The 35-year-old TV personality and his devoted wife Linda Sims transformed their Essex home with over 100, 000 twinkling bulbs into a winter wonderland.
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Joey Essex has revealed his Christmas lights and they are the most TOWIE yet(Image: Amazon)
The most TOWIE Christmas lights Joey Essex has ever seen have been revealed.
The TV personality, 35, is also known for appearing on I’m A Celeb, Dancing On Ice, Love Island, Celebrity MasterChef and SAS: Who Dares Wins since his TV debut.
Joey teamed up with his beloved nan Linda Sims to transform his Essex home into a winter wonderland with over 100,000 twinkling bulbs as he says: “Alexa, turn on the Christmas lights… look nan I fixed it.”
He moved on to boxing after landing a reported £500,000 pay day for his maiden fight. Joey stepped into the ring in October for the latest Misfits event.
On August 30 in Manchester, the TV personality defeated Portuguese influencer Numeiro to earn points. In the fourth and fifth rounds, Essex even overcame a standing count to claim the victory.
According to new research from Amazon, 76% of Brits find Christmas lights to be uplifting immediately. One in five Brits admit to installing lights specifically to impress their neighbors, according to a poll of 76% of Brits.
Still, decking the halls doesn’t come easily for everyone, with many saying that smart home technology like Alexa and smart plugs (44%) would make them more likely to embrace the festive season.
Thanks to a lot of hard work, TV star Stacey and husband Joe Swash are both down to earth and milionnaires.
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Stacey Solomon says people tag ger stupid but she uses it to her advantage(Image: Jonty Davies / Good Housekeeping UK)
Stacey Solomon says being underestimated no longer makes her angry because she can use it to her advantage. The TV star and businesswoman, 36, has amassed a multi-million pound fortune and is admired by fans around the UK for her down-to-earth attitude.
Speaking about defying the expectations of others, she told Good Housekeeping UK : “The thing is, I come from Dagenham and I’ve still got the accent. I didn’t have a private education. I’m blonde. I’m of a happy disposition most of the time. Those characteristics label me as stupid. It used to make me angry, but now I use it to my advantage. If I’m underestimated, I can only impress people. The truth is that most of the time I’m just winging it and faking it till I make it.”
According to reports in April, Stacey had £9.7m in her business accounts thanks to TV series and brand endorsements and business investments. And there have now been two series of BBC ’s Stacey & Joe reality series with husband Joe Swash as well as previously fronting Channel 4 show Renovation Rescue.
Stacey acknowledged that it wasn’t always easy, despite continuing to surprise people with her success and standing well on screen and in business. Being a strong woman with a career is a f*ing struggle, she continued.
You can be successful as a woman in this industry while earning significantly less than a man. Making a name for itself in this sector is a f****** success. Please excuse my swearing. However, it ought to be celebrated.
It’s difficult to accept that you can’t control everything, especially if you’re ambitious and frequently feel like a powerful woman. When something is beyond your control, it can be very intimidating. I’m always worried, but [now] I’m much more adept at feeling confident.
Stacey and Joe married in 2022 and have been together nine years. They are set to film more of their home life for the BBC. After rising to fame on the X Factor in 2009, Loose Women star Stacey has become a national treasure and is best known for her bubbly personality and as the Instagram DIY queen.
She keeps her social media followers in the loop as she has transformed Pickle Cottage into a family home. As well as her dream home which features in the series, Stacey has the dream family life too with former EastEnders actor fiancé Joe Swash, and her five children; Zachary, 17, Leighton, 13, Rex, six, Rose, four, and Belle, two.
Stacey referred to the myth of the perfect marriage, which she claimed didn’t know existed despite the fact that Joe eventually remembered the happy times. How is it possible for you and your husband not get married? That is a pipe dream! Although we do have assistance, our house is not fully equipped.
Dad looks after the kids while my mother will wash them. We constantly argue over what needs to be done, Joe and I. Everything is a kerfuffle because there are five children in that time, three of whom are young.
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We share the same morals and values, and, according to her, “we’ll eventually remember why we got together in the first place. Even if we do have a few months of, “F***king hell, I can’t even look at you right now.”
* The full interview can be found in Good Housekeeping UK‘s January issue.
Although she has many best-selling books, author Julia Donaldson wants a new challenge for the year.
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In 2026, Julia Donaldson wants to have grand plans.
Children’s author Julia Donaldson says she wants to branch out into West End musicals. Julia, 77, who has delighted kids of all ages with the The Gruffalo, Stickman and Room on the Broom, hopes to work with the likes of Lord Lloyd-Webber or Sir Elton John.
She said: “I might approach some terribly well-known West End impresario who’s got the next big hit all ready and I’ll just write the lyrics and I won’t have to do any of the hard work. I do know a few people. I think I might put out a few feelers.” Julia is making a festive appearance in the Christmas edition of The Repair Shop, alongside Dame Helen Mirren and Gavin & Stacey star Rob Brydon.
Rob also crops up on Christmas Day, voicing Reginald Rake, the baddie in the animated film of Julia’s book The Scarecrows’ Wedding. Part of the storyline involving Reginald had to be edited for the TV version.
The marriage plans of Jessie Buckley’s and Harry O’Hay’s (Domhnall Gleeson) are in jeopardy thanks to Reginald. The half-hour movie is likely to be very popular.
However, Julia is unable to see a follow-up to The Gruffalo and Zog’s. What might it be, she said? The divorce of the Scarecrows? I wouldn’t want to ruin that because this is a happy-ever-after tale. They might have “baby scarecrows,” I suppose. She might want to avoid a new controversy. Much to Julia’s annoyance, Reginald’s cigar burns a field in The Scarecrows’ Wedding, which caused her to cut.
She continued, “But then there was this thing about smoking.” I believe that some Mumsnet mothers once said something that was later blown up.
There were no complaints when the book first appeared, according to the author. It is noted that it causes a cough and can cause a fire, and that it is unhealthy. He is a weak actor who is flaunting himself. Julia receives hundreds of letters from children each week after her 52-year marriage to Malcolm ended last year.
There are many funny ones in my collection. They occasionally don’t even mention the books in their entirety. They say things like “I love your books,” “I love your books, but that’s all I can say about you.” I’m seven years old, have blonde hair, and pony.
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Axel Scheffler, the illustrator who published Julia Donaldson’s books last year, gave the impression that her books might look different in the future. He said, “We’ve written about 30 books already, but is that really enough? “
* Christmas Day, The Scarecrows’ Wedding airs on BBC1 and iPlayer.
Steve Cropper, who was once hailed as the second-best guitarist in history, passed away peacefully at the age of 84 this week, his son has confirmed. He was the second-best guitarist since Jimi Hendrix.
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Guitarist, songwriter and record producer Steve Cropper has sadly died(Image: AP)
Steve Cropper, who co-authored The Dock of the Bay and Otis Redding’s (Sittin’ on), passed away at the age of 84.
His son, who also played with the musical group The Blues Brothers, confirmed to Variety that Cropper passed away on Wednesday. He is also known for his roles in John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd’s musical.
Eddie Gore, a long-time associate, reported being with Cropper on Tuesday at a Nashville rehabilitation facility following a recent fall. Gore and Cropper both claimed that Cropper had been working on new music.
Gore remarked, “He’s such a good person. We were undoubtedly blessed to have him.
Shaun Murphy, the Grammy winner, said, “Saying a fond farewell to the great Steve Cropper… what a presence he’s made in his lifetime of music” on X. Joining our former bandmate, Donald “Duck” Dunn, in the “most soulful band upstairs”!
He started playing guitar when he was 14 years old, and in 1996 British music magazine Mojo named him the second greatest guitarist ever. “Cropper puts everything he has, which is considerable, at the disposal of the artist and the song: metronome-crisp timing, deadly-accurate chops, earth-moving bottom-line riffs, sharp, nasty little licks, and grace notes. His solos never leave you wanting more or outstaying their welcome.
Cropper was named one of the “secret ingredients in some of the greatest rock and soul songs,” according to Rolling Stone magazine, which placed him 39th among its 100 Greatest Guitarists.
His second wife Angel, their two children, and two of his children from his first marriage remain.
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The 65-year-old head judge discussed with Harry Corin about the persistent fear she still has from the harassment campaign.
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Strictly Come Dancing star Shirley Ballas made a heartbreaking confession(Image: PA)
Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas said she never leaves the house without a whistle around her neck – even when she’s taking her dog to the park – after enduring almost seven years of stalking trauma.
The 65-year-old opened up to Harry Corin about the persistent fear she still has following the relentless harassment campaign that targeted her and her family in a candid new episode of the Question the Default podcast, which was released yesterday.
How will I protect myself if I don’t ever leave the door without thinking? Shirley acknowledged that her 88-year-old mother had a significant influence on her safety, blaming her for it.
My mother still regards me as 10-years-old, she said. When I leave, she whistles at me. If I take the dog to the park, I now have to turn the whistle around my neck, and I occasionally believe it will also benefit her peace of mind. “
Shirley continued, “I could be all dollied up and have a whistle on my neck,” reflecting on the bizarre reality she currently resides in. It is quite odd. ”
The TV personality claimed that her mother had suggested a variety of protection items for her. You can’t carry a lot, of course. She decided on the whistle because knives and forks and other similar items are not transportable. ”
In the past, Shirley has spoken out about the devastating effect that bullying had on her life. She stated to the Sunday Mirror in August that life shouldn’t be that way because she is constantly looking and watching. ”
She claimed on the podcast that she has always been “hyper-vigilant,” but the stalking episode caused her worries to skyrocket. The first thing I do is check if the doors are locked, even if I’m driving, because I constantly second guess what might happen.
I’m the first one to come out of the window if someone knocks at my window when I stop. You may not want to stop and chat, but today you simply don’t, so be cautious. ”
Additionally, Shirley evoked the heartbreaking impact the circumstance had on those who were present. Because a stalker won’t just stop with you, it has an impact on your entire family and all of your friends. They want to reach your friends, but this stalking of our lives had an impact on everyone who lives there. ”
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Shirley and her loved ones battled escalating events since 2017 and 2023, including Kyle Shaw, who claimed to be her late brother David’s biological son, who died in 2003. In her memoir, Best Foot Forward, Shirley revealed that Shaw even confronted and followed her mother Audrey while they were shopping in the Wirral in 2019. This was a terrifying situation that Shirley moved her mother to London to save.
Shaw received a 20-month suspended sentence on April 1, 2025, following his eventual arrest in 2023.
What you need to know about Aitch’s love life, from being filmed in bed to famous exes: The Mirror.
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Aitch discussed his romantic relationship with tonight’s I’m a Celeb.
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I’m A Celeb’s Aitch opened up about his love life tonight(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
What Aitch, the star of I’m a celeb, said about his famous ex-girlfriends and being filmed in bed.
Aitch, a favorite of the stars, opened up about a night he shared with a girl in Brighton during a discussion about kiss-and-tells in camp. He claimed that “some girl filmed me while I was sleeping and posted it everywhere.” He didn’t seem particularly concerned, though, and he just kept saying, “It happens, doesn’t it”?
Aitch has had a number of high-profile relationships. Shortly before I’m A Celeb hit screens, Aitch was dating Lois Cottam, a psychology student from his hometown of Manchester. A source said: “Aitch and Lois still have a lot of love for each other, but they decided they are better off as friends.”
The star famously had a brief romance with Chicken Shop Date’s Amelia Dimoldenberg in 2022 after he appeared on her show – which sees her audition people for relationships. She even appeared in the video for his song Baby where she turns up at his door.
After days of rumours the pair were together, Aitch – whose real name is Harrison Armstrong – shared a picture of them on their third date at a bowling alley, which was followed by a £752 dinner.
You guessed it, he said. “Yeah, I guess. F*** off now”. Some people were even persuaded that the relationship was a PR stunt because it didn’t go on forever.
The following year he was linked to an Australian influencer called Lola Thompson after she shared a picture of them cuddling up together in a lift. They are thought to have split in October 2023 and she later hit out at him for telling a story she said was about her on a podcast.
Aitch even used the 2020 Brit Awards to promote their relationship to stunning model and influencer Taylor Mullings. He shared a picture of the pair together, saying “Gang” in a snapchat.
Fans of I’m A Celeb anticipated that Aitch’s most recent romantic relationship would be with former EastEnder Shona McGarty’s campmate. However, romance has not developed in the jungle despite some early flirtations and some enthusiastic cheerleading from Ant McPartlin. Yet.
READ THE FULL STORY: I’m A Celeb Shona McGarty’s romance with Aitch: 7 things you need to know
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