tears

Dianne Buswell made Strictly Come Dancing history this year as the first dancer to take to the ballroom and compete whilst pregnant, and the show’s tribute to her pregnancy left fans in tears

Strictly Come Dancing gave a special tribute to Dianne Buswell‘s pregnancy during the live final. The dancer, who competed with fellow Aussie Stefan Dennis this year, was the first to compete on the show whilst pregnant.

During the final, the eliminated couples all took to the dancefloor again for a big group dance. When Dianne and Stefan performed their part of the routine, Strictly first paid tribute to Stefan’s legendary run on the TV show Neighbours by framing the couple as though they were in the title credits for the soap.

As the tribute continued, fans noticed another little tribute to Dianne’s pregnancy. The words that came up on the screen read: “Starring Stefan, Dianne and Bump!”

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This tribute left fans in tears. One took to X to say: “‘And Bump’ is the moment I burst out crying, oh my God I’m such a wreck.” Another said: “Dianne and bump I’m sobbing!!”

Others used the moment to come to the dancer’s defence. “Can we give Dianne her own little trophy because that girl deserves it and more. The amount of hate, criticism and judgment she’s received the whole series just because she showed everyone you can still live out your passions even if you’re pregnant. What a woman.”

Throughout her time on the series this year, Dianne has faced heaps of scrutiny for continuing to dance, with many worried about how the cartwheels and running up and down stairs would affect the baby. The criticism came despite Dianne getting assurances from a doctor that dancing would be safe for the baby.

Dianne herself had to take to social media to hit back at trolls who said they “can’t watch a pregnant girl dance”. She shared a clip to her Instagram where she did a cartwheel and wrote over the top: “For all those people saying they can’t watch a pregnant girl dance! I just can’t help it when I hear the beat.”

She also shared a post to her Stories where she shared how much she hated the comments. Over a screenshot of a comment that said they were “uncomfortable” watching Dianne dance and that they felt the BBC had “made a mistake” by letting an “advanced maternal age mother” dance, Dianne wrote: “I have honestly had enough of comments like these.”

These were not the only times Dianne had to defend herself. After Stefan Dennis exited the show following an injury, one fan said they thought it was a set up to “keep her and baby safe”. A frustrated Dianne shared a statement on Instagram.

“I sound like a broken record but I’m seeing a bit of this floating around again! I know people say ignore it but actually why should I,” she said on her Instagram stories.

“I will speak up… I would love nothing more than to keep dancing this week next week the week after that so so on and so forth. In fact I have more energy this year than I did this time last year.”

She added: “Please respect Stefan who is extremely gutted to not be able to dance and stop presuming this was a set up! because believe me we would if we could!”

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The final of 2025 Celebrity MasterChef marked the final show for outgoing judge John Torode

Celebrity MasterChef fans have pleaded with BBC bosses to retain John Torode on the programme as his final episode aired.

Following five weeks of intense culinary competition, the 20th series of the celebrity spin-off reached its conclusion tonight (Friday, December 19), with this year’s champion finally announced.

The finale saw RuPaul’s Drag Race star Ginger Johnson, rugby legend Alun Wyn Jones, and author-broadcaster Dawn O’Porter face their toughest challenge yet, as they were tasked with presenting their most impressive dishes.

Each competitor prepared a three-course menu aimed at demonstrating their culinary journey and winning over judges John and Grace Dent, who stepped in to replace Gregg Wallace on the current series following his departure amid an investigation into his conduct.

Ultimately, Ginger was named Celebrity MasterChef Champion 2025. Speaking about her victory, Ginger said: “I cannot believe this, I’m so shocked. I really thought I was going to come here and have a laugh. I can’t believe this is the end result of the competition. It’s absolutely crazy! I can’t wait to tell my mum and dad. I’ve actually learned a real-life skill!”, reports Wales Online.

John added: “With all the presentation, all the fun, the laughs, her food tastes delicious and she’s an extraordinary cook. For me, that’s why she is our champion.”

This series of the BBC hit competition marks the final appearance of John in his hosting role after he was removed following the outcome of an investigation into his conduct on the programme. At the time, John was accused of using a racist term off-camera during the programme’s production, prompting the BBC to intervene. The chef has consistently denied the allegation.

Grace is set to return in the next series, expected to air next winter, alongside Anna Haugh who will be filling John’s role.

As the current series concluded, viewers were quick to voice their opinions on the presenter reshuffle, with many insisting that the BBC should retain John on the show.

One viewer expressed: “John Torode’s eyes welled up with tears when tasting a great main Finals dish. Who can replace Torode? No one I can think off. Get him back, don’t let him go.”

Another commented: “Brilliant series of #CelebrityMasterchef Grace Dent fits very well but will be sad to no longer see John Torode at the helm.”

A third shared: “I think that’s been one of the best #celebritymasterchef series ever. All the chefs that got to finals week were great cooks and personalities. I didn’t mind who won. But more importantly Grace Dent has been a breath of fresh air. I thought she and John worked well together.”

Another stated: “Can I just say I thought Grace and John were a dream team as hosts and I don’t care if he did use a derogatory word whilst singing the lyrics of a rap song, he shouldn’t have been made to leave #CelebrityMasterchef.”

Meanwhile, one fan added: “Very wrong to get rid of John. Him and #GraceDent make a great pair on #celebritymasterchef . What a fantastic series this has been.”

You can catch up on Celebrity MasterChef on BBC iPlayer

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Fleur East couldn’t hold back the emotions as she listened to Strictly Come Dancing finalist Amber Davies speak candidly about her time on the show during Friday’s It Takes Two

Fleur East broke down in tears over Amber Davies‘ comments on It Takes Two. The presenter, 38, was at the helm of the Strictly Come Dancing spin-off on Friday when she welcomed West End star Amber, 29, and her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin onto the show for a chat just days ahead of the final.

The former Love Island winner has made it to the very last round of the competition and will face YouTuber George Clarke as well as Lioness Karen Carney for the chance to lift the Glitterball Trophy. As part of her It Takes Two appearance, Amber was presented with video messages from her loved ones, who encouraged her ahead of the big night.

Struggling to control her emotions, Amber said: “Thank you so much, honestly, for giving me that gift. Thank you, honestly! I think I have learned so much about myself, and I’ve learned how to be in control of my body and my mind. It has brought so much happiness into my life, my family’s life, and my partner’s life!”

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Amber and Nikita had already started crying by this point, and former X Factor star Fleur grabbed the tissues herself as she said: “We’re all losing it.” Amber then turned to her professional partner and said: “I’ve met you, and your incredible family and your girlfriend. Honestly, I will never have a moment in my life like this again so, tomorrow, I just want to enjoy every single second of it.

The actress was ushered in as a last minute replacement for fellow Love Island winner Dani Dyer, who sustained an injury just before the first week of the competition, and admitted that while it would be “lovely” to win, she is just so honoured to have taken part in the first place as it was so unexpected to begin with.

She added: “It would be lovely to lift the Glitterball Trophy, but it is so much more to be than that. I never thought I’d do Strictly in my lifetime and this has been a joy. I feel so honoured to have been able to take part in this experience.”

Since winning Love Island in 2017, Amber, who trained at Urdang Academy, a prestigious drama school in London, has launched an incredibly successful theatre career, having starred in 9 to 5: The Musical, The Great Gatsby, and next year, she will be taking on the leading role of Elle Woods in a UK tour of Legally Blonde.

But the star has repeatedly insisted that the kind of training she already has under her belt is nothing like what she has had to learn for Strictly. Despite this, the comments she has received on social media have reached beyond criticism to become nothing short of bullying.

On Sunday night, following the latest results show, Amber took to social media to tell her fans and lavish praise on her fellow contestants – and embrace all the positive experiences she has enjoyed over the past few months. Sharing a photo of herself with defeated semi-finalist Balvinder, the stage star wrote: “To do this experience next to you has been the biggest gift & life lesson, your strength and resilience has inspired me every single day. You are one of a kind, I will always be #TeamBal.”

In a video message to followers, Amber explained that she was supporting her fellow finalists, YouTube star George Clarke and footballer Karen Carney, as they all face the last stage of the competition together. She said via Instagram: “I just wanna come on here and say in the close to a decade I’ve been in the public eye, I’ve never experienced an outpouring of love the way I have in the last 48 hours.

She continued: “And to make the Strictly final is…I’m speechless. From how it started, I genuinely can’t believe I’ve made it to the end, but you know, I’ve just realised, I think I’ve needed to do Strictly to realise that there is so much kindness in this world.”

And she explained: “Like Nikita said, we’re stronger when we’re kinder and I’m going to literally enjoy every single second of this week. I’m rooting for George, I’m rooting for Kaz, and I’m just gonna be there to enjoy the ride.”

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Davina McCall broke down in tears when a patient on Channel 4’s Cancer Clinic Live asked how she was

Davina McCall met with patients at a cancer clinic in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge as part of a special episode for Stand Up to Cancer.

In one emotional moment, Davina, who revealed she had breast cancer earlier this year, spoke to Stuart who was waiting to hear how their treatment was going.

Before they went into their appointment, Stuart asked Davina how she was doing since her diagnosis earlier in the year.

The TV presenter broke down in tears as she thanked Stuart for asking if she was okay: “Can I just say, thank you for asking me that after everything you’ve been through? I’m really good, thank you.”

It came after Davina opened the programme by recalling the moment she discovered a lump in her breast and her sister’s death.

She told viewers: “Earlier this year, I found a lump in my breast. It quickly led to tests and scans and then the word that no one ever wants to hear, cancer.

“It was found early and surgeons were able to remove it. But not everyone gets that chance. I took my sister Caroline to A&E, she fainted and she couldn’t get up.

“They gave her a brain scan but then they scanned her chest and I couldn’t understand why. It turned out it was late stage lung cancer.

“She died seven weeks later. I was holding her hand. And that’s why early diagnosis matters to me.”

In November, Davina revealed on her Instagram account she was “very angry” to discover she had cancer.

The presenter said the lump “came and went” but after seeing a poster urging women to check their breasts she went to the doctors.

“It [the lump] was still there, and then one morning I saw myself in the mirror and thought “I’m going to get that looked at”. I had a biopsy. I found out it was indeed breast cancer,” she shared.

“I think my message is: get checked if you’re worried. Check yourself regularly. If you are due a mammogram, then get it done.”

Earlier in the Stand Up for Cancer coverage, Amy Dowden became emotional as she spoke about how cancer had impacted her dreams of becoming a mother.

She shared: “A cancer diagnosis changes you forever… I’ve been put into menopause… I don’t know if I’ll ever have the honour of becoming a mum which I desperately want to… Five weeks ago I have another mastectomy.

“I’m so grateful for another shot of live, to be able get back on the dance floor… I’m so grateful for my medical team, the doctors and nurses who have kept me alive. A cancer diagnosis changes you forever, I’m no longer the person I was and that’s not by choice.”

Prepare for lots of tears this weekend at the CIF state championship football games in Orange County.

“No doubt,” Ventura High quarterback Derek Garcia said.

Seniors are playing in their final high school football games. Others will never play again unless it’s intramural football. And others are heading off to college in a matter of days as scholarship athletes, so win or lose, change is coming, which will challenge emotions when reality sets in.

“It’s been a great feeling all week knowing this will be my final high school game because most of the time you go in it’s up in the air,” Garcia said. “Win and you keep going or lose and you go home. It’s a great feeling we made it this far and we’re in the last possible game to play. We’re ready to go.”

Garcia has been playing for his father, Tim, Ventura’s head coach, for years. Now it will end on Friday in a Division 3-AA final against San Francisco St. Ignatius at 8 p.m. at Fullerton High before heading off to Nevada Las Vegas.

“It’s hard sometimes, but it’s been able to bring us so many memories and so many great times together,” Garcia said. “It’s been an awesome journey and wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Some of the teams in state championship games are playing in their 16th game in a long, memorable season.

“It’s been cool to still be playing,” Garcia said.

On Jan. 18, he moves into his UNLV dorm, driving his truck and relying on his parents to help him move. But will his mom let him leave the family nest?

“We’ll see when the day comes,” he said.

Yes, it’s that time for tears from football players and their parents.

There’s a tripleheader on Saturday at Saddleback College that should produce memorable games.

Open Division

De La Salle (12-0) vs. Santa Margarita (10-3), 8 p.m.

A Northern California team has not won in the state’s highest division since 2015. De La Salle’s speed could produce some big plays against the state’s best defense, particularly if 100-meter record holder Jaden Jefferson gets room to run. But Santa Margarita has its own big-play weapon in Trent Mosley, who had 10 catches for 292 yards two weeks ago against Corona Centennial. The pick: Santa Margarita.

Division 1-A

Oxnard Pacifica (15-0) vs. Fresno Central East (13-1), 3:30 p.m.

This is a battle of junior quarterbacks. Pacifica’s Taylor Lee has has passed for 3,742 yards and 51 touchdowns. East has passed for 4,298 yards and 56 touchdowns. If you like offense, this could be the most entertaining game. The pick: Pacifica.

Division 2-A

Rio Hondo Prep (15-0) vs. Sonora (14-0), 11:30 a.m.

This is the game where small schools finally get the spotlight. Both love to run the ball, so the game might get completed in less than two hours. Sonora rushed for 340 yards in its regional final. Rio Hondo Prep had 263 yards rushing and attempted one pass. The pick: Sonora.

Division: 3-AA

Ventura (13-2) vs. San Francisco St. Ignatius (8-6), 8 p.m., Friday, at Fullerton High

Garcia has passed for 3,360 yards and 36 touchdowns and has rushed for 750 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Cougars also have Oregon-bound linebacker Tristan Phillips. St. Ignatius is on a six-game winning streak after getting more consistent play at quarterback. The pick: Ventura.