Category Entertainment News

Craig Revel Horwood claims he is just misunderstood despite the fact that he is the judge on Strictly Come Dancing.

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Craig Revel Horwood, Strictly’s most evil judge, claims his standing is unfair.

People realized I was Mr. Naaaarsty because I told the truth that some of the celebrities were terrible, he claims. “I still find that to be quite funny,” I thought.

On Saturday night, Craig will be in his element thanks to the live broadcast of the Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

A special performance by Steps and a group dance from four returning finalists will be performed alongside dances from the remaining couples.

READ MORE: Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood reveals wicked new role and admits he ‘loves villains’

Although Dame Shirley Bassey will never surpass any other actress, according to Horwood.

“Oh I love her,” he says. “One night she came on to Strictly Come Dancing. I’ll never forget her, it was brilliant, she literally waltzed on, came up the stairs, belted out the tune, walked down the stairs, got in the taxi and went home.

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I mean, Bette Midler required us to perform a sound check five times in four hours. My diva is Dame Shirley.

In his new book Revelations: Songs Boys Don’t Sing, which was released this month in honor of Horwood’s one-man tour earlier this year, Horwood frequently makes harsh disclosures.

He states, “If you’re holding this book, you’ve either seen the show, or you’ve discovered it while looking for a Mary Berry cookbook, or you’ve checked if you’ve been mentioned.”

Cheekily talking of intimacy with his fiance Jonathan Myring, he continues: I suppose I’m what you call, “verse? In the gay world, that means versatile.”

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Also opening up in about his childhood with an alcoholic dad in Australia, Horwood, now 60, says: “Somehow – in a household filled with dirty bikes, goats, and didgeridoos – I found my way to a ballet.

“My little body was porky.” Darling, I was quite obedient. I was so enthusiastic that my PE teacher said, “Craig, you need to take your top off and run round the oval.”

He says, “I absolutely fell in love with jazz ballet,” taking the trumpet, then taking dance lessons on the advice of a friend, Amanda.

I began studying classical ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and all of that stuff.

The 17-year-old dancer’s first job, at the age of 17, in an Australian West Side Story production, opened up a world of opportunities for him, which included trips to Paris and the 1980s, only to be fired on his first night at the famed Moulin Rouge due to a duet row.

He attributes his demise to “this cow, Debbie,” a woman.

He continued to work on Cats and Miss Saigon in the UK, but it didn’t stop him.

He claims that I was watching Cats the matinee and then either going to Saigon the evening or the other way around. I had a lot of confusion. I had no idea whether | was a pussy or a Gl.

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The phenomenal success of Strictly may have been his biggest career surprise.

He recalls how he first joined in 2004 and says, “I received the call and was informed that Strictly Come Dancing is what it is.” In three weeks, celebrities and professional dancers take part. No, that won’t work, I said.

It sounds terrible, I said. It resembles a car crash television. I’m not interested in it.

I had a show I was working on, so I was stressed out. It was my first experience working in the West End as a director/choreographer. I simply didn’t have the time, really.

“I went outside and took the call from the BBC. I slagged a few things off and I said, ‘the show will never work, you know.”

They “oh, fantastic,” they utterly bizarre. Do you mind coming up? A screen test is what we want to do. What have I done, I thought?

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Although I didn’t think anyone would watch it, it has been broadcast in 63 countries around the world and is still a major success. It’s a little crazy, to be honest.

Craig will soon be performing the Cinderella Wicked Stepmother.

He claims, “I think the villains are so much fun, that I absolutely love playing them.” I’ve played numerous wicked queens.

A Way With Media has a new book Revelations: Songs Boys Don’t Sing that is currently available for purchase for £39.95.

READ MORE: BBC boss gives update on new Strictly hosts as finding replacements ‘on hold’

He’s the judge we love to hate on Strictly Come Dancing, but Craig Revel Horwood says he’s simply misunderstood

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Strictly’s most villainous judge, Craig Revel Horwood, says his reputation is unjust.

“By telling the truth that some of the celebrities were awful, people decided I was Mr Naaaarsty,” he says. “I found that – and still find it – quite funny.”

Craig will be in his element on Saturday night, when the show is broadcast live from the splendour of the Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

Alongside dances from the remaining couples, viewers will be treated to a special performance by Steps and a group dance from four returning finalists.

READ MORE: Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood reveals wicked new role and admits he ‘loves villains’

Although for Horwood no star will ever eclipse Dame Shirley Bassey.

“Oh I love her,” he says. “One night she came on to Strictly Come Dancing. I’ll never forget her, it was brilliant, she literally waltzed on, came up the stairs, belted out the tune, walked down the stairs, got in the taxi and went home.

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“I mean Bette Midler took four hours over a sound check and we had to do it five times. Dame Shirley is my diva.”

Horwood’s often acerbic disclosures come in his new book Revelations: Songs Boys Don’t Sing, released this month as a celebration of his one man tour earlier this year.

“If you’re holding this book, you’ve either seen the show, stumbled upon it while searching for a Mary Berry cookbook, or you’re one of my exes checking to see if you’ve been mentioned,” he says.

Cheekily talking of intimacy with his fiance Jonathan Myring, he continues: I suppose I’m what you call, “verse? In the gay world, that means versatile.”

View 5 Images

Also opening up in about his childhood with an alcoholic dad in Australia, Horwood, now 60, says: “Somehow – in a household filled with dirty bikes, goats, and didgeridoos – I found my way to a ballet.

“I was a porky little kid. I was quite voluptuous, darling. In fact, I was so much so that my PE teacher said ‘Craig, you need to take your top off and run round the oval.’”

Taking up the trumpet, then going to dance classes on the advice of a pal, Amanda, he says: “I absolutely fell in love with jazz ballet.

“So much so that I started training in classical ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and all of that stuff.”

His first job, aged 17, in an Australian production of West Side Story, opened up a world of possibilities for the young dancer – taking him to Paris in the 1980s – only for him to be sacked on his first night at the world famous Moulin Rouge, over a row about duets.

He blames his demise on “this woman, a cow, called Debbie.”

But it didn’t hold him back and, in the UK, he found himself starring in Cats and Miss Saigon at the same time.

He says: “I was doing a matinee of Cats and then going over to Saigon, in the evening, or vice versa. I was very confused. I didn’t know if | was a Gl or a pussy.”

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Perhaps his biggest career surprise has been the phenomenal success of Strictly.

Recalling how he joined in 2004, he says: “I got the call and was told ‘they are calling it Strictly Come Dancing. It’s where celebrities learn to dance with professional dancers in three weeks.’ I said ‘No, that will never work.’

“I said ‘it sounds terrible. It sounds like car crash television. I’m not interested in it.’

“I was stressed out because I had a show that I was working on. I had a timeline and it was my debut as a director/choreographer in the West End. I just really didn’t have the time.

“I went outside and took the call from the BBC. I slagged a few things off and I said, ‘the show will never work, you know.”

“Bizarrely, they said ‘Oh, fantastic. Can you come up? We want to do a screen test.’ I went ‘Oh, what have I done?’

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“I didn’t think anyone would watch it, but I mean, it’s gone to 63 countries worldwide and is still huge. I mean, it’s a little bit insane.”

Craig will soon be waltzing into a festive role as the Wicked Stepmother in Cinderella.

“I absolutely love playing the villains because I think they’re so much fun,” he says. “I’ve played loads of wicked queens.”

Craig Revel Horwood’s new book Revelations: Songs Boys Don’t Sing is available to order now priced £39.95 from A Way With Media

READ MORE: BBC boss gives update on new Strictly hosts as finding replacements ‘on hold’

Mia Paris, who is happily single after nine years of dating, says she’s “come back home to herself” because she admits she’s found peace in her fifties and is happy to be single.

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Mica Paris has no plans to fade into the background — even if her last role in EastEnders technically left her behind bars. “ EastEnders was a while ago now,” she laughs as she opens up exclusively to OK!. “Would I ever go back? Well, I’d need to be freed from prison first. I’m not even getting good behaviour!”

The singer and actress appeared in EastEnders in 2020, joining the soap as Ellie Nixon, the manipulative grandmother of Raymond Dawson — the son of Denise Fox and Phil Mitchell. Her character only appeared from September to November 2020, before being written out when Ellie was arrested.

“I didn’t plan any of this acting stuff,” Mica says. “I was nervous at first, but everyone rallied around me. I had such a laugh with Steve McFadden and Diane Parish. They were all fans of my music, which helped, and made me feel right at home.”

READ MORE: M&S launch Christmas breakfast food and shoppers ‘stocking freezers’ with 1 item

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Now, Mica is busier than ever. She’s celebrating 40 years in the industry, 37 years since her debut album So Good , and marking it all with a new album, a duet with Chaka Khan called Stand, and a string of live gigs.

The singer, who was born Michelle Antoinette Wallen in Islington, north London, was born in 1969 and spent the next 20 years on the gospel scene there. When she made her debut album, So Good, she became one of Britain’s brightest Black female stars.

Since then, Mica has sung for King Charles, received an MBE for services to music, entertainment and charity, presented her own BBC Radio 2 show, mentored the late Amy Winehouse, and performed everywhere from Wembley to Dubai.

However, Mica has strong opinions about the state of British music right now, and her vocals are just as powerful as her message. There is too much grime, they say. She asserts that we require the return of love music.

“British culture isn’t niche — it’s mainstream. Caribbean, Irish, Pakistani, working class — that’s the sound of Britain. But where’s the next Mica Paris? We don’t have artist development any more. We need to show the world who we really are.”

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She’s rather proud of it because she has never minced words. We were raised in the 1980s, when it was difficult for women to discuss their creative endeavors, Mica says. However, I never give up; instead, I go to another record label if one company declines. The universe is the only record store you need.

Mica has lived the highs and the heartbreaks of fame — from singing for Nelson Mandela to losing her younger brother to gun crime in 2001. Jason Phillips was just 22 when he was shot and killed in south London, a tragedy that deeply affected Mica. It inspired her to work with Operation Trident — the Metropolitan Police initiative aimed at tackling gun violence in Black communities.

Mica also recalls helping a young Amy Winehouse, who was frustrated with her record label at the time. Before her debut album, Amy [Frank] came out, Mica recalls.

She said, “They’re trying to take my f**king songs!” I told her, “Girl, I wrote 20 songs on my debut album; they let me keep one.” She was terrified and the only white person on my Jazz Café bill, but I thanked her for being amazing.

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Mica has discovered peace in her fifties off-stage. She claims she has never felt happier after being single for eight years. She grins, “I’m in love with myself right now.” You must return home to yourself occasionally. Never have I needed a man to complete me.

Her glow transcends all metaphors. Fans constantly claim that she has a formula and that she looks incredible. She explains that “eating] is mostly protein because of the steam, the green juice, and the steps.” German bread called “Do rye]bread.” I’ve been taking spirulina for 27 years, walk my dog, and do five steam sessions a week. Everyone is always surprised by my age.

and alcohol Off the menu strictly. She laughs, “I used to drink Whispering Angel like it was coming out of the tap.” My youngest daughter responded, “Mum, you’re drinking a little more than usual.” I paused the second she said that. Since then, I haven’t had a drink.

Mica’s father, who once prescribed every drug to her when she was 13 years old, ensured that she soon became aware of the importance of self-control. He said, “All of these things are okay for a minute, but once they’ve seized your control, it’s over.” That was the thing that persisted. Never let anything stop you.

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It’s all about self-care for Mica these days, especially as she enters menopause. You must work out, consume spirulina, and consume ginger, she says. “It’s a sweaty journey.” You’ve had three bottles of wine, friends, and you’re sweating and panicking, I tell you. Don’t drink”!

Mica has maintained her career success alongside being a mum to daughters Monet, 33, and Russia Mae, 18, and she’s now a proud grandmother too. These days, when she’s not touring or recording, she’s travelling to see her grandchildren in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — calling herself a “globe-trotting grandma”.

Mica’s resilience is as unmistakable as her incredible voice. Even during her seven-year run presenting on BBC Radio 2 — which began when she stepped in for Dionne Warwick — she turned rejection into power. “All the record companies that rejected me wanted me to play their artists,” she laughs. “Fabulous, right?”

With her ferocious duet with her long-time friend Chaka Khan on her new single Stand, Mica is ready to make a comeback. She fondly exclaims, “She’s my godmother. We cooked curry, laughed, and recorded this protest record at her Atlanta home. It’s time”.

Mica has accomplished everything, from EastEnders to MBE honors, heartbreak to self-love, but she’s not done yet. She grinnes, “When I believe in something, I put all of my ovaries, intestines, and all of it inside.” “At 56, I’m not invisible. I’m just beginning.”

Mica Paris has no plans to slow things down as she admits she’s found peace in her 50s and is happily single after a nine-year relationship, saying she’s ‘come back home to herself’

View 5 Images

Mica Paris has no plans to fade into the background — even if her last role in EastEnders technically left her behind bars. “ EastEnders was a while ago now,” she laughs as she opens up exclusively to OK!. “Would I ever go back? Well, I’d need to be freed from prison first. I’m not even getting good behaviour!”

The singer and actress appeared in EastEnders in 2020, joining the soap as Ellie Nixon, the manipulative grandmother of Raymond Dawson — the son of Denise Fox and Phil Mitchell. Her character only appeared from September to November 2020, before being written out when Ellie was arrested.

“I didn’t plan any of this acting stuff,” Mica says. “I was nervous at first, but everyone rallied around me. I had such a laugh with Steve McFadden and Diane Parish. They were all fans of my music, which helped, and made me feel right at home.”

READ MORE: M&S launch Christmas breakfast food and shoppers ‘stocking freezers’ with 1 item

View 5 Images

Now, Mica is busier than ever. She’s celebrating 40 years in the industry, 37 years since her debut album So Good , and marking it all with a new album, a duet with Chaka Khan called Stand, and a string of live gigs.

Born Michelle Antoinette Wallen in Islington, north London, in 1969, the singer grew up in south London’s gospel scene before breaking through at just 18 with her first album So Good — a debut that made her one of Britain’s brightest Black female stars.

Since then, Mica has sung for King Charles, received an MBE for services to music, entertainment and charity, presented her own BBC Radio 2 show, mentored the late Amy Winehouse, and performed everywhere from Wembley to Dubai.

But these days Mica’s message is just as fierce as her vocals — and she’s got strong opinions about the current state of British music. “There’s too much grime. We need the music of love again,” she says.

“British culture isn’t niche — it’s mainstream. Caribbean, Irish, Pakistani, working class — that’s the sound of Britain. But where’s the next Mica Paris? We don’t have artist development any more. We need to show the world who we really are.”

View 5 Images

She has never been one to mince her words, and she’s rather proud of it. “We came from the 80s, when women weren’t really allowed to talk about their creative projects,” says Mica. “But I don’t give up — if one record company says no, I go to another. The only record company you need is the universe.”

Mica has lived the highs and the heartbreaks of fame — from singing for Nelson Mandela to losing her younger brother to gun crime in 2001. Jason Phillips was just 22 when he was shot and killed in south London, a tragedy that deeply affected Mica. It inspired her to work with Operation Trident — the Metropolitan Police initiative aimed at tackling gun violence in Black communities.

Mica also recalls helping out a young Amy Winehouse, who was getting frustrated with her record company at the time. “Amy came to see me before [her debut album] Frank came out,” Mica remembers.

“She said, ‘They’re trying to take my f**ing songs!’ I told her, ‘Girl, I wrote 20 on my first album — they let me keep one.’ She was terrified, the only white girl on my Jazz Café bill, but I told everyone she’s amazing.”

View 5 Images

Off stage, Mica has learnt to find peace in her fifties. After a nine-year relationship, she’s been single for eight — and says she’s never been happier. “I’m in love with myself at the moment,” she grins. “Sometimes you have to come home to yourself. I’ve never needed a man to make me complete.”

Her glow isn’t just metaphorical. Fans constantly tell her she looks incredible — and she’s got a formula. “It’s the steam, the green juice, the steps, [eating] mostly protein,” she reveals. “Do rye [bread], the German kind. I do 8,000 steps a day with my dog, five steam sessions a week, and I’ve been on spirulina for 27 years. Everyone’s always shocked by my age.”

And alcohol? Strictly off the menu. “I used to drink Whispering Angel like it was coming out of the tap,” she laughs. “Then my youngest daughter said, ‘Mum, you’re drinking a bit more than normal.’ The minute she said that, I stopped. I haven’t had a drink since.”

Mica’s father — who once laid out every drug on the table when she was 13 — made sure she understood the concept of self-control at an early age. “He said, ‘All of these things are OK for a minute — but the second they control you, it’s over.’ That stuck with me. Don’t let anything control you.”

View 5 Images

These days, it’s all about self-care for Mica, particularly as she goes through the menopause. “It’s a sweaty journey, but you’ve got to work out, eat spirulina, drink ginger,” she says. “I tell my friends, you’re sweating and panicking, and you’ve had three bottles of wine. Don’t drink!”

Mica has maintained her career success alongside being a mum to daughters Monet, 33, and Russia Mae, 18, and she’s now a proud grandmother too. These days, when she’s not touring or recording, she’s travelling to see her grandchildren in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — calling herself a “globe-trotting grandma”.

Mica’s resilience is as unmistakable as her incredible voice. Even during her seven-year run presenting on BBC Radio 2 — which began when she stepped in for Dionne Warwick — she turned rejection into power. “All the record companies that rejected me wanted me to play their artists,” she laughs. “Fabulous, right?”

Now, with her new single Stand — a fiery duet with her long-time friend Chaka Khan — Mica is ready to raise her voice once more. “She’s godmother to my kids,” she says fondly. “We stayed at her house in Atlanta, cooked curry, laughed, and recorded this protest record. It’s time.”

From EastEnders to MBE honours, heartbreak to self-love, Mica has done it all — and she’s still not done. “When I believe in something, I throw my whole intestines, ovaries, all of it into it,” she grins. “At 56, I’m not invisible. I’m just getting started.”

After the future Queen visited the I’m A Celebrity star’s home, Martin Kemp’s son, Roman, revealed their surprising friendship with the Princess of Wales with their famous family.

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I’m A Celebrity star Martin Kemp’s son, Roman, has revealed the surprising gift Kate Middleton was given after visiting his famous family. The future Queen of England met the Spandau Ballet star, 64, and his wife, Shirlie, after getting in touch with Roman to talk about a mental health project he’d been fronting.

After a Zoom call with The One Show host, 32, who finished third on I’m A Celebrity in 2019, it was decided that Kate would go to Martin and Shirlie’s house to film with Roman – much to the delight of his parents.

Upon arrival, the former Capital FM host revealed the Princess of Wales was quick to offer to take off her shoes and was later gifted some of the Kemp family’s scrumptious homemade apple juice, which apparently went down a storm with Prince George.

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READ MORE: I’m A Celebrity LIVE updates: Ant McPartlin suffers extremely awkward slip blunderREAD MORE: I’m A Celeb’s Alex Scott left fuming with co-stars as tension brews in camp

Roman said in a discussion of the day with The Sun on Saturday: “My mum ran out and got a lot of nice things in, and suddenly the future queen is having tea and biscuits with her and my dad!”

“I remember when she arrived she could see everyone else had taken their shoes off so she offered to take hers off. It was surreal, somehow you never expect to see a member of the Royal Family in their socks!’

The Princess wrote them a thank-you letter a few weeks later, adding that Prince George, the heir to the throne, was requesting more than just a bottle of the apple juice they make in their backyard, according to Roman.

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Martin became a household name in the 1980s with Spandau Ballet before going on to star in The Krays and EastEnders. The musician and actor now appears to be enjoying life Down Under surprised his campmates on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! earlier this week when he revealed he had been in the running to be 007.

“I was up for James Bond, I met Barbara Broccoli,” he told his co-stars around the campfire.

Everyone was left speechless after reliving his encounter with the well-known 007 film producer. “Did that in my youth,” Martin continued.

The father-of-two has been married to his beloved Shirlie since 1988, who also became famous in the 1980s with Pepsi and Shirlie.

Roman and Harley Moon Kemp, the couple’s two children, are growing up together. The two siblings’ current appearances in Celebrity Race Across the World are.

Roman bravely opens up about his mental health in a recent episode to raise awareness for those who are struggling.

In their final weekend of concerts following Gary “Mani” Mountfield’s passing this week, Oasis paid emotional tribute to the Stone Roses bassist.

The band, which will play two dates in Brazil this weekend, will play at the Morumbi Stadium (Estádio do Morumbi) (Estádio do Morumbi), where they will wrap up their world tour. And they paid tribute to their friend and fellow musician Mani during the song Live Forever at the Sao Paulo opening performance. Behind the stage, there was a photo of Mani everywhere. Frontman Liam could be seen rehashing the image as the song came to an end, and the image remained up until the band started Rock ‘N’Roll Star.

Due to how close they were, the band had been tipped to pay Mani tribute. When he and Liam last appeared in public together on October 10 at Ricky Hatton’s funeral in Manchester, they were the only other people to have been together.

Mani, who was 63 years old, passed away in Manchester on Thursday after his body was discovered close to Heaton Park, where Oasis had previously played earlier this summer, at the age of 30. Members of the band had also posted tributes to Mani earlier this week on social media.

On hearing the news about Mani, frontman Liam Gallagher said on X, a former twitter user, “in total shock and devastated. My hero, RKid, RIP. LG”. Noel Gallagher responded, “RIP Brother. I enjoyed interacting with you.

Bonehead also recited his song, “RIP Mani, “followed by a red heart, with guitar players Paul ” Bonehead ” Arthurs and Gem Archer. Not the first Oasis tribute to open the tour. In their first reunion show, they paid emotional tribute to Diogo Jota, a football player from Liverpool.

One day after the 28-year-old Portuguese striker was killed in a car crash with his brother André Silva in the Spanish city of Zamora, Oasis staged a comeback tour at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. An image of Jota wearing his number 20 Liverpool shirt was projected on the screen as the Gallaghers, the 75, 000-strong audience, roared out in applause as they performed the song Live Forever.

Ozzy Osbourne was also featured on the band’s first live performance at Wembley in 16 years. Ozzy passed away in the 76th year of his funeral.

Mani had just announced plans for an extensive speaking tour of the UK starting in September 2026, where he would look back on defining career moments like the Stone Roses’ 1990 Spike Island gig and their 2011 comeback tour.

He stated in an interview last month that “I’m in a great space right now.” I’m eager to return, bro. I’m prepared to return. He continued, “Johnny Marr is always trying to get me to do things.” Before the Oasis thing, Liam (Gallagher) had been trying to get me involved with things.

“I’m feeling like I could pick up again, I suppose.” I’ve been weeding out my collection while I’ve been in the lock up. Unfortunately, he was never able to play live in person again.

The Manchester-born actor was a devoted fan of Manchester United and frequently appeared on television and radio to talk about the team. The “Manchester music icon” and “passionate, lifelong Red” were the club’s official social media accounts.

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