Talent shows

Bradley Walsh drops biggest hint yet that he’s set to be new Strictly host

Bradley Walsh got tongues wagging when he rocked up at the Strictly Come Dancing studio after hosts, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkelman sensationally announced they’re quitting the show

Bradley Walsh has added fuel to rumours he’ll host Strictly after he was seen backstage with the show’s crew over the weekend. The presenter, 65, is odds-on favourite to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as hosts of Strictly when they step down at the end of the current series.

Gladiators host, Bradley, is reportedly in final talks to host the primetime programme after dynamic duo, Tess and Claudia, sensationally announced they were quitting in October.

Bradley headed to the BBC studio during a break in filming ITV’s The Chase, where he posed for a selfie with the crew from the dance show. Both The Chase and Strictly are filmed at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.

READ MORE: New Strictly Come Dancing host ‘revealed’ as top presenter seen on setREAD MORE: Strictly spoiler leaves fans ‘absolutely devastated’ as they demand second opinion

Head dressmaker Theresa Hewlett shared a photograph with star on X, formerly Twitter, with a smile a mile wide, posing alongside her colleagues ahead of Saturday’s live show.

She captioned the post: “The Chase is filmed next door and he popped in to say hi. What a lovely man Bradley Walsh is!”

Meanwhile a source told The Sun: “Bradley’s appearance in the studio has certainly set tongues wagging. Bosses are keen for Bradley to take over. He is a real pro and has brilliant experience hosting live shows.

“Producers need a safe pair of hands to steady the ship amid so much damage. Of course, he’d have a female alongside him as part of a duo.

And that female, is reported to be The One Show’s Alex Jones, who took part in Strictly in 2011. A source told the publication: “Alex and Bradley are both the favourites to take over from Tess and Claudia… they have been in the BBC’s sights for some time.”

“Alex is a massive fan of Strictly, too, so this would be the dream gig for her.”

The insider clarified that “nothing is set in stone yet”, but said discussions involving the pair had been “moving in a really positive direction” so far.

Tess and Claudia stunned Strictly fans when they posted a joint video in October, announcing they were calling it quits.

Addressing viewers, they said: “We have loved working as a duo, and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together, and now feels like the right time. We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and every single person who works on the show.

“They’re the most brilliant team, and we’ll miss them every day. We will cry when we say the last ‘keep dancing,’ but we will continue to say it to each other – just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.



Source link

Strictly spoiler leaves fans ‘absolutely devastated’ as they demand second opinion

Strictly Come Dancing 2025 is flying by, and another star will be shown leaving the BBC series on Sunday night, filmed on Saturday, but the leak has already revealed who left

Another star has left Strictly Come Dancing 2025, and the result has left fans “absolutely devastated”.

While the result has not been confirmed by the BBC and doesn’t air until Sunday night, as per usual a leak has given the game away. With the results show filmed on the Saturday night after the live show, each week the booted off celebrity gets revealed online hours before the BBC announce it.

This week is no different, and the Strictly mole has revealed all – with the result dividing fans. As usual, Mirror has chosen not to state the name given, but fans have reacted to the supposed result online.

Taking to social media fans confessed they were “absolutely devastated” and some didn’t see it coming. Others even went as far as to say they wanted a second opinion, while some were “not surprised”.

One fan said: “Holy – that I was NOT expecting. absolutely the correct decision though.” Another said: “I can’t believe it!!!!! I’m absolutely devastated.”

READ MORE: Strictly Come Dancing RECAP: Instant Dance causes chaos as fans fear for one starREAD MORE: New Strictly Come Dancing host ‘revealed’ as top presenter seen on set

A third fan said: “I am gutted with this elimination,” while one fan said: “Not the biggest surprise after this evening’s show, but overall they have been lovely to watch.” Another added: “Absolutely the right decision.”

One fan didn’t believe it to the point they wanted a “second opinion”. “I’m sorry, I want a second opinion here. I don’t believe for one minute they would save the person in question between those two,” they claimed.

It comes a week on from La Voix leaving the show due to an injury. Initially only missing out on one week, the drag artist sadly had to quit the show altogether meaning an elimination was cancelled.

After sustaining a food injury, La Voix and pro dance partner Aljaz had hoped she would recover and continue their Strictly journey, but sadly this was not to be. She broke down in tears as she spoke out about her sudden exit.

The star said: “This has been the most extraordinary experience of my entire life. What I loved most, don’t hate me, it’s not the dancing but it’s just being welcomed by everyone.

“I came into the show as a minority, as a redhead, and you’ve embraced me wonderfully. I cannot thank you enough, it’s been amazing.” La Voix added: “I’m just so lucky. What you see on that dancefloor is a fraction of the love and the passion this man has for dance.

“You have made me carry on when I’ve questioned myself, made me laugh on the toughest day and when I thought I couldn’t do something, you never gave up on me. Not once. I am leaving this show more confident, and that’s because of you.”

Meanwhile, fans were left fearing fellow celebrity contestant Alex Kingston would be next to withdraw, after an injury. After claims she had sustained a rib injury, Alex spoke out to assure fans she was going nowhere, and had no plans to quit the series.

Strictly Come Dancing continues next Saturday on BBC One. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .



Source link

Loose Women’s Sherrie Hewson claims co-star ‘kicked her under the table’

Sherrie Hewson has revealed which of her Loose Women co-stars jokingly kicked her under the table when she recently went back to the ITV chat show panel after almost a decade away

Sherrie Hewson has claimed that a Loose Women star kicked her under the table. The actress spent more than a decade on the panel of ITV’s lunchtime panel show, putting the world to rights alongside other long-serving stars such as Jane McDonald, Carol McGiffin, and Denise Welch, amongst a whole host of other familiar television faces. The actress, 75, was probably best known for starring as Maureen Holdsworth on Coronation Street in the late 1990s when she landed the job, and was yet to experience further success as hotelier Joyce Temple-Savage on the sunny sitcom Benidorm.

The former Emmerdale star announced in 2016 that she would be stepping down from the panel after a total of 13 years on air, having worked alongside anchors such as Andrea McLean, Carol Vorderman and Kate Thornton, and had appeared in more than 800 episodes by the time she left.

She has now claimed that while she did have intense debates with co-stars like Janet Street-Porter, everything was normally okay once the cameras stopped rolling, but she returned a few months ago for a guest appearance and was ‘kicked’ under the table by one long-serving star in particular.

READ MORE: Loose Women legend reveals ‘massive’ backstage row with co-starREAD MORE: Denise Welch reveals she ‘stormed off set’ over ‘patronising’ director

She said: “I don’t recall anyone back then being offended by what we said or did. Nobody was rude. Yes, we had rows. I had awful ding-dongs with Janet Street Porter – I’d tell her to shut up because I thought she was talking rubbish. But we’d both end up laughing and thinking it was very funny. She was talking rubbish – and maybe I was, too!

“But you have rows and you make up – that’s life! It was never about deliberately creating an argument for the sake of it, like you get on some shows. I don’t mean about it being horrible and nasty, but like: ‘Do you know what? I don’t agree with you. Let’s agree to disagree’. We all have different opinions. And we should be allowed to say them!

“I went on Loose Women a few months ago and I said something slightly outrageous – can’t remember what it was now – and Coleen [Nolan] kicked me under the table!”

During a chat with The Sun, Sherrie went on to say that she told I’m In The Mood For Dancing songstress to not do that to her, and recalled that Coleen simply replied: “But I like kicking you.” But she insisted that was the “kind of banter” that was needed and insisted that there was “no hard feelings” between herself and the former Dancing On Ice star.

The actress recently spoke out about the much-discussed revival of Benidorm, which initially ran from 2007 until 2018 and also featured the likes of Steve Pemberton, Siobhan Finneran, and Tony Maudsley amongst its stellar cast. Several big-name guest stars also made an appearance over the years, including Dame Joan Collins, Hi-de-Hi legend Su Pollard and the late Cilla Black.

On the subject of a comeback, Sherrie told the Mirror: “We’re always the last to know when it comes to Benidorm! But wouldn’t it be brilliant? It would be fabulous, wouldn’t it? It still gets great ratings you know, I sit and watch it all the time! I don’t know the answer to if it’s coming back but of course I’m up for it.

“I was lucky because Joyce was a brilliantly written part. Derren Litten could really write for women and you can’t say that about a lot of people.

“He wrote that part and it was such an amazing gift. I had so many incredible years on that show – five months in Benidorm every year, you can’t get better than that, can you? I’d jump on the plane now if they were bringing it back.

“We had the likes of Martin Kemp, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Bananarama, and Tony Hadley come out. None of them wanted to go home. Of course I want to do it again, and it’s the same with Corrie. I’d love to link up with Tony Maudsley [George Shuttleworth] who played Kenneth in Benidorm, could you imagine?”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.



Source link

BBC Strictly Come Dancing’s La Voix admits ‘sad day’ as she miss Blackpool week

La Voix has had a ‘sad day’ coming to terms with the fact that she will not be competing in tonight’s edition of Strictly Come Dancing but has been cheered up by a bouquet of flowers

La Voix has had a ‘sad day’ coming to terms with the fact that she will not be competing in tonight’s edition of Strictly Come Dancing. The Drag Race star, 45, has had to pull out of the much-anticipated Blackpool heat of the BBC Saturday night favourite after sustaining a foot injury.

The star, whose real name is Christopher Dennis, took to social media on Saturday in the countdown for the live show to take place, to reveal that she had been presented with a bouquet of flowers that had cheered her up amid the tough time.

Alongside a picture of the gift, the TV star wrote on Instagram: “Thank you so much Darlings @blossom_and_ivy. This really is a gorgeous surprise on an otherwise sad day of not dancing in Blackpool.”

READ MORE: Strictly Come Dancing star calls for two judges to be axed in major shake-upREAD MORE: Strictly star exposes huge clue La Voix would be forced to miss Blackpool Week

While La Voix was set to perform in Strictly’s highly anticipated Blackpool special, Strictly announced earlier this week that she was unable to compete after injuring herself. A show spokesperson said in a statement: “Due to injury, La Voix has been advised by doctors to rest and, as a result, will not dance in this weekend’s Blackpool specials.

During an appearance on It Takes Two on Wednesday evening, Christopher opened up about the issue that has been troubling her since earlier in the competition. “This has been ongoing since the foxtrot. I felt a little niggle in my foot hence comments about me being flat-footed. I was thinking this will be fine, but it got gradually worse…” the star told viewers.

La Voix added: “Until on Saturday we had to change shoes, I couldn’t wear heels. I had to wear those awful flat shoes.” Attempts to rehearse on Monday proved the injury was too severe to push through.”

She continued: “We tried on Monday, and it was really clear I was struggling in pain, so we decided to be professional and call this, hoping with some rest I can be back.”

Under strictly rules, the pair will automatically advance to next week’s round, buying La Voix time to recover. When asked whether she expected to return after the Blackpool special, she replied: “I hope so. Some people have said online that it’s just because I wanted to get out of doing the samba. I was desperate to get to Blackpool and do the samba. The production that was planned is going to be incredible.”

Despite the setback, the performer emphasised her love for the show, describing Strictly as a “happy place” and adding: “I am really hoping it continues.”

In a BBC statement released earlier this week, La Voix said: “My heart truly breaks knowing I won’t be dancing in such an iconic venue. I am devastated not to be joining the rest of the cast on that famous dancefloor, but my focus now is on recovery. I’ll be cheering on all the amazing couples this weekend.”

She also addressed her followers directly on Instagram, writing: “As many of you know, I injured my foot last week. With the help of an incredible team — and a whole lot of sparkles and determination — I was able to keep going and perform.”

However, she acknowledged that she now has no choice but to prioritise healing, saying she needed to “listen to her body” after “it became clear that the injury wasn’t improving”.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.



Source link

Vicky Pattison lands exciting new role with husband after ‘worst ever’ Strictly exit

Vicky Pattison is bouncing back after being booted off the BBC dance show, with the star already lining up a new on-screen project that will take her in a very different direction

Vicky Pattison is reportedly preparing for a brand-new TV role after her shock exit from Strictly Come Dancing. The former Geordie Shore favourite, who recently turned 38, was dropped from the BBC competition over the weekend despite impressing viewers with her routines alongside professional partner Kai Widdrington, 30.

The pair were sent home after the judges chose to save Balvinder Sopal, 49, and her partner Julian Caillon, 30. Now, Vicky is said to be heading straight back onto screens – this time alongside her husband Ercan Ramadan, whom she married in 2024 – in a new E4 series.

A TV insider told The Sun: “Vicky is already hugely popular with E4 audiences, thanks to her documentary about her dad’s alcoholism, her wedding specials and her show The Honesty Box, and this is the perfect post Strictly vehicle for her.”

According to the report, the show will explore a range of fertility topics, including IVF, egg freezing and the emotional realities behind the process. Vicky will also share her own journey while speaking to experts and women who have undergone similar experiences.

The star has been open about taking control of her fertility, choosing to freeze her eggs before tying the knot with Ercan last summer. She has frequently discussed the subject on social media and previously fronted the BBC documentary Egg Freezing And Me, which examined the rising demand for fertility treatments in the UK.

Growing up in Newcastle, Vicky felt the pressure many young women face surrounding marriage and motherhood. The 38-year-old has said that in her hometown, “it was ‘expected that you’d get married and have kids by 30, and if you didn’t you’d have failed.”

But despite once believing she had missed the mark, Vicky says her thirties turned out to be the most fulfilling years of her life so far. She told the Daily Mail: “I’d just come out of a relationship. I’d been conditioned to think everything was going to go downhill – looks, fertility, career. But my 30s have actually been the best years of my life. I met my husband, I bought a house, I adopted my dog, I found a career I’m proud of. I was a girl until I was 30 – now I’m a woman, and I like her. Society scares women into thinking life ends at 30. It’s rubbish.”

Vicky has also spoken openly about her diagnosis of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), after doctors initially dismissed her symptoms as nothing more than Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).

Reflecting on her fertility treatment, she has been honest about the emotional and physical toll, saying: “It’s emotionally difficult, and you’re all over the shop, but I found it to be quite uncomfortable and painful as well. And I don’t think enough people talk about that… we’re not allowed to whinge about it and say it was a bit hard, and it was a bit uncomfortable.”

She added an important reminder that women can feel both grateful and overwhelmed at the same time: “But actually, you can be grateful, and you can be really excited for the end product, but you can also struggle to get there, and I found it painful.”

The Mirror has reached out to Vicky Pattison’s representatives for comment.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.



Source link

Alan Carr breaks silence on replacing Strictly hosts – ‘I just don’t want to ruin it’

Alan Carr is back with a new series of Changing Ends – however, he may be following in the footsteps of his Celebrity Traitors co-star Claudia Winkleman as Strictly’s new host

The job offers haven’t stopped rolling in for Alan Carr since his momentous Celebrity Traitors win, with the comedian even tipped to take over hosting duties on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing. While he’s back with a new series of his hit comedy Changing Ends, the 49-year-old admits he’s unsure whether he could handle the challenge of stepping into Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly’s sparkly shoes.

“My name is in the hat,” he says. “What an honour. It’s a bit like when my name got bandied about for Britain’s Got Talent and The Great British Bake Off – I’m always on the periphery.

“I don’t know how serious it is. No one has approached me. People are so passionate about it and you saw me sweating in the castle when I was a Traitor, imagine me doing live telly with how many million people watching!”

READ MORE: BBC Celebrity Traitors star admits ‘one thing dawned on me early on’READ MORE: Celebrity Traitors finalist says ‘this is what Claudia Winkleman was really like’

Although, after a star turn on The Celebrity Traitors, he knows how to convincingly lie – and that could come in handy on Strictly. “If someone’s cha-cha-cha is a bit s**t, I’ve got the poker face!” he jokes.

“So many things have come from The Celebrity Traitors – so many job offers coming in – I’d be flattered but I don’t know if I could do it [Strictly] justice. I just don’t want to ruin it for people.”

Alan is back on more familiar ground with Changing Ends – the semi-autobiographical sitcom about his childhood in 1980s Northampton. Series three follows teenage Alan (played by Bafta nominee Oliver Savell) as he navigates obstacles such as stressful swimming lessons, and, more importantly, his first big crush – young Alan is smitten with Jake, the Saturday boy at the charity shop.

“I really got into charity shopping,” Alan smiles. “I used to go in there every Saturday and flick through the posters to catch his eye. I must have stunk like an old woman because I would get flares, I wore my dad’s sheepskin and we didn’t have dry cleaning like we do these days.

“I just wanted to be in love really. It still hasn’t happened!” With Alan now single after divorcing ex-husband Paul Drayton back in 2022, is he hoping his teenage crush will reach the real-life inspiration behind Jake?

“The boy knew then because I was just as unsubtle as I am now,” he laughs. “When I went back to Northampton, I saw him queuing up at a cash point. My knees went to jelly and I thought, ‘Oh my God, there he is.’ But I didn’t want to say hi.

“There’s still something there, but I don’t want a Surprise Surprise moment. He had his chance and he missed it! He could be dating a national treasure now.”

Fans will already know that Alan’s father Graham was famous himself – having been a professional footballer in the 1960s who went on to manage Northampton Town among other clubs. However, the new series also sees Alan’s mother Christine embracing life as a local WAG.

“We would drop my brother [Gary] off at Beavers and me and mum would sit in the Tesco café for an hour with a cup of tea and a Chelsea bun,” he says. “I remember this woman coming over in the canteen to ask for an autograph – I mean, it was funny.

“It sounds weird but in Northampton, my dad was famous – people would stop him. My mum didn’t get the same standard as my dad, but it was funny. She was stopped a few times and people whispered, ‘That’s Graham Carr’s wife.’ Now she gets, ‘That’s Alan Carr’s mum – that’s the Traitor’s mum!’”

Christine isn’t always pleased with how Alan portrays his childhood, with Nancy Sullivan and Shaun Dooley playing his long-suffering parents. “My mum goes, ‘Oh Alan, it wasn’t that obvious you were gay when you were a child.’ My mum, bless her – she’s still that she-wolf who goes up the school. ‘Don’t you pick on my Alan, he does fancy girls!’ I don’t think she realises how camp I am, she just loves me.”

Both his parents visited the show’s “surreal” set in Enfield, north London, which completely recreates his childhood home. “My poor dad walked up the stairs and nearly fell to his death because he thought the bedroom was upstairs,” he says. “How weird is that? It’s identical to the house. To have it decompartmentalised in a warehouse is so strange.”

As for whether we can expect more episodes of Changing Ends in the future, Alan says that it’s up to the fans. “I like the stage it’s at – that weird puberty stage,” he says. “If people are watching and they want it to come back, I’ll think about writing some more.

“But when it gets to the call centre years at 18 and when I started packing shampoo and dog food, I think I’m going to run out of stories because that was a really bleak time. It could be like The Office and be called The Warehouse!”

Although, after managing to make it all the way to the very end of The Celebrity Traitors without being found out as a Traitor, Alan is concerned that viewers won’t trust him any more. “I want it to be really authentic, but I worry now after doing The Celebrity Traitors people aren’t going to believe a word of Changing Ends!” he laughs.

Changing Ends airs Sunday at 10:05pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

Join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News , Flipboard , Apple News, TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads – or visit The Mirror homepage.



Source link

Vicky Pattison’s secret Strictly It Takes Two agreement as she misses show

Strictly Come Dancing fans were left confused after Vicky Pattison failed to appear on It Takes Two on Monday without any real explanation following her elimination from the show

Strictly Come Dancing fans were left confused after Vicky Pattison failed to appear on It Takes Two on Monday. The Geordie Shore star was eliminated from the dancing competition over the weekend and it’s tradition for the axed contestant to have their first interview on the show’s spin-off at the beginning of the following week.

Host Fleur East confirmed to viewers that Vicky and Kai would appear later in the week, but gave no explanation. But the Mirror can now reveal why Vicky was absent.

A source close to Vicky told us: “Vicky had it pre-agreed that she was going to celebrate her birthday with some friends and family. She has hardly seen them the last few months cos of training so it was a wonderful celebration but nothing too crazy.

“The BBC gave her permission to have the time around her birthday off and so she will be appearing on It Takes Two on Wednesday, it was all pre-agreed.”

READ MORE: Strictly’s Balvinder admits ‘struggle’ in face of ongoing dance off hellREAD MORE: Vicky Pattison breaks silence after Strictly exit branded ‘worst result ever’

The Mirror has contacted representatives for comment.

Vicky had faced Balvinder Sopal in the dance off, and the EastEnders actress appeared in her place, where she explained how ‘horrible’ it had been to compete against her friend for a place in next week’s Blackpool heat. She said: “I knew we were gonna be in the dance off, and when I saw who was lined up, I was like ‘This is awful.’

“And then they announced Vicky, and I was like ‘I just can’t…’ We became quite close, and our journey together has been really solid. I thought ‘I don’t wanna be the one…’ It was horrible, it’s horrible with anybody, but someone you’ve got close to, it’s not the way you want it to play out.”

Over the weekend, the former Loose Women star shared a video clip from her birthday party – which she hosted just as her sad scenes went to air. The post includes a message from a friend that reads ‘You are so special, never change. Love you.”

An emotional Vicky could be seen blowing out her birthday candles in front of a room her pals. The reality star, who has told how she has a constant battle with anxiety, said: “I know I let my nerves get in the way – and I will proper beat myself up over that. But I’ve never danced before sober and here I am, sober as a judge.”

Vicky, who was visited by her husband Ercan and their dogs during training this week, looked gutted to be sent home, but told presenter Tess Daly: “It was so lovely while it lasted, and I’ve had the nicest time. I knew this week was a difficult one for me, and I tried my hardest, as I have every week.”

She said that getting as far as week eight had far surpassed her own expectations. “Listen, I didn’t think I’d get past week one,” she insisted. “And I’m really honoured to have shared this experience with so many amazing people. Mostly with this fella right here.”

She told Kai: “You’ve been the best partner a girl can ask for. I’m so sorry I didn’t get you to Blackpool but I feel like I’ve won just by having you as my partner and I’m so grateful.”

Kai said she’d been a joy to teach, telling her: “You are everything that this series is about. Strong, confident, independent – and all that I can say is, I have loved every single second. I’m going to be gutted not coming to Blackpool with you on Monday. But I just want you to know that I feel like I have also won getting you as my partner.”

Fans previously said it was an especially brutal departure for Vicky because of Blackpool, her tango triumph last week, and also because Sunday was her 38th birthday.

One fan said: “Pretty shocking result, had Vicky down as a nailed on finalist and 50:50 winner along with Lewis (Cope).”

Another agreed: “Slightly distraught with the result because you were a definite potential winner and a firm favourite of mine, but I hope you’re extremely proud of yourself.VickyPattison, because you’ve done so amazing!!! We’re all proud of you lass!!”

But others felt Vicky had been let down on the night, claiming: “I did think the song didn’t go with the dance, the outfit didn’t go with the staging and the graffitied stairwell is almost designed to turn off the average Strictly viewer.”

One viewer added: “The dress was giving more Charleston vibes and the set was giving just ugly vibes.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .



Source link

Former Strictly star Anya Garnis fears Home Office mistake could leave her family homeless

Anya Garnis, who shares two young children with her husband Sunna Van Kampen, recently tried to rent a property in Devon, but she was rejected from doing so because of a Home Office blunder

Former Strictly star Anya Garnis fears she may be left homeless after a Home Office blunder rejected her right to live in Britain.

The Russian-born Latin dancer started dancing at the age of 10 and began competing professionally with her dance partner, Strictly’s Pasha Kovalev, in 1998. The pair moved to the US in 2001 to start her professional dancing career.

They reached the final of the US Open Ballroom Championship on a number of occasions and have also appeared in US series So You Think You Can Dance. Anya, who is a US citizen, has performed at the Emmys and the Oscars and even headlined the Broadway show Burn The Floor.

READ MORE: Dad whose son left school due to bullies has now been threatened with fines

READ MORE: Man falls into city centre river sparking huge emergency response

The 43-year-old, who shares two young children with her husband Sunna Van Kampen, recently tried to rent a property in Totnes, Devon, but she was rejected from doing so because of a Home Office blunder.

Baffled by the situation Anya investigated and discovered the Home Office’s landlord checking system suggested she did not have permission to live in the country, despite being here since 2013.

The Home Office said her application for leave to remain may have been lost – rendering her ‘illegal’. Speaking to the MailOnline she said: “I was absolutely shocked and devastated. We have to leave the place we’re living now in a couple of weeks, but have been told we can’t rent or buy anywhere else.

“In effect, this will leave us homeless in Britain. If we leave the country, my visa application will be dismissed entirely, but we may have no choice.”

Anya came to the UK on a temporary UK visa in 2013 to work for Strictly. She married Mr Van Kampen in 2017 and they later had two children, now aged three and one.

Since 2013 Anya has lived in the UK on rolling temporary visas without any major issues until she applied to renew her permission last September.

After applying she heard nothing for months so chased her application up on the Home Office website which suggested her application was being processed. When she tried to call, they told her they couldn’t discuss individual cases on the phone.

Home Office guidelines state that applicants have automatic leave to remain while their applications are being processed, so she thought nothing of it. After applying again she was shocked to still be turned down by the LCS.

She said: “I can’t buy or rent a property, but I also can’t leave the country while I’m waiting for a decision. I know highly skilled Americans who have been forced to give up on a life in Britain and move back home because of this catch.”

The Home Office said it would not comment on an individual case.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.



Source link

Strictly’s Vicky Pattison bursts into tears as she admits ‘I’m very overwhelmed’

Vicky Pattison has admitted she spent last weekend ‘bursting into tears’ after competing in the latest round of the BBC show after she topped the leaderboard

Strictly Come Dancing star Vicky Pattison has admitted she spent last weekend ‘bursting into tears’ after competing in the latest round of the BBC show. The Geordie Shore legend , 37, had been awarded a near-perfect score of 39 following her Tango to Taylor Swift hit The Fate Of Ophelia, and found herself at the top of the leaderboard.

The former Loose Women star, who won I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! in the years following her rise to fame, made an appearance alongside professional partner Kai Widdrington on Friday’s edition of Strictly spin-off It Takes Two, where she explained to host Fleur East just how much the successful result had meant to her.

She said: “On social media, someone said ‘I fear Vicky Pattison might chuck herself off that balcony if she ever gets a 40!’ and I fear they are right. For someone like me who had never danced before and was so scared at the start of the process, even now who still has wobbles, that’s a moment I never thought would be mine. I’m still feeling very overwhelmed and I spent Sunday just bursting into tears.”

As a congratulatory gift, Vicky was then presented with a framed picture of the leaderboard and a cushion with judge Anton DuBeke holding up his 10 paddle up on it. Vicky joked: “I am going straight home to bed with this!” Meanwhile, Vicky is hopeful that she and her co-stars will remain friends in the longterm and is confident that it will happen because she is still friends with her fellow showbiz stars from other reality shows.

She said: “For me, all the celebs are absolutely gorgeous. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be doing Strictly this year because everyone is so lovely. When we lost Dani Dyer originally, it was so devastating and heart-breaking. But then we got the gorgeous Amber, and we’ve got by Bal, La Voix, Caz Carney. I just feel so lucky and I hope we’re gonna be friends forever.

“That sounds a bit soppy, but maybe I am a bit soppy! I’m still friends with Ferne [McCann] and I was in the jungle 10 years ago with her. So I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we’re gonna be friends forever!”

Following the performance, Craig Revel Horwood was full of praise, describing the performance as “perfect”, while Anton admitted he was “a bit stunned” because it was “that good”.

He enthused: “I thought it was absolutely marvellous. I loved it. Your line is the best line I’ve ever seen. It was immaculate.” Meanwhile, Motsi Mabuse and head judge Shirley Ballas declared it their “dance of the night”, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Motsi gushed: “Last week I said you were a contender for the final, and this dance just proved what I meant. You confirmed my intuition. Without a doubt, you are on fire. Whatever is giving you that fire – keep it up. This was for me, till now, the dance of the night.”

After the show, Vicky took to Instagram to share her disbelief, posting a snapshot of the leaderboard with the caption: “This can not be real”. Saturday’s episode marked the halfway point of the series, with nine couples taking to the dance floor.

Follow our Strictly Come Dancing blog by clicking here.

Source link

Strictly’s Vicky Pattison reveals her shock grooming habit – and it’s all down to husband Ercan

Vicky Pattison has confessed hilariously in her podcast with Angela Scanlon that there’s one element of their relationship that husband Ercan Ramadan finds a total turn off…

Strictly Come Dancing star Vicky Pattison has admitted there’s one part of her that husband Ercan Ramadan finds a major turn-off: her nostril hair. Speaking on an episode of Get a Grip, her podcast with former Strictly star Angela Scanlon, Vicky, 37, said, “Do you know what really p**ses off Erc? My nostril hair.”

Despite saying Ercan, 32, was “a hairy man” with “strong Cypriot roots,” Vicky said he was adamant that she took action from the moment they began dating more than six years ago. “He’s really anal about hair – when we first got started going out he was like, ‘I need to do your nostril hair,’ and I was like, ‘No, because they’re fair babe, so just leave it.’”

READ MORE: Victoria Beckham Beauty launches early Black Friday sale with 20% off everything

Undeterred, Vicky revealed that Ercan took an electric trimmer to her nose, saying he “got up there with his weed-whacker thing” to remove the offending hairs. However, his solution failed to solve the problem. “Now they have grown back thicker and more determined,” she confessed.

Vicky, who’s dancing with pro Kai Widdrington on the hit BBC series, also told of her joy at coming top of the Leaderboard for the first time last weekend. She and Kai bagged the highest score with 39 points for their Tango to Taylor Swift’s The Fate of Ophelia, overtaking Amber Davies’ and Nikita Kuzmin’s Samba. “It just felt like it all came together,” Vicky told Angela, 41. “Even if that is the first and only time I get to be top of the Leaderboard I’m just so happy I got to do it once.”

She added, “It’s such a nice feeling – and it’s one I never thought I’d experience. I was in absolute shock, and I still am. I am dead proud of myself. I’m dead happy, I’m a bit emotional about it all, because I didn’t expect it.”

But Vicky also used this week’s podcast to again deny persistent rumours that she has slapped Ercan with a so-called ‘sex ban’ at home. “I’m not doing a sex ban,” she insisted, “but after doing the Samba all day, I’ve not got energy for the mattress mambo at home. I’m absolutely done in.”

Although the outspoken former Geordie Shore star loved being top of the Strictly pile last weekend, she still finds the elimination process nerve-shredding. “I have been unlucky enough to be in that final four and honestly it’s just the most awful feeling,” she said. “I know at some point I’ll have to be in the dance off, and it’ll be terrifying. It will just be awful.

“As we all know, I don’t deal with nerves very well or pressure, so I’m not looking forward to it. The relief when the light goes off you, and you’re squeezing hands – it’s very intense.”

She also told how she and Kai, 30, have been speaking about their plan to stay in touch after the show – although Vicky warned him, “Don’t think I’m going to be ringing you for a dance. When I’m f***ing done, I’m done. Everything’s going in the bin.”

But when their number is finally up, she’s looking forward to putting her feet up for a well-earned rest. “It’s obviously the most incredible experience ever, but it’s exhausting,” she told Angela. “I’m looking forward to having a nice Christmas.”

* Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.



Source link

Strictly Come Dancing results show could be axed due to ongoing leaks

The latest series of Strictly Come Dancing is off to a brilliant start and plenty of celebrity faces have been taking to the dancefloor to impress the judges

The Strictly Come Dancing results show could be axed due to ongoing leaks, it has been reported. The results show has been a Sunday staple for years but it could be coming to an end.

Despite the results show airing the day after the main programme, it is all actually filmed on the same night. However, this means that the person who has been dumped from the show tends to be leaked.

Many viewers are fed up with the Saturday night leaking and are calling for both episodes to be aired on a Saturday instead. Strictly bosses are now under pressure to make a change due to the undercover mole ruining the results for thousands of fans.

READ MORE: Debenhams unveils early Black Friday deals on Estée Lauder, Benefit and more

READ MORE: BBC Breakfast stars announce sad death of Strictly Come Dancing legendREAD MORE: Strictly’s Vicky Pattison shares candid message after achieving series’ highest score

The Daily Mail has reported that some BBC bosses think that the hit show needs to go back to its original format. This included the viewers voting after the Saturday main episode while The National Lottery was aired.

The live results programme then followed afterwards and the contestant with the least public support left the show.

There was no dance-off like there is now which meant that the judges didn’t have the opportunity to save anyone. However, with the current format, within just an hour of filming finishing at Elstree Studios, the Strictly mole leaks the results online which means that thousands of people know the results before the Sunday episode airs.

The current Sunday show brings in more than seven million viewers but these views would most likely be transferred over to Saturday evening if it was to be moved.

It was reported that a source said: “It’s become a complete farce, everyone watching knows that it was filmed the night before – but more significant than that, the result is out on the internet almost immediately.

“It’s fair to say that this mole is a thorn in the BBC’s side. You can find out by 11.30pm on a Saturday night what happened.

“A full readout appears on social media and they have no way of stopping it. Fans have to spend all day Sunday trying to avoid the spoiler online or hearing who went in the dance-off over their Sunday lunch. With Tess and Claudia (Strictly’s hosts, who are leaving at the end of this series) going, it is the ideal time to change things.”

Strictly Come Dancing is broadcast live on BBC1 on a Saturday night then after a break, where the judges and presenters change their outfits, they start pre-recording the Sunday night results show.

The presenters, judges, celebrities and professional dancers all refer to what happened “last night” as it is revealed who is in the bottom two and will face the dreaded dance-off despite it actually being on the same night.

This isn’t the only potential Strictly shake-up as presenters Claudia and Tess also revealed that they wouldn’t be back next year. They announced via Instagram that they would be leaving the show despite being fan favourites.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.



Source link

Strictly’s Vicky Pattison shares candid message after achieving series’ highest score

Strictly Come Dancing’s Vicky Pattison and her professional partner Kai Widdrington topped the leaderboard on Saturday night (November 8) with 39 points

Strictly Come Dancing’s Vicky Pattison was over the moon as she achieved her highest score of the series, topping the leaderboard.

On Saturday night (November 8), Vicky and her professional partner Kai Widdrington wowed the audience with a Tango to Taylor Swift’s The Fate Of Ophelia.

The pair ended the night on a high note, achieving their personal best score of the series – an impressive 39 points. Craig Revel Horwood was full of praise, describing the performance as “perfect”, while Anton Du Beke admitted he was “a bit stunned” because it was “that good”.

READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson issues emotional Top Gear statement honouring his longtime pal

READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson claps back after Quentin Willson tribute branded ‘not heartfelt’

He enthused: “I thought it was absolutely marvellous. I loved it. Your line is the best line I’ve ever seen. It was immaculate.” Meanwhile, Motsi Mabuse and head judge Shirley Ballas declared it their “dance of the night”, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Motsi gushed: “Last week I said you were a contender for the final, and this dance just proved what I meant. You confirmed my intuition. Without a doubt, you are on fire. Whatever is giving you that fire – keep it up. This was for me, till now, the dance of the night.”

After the show, Vicky took to Instagram to share her disbelief, posting a snapshot of the leaderboard with the caption: “This can not be real”. Saturday’s episode marked the halfway point of the series, with nine couples taking to the dance floor.

Hot on their heels in second place were West End star Amber Davies and professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin, who performed a Salsa to You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) by Sylvester.

The duo bagged two perfect 10s, racking up a total of 38 points – their highest in the series, which Craig enthusiastically labelled as: “Ah-mazing”.

Follow our Strictly Come Dancing blog by clicking here.

Source link

Strictly Come Dancing fans fume at ‘overmarked’ star in new BBC show row

Strictly Come Dancing fans rushed to social media as they felt the judges were ‘overmarking’ the contestants during tonight’s show which they felt was not reflective of the performance

Strictly Come Dancing fans were left fuming after judge Motsi Mabuse awarded Karen Carney ten points following her performance of the Charleston, with her professional dance partner Carlos Gu.

Viewers felt that they noticed flaws in her performance, however that did not appear to be reflected in the judge’s scores. Taking to X, one fan wrote: “sure not a 10, the lifts were pretty ropey #strictly.” Another person said: “F**** OFF Motsi and Anton! #Strictly.”

A third added: “What’s with Motsi and that 10? #Strictly.” Meanwhile a fourth penned: “10?!!! did we just watch the same performance #strictly.”

And a fifth fan took to the social media platform and chimed in saying: “Oh come on Motsi – never a 10, too frenetic #Strictly.”

“10??? What??? #Strictly,” said a sixth. Another added: “#Strictly shut up motsi. Its not a 10! Its messy with lots of faults #Charleston.”

And another fumed: “Motsi giving Karen a 10 for a dance which wasn’t perfect is wild #Strictly.”‘

Stars on this year’s line-up have left viewers gripped to their TV screens as they compete to make it to the final and hold up the coveted glitterball trophy.

But for one star, it looks as though joining the BBC ballroom show was more of a tough decision than once thought.

Vicky Pattison, who made her name starring on reality TV show Geordie Shore, recently explained that joining the show pushed back her plans to start a family with new husband Ercan Ramadan.

The couple tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in August last year.

In an interview with The Mirror, she admitted: “At the start of this year, I said to Ercan, I’m either gonna do Strictly, a second series of Honesty Box, or we’re going to have a baby. When I got the call for Strictly, he was over the moon. Kids are definitely on the cards next year. He probably thinks I’ll be at home a bit more, which he’s thrilled about.”

And while Ercan may have been left disappointed by her career decision, Vicky was adamant that he has been her biggest supporter.

Ercan has been providing Vicky with electrolytes and collagen every morning.

Last month, Tess and Claudia left die hard viewers heartbroken as they announced their departure from the BBC show.

Their announcement came with a video which they posted on social media. Claudia was the first to start speaking as she said: “Hi it’s Claud and Tess. There have been some rumblings and we want you to hear this from us…”

Tess added: “Yeah we have news. After 21 wonderfully joyful years on Strictly we have decided the time is right to step aside and pass on the baton…”

Claudia then chimed in saying: “The very sparkly baton…” Turning to Tess, she continued: “You’ve been here since the beginning…”

Tess, who is a mum of two and married to radio host Vernon Kay, kicked off her Strictly journey when she hosted the show alongside the much loved Bruce Forsyth.

Tess went on to say: “2004 with Brucey – lovely Bruce. That’s over two decades ago and a lot of that time has been with you. It’s been a huge part of our lives, hasn’t it? Since our children were literally babes in arms and now they’re young adults and I think, genuinely we have cherished every second.”

READ MORE: Dyson Black Friday 2025 sees exclusive deals on hair dryers, Air Wrap and vacuums

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.



Source link

Strictly’s Karen Hauer hit with setback just hours before live show after family heartbreak

Strictly Come Dancing professional Karen Hauer shared an update with her fans on Instagram following a tough night with just hours to go until the latest live show

Strictly Come Dancing star Karen Hauer shared an update on her dog Betty’s health after she underwent surgery. The pro dancer let her fans know that Betty is home and recovering following the procedure.

The beloved pet was recently diagnosed with cancer and has now been undergoing further tests to assess her condition. Betty was seen wearing a blue surgical recovery suit in a snap uploaded to Karen’s stories on Instagram.

She wrote over the post, “Our brave girl is home. A little bit out of it after surgery, but she’s doing so well. Now we wait for results.” She then shared a further update with a video where Betty was laying in her bed while Karen sat beside her on the floor stroking her ears.

In the clip Karen admitted that she and boyfriend, former rugby player Simon Davidson, hadn’t had much sleep with just hours to go before she had to head to work for tonight’s live Strictly show alongside her celebrity partner Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. However, she did admit that Betty had got a good night’s rest and was recovering well from her surgery.

Speaking in the clip Karen said, “Just a little update on Betty. She slept okay last night, even though there were fireworks, and she’s not a fan of fireworks. But she managed to get some rest. Simon and I, really we didn’t get much sleep.

“He’s about to go running in a bit and then I’m going off to work in a bit as well. But she is very comfortable in her little suit, and all the other doggies are giving her some love. Even though they want to give her cuddles and kisses they’re trying to be good and stay away from her now.

“But she’s doing good. Our little baby. One day at a time. “

Then, in a further update she showed Betty heading out for a gentle walk with Simon, while still wearing her surgery suit. Karen shared the devastating news of Betty’s diagnosis with her fans on social media last month.

At the time she shared pictures of Betty, including some from recent vet appointments, and explained, “Last week Simon felt two small lumps on Betty’s belly and under her armpit. We took her to the vet, and the results showed traces of cancer. Our hearts broke.

“It’s grade one as far as we know, and our vets have been absolutely incredible. They’ll be doing further tests to make sure they have all the info and can guide us through the next steps to give our Betty the best treatment possible.”

She then issued a warning to fans over their own pets as she continued, “Please check your fur babies for any lumps or bumps… early detection can make all the difference.”

Strictly Come Dancing airs tonight on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Like this s tory? F or more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .



Source link

Taylor Swift fans ‘burst with excitement’ after Strictly spoiler revealed for next week

Taylor Swift fans ‘screamed’ on Sunday evening’s results show after learning that Vicky Pattison will be dancing next week to the pop star’s latest single – The Fate of Ophelia

After finding out that she was safe from the dreaded dance off, reality star Vicky Pattison was told what her dance and song choice would be for next week. Taylor Swift fans couldn’t contain their excitement on Sunday evening’s Strictly Come Dancing results show after learning that Vicky, 37, will be dancing next week to Taylor Swift’s latest single – The Fate of Ophelia.

Professional partner Kai Widdrington started dancing as a small clip of the song played and sent Swifties into a frenzy online. One person took to X, formally known as Twitter, and wrote: “Arrgghhh not @VickyPattison dancing to The Fate of Ophelia, I screamed Strictly…doing Taylor Swift…and it’s a race weekend, I may just burst with excitement”.

Another fan penned: “Omg Vicky and Kai are dancing to Ophelia next week. My life for a month has been dominated by life and of a Showgirl”, while a third chimed in: “As a Swiftie. I’m Super excited to see that Vicky and Kai are dancing to The Fate of Ophelia next week!! Let’s see this be an iconic performance”.

READ MORE: Taylor Swift’s £120m property portfolio – 10-bedroom New York apartment to rural idyllREAD MORE: ‘I worked at Boots and found a way to save £120 on the most popular beauty gifts’

The track The Fate of Ophelia is the lead single off the album The Life Of A Showgirl which was released last month and features multiple references to her relationship with Travis Kelce.

She references a “megaphone”, a hint at the fact he reached out to her by screaming it out into the world on his podcast, rather than going through the usual ways.

Speaking about the new album, she said: “One thing about this album that I think is really exciting is that oftentimes when I make a record there’s like a lag time between when I made it and when it enters the world.

“Like for example, my last album, Tortured Post Department, by the time that album came out, I was in a completely different point in my life. With this one I would say that this album is a complete and total snapshot of what my life looks like right now.”

It comes after Vicky burst into tears on Saturday night’s Strictly after she performed the American Smooth with professional partner Kai. The dance, which was set to Bonnie Tyler’s Total Eclipse of the Heart, saw Vicky dressed as a white witch on theme for Halloween Week.

The dance went well and she received praise across the board from judges Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas, eventually scoring 31 for her efforts and even a standing ovation.

Not only was Vicky pleased her hard work was paying off but she was left in utter shock when Motsi predicted that she will make the final.

Motsi said: “A few weeks ago, I couldn’t believe that you’d open our show. I loved the character play in the beginning, you did it so, so well. So for me, you are a contender for the final. Honestly. And I just want you to finish everything, make everything nice and clean.”

Motsi’s comment was met with cheers from the audience, and Vicky promptly broke down in tears of joy. Rushing over to be interviewed by Claudia Winkleman, her tears continued as she said: “I hated going first! Honestly, I loved this dance this week because for once I had a foundation to build on. I wasn’t just starting from scratch and feeling so inadequate. I was just desperate to prove that I have improved.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.



Source link

Strictly Come Dancing fans ‘heartbroken’ as latest elimination spoiler leaks online

Strictly Come Dancing fans have reacted to news of the latest elimination after a spoiler leaked online following an eventful Halloween Week on the BBC competition

Strictly Come Dancing fans have been left ‘heartbroken’ after a spoiler revealed who has been eliminated from the BBC dance competition. Fans will know that the results show traditionally airs on Sundays but is pre-recorded immediately after the live show on a Saturday evening, and news is often leaked online.

This time around, it was Halloween Week on Strictly, and it was eventful from start to finish. With judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Motsi Mabuse all dressed up in spectacular spooky gear, and the contestants all embodying creepy and kooky personas for the evening, it was Emmerdale’s Lewis Cope who topped the leader board with a perfect score of 40, a first for this series.

Vicky Pattison burst into tears after Motsi predicted she would make it all the way to the final, and fans also started demanding that La Voix be made the new host after he momentarily stood in for Tess Daly.

READ MORE: Strictly Come Dancing LIVE: First 40 of the series, standing ovations and ‘horny’ dancesREAD MORE: Strictly’s Vicky Pattison bursts into tears after shock comment live on air

Just before the result was confirmed, rumours had already started to swirl and one fan wrote: “Genuinely worried this will come true again. Why are my faves always in danger?” Another said: “ffs I hope this is wrong,” and one fan admitted: “I ain’t sleeping until that spoiler drops, I’m on EDGE”

Another admitted: “got strictly spoiled for me last week bc someone updated the wikipedia page by like midnight based on the leaked spoiler while me and my sister were in depth examining the judges evil scoring HOWEVER this week im looking intentionally bc im getting nervous.”

A fourth fan said: “I wish there was a poll on X where we can see a live accurate version of what the votes look like cause waiting for the strictly spoiler poll is painful.”

At the end of Saturday’s show, it was revealed that Shirley would have the deciding vote when it came to deciding who would survive the dreaded dance off.

While the Mirror have decided not to leak the spoiler, fans have already been reacting online to the leaked elimination news. One simply wrote: “Noooooo,” and left a sad emoji and a broken heart with their tweet.

Another said: “the strictly spoiler. omg,” whilst a third admitted: “I had a feeling this was going to be the result. Devastated for the parson who left but it was the correct result sadly. Heartbroken for the other person too but I hope this means they’ll come back fighting next week.”

Last week, footballer Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley were sent home following a tense dance-off with musical theatre star Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin.

Speaking after the elimination, Jimmy said he never expected to enjoy the show so much. “I can only say thank you very much for letting me have this experience and to my daughters for pushing me to come here and do this.

“I never expected that I would enjoy it this much. The people behind the scenes, from the wardrobe people to the hairdressers to the make-up people, are absolutely magnificent – thank you very much.

“This experience is going to live with me forever. Most importantly, [to Lauren] this girl, she is just absolutely incredible. She has been absolutely amazing with me. You are a diamond,” he told Lauren.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.



Source link

Claudia Winkleman says ‘be prepared’ as she shares true feelings about Strictly job

Claudia Winkleman has set the record straight on her Strictly Come Dancing experience, as she and Tess Daly are set to leave Strictly Come Dancing at the end of the 2025 series

Television host and national treasure Claudia Winkleman told fans to “be prepared” before revealing her true thoughts on Strictly Come Dancing.

Claudia, 53, recently announced alongside co-host Tess Daly that the pair would be leaving the popular BBC programme after over 20 years of holding various presenting roles on the series.

Claudia, who also hosts The Traitors and Celebrity Traitors, opened up about the origins of her working on the programme in her book Quite, explaining that it was the ultimate case of someone being in the right place at the right time.

She said: “Strictly has been (I don’t want your stomach to turn, so please be prepared) a gift to me. A barnstorming, stonking, thunderbolt of a present.

“I started working on It Takes Two in 2004. There had been one series already, my son was tiny and they said, ‘Look, can you talk about the foxtrot every night live at 6.30pm?’”

She added: “I could be with him all morning and then go to work. I know. It was a six week run and I was ridiculously lucky.

“I then went on to present the results show and when Sir Bruce resigned I got Tess’s job. Sometimes good fortune just falls in your lap. How did I, a short, scruffy, orange idiot get to be part of one of the nation’s favourite TV shows?

“All I can say is there has been no better example of right place, right time on earth.”

In a statement on Instagram announcing of her exit from the show, Claudia said: “It’s very difficult to put into words exactly what Strictly has meant to me. It’s been the greatest relationship of my career.

“From working on It Takes Two in 2004 until now it has been my everything, the show I will be eternally grateful for.

“I will never forget Len Goodman trying to teach me what a cucaracha is (I still don’t know) and the complete thrill and honour it was to work with Tess on the results show to co-hosting on Saturday nights.

“Strictly is a magical, glittery, fake tanned train and it’s been a privilege to be a tiny part of it. The extraordinary talent of the dancers, the band, the hair and makeup and costume teams, the unbelievable production crew and creatives – all utterly amazing.

“I’ve always believed it’s best to leave a party before you’re fully ready to go and I know the new hosts will be magnificent.”

Source link

BBC Strictly Come Dancing star says they ‘should bring back the robbed’

A former Strictly Come Dancing contestant has said they want to return to the BBC show

Anita Rani, the Countryfile star and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant, has confessed she’ll “never get over” her time on the dance show. The 48 year old telly favourite took part in the BBC competition a decade ago, narrowly missing out on the final by just two weeks.

She was partnered with professional dancer Gleb Savchenko during her stint on the show, which saw The Wanted’s Jay McGuiness and his partner Aliona Vilani take home the coveted Glitterball Trophy.

Soap stars Georgia May Foote of Coronation Street and EastEnders‘ Kellie Bright were the runners-up that year. However, Anita is still convinced she was “robbed” of a place in the final alongside Aliona.

In a chat with The Sun’s TV Magazine, she revealed: “I wish I could do it again – I think they should bring back ‘the robbed’! I’ll never get over it, I should have got to the final.”

During the semi-final, Anita found herself in the dreaded dance-off against BBC presenter Katie Derham. Despite giving it her all, it was Katie and her partner Anton Du Beke who progressed to the grand finale, reports Wales Online.

Anita confessed that she used to turn down reality shows like Strictly, but has recently decided to say “yes” if the “offer arise”. Since then, she’s appeared on popular programmes such as Celebrity Gogglebox, The Chase, and Blankety Blank.

She even hinted that she’d consider joining the cast of Celebrity Traitors if the BBC decides to commission a second series. Meanwhile, Anita and her dad Bal are gearing up for their appearance on Celebrity Race Across the World.

She added: “I used to say no to other reality shows, but now I’m like: ‘If an offer arises, why not?’ The Traitors, I’m A Celeb… But I’ll tell you what me and Dad want to do next – Antiques Road Trip. Let’s put that out there!”.

Before taking part in the travel programme, Anita confessed she wanted her father to enjoy “an adventure”.

She told the BBC: “We get on, he makes me laugh and if I ever want help in making a decision, dad’s the person I call.

“Also, I want dad to have the experience. It’s about my dad having an adventure – he’s never had one before. I think we’re competitive, but I think we’re just really keen to have an amazing experience and give it our best shot.”

The Woman’s Hour presenter reveals she’s currently in a “new era” following the “confirmation” of her fresh romance with partner Alex Lavery.

This comes two years following her separation from spouse Bhupi Rehal. The former pair had been wed for 14 years before they ended their marriage.

Following their break-up, she revealed to Love Sunday Magazine: “‘Life is good, I’m in a good place. I’m focusing on myself and my own wants.

“It’s nice to be able to think about the second phase of my life. I’ve been calling it Chapter Two.”

Source link

Kate Garraway reveals which Celebrity Traitors star has snubbed WhatsApp group

Good Morning Britain star Kate Garraway has revealed which of the Celebrity Traitors stars opted not to be a part of the WhatsApp group after filming had finished

Kate Garraway has revealed which of the Celebrity Traitors stars has refused to join the WhatsApp group. The Good Morning Britain host, 58, is one of several who signed up to the first ever celebrity edition of the hit BBC game show, and while she’s still in touch with the likes of Tom Daley, Charlotte Church, and Alan Carr, one famous face from the programme doesn’t appear to want to chat.

The journalist explained that the chat is currently ‘popping off,’ as the celebrities react to themselves on screen and learn of various fates after their own time on their programme. Last night, viewers watched as Jonathan Ross became the first Traitor to be banished from the castle, and the former talk show host admitted on Friday’s Halloween special of Loose Women that he had no idea what was coming next.

But Kate has now revealed that the star who declined an invitation to join the WhatsApp group chat is someone who has been integral to the format of the show.

READ MORE: Jonathan Ross secret condition on Celebrity Traitors made him ‘blind’READ MORE: Celebrity Traitors fans ‘raging’ as Alan Carr murders ‘devastated’ star in emotional exit

The former GMTV host explained that it was Claudia Winkleman, who has been the host of the whole programme since it first aired on BBC One three years ago. Kate explained: “The WhatsApp group is popping off all day and night, actually. It’s brilliant. We invited Claudia to join the group because we all adore Claudia obviously. But she said no.”

Kate explained that the Strictly Come Dancing host was insistent that the contestants needed a place that was ‘just for them’ now that filming is done and they are getting to see the things they didn’t see whilst the series was in production as all the action plays out on screen.

Speaking to The Sun, she added: “She said you need a place that’s just for you guys now that you’re out and you know what’s going on. Because obviously, you know, there’s so much that I didn’t know that I’ve learned by watching it – all the comments that are made when you’re not in the room.”

Early on in the series, Alan Carr ‘murdered’ singer Paloma Faith in shock scenes and rumours have swirled that the pair are no longer on speaking terms, but Kate insisted that she ‘doesn’t really know’ what is going on thee.

What’s more, Jonathan was said to have come to blows with actress Ruth Codd behind the scenes, but Kate explained: “We’ve had one time where we’ve all got together – not everybody could make it – but Jonathan and Ruth were there together and seemed fine to me.”

When it comes to former Chatty Man host Alan, who is a traitor alongside singer Cat Burns, he recently spoke out about the current status of his friendship with New York songstress Paloma during the latest episode of his Life’s A Beach podcast.

He was joined by DJ Norman Cook, better known as Fatboy Slim, who directly asked him: “Aren’t you mates with Paloma?” before Alan replied: “Well, I was…”

Alan then explained that the pop star, 44, disregarded him as a ‘real friend’ when he killed her off, but he had to remind her that that as the whole point of the show to began with He added: “She said, ‘If you were a real friend, you wouldn’t have killed me.’ But I said, ‘I’m the Traitor! The show’s called The Traitors – it does what it says on the tin!'”

Alan then spoke of the fan reaction to the viral moment, and reminded them as well that he was doing as he was supposed to. He added: “There’ve been a few little TikToky things where she says I’ve let her down because I killed her in plain sight. It’s like going on Naked Attraction and being told, what, I have to take my knickers off? You know what you’re signing up for!”

Despite the apparent fall out, Alan then revealed that he is going to make it up to Paloma. He said: “I’m going to take her out for dinner. I love her. I’m such a big fan of her and she’s the best – but no one wants to be murdered first on a show. I panicked!”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.



Source link