The Premier League has agreed to move games involving Arsenal and Crystal Palace in December to ease fixture congestion.
Arsenal’s trip to Everton and Crystal Palace’s game at Leeds, both originally scheduled for 14:00 GMT on Sunday, 21 December, will now be played at 20:00 the day before, Saturday, 20 December.
The move means the two sides will have an extra day to prepare for their EFL Cup quarter-final on 23 December.
The cup game was moved by the EFL from the original date of 16 December because that scenario would have seen Palace, who are also competing in the Conference League in Europe, play three times in five days.
Palace will still have to play two games in the space of three days, with their Conference League tie against Finnish side KuPS scheduled for Thursday, 18 December.
Arsenal say the possibility of playing the EFL Cup tie on Christmas Eve was rejected because of the impact it would have on fans and club staff.
Joel Dommett candidly opens up about his two-year-old son Wilde and his relationship with wife Hannah Cooper as the family head to Australia for new jungle spin-off show
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The presenter has taken to fatherhood like a duck to water(Image: LORNA ROACH PHOTOGRAPHY)
He faced his own gruesome Bushtucker Trials back in 2016 and hosted I’mA Celebrity spin-off show Extra Camp for three years from 2017 to 2019. Now comedian and presenter Joel Dommett is heading back down under to present new jungle spin-off I’m A Celebrity… Unpacked and he tells us it’s a relief not to have to eat any weird bugs this time round.
Joel, 40, is bringing his wife, model Hannah Cooper, 36, and their two-year-old son Wilde along for the adventure. But despite the name, Joel admits their little man is as laid-back as they come. “He’s very chill, and I do realise we’re very lucky with that,” he says. “I suspect if we were to have another, they would be an absolute nightmare.”
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The presenter has taken to fatherhood like a duck to water. “Wilde is so fun. I just love hanging out with him,” he says. “It’s such a mad thing where I just feel like my wife’s given birth to a little best friend. It’s just the dream.”
While Joel, who also hosts The Masked Singer , admits he’s a tad “bored of singing the Postman Pat theme tune”, his son makes up for it by constantly making him laugh. “He’s obsessed with trucks but can’t say the word truck and instead says the word c**k, so that’s funny,” he reveals. “He just points at big trucks and says ‘big c**k’ really loud in the high street. It’s hilarious, while also being embarrassing for me and his mother.”
Joel and Hannah’s love story began back in 2016, when Hannah cheekily slid into his DMs after he finished as runner-up on I’m A Celebrity . They instantly hit it off and Joel popped the question a year later. They tied the knot in 2019 at a stunning beachfront ceremony in Mykonos. Welcoming baby Wilde a few years later was the perfect next chapter, Joel says.
Although he doesn’t have any big secrets when it comes to a happy marriage, he does believe that “honesty is key”. “I also think it’s taking time to speak to each other and properly communicating at the end of the day, which is difficult when you’re a parent,” he says.
Asked if the challenges of parenthood ever cause friction between them, he confesses, “Luckily, Hannah and I are pretty much on the same wavelength, but parenting is so all-consuming. The whole thing is hard, it’s just exhausting to be honest. We haven’t got the energy to fight, even if we wanted to!”
Almost a decade after his own jungle stint, when he shared the campsite with the likes of Larry Lamb, Carol Vorderman and eventual winner Scarlett Moffatt, Joel is feeling the full-circle moment as he returns to host the sister show.
“I’m really excited to be back. I can’t quite believe it’s coming up to 10 years since I did the jungle myself,” he says. “It’s really, really nice to round off those 10 years and to still be going back there after so long, it’s amazing. And seeing fresh people going in and seeing their enjoyment (and non-enjoyment as well)… it’s just so lovely to see it through their eyes.”
He sweetly describes his Unpacked co-host Kemi Rodgers as “so easy to work with”, and admits their show is much harder to create than it might appear on the telly.
“In reality, you’re travelling there in the mad weather, for a start. Last year we had crazy floods and you’re writing the show about a show that’s not finished yet. Also, there’s the time zone difference. I’m getting up at midnight and then working through the night until 10 o’clock in the morning.”
But he adds, “It’s genuinely an incredible team and it’s like a proper army operation to get that TV show into your living room. It’s really, really amazing.”
Joel believes I’m A Celeb is one of the absolute highlights of TV viewing throughout the year as it’s unlike any other show.
“What is amazing about it are the different people’s reactions to the trials and the hunger. They’re what make the show so special. You have certain people who take it in their stride and others who immediately say, ‘I’m a celebrity… get me out of here!’
“You have people who scream and others who just close their eyes and zone out. It just brings these celebrities out of their comfort zones and you see a side of them that you would never see on any other show. It’s so captivating and ridiculous and fun.”
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Joking that his favourite contestant during his own stint was himself, he then admits with a giggle that his favourite campmate was one of his best friends, actor Adam Thomas. “He was the perfect campmate. He was so joyful and his laugh was so infectious, and he sort of kept the camp really buoyant and fun, but also had that side of vulnerability about him. That’s what I think is a perfect campmate, someone who shows that vulnerable side, but brings true joy at the same time.”
Would Joel be willing to step back in as a contestant in an All Stars series, if he were asked? “Never say never,” he says with a smile. “It would get me off my mobile phone for a while.”
Countdown legend Carol Vorderman said the pain became so severe, she was left crying on the floor before finding the right medication
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Carol Vorderman said the chronic pain left her in tears(Image: ITV)
Carol Vorderman has shared an update on her health after a period of being “very poorly.” Earlier this year, the 64-year-old was unable to work due to suffering from “chronic pain”.
After discovering that she was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, she has since found the right medication and is now in a better place.
“I’ll be 65 at Christmas time and I was very poorly earlier this year, so I couldn’t go to work,” she shared.
“I had chronic pains and tried all sorts of medications but now I’m finally on the right ones. So, I have changed my life, I see all my friends. I have got a social life from heaven now, and I am having a great time. It really is amazing,” she added to Woman Magazine.
While she is now feeling better, Carol said there were times when she was left crying on the floor from the pain.
Detailing her symptoms on Heart Radio, she said: “I had burnout and then, it’s a really weird thing.
“I had sudden and chronic rheumatoid arthritis and I literally would lie on the floor crying for a day and I couldn’t move my shoulder. I had to keep my elbow in at my waist,” she added.
“I’ve been on steroids on and off, months and months and months because they have to try certain drugs for you and that takes months for them to take effect.
“But now I’m on the right ones and now I’ve been off steroids for three months and it’s like ‘Yeah, I like this’.”
Despite her health woes, Carol said this year has been her “happiest” yet.
The former Countdown star credits part of that down to being single, though she has openly spoken about having “special friends”.
“I’ve had what I call ‘medium-term boyfriends’ for a year or so, but I’ve basically been single for about 15 years,” she told Heat Magazine. “I have a very close-knit family, great friends and my two children.”
Carol added that she doesn’t “need love” from anyone else, as she already has enough from her loved ones. The presenter has been married twice – first to Christopher Mather from 1985 to 1986, and then to Patrick King from 1990 to 2000.
With the latter, she shares two children, 33-year-old daughter Katie and 28-year-old son Cameron.
Should Carol fall in love again, the presenter previously said she wouldn’t want to marry for a third time.
“I don’t really want to marry again. I don’t really want to live with a man again and have to look after him all the time,” she said on This Morning.
The Skechers On The Go Joy Bundle Up Boots are ideal for cold weather thanks to their chunky sole and insulated lining, and they’re now available for £22
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The On The Go Joy Bundle Up Boots are available for less than £23 through TopCashback(Image: Skechers)
Fashion enthusiasts on the lookout for a new pair of boots to sport this autumn and winter will want to check out MandM Direct. The online retailer has reduced the price of a pair of boots that are ‘so comfortable’ and feel ‘like wearing slippers’, according to those who have already snapped them up.
The On The Go Joy Bundle Up Boots usually sell for £63.99 but shoppers can grab them for just £39.99. But, customers can get them for less than £23 through TopCashback’s latest offer.
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By buying through the money-saving site, you’ll bag a £15 sign-up bonus as well as cashback to your account. For new members of TopCashback and new customers of MandM Direct, the boots can be bought for only £22.37, all you need to do is make your purchase through this unique link.
Shoppers can snag the boots in sizes three to eight, all of which are still available online. They also come in chestnut and grey, both priced at £39.99, meaning there’s a pair to match virtually anyone’s style.
The On The Go Joy Bundle Up Boots blend innovation and style in a modern, casual boot. They feature the brand’s innovative 5GEN midsole design with a Perform-Tex upper and Skechers ‘ Air Cooled Goga Mat insole for an enhanced walking experience.
If you’re after an ankle boot with a bit more length, Next’s Black Forever Comfort Chunky Sock Ankle Boots could be just the ticket. Priced at £45, these vintage-style sock ankle boots feature a sleek PU upper with overlay panelling and a zip fastening, all atop a chunky cleated block heel sole with a Forever Comfort cushioned footbed.
Over at Marks and Spencer, the Chelsea Flatform Ankle Boots are a touch cheaper at £35. These boots offer an easy pull-on design with elastic gussets for convenience, while the modern low flatform heel provides a contemporary and stylish edge.
Meanwhile, at MandM Direct, the On The Go Joy Bundle Up Boots have received an impressive overall star-rating of 4.8 out of five based on over 30 reviews. One chuffed shopper said: “Brilliant boots comfortable like wearing slippers. Very pleased, a good price.”
Another customer wrote: “Found these Skechers on here at very good price. So comfortable and great price. Going to look for same in a different colour.”
“The most comfortable ankle boots I’ve ever bought and worn,” a third penned. “True to size. Thinking of buying one more in a different colour.”
However, one shopper gave the On The Go Joy Bundle Up Boots a one-star review, simply writing: “They didn’t fit me properly.”
Two other reviews mention that the boots were slightly big, so it might be worth considering a smaller pair if you’re typically between sizes, reports the Manchester Evening News.
However, another customer was thrilled with their recent Skechers purchase, stating: “These boots are wonderful. They are so comfortable, warm, and they fit me perfectly. I have wide feet, but these boots look really neat on my feet. I usually get a size 6 with Skechers and these are absolutely perfect fit.”
How to claim the £22 Skechers boots:
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To claim the new member bonus, new members of TopCashback need to sign up via this link
Search for MandM Direct and click ‘Get Cashback Now’
Shop and checkout as usual
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Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah and Manchester City keeper James Trafford have been called up to the England squad following the withdrawals of Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon and Nick Pope.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said both winger Gordon (hip) and goalkeeper Pope (concussion) would withdraw from the squad and the Football Association confirmed this on Tuesday.
Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, who suffered a foot injury in his side’s Conference League win over AZ Alkmaar last week, has joined up with manager Thomas Tuchel’s squad and “will continue to be assessed in the coming days”.
Chalobah earned his first call-up under Tuchel in May and made his debut against Senegal.
In September, Tuchel said the 26-year-old was unfortunate to be left out of the squad for qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia, and he also did not call him up for the subsequent October international break.
Tuchel has been an important figure in Chalobah’s career, having given him his Chelsea debut in 2021.
England squad
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Alex Scott (Bournemouth), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
The Spanish Football Association expressed “surprise and concern” after releasing Lamine Yamal from the Spain squad following a groin procedure it says it did not know about.
The 18-year-old Barcelona winger was selected for the World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey on 15 and 18 November respectively.
The Spanish FA (RFEF) said it was not told about Lamine Yamal’s procedure on Monday, the day the squad began a training camp.
“I had never experienced a situation like that. I don’t think it’s very normal,” said Spain manager Luis de la Fuente.
Lamine Yamal scored in Barcelona’s 4-2 La Liga win over Celta Vigo on Sunday before being substituted in stoppage time.
A statement from the Spanish FA read: “The medical services of the Royal Spanish Football Federation wish to express their surprise and concern upon learning, at 13:47 on Monday 10 November – the day the national team’s official training camp began – that Lamine Yamal had undergone an invasive radiofrequency procedure earlier that same morning to treat discomfort in his pubic area.
“This procedure was carried out without prior communication to the national team’s medical staff, who only became aware of the details through a report received at 22:40 last night, in which a medical recommendation of 7–10 days of rest was indicated.
“In light of this situation, and with the player’s health, safety, and wellbeing as the top priority, the Royal Spanish Football Federation has decided to release the player from the current squad.”
De la Fuente has called up Rayo Vallecano’s Jorge de Frutos to replace Lamine Yamal.
Tension between Spain and Barcelona
Elizabeth Conway
Spanish football reporter
Relations between Barcelona and the RFEF have been further strained following this latest dispute.
Lamine Yamal became the centre of controversy during September’s international break, when Barcelona manager Hansi Flick publicly criticised Spain for not taking care of their players.
Lamine Yamal, who joined Spain with a minor groin problem, aggravated it on international duty.
He played substantial minutes in both their international matches and subsequently missed four games for Barcelona.
De la Fuente insisted no risks were taken and that if a player is fit for his club, he may be considered.
Tensions resurfaced before the October international break when De la Fuente included Lamine Yamal in his squad.
Hours later, Barcelona released a statement clarifying that the player was injured. The RFEF said Lamine Yamal reported no complaints upon joining the national team.
This latest update for the November international break perhaps comes as no surprise.
De la Fuente told reporters that he accepted procedures take place outside the federation but he had never experienced a situation like this.
