The day starts with a gentle trek. We clamber up from Flodigarry to circle under the black cliffs of the Quiraing where clouds flood around the bizarre rock formations. At the pass, we meet a howling wind and force our way down with shrieks of laughter.
I’m walking on the Isle of Skye, specifically a section of the Trotternish Ridge for CoppaFeel!, the young people’s breast cancer awareness charity. There are 120 participants in total, split into four groups of 30. Over five days, we will trek about 100km on the island’s rugged trails, traversing sea cliffs, climbing mountains, passing ruined castles, crossing bogs and jumping over rivers to raise money for the charity.
I’ve never been out in the hills with so many other women before. Some 117 of the participants are female, with a further six female celebrities spurring us on. We’re a raucous bunch.
After a scenic lunch overlooking Raasay and the distant Scottish mainland, we tackle the second half of the day’s trek – then bad weather rolls in. As we climb, rain starts falling, thick as smoke. The ground is sodden. Cold water drips from my hood, running down my nose, cheeks and chin. It’s grim. My waterproofs need reproofing and I’m soon drenched right through, like everyone else.
Of the 30 women in my group, most are new to mountain walking. For some, it’s their first time in Scotland. But somehow in these difficult miles across the wind and rain-battered mountain, morale stays high. I don’t need to turn and check where everyone is. I can hear them singing. They’re belting out Bohemian Rhapsody. When we pause, they dance.
Singing helps to keep morale high while traversing a bog.
Back on the campsite in the village of Uig, our base for the week, we shower, change and eat hot lasagne from Really Delicious, the Glasgow caterer looking after us all week. The event is organised by CoppaFeel! in partnership with Charity Challenge, which specialises in adventure challenges, providing the transport, routes and accommodation, as well as the expert mountain leaders who guide the inexperienced walkers across the island.
Mass participation charity events such as this are growing, and since Covid, Charity Challenge reports a huge increase in demand. From national Three Peaks Challenges to Hadrian’s Wall and overnight ascents of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), group trekking in the UK has exploded. The events bring a range of benefits. Businesses find them a good way to bring teams together in person, boosting employee morale and mental health. In a tough funding climate, charities gain much-needed income and visibility. CoppaFeel!’s record is exemplary: in 2017, the charity raised £200,000 from trekking; in 2025, it was aiming to reach £2m.
After dinner, we gather in the marquee for the daily debrief – 150 people crowd in, taking shelter from the wind. The ground squelches beneath our feet. Today was tough, a baptism of fire for novice walkers. I expect sullen stares and low spirits, but when the celebrity leaders and CoppaFeel! staff walk in, the tent erupts.
The walkers and a guide cross a stream on the Quiraing with views to Trotternish Ridge.
“What a day!” says author and podcaster Giovanna Fletcher, one of CoppaFeel!’s celebrity patrons. The tent falls quiet, as everyone strains to catch her words. We’re two days in, and an intense cohesion is forming. It feels like family. Standing in front of the crowd wearing a giant boob costume, Giovanna reflects on the day.
Tonight, even after the brutal storm, most people are laughing and cheering. She reminds us all to dig deep and remember our personal motivations – our “why” – to get through the week. Giovanna’s is Kris Hallenga, the inspirational woman who founded CoppaFeel! in 2009 after she was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer when she was 23. “Kris is why I’m here,” she says. Kris died in 2024.
Over five days, we complete five different routes around Trotternish, the northernmost peninsula on Skye. It’s stunning. With each hike, we gain different views of the hills of Harris and North Uist, watching the light change on the sea between the mainland and the Outer Hebrides. The days are long and demanding but everyone shows good stamina and determination. By day three, a committed group have drunk the local bar dry.
On our fourth day, we hike from Sligachan to the Fairy Pools and back again. Circling underneath the Black Cuillin (Skye’s highest and rockiest range), the women are awestruck. “It feels like we’re on another planet!” one woman says.
For many, these treks provide a guided entry to adventure. The leaders support everyone on the mountain, covering route-finding and first aid, while CoppaFeel! helps with kit lists, a training plan, regular webinars and online meetups. I watch women who trained in London’s Richmond Park become adventurers, newly comfortable with trekking poles, gaiters and “nature pees”. They all say they will go out and do this again.
Stopping for lunch at the Fairy Pools, a series of natural pools and waterfalls not far from the Black Cuillin, the women pose for photos and make videos. They dip their faces in the clear water and share their experiences on social media to raise awareness and fundraise. Every participant has a target of £2,500.
Hikers on the way to the Fairy Pools from Sligachan under ominous skies.
By this point in the week, we’ve relaxed into each other’s company. Five days is a long time to spend with strangers, but as the week goes on, I come to see that the length of this challenge is part of its power.
“At the start,” Giovanna says, “a week will feel like for ever. But make the most of it. Trust me, by the end, you won’t want to finish.”
Strangers form close bonds and my team becomes deeply supportive. In this safe space, people open up.
Many of the participants have personal experience of breast cancer. For some, it was five, 10 or 20 years ago – while others are now in treatment. Many have also experienced grief. In this context, the challenge is not merely physical: deep, raw emotions are close to the surface.
Walking and talking beside the river underneath the Cuillin, one woman tells me about her life. From chronic illness to having children, her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, everything flows out in an easy conversational way. Then she falls behind, starts chatting with someone else and that’s how it goes. An hour later, we catch up and she says she cried after sharing those things with me – she realised she had never said them aloud before.
Participants ford a river in tutus.
She’s not alone. People change over this week. There’s a mother in my group who has two young children. She has recently finished her breast cancer treatment and is emotionally wobbly. But by the end of the week she is beaming, looking stronger and happier, as if a weight has been lifted. The trek creates a profound space of mass empathy. Stigma is removed and the experience of breast cancer is normalised.
The final day dawns like a festival. Glitter goes on like war paint. There are flower garlands, frilly tutus and giant pink knickers. About 150 of us toil uphill through bog to reach the summit of Beinn Edra. The sun comes out and on the breast of this hill, those who choose to, bare it all.
Back at camp, we cross the finish line, singing, hugging and crying. Looking around, I see new friends for life have been made. Then the CoppaFeel! girls read out the fundraising total. The reach is astonishing. This week, 120 women walking the rough trails of Skye have raised over £500,000. They are a force to be reckoned with.
CoppaFeel! is running four treks in 2026, including two day-long treks in the UK; apply to do a trek or register interest at coppafeel.org/trek
The DIY SOS team stepped in to help a youth club in East Yorkshire on Tuesday
DIY SOS star Nick Knowles fought back tears as he unveiled the “most challenging” build on Tuesday (December 30).
The latest episode of the hit BBC programme saw Nick and the team step in to help a youth club that had lost its home in the town of Beverley, East Yorkshire.
The Cherry Tree Community Centre once gave local children a safe place to meet up and find support, but when the pandemic hit, the building was turned into a food hub for families, leaving the kids out in the cold.
With another harsh winter on the way, Nick, designer Gabrielle Blackman and the DIY SOS regulars enlisted the help of local tradespeople to construct a new, purpose-built youth centre on the edge of the park. They were joined by Gladiators stars Jodie Ounsley, Tom Wilson, Lystus Ebosele and Jamie Christian-Johal – aka Fury, Hammer, Cyclone and Giant.
Just before the build began, Nick fought back tears as he shared the importance of the project, after growing up on an estate himself.
“I grew up in a place like this. The kind of places that people say, ‘Oh, don’t bother building anything nice there, it will just get destroyed,'” he said.
“You have to build stuff in tough places, you have to make a difference,” Nick continued, before pausing as he became emotional.
The crowd began clapping, before Nick said: “I didn’t expect it to get me. You will make this happen, you will change the futures of young people round here with what we’re about to do.”
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My best Christmas on tour was in South Africa in 2015. The Boxing Day Test was the opening match of the series and it was going to be highly competitive. South Africa were still packed with big guns and we had just won the Ashes the previous summer.
I’d had a few months out with a stress fracture to the ball of my foot and it felt like a Christmas present when I proved myself fit enough to join the squad in Durban.
In contrast to that Australia tour five years earlier, I knew if I was fit I was going to play. It’s what I loved about the time England were coached by Trevor Bayliss. I felt as though he really believed in me and trusted me to be myself as a bowler. Even though I had an idea I would be playing, it was still a lovely feeling when the captain gave the nod, as Alastair Cook did that Christmas Day.
There was no bursting into tears in the toilets, just a calm, enjoyable Christmas on the seafront in Durban. It didn’t really feel like Christmas because it was hot and I was contemplating how I was going to bowl to Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and the rest the following day. I was far more content, even if I did have the prospect of facing Dale Steyn in my unenviable role as nightwatchman, which would ruin anyone’s peaceful Christmas.
I had no family travelling with me and I enjoyed Christmas lunch with the other guys who were in the same boat, then slid off to my room to relax, before hopefully watching us win the toss and bowling first on a spicy looking pitch. Now, that’s a real Christmas present.
We actually lost the toss, but won the Test by 241 runs. I got one of my favourite wickets in my career, a lifter to Faf Du Plessis on the fourth evening, just as he was providing significant rearguard. It felt like a degree of redemption for my previous Christmas letdowns.
Christmas on tour really does become like another Test week. I would always feel for the guys with families having to navigate this time of year. Balancing life between being a father, a husband, an international cricketer and Father Christmas must be tough.
Having family there does provide a degree of balance, which can be a great escape when you’re on a long tour. But explaining to a four-year-old why it’s not snowing and how Santa knows you’re not going to be at home is something I’d always leave to the guys with children.
As I settle down on this festive period, ready to eat my body weight in whatever is laid in front of me, I’ll be thinking of all the cricketers out there preparing to play a game the next day.
The nerves, excitement and disappointments are all part of being a sportsperson. It just so happens it is Christmas Day, too.
Princess Kate and her daughter Princess Charlotte shared a touching moment at the royals’ carol concert, Together At Christmas, that had fans in tears, as Louis stole the show
19:56, 24 Dec 2025Updated 19:57, 24 Dec 2025
The Princess of Wales opens royal Christmas concert with touching duet with Princess Charlotte(Image: Kensington Palace)
The Princess of Wales and her daughter, Charlotte, delighted fans by sharing a. beautiful moment together at the royal carol service. The concert was filmed at the beginning of December but aired on ITV on Christmas Eve.
Opening the concert, Catherine and Charlotte took to the piano together for a song. As a voiceover from the Princess spoke about the meaning of Christmas, a pre-recorded duet with her daughter played.
The mother and daughter played Holm Sound, a 2020 piece of music by Erland Cooper. It was written for the composer’s mother, Charlotte. Cooper hails from the Orkney Islands, and his work is inspired by nature and connection, themes which, according to ITV, are of deep importance to The Princess of Wales.
“Omg! It’s The Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte on the piano!” one fan wrote online. Another added: “Aaaw, a mother daughter duet from the Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte. How lovely.”
A third said: “The Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte! So beautiful.” Another added: “Princess Charlotte and our beautiful Princess of Wales playing piano together. What a beautiful vision and spoken words – Together at Christmas. Wow.”
One emotional fan particularly loved Catherine’s speech: “What a gorgeous opening, well spoken and incredibly thoughtful. 1st speech I’ve wanted to listen to this festive season. Found myself quite tearful.”
The Royal Family teased Kate and Charlotte’s musical moment before the concert. They posted a teaser of Kate on the piano to Instagram with the caption: “A special duet…” Fans were excited, and many remembered when the princess accompanied Tom Walker on the piano in 2021.
The Princess has been playing the piano since she was a child. Her second public performance came in 2023 when she appeared in a segment of the Eurovision Song Contest’s opening sequence. She has passed on her love of the piano to her daughter.
During the concert, fans also pointed out how lovely it was to see the whole of Kate and Prince William’s family together. “Beautiful images of the Prince & Princess of Wales & their three gorgeous children. What a wonderful example of family unity & love.”
William and Kate have two sons, as well as Charlotte. George is their eldest, and Louis is their youngest. The younger son is known for his tendency to steal the show at big events, with his outgoing and often silly nature.
In 2023, Louis made many smile as he provided some hilarity to the service. During one song, he leaned over and blew out his sister’s candle. Charlotte was left giggling at her brother’s behaviour, as were many fans.
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
22:32, 20 Dec 2025Updated 22:32, 20 Dec 2025
Strictly fans in tears over show’s tribute to Dianne’s pregnancy(Image: PA)
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!”
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!”
The final of 2025 Celebrity MasterChef marked the final show for outgoing judge John Torode
John Torode(Image: BBC)
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 couldn’t hold back her emotions as she chatted to Amber Davie (Image: BBC)
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!”
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.”
