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Following the shock elimination of Katya Jones and Lewis Cope on Strictly Come Dancing, PR expert Mayah Riaz has spoken with the Mirror about why it’s starting to feel that Katya ‘goes in every season already on the back foot’

As Katya Jones bows out of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, an expert has opened up about the truth behind the pro dancer’s “rough run”, while confirming some fans’ long-held suspicions.

In what was regarded as a shock elimination by many, Katya and her dance partner, Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope, lost out in a tense dance-off against Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin and were sent packing. This is despite the pair having been frontrunners in the glittering competition for weeks.

Katya was in floods of tears and outraged viewers weren’t happy with the outcome either, with some even regarding the unexpected exit as a “fix”. It is thought that Lewis’ previous dance experience may have been to blame for the lack of the public vote. But in a bitter twist of irony, it was Amber’s ongoing dance experience as a West End star that saved her in the dance-off.

And this isn’t the first time Katya has had those watching at home locked in heated discussions. Ever since she first stepped into the ballroom back in 2016, the now 36-year-old’s Strictly journey has been filled with plenty of drama, particularly when it comes to the pairings she’s found herself in.

READ MORE: Strictly Come Dancing’s Shirley Ballas lays feelings bare after Lewis Cope’s shock axe

Back in 2018, Katya caused a stir when she and then-partner, comedian Seann Walsh, were caught kissing outside a pub, despite both being in relationships at the time. In the wake of the scandal, Seann, who was dating actress Rebecca Humphries, fled to the States, and later expressed remorse over the episode in a 2022 stand-up show.

As for Katya, she and her now ex-husband, fellow dancer Neil Jones, went their separate ways in 2019, one year after that now infamous snog. Naturally, this series of events did nothing to quell rumours of a so-called “Strictly curse” that is said to rip couples apart, but it’s understood this controversy wasn’t the catalyst for the split.

Since then, Katya – who won the show in 2017 with Joe McFadden – has largely been paired with less able dancers from Tony Adams to Nigel Harman, both who who ended up having to pull out due to injury. Last year’s season also proved to be an awkward pairing for Katya, who was teamed up with opera singer Wynne Evans, best known for playing the fictional Gio Compario in Go.Compare insurance adverts. The Welsh tenor was booted off the Strictly live tour after making a lewd remark about Janette Manrara, who acts as a host on tour, using the demeaning term “spit roast”, in reference to an explicit sexual act. In a statement made at the time, Wynne told the Mirror: “My language was inappropriate and unacceptable, for which I sincerely apologise.”

Wynne previously faced backlash when he controversially placed his hand on Katya’s waist before appearing to move it closer to her stomach. Katya then appeared to brush Wynne’s hand away as the pair remained side by side. Both Katya and Wynne addressed the seemingly uncomfortable exchange in an Instagram video, in which they confirmed this interaction had just been a “silly joke”.

Each year, fans have argued that Katya has been “stitched up”, a suggestion PR expert Mayah Riaz agrees with. Speaking previously with the Mirror, Mayah remarked: “On Katya, I do think she’s had a rough run in recent years. She is one of the strongest and most creative pros on that floor, but she has absolutely been handed some tough partners. It has started to feel like she goes in every season already on the back foot.

“I would not call it a fix, but I would say it feels like she rarely gets a level playing field. And ironically, the one time she gets a genuinely strong partner again, he is labelled ‘too experienced’ and punished for it. The optics are not great. It looks like she can’t win either way. Too weak a partner, she’s dismissed. A strong partner, she’s penalised.”

Fans have also argued that Lewis and Katya were assigned the dreaded “death slot” by performing first, in what some regard as a deliberately unfavourable move. This is a position historically proven to result in lower scoring, with judges saving their best for later acts, making elimination more likely. Then, when the pair ended up in the dance-off, the “Judges’ Save” was introduced to keep the best dancers competing. However, critics argue that this move has become a means of overriding the public vote

On this note, Mayah reflected: “At the moment, it feels less about dancing and more about narrative control, and audiences are starting to clock it. There is also a bigger issue here around consistency. If previous dance experience is such a problem, then it should be applied across the board. You cannot ignore theatre and musical training for one contestant and weaponise it against another. Viewers see that, and they do not like it.

“With Lewis, I think he became a victim of perception rather than performance. He was not voted out because he was the weakest. He was voted out because the story around him shifted. And once that happens, it is incredibly hard to fight back. Strictly is still beloved, but moments like this chip away at trust. And once viewers feel that the journey is being manipulated, the magic starts to fade.”

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com. Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

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Shopping Writer Meghan has found the perfect ‘small but super powerful’ dehumidifier that’s ‘done wonders’ at keeping her attic room damp-free this winter

Whether you’re looking for a way to dry the condensation in bathrooms and kitchens more quickly or prevent the spread of damp and mould in older homes, a dehumidifier is a smart choice, as it works to keep moisture levels down. That said, there are plenty of options available that come with steep price tags, which may make them seem like an expensive and bulky addition to your house or flat.

But I’ve found a small and affordable gadget on Amazon that’s doing the job brilliantly, without costing a fortune or taking up too much space. Plus, it’s incredibly quiet while running, so you can leave it on day or night without it interrupting your work or sleep.

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This mini dehumidifier has been a godsend, as I live in an attic room of quite an old building, meaning the risk of damp and mould is quite high, especially during the winter months. But thanks to this little device, I’ve noticed that the damp has cleared substantially, and the air is a lot clearer – which is a major bonus during this time of year when colds are exacerbated by damp.

Coming in a compact size, this little whiz works effectively at reducing the moisture in the air without taking up a large amount of space or costing a fortune, as it retails for the wallet-friendly price of £25.49, down from £29.99, on Amazon.

My NETTA 500ml Dehumidifier is ideal as it extracts up to 300ml of excess moisture from the air per day. Touted as perfect for small bedrooms, kitchens, and even cupboards, this compact dehumidifier is ideal for removing excess moisture and preventing rooms from suffering from damp. Due to its compact size, you can place this dehumidifier almost anywhere you need it, as long as it’s near an available power outlet.

The detachable water tank makes emptying the appliance quick and easy, as it slides in and out of the device’s main body. The simple-to-follow lights on the machine indicate when it’s switched on and when its container reaches full capacity.

Powered by just 22 watts, this machine costs less than 1p per hour to run, so it doesn’t add extra expense to potentially steep energy bills. It is described as being no louder than 35 decibels when running, and I can attest that it doesn’t run any louder than your average silent fan, with a minimal whirring noise that doesn’t cause a distraction.

For those concerned about electricity costs, this gadget features an automatic shut-off function, which shuts down the machine once the water tank is full. This means you can leave it running continuously without worrying about it overflowing.

This small but mighty dehumidifier is currently on sale on Amazon for £25.49, as of the time of writing, and comes in a range of colours, including blue, black, and grey. Similar models in the same price range include this Dunelm 1L Dehumidifier, which is selling for £25.

In her first interview about Ozzy Osbourne’s death, Sharon has opened up about their final night together, and the last words the Black Sabbath rockstar said to her before he sadly passed away

Heartbroken Sharon Osbourne has opened up about the last words her husband Ozzy Osbourne ever said to her before he died, and the painful regret that haunts her.

The Black Sabbath frontman passed away on July 22 at the age of 76, having struggled with a range of long-standing health concerns, including Parkinson’s disease. Tributes rolled in as the Osbourne family laid Ozzy to rest beneath an apple tree on the grounds of the family home this summer, with many holding great affection for the ‘Prince of Darkness’.

This was especially true in the rockstar’s home city of Birmingham, where just weeks earlier music fans had lined the streets ahead of his final homecoming. Such displays of support have been greatly appreciated by the Osbournes, who have now opened up in a touching interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored. This includes Ozzy’s devastated widow, Sharon, who has shed light on their poignant last conversation.

READ MORE: Ozzy Osbourne ‘knew he was ready’ to die after having strange dreams

Speaking with Piers, whom she worked alongside on America’s Got Talent, Sharon, 73, remembered their final evening together. Explaining Ozzy had been up and down out of bed all night, Sharon recalled: “He said, ‘Kiss me’. And then he said, ‘Hug me tight’. I can’t help wondering if I should have, could I have? If only I’d have told him I loved him more. If only I’d have held him tighter. And he went downstairs, worked out for 20 minutes and passed away.”

The mother-of-three recalled how she’d screamed uncontrollably after finding her husband of 43 years dead, knowing nothing could be done to revive him, despite desperate efforts by medics. According to Sharon, “He had a heart attack. I ran downstairs, and there he was, and they were trying to resuscitate him, and I’m like, ‘Don’t — just leave him. Leave him. You can’t. He’s gone’. I knew instantly he’d gone. And they tried and tried, and then they took him by helicopter to the hospital, and they tried, and it’s like, ‘He’s gone. Just leave him.'”

Sadly, Sharon’s mental health plummeted as she grappled with her bereavement, and she says it was only the thought of her kids that pulled her through that dark time. She explained: “I would have just gone with Ozzy, definitely. I’ve done everything I wanted to do.” Having previously met women who’d lost their mothers to suicide, she’d vowed never to do the same to her children.

In the same interview, daughter Kelly, 41, emphasised just how much her father would have appreciated the “outpouring of love” following his passing. She said, “The outpouring of love has been so helpful to us. I never could have even imagined it to be as helpful as it has been to know that we’re not alone in our grief, in our sadness and that the rest of the world loved him as much as we did… I haven’t seen an outpouring like that since Princess Diana died. I didn’t expect it.”

If you are struggling with mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com. Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

READ MORE: Ozzy Osbourne defied chilling warning from doctors to perform his final Black Sabbath gig

Author Sophie Kinsella has sadly died, aged 55, after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer, her family has said. The mum-of-five, famed for her books Confessions of a Shopaholic, whose real name was Madeleine Sophie Wickham, received a diagnosis of glioblastoma in 2022.

A statement posted to her Instagram account read: “We are heartbroken to announce the passing this morning of our beloved Sophie (aka Maddy, aka Mummy). She died peacefully, with her final days filled with her true loves: family and music and warmth and Christmas and joy. We can’t imagine what life will be like without her radiance and love of life.

“Despite her illness, which she bore with unimaginable courage, Sophie counted herself truly blessed – to have such wonderful family and friends, and to have had the extraordinary success of her writing career.

“She took nothing for granted and was forever grateful for the love she received. She will be missed so much our hearts are breaking.”

Last year, Sophie, who amassed millions of fans around the world with her Shopaholic series, which follow protagonist, Rebecca Bloomwood, wrote a semi-autobiographical book, exploring her battle with cancer.

The author, whose books were made into a film starring Isla Fisher, announced in April 2024 she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Sophie wrote on Instagram at the time: “At the end of 2022 I was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of aggressive brain cancer.

“I did not share this before because I wanted to make sure that my children were able to hear and process the news in privacy and adapt to our ‘new normal”.’

She also shared that she had been receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Paying tribute to Sophie following the news of her death, fans praised the “literary genius” as one said: “I am so sad to read this. Her books have given me so much joy over the years – real laugh out loud moments. Rest peacefully you literary genius.”

Another wrote: “So sad to hear this news. Adore her books. Sending condolences to Sophie’s family and friends.”

Meanwhile, a third penned: “She was an incredible lady. I can’t believe there won’t be another new world for us to get lost into, but her work and the worlds she created will continue forever. Thank you Sophie Kinsella, for providing an escape.”