The Traitors

STEPPING on to the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury in 2023 was a big moment for Texas, who had last played at the festival 24 years earlier.

But whatever expectations frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri and her band had for the gig were blown out of the water, because it sent them stratospheric once again and gained them thousands of new fans.

Now they are capitalising on their expanded fanbase by heading out on an 11-date arena tour of the UK and Ireland next October, and releasing a 30th anniversary version of their No1 album White On Blonde, featuring hits including Say What You Want, Black Eyed Boy and Halo.

And as good news comes in threes, today Texas have also released a new single, Another Way To Cry.

In an exclusive chat, Sharleen told me of their success: “I think it tastes sweeter than it ever has.

“The honest truth is that when we did that Glastonbury a couple of years ago, you never know how it’s going to go, but that Glastonbury changed everything. Suddenly there was a whole new audience that wanted to see Texas and we announced that tour off the back of that.

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“It just was a moment of, ‘Wow, people really do still want to see us.’ When you look out into that audience, the ages vary all over the shop. It’s quite extraordinary.

“There’s been lots of people going, ‘When are you going on tour?’ so it’s good that there is still that desire to see us, and for us, that just makes the desire to go and play even stronger than it’s ever been.”

If you have not seen Texas yet, I urge you to snap up tickets when they go on general sale at 10am next Friday, October 30.

There, you will be able to hear the Scottish rockers’ new single, which is a rollicking, brassy singalong with Sharleen’s bluesy voice shining strong.

The accompanying video — an ode to the film Paris Texas, which was the inspiration for the band’s name — sees her exploring the Scottish highlands and bumping into fellow Scot, Trainspotting star Robert Carlyle.

On shooting the visuals, she said: “We had every season in the space of an hour, which was extraordinary, but that’s Scotland. We had scorching sun, pouring rain then sleet and hail stones and wind.

“It was fun, alongside our mates the Highland cattle, which was fantastic.”

And she insisted the Highland cows in the video were genuine. She continued: “It’s not AI, they were actually there. There was one point where me and Robert were walking down the road and they were coming right up, and they’re gigantic and they’ve got horns.

“If it just moved its head in the wrong direction and you’re anywhere near that horn you’re getting whacked by it.”

Thankfully they emerged unscathed and Sharleen has since been back in the studio.

Asked if there is an album of new music on the way too, she said: “Yeah, we’re working on a new record.”

As for White On Blonde, which will be out on February 5, Texas are chuffed it is being released on vinyl for the first time after they were recently fleeced trying to buy another of their records on the format.

She explained: “There was only ever vinyl made for the Press. We actually had to buy one of the old albums back because we’d given them away.

“We ended up buying our own record back for £1,200, about a year ago, because we needed it for a video. It was hysterical. I was literally like, ‘What? £1,200!’”

And they have got someone special on board to write the liner notes — Peter Kay.

Speaking about the comedian, who directed and starred in the 2006 video for their song Sleep, she said: “Peter is such a big music and Texas fan, and he’s a big friend of ours. He’s so geeky in his knowledge of music and stuff like that.

“It just felt exactly right because of his connection to the band and the fact he made the video for us and he bought White On Blonde and he’d always talked about it.

“It felt like the absolute right thing to do.”

I DON’T HAVE RIGHT TRAITS

SHARLEEN turned down the chance to go on The Celebrity Traitors in her native Scotland – insisting she’s a “s*** liar.”

She was approached by the series producers, but doesn’t think she’s competitive enough to be a success on Claudia Winkleman’s hit show.

She explained: “I’m very flattered to have been asked and I said, ‘Thank you, but no.’ I couldn’t do it.

“I absolutely love The Traitors. It’s such a great, unbelievable programme and I’m watching it currently and I just couldn’t do it. I’d be all over the shop.

“I’d gladly play the game. But I’m a s*** liar. That is the truth. I wouldn’t remember who I told a lie to or what I did and I’m not that big of a player.

“I’d probably go, ‘Nah, you’re alright.’ The thing is, the only place I’m really competitive is on a stage.

“In games I’m really not competitive at all. So I’d probably be really rubbish.”

She added: “I want to be a fan, but not a fan in it. I want to be a fan watching it. I’m very happy with that situation.”

JADE-D BY PRINCESS FAILURE

JADE has revealed she was “devastated” not to land the role of Princess Jasmine in 2019’s live-action remake of Aladdin, after the role went to Naomi Scott.

The Little Mix star, who auditioned for director Guy Ritchie, said: “I was pretty devastated. I think I got down to the last few. I sent a letter once I knew they’d reached out, saying that Jasmine was my sort of idol growing up.

“She was the only character I could really look up to as someone of Arab heritage, so Princess Jasmine was who I dreamed of being.”

On Channel 4’s The Assembly, she added: “I did three rounds of auditions. I sang A Whole New World in Guy Ritchie’s living room.

“I didn’t get the part and that’s fine. But I was quite sad for some time, definitely. I was gutted, I can’t lie.”

JUDI DENCH says panned 2019 Cats movie was a “waste” of Andrew Llloyd Webber’s “goodwill and talent.”

She starred as Old Deuteronomy in the much-mocked movie and in her new memoir, she writes: “Oh God, I can’t bear it – and he had waited so long for it to be made.

“What a waste of all that goodwill and talent.”

JAY-Z’S UP FOR THE BIG GAME

JAY-Z has chosen himself to be the headline act for next year’s Super Bowl half-time show, according to a report in the US.

Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus were said to be in talks to perform at the show in Los Angeles on February 14.

Instead the rapper, who’s firm Roc Nation has had a deal with the NFL since 2019, will be taking centre stage.

He has yet to comment on the story, although he’s set to perform two shows at the SoFi Stadium in LA this Friday – where the big game will be held –so he may well announce it there.

His wife Beyonce previously headlined in 2013 and then joined Coldplay during their set there three years later.

And I imagine he’d want her as a guest if he takes to the pitch, too.

Jenna’s looking pawsome

JENNA ORTEGA has been to London, Rome and New York in the past week and she’s had a special someone by her side the whole time – her pet pooch.

The Wednesday actress, who wore this beaded dress for the US premiere of her new film Klara And The Sun in the Big Apple on Monday, said her whippet Twigs helps her stay grounded.

Jenna, who posed for pics in New York with co-star Amy Adams and director Taika Waititi, said: “My dog follows me everywhere.

“It’s hard doing the job that I do, travelling to all of these different hotels and foreign countries, so to have something that is consistent and true, and looks after me, and I look after her, it’s nice.”

That dog must have racked up more air miles this week than I have all year.

BLUNT’S A TRAITOR FUME RESIDENTS

RESIDENTS of the London borough of Acton have dubbed James Blunt a traitor.

He filmed his new Circles music video there, but then pretended it was somewhere else.

I revealed snaps of the Celebrity Traitors star riding around on a mini tractor while shooting the video in a park last week.

But locals soon spotted James had renamed Acton’s mainline station “Battersham”, leaving them fuming.

“We thought James was going to put Acton on the map with his video,” a friend, who sent me snaps of James recording his video, told me after seeing the clip.

“It’s not Battersham, this is Acton. And we’re proud of it.”

NO DIRTY A.I TRICKS IN DANCING SEQUEL

THE producer behind the Dirty Dancing sequel insists they won’t bring back Patrick Swayze using AI.

Jennifer Grey will reprise the role of Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman and film bosses are working out how to celebrate late actor Patrick, who died in 2009.

Producer Nina Jacobson said: “That’s one of the things that you really have to focus on: how to let people mourn him in a movie. And don’t worry – we won’t be bringing him back with AI.”

She said they are “trying to chase the feeling of that original movie”.

Nina added: “Being able to tell a young love story that could take some of those risks but also inspire those feelings felt like an incredible chance for us.”

PHIL JOINS PIRATES CREW

PIRATES Of The Caribbean is being brought to life by Secret Cinema – and they’ve got a household name on board to help out.

I can reveal Phil Daniels, who starred in EastEnders, and whose voice featured in Blur’s 1994 hit Parklife, has joined the cast as Captain Barbossa.

Johnny Depp’s character Jack Sparrow will be played by Olivier Award winner George Maguire.

Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Immersive Adventure, opens in February and has already had its run extended by six weeks due to demand.

It will also be the first production by Secret Cinema –  which allows punters to watch films on the big screen while the action also unfolds around them – at its purpose-built flagship venue in London’s Greenwich.

Time to ready my sea legs.

LIAM GALLAGHER is winding up Oasis fans by claiming they’ve already finished a new album – but I’m not so sure.

Responding to someone on X who wrote: “Oasis have SEVEN great albums and those songs will LIVE FOREVER”, rocker Liam said: “8 including the new 1.”

I’ll believe it when I hear it.

SEBASTIAN Croft has opened up about how he was cruelly ‘bullied’ and ‘ostracised’ back in school.

The Celebrity Traitors star, who is known for appearing in series such as Game of Thrones, quit school at 16 after facing backlash over his sexuality.

“I had a really difficult few years,” said Sebastian – who is affectionately known as Bash – in a new interview with the i Paper.

The star, who is openly queer, explained that he was “outed” by a classmate he was having a secret relationship with.

“I don’t blame the other boy who did it, because he was obviously just also trying to navigate the fact that he was getting chipped for being gay.

“But it was a really lonely and difficult time in my life. I would leave school and be an actor and be doing the thing I loved the most, and be with other like-minded people, and feel so liberated in myself, and then I go back to school and be bullied and ostracised,” said Sebastian, who is now 24.

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The actor attended a boarding school just outside of Oxford, where he grew up.

Sebastian rose to prominence after having his TV debut on Game Of Thrones as a young Ned Stark.

Playing the younger version of Sean Bean’s character, he appeared in Winterfell via Bran Stark’s greenseeing flashbacks in the episodes Home and The Door.

He later bagged a spot in Netflix’s Heartstopper.

Here, he began a romance with co-star Joe Locke which lasted three years – but the pair never went public about the relationship.

Over the years, he has earned acclaim for his roles, including a BAFTA Children’s Award nomination for his starring turn as Atticus in Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans.

MAYA Jama oozed glam in a gothic purple gown with a matching choker as she stepped out at the British Museum Ball.

The Celebrity Traitors star – who is one of BBC host Claudia Winkleman‘s chosen Traitors – flashed a sultry look in her floor length purple frock.

Ruched detail across her torso drew attention to the Love Island anchor’s toned figure while stitched pattern on the skirt added extra style.

Maya stayed her hair into curls and a half-up style, with sections at the front framing her face.

The presenter kept her make-up fresh, with a slick of black eyeliner and pink lipgloss.

According to britishmuseum.org, the swanky evening was “the defining highlight of London’s cultural and social calendar this autumn”.

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It stated: “Conceived as a night where art, history, performance and fashion converge, the Ball will offer a truly unforgettable moment at one of the world’s most iconic institutions”.

The theme of this year’s event was Red and also saw the likes of Mick Jagger and Lesley Manville in attendance.

Recently, we told how Maya had become the fashion queen of Celebrity Traitors with her iconic Honey Monster coat.

We told how she packed 10 designer jackets, worth a total £15,000, for the iconic show.

She donned a £2,570 Saint Laurent trench coat for the launch show and wore the £600 mustard Mongolian sheepskin bolero coat designed by London-based fashion house Agro Studio.

Fans said the colour and huge shoulder pads reminded them of the character introduced to advertise Sugar Puffs — now sold as Honey Monster Wheat Puffs.

Maya kept it on throughout the episode, shot in the Scottish Highlands in May, including a tense Round Table scene.

Now talk has turned to her love-life on the set of the gripping reality series.

Viewers are convinced a romance is bubbling up between Maya and King Kenny just as she recruited him as a third Traitor.

Fans of the show have spotted a few lingering looks between the YouTube star and the broadcaster since the BBC One show launched earlier this month.

The online whispers only intensified when Maya revealed herself to Kenny in the turret after he was recruited on Thursday night’s show.

He lunged forward for an embrace with her — which he didn’t do for fellow Traitor James Acaster.

Maya Jama could be about to exit The Celebrity Traitors after making a plan for the latest murder game and viewers of the BBC show think she has been ‘too obvious’ with her tactics

Maya Jama could be about to exit The Celebrity Traitors after being “too obvious” in front of a Faithful.

The Love Island host, 30, is currently taking part in the hit BBC game show as a Traitor fronted by Claudia Winkleman and in Friday night’s episode, she had to join in with a yawning game. The challenge, which left all three of the Traitors feeling the pressure, was to get either of Faithfuls, Jerry Hall or Ross Kemp, to yawn in a specific room after spraying some “deadly sleeping powder” from a perfume bottle, which would be breathed in.

Reading out the instructions in disbelief, comedian James Acaster said: “To seal the murder you must then say, ’Am I boring you?’ – followed by the victim’s name. I can’t believe this.”

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Viewers will have to wait until next Thursday to find out who will be leaving the castle for good, but fans think that Maya could be up for the chop after making the apparent mistake of inviting EastEnders legend Ross into the mix, having decided that the only way to instigate the murder was to start up some contagious yawning.

But many viewers think this strategy will backfire on Maya, as her pretend yawning was deemed “too obvious” and think she could be rumbled as a Traitor immediately if not careful.

One person wrote on X: “Ross Kemp was the last person the Traitors should have encouraged into the room. He will be all over this ‘murder in plain sight’. Captain’s hat anyone?” A third wrote: “Ross clocking Maya’s GCSE drama yawning.” A fourth said: “So you’re telling me Ross was freaking out about every possible evidence of murder at the beginning and now he’s sitting in a room full of yawning traitors, possibly not suspecting a thing.”

A fifth added: “This yawning task is too obvious in front of Ross Kemp.” Another wrote: “Maya Jama’s yawning was more obvious than Richard E Grant saying he was a traitor.”

Meanwhile, Clare Balding, who competed on the first series, said she thinks the best thing for the Traitors is if Ross yawns. Believe me, if Jerry yawns and Jerry goes, Ross will notice,” she said on Uncloaked.

However, other fans had just taken umbrage with the fact they will now have to wait to find out what happens next. One fan said: “NOOOOOOOOOOOO You cant leave on that cliffhanger, the producers are just geniuses. I think the Traitors FAILED to Get them to yawn in the Time…. AND they will be punished in some way IMO!!”

Another wrote: “10 million people are now going to have a tense wait of 6 days to find out whether Ross Kemp or Jerry Hall yawn first. Now thats a TV cliffhanger.”

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Miranda Hart broke down in tears on the latest episode of Celebrity Traitors following the exit of Joe Lycett and spoke candidly of the connection they had struck up following her illness

Miranda Hart broke down in tears on the latest episode of Celebrity Traitors following the exit of Joe Lycett.

The comedienne, 53, had a hugely successful career in the 2010s with her eponymous sitcom but had to take time out of the spotlight after struggling with chronic fatigue. She had struck up such a close bond with fellow Faithful Joe that when he was banished from the castle, she was visibly moved.

She said: “I can’t believe how emotional I’m getting. Wow. Connection and laughter and joy are bigger than this game and to meet someone and just play and laugh – it’s all us humans need.

“I’ve had times in my life when I haven’t had that through illness and it’s brought up that in a silly sensitive soul.”

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Speaking to Traitor James Acaster, who comforted her with a hug, she said: “I haven’t played like that in so long. The floodgates just opened i guess, it suddenly wasn’t about a silly Faithful or Traitor.”

The TV star previously told how she had suffered a “tick-borne illness” while living in the USA as a teenager. At one point, she was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, before eventually being diagnosed with Lyme Disease in 2020.

The Celebrity Traitors will mark Miranda’s first mainstream television appearance in six years, and she has now explained that she jumped at the chance to take part.

She said: “My decision making in life generally, and certainly work, is follow the joy. I haven’t done much TV work for a long time, having only recently come out of long-term ill health issues and when I was offered this, my whole body sort of relaxed, I smiled, and I just wanted to jump about like a schoolgirl with joy.

“It’s just fun. It’s outdoors, it’s games. All the stuff I love. It’s play basically. And I’m passionate about encouraging people to play more generally, and this game is that in spades.

“It’s a brilliant television show – the only flaw in taking part is that as a fan of the show it will be less fun to watch it with myself in it!”

Despite her new lease of life, the former Call the Midwife star, who secretly got married in late 2024, is still living with elements of her illness and is struggling to a point but has been able to manage her symptoms and insisted she felt well enough to join Claudia Winkleman’s hit BBC game show.

She added: “I’m still living with elements of ME, and that brings fatigue and pain to manage, but I have come to a point where I feel well enough to step out, and that’s also partly why I’m doing this.

“The joy of mucking about on television again will hopefully outweigh some of the challenges. And I think it will be challenging on my body, so it’ll be interesting, and it’ll take some courage as this is a big next step.

“When you live with a chronic illness, it’s invisible, so people don’t know that you’re sitting there in pain. But then it reminds you that everybody’s got their thing. So, I’m also really looking forward to making friends and looking after each other and hopefully they can carry me up a hill or whatever we’re going to have to do!”

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Celebrity Traitors fans think that comedienne Joanne McNally will be banished from the castle next after she made something of a huge mistake during the roundtable

Celebrity Traitors fans think Joanne McNally will be banished from the castle next.

The Irish comedienne, 43, is currently playing as a Faithful on Claudia Winkleman’s hit BBC game show but one tactic she seems to have employed at the roundtable has seemingly sealed her fate. During Thursday’s episode of the programme, she voted for actor Sebastian Croft to be banished, thereby claiming she believed he was a Traitor.

But the majority of the players had correctly guessed that scientist Dr Hannah Fry was in fact a Traitor, and this was not the first time Joanne had gone against the status quo. She said: “I feel like we’re getting into the habit of punishing vocal Faithfuls, and, at the roundtable, you cannot.”

In the turret, Maya told fellow Traitor James Acaster: “She could blow the whole thing up but no one is expecting her because she’s so all over the place.”

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Earlier in the episode, Joanne seemed to raise suspicion that she was a Traitor, accidentally claming that she had been the Hide & Seek game when Ross Kemp said: “I looked at everybody when we got out of those cars and I thought I was going home, and it was honestly, an awful experience.”

It was then that Joanne bizarrely chimed in with: “It was horrible…it was…I wasn’t there I mean but I was watching.”

At the roundtable, Hannah had claimed that Traitors tend to deflect attention from themselves by voting against the grain.

Reacting to the apparent tactic, one fan wrote on X: “Hannah bringing up traitors voting for random people followed by Joanne voting for Bash… babes.”

Another said: “i do fear joanne is absolutely f***** at the next round table though, especially after throwing out a random vote for bash when almost everyone else had gone for hannah, even the actual traitors. it’s not looking good for her.”

A thrid wrote: “Joanne on another planet because her logic is nonexistent lmao,” and another said: “One of the traitors could wear their traitors cloak to the roundtable and Joanne would somehow vote Claudia.”

A fifth said: “Hannah’s point about traitors not voting for who everyone else seems to vote for is a good point, but why is Joanne not being questioned when she keeps doing exactly that.”

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Rachel Duffy, joint winner of The Traitors UK series four, has wowed fans after debuting a glamorous new makeover months after winning the iconic BBC reality show

A former champion of The Traitors has left people totally wowed as she showed off a super glam makeover. Rachel Duffy is primarily recognised for jointly winning series four of the BBC reality contest The Traitors UK in January 2026, and it’s fair to say life has changed for her a few months down the line.

Now commanding over 200,000 Instagram followers, she recently admitted she took part in a photoshoot, even though she was a bit nervous at first. However, it’s clear people thought she didn’t need to be, as they told her she looked absolutely sensational and showered her with kind words.

It comes after Rachel had a very tough start to the year. Months ago, she announced the death of her beloved mum who drove her to victory.

Alongside the pictures, she wrote: “FULL transparency. I was petrified doing this shoot! I mean I couldn’t sleep properly the night before. I even Googled how to pose for a magazine.

“I was so chuffed when @jackmurphyjewellers asked me to be their cover girl for @ulstertatler but it sent me into a spiral of self doubt. They should have asked someone younger, thinner, prettier – all these terrible thoughts that go through our heads when we don’t feel we belong.”

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She added: “Some days I have sooooo much confidence in myself and my ability but, on days like this shoot, it was very wobbly! I’m so grateful for the fabulous team at Jack Murphy’s for making me feel at ease, to @gemmamurphyjewel for hyping me up and covering me with the most beautiful diamonds (not to mention doing my zips b/c of my gammy hand), to Charlotte and Tara for being the best wing women and keeping me right and cheering me on behind the camera and to @jamierobb for being so chilled out and making it fun!

“There’s a huge difference between the first shots taken on the day and the last video here. I could have done it all over again.

“Point to my post – I overcame a lot of self doubt on the day and I am beyond happy at how these photos turned out. I’m getting the cover shot printed on my duvet. I’m very proud of myself for pushing through the doubt and encourage you to do the same.

“Here’s to backing ourselves more! A big thank you to @wearonceloved, @salon_602_ and @emzobeauty for making me look so pretty. You’re the best.”

In the photographs, Rachel can be seen wearing a sleek, off-the-shoulder black dress. Beautifully figure-hugging, she looked absolutely breathtaking in every shot.

She styled her hair in an elegant half-up-half-down look, also modelling a chic black jumpsuit. Finished off with a delicate smoky eye and a touch of lipstick, she looked utterly stunning as she confidently worked the camera.

The post has since amassed more than 8,000 likes, with fans rushing to the comments section to share their reactions. They had plenty to say, clearly blown away by the stunning transformation.

One said: “Damn. Hot.” Another added: “I hope you feel as just as incredible as you look in these photos.”

A third replied: “You are simply gorgeous. One hot lady.”

Meanwhile, a fourth commented: “Wow, Rachel! You take my breath away! Go girl!”

Someone else also responded: “You look amazing. We are so good at putting ourselves down and filling our heads with negativity. Beautiful photoshoot.”

Claudia Winkleman is known for her bold fringe and dark eyeliner

Recognised almost as much for her bronzed complexion, striking fringe and dramatic eyeliner as for her razor-sharp humour, Claudia Winkleman is adored by millions of television viewers. Claudia, 54, made her comeback to screens earlier this month for the second series of Celebrity Traitors on the BBC.

Claudia, who stepped down from her position as Strictly Come Dancing co-host last year, alongside Tess Daly, has previously joked that her distinctive look is what secures her work. She said: “I think it’s the only reason I get work. I’m sure TV producers go, ‘Who’s the one with the fringe? We’ll have her’.”

Claudia inherited her passion for a sun-kissed appearance from her mum, journalist and editor Eve Pollard, previously revealing: “Like me, my mum loves an orange glow, so I remember her swirling huge brushes of orange over her face and thinking it was the most glamorous thing ever.”

Looking like a ‘real-life’ pirate

She also told Closer Magazine: “I think my fringe starts at the back of my head, it’s got more weight to it than a tonne of bricks. They gave it to me and I knew that was that.

“You have to make much less effort when you have a really heavy fringe. I love eyeliner, but you don’t even need makeup really. If you’ve got a very heavy fringe, you’re wearing some old, battered, buckled-up boots and you’re holding a book then you’re done. You look like a real-life pirate”.

And while she undoubtedly possesses a distinctive style, a rediscovered photograph reveals Claudia sporting a more understated look.

In the image, captured for Red Nose Day in 2003, Claudia holds a giant cheque and appears without the heavily tanned complexion she’s recognised for, alongside lighter hair styled to one side.

While Claudia is currently most recognised for presenting The Traitors and Strictly, she launched her career conducting celebrity interviews on ITV’s This Morning. She also fronted several gameshows throughout the 90s.

HE stole the show on last night’s opening episode of Celebrity Traitors, honestly announcing to the group that he was, in fact, a traitor.

Alongside his comical moments on the BBC show, actor Richard E Grant also gave some touching references to his late wife Joan Washington.

After host Claudia Winkleman selected the Withnail & I star as a traitor alongside presenter Maya Jama, Richard spoke about “love of his life” Joan, who passed away in 2021.

Delighted at being a traitor, he told viewers: “My wife said to me four days before she died, she said Richard try and find a pocketful of happiness in each day, and I feel like I’ve got a wheelbarrowful and then some.”

Richard’s heartfelt confession came just minutes before his now legendary Celebrity Traitors gaffe revealing his traitor status.

The relationship between Academy Award-nominee Richard, 69, and his wife of 35 years was so romantic it could have played out on the silver screen.

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Richard met dialect coach Joan at a London studio, called The Actors’ Centre, in 1982, where she had been teaching an accent class.

At the time, Joan was married to someone else, and had a son called Tom, but Richard could not take his eyes off her.

In 1994, he told The Independent he was captivated, saying: “She was wearing a boiler suit and had fairly short, cropped hair and Kicker shoes, and was chain-smoking, which I thought was insane.”

But he added: “I thought she had the most wonderful voice and huge, sort of monkey eyes. She seemed fairly frenetic. I thought that she was really cute and all that.”

Joan gave Richard a lesson in developing an Irish accent and he says they “instantly” clicked.

But initially, and amusingly, Joan found him “annoying”.

She said: “I used to take a class of about 20 people and I actually used to find him quite annoying because he’d get the giggles at quite the wrong moment and I was a strict teacher.”

Giggling aside and getting to know Richard during private lessons, Joan quickly realised she was falling for him.

She previously described her then-marriage as “extremely bad at the time” and slowly found herself smitten with the handsome actor in her class.

Recalling the way she was feeling, Joan told The Independent that she soon realised she was “madly in love with him”, adding: “I do believe that there’s one person on the globe that’s meant for you.”

The pair became a couple a year later and their relationship went from strength-to-strength, even though their jobs often meant they spent great chunks of time apart.

Richard said he never believed in marriage until he met Joan.

“My parents were divorced when I was 11 and it made such a profound impression on my life that I suppose I thought that by not getting married, you could avoid your life being carved in two. But that changed,” he told The Independent.

Although they were often apart, Richard and Joan would speak on the phone regularly and write to each other daily.

Eventually, Richard decided it was time to make an honest woman of his girlfriend with a proposal that could have been straight out of a movie.

Arriving home to London for Christmas following six weeks away in Africa, he couldn’t wait any longer and popped the question at the airport.

Richard previously recalled: “So I came back and went on bended knee with my trolley at 6.30am at Heathrow Airport – and, luckily for me, she said yes.”

Richard, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Can You Ever Forgive Me?, and Joan married in 1986.

Richard once described their marriage as “the story of my adult life”, saying they began a conversation when they met and never really stopped.

Following their marriage, the newlyweds were keen to start a family together. Sadly, their journey was a difficult one.

Joan suffered three miscarriages. They were then left heartbroken when their first child, a daughter called Tiffany, died very soon after she was born.

Richard later told YOU magazine: “Until that time I had no idea how common it is to lose babies and what it actually meant.”

Thankfully, the couple later welcomed their rainbow baby – a second daughter, who they named Olivia, in 1989.

Richard has since described Olivia as his and Joan’s “miracle baby”.

In 2019, the devoted father looked proud as punch as he walked the red carpet with Olivia on his arm at the Oscars.

Speaking to ABC, he said at the time: “My daughter, absolutely gorgeous, she’s 30 and she works in casting so I’m guaranteed a job for life, hopefully.”

Richard and Olivia run a unisex fragrance company together, called JACK.

Speaking about her life with her dad, Olivia added: “I’m just proud. It’s been the best ride to go on together.”

Unlike dozens of other Hollywood stars, Richard and Joan’s beautiful relationship lasted the distance and their love for one another was unbreakable.

Speaking to The Guardian in 2015, he described their marriage as “gold dust”.

Tragically, in 2021, Richard confirmed on Instagram that his wonderful wife had passed away at the age of 74, following a battle with lung cancer. 

Sharing an emotional video of himself dancing with Joan, Richard wrote: “Joan – Love of my Life, giver of Life to our daughter Olivia.

“Our hearts are broken with the loss of your Life last night. 35 years married and 38 together. To be truly known and seen by you, is your immeasurable gift. Do not forget us, sweet Monkee-mine.”

The actor was left devastated at the loss and said experienced further heartbreak how some friends reacted to the news, claiming a couple stopped speaking to him and even crossed the road to avoid speaking to him about his grief.

He shared: “Subsequent to her death, I have had people cross the road rather than talk. Whether they think you’re going to fall apart and you’re an emotional wreck, I don’t know. But I will never speak to them again.”

Before she passed, Richard admitted she gave him a “hilarious” list of women he must never date after she passed – although he said he does not expect to fall in love again.

Two years ago, he admitted he still writes her letters every night to stay in touch. 

He told The Guardian: “I write to her every night. [I write down] everything. Stuff I know would amuse her… I have no spiritual or religious delusion that I’m ever going to get a reply.

“But after 38 years of marriage, I can hear what her response would be. It feels as close a connection as I can have. And I’ve found it very hopeful, that at the end of the day I’m having a conversation.”

In early September, Richard marked the fifth anniversary of her death with a touching tribute.

On Instagram, he wrote: “Five years ago today, my beloved wife Joan died at 7:30 in the evening. We were holding each other’s hands when she drew her last breath.”

In June 2026, Olivia and husband Florian Herbst – who wed in 2024 – welcomed their first child, a son, making Richard a grandfather for the first time.

The proud actor referred to his late wife on Instagram when he announced the news, calling the baby “our grandson.”

In an Instagram video in June 2026, an emotional Richard said: “I’m so grateful for the safe arrival of our grandson. Life truly is miraculous.”

In addition to this, in September he shared a clip of him carrying his grandkid on a walk, saying: “No better way to start my day bobbing our sleeping grandchild along Petersham meadow with Annie Lennox playing in my head.”

Fans have been discussing who they think might be named one of the three Traitors this evening.

One fan has picked out who they don’t trust, saying: “Miranda Hart is just too nice, so obviously it’s her. Michael Sheen could lie to me for ten episodes and I’d thank him for it. And Hannah Fry looks like she’s already done the maths on all of us.”

Another suggested: “The story about James Acaster having a panic attack or similar leading to the game being paused makes me think he’s probably not one.”

“I am really hoping for at least Bella and either James Acaster of Joe Lycett. Joanne, Miranda and James Blunt would also be cool and could pull it off,” a third wrote.

So who do you think will be given those coveted roles? I’d love to see Miranda Hart be named a Traitor but after last year and Alan’s success, Claudia may choose a different personality this time around…

Claudia Winkleman says the new series of Celebrity Traitors is so good she didn’t want to leave

Claudia Winkleman has insisted she is “too thick” to take part in the Celebrity Traitors. The TV presenter will return to screens tonight hosting the hit BBC series when a new batch of famous faces enter the Scottish castle.

Actors Michael Sheen and Richard E Grant, supermodel Jerry Hall, presenter Maya Jama and comedians Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan and James Acaster are among the line-up, alongside Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock, musician James Blunt and The Last Of Us star Bella Ramsey.

However, 54-year-old Claudia said she would never want to be among their number. She said: “I’m too thick. I mustn’t play it in public. I must not, thank you so much. I’m just being honest. I could have come up with a schmoozier (answer) but no.

“It’s a privilege to play that game and to be at the round table, but I think I would just be too awful at it.”

The game follows the celebrity contestants – the majority of whom are known as faithfuls – as they try to seek out the murderous traitors among them, who kill off players in the middle of the night. Asked who were her favourite players this time, Claudia refused to name names but said as a collective they kept her gripped.

She explained: “I can’t. Genuinely, all of them were tremendous. And when we do any series, I have this room with the monitors. I’m like a weirdo just applying fake tan watching. And they’re like, ‘You can go now. You can go home. You’re free.’ I’m not leaving. This one, I never left. And I slept with just my eyes on it because they are all, you love them anyway, but they are tremendous.”

In fact, Claudia has fallen in love with the Scottish castle and its surroundings so much that she is taking her family there on holiday in the Highlands this year.

Speaking at the show launch earlier this month, she said: “That’s where we’re going this Summer, me and my family. And my husband’s like, ‘You’re already there quite a lot. What’s the matter with you?’.

“It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever been in the world, is the truth. It is breathtaking. And we just went (for filming on civilian version) We went west and we went west – I can’t say anything else – for a mission and there was a sign that said, ‘Do beware, there are extra otters this year.’

“I was like, ‘Well, full stop’. There’s always a double rainbow, just the colours of it. And everybody is so kind and lovely to us when we’re there. So yeah, that’s where we’re going.”

Executive producer Sarah Fay added that the new line up of celebrities were cheekier than in the first series. She explained: “I can say its a very twisty turny series. I think what I would say is that the celebrities had the chance to see series one – obviously last tine they hadn’t had Celebrity before. It was new territory, but I think this time they’ve seen it. They know that they can be naughty. No one’s going to get canceled in the Traitors Castle for being naughty, so they had fun.”

The first celebrity spin-off was won by traitor Alan Carr, was a ratings hit and won a slew of awards.

Exec Sarah also said she was “chuffed” it was such a hit and hopes the second outing lives up to the past success and even ups the ante. She said: “We never take for granted that the audience is always going to come to it. So (the first series) felt a little bit like Monopoly money, it just didn’t seem real, but obviously we’re so, so chuffed.”

She continued: “But going into the series, we wanted to make sure it felt it wasn’t comparable and we could bring a new freshness to it. A new cast could bring something to it, whether that’s the dynamics of Rob and Romesh, with a celebrity duo with new twists, new turns. We’re always looking at ways to up the ante and make it feel like compelling viewing.”

She insisted fans were also likely to be left shouting at their screens with lots of cliffhanger endings to episodes.

Sarah explained: “We always have an idea before going into production what might be cliffhangers, but as I said before, we have to be so reactive because who knows what the story’s going to be. We’ve had to end before when we’ve done deadlocks last year when it was down to David[Olusoga] and Mark[Bonnar] where it was a tie.

“We never knew that that was going to happen until obviously it was happening right before our eyes. And so when we did get to the edit, we decided to end the episode there, but that could have been another cliffhanger. But I think the beauty of this game as well, because the format, every episode we’ve probably got about three options for what the cliffhanger could be because it’s so nail biting and there’s lots of tension and things going on throughout.”

* The Celebrity Traitors begins tonight (Thursday October 1) at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

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Joe Marler has revealed that he put on a stone during filming for Celebrity Traitors after overindulging in the extravagant breakfasts that are on offer for players

Joe Marler has revealed that he put on a stone during filming for Celebrity Traitors. The rugby star, 36, was one of several famous faces to enter the famous castle last year before comedian Alan Carr walked off with the top prize.

The show is famed for its extravagant breakfasts, which players enjoy as they discuss the game, and now Joe has recalled just how much he indulged during production of their show.

Speaking to Richard Osman and Marina Hyde at their live version of The Rest is Entertainment podcast, he explained: “So you get flown up there and then you get shoved in the Marriott Hotel in Inverness Airport. It was gorgeous!

“I was in the room, you put a card under the door, your food gets brought to you, you can have as much as you like. “There’s no interaction with anyone, any other contestants and then you’re taken to the castle.

“For the first bit of enjoying yourself, just watch what you’re eating, to go in there and put on eight kilos. Some people engage in a second breakfast, some people it would be their first breakfast. Some people it might be a third breakfast.”

During his time on the programme, Joe, a Faithful, reached the final and correctly sussed that Alan, along with Cat Burns, were Traitors. But in a shock move, he was banished in the final at the last minute, meaning that Alan could walk away from the show victorious.

Viewers are just days away from the new series of Celebrity Traitors, which will launch on October 1 and feature will feature a stellar line-up of names including Coronation Street legend Julie Hesmondhalgh, Little Mix star Leigh Anne Pinnock and singer James Blunt.

Maya Jama, best known for fronting Love Island, as well as best friends and comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan will be seen taking part as well, amongst a host of others.

Before the official release date was confirmed, Joe appeared alongside Pointless star Richard at an event and it seemed as if the pair had accidentally revealed the launch date, although this turned out not to be the case.

It’s reported that he asked Joe if he had any advice for the upcoming group of contestants, and he said: “What is it, September 23, the next series?”

Then, Richard replied: “By the way, to point out, it’s absolutely embargoed that it starts on September 23. Let’s talk about what we call the events of September 23 this year … the cat’s out of the bag, isn’t it? Not to repeat it.” A BBC spokesperson declined to comment.

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PAUL Gorton has revealed more awful details about his home being burgled, sharing how he’s lost thousands worth in personal possessions.

The star opened up about his home being robbed earlier this month and how he begged for the robbers to return what they have stolen.

Going into more detail now, Paul elaborated on how many items stolen from his home were expensive and/or irreplaceable due to sentimental value.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Paul said that his “pride and joy” was taken, a bicycle worth roughly five grand.

Paul also shared that his wife Kate’s jewellery box had been ransacked, with her grandmother’s ring missing.

He added: “It was costume jewellery, so it was only a couple hundred pounds worth of jewellery, but it did have Kate’s grandmother’s ring in there, it’s super sentimental.

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“Completely worthless but worth everything to Kate, and it’s now gone, I presume it’s just in a bin.”

The BBC One star, who featured on series two of The Traitors in 2024, took to Instagram to share the news of the burglary with his followers.

He penned: “Came home to find our house had been burgled.

“Presume we’ve been watched and the day after we posted that we were on holiday, they broke in. 29th August at 9:30pm.

“The robber or robbers cut the broadband connection (presumably to cut the ring doorbell and any CCTV) and in doing so, told us when they broke in so the police and CSI are on it.

“We’re fine. House isn’t too bad. Robbed my bike. Ransacked my office and wardrobes etc.

“Kate’s jewellery stolen including her grandma’s ring which is probably worth nothing but it was everything to her. All material stuff can be replaced.”

The reality star urged the robbers to seek help as well as to return the items they stole.

He continued: “To the robbers, get off this path you’re on. It goes nowhere and it’s never too late to turn your life around.

“You’ve committed a crime for an unsaleable bike and cheap jewellery.

“PS. If you did rob me, throw the jewellery back on our drive and the bike as both are worthless to you.”