This Morning

LISA Faulkner and John Torode have been dealt another blow following her breast cancer diagnosis earlier this week.

The TV couple have reportedly learned that their cookery show, John & Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen, has been shelved after ten series.

Amid ongoing budget cuts at ITV, the show is notably absent from upcoming schedules.

According to The Mirror, the couple remain hopeful that the popular cookery programme could return to the channel at a later date.

An insider told the publication: “John remains a regular contributor to This Morning, where he has been fully supported by everyone, including hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley.

“The truth is there are no current plans for series 11 of Weekend Kitchen but no final decision has yet been made over whether it will return in the future.

CANCER SHOCK

John Torode’s wife Lisa Faulkner, 54, gives fans update after cancer diagnosis

END OF TORODE

John Torode’s ITV cooking show with wife set to be axed after BBC sacking

“And John is very much a part of the ITV family through his role as a regular chef on This Morning.”

ITV confirmed that no final decisions have been made yet regarding the future of the show.

The news comes after John suffered a major career setback last year when he left MasterChef.

An inquiry, ordered by MasterChef’s production company, upheld a claim that the chef had used an “extremely offensive racist term”, which he said he had “no recollection of”, and he subsequently departed the show.

His wife Lisa announced her shock cancer diagnosis on Thursday, revealing that she had already undergone surgery and was awaiting a course of radiotherapy.

Lisa is best known for her acting roles in shows including Holby City and EastEnders, and in recent years has carved out a successful career as a TV chef.

She won Celebrity MasterChef in 2010 before going on to front John & Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen alongside her husband.

Martin Lewis has shared his top holiday money saving tip, explaining whether you should pay in local currency or pounds on your card abroad – and how it could save you money on extra charges

Martin Lewis has finally settled the age-old holiday debate, revealing whether it’s better to pay in pounds or local currency when using your bank card overseas. Sharing his expert insight with BBC viewers, he cut through the confusion, offering clear guidance on the smartest way to spend abroad without losing out.

Martin advised: “When you go abroad and you pay on plastic [card] and the overseas cash machine or shop asks you: ‘Do you want to pay in Pounds or Euros?’ What do you do?

“Well, the correct answer is you should always pay in euros or whatever the local currency is. That means it’s your plastic that’s doing the exchange rate conversion, not the overseas shop or ATM.”

He stressed that this rule applies no matter where in the world you are. Social media users were quick to chip in with their own tips and experiences. One user suggested: “Just get Revolut or Monzo.”

Another declared: “I use Starling Bank it has no fees abroad and recommends paying in the local currency instead of Pounds. Something I saw online about dynamic exchange rate and it can cost you more otherwise.”

A third added: “Revolut has always been the best on doing this, can exchange right in the app as well, and when withdrawing it’ll just take it straight from that, half the time the only fee is the cash fee by the machine you use.”

Meanwhile, a recent holidaymaker shared their own experience: “Just back from Spain and not a single ATM did free cash withdrawals either, thankfully that’s all I was charged with my Chase account.”

One shrewd traveller commented: “I just get Euros before I go anywhere save all the hassle, and if I’m really stuck for cash go into an actual bank on holiday and withdraw money on my card.”

This handy tip comes on the heels of advice from a money-saving guru who stressed the importance of securing travel insurance ‘ASAB’.

During an appearance on This Morning, the financial whizz revealed: “My travel insurance rule is get it ASAB (as soon as you book). People do get a little confused about this, so let’s break it down.”

He continued to explain: “If you’re getting a single trip policy, so that is a policy to cover just one holiday, then what you do is as soon as you book, you go on one of the travel insurer’s website, you tell it your holiday dates and you buy the policy then.”

Martin Lewis made clear that if your holiday falls in August but you booked back in January, getting your insurance sorted in January is equally crucial.

“That means you have the travel insurance in place to covers that holiday,” he said, adding: “You don’t need to [cover yourself] for extra dates [in case there’s a delay at the airport] because you have your return date.

“If something delays you, so you weren’t back, that would still be covered because that delay is all part of the travel insurance.”

Big Brother star Lily Benson drunkenly booked herself into The Savoy days after she spoke of how she was about to be made “homeless” and was to be evicted from her flat

Big Brother star Lily Benson has treated herself to a night in The Savoy – just days after she claimed she was being made homeless. The The reality star, 21, has carved out a career as an influencer since she shot to fame as a housemate on the 2024 series of the ITV2 reality show, and has kept fans up to date with her day-to-day life since.

Earlier this week, Lily told her followers that she was about to be evicted from her flat and Sunday was her moving out day, but left her packing to the the last minute after getting tickets to a Harry Styles gig.

In her first update on the hectic day, Lily posted a video on Instagram where she looked panicked as she wheeled her belongings out of the flat and wrote: “Note to self. Don’t leave moving to the last day.”

In the next update, Lily wrote: “My temporary housing accommodation,” and could be heard thanking a doorman who helped her with her luggage as she revealed she was staying in the luxury hotel. She added: “I booked this drunk last night.”

In the next slide, Lily had donned the complimentary robe and slippers with the hotel’s branding on them and Kerry Riches, who found fame on the first series of the ITV version of Big Brother and has since appeared on Good Morning Britain as a disability campaigner, commented: “I’m hpwling but you’re gonna absolutely love it. It’s my favourite hotel ever! Xx”

It comes after Warrington-born Lily, who famously spoke about working in a Chinese takeaway whilst in the house and, since moving to London for her showbiz career, has documented long-running sagas such as getting her broken Louboutins fixed, took took to TikTok on Tuesday with a far more bleak update for her followers.

After speaking about a rat problem in her flat, she said: “I’m also homeless, on Sunday I get evicted from my place. I currently have nowhere to go. I had two months to look for a place but I’ve just been busy with my hot girl summer and it’s not been in my vocabulary to look for a place.

But Lily didn’t seem too bothered about her living arrangement, and was more concerned about getting a tan in the coming days as she expressed her confusion over the “retirement” of the Prime Minister.

She said: “So I’m probably just gonna have to get an Airbnb or summat. Or I could go back to Warrington but the UV here is so high. Why would I go back to Warrington when I can’t get a tan there? My Stranded in London content is coming soon.”

“But my main priority right now is I have the Maybelline summer party, and the UV is eight degrees, I’m gonna get a killer tan and listen to heartbreak music. That’s my life update. It’s very solemn. I found out today that Keir Starmer has retired – what the f*** is going on?”

Lily has amassed almost half a million followers across both Instagram and TikTok since rising to fame but admitted that at the time she applied for the reality show, which has launched the careers of This Morning stars Alison Hammond and Josie Gibson as well as fellow presenters like Brian Dowling and Kate Lawler, she only did it as an act of revenge against an ex-boyfriend.

At the time, she told ITV: “I originally applied because it was my ex’s favourite TV show because we broke up. I thought ‘I’m going to go on his favourite TV show.’ I’d never heard of it.

“When I dated him, he was obsessed with it and I was like ‘What is it?’ because he was older. When we broke up, I saw the advert and I thought I’m going to apply for his favourite TV show and get on it – I didn’t think I would!”

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Julie Hayden and Gail Gregory, the self-proclaimed ‘dementia rebels’, appeared on This Morning to share their experiences of living with dementia and challenge misconceptions about the condition

Two women determined to challenge the stigma surrounding dementia have shared their personal journeys living with the condition.

Julie Hayden and Gail Gregory, the self-proclaimed ‘dementia rebels,’ featured on Tuesday’s This Morning to mark Alzheimer’s Society’s Forget Me Not month.

Chatting to hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley, Gail, from Lancashire, disclosed she had received her diagnosis in 2019 aged 54, and was informed at the time she only had six to seven years to live.

“I was running my own business, and we’d noticed changes with my personality,” she explained. “I had an embroidery business like teddy bears and clothing, and we put personalised messages on, and I was taking a lot of information in which I wasn’t retaining. So when people were placing orders, I was having trouble retaining information, so I was making mistakes, which we put down to stress at the beginning because we had just moved.

“As you do, you put things off, and you think it’s going to get better, but it doesn’t get better, it goes worse, and so other things start to creep in,” reports Lancs Live.

Eventually, Gail chose to consult a medical professional and described the assessments she underwent at the doctor’s that proved challenging, such as drawing a clock face, “getting the numbers muddled up,” and attempting to recall an address.

Reflecting on that moment, she said: “You realise there’s something wrong. It’s then that it’s reality, that there’s something wrong. But what, you don’t know.

“Nobody tells you it’s going to be dementia, and you don’t imagine it’s going to be dementia, especially not at the age of 54.

“This is where the perception is wrong. Everybody expects it to be an older person in their later years, what they don’t expect is that people younger than me have been diagnosed, there are even children diagnosed.

“It’s that perception we need to change, because it’s not the end of life, it’s the beginning of a new one.”

Julie also revealed how she had been suffering from “life-changing” symptoms for more than five years when she was diagnosed, but was dismissed by the doctors.

She was told she was depressed and going through menopause, and it took Julie more than five years for a diagnosis.

Julie and Gail are now both supporting other people with dementia, particularly younger people, and fighting back against the stigma of people living with the condition.

As she urged for more training and information to support doctors, Julie said, “I can’t tell you what it’s like to live with cancer and go through the treatments because I’ve never been there. Nobody can tell you what it’s like to live with dementia unless they’ve actually lived with it.”

She added, “I had huge surprises as to what it was like, compared to how I thought it was going to be like when I got my own.”

Sharing her gratitude for the support they’ve both received from friends, family and those spreading awareness, Gail read: “A diagnosis of dementia, it can change many things but it should never, ever change our worth.

“We don’t need pity, and we don’t need to be pushed aside, because we need understanding and support and the opportunity to continue to live our lives with purpose, dignity, and connection.”

She added, “When I got my diagnosis, they said to me I would have six to seven years to live. I’m in those years now, and I’m still going, and what people should be saying to us is, go outside and live your life. Do the things that you want to do because that’s what life’s about at the end of the day, it’s about living.”

She continued: “I’m very grateful for dementia, because dementia has made me calm down. It’s made me appreciate the things that we have, like nature and things like that; it’s been wonderful. We get so many opportunities that we wouldn’t even dream of having, like coming here today, it’s wonderful.”

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX.

For more information, visit https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/

Football fever is sweeping the nation, but one TV vet says the excitement of World Cup matches could be having an unexpected impact on pets

As football fans soak up every goal, near miss and dramatic result, many may be overlooking one beloved member of the household. According to one TV vet, the noise and excitement surrounding World Cup matches could be causing hidden stress for dogs.

Dr Scott Miller issued the warning during an appearance on ITV’s This Morning over the weekend. He explained that while humans may enjoy the thrills and spills of tournament football, dogs can find the experience far more overwhelming.

“It’s so exciting having the World Cup and people get excited, overexcited, and there’s a lot of high-pitched shrill noises that emanate from our beings,” he said. “They’re the sounds that our dogs are particularly sensitive to.”

The vet explained that dogs have far more sensitive hearing than humans. According to Dr Miller, a dog can hear sounds from around four times further away than a person.

“So if you can hear something from 20 metres away, they can hear it from 80 metres away,” he said. “You can imagine when you have your family, who are normally calm and lovely, suddenly screaming away beside them.”

Dr Miller compared the sudden outbursts during matches to the effect fireworks can have on pets. He said unexpected cheers, shouting and celebrations can be frightening because animals receive no warning before the noise occurs.

“It’s just these high-pitched sounds that happen out of nowhere,” he explained. “They don’t get any warning for them.”

The warning comes as millions of football fans prepare to watch matches throughout the tournament. Research from Dogs Trust suggests many dogs can experience anxiety when exposed to loud or unfamiliar noises, with fireworks, thunderstorms and shouting among the most common triggers.

Animal welfare charity Blue Cross claims signs of stress in dogs can include trembling, panting, pacing, hiding, excessive barking and attempts to escape from noisy environments. Some dogs may also become withdrawn or unusually clingy when feeling anxious.

Fortunately, Dr Miller says there are several steps owners can take to help. One of the most important is ensuring pets have access to a quiet space away from the excitement.

“Have somewhere that your dog can slink away to, or your cat as well, away from the noise and the hubbub of the game,” he advised. He also suggested tiring pets out before kick-off. A walk, interactive play session or mentally stimulating activity can help encourage relaxation later in the day.

“Making sure they’re nicely tuckered out, maybe play an interactive game with them, stimulate their minds as well as their body, and then feed them as well,” he said. “So they’ve got that sort of Sunday afternoon feeling. They are a bit sleepy and a little bit relaxed.”

For households expecting particularly loud celebrations, Dr Miller recommended drawing the curtains and playing low-level background music. These measures can help mask sudden noises from both inside and outside the home.

While football fans may be focused on the action on screen, experts say it’s worth keeping an eye on pets too. A little preparation could help ensure that both owners and their dogs enjoy a more comfortable tournament.

The personal finance guru said whatever happens ‘don’t wait till you get to your destination’

Personal finance expert Martin Lewis has issued a warning to anyone using an airport this summer. People going on holiday have been told they will be making a big mistake if they make a key decision when they are ‘captive custom’.

People travelling this year are already concerned about potential cost rises and delays caused by the situation in the Middle East. Mr Lewis, appearing on ITV’s This Morning, explained that making any effort to get cash while at the airport is a mistake.

He told hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley that people like to take cash for things like tips – and also some prefer to use it to budget more effectively. He said: “The worst place to get your cash is at the airport or at the ferry port or anywhere like that because they have your captive custom and the rates are horrendous.

“The best thing to do is to use a couple of travel exchange comparison sites online. Now, the thing is, you have to be careful. It’s a combination of the exchange rate and the fee. So what exchange rate are they giving you? What fee are they giving you? You want that all combined. And that’s what the comparison sites will do.

“You’ll just say, ‘I want £600 worth of dollars. Who’s going to give me the most dollars for my £600?’ And that’s the way that they will work. So, that’s by far the simplest way to do it. Just get yourself on a comparison. But don’t wait till you get to your destination.”

He said that comparison sites will look at perhaps 50 or 60 outlets, whereas if you go abroad before looking it’s unlikely those available will be able to compete. He said “If you go regularly to the same price abroad and you know there’s a little fella and you know and he gives you great rates and they’re much better than the ones at home then it’s fine.

“But if you don’t have that specialist knowledge, do the comparison, take the cash before you go. I mean also if you really do want cash, if you got a specialist overseas card, you know you got a Chase card or something just put it in the cash machine abroad. There’s no fees and you get the near-perfect exchange rate. So that’s another way to get cash.”

Mr Lewis also explained that anyone spending money in European destinations such as Spain, Greece or France should always make one decision when it comes to paying or getting money out. He explained that if people have gone to the trouble of lining up a card to work overseas, then they’re actually adding lots of money onto their bills by making the wrong choice when asked if it’s euros or pounds.

He said: “If you spend, if you go to a machine abroad or you go to an ATM and you’re in Europe, let’s say, or if it says, do you want euros or pounds? What it’s actually saying is if it’s euros, do you want your card to do the conversion? Your card company. If it’s pounds, we will do the conversion. for you and then charge your card. So, that’s the decision. Now, we’ve just talked about getting a specialist overseas card that gives you a near-perfect rate.

“Well, you want them to do the conversion. That’s why you got the specialist overseas card. And actually, even if you haven’t got a specialist card, even the bog standard pretty pants cards here tend to be better than the shop abroad doing it where they put a massive we can be six or 7% on the exchange rate.

“The same with overseas cash machines, which can also add a fee on top, but what happens is basically you put, let’s say, you’re in a cash machine abroad and it’s saying pounds or euros, and you say, as I will absolutely do. I go, I want euros, please, and it says are you sure you’re sure we won’t do the conversion are you actually? Yes, I want euros. Are you sure? What are you doing?

“They are desperate to persuade you to let them do the conversion because they make a lot of money from it it’s the opposite of what they’re trying to push you to do is what you want to do so very simply if you’re in Europe and you paying on a card, paying euros if you’re in America, pay in dollars if you’re in Vietnam.”

Richard Madeley has been married to fellow TV presenter Judy Finnigan for almost 40 years, but the couple have been sleeping in separate rooms due to one particular reason

Richard Madeley has revealed the heartfelt reason behind why he sleeps in a separate bedroom from Judy Finnigan. The 69 year old Good Morning Britain presenter shot to stardom alongside Judy during the 1980s when the couple fronted ITV’s This Morning, before launching their own show, Richard and Judy, on Channel 4.

The pair first crossed paths in 1982, while both were married to different partners, but their romance flourished and 39 years ago today (November 21) they tied the knot in Manchester. They share two children, Jack and Chloe Madeley, while Richard is also stepfather to Judy’s two eldest sons, Dan and Tom Henshaw, from her previous marriage.

Richard and Judy, who turns 78 today (Saturday, May 16), ran from 2001 to 2009 before declining ratings led to its cancellation by television channel Watch. Judy later became a regular panellist on ITV’s Loose Women while Richard joined Good Morning Britain. However, a decade ago, Judy made the major decision to step back from television – which has resulted in them sleeping separately.

And Richard says his wife is “really enjoying” her break from the cameras. Meanwhile, he continues presenting GMB alongside journalist Susanna Reid. Though he recently took time off from the programme, informing followers he was “operating at 80 per cent” after contracting Covid.

Hosting ITV’s flagship morning programme means early rises for Richard. With GMB broadcasting from 6am, he regularly retreats to the spare room so his wife can enjoy a few extra hours of sleep. The beloved presenter lifted the lid on their bedtime arrangements during an appearance on Kate Thornton’s White Wine Question Time podcast.

He explained: “When I’m doing Good Morning Britain I sleep in the spare room. I do probably sleep a little bit better in bed with Judy but I’m okay on my own.” When asked whether he’d consider waking Judy up early instead, he added: “I wouldn’t think of doing that to Judy. Apart from anything else, Judy and her sleep, you do not mess with,” reports the Manchester Evening News.

Kate revealed that fellow early-morning broadcaster Amol Rajan claims he “sleeps better” with his wife beside him — meaning the couple, who have four children all under the age of seven, must rise at the crack of dawn whenever he presents the Today programme. Richard quipped: “Amol Rajan’s wife must be a saint.”

He added: “We did This Morning, but the difference between me and Amol there is that Judy and I would get up at the same time. The alarm would go off, we’d both get up and roll into our jeans, get in the car, and drive to Liverpool to do the show, and then when we were in London, drive down to the Southbank.

So we went to bed at the same time and woke up at the same time.” Richard and Judy first crossed paths in the 1980s while working on separate Granada TV programmes. Richard recalls hearing that Judy was “dicing [an executive] into small cubes with her tongue” following his “something sexist” remark. Speaking to the Guardian in 2014, he said: “I thought, wow – I’m going to marry her.”

Richard has recently disclosed that Judy initially harboured doubts about his capabilities as a stepfather. Speaking to Busted’s Matt Willis on the On the Mend podcast, Richard revealed that Judy made clear she came as a “three-pack” alongside twins Dan and Tom. To thoroughly assess his feelings about the relationship, Richard jetted off to Greece for some soul-searching.

He spent a fortnight in the Mediterranean nation reflecting “quite deeply” on his future, though the tale would eventually reach a happy ending. Richard explained: “So, I went off on my own. I went off to Greece for two weeks on a kind of a solo holiday to think about it, because I didn’t want to rush – well, I wasn’t rushing – but I didn’t want to make that mistake.”

Richard says the period apart from Judy helped him recognise that he was “quite comfortable” taking on a role in the boys’ lives. He added: “I didn’t want to say airily and with super-confidence, ‘Oh, yeah, it’ll be fine. You know, I’m happy to be a stepfather’. I needed to know that I could deliver and that I meant it.”

Things took an emotional turn on ITV’s This Morning as Olly Murs admitted he’s ‘petrified’ ahead of his mammoth charity challenge

Olly Murs shared his fears before taking on the Soccer Aid UNICEF marathon.

Emotions were running high during the latest instalment of ITV’s This Morning, as 41-year-old singer Olly was interviewed before he set off on a five-day, 400km endurance challenge. Into The Unknown will see Olly travelling from Manchester’s Old Trafford to London Stadium, covering over 400km by running, rowing, and also cycling.

Appearing via video link from Old Trafford, Olly spoke to Jake Quickenden about the mammoth ordeal he has ahead of him. As This Morning presenters Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley watched from the studio, Olly said: “I’m petrified, I am scared. I’m nervous, I’m excited.

“It’s here now. I’ve done the ten weeks of training, you know there’s so many people behind the cameras. There are lovely people here who have come down to see me.”

When asked which activity he’s most scared to do, Olly confessed that the idea of rowing solo is making him feel nervous.

Later in the chat, a video was shown to viewers explaining why the former Voice judge was chosen for the challenge, which aims to raise money for children affected by the war in Ukraine.

After seeing the footage, Olly fought back tears. He said: “It makes me feel really emotional actually and it makes me more determined to get out and raise as much money as you can,” he added: “All we want to do is keep our kids safe and imagine doing that with a war going on.”

Olly will run, row and cycle from Manchester’s Old Trafford, the birthplace of Soccer Aid, all the way to London Stadium in Stratford, which will host this year’s landmark match.

The gruelling five-day challenge will push him to his limits, with each stage bringing fresh physical and mental demands. From steep climbs and difficult terrain to daunting stretches on the water, it’s set to be one of the toughest tests he’s ever faced.

To add to the pressure, Olly won’t discover the route for each day until just before he begins, with the details revealed live on national radio.

With no chance to prepare ahead of time, every stage will come with a new surprise.

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.

You won’t even see the fees being added

Most holidaymakers assume using their normal bank card abroad is fine. But Martin Lewis says a simple switch to a specialist card could save you from paying an extra 2.75% to 3% on every single purchase – a hidden fee that quietly adds to your bill without you even noticing.

In a clip shared on This Morning’s official TikTok, the MoneySavingExpert founder explained how most high street banks add a “non-sterling exchange rate fee” when you spend abroad. Ignore it and a £100 purchase effectively costs you £103. Switch to one of the specialist cards he recommends, and you get the same near-perfect exchange rates the banks use – without the markup.

Martin started by explaining what happens when you spend on plastic overseas. “Your bank gets a near perfect exchange rate on the day – the same as what’s called the spot rate, the city market rates. When you spend on your card abroad though, normally the card company adds what’s called a non-Sterling exchange rate fee of between 2.75 or 3%,” he said. “So your hundred pounds worth of euros cost you £103.”

The solution, he explained, is using specialist cards. “With the specialist cards, they don’t have that. So you get the same near perfect exchange rates that the banks or the card firms do.”

As for which cards to choose, Martin noted there are quite a lot available now. He judges them on the cashback they give you. The Barclaycard Rewards credit card is currently giving 0.25% cash back on spending in the UK and abroad. “So you get perfect exchange rate and cashback,” he said.

He added a crucial warning for anyone using a credit card: “Only do this if you’ll pay it off in full at the end of every month, or there is interest. That will credit score you to get it.”

For those who prefer a debit card or don’t want to undergo a hard credit check, Martin offered two alternatives. “The easiest one to get is the Chase card, which you can apply for without switching banks and only does a soft credit check, so it doesn’t mark your credit file, and virtually everybody can get it,” he said. It offers near-perfect exchange rates, no ATM withdrawal fees, and some cashback on UK spending.

Alternatively, for those willing to switch banks: “First Direct, if you’re willing to switch bank to it, will give you a near perfect exchange rate fee debit card and pay you £175 quid if you switch bank to it.”

A spokesperson for travel experts Lapland Famille said: “When spending abroad, choosing the right payment method makes a real difference. Specialist cards often work out far cheaper than standard bank cards. And if you’re ever asked to pay in pounds or the local currency, always choose the local currency – paying in cash locally is another good way to avoid hidden conversion fees.”

With no need to switch your main bank account for the easiest option, Martin’s advice shows that cutting the cost of spending abroad may be simpler than many travellers think – as long as you pick the right card before you go.

A noughties TV legend and star of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! has explained just why so many people refused to appear with him on television at the height of his career

Dom Joly has revealed that several people refused to appear alongside him on TV – all for the same reason. The comedian, 58, shot to fame when he began fronting Trigger Happy TV in 2000, and the format saw him going out in public to intentionally put himself in embarrassing situation, all to get a reaction.

When the programme first started, viewers and participants alike assumed the chaos, which was being caught on hidden cameras, was genuine and it became an overnight success. But as the series progressed and became more popular, members of the public became wise to when Dom was out and about filming.

The show came to an end in 2003, and now Dom, who went on to appear on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! alongside This Morning star Alison Hammond and eventual winner Stacey Solomon, has revealed that a considerable amount of people refused to be seen on camera because they were being unfaithful to their partners at the time, and couldn’t risk having that broadcast to the nation.

READ MORE: I’m A Celebrity legend lands huge radio role and raves new gig is ‘perfect’ for themREAD MORE: Dom Joly now from Trigger Happy breakdown to BBC regrets and rarely-seen wife

Speaking on the Remember Me? podcast, he told host Maisie Adam: “We got away with quite a lot but the main reason people didn’t sign consent forms – it’s not that they didn’t want to be on telly, it’s because they were having affairs.

“I can not tell you the amount of people we did, and when the second series went out, the guy would go ‘Oh my god, it’s Dom Joly! Am I being filmed? Oh! That’s not my wife.’ That was just the people we talked to!”

Dom’s most famous bit is, ironically, his least favourite – that enormous phone. Just days after the first episode aired in January 2000, he was on a train when he heard that now-familiar Nokia ring tone.

He said: “Three people stood up and shouted, ‘HELLO?! YEAH I’M ON THE TRAIN – IT’S RUBBISH!’ I was like, ‘f***. What is happening?’” It’s a catchphrase that has haunted him for 25 years.

“I swear there’s not a day where it doesn’t happen. Even on the way here, a bloke spotted me and shouted, ‘HELLO?!’ And 25 years later I still don’t have a good response to it! Like, ‘Yes, hello!’”

“So many scenes went wrong, but the worst we did was with Sarah Ferguson,. We were walking past the Duke of York barracks on King’s Road and there’s a party going on, so we go in and blag some free drinks. Suddenly we spot Fergie sitting in the corner on her own, so we say, ‘let’s do it’.

“We go right up to her, she looks panicky and I stick my microphone in her face and say, ‘Good morning Your Majesty, you are live on Good Morning Mexico – do you have anything to say to the people of Mexico?’

“She starts blabbering on into this tiny camera, and after a while I ask her to pause because we’ve gone to a commercial break, and could she absolutely freeze?

“And for three minutes, me, Sam and the Duchess of York are frozen in the middle of this drinks party. And then we leg it. By the time we get back to our office there’s a fax from her lawyers and sadly we could never show the footage.”

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WHEN her 13-year marriage to Patrick Kielty shockingly ended last year, Cat Deeley was left feeling anxious as she navigated a brand new chapter.

But 12 months on, the This Morning star, 49, has undergone a transformation and has a new lease of confidence, The Sun can reveal.

Cat and Patrick met in the early 2000s and formed a friendship which turned to romance, tying the knot in 2012 during a private Rome ceremony.

After living in Los Angeles for several years, the former couple had returned to the UK in 2020 to start a new life with their two children, Milo and James.

However, they announced their separation last summer in a sad statement, as they vowed to continue a positive co-parenting relationship.

At the time, we told how Cat was feeling ‘anxious’ about returning to work following the split and how she would work through it.

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But now, a close friend has revealed to The Sun that Cat is living her new single life to the fullest.

She is not only open to dating again and looking more glamorous than ever, but is making a U-turn when it comes to her famously private home life.

They revealed: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her like this before. There’s just a lightness to her now.

“She’s saying yes to things she might have dismissed  in the past, especially with work but also in her real life off screen.

“She’s been really open, she’s not afraid to be emotional or be herself on TV – she’s just enjoying her life much more.

“She’s even letting people see more of her home life inside her house – she’s filmed a few big brand projects at home, which is quite a big step for her as she and Patrick were extremely private but I guess she is just more relaxed with herself, she’s not overthinking anything and just saying yes to everything that fills her cup.”

Whilst it’s been a long time since Cat was on the dating scene, the pal revealed that the TV star isn’t against getting back out there.

And she might even be spotted on exclusive celeb dating app Raya one day, they confirmed.

“She is open to dating again, definitely, but it has to feel right. She wouldn’t go on apps because that’s just not her style, well maybe Raya one day, she’s not totally closed off.

“She likes the idea of what’s out there, a bit of flirting, a bit of fun, without any pressure.”

When not on TV, Cat has been enjoying nights out with pals and has been spending more time with the likes of best friend Charlie Brear and several of her male pals.

Describing the time with friends as “exactly what she needed”, our source says Cat’s nearest and dearest are helping her live to the fullest.

Whilst her close relationship with co-host Ben has also provided a helping hand, with the broadcaster’s ‘solid’ friendship providing laughs and a shoulder to cry on.

And from chic ensembles for This Morning’s early call times to glamorous Instagram posts, Cat appears to be glowing from the outside, too.

“You can see the difference in her too, she simply looks incredible. Not just glamorous, but genuinely happy,” said the insider.

They added: “It’s that kind of confidence you can’t fake, and people around her have really noticed it. She’s glowing, and I think a lot of that comes from feeling more in control of her own life again.

“It really does feel like a whole new chapter for Cat. She’s happier, more relaxed, and completely herself again and I think that’s why everything seems to be falling into place for her on and off screen.”

DECADES on from when ‘Ladette’ culture dominated the 1990s, the trend appears to be making a comeback – with popular TV stars at the forefront.

Olivia Attwood and Helen Flanagan are leading the charge as they rally against a polished media profile in favour of authenticity… just like original ladettes Sara Cox, Zoe Ball and Denise Van Outen.

From Olivia’s raucous holiday with Pete Wicks instead of her husband, to Helen starring in steamy dating shows with three kids at home, the girls are proving they won’t apologise for doing what they want – despite facing backlash over their part in the era’s resurgence.

It follows a spell of female stars in the spotlight – like Holly Willoughby – who took on the “good girl” image – with any suggestion of naughtiness carefully constructed for dramatic effect.

PR and Entertainment expert Lynn Carratt said: “The ladette era was famous in the late 90s, early 00s as an era in which women ruled supreme.

“And now it appears the boozy and unfiltered 90s trend is enjoying a second wave.

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“TV stars Olivia Attwood and Helen Flanagan appear to be leading the revival with the same throwback energy – loud, emotional, unpredictable, and unapologetically visible – like Sara Cox and Zoe Ball, back in the day.”

While Holly Willoughby was famous for juggling being the nation’s sweetheart on This Morning, alongside her role as a doting wife and mother of three, younger female celebrities don’t feel the need to pretend they have it all figured out.

The 45-year-old would feign shock and giggle behind her hand at any filthy humour on her ITV2 show Celebrity Juice, which aired after 9pm, but her hangovers after the National Television Awards became a well known skit.

In 2016, dressed in her ballgown from the night before, Holly hosted This Morning alongside Phillip Schofield in a tux, telling viewers: “I haven’t been home yet. I came straight here.”

It became a running joke every year about Holly’s “wild” night out – but those behind the scenes suggest it was all carefully curated.

Then, along came former Love Island star Olivia who has become ITV‘s newest darling – presenting a host of shows including Bad Boyfriends and Getting Filthy Rich.

The 34-year-old has recently separated from her husband of three years, footballer Bradley Dack.

She says the split has made her feel “incredibly passionate” about being self-sufficient.

“Navigating what I’ve been going through, the fact I have my own place and car, I can’t even imagine not being able to look after myself,” she says.

Last summer, she ended up in the doghouse with her then-husband Brad when she was pictured cuddled up to close pal Pete on a yacht in Ibiza.

The pair have since struck up a secret romance following her marriage split in January. Pals insist “there was no overlap”.

Soon after her wild week with pals in Ibiza where she was spotted dancing on a boat in a thong bikini, downing shots and posting hungover pics, Olivia was back on This Morning presenting.

Lynn added: “You have to hand it to Olivia Attwood, she has managed to do what few reality stars achieve to do and turn notoriety into a high-profile media career.

“She is a permanent fixture on ITV with presenting roles and prime-time appearances, she has built a success podcast brand, as well as appearing on Kiss.

“She one of reality TV’s most in-demand personalities and has developed a polished media profile. But sitting alongside that something far more chaotic behind the scenes: headline-making holidays, relationship drama and brutally honest social media posts that regularly ignite debate and she likes to party.

“One minute she’s fronting glossy TV projects, the next she’s dominating tabloid headlines with candid revelations about love, life and everything in between.

“It seems like controlled chaos, but it’s working for her.”

Meanwhile mum of three Helen has recently come under fire for being on Celebs Go Dating and Celebrity Ex on the Beach.

She has been outspoken about the criticism she’s faced for taking part, particularly as a mother.

‘I find it empowering,” Helen said previously.

“There have been comments on social media suggesting I shouldn’t be doing a show like that as a mum of three, but no one would say that about a dad.

“Women should be allowed to have fun and enjoy themselves too.”

Lynn added: “Helen has stepped firmly back into the reality TV spotlight and is currently appearing on Celebrity Ex on the Beach, enjoying herself in a villa under 24/7 filming, sun-soaked conditions and constant emotional scrutiny.

“The former soap star and mum of three was filmed constantly in bikinis, drinking, flirting and kissing on screen, embracing a level of unfiltered reality television that feels ripped straight from the early 2000s.

“Helen’s comments strike at the heart of the debate surrounding modern ladette culture: who gets to be seen as ‘wild’, and who gets judged for it.”

So why now is there a resurgence of the 90s ladette era?

Lynn continues: “In an era of heavily curated Instagram perfection and tightly managed celebrity branding, audiences are increasingly drawn to the opposite – unpredictability, imperfection and personalities who don’t play it safe.

“Olivia Attwood and Helen Flanagan sit at the centre of this shift.

“One balancing mainstream ITV success with headline-grabbing personal drama, the other embracing high-emotion reality television where nothing is off-limits.

“And right now, they are doing anything but staying quiet.”

AFTER literally breaking the scales, Alison Hammond has spent recent years vehemently denying fat jabs helped her to shed 13st. 

And we can reveal her astonishing weight loss is actually the result of an adventurous gym routine, a toyboy boyfriend and a £2.85 supermarket secret.  

A close pal said: “Alison was mortified when she stepped on the scales in 2020 and her weight was so high the sensor broke. 

“It stopped at anything over 29st, so she has no idea exactly how much she weighed back then. 

“It was a real wake-up call and she began a strict diet that day. 

“People are constantly accusing her of cheating and saying that she’s on fat jabs, but she’s not.

“They weren’t even around then.”  

Instead, the Great British Bake Off host, 51, has been munching on Itsu crispy seaweed thins — with just 24 calories in a pack.  

Her mate added: “When shoppers see her in Tesco the trolley is usually packed high with boxes of Itsu seaweed snacks.

“She eats about four packs a day.

“Instead of toffees she’s addicted to seaweed.” 

It is a far cry from the terrifying moment a few years ago that kickstarted her bid to get healthy. 

The scale shock prompted her to visit the doctor, who confirmed she was prediabetic and needed to slim down or face an early death. 

Being prediabetic — the point where your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough yet to be diabetic — genuinely terrified her as it can bring serious health problems.  

Following her doctor’s grave warning in November 2020, and in a desperate bid to reverse her diagnosis, the popular This Morning host made a plea to viewers live on air.  

Begging for help 

“I need some help,” she said bravely.

“I’ve really got to change my ways, if you guys see me out there buying sweets or chocolates, please I’m begging you, I’m not allowed to have it. 

“It’s serious now.”  

Viewers were quick to react, messaging the show in their droves with supportive comments and sharing their own struggles too.  

I thought, ‘I have to be an adult about this’. The sweets had to stop and the fatty foods.

Alison of changing her life

“Ali knew she was morbidly obese and was genuinely concerned that she was going to die,” says her pal.

“But the encouragement from viewers really touched her.

“It inspired her to make changes.” 

She previously said that her mother Maria, who died in January 2020 from lung and liver cancer, influenced her decision to overhaul her lifestyle. 

“My mum had type 2 diabetes,” she said.

“She was worried for me, so when I then found out I was prediabetic, that was frightening.  

“I thought, ‘I have to be an adult about this’. 

“The sweets had to stop and the fatty foods.”  

It was not the first time Alison had tried to lose weight.  

She had a gastric band fitted after a chair broke underneath her while she was interviewing actor Matt Damon in 2007.  

However, following the op, Alison experienced complications and “couldn’t keep anything down”. 

After two years, she decided to have the procedure reversed.  

Then, ten years later, she appeared on TV show Sugar Free Farm, which followed celebs as they embraced a sugar-free diet and farm work. 

While she managed to lose two stone on the show, the side effects from the sugar withdrawal left her feeling dizzy and sick.  

Now Alison, who is mum to Aidan, 21, works out three to five times a week with her personal trainers Lui Mancini and Ellis Gatfield.  

She combines strength training, boxing and Pilates rather than cardio and when she is busy working she enjoys walking.

A video posted by Lui displayed her hard at work with kettlebells, medicine balls and a punching bag. 

But no doubt also helping Alison’s confidence — and her weight loss — is her lover.  

She met David Putman, 29, a former Russian model, when she booked in for a massage in 2023.

The couple kept their relationship secret for about a year but now it is very much out in the open and despite the 22-year-age gap they are desperately in love.  

“It was pretty much love at first sight,” said her pal.

“She fell totally head over heels with David and he’s besotted with her.

“When you see them together it’s so sweet.

“He gets on really well with her son too.” 

But a change in her diet has had the most dramatic effect on her.

In a bid to reverse her prediabetes she has cut back on sweets and fatty foods — which has not been easy, especially as the host of C4’s Great British Bake Off, where she is surrounded by temptation.  

“Ali was completely addicted to toffees,’ says her pal.

“She would eat bags of them.” 

For people who need to use them, weight-loss jabs are a good thing. But for me, as soon as I hear any scare story, I get frightened.

Alison on using fat jabs

But these days she relies on seaweed.

The salty snack, combined with a rigorous exercise regime, has seen her weight drop to under 17st.  

She now drinks two litres of water a day and has a high-protein diet with lots of chicken and turkey mince bolognese.  

“She eats half of what she used to eat,” revealed her friend. 

Alison, who also hosts Your Song on Channel 4, previously told how weight loss jabs were not for her because she was “frightened” by “scary” stories surrounding them. 

She said: “For people who need to use them, weight-loss jabs are a good thing.

“But for me, as soon as I hear any scare story, I get frightened. 

“So I haven’t wanted to use them, but that’s not to say I wouldn’t in the future, and I certainly wouldn’t look down on anyone who did.” 

But industry insiders have warned there could be an issue if her slimdown becomes too extreme, especially as she vies for the presenting gig on Strictly.  

“There’s a fear that if she gets too skinny she might not be as popular with her fans,” said another source.  

Pals insist Alison has no intention of losing her curves or trademark sparkle.

Her journey has never been about fitting into a certain dress size but building a healthy life.  

During an interview on Loose Women last year, she summed up her attitude perfectly: “You know what, all I can do is be me.

“I can’t do anything else. 

“I’m a black, big, bubbly woman, who is slowly deflating a little bit.” 

Only time will tell if Alison’s next steps will be into the ballroom. 

But one thing is for certain, it will be seaweed, and not Ozempic, in her handbag.