Archive August 14, 2025

Strictly Come Dancing stars spotted at rehearsals as identities finally revealed

This year’s Strictly Come Dancing stars have finally been confirmed, and the celebrities are already hard at work, having been spotted entering a rehearsal studio in London

The cast of Strictly Come Dancing are already getting their rehearsals in. Over the past few days, the famous faces taking part in the BBC One dancing competition have finally been confirmed by the network.

This year, the likes of reality stars Vicky Pattison, Thomas Skinner and Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK star La Voix have all been announced, alongside trailblazing model, Ellie Goldstein. But just days after they were revealed, it seems they’re wasting no time in getting their practice in, ahead of the show launching in just a matter of weeks.

Football star Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, model Ellie and drag star La Voix have all been seen entering a studio in London, getting their moves up to scratch as they wait to find out which professional dancer they will be partnered with. However, this year, it’s been announced that Gorka Marquez won’t be dancing with a celebrity but will still be taking part in group numbers, due to previous commitments on another dancing programme. It comes after Strictly’s Anton Du Beke shared heartbreak over wife’s ‘cruel and inexplicable’ diagnosis.

Kathy Griffin looks completely unrecognisable as she reveals latest facelift

Strictly Come Dancing announces Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis legend as 12th star

The new series is set to air in just a matter of weeks, with the latest batch of famous faces hoping to take home the iconic Glitterball Trophy, which last year was won by Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell.

Weeks before the show is due to start, there has already been much controversy surrounding Strictly – as an ex-employee of the BBC has alleged that he was offered cocaine by a Strictly Come Dancing star. The unnamed man, who worked behind the scenes on the broadcaster’s dancing competition for a decade, has claimed that he saw a number of its celebrity contestants ‘partying’ after filming was over and alleged that he saw stars ‘drinking and taking drugs’ at the time.

Amidst the controversy and the buzz for the next series, this year’s celebrities have been snapped for the first time arriving for rehearsals as fans await the final few names…

Yafai to fight champion Sandoval after WBC U-turn

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The WBC have made Galal Yafai the mandatory challenger to unified flyweight world champion Ricardo Sandoval amid an ongoing anti-doping scandal.

Birmingham’s Yafai was beaten by Francisco Rodriguez Jr in June in Birmingham before the Mexican failed a drug test on fight night.

The WBC initially stated Rodriguez was not guilty of intentionally doping and ordered an immediate rematch with Yafai.

It then emerged Rodriguez had also failed a drug test in December in Texas, testing positive for THC, the primary compound in cannabis.

He was given a 90-day suspension and neither the WBC or Yafai’s team were aware of the incident before the fight in June.

Yafai’s promoter Eddie Hearn publicly lobbied for the WBC to change its ruling as the fight was ruled a no-contest.

WBC president Mauricio Suliaman on Thursday confirmed to the Ring Magazine the sanctioning body had changed its mind and installed Yafai as the mandatory challenger.

The test was conducted on fight night and administered by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada), as part of the WBC’s Clean Boxing Program.

Any fighter in the top 15 of the WBC’s rankings must register for drug testing and Yafai v Rodriguez was for the sanctioning body’s interim flyweight title.

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Celebs Go Dating’s Anna Williamson says people don’t send ‘mixed signals’

The therapist and broadcaster shared her take on what’s going on when you experience a ‘confusing’ relationship

The dating coach answered one of her most-asked questions(Image: Getty)

Celebs Go Dating’s Anna Williamson has shared advice for anyone dealing with a ‘confusing’ situation in their love life. Taking to her Instagram, the TV dating coach said she often gets questions on the topic.

The therapist and broadcaster shared: “Typically I reflect back exactly what they are telling me…that they already know the answer, and they need to trust in their gut instinct to tell them what their next decision and action should be. People often live in hope that I’m going to tell them something different.

“That by me being an ‘expert’ I might see something more hopeful for them… occasionally I do, but I will always reflect and offer my thoughts honestly (but I never judge) and I don’t tell you just tell you want you want to hear, because you deserve better.”

Anna added: “If somebody is giving you mixed messages, they aren’t committing to wanting to see you, they are being inconsistent and they are leaving things feeling vague and noncommittal…. then they are not ready. They are not ready for a relationship and they aren’t ready for you.

“We often want to make things ‘fit’…because we like them, they’re ’mostly nice’, and we ‘can’t be bothered’ to start the dating process again…. We can make excuses for them, give them the benefit of the doubt one too many times… but essentially you can’t lie to yourself.

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“I know it’s hard, I know it stings, but you really are worth more. Don’t settle for breadcrumbs, you want to be going for the whole goddamn club sandwich!!”

Expanding on her advice in her video, Anna added: “If somebody wants to see you, they’ll let you know. If you’re a priority that they wanna make in their life, they’ll show you. If, however, all they do is text you but don’t actually make any plans, they really don’t wanna see you that much. There’s no confusing behaviour here. They’re not giving you mixed signals or leading you on.

“You’re confusing yourself by making assumptions on things that just aren’t there. You’re thinking, oh, well, he said this, so maybe it means this, or perhaps it was this that he means. You’re getting yourself into a complete tizz because you’re guessing instead of actually looking at the hard facts.

Tom Read Wilson & Anna Williamson.
Anna Williamson is a coach on Celebs Go Dating(Image: Getty)

“I get so many people telling me that the person they’re texting is really confusing them, and they just don’t get where they stand in the whole situation. But let me tell you, dating isn’t confusing most of the time.”

She said: “The only thing that’s confusing is how we confuse ourselves because we won’t let people show us that they’re not interested. Just let them show you what they do or don’t want. If they wanna be with you, they will make plans to see you. They won’t just keep texting and never arrange to see you. And the biggest one, if they wanted to commit to you, then they would.

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Information Minister Begins Citizens’ Engagement in South-East Nigeria

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Thursday, arrived at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu State, to commence a two-day sensitisation and tour of ongoing and commissioned Federal Government projects in Enugu and Ebonyi states.

After the tour of projects, the minister is expected to host a ‘Citizens Engagement Forum’ in the Enugu State Government House, to rub minds and get feedback from various stakeholders and the people in Enugu State.

The minister also met with Governor Peter Mbah at the Government House in Enugu, where he said Enugu remained an important state in the South-East geopolitical zone and Nigeria as a whole.

READ ALSO: FEC Approves Seven-Year Freeze On Establishment Of New Federal Institutions

He said President Bola Tinubu is making reforms to make Nigeria work again and has made tremendous progress in the past two years.

He explained that the removal of fuel subsidy was a bold decision taken by the president, and the action has freed up resources for impactful governance for Nigerians.

In his address, the governor explained that the projects embarked upon in the state wouldn’t have been possible without the reforms taken by the president.

Man City embrace Manchester weather with third kit

Manchester City
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Manchester has long been labelled as the rainy city.

Embracing this legacy, Manchester City have now used the wet weather as inspiration for their new third kit for the 2025-26 season.

City’s latest jersey features a raindrop graphic over a grey background, with neon green accents on the neck, shoulders and sides.

“This kit is for the City that plays in the rain,” the club said.

“The shirt is designed for those who carry City in their hearts, rain or shine.”

Manchester gets an average of 86.71cm of rain per year, while there are 152 days per year on average with rain, according to Visit Manchester.

And, despite the city’s reputation, the Manchester Evening News reported in 2017 that it ranked 15th in a table of the wettest towns and cities in the UK.

Manufactured by Puma, the shirt retails online for between £65 – for the kids’ jersey – and £152 for an “authentic jersey” with a name and number printed on the back.

“Grey skies may often be seen overhead in Manchester, but this City brings electrifying football to the pitch whatever the weather,” the club added.

“The kit carries a message from Manchester: even when it rains, we shine.”

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  • Premier League
  • Manchester City
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