn when four co-workers wake up with the hangover from hell to find a stranger shot dead in the pool of their villa.

“DI Mervin Wilson and the team identify the murder weapon, but they’re left baffled after discovering that it was locked in a drawer when the shooting took place… thousands of miles away from the crime scene.”

Running for approximately 90 minutes, the festive episode promises the return of beloved characters, reports the Express.

Earlier this year, the 14th series concluded, leaving fans anxious about Don Warrington’s character Commissioner Selwyn Patterson.

After 14 years on the programme, the actor became a viewer favourite, making his departure in March all the more heartbreaking for audiences.

During the final series of Death in Paradise, Selwyn decided to leave Saint Marie following the loss of his Commissioner role, turning down the opportunity to reclaim his position when it was offered back to him.

Nevertheless, fans must wait patiently to see whether the Commissioner will make his comeback… particularly given his recent appearance in the Christmas special of Beyond Paradise. But who exactly is Don Warrington and what’s his marital status?

Don Warrington is happily married and has been for quite some time. The Death in Paradise actor is currently married to Mary Maddocks, with the couple enjoying many years of marital bliss.

Don prefers to keep his personal life private and away from the public eye, with their exact wedding date remaining a mystery, but it’s clear that his family life continues to thrive away from the limelight.

His wife Mary has herself graced several iconic productions including ITV’s Coronation Street as well as Doctor Who and Midsomer Murders.

She has also directed numerous theatrical productions ranging from musicals to dramas, and even took centre stage in the hit musical The Rocky Horror Show.

Don and Mary are parents to two children, Jacob and Archie, both carving out their own paths in the entertainment industry.

As a playwright and comedian, Archie has contributed to the creation of the 2023 thriller Gassed Up as well as the TV series Intergalactic, receiving full backing from his parents.

It was previously reported that Archie paid tribute to his parents, stating: “Both my parents are actors. My mum, Mary Maddocks, is an actress: she was in The Rocky Horror Show when it was in the West End and my dad is Don Warrington.

“The main thing I get from both of them is they understand the art of performance and the need to perform.”

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website

Death in Paradise Christmas special will air December 28 on BBC One.

James Ransone, a character actor who played an impulsive, drug-dealing dock worker in the iconic HBO series “The Wire” and later appeared in horror films “Sinister” and “It: Chapter Two,” died in Los Angeles on Friday. He was 46.

According to the L.A. County medical examiner’s office, Ransone died by suicide.

A native of Maryland, Ransone studied theater at the Carver Center for Arts and Technology in the Baltimore County community of Towson, before breaking into television a few years later.

Ransone appeared in several prominent horror films. He portrayed Max in “The Black Phone,” a film about a teen boy who is abducted by a serial killer. The movie was based on a short story written by Joe Hill — Stephen King’s son — and starred Ethan Hawke. Ransone reprised his role in the sequel, “Black Phone II.”

Ransone appeared in another horror film with Hawke, taking on the role of Deputy in “Sinister.” The movie centers around a writer who finds snuff films in his new house. Ransone also acted alongside Bill Hader, Jessica Chastain and Bill Skarsgård in the follow-up “It: Chapter Two,” playing Eddie Kaspbrak, one of several characters being tormented by killer clown Pennywise.

While promoting the film, he defended the horror genre against those who consider it a “throwaway” category.

“To those people I’ll say, ‘Tell that to William Friedkin or Stanley Kubrick,’” Ransone said in an interview with Anthem Magazine.

He also had roles in the shows “Generation Kill,” “Treme” and “Bosch.” His final TV appearance came in the a second-season episode of Peacock’s comedy crime show “Poker Face,” which aired in June.

But he will likely be remembered most for his turn as Ziggy Sobotka in “The Wire,” a dark and uncompromising drama — hailed as one of the best TV shows of all time — that explored various aspects of Baltimore and its institutions. Ransone appeared in all 12 episodes of the show’s second season, which focused on the decimation of the city’s docks.

He played the son of a dock union leader, whose scheming charisma got him into trouble with other low-level criminals — but also endeared him to some viewers. In one notable story arc, he bought a duck, which he paraded around with a diamond necklace; the bird later died because he fed it too much alcohol.

The critically acclaimed HBO series aired from 2002 to 2008 and starred Dominic West, Michael Kenneth Williams, John Doman, Idris Elba, Wood Harris, Lance Reddick, Wendell Pierce, Frankie Faison, Lawrence Gilliard Jr. and more.

In a statement released to the Baltimore Banner news site, “Wire” creator David Simon called Ransone’s death “grievous and awful.”

“He committed not only to the work but to the camaraderie that turns every good film production into something familial and caring,” said the statement by Simon, who also cast Ransone in “Generation Kill” and “Treme.”

In an interview on MSNBC after the release of the movie “Sinister 2,” Ransone said he was proud of the work he had done on “The Wire” but called it a “real double-edged sword” in that people would forever typecast him as Ziggy. He described himself as a horror film fan and spoke of how working with filmmakers such as Simon, Sean Baker and Spike Lee had opened his eyes to many social inequities.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether Ransone was living in L.A. at the time of his death. A man with his name is listed on the California secretary of state’s website as living in the 700 block of North Martel Avenue, in the Fairfax neighborhood.

LAPD spokesperson Officer Norma Eisenman said that around 2 p.m. Friday a police squad responded to a 911 call about an undetermined death at that location. Inside, she said, officers found a white male who appeared to have taken his own life.

Because foul play isn’t suspected, the case is being handled by the medical examiner’s office, Eisenman said, adding that she could not confirm that the man was Ransone or provide other details about the 911 call.

TMZ reported that Ransone was a married father of two, and wife Jamie McPhee posted a fundraiser for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in her social media profile.

In recent years, Ransone came out as a sexual abuse survivor and also spoke openly about his struggles with addiction.

In 2016, he told Interview Magazine that he had gotten sober at age 27 “after being on heroin for five years.”

“People think I got sober working on the ‘Generation Kill.’ I didn’t. I sobered up six or seven months before that,” he told the publication. “I remember going to Africa and I was going to be there for almost a year. I was number two on the call sheet and I was like, ‘I think somebody made a mistake. This is too much responsibility for me.’”

Ransone in 2021 disclosed that he had been sexually abused by a former tutor at his childhood home in Phoenix, Md. over a six-month span in 1992, according to the Baltimore Banner. He revealed the allegations on Instagram, where he shared a lengthy note that he had sent his alleged abuser, the Banner reported. A police investigation was later launched into the allegations but closed without any charges being filed.

The radio host and her producer boyfriend kept their relationship on the down low but are now celebrating their happy news.

Congratulations are in order as Kemi Rodgers, host of I’m A Celebrity: Unpacked, has announced she is engaged after her boyfriend Thomas Hannett proposed during a trip to Australia.

The radio presenter, 30, shared the happy news with fans over the weekend, posting a series of photos to Instagram showing off her engagement ring. In one snap, Kemi beamed as she held up her hand, while another captured the couple enjoying their time abroad.

Kemi, who hosts Unpacked alongside Joel Dommett, was in Australia for the duration of the series, which started on 19 November and ended on 7 December with YouTube star Angryginge taking the crowd.

She captioned the post: “I said yes.” Friends and celebrity colleagues were quick to flood the comments with congratulatory messages. Coronation Street actor Colson Smith wrote: “Congratulations Kemi!”

Capital FM star and This Morning host Sian Welby reacted with excitement, posting: “OMGGGG INCREDIBLE.” Former X Factor contestant Sam Lavery added: “OMG YESSSSS.” While Capital FM presenter Jordan North also shared his delight, commenting: “OMG! Congratulations guys.”

Thomas, who is a senior producer at Capital, and Kemi’s engagement comes just weeks after she revealed that they had actually been dating for over a year. The couple only went public with their relationship in September, when they shared photos from a romantic trip to Paris.

At the time, Kemi explained they had chosen to keep things private before stepping into the spotlight together.

In a short video shared on her Instagram page, Kemi and Thomas could be seen in Paris having a drink at a low-key restaurant as they enjoyed the weather.

They used the famous TikTok audio featuring a person’s voice saying: “Are you happy to be in Paris?”, which Thomas lip-synced before Kemi, 30, said: “Oui.” In the caption, she wrote: “Wine drunk in paris and thought the best way to hard launch my boyfriend on the grid was with the iconic nicki minaj ‘oui’ video loooooool.”

She added: “Full bottle of sancerre in the sun truly is the key to my heart.”

Friends and fans were delighted by the launch and took to the comment section to congratulate the pair. One pal wrote: “The hard launch we’ve all been waiting for,” and another said: “Finally.”

Last year, Kemi joined Sam Thompson and Joel Dommett in hosting a I’m A Celebrity spin-off show called Unpacked, four years after companion show Extra Camp was axed.

GEORGE Clooney is mourning the loss of his sister Adelia Zeidler who has died aged 65.

The Hollywood star’s sibling passed away on Friday (December 19) following a battle with cancer.

Clooney, 64, described his sister – known as Ada – as his “hero” and praised her bravery.

He said: “My sister, Ada, was my hero. She faced down cancer with courage and humor.

“I’ve never met anyone so brave. Amal and I will miss her terribly.”

Ada’s official biography says she died “peacefully” while “surrounded by the people she loved” at St Elizabeth healthcare in Kentucky.

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‘Talented artist’

She was born on May 2 1960 in Los Angeles to mum and dad Nina and Nick, and was described as a “talented artist”.

She was named after her great-grandmother.

Her obit states: “A talented artist, she shared her skills as an elementary art teacher at Augusta Independent School for several years.

“In high school, her academic achievements qualified her to be a National Merit Scholar.

“Her love for reading connected her with other readers in a local book club.

“She was also a member of the Augusta Art Guild and was a past grand marshal of Augusta’s Annual White Christmas Parade.”

Ada married Norman Zeidler, a retired army captain, in Augusta in 1987.

While she led a very private life, she supported her brother publicly over the years, including attending his wedding to wife Amal in Venice in 2014.

Ada was snapped standing next to Clooney on a boat as they rode along a canal in the Italian city.

The siblings grew up together in Kentucky.

Clooney told CBS This Morning in 2015: “My sister, I’m very close to.”

Their mum Nina told HGTV in 2006 how she once came home to find her children had thrown a house party, and had thrown cooked marshmallows all over the walls.

AS a headstrong leading lady in Bridgerton’s ­second series, Simone Ashley’s character Kate Sharma found her happy ever after.

But it seems that in real-life, the actress is still searching for The One after her brief romance with businessman Tim Sykes ended.

The couple had been spotted ­kissing at the US Open tennis tournament in September, and holding hands as they sat courtside during a match at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

However, Simone has since unfollowed Tim on Instagram.

It’s not quite the fairytale love story her alter ego Kate enjoyed after marrying Anthony Bridgerton in Netflix’s Regency romp.

A source said: “Simone and Tim enjoyed spending time together during the summer.

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“They have since decided that they want different things, so have ended their romance.”

It comes after Simone revealed she had split from her long-term boyfriend Constantin “Tino” Klein in February.

Chatting on BBC’s Woman’s Hour the following month about her new film, Picture This, she said: “It’s kind of ironic I’m promoting a romcom and, as of January this year, I’ve been entering my single era.”

Simone met former lawyer Constantin at the Grand Prix in Monaco in May 2022.

She later told Vogue magazine there was someone special in her life, but didn’t name him, explaining: “I’m very happy. We haven’t gone public yet.”

They went Instagram official soon after, with Simone sharing a snap of Constantin on his birthday in December 2022, captioned: “The best birthday surprise for the best person.”

Let’s hope she will be lucky in love in 2026.

A MERRY LIL’ XMAS

LILY ALLEN gives her best Mrs Claus impression during her Christmas party.

The West End Girl hitmaker posed in white stockings and suspenders with a red fur gown at London gentlemen’s club, Stringfellows, on Friday.

Lily was joined by model Lottie Moss along with fellow pop stars Olivia Rodrigo, Ella Eyre and Lola Young.

Lewis Capaldi was also spotted at the famous nightspot.

Lily performed Roll The Dice at the party and encouraged a singalong of West End Girl.

LIZZO IN SPIRITED QUEST

POP star Lizzo is swapping showbiz for the drinks biz after necking tequila live on stage.

It comes after the US star appeared at the 2019 Video Music Awards clutching a gem-encrusted bottle of the spirit.

Lizzo called the drink “chaquila”– which means a chug plus tequila.

But now her firm, Lizzo LLC, has applied for a global trademark to use the word Chaquila to sell drinks.

Papers filed with the UK Government’s Intellectual Property Office reveal she wants to use the term to market “alcoholic seltzers; alcoholic carbonated beverages, except beer; alcoholic beverages, except beer”.

The legal documents were lodged just days ago and are yet to be rubber-stamped.

Lizzo has even sung about her favourite tipple on the track Love In Real Life.

She sings: “Tequila, do your job, girl, help me change my mind. How many shots this time? (One, two, three, four).

“Tequila, do your job, girl, give me salt and lime. To help me fix my life (one, two, three, four).” Drink it all in, Lizzo.

GORDON AD IS A BIT ‘MEH’

GORDON RAMSAY already has a couple of Super Bowl adverts under his belt.

Now the telly chef has filmed a YouTube campaign for next year’s event alongside magician David Blaine and former NFL ace Jason Kelce.

The concept is how “Meh” the world would be ­without YouTube, and Ramsay’s role involves serving up a “meh-nu”. Geddit?

An insider tells me: “Gordon and David filmed their roles in London last week and Gordon was incredibly charming.

“David insisted on performing magic tricks for everyone.”

February’s Super Bowl is set to be star-studded with performances from Bad Bunny, and Charlie Puth.

BEYONCE TOUR TOP GROSSING

BEYONCE has spoken of her struggle to be taken seriously as an artist.

Her comments come as the US superstar saw her Cowboy Carter Tour named the No1 highest-grossing tour of 2025, according to US mag Pollstar.

The Texas Hold ’Em hitmaker saw the 32 stadium concerts gross a total of $407,600,113, (around £305million), with an average ticket price of £191.

She told Pollstar: “I’ve been touring since the age of 15, nonstop. I have slowly built my legacy brick by brick.

“This show is a testament to the power of consistency and the dedication put into any craft.”

On believing in herself when some of the industry did not, she continued: “I’ve learned at a young age that nobody invests in you like you invest in ­yourself. I’ve slowly built with every tour.”

Beyonce rose to fame in Destiny’s Child alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle ­Williams.

She added: “The first tour Destiny’s Child did with Wyclef Jean, we toured in a minivan.

“On a later tour in the late ’90s, we did our quick changes in a muddy tent in the rain because we didn’t have proper dressing rooms, designing our own clothes because designers would not.

“A decade of visiting every radio station on Earth, advocating for ourselves. Slowly building into being able to tour with a small band.

“More building until we could tour with dancers.

“Finally, selling out my first arena as a solo artist. The decades of fighting with the promoters, convincing them that an R&B artist could sell out a stadium.

“I continued to invest in myself and stay focused on the vision.

“I’m beyond grateful for my fans that have been a part of my journey.

“It’s important to me that they leave the show reinvigorated and inspired, feeling more in love with themselves, and closer to the people they love.”

I was lucky enough to be at the tour this year and Queen B rules.

TIM RAPS RUMOURS

HOLLYWOOD actor Timothee Chalamet has quashed rumours he is masked rapper Esdeekid – by joining the Liverpudlian in a video for a remix.

Fans speculated the Wonka actor was the mysterious drill artist as they were said to have similar eyes.

But in a 99-second video for EsDeeKid’s track 4 Raws posted online on Friday night, Timothee danced with the balaclava-clad bad boy in a cramped kitchen.

Timothee also referenced his rapper alter-ego Timmy Tim and his make-up mogul girlfriend Kylie Jenner.

The Oscar-nominated actor, right and below in the video, raps: “It’s Timothee Chalamet chillin’, tryna stack a hundred million, girl got a billion.”

While the full remix has yet to be released, the video clip has already received nearly two million likes, along with comments from UK rapper Central Cee and US rap star Rich The Kid.

Timothee is now promoting his upcoming movie Marty Supreme, in which he plays ping-pong prodigy Marty Mauser.

It’s a white laugh for Kyran

Snow White Drag Panto

★★★★☆

FORGET kids’ panto – this adults-only Snow White in London’s West End is packed with innuendo and belly laughs.

Drag Race UK champ Kyran Thrax slays as the venomous Wicked Queen, left, serving glorious­ glamour and killer one-liners, while newly-svelte Kitty Scott-Claus sparkles as the sassy Fairy.

The massive cast at the Emerald ­Theatre delivers outrageous comedy and audience banter, poking fun at everyone from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to Nigel Farage.

It’s pure festive filth – definitely not for snowflakes or prudes.

Grab your tickets quickly before it vanishes on January 4.

A proper cracker.

UNA TO HAM IT UP FOR CRIMBO FEAST

THE SATURDAYS’ beauty Una Healy is shunning traditional ­turkey this Christmas.

The Tipperary star explained: “We’ve got the bird flu in Ireland so we’ll have to have ham.”

It’s not the first time turkey has been off the Crimbo menu.

At last month’s Irish Post Awards she recalled: “My mum came to visit me and she bought the turkey. But it was so bad we had to throw it out. Even the foxes wouldn’t eat it.”

The Ready For Christmas singer says the glamour of life in the girlband – on hiatus since 2014 – is gone and she now drives herself to gigs, adding: “It’s back to basics. I do my own hair and make-up.”

What a trouper . . . 

Actress Roxy Shahidi’s final scenes aired earlier this year with fans heartbroken at the character’s exit, when she bid farewell to Leyla Harding after several years in the role

One Emmerdale star admits she lost her identity following her exit from the soap. Former Emmerdale actress Roxy Shahidi has spoken candidly about the emotional impact of leaving the ITV soap, admitting she struggled with her sense of identity after her character was written out.

Roxy played Leyla Harding, a long-standing and much-loved character on the show, first appearing in 2008 before returning full-time in 2013. After more than a decade on screen, Leyla met a tragic end earlier this year in dramatic scenes that saw several characters plunged into icy water following a limousine crash.

Although Leyla initially survived the accident, viewers later learned she died in an ambulance before reaching hospital, marking the end of Roxy’s 17-year journey on the soap.

Nearly a year on from leaving Emmerdale, Roxy has reflected on the transition and how it affected her personally. In an emotional Instagram post, she admitted stepping away from the role was far more challenging than she anticipated.

“This time last year, I was coming to terms with having to leave this lot behind. Not just colleagues, but friends and family,” she wrote.

She went on to explain how deeply intertwined her character had become with her own sense of self, adding:

“Playing Layla wasn’t just a job; she was a huge part of my identity, and some days I spent more time being her than being myself.

“Losing that sense of identity was hard, but long walks with Mr Cooper [her pet cockapoo] gave me space to breathe, reflect and stay hopeful.”

Since leaving the soap, Roxy has shifted her focus towards wellbeing and has been teaching yoga online. She revealed the practice helped her process the emotional fallout of the change.

“Yoga once again became my anchor on the hardest days, moving my body helped me move through grief, loss and uncertainty,” she continued.

Adding that her yoga platform has helped her build a new chapter in her life, she went on: “Now YogaRox has grown into a new home, a new family, and a new sense of self.

“I don’t know exactly how I’ll get there, but I know where I’m going. Thank you to everyone who’s supported me through a year of challenge, growth, and transformation; here’s to 2026.”

Her post was quickly flooded with supportive messages, including from former Emmerdale co-stars. Laura Norton, who plays Kerry Wyatt, commented: “You’re amazing. You are very missed. Sky is the limit.”

Fellow soap stars Claire Sweeney, Isobel Hodgins and Ross Adams also shared messages of love.

Fans echoed the sentiment, with one writing: “You are still so missed by us Emmerdale fans. But you are smashing it now with your new projects, you are amazing!! Xx”

Another added: “I miss seeing you shine on my screen every night but being able to see you absolutely smashing the yoga is everything, heres to an amazing 2026 and I hope the new year brings you nothing but happiness and big achievements.”

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A GROUP of office workers were left shocked when they learned their colleague is a former child star, and had a role in an iconic festive film.

The actor now keeps a low profile working as a Logistics Manager for the upcoming 2026 Commonwealth Games, which will take place in Glasgow. But do you recognise him?

Joe Lane appeared in 2009 hit Nativity!, which featured Martin Freeman, Jason Watkins and Ashley Jensen.

He portrayed schoolboy Edward in the film, which is centred around a heartbroken primary school teacher’s journey to make his class’s nativity play reach Hollywood, and win his ex-girlfriend back in the process.

In a TikTok shared by Joe’s colleagues, the former actor was left red-faced when they figured out his famous past.

The clip showed Joe, dressed in a Christmas jumper and a festive headband, as he is shaken by his colleagues.

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It then cuts to clips of him in the movie, before his colleagues recreate a hilarious moment by his character Edward.

Joe’s starring moment in the film saw him take to the microphone during the final Nativity performance and impersonate fart sounds with his armpit.

The former child star had his head in his hands when his co-workers cornered him at his desk and re-enacted the funny moment in the TikTok video.

“When you find out your colleague was in the nativity films,” read the video, with the caption adding: “The most exciting office development this week”.

The film was cast by producers holding open calls for local kids in Coventry, with the aim to use non-professional actors for an authentic feel.

After appearing in the first movie, Joe appears to have steered away from continuing an acting career.

He went on to become a semi-professional rugby player, before moving into logistics for sporting events.

Coventry-born Joe is now living in Glasgow after spending time in Australia and London.

It appears he has been keen to keep his famous past under wraps in the workplace.

One TikTok user commented on the video to reveal that they had previously worked with Joe, and had no clue of the connection.

“I worked with Joe at Coventry Rfc and unless I was out of the loop he kept this very well hidden!” they said.

Another commenter joked “So he didn’t become shrek??”, referencing the scene in Nativity! where character Mr. Poppy told Edward, “You could be Shrek”.

A number of the children who appeared in Nativity! returned to their normal lives following the movie, and despite its massive success, have gone into regular jobs.

Cadi Mullane, who played Crystal – one of the main children in the film – previously detailed what filming was like in a TikTok video.

She said: “I was part of an agency called Stagecoach, they were looking for kids who were really chatty, who could dance a little bit and sing a little bit. Apparently that was me.

“There was about seven auditions. But I’m from Wales so I had to keep travelling up to London which was a bit annoying, but it was OK because I really wanted to be in a film.

“They looked at how well we could sing and how well we got on with the other kids, cause that was important, obviously.”

Cadi went on to recall how the movie filmed throughout the summer, with no scripts for the children.

She said: “It was filmed in Coventry but obviously I’m not from Coventry so we all stayed in a hotel together. It was like The Suite Life Of Zach and Cody, honestly.

“There was no scripts. Everything was improvised, except from some bits. We basically just spoke loads of rubbish, and then we were asked to say it again on camera.”

MAISIE Williams stripped down to nothing in a new post this week as she shared snaps of her bare body while skinny dipping with pals.

The Game Of Thrones star, 28, can be seen walking into the sea fully nude in a video clip taken from behind during a trip to Sardinia, Italy.

Joined by a group of friends, the trio all posed naked for pictures in the stunning blue sea before jumping off a nearby cliff into the water.

A far cry from Winterfell, and the crisp UK weather, Maisie shared a slew of pictures of the beautiful Italian surroundings.

She captioned the post: “Summer is so over but life is still happening in a big way x”

In the comment section, fans were quick to leave plenty of Game Of Thrones references.

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“So winter is no longer coming?” said one follower as they joked about Maisie’s lack of clothes.

Another said: “Did I just get flashed by Arya Stark”.

Maisie is known for portraying Arya in Game Of Thrones, a role she finished up in 2018.

While the popular series may not be returning, Maisie recently teased a new project with the show’s creator George R.R. Martin.

The author shared a post earlier this year which detailed how he met up with Maisie over the summer.

He said: “We also got together with Maisie Williams for pizza and pasta, and talked about… well, no, better not get into that, do not want to jinx it. But it could be so much fun.”

Maisie is yet to speak out on any potential collabs with her former colleagues.

She has appeared in a number of TV shows since GOT, including portraying Second World War resistance fighter Ginette “Catherine” Dior in The New Look.

While she also starred in Danny Boyle’s Sex Pistols series, Pistol.

The six-parter is based on guitarist Steve Jones’ 2018 memoir, Lonely Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol.

AN Avengers star left fans stunned when he was spotted riding a Lime bike around London in a full suit – would you have noticed him?

A TikTok user shared a clip of the 44-year-old actor stopped at traffic lights in Oxford Circus, somehow managing to blend in with the other cyclists despite his attire. 

Realising it was Tom Hiddleston, they wrote: “Didn’t expect to see this today.” 

And, referencing Tom’s Avengers character, they added: “Loki on a Lime.” 

Commenting on the spot, one user said: “Riding a bicycle in a suit is such a vibe.”

Someone else wrote: “You’re telling me I could casually bump into Tom Hiddleston in London?”

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But some questioned Tom’s safety, with another saying: “He should be wearing a helmet.” 

Another fan claimed Tom was on his way to the premiere of series two of the Night Manager – shunning a taxi in favour of the bike.

Tom and his actress fiancee Zawe Ashton confirmed last month they’d welcomed their second child.

The couple are extremely private and weeks earlier Zawe, 41, was forced to deny rumours they’d tied the knot.

She joined longtime pal Miquita Oliver on her Miss Me? podcast, clearing up the speculation – revealing even family members had believed it, sending her upsetting messages in the process after “not being invited”. 

She told Miquita: “We’ve been engaged for a long time.

“There are … I think there have been publications that have named us husband and wife already.

“Those text messages were very … there’s some toxic paragraphs that were thrown my way!

“Like ‘uh, okay, no invite? Whatever.” It’s like, no, no, no. It didn’t happen! We didn’t do it in secret. We haven’t eloped.”

Good Morning Britain host Adil Ray discussed a “serious situation” on Friday

A Good Morning Britain star warned “they could die” in a heartbreaking news update on Friday (December 19).

During the latest episode of the popular ITV breakfast show, presenters Adil Ray and Charlotte Hawkins brought viewers up to speed with breaking news from Britain and beyond.

They were accompanied in the studio by Sean Fletcher, who covered additional news items, whilst Laura Tobin delivered regular weather forecasts live from Nottingham.

Later in the programme, Adil and Charlotte examined the day’s pressing issues alongside regular panellists Salma Shah and Caroline Flint.

The discussion soon turned to the continuing Middle East conflict, with Adil identifying the eight Palestine Action campaigners who have been engaged in an indefinite hunger strike at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, reports Wales Online.

The protest action commenced on November 2 and has been characterised as “the biggest coordinated prison hunger strike” in nearly four decades in Britain, according to campaign organisation Prisoners for Palestine, speaking at a press briefing on Thursday (December 18).

Over 800 medical professionals, legal specialists, and relatives have written to Justice Secretary David Lammy, calling on him to meet with their legal representatives to address the continuing demonstration.

“They have been arrested and charged because they were part of the Palestinian protests. Some of them have been on hunger strike for 47 days, it’s 48 now actually,” Adil stated.

“I’m too young to remember, but in 1981, IRA prisoners went on hunger strike. Some of them died within 46 days. It’s a serious situation.

“Should we be doing more in this case, Salma? Should the government be intervening? They’re saying the prisons have a system to deal with this. These could die. These prisoners are on remand, but they could die in prison.”

Salma responded: “It’s a difficult situation because nobody wants them to die, and they have decided to take a very drastic measure by going on a hunger strike.

“As I understand it, of the eight, there were six that were in critical condition; two of them have now stopped their hunger strike because they were in such a bad way.

“What we need to do is ensure that the medical support team that is in prison is allowed to try and convince them that this is not the right action going forward, because losing lives is not going to fundamentally change what they want to change.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice previously stated: “The Deputy Prime Minister has responded to and will continue to respond to correspondence on this issue, and is being kept informed of the situation. We continually assess prisoners’ wellbeing and will always take the appropriate action, including taking prisoners to hospital if they are assessed as needing treatment by a medical professional.”

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 6am

Thomas Skinner is reportedly suing the BBC as it’s claimed he has proof the organisation rigged Strictly Come Dancing voting to ensure he left the competition early

Former Strictly star Thomas Skinner appears to be the latest to stick the boot in to the BBC. The reality TV star is reportedly suing the organisation with claims suggesting he believes the dance show’s voting was rigged.

It’s said he believes he has proof that there was foul play in order to eliminate him as soon as possible. The star of The Apprentice and his professional dance partner Amy Dowden were given their marching orders at the start of the series.

The show saw scores from the judges from the first two weeks added together, along with results of a public poll. While the BBC never revealed exactly how many public votes each star got, Thomas is said to think he has proof they deliberately downplayed his total.

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A source claims he is now following in Donald Trump’s footsteps and suing the organisation. Speaking to The Sun, an insider said: “Thomas is adamant he got a larger share of the public vote and believes he has the evidence to prove it. He is determined to see it through, but there’s no way the BBC will take this sensational claim lying down.”

They went on: “They’ll robustly defend any kinds of claims that the voting was rigged or fixed.”

Asked to comment on the allegations, a BBC spokesperson told the Mirror: “Strictly Come Dancing’s public vote is robust and independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy.”

Sources at the corporation also told the Mirror it hasn’t received any legal complaint or paperwork in relation to this matter. .

The Sun’s source also added that while Thomas was supposedly asked to return for the final this weekend, there was no chance he’d accept the invitation.

They claimed he has been “locked in rows with bosses ever since he was sent home”. “He’s convinced the BBC was hell-bent on getting him out as soon as possible — no matter how many of his fans got behind him,” they said.

Despite the source’s allegations, it’s reported Thomas’s no-show this weekend is simply down to a prior commitment. Amy will be back to dance with her fellow ballroom stars, though.

Other stars who appeared on the series this year included Geordie Shore legend Vicky Pattison, Emmerdale’s Lewis Cope and Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston.

And it’s expected that they will all make a return to the dancefloor, alongside other former contestants like drag queen La Voix, showbiz guru Ross King and Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeetey amongst a host of others.

There has been speculation following Thomas since his initial inclusion in the series. He stirred up a storm over his behaviour off the dancefloor before the show started.

He faced backlash over his social media posts, notably a selfie with Vice US President JD Vance and later stormed out of the press launch for Strictly and snatched a journalist’s phone. Then, an affair was uncovered as Thomas admitted to cheating on his wife just weeks after their wedding.

The Mirror also revealed one of his firms hasn’t paid back a £50,000 Covid bounce back loan.

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ANNE-MARIE has vowed to shake things up for her upcoming fourth album – her first since 2023’s Unhealthy.

The Ciao Adios singer told The Sun that she’s determined not to return with a record that’s a copy-and-paste job of her first three albums.

Speaking backstage at Capital Jingle Bell Ball with Barclaycard, after she put on an intimate gig in Barclaycard’s Out Of The Blue area for lucky fans, Anne-Marie said: “Next year there will be new music.

“I think I need to switch it up a bit… Will I be rapping? Who knows.

“I am definitely switching it up.

“I need to make it exciting again, you know.

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“I can’t just come back as the same Anne Marie I have been for ten years.

“I am going to do a little spice.”

Since the release of her last record, the singer has welcomed two children, a daughter and a son, with her musician hubby Slowthai.

She says she’s turned to longtime friend Ed Sheeran – who co-wrote her 2018 hit 2002 – for advice on juggling being a popstar and a parent.

Anne Marie explained: “Be a parent, it’s hard.

“It’s like everyone says.

“It’s the best thing ever and the hardest thing at the same time.

“I think working is definitely hard.

“I find it harder than I thought I would, but they are beautiful little aliens.

“It does make you want more even though you are in hell.”

She continued: “I go to Ed for a lot of advice really.

“About kids but also about everything really.

“Now that we have kids he is like the perfect person to speak to.”

In September Anne-Marie released a teaser of what’s to come with her new track Depressed.

Admitting Christmas time isn’t always easy for people, Anne-Marie said: “I am very aware that people feel alone at this time of the year which makes me sad.

“But I think as long as you get through it and think of the next year and all of your dreams and plans that you want to achieve next year, you will be okay.

“Also just snuggle up on the sofa and watch a movie with some chocolate.

“Just take care of yourself and give yourself some love.

“Next year we start afresh.

“My go-to film at any time of year is Liar Liar with Jim Carey.

“Anything Jim Carey is my go-to.”

The crowd couldn’t believe what it had just witnessed.

Donovan Dent’s crossover move left a helpless defender watching from behind as he accelerated toward the basket, fans unleashing audible admiration even before the UCLA point guard completed the play with a driving layup.

Poor Noah Meeusen and everyone else who tried to stop Dent.

They were overmatched by the finishing ability and fearlessness of a player who had not shown much of either over the season’s first month, hardly resembling the star the Bruins thought they were getting.

On a revelation of a Wednesday night inside Pauley Pavilion, Dent finally looked like someone who could carry a team.

He did exactly that, the transfer from New Mexico helping the Bruins fend off Arizona State during a 90-77 victory that had his handprints all over it.

There were blow-by layups, floaters, a rare three-pointer and an old-fashioned three-point play on a jumper he threw up while getting fouled and falling down along the baseline. Dent unveiled a full array of moves on the way to scoring 20 points while making nine of 17 shots.

Dent’s understudy also came up huge. After the Sun Devils made things uncomfortably close midway through the second half, pulling to within five points, UCLA reserve guard Trent Perry made sure they would get no closer.

Perry rose for a three-pointer and then after teammate Brandon Williams made an energizing block at the rim, triggering a fast break, Perry found Skyy Clark for a three-pointer that extended the Bruins’ advantage to double digits.

Clark finished with 18 points on the strength of six three-pointers and Tyler Bilodeau added 18 points to help UCLA (8-3) bounce back from its loss to Gonzaga by holding off an old Pac-12 rival. Guard Anthony Johnson led Arizona State (9-3) with 20 points.

Dent’s final highlight came on a pass in transition to an open Clark, who rose for a three-pointer that gave UCLA a 12-point lead. In perhaps the only blemish on his night, Dent logged just four assists to go with his four turnovers.

It was an ensemble performance for the Bruins. UCLA coach Mick Cronin inserted backup center Steven Jamerson into his lineup to start the second half and Jamerson quickly rewarded him by chasing down an offensive rebound in the corner and adding two putback dunks.

But the big story was one of redemption.

It picked up momentum late in the first half when Dent rose without hesitation for a three-pointer. It was only Dent’s second made three-pointer of the season and his first since the season opener after a string of 12 consecutive misses dropped his accuracy from beyond the arc to 7.7%.

It was a stunning dropoff for someone who had made 40.9% of his three-pointers last season at New Mexico. His second make of the season from long distance increased his accuracy to 14.3%, still unsightly but at least no longer in single digits.

What was perhaps most pleasing about Dent’s performance in the first half was his heightened confidence level. He repeatedly beat his defender for driving layups, his aggressiveness an equal asset to his speed in rolling up 13 points on six-for-eight shooting by the game’s midpoint.

Puka Nacua thinks NFL referees are “the worst.”

He feels they fabricate calls just so their friends can see them on TV.

But, to be honest, the Rams star receiver doesn’t seem too upset about the situation.

During a livestream Tuesday with YouTubers N3on and Adin Ross, Nacua was asked if he thought referees might bend the truth at times when making their calls.

“Oh, a hundred percent,” Nacua answered matter-of-factly. “Yes, the refs are the worst.”

The third-year player continued in the same casual manner, saying that NFL officials are generally part-time employees who probably get a thrill when they appear on screen during national broadcasts — even if it’s while making a call.

“These guys are lawyers, and like really they want to be on TV, too, bro,” Nacua said. “You don’t think he’s texting his friends in the group chat like, ‘Yo, you guys just saw me on “Sunday Night Football.” Like, that wasn’t [pass interference], but I called it.’”

He added: “I mean, these guys are normal human beings, too.”

The NFL’s competition committee states on the league’s football operations website that “criticism of officiating has always been considered conduct detrimental to the League.” Such conduct is often met with a fine. Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs coach Andy Reid have all been fined for public criticism of officiating in recent years.

The NFL did not immediately respond to questions from The Times on a possible fine for Nacua.

During another portion of the livestream, Nacua agrees to do a celebration dance of Ross and N3on’s choice after his next touchdown. With Nacua out of earshot, the two YouTubers discuss whether the 2023 Pro Bowl player would get in trouble if they have him perform a move that references an offensive stereotype about Jewish people. Ross is Jewish, but he often performs the move and teaches others how to do it in his livestreams.

He ends up teaching the move to Nacua, who practices it with Ross and promises to do it during a game. Ross does not explain the meaning of the move to Nacua, and the star receiver gives no indication he knows its background.

The Times reached out to the Rams and Nacua’s agent and did not receive an immediate response.

PinkPantheress broke out in 2021 with a series of charming and inventive singles that placed her high, breathy vocals over skittering beats built around easily recognizable samples. It was as though the English singer and producer were trying to insert herself into pop-music history from behind a laptop in her bedroom — which is pretty much what ended up happening.

In 2023, her song “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2,” a collaboration with Ice Spice, went to No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot 100; several months later, she landed a song on the hit soundtrack of Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie.” Last year she went on the road as an opening act for Olivia Rodrigo, and now she’s nominated for her first two Grammy Awards: dance/electronic album for this year’s “Fancy That” and dance pop recording for the project’s opening track, “Illegal.”

With nine songs in only 20 minutes, “Fancy That” maintains the TikTok-era economy of PinkPantheress’ early work. It’s also full of samples from the likes of Underworld, Basement Jaxx and Panic! at the Disco — one reason, perhaps, the singer, 24, describes it as a mixtape rather than an album. (An accompanying remix set, “Fancy Some More?,” features appearances by Basement Jaxx, Kylie Minogue, Sugababes, Ravyn Lenae and Groove Armada, among many others.)

Yet “Fancy That” showcases an expanding emotional palette too — it’s by turns funny, wistful, horny, melancholy and unimpressed. She spoke about it over matcha lattes in Los Angeles, where she lives when she’s not back home in London. “If you’re a musician, it’s sold as the place to be,” she says of L.A. “I was trying not to like it, but I really do.”

You’re enjoying the city despite yourself.
I think for me, it was just a case of: When I’m comfortable somewhere, I don’t enjoy exploration. What I know to be safe is where I stay.

Why?
It’s something with the way my brain works — I don’t think it’s a choice. My brain associates change — different environments and travel — with fear. I don’t go on holiday because of that reason. I find it very difficult because I genuinely don’t feel safe. Doesn’t matter where I am.

What do you do in L.A.?
I hang out with my friends. I get food. I do all the regular things. But it’s taken me years. When I first got here, I wasn’t like, Oh my God — the Hollywood sign! It was just like, Lemme find my footing. I think getting my house was when I was OK. I don’t like the stress of going out somewhere and being worried about how I come across to people.

If you’re at a restaurant, it’s hard for you not to think about the fact that someone might know who you are.
On occasion, if I’m not disguised well enough.

What are the disguises?
I think I’m gonna stop wearing my hair out in public.

So pop stardom — enjoyable or not?
It’s as absurd as everyone says. But it is 100% what I’ve always wanted to be. So I can’t complain now.

I mean, you could.
But I shan’t.

That would be poor form?
I’m a big believer of my words having an effect on everything I do going forward. So if I was to become comfortable complaining about my job — when I worked so hard to get here — then it’s gonna carry with me and it’ll come out in my behavior.

Do you drive?
I love driving. That’s another reason I like it here, because I can drive.

You like driving here more than in London?
I have a nicer car here. Well, actually, I don’t have a car in London anymore. The police took it.

Why?
Don’t know.

You must know.
I actually just don’t know. I literally got there and it was gone, and I was like, Fine. It was so cheap — like 2,000 pounds.

What kind of car was it?
A Peugeot 208.

In a recent interview with Zane Lowe, you named the people you called your blueprints: M.I.A., Kelela and Tinashe. All are well–regarded trailblazers, but none of them, I would say, is a pop superstar. That made me wonder: Do you want to be top of the pops?
I feel like in order to be top of the pops, I’d have to compromise a lot about my artistic choices. However, if the post-“Brat” era has taught us anything about music, it’s that you can actually be as experimental as you want, and if it translates, it will translate. So actually it’s not necessarily a recipe that’s too formulaic, as one would think.

Do I want to be top of the pops? I think that might be too much pressure. I don’t enjoy having to explain myself, and I worry that being big would make me have to explain a lot about myself. However, I do want to be well-regarded. I do want to be influential. And I do want to not have to worry, How well will this do? It’s less about top of the pops and more about having a very loyal fan base, which I prioritize above everything else.

I spoke with Lorde recently, and she told me she aches to be understood even though she wishes she didn’t. You said you don’t like explaining yourself. But do you feel compelled to?
I would say I definitely under-explained myself early on. And unfortunately that was a crucial error because — had I been on top of explaining my music and my musical mind from the jump — maybe now I’d be taken more as a producer. But because I didn’t, and because of the way I present myself, I do think people take me as more surface-level pop, and I’m actually not — I’m actually fully an art girl, like all the women I’ve mentioned.

So it’s kind of gone from not explaining myself to explaining too much. I hated that, too, because then it got people asking me more questions. Now I don’t want to explain anything anymore.

You’ve got the Sugababes on your remix album. Great example of an act that’s beloved in England but couldn’t get arrested in the States. Why do you think some U.K. acts cross over and some don’t?
If you have someone on your marketing team that prioritizes America, then I’m 99% sure you can always do it. I don’t think American people are put off by Britishness — I don’t think the music is too crazy for them to get it. The reason I did well in America was because I used a platform where the majority of users are American.

You mean TikTok. Did you use TikTok because that was the platform you were good at or because you knew it was the platform with the broadest reach?
I had no idea how it worked — I just thought about what has the most reach. I’m a child of the internet. I’ve always been online.

What’s bad about the internet?
There was a time when I would have said nothing.

At what age?
Sixteen — even older, honestly. The whole push of generated stuff has made it so unbelievably different. Back when I was on the internet, you wouldn’t have to second-guess any post you saw.

Whereas now you have to question whether something is real or AI.
Is this propaganda or is this not? That’s bad.

Is TikTok still fun?
I don’t really go on social media at all, so I don’t know.

You just make your posts —
And dip. Or I interact with people that help me towards my craft. People that make fan edits, I love it, so I’ll interact with them. But I don’t really scroll.

Did someone say to you, “Listen, you need to stop scrolling”?
No. I actually have no vices, so I didn’t have a problem with it.

Everyone’s addicted to scrolling.
Hell no — I’m not. If I want to stop something, I can stop right now.

Do you drink? Smoke weed?
I can’t do any drugs. I get drunk once or twice a month, and that’s my limit. I make sure to count that.

Why no drugs?
I’m a hypochondriac.

What are you afraid of happening?
Dying. Also, it’s just not enjoyable for me. When I get drunk, that’s the best amount of chaos I can experience in my inner self.

Dying?
Too much coke could kill you — cause an arrhythmic heart. And as I’ve said, if I fear something, I’m not gonna step foot towards it.

“I don’t think American people are put off by Britishness,” says PinkPantheress. “I don’t think the music is too crazy for them to get it.”

(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Who said no to being on the remix album?
No one said no. But I don’t ask people that I know are gonna say no — I just refuse to ask them. There was one person that was like, “Oh, I saw this too late” [makes “Yeah, right” face]. And one person didn’t reply. Maybe two people didn’t reply.

Were your feelings hurt?
No. Yeah. Maybe. When it comes to features and everything like that, I very much understand — I get how the mind of a singer works. I think people that get hurt are maybe not putting themselves in their shoes.

Surely you’ve said no to people at this point.
It’s a horrible feeling. And I try and make it work as much as possible. But sometimes it just doesn’t make sense. The vibes are off.

Have you heard the Lily Allen album?
Yes.

Thoughts?
Really good. And earnest.

She’s just laying out all her business.
She’s a Brit — that’s what we do.

Are Brits essentially earnest?
I think there’s something in our music that’s extremely earnest. That’s why you get someone like an Adele or someone like a Raye right now. You can feel them bleed. They’re bleeding out onto the stage — bleeding out onto the pieces of paper.

Beyond what we’ve talked about, I know virtually nothing about your personal life.
Exactly.

Whereas now I know a tremendous amount about Lily Allen’s. What do you make of that impulse to dump everything out into the world?
What I love about Lily Allen is that she’s always been very honest from Day 1. She’s an open book in interviews — she’s an open book everywhere. It works for her because it makes her very personable and makes her music all that more enjoyable because we feel like we’re actually experiencing her as a human being.

I would love to be that earnest. I simply don’t think I’ve gone through half the amount she’s gone through in her life. Because I fear so much, I end up not being in very exciting or controversial situations, and that could translate as boring. But I wouldn’t say I was a boring person. I relish in the mundaneness of interacting with others and the excitement of being myself. I’m actually obsessed with myself. When I’m with my best friend, we’re just so fun together. Other people, they’re like, “The f—?”

You’re on Coachella next year. You’ve talked about festivals not being your ideal performance venue.
I’m definitely better now, for sure. Two years ago, I was pretty s—.

What’d you learn from the tour you just finished?
Oh, a lot. I learnt that I’m in control of my body. I learnt that I’m in control of pretty much every element when I’m onstage. One thing I’m realizing as I talk is that the reason I don’t like drugs is because I like full control. When I’m onstage, for some reason, I always imagine that I’m gonna lose control — I’m gonna have to faint or have to run. I don’t know why, but that’s my biggest fear with performing, and hence why I’ve always been quite nervous.

But doing that tour made me realize that I can choose if I want to have a good time right now. And I chose to have a really good time — it was a really fun experience. I’m still learning how to dance. I’m still learning how to look good onstage. I think I’m built in quite a funny way, which makes me look long. And when you’re shaped in a long way and you have long limbs, you look bad at dancing.

You’re taller than I expected.
Every single person says that.

Why do we all think you’re going to be shorter?
My voice is quite high. I also think I shrink myself — less in physical ways and more in how I portray myself. I’m not like [shouts], “I’m here!” I’m more like [whispers], “I’m here.”

Former Lionness Karen Karney, Reality TV personality Amber Davies and social media star George Clarke will battle it out this weekend at the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 live grand final

“It’s not about the Glitterball trophy… it’s so much bigger than that,” says former Lioness Karen Carney ahead of the Strictly Come Dancing final this weekend.

Viewers have watched Karen go on quite a journey over the 13 week series, transforming from shy ex-footballer into elegant ballroom dancer.

Karen, 38, is now favourite to win the show over her fellow finalists George Clarke and Amber Davies, though she’s already taken one title in being the first football star in 21 years to make it to the end.

“It feels weird and I can’t quite believe it but I’m really proud,” says Karen. “What I learned from being an athlete is that things are over very quickly. One minute I was a 17-year-old footballer who burst onto the scene, allegedly, and the next I was old and retired and couldn’t move. Life goes very, very quick. I’ve tried to enjoy every second.”

Following her decision to retire after a spate of injuries at 31, Karen suffered a total crisis of confidence. “I couldn’t figure out how to fix that,” she says. “For five or six years I felt crushed. But I always thought if I could ever get the opportunity to throw myself into what I felt would be a safe environment then I’m taking it. I always knew in my heart Strictly would be that thing. Every Saturday I’d watch it at home and I’d fall in love with the dancers and enjoy their journeys and I’d forget about everything else. I thought if I ever got the privilege to join it would help me and it absolutely has.

“It’s rebuilt my confidence and this is by far the happiest I’ve ever been. I’ve smiled like I never have before, and I’m forever grateful to the show and to Carlos [partner Carlos Gu] for that. I feel I have a responsibility to give it everything I’ve got because I know when I was sitting on the sofa Strictly helped me. I have to give that feeling back to everyone at home.”

Viewers have seen Karen thrive on the show, as she jokes she’s been ‘living her best life’ in sequins and feathers.

“I hoped the show would be everything I dreamed of and it’s absolutely smashed it and surpassed it. I’ve drummed with the band, I’ve got a signed photo of [costume designer] Vicky Gill and I’ve had one of my outfits signed. But I’ve also been naughty and nicked my Peaky Blinders hat,” confesses Karen, admitting she swiped the flat cap from her Brummie inspired Argentine Tango, a dance she will recreate for the judge’s pick in the final. “I never thought I’d do it again so I took it as a memento. Now I’ve got to find it in the house again for Saturday.

“That dance was a turning point because we dipped for about four or five weeks until that. This number was about representing Birmingham for me. I said to myself, ‘You cannot let your city down girl. You’ve got to dig deep, fight for this and you’ve got to represent.’ I walked in on a Monday and I was like, ‘Right I’m in character and I’m ready to go’… and Carlos laughed at my serious faces.”

Despite their obvious banter, it’s clear nobody is a bigger champion of Karen than her partner Carlos who has had a front row seat for the huge change in the sportswoman.

“In the beginning when I met her, she was not confident and insecure.,” recalls Carlos. “But we all saw that Waltz where she became a princess. It was one of the best moments in my life to see her like that. She was so beautiful.”While Karen has undergone a journey of self-belief, for fellow finalist Amber, Strictly has been an often emotional and challenging battle with the public’s perception of her. After being accused of being ‘too confident’, ‘too polished’ and ‘too good’ for the show, Amber’s previous stage experience – appearing in hit shows including 9 to 5: The Musical and The Great Gatsby musical – seemed to be the very thing that sabotaged her.

Despite huge praise and high scores from the judges each week, Amber is the only finalist to have been in the dance-off this series.

“I didn’t know what my purpose was on Strictly until I realised that I was getting a lot of negative comments for being good,” she says. “I can’t believe I have to say this in 2025 but being ambitious as a woman, being confident, having dreams and working hard does not mean you are stuck up. It doesn’t mean you are arrogant. I want to change that. It shouldn’t even be the narrative.

“I’ve had lots of people say, ‘I can’t warm to her’. It’s because they don’t want to warm to me. That’s it. At the end of the day, I come from a small town in north Wales and I have worked so hard because I love what I do.”

Defending her place in the competition, Amber says: “I was given this opportunity… nobody was going to decline Strictly as a Strictly fan.”

Amber, 29, had been a last minute sign up after fellow ex Love Island star Dani Dyer withdrew to injury days before the launch.

“Getting to the final was never on my bingo card,” says Amber. Asked if she could see herself take home the trophy, she replies: “What is the definition of winning? For me, even just getting that phone call to be on the show I felt like I’d won.”

Revealing what she’s learned from the experience, Amber says: “Whatever you care for in life, go for it with two hands and don’t undermine yourself to make other people feel comfortable, because that’s not what we’re here for.”

For professional dance partner Nikita Kuzmin it’s been a dream to be paired with a celebrity with Amber’s skill.

“It’s just outstanding to see your partner shine,” he says. “I’ve found it exciting to do things on the show that have never been done before because the show’s been going over 20 years and to create new things and to think outside the box… And then when you have people like Amber, who are light, can do everything that you ask of them then why not go for it?”

While the finalists are gearing up to compete in front of an audience of millions this Saturday night, content creator George will be one of the first to admit he started as one of the lesser known names on this year’s line-up, despite having two million followers on TikTok.

“It’’s a completely different world to what I’m used to. I’m used to performing into a camera that’s [close up to] my face and I can cut out all the rubbish bits. Unfortunately, I can’t do that on the dancefloor,” says George, 26. “This is something my family can properly understand. They’ve always been supportive but this is different.”

Being on the show has also brought George to the attention of a whole new fan base. “It’s weird to walk down the street now,” he says, revealing he’s approached by grandmothers asking for selfies to youngsters calling his name. “And screaming teenage girls,” adds his partner Alexis Warr. “I block that out,” insists George.

After Angryginge won I’m A Celebrity… Get Met Out of Here! , 2025 could be the year two social media stars win the biggest reality shows on television.

“It’s good to have that representation,” says George. “Congratulations to him and fingers crossed for me!”

The final is also the last time Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will front the show after announcing their exit, with emotions set to run extra high in the ballroom this weekend.

“We’re aware of how big a part of Strictly Tess and Claudia are and it’s a privilege to be able to be a part of one of their seasons let alone their last one,” says George. “Even after one series we’ve realised how inclusive and loving they are. We’ve known them for 13 weeks but it feels like longer and they genuinely care about us. You can tell why they’ve been a part of the show for so long.”

Strictly Come Dancing: The Final, Saturday, BBC One,7pm

HARRY Potter star Jessie Cave has opened up on an “awful” two years with boyfriend Alfie Brown after the pair’s secret split.

The actress, 38, told of the “terrible” time, which also “massively affected” her own career and self-confidence in a lengthy Instagram message.

It came after actress, comedian, author, and cartoonist Jessie, best-known for her role as Lavender Brown in the Harry Potter franchise, launched a podcast with stand-up Alfie, also 38.

He began performing stand-up in 2006 and is known for his work at the Edinburgh Festival and Next Up Comedy series.

He is the son of composer Steve Brown and impressionist Jan Ravens who was “cancelled” in 2023 after old footage showing him using a racist slur in 2015 emerged.

The performer has since apologised.

Marital Mayhem

Jessie Cave reveals secret split from Alfie Brown and admits break-up fears

‘WHY DO WE GO?’

Disgusted Harry Potter star Jessie Cave spots ‘balls of mould’ at soft play

Now Jessie – who revealed their previous secret split earlier this year – has let slip the detail of their rough time period on social media.

She uploaded an image of their son watching Alfie’s stage show on the TV followed by various snaps showing her man doing his day job.

Yet her emotional caption revealed the reality and she put: “My boyfriend was what is/was called ‘cancelled’ in 2023 on the day our youngest son Becker turned one.

“It was the beginning of a terrible year, two years, actually longer…. I won’t make this about me and tell you how AWFUL it has been to watch the person you love most in the world go through so much pain, public shaming and humiliation – or even how it has massively affected my career and self-confidence too – because he has just put his comedy special about it the whole thing out on YouTube, and it’s getting a brilliant and entirely well deserved response… though it’s not been easy at all to get it out there.

“I’ve watched him hide away and overthink, lose himself. I watched him do Edinburgh shows in tears at midnight, as he first worked the show out, a few months after everything disintegrated.

“I’ve watched his whole life change in the last three years, losing not only his career but with the shocking deaths of his great friend and director Adam Brace and his wonderful dad Steve Brown… two of the most vital and supportive people to him.

“I’ve watched as people we thought we could trust betray him. I’ve watched as the theatre we used to love and who we both worked with for over a decade cover up posters of him and act like cowards.

“I’ve stood by him for it all as I will stand by him forever.

“But I think the saddest thing of all is that I’ve watched him shy away from gigs when it used to be that being onstage was the most natural thing in the world to him.

“I tried to pick photos from during that time for this post but they were all too bleak. But I like the ones I’ve chosen as he looks so uncertain and scared, yet determined to find a way forwards onstage, telling jokes.”

In a brighter note, with Alfie’s The Last Cancelled Comedian show now available for free on YouTube, she added: “Everything is much better now.

“He’s back onstage again, we are close to happy (if you listen to our podcast you might know what I mean).

“I find the show very hard to watch, though I’ve seen it over 10 times. I think it’s incredible and I would love people to watch it.

“Thank you if you already have. I love you Alfie.”

LOVE STORY

In 2012, Alfie and Jessie first crossed paths at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where they were both performing stand-up.

Two years later, the two were set up on a date through a mutual friend.

They went home together but didn’t see each other again – until four months later when Jessie discovered she was pregnant with his child.

They welcomed their son, Donnie, in October 2014, followed by their daughter 2 years later.

SPLIT SHOCK

In 2018 the couple went through a complicated breakup – as recently revealed on their brand new podcast Before We Break Up Again (BWBUA)

In February, on the show’s release, the hosts jokingly declared that it will run “from now until we break up again.”

Speaking with The Sunday Times, Jessie revealed that she’s not sure if the pair “will remain a couple for ever”.

In October 2020, they had a second son, and by December 2021, they announced they were expecting their fourth child.

AMY Schumer and her onetime best friend, fellow comic Nikki Glaser, are embroiled in a secret feud, The U.S. Sun can report.

Sources have said Golden Globes host Nikki, 41, has quietly distanced herself from Amy, 44, and the two are now no longer speaking.

The feud comes at the worst possible time for Amy, as she battles the fall-out from her marriage ending.

A source close to the stars exclusively told The U.S. Sun that Nikki – who is set to host the Globes again in January – has quietly parted ways with the onetime superstar.

“Amy and Nikki used to be attached at the hip, but you don’t really see them together anymore,” the source claimed.

The insider said that Nikki – who used to give glowing interviews about her friendship with the I Feel Pretty star – is sick of walking on eggshells around Amy.

‘DIFFICULT DECISION’

Amy Schumer and Chris Fischer split after 7 years of marriage

“All of a sudden, Amy became very woke in the sense that you can’t say anything in front of her without her getting offended,” the insider explained, adding that the women no longer respect each other’s style of comedy.

“They just don’t like each other’s stuff anymore.”

A separate source summed up: “They stopped being close because Amy got weird.”

The second source also claimed Amy’s other former dear friend, Rachel Feinstein, has also quietly cut out Amy from her life.

The U.S. Sun reached out to Amy, Nikki and Rachel for comment, but did not hear back.

BEST FRIENDS

Nikki, who was featured on Amy’s former Comedy Central show Inside Amy Schumer, gave several interviews about their friendship over the years.

In one interview with US Weekly in 2015, Nikki said: “She’s like the type of person that you’d be like, ‘Oh my god, I want to be best friends with her,’ so it’s like a miracle to me when I hang out with her…I’m like, ‘Do you know I’d be stalking you [if we weren’t friends]?””

In a post the following year, Amy called Nikki her “main chick,” while plugging her show that was about to be released, Not Safe With Nikki Glaser. 

HEARTBREAKING DIVORCE

The friendship fall-out comes at a tough time in Amy’s personal life, as she announced last week she is splitting from her husband of seven years, celebrity chef Chris Fischer, 45.

“Blah blah blah Chris and I have made the difficult decision to end our marriage after 7 years,” she said on Friday, December 12.

“We love each other very much and will continue to focus on raising our son,” Amy wrote, referring to their six-year-old son, Gene David Fischer.

The comedian then added that their separation was not caused by her recent weight loss, despite rumors that have been circulating in recent weeks.

“We would appreciate people respecting our privacy at this time. [It’s] not because I dropped some lbs and thought I could bag [a] basket [sic] and not because he’s a hot [James] Beard award-winning chef who can still pull some hot tail.

“Amicable and all love and respect! Family forever,” Amy concluded her post.

The U.S. Sun also recently reported in November that the star was having difficulty selling the $12.75 million Brooklyn townhouse the couple share, even after significantly reducing the asking price.

Death in Paradise star Don Gilet has opened up on returning to the BBC drama for the Christmas special

Death in Paradise star Don Gilet has expressed his delight at reprising his role, admitting “It was great to come back”.

The actor, 58, joined the BBC drama as DI Mervin Wilson last year, following in the footsteps of previous stars such as Ben Miller and Ralf Little.

Now, he’s eagerly awaiting the 2025 Christmas special and shared his feelings about returning to the role, confessing it was “slightly daunting”.

“It felt good. Slightly daunting, but in a positive sense because you want to do the same again, if not better,” he revealed in a BBC interview ahead of his return. “I jokingly describe it as the second album, the first album went really well, but you can’t rest on your laurels and be complacent, there’s still more audience out there to win over.”

He continued: “So, I went out to Guadeloupe with a renewed appetite. It was great to come back and reconnect with the characters and the actors,” reports the Express.

Discussing what fans can expect from the festive special, Don promised “plenty of humour, but even more heart”.

He elaborated: “It pushes and pulls emotionally and comedically in equal measure. Mervin faces far more antagonism, and things are a lot more challenging for him, especially now he knows there’s a half-brother out there to find.

“But you can still get cosy, sip your Baileys and enjoy another great Death in Paradise Christmas special,” he added.

The forthcoming special presents one of the team’s most perplexing cases yet, as a victim is found dead in a swimming pool on Saint Marie, whilst the murder weapon was locked away in a drawer back in England at the time of the killing, leaving detectives completely stumped.

This comes as Don recently spoke candidly about the “pressure” of filling the boots of previous stars as the latest detective on the show.

During his stint on BBC The One Show on Monday (December 16) evening, he confessed to Alex and co-host Roman Kemp: “I feel the pressure doing this. I’ve said this before, it feels like the second album, you know the first one went well, I was the replacement like a replacement Doctor Who and people have their favourites prior to that.

“So there’s always this sense of ‘well is he going to be as good as…’ are people going to switch off, but luckily no one has switched off yet but you’ve got to come back and do it again and better so I’m not resting on my laurels.

“I do feel a bit pressure but it’s an enjoyable pressure. I love coming back and doing more of the same but with something a bit extra.”

Death In Paradise Christmas special airs on BBC One on Sunday, December 28 at 8.30pm.