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Guests from Alan Titchmarsh’s Love Your Weekend discussed behind-the-scenes antics on the ITV show and shared their honest opinions on the host

Two guests from Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh have lifted the lid on what truly happens behind the scenes on the popular ITV programme. Shot in a barn nestled in the rural Hampshire countryside, the show sees the beloved gardener celebrate British country living with a roster of weekly guests, including Strictly Come Dancing star Sarah Hadland and comedian Tom Allen.

Recounting their individual experiences on the programme, both stars disclosed that they were offered generous amounts of alcohol away from the cameras.

Speaking together on Pottering with Tom Allen, Sarah said: “I quite like Alan Titchmarsh,” prompting Tom to ask whether she had appeared on his ITV show.

Confirming she had featured twice, she added: “I love it.”

“You go to this barn near Guilford and get p****d,” Tom went on to reveal. Reflecting on her own experience, Sarah recalled drinking “a lot of rum” during her appearance on the show.

“Yeah, they get you really smashed,” Tom added. Sharing her thoughts on the much-loved host, the Strictly star described Alan as “lovely [and] very personable”.

“Very personable,” Tom agreed. “And the people who own the barn [were] very nice.”

Discussing a moment that appeared to take her by surprise, Sarah recalled getting ready in the owner’s daughter’s bedroom, to which the comedian confessed he had done exactly the same.

“I think she moved out a long time ago,” he added. “I was there like, ‘Her eyeliner is magnificent’, she laughed. “The whole feel of it is very chilled.”

Alan remains a firm favourite on ITV, with his show Love Your Garden also proving a massive hit among viewers.

During a recently aired repeated episode, some viewers claimed he and his team “ruined” a garden belonging to couple Rob and Margaret Isdale.

Explaining the 2019 renovation during the episode, the gardener disclosed that he had converted their shed into a mock Tudor-inspired structure, while incorporating several crumbling brick “columns”.

Although many took to X to applaud the transformation, one viewer felt it featured too many “bricks and concrete”, while another described it as “too crowded”.

However, Rob was full of admiration for the team’s hard work, insisting they did “a brilliant job”.

He told us exclusively: “Alan Titchmarsh was great. He came and interviewed us part way through while we were out in the caravan site [as the transformation took place]. Yeah, no complaints at all.”

Rob went on to reveal that while they still cherish their garden, he has made a handful of small changes over the years.

“The shed, that’s now my art studio, I took up painting so I sit in there and do my painting,” he added. “It is the same, the only thing we took down was a tree that was in front of our kitchen window that was blocking out the view a bit and the light.”

Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh airs today at 9.30am on ITV and ITVX

In recent months Ant & Dec have spoken more about their televisual adventures both in front of the cameras and behind them as I’m A Celebrity South Africa kicks off

Declan Donnelly, one half of the Ant & Dec presenting duo, has said they were stunned by an intruder at their lodge on I’m A Celebrity South Africa.

The pair are out in the region presenting the latest series of the ITV programme, which features 12 celebrities, including Gemma Collins, Sinitta, Seann Walsh and Sir Mo Farah, competing for victory.

Anthony McPartlin, 50, said to Declan on their podcast Hanging Out with Ant & Dec: “Didn’t you have a bush baby in your room?” The bush babies Anthony was asking about are a type of nocturnal primate.

In response, Declan, 50, said: “In my lodge was a thatched roof, and I came back from work and my fruit bowl — there was an orange on the side — and it had been half peeled, and there was wee on the worktop.

“Somebody came round — one of the guys who come to pick us up. I said, ‘Have you seen this? Looks like wee on the side and my fruit’s had a go at.’

“He went, ‘Oh, you’ve got bush babies. They live in the thatched roof and they come down and they come at your fruit, have a wee and then they go again.’”

This isn’t the only time Ant & Dec have spoken about their lives behind the television screens, with their podcast seeing the pair speak a little more about the famous people they’ve talked to and the hilarious incidents along the way.

Notably, the pair spoke earlier this year about what it was like when they met King Charles when he was the Prince of Wales in the early 2000s, and how Declan got distracted whilst meeting the then heir to the throne.

The interview, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Prince’s Trust — now the King’s Trust — with the future monarch took place at Highgrove House. Declan recalled how Charles said that he wanted to chat with Ant & Dec off camera before the interview began so they could get to know each other.

As a result, he invited them in for tea. However, Declan said he got a bit distracted by not knowing who was going to pour the tea.

He said: “So, we went in, sat in this room, and he came in and shook our hands and we sat down and they brought in this massive tray with a big teapot, teacups on it, biscuits and stuff, and we sat there and he’s talking to us.

“I’m sitting there going, ‘Who’s going to pour the tea? He’s not going to do it. Do we do it? Are we supposed to do this? Should one of us just dive in?’ I was really distracted.

“‘Has this been left for us to do because he’s not going to do it? So have we got to do this?’ I was really distracted through the whole thing. I kind of wasn’t listening to what he was saying because I was too worried.”

Declan’s comments came ahead of the pair’s travels to South Africa to film the I’m A Celebrity spin-off, which returns to screens at 9pm tonight on ITV.

The world famous botanical gardens at Kew offer so much more than plants – we tried a sound bath in the iconic Nash Conservatory

Kew Gardens – the world-famous botanical gardens with the largest collection in the globe.

Internationally renowned and vitally important to our understanding of plant life, not to mention the millions of specimens also held in this stunning corner of West London, Kew also boasts being a World Heritage Site.

This oasis of calm, serenity and beauty is also one of the capital’s most visited tourist attractions – and my ultimate happy place.

Be in the depths of winter, the first blooms of spring, the sun-kissed height of summer or the golden autumn days, Kew always has something to entrance and amaze.

It doesn’t matter how many thousands of people might flood through the gates each day, this vast site always has an air of peace and calm.

So, when it came to my first ever sound bath experience – have no fear there is no water involved – what better place to try it than surrounded by nature at Kew.

And what exactly is a sound bath? In short it’s a meditation experience using gongs, Tibetan bowls and crystal bowls, along with chimes to create a dream-like state somewhere between sleep and waking.

Said to help ease stress and anxiety – and with the state of, well, everything, at the moment – who doesn’t need a bit of that?

On Kew’s website, it states: “Therapeutic sound has been proven to offer a wide range of health benefits, helping to boost your immune system by making you feel more grounded, balanced, and connected.

“No previous experience is needed for this expert-led session, making it the perfect opportunity to try a new way of reaching deep meditation and relaxation.”

It’s also recommended to have a stroll around the incredible gardens before you step into the Nash Conservatory for the hour long session.

Gently strolling through the vast expanse of Kew, surrounded by blossom trees and areas filled with sunshine-coloured daffodils, I could already feel my stress melting away even before the session began.

Held in the glorious Nash Conservatory, close to Kew Palace with the Elizabeth Gate the closest entrance, this sunshine-filled spaced already felt welcoming and calm the moment you stepped in.

You’re advised to bring a blanket, cushion and eye mask so you can be comfortable and fully immersed in the experience, which is led by Jez Smith FRSA, a historical musician and qualified sound therapist, who has been practising for 35 years.

Lying in the space, eyes closed, eye mask on and cosy in my blanket, the session began. Gentle noise filled the room, within minutes I could feel my shoulders relaxing.

As the sound slowly builds – it never feels overwhelmingly loud but does fill the entire space – I could feel every muscle in my body slowly sinking into the floor.

Still awake but only vaguely aware of my surroundings, there was a moment where I felt my entire face and jaw relax – I had no clue I was holding so much tension there.

Advised by Jez to focus on the noise and try to push away thoughts as they popped into your head – something which became increasingly easy to do as the session progressed – I became totally unaware of time and before I knew it, our hour was up.

Brought back to full consciousness by the gentle sound of chimes, as we all slowly returned to sitting I was stunned to feel I not only felt relaxed but more care-free than I had for months.

Another slow stroll through Kew before heading home and I can firmly say sound baths are not only good for easing stress, they’re also good for the soul.

Sound baths at Kew Gardens

Kew is holding regular sound baths on selected dates between now and October.

For more information, visit the website.

A YouTuber who visited Riga, Latvia, was stunned by the four-star hotel prices in the city voted one of Europe’s cheapest by Post Office Travel

A YouTuber who toured Europe‘s most affordable city was taken aback by the cost of one item he purchased during his journey.

Ed Chapman, who shares his adventures on his eponymous YouTube channel, visited Riga, the capital of Latvia, and filmed a video about his experiences in the city after it was named one of Europe’s cheapest in a survey by Post Office Travel.

His primary reason for visiting Riga was to compare it with one of the priciest cities in Europe, Oslo, Norway. According to Skyscanner, flights to Riga can be purchased for as little as £28 from Leeds Bradford Airport.

One of the most striking differences between the two, Ed pointed out, was the disparity in hotel prices.

In Oslo, he stayed at a three-star hotel for one night, while in Riga, he lodged at a four-star hotel, but the price difference was significant, reports the Express.

After exploring and commenting on his hotel room, he remarked: “We’re in the heart of the city centre, literally one street away from the main stuff. Four-star hotel. £62 a night. Now that’s tasty. For a capital city, for the middle of the city centre that’s a bit mad isn’t it?

“Bearing in mind in Oslo I stayed in a three-star hotel, also bang in the city centre and that was £140 for a night there. Less than half price that’s crazy.”

Ed isn’t alone in highlighting Riga’s charm. The city, home to approximately 600,000 residents, is located at the centre of the Gulf of Riga where the Daugava River flows into the Baltic Sea.

Additionally, the city’s historic centre has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its Jugendstil and Art Nouveau architecture standing out as two of its main attractions.

Among Riga’s most distinctive landmarks is the Riga Central Market. Built using repurposed German Zeppelin hangars, these structures rank amongst the city’s most recognisable buildings, spanning 778,000 square feet and housing approximately 3,000 trading stalls.

Furthermore, Riga offers convenient access to nearby coastal areas such as Jurmala. The Mirror previously reported that one visitor was impressed not just by the affordability, but by the amenities available.

They commented in a review: “Changing pods are available on the beach and the sand is soft and flat. We paid €5 each for a sun lounger for the day, although in the afternoon people could help themselves to ones that were left or that people had finished with.

“Well worth the journey from Riga which is about 25 mins by train from central Riga and very cheap. We booked the day before online and it cost us about €6 return for both of us – amazing value.”

TOWIE star Jordan Wright has died at the age of 33 after being found in a drainage canal in Thailand and his friends and co-stars have started to speak out on the tragedy

TOWIE star Jordan Wright has died at the age of 33 after being found in a drainage canal in Thailand. The reality star, best known for appearing on The Only Way is Essex after initially finding fame on Ex on the Beach, had relocated to the had moved the luxury holiday destination just months ago in the hopes of a “fresh start” before tragedy struck.

His death was confirmed on Thursday by the local police and the Foreign Office. Police chief Sutthirak Chuthong of Choeng Thale district station said: “The guest was identified as Mr Jordan Wright, a British national, whom the hotel had been unable to contact. A search of the room revealed no signs of forced entry or other irregularities.

Shortly after the news broke, several of Jordan’s fellow celebs broke their silence on the matter as they paid tribute to the TV star, who had returned to his roots as a fireman in the years after finding fame.

READ MORE: Pregnant Sophie Kasaei ‘prays’ for hospitalised boyfriend after agonising illnessREAD MORE: Jordan Wright dead: TOWIE star, 33, dies in Thailand as tributes pour in

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In comments section of his final Instagram post, Chloe Brockett, who joined TOWIE in 2019, wrote: “Rest in Peace,” and emblazoned her comment with a heart emoji. Following that, Chloe Crowhurst, who found fame on Love Island, wrote: “Rest in peace Jord” alongside a white heart and cloud emoji.

Rykard Jenkins, another Love Islander, didn’t leave any words but chose to pay tribute in the form of a while love heart emoji and a symbol of hands in prayer.

Model Georgia Mercer wrote: “RIP Jord. You had the most infectious energy. Thank you for the laughs,” whilst influencer Scarlett Ellis saidL: “Such a lovely person gone too soon. Rest peacefully Jordan”

Tragic Jordan was discovered lying face down in the canal in a grey shirt and black trousers without any shoes on. A keycard for the Coco Phuket Bangtao Hotel was found in his pocket, police have said, with his phone nearby on the canal bank. Investigators have said there were no signs of physical assault or a struggle. His body has since been taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for an autopsy.

It’s understood his body was found by a Burmese worker close to Bang Tao Beach on Saturday afternoon – roughly around 12.30pm. The Foreign Office also shared a statement on Jordan’s death.

A Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities,” they told the Daily Mail.

Meanwhile tributes from shocked friends have poured in online, with many taking to Jordan’s last post shared on Instagram – which he posted just last week. The post features a photo of Jordan smiling while holding a glass of wine and sat in an infinity pool.

Meanwhile tributes from shocked friends have been made online, with many commenting on Jordan’s last post shared on Instagram – which he posted just last week. The post features a photo of Jordan in an infinity pool, smiling while holding a glass of wine.

“I’m home,” he declared in the Instagram post, alongside an emoji of the flag of Thailand. He continued: “FT The best bath I’ve ever taken”. One heartbroken pal wrote: “Oh Jord, gone way too soon. Rest in peace darling”. Another added: “Can’t believe what I’m hearing. Lots of fun times and good memories with you mate. Rest easy.”

In a post shared in December, he posed with pals at The Big Buddah in Phucket and gushed in the comments: “A very exiting year ahead”.

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