Pete Wicks knocked unconscious after booze-fuelled fall and woke up to dogs licking face

The former TOWIE star was forced to stay in his house for a week after he smashed his head on the coffee table

Pete Wicks was knocked unconscious after suffering a terrifying fall. The former TOWIE star was forced to stay in his house for a week after smashing his head on a coffee table.

He woke up to his dog licking his face and a wax burn on his eye, which left his face “swollen and pink”. Explaining the scary incident to his friend Sam Thompson on their Staying Relevant podcast, Pete said: “I smashed my head on the coffee table, no it gets worse.

“Unconscious I woke up with Eric licking my face… I had candles on the coffee table and had a wax burn across all my eye.

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“I had taken the skin off all my eyelid and under my eye. That was Christmas day, so I didn’t leave the house from Christmas day until New Year’s Eve, because my face was quite swollen and pink.”

Sam recently opened up about his own health woes, explaining his plans to have surgery which will leave him unable to talk.

He said: “I’ve got a cyst on my vocal cords. I’m having that taken out, which is going to be mad because it means I have three days of vocal rest.”

According to the NHS, the nodules are non-malignant, small swellings. The organisation says they arise on the edges of the vocal cords, which are situated in the voice box. They are often formed when the vocal cords come together with too great a force over a long period of time.

It remains to be seen whether Sam’s new girlfriend will be by his side throughout the procedure. He had earlier confessed his relationship update to pal Pete on an edition of the podcast.

He gushed: “I’ve got a girlfriend. I’ve got a girlfriend!” And he admitted: “You know, I wouldn’t be dating someone this amount of time if I didn’t think it had legs to last.”

Sam and Talitha Balinska went public with their relationship in 2025 and spent Christmas together.

But he was forced to shut any rumours of trouble in his relationship just days after he shared a cryptic post that left some fans worried.

The couple spent their first Christmas together with Sam’s family, but a photo he shared on Instagram at the beginning of January seemed to suggest that there might be some problems.

In the image, Sam was seen cuddling his cat on a sofa. He captioned the image: “Starting 2026 as I mean to go on.” The fact that Sam was alone with his cat in the photo sparked speculation that he was single – however, he has now put those rumours to rest with a new snap on social media.

But Sam later took to his Instagram stories to share a selfie of him and Talitha. He was all smiles in the photo, and added a heart emoji. Following months of courtship, Sam revealed at the start of December that he and Talitha had become “official”.

Chatting to his best mate Pete Wicks on their Staying Relevant podcast, Sam confirmed they had taken their romance to the next stage. He declared: “I’ve got a girlfriend. I’ve got a girlfriend!”

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Sam’s new relationship is the first since he split up from his previous girlfriend Zara McDermott, who is now dating former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson.

Truth behind Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater split after months apart

Ethan didn’t join Ariana at Sunday’s Golden Globes, but friends say the couple prefer to spend time together away from the spotlight

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater are “in a solid place” despite not attending Sunday’s Golden Globes together.

Ariana walked the red carpet with her good friend Doug Middlebrook ahead of the glitzy ceremony following rumours she and Ethan – who have dating since July 2023 – had split. In 2025, it was rumoured the pair had been ‘on and off for most of this year.’

But friends say the couple are stronger than ever, explaining that Ariana had to prioritise the promotion of their movie, Wicked: For Good, over recent months, adding that they prefer to spend time together away from the spotlight.

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The insider told the Daily Mail: “Ariana put Ethan on the back burner while she was promoting the movie. But they’re in a solid place now.

“They’re like an old married couple at home. They’d rather hang out together and do simple things like play board games or binge watch shows rather than go out to fancy places.”

When Wicked: For Good hit theatres in November, Ariana and her leading co-star Cynthia Erivo embarked on a weeks-long promotional tour across the globe. Ethan, who plays Boq in the film, only appeared at the New York and London premieres.

When quizzed about what it was like ‘working with your girlfriend everyday’ on the Today show, he responded by vaguely talking about how ‘incredible’ the ‘entire cast’ was.

Fans also pointed out that he and Ariana avoided having any pictures taken together as a duo during the film’s promotional tour.

But the source says Ethan knew how important it was for Ariana and Cynthia to promote the movie together rather than his relationship with Ariana becoming the main talking point.

Added the insider: “Although he’s in the movie, he’s not a selling tool like Ariana and Cynthia. He’s a pro and understands the business. That’s why he was OK with it.”

In November, Ariana and Ethan were spotted putting on an affectionate display at the New York premiere of their movie.

The two stars, who have been dating since July 2023, put on a united front after facing rumours their relationship was in trouble. Before the glitzy premiere they hadn’t been seen together in months. Back in October, a source claimed to the Mail that the two had been ‘on and off for most of this year.’

When the couple’s romance first made headlines, Ariana had just split from her husband Dalton Gomez, 30, and Ethan was still married to his high school sweetheart Lilly Jay. Ariana was subsequently slammed as a ‘homewrecker’ as she was accused of having an affair with Ethan.

Lilly, who is a psychologist, poured fuel on the fire at the time when she claimed to have been blindsided’ by the relationship in a strongly-worded personal essay published by New York Magazine subset The Cut.

In the scathing article she wrote that she struggled to ‘escape’ while trying to ‘accept the sudden public downfall of my marriage.’

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Zara McDermott says ‘amazing’ £24 serum caused her body acne to ‘vanish’

Struggling with body breakouts? Zara McDermott has just shared the lightweight £24 serum that caused her blemishes to ‘vanish’

If you’ve ever battled with body acne, you’ll know just how frustrating and confidence-knocking it can be. So when Zara McDermott shares a product that made her body breakouts “vanish”, we definitely listen.

The documentary maker has been raving about a skincare find to her Instagram followers, claiming the bumps and spots that had recently appeared on her body disappeared after using Naturium’s Urea 5% Body Serum, priced at £24.

According to Zara, the lightweight product (combined with a little gentle exfoliation in the shower before using) completely transformed her skin, clearing her blemishes in no time.

The serum is designed to support the skin barrier while deeply hydrating, thanks to its hero ingredient, urea. This dermatologist’s favourite ingredient helps tackle rough texture and exfoliates the skin to aid in cell turnover, and reduce flaky patches.

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The milky, lightweight formula makes this product ideal for after-shower use, as it doesn’t leave behind that sticky, damp feeling you’re hoping will absorb before getting dressed.

It is specifically recommended for individuals with dry skin, including those with eczema and psoriasis, as it is extremely hydrating. And with the cold weather we’ve been experiencing, now more than ever is the time to add this serum to your shower routine.

Another great ingredient that helps clear body breakouts is salicylic acid. And Q+A’s Salicylic Acid Body Wash, £6.50, is a fantastic body cleanser for banishing blemishes. The salicylic acid in the cleanser works deep into pores to exfoliate, brighten, and smooth your skin, while a calming blend of white willow bark, aloe vera, and green tea keeps things soothed.

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While, CeraVe’s gel-to-foam SA Smoothing Cleanser, £14.50,has been developed with dermatologists to target rough, bumpy, or dry skin, making it perfect for seasonal body breakouts or more long-term conditions like keratosis pilaris.

Josie Gibson ‘couldn’t breathe’ and suffered health ordeal before This Morning appearance

Josie Gibson, one of This Morning’s best known presenters, has admitted that an appearance on the ITV show triggered a “scary” health struggle behind-the-scenes

Television presenter Josie Gibson has spoken about her early days presenting This Morning, and how she really felt when she first started appearing on the programme.

Josie, 40, who rose to fame when she won Big Brother in 2010, said that she was initially very scared, and nearly had a panic attack on her first day in the studio.

I’m A Celebrity star Josie, who has also presented reality television shows and fitness DVDs in the past, became part of the This Morning presenting line-up in 2018, fronting the competitions segment.

When asked by Best UK how it felt transitioning from taking charge of competitions to presenting the ITV show, Josie said: “I just couldn’t believe it…It’s still a ‘pinch me’ moment.

“I was scared to begin with, the first time I went into the studio I nearly had a panic attack. I couldn’t breathe or talk. But I’m just so thankful to This Morning; they really took a chance on me and then stuck with me.”

She has also recently opened up about her weight loss journey and the impact of the ‘1970s diet’ challenge she undertook, one of the methods she has used to lose five stone (31.75kg).

Appearing in a Channel 5 documentary titled ‘The 1970s Diet: Could it Work for you?’ Josie explored the world of eating from 50 years ago by cutting portion sizes and sugar intake, as well as focusing on more boiled foods.

Furthermore, Josie also took up intermittent fasting for three days a week, while doing more exercise.

As more people have noticed Josie’s weight loss, the presenter has been forced to push back against those who claim she did it through medication or surgery. In an Instagram post, she addressed those claims.

She said: “I didn’t get a gastric bypass; I got off my big a**e, moved more, ate less and educated myself on what I was stuffing into my body.”

Josie, who was recently diagnosed with lipedema, a condition that causes a disproportionate build-up of fat, has also spoken to the Mirror about what it was like doing the 1970s diet.

She said that she initially though the diet would cause her to put on weight due to the high number of carbohydrates, but was reassured to find that whilst she was heavier than she wanted to be before starting the diet, she wasn’t unfit.

Speaking of an interaction with a nutritionist whilst filming she said: “It was nice to know that even though I was overweight, I was at a supreme fitness level. I was expecting to have a low fitness level, even though I’ve always exercised. But he was like, ‘No, you’re at a superior fitness rate’.

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Thomas Skinner breaks silence on BBC legal action and why he ditched Strictly final

BBC viewers saw Thomas Skinner compete on Strictly Come Dancing last year with Amy Dowden.

Thomas Skinner has announced he’ll be heading back to the BBC following his absence from the Strictly Come Dancing final last month.

Speaking on Tuesday’s (January 13) edition of Good Morning Britain, the former Apprentice contestant joined ITV hosts Ed Balls and Susanna Reid for a candid discussion. Last year saw Thomas paired with beloved professional Amy Dowden on Strictly, who recently detailed his decision not to appear on the finale. His involvement attracted considerable online criticism even before his first performance.

The businessman became the first contestant eliminated from the competition, leading to claims among viewers that the public vote had been manipulated due to the surrounding controversy.

However, Susanna read out an official BBC statement during the interview, which confirmed: “Strictly Come Dancing’s public vote is independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy every week. Any claims to the contrary are entirely without foundation.”

During the chat, Thomas reflected on his short-lived Strictly journey and disclosed his intentions to collaborate with the broadcaster again. Discussing speculation around potential legal proceedings against the BBC, Thomas explained: “I did have some chats with the BBC, I did.

“They said ‘You’ve been sent something you shouldn’t have been sent, it is what it is. We think you should get some legal advice.’ That was the chat with the BBC. I’ve got no rows with the BBC, I was on the Celebrity Apprentice raising money for Children in Need a week after, and I’m doing bits with them next year.”

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Susanna pointed out that he was absent from the reunion finale, prompting him to share his reasons.

He explained: “The reason I didn’t come back, this is the honest truth. I thought, I’ve had all this bad press, I’ve been front page every time I’ve been on the show, I didn’t want to take away from everyone else.

“I didn’t want my wife to think, ‘Oh, there’s another story about us now.’ It wasn’t fair. But anyway, I ended up being front page anyway! So it didn’t really matter.”

Although Thomas missed the Strictly final, which saw Karen Carney and Carlos Gu triumph, he revealed that Amy has become a ‘family friend’. He also mentioned to Susanna and Ed that he’s arranged to play golf with Strictly pro Kai Widdrington in the upcoming weeks.

Reflecting on the media attention during his time on the BBC programme, Thomas confessed: “It was stupid, there were journalists outside my house following my wife back from Sainsbury’s, I saw my wife getting upset, and that’s what hurt me more than anything, my wife and my family.

“They were knocking on my sister’s door, they were knocking on my friends door, they sat in my local pub and offered people money to sell stories on me! It was mad.2

Thomas might of gone out first on Strictly, but his time on the BBC programme was far from smooth sailing. Things didn’t get off to a great start for the BBC star, when he stormed out of an interview after snatching a reporter’s phone.

It was claimed he would be ‘suing the BBC’ for rigged voting claims following his early exit from the BBC show. He said he had received an “anonymous email” the night he got the boot from the show, which prompted his concerns.

Following that, Tom then said he had asked to see the official voting figures, but claimed the email ‘couldn’t be shown to him’, and he did not attend the final despite all the other celebrities returning.

“I also want to be honest. I know what’s likely to come next. I expect people will call me a liar, they’ll try to cancel me, say I’m hated, or even claim I didn’t get any votes at all. At this point, I don’t care anymore. I know what’s right, and I know the conversations I’ve had,” he said in a statement, “I understand that much of what’s happened is my own fault. I know I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my life and I hold my hands up to that.

“I’m not perfect and I’ve never pretended to be. But what I can’t accept is my family being dragged into this. So I need to take a step back. I never wanted any of this to become public.”

He later admitted he “regretted” signing up for the show but vowed to continue working with the BBC after they gave him his “big break” on The Apprentice several years ago.

“If I’m being completely honest, I really regret doing Strictly Come Dancing. I wish I’d never done it,” he shared, “The only positive to come from it was making a new friend in Amy, who is a genuinely lovely person. Aside from that, it’s brought a huge amount of negative attention, and it has affected me more than I’d like to admit.”

The Mirror exclusively revealed that Skinner’s voting figures weren’t what they might have seemed. Insiders have pointed to an independent exit poll of 125,000 viewers which was carried out concurrently by website Strictly Spoiler as “clear evidence of his unpopularity.” It shows how Skinner attracted just 1805 votes, which was the lowest of any contestant on the BBC programme.

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Like the official voting figures which are then combined with the judges’ scores, it placed Skinner bottom. A source claims: “The poll – which is larger than an exit poll for a general election – comprehensively shows that Skinner was the least popular contestant by a long way. There is no conspiracy. These are the cold, hard facts.”

Trisha Goddard shares cancer update after heartbreaking question to doctor

Trisha Goddard has shared a powerful update on her stage four breast cancer and revealed how treatment, fitness and family support are helping her live well with the disease

Trisha Goddard has shared a candid update on her health after confronting the return of breast cancer, describing a hearbreaking question she was forced to ask her doctor.

The TV presenter, now 68, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and successfully beat the disease. She later rebuilt her life in the United States with her fourth husband, Allen, settling in Connecticut and continuing her broadcasting career. However, that sense of stability was shattered in July 2022 when she discovered the cancer had returned.

This time, the diagnosis was far more serious. Trisha learned she had stage four breast cancer that had spread to her hip and was told it was treatable but not curable. The devastating news followed a traumatic accident at her home, where a fall left her with a shattered femur and in severe pain.

Recalling the moment she found out, Trisha told Closer: “At the hospital, I was off my face on every drug known to man when an intern wandered in and said, ‘Oh, yeah, you’ve got a cancerous tumour.’ That’s how I found out and I said, ‘Am I going to die?’”

Throughout the ordeal, Trisha says her husband Allen, whom she affectionately calls Boo, has been her rock. The couple met in the US in 2017 and married in August 2022, just weeks after her diagnosis. Trisha acknowledges that her illness has echoed painful memories for Allen, whose first wife died from breast cancer, leaving him a single father to two young children.

“I’m lucky to have Allen,” she said. “His first wife died with breast cancer and he was left a single dad of two children aged nine and 11. The first thing I said to him was, ‘I’m sorry to put you through this again.’ He comes to all my appointments and sat with me during chemo. I’m blessed.”

In addition to her husband’s support, Trisha has spoken about the importance of having a wide-ranging medical and emotional care team. She counts a nutritionist, a gastroenterologist, massage therapists and personal trainers among those helping her manage life with cancer. She also sees a specialist psychologist every week to ensure the emotional burden does not fall entirely on her marriage.

“I also see a specialist psychologist every Tuesday, so I don’t dump everything at Allen’s door. I have a support system – that’s the backbone – I’m not Wonder Woman. And not for a moment do I think everyone is as fortunate,” she said.

The care she has received has also inspired her to campaign for improved services in the UK for people living with life-limiting conditions. Trisha recently met with Ashley Dalton MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention, who also has metastatic breast cancer, to advocate for better support.

Encouragingly, Trisha says her current treatment is working well. “My cancer counts are very low; my oncologist calls me entry level,” she revealed. Her regime includes regular injections, infusions and a daily pill, alongside a strict commitment to fitness. She power walks daily, trains at the cancer centre gym several times a week and even enjoys ice-skating.

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