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Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman burst into tears during an emotional Strictly Come Dancing moment.

The judges, including a tearful Shirley Ballas, bid an early farewell to the hosts as they prepare to quit the show. Earlier this year, Strictly fans were blindsided when Tess and Claudia announced the 2025 season would be their last.

And on Sunday night, emotions ran high as the judges realised the hosts were presenting their last results show ever – and it would be the final time they would all sit in the ‘Claudatorium’ together. Tess was left in shock as judge Craig Revel Horwood called her down onto the ballroom floor and then led her up to the greenroom.

The seemingly unrehearsed moment had Claudia and Tess both looking around in surprise as they questioned what was happening. Craig then sat Tess down beside Claudia as they took in the fact that the hosts were presiding over their last ever results show.

The duo wiped away tears as Craig and the other judges thanked them for the work they had done over the past years, with Tess being part of the show since it first began in 2004, while Claudia joined the team in 2014. Craig also joked that he was most grateful to Claudia for all the dresses she had lent him over the year, and that Tess hosted the best pizza parties behind the scenes of the studio set show.

A highlights reel documented the best bits of both Tess and Claudia’s time on Strictly – and featured moving footage of the late Sir Bruce Forsyth, who originally co-hosted Strictly alongside Tess before retiring from the show in 2014. The presenting icon later died in 2017, leaving the Strictly crew devastated.

On Sunday night, viewers watched as Tess and Claudia were awarded Glitterball Trophies of their own as they celebrated their last result show. And fans watching at home took to social media to share their own sadness as Strictly reached a significant milestone.

One fan lamented on X: “In tears at that Tess and Claudia bit #strictly,” adding crying face emojis to their post. While another remarked: “@ClaudiaWinkle & @TessDaly Last results show for them both tonight! I don’t think it will be the same without them, especially Claudia!”

Another commented: “Already in tears at #strictly we’ll all miss Claudia & Tess.” And a further, disbelieving fan, wrote: “The fact this is Tess and Claudia’s last results show genuinely I can’t see anybody coming close to them next year. Even the list I’ve seen, I’m like meh #strictly.”

Other fans commented on the fact that the show would not be the same without Tess and Claudia when the show returns in 2026. One wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “It’s always sad when we get to this endpoint of #Strictly, and it’s the last of everything.” And another typed: “Well, #Strictly has me in tears! End of an era. #Strictly #Strictlycomedancing #scd.”

Claudia and Tess shocked fans in October when they abruptly announced they had decided to quit Strictly. The 2025 season was already underway, and they said in a statement that they felt the time had come for them to walk away from the show.

Appearing back in the ballroom after announcing their plans to exit at the end of the year, the duo addressed their plans to move on with fans. Claudia explained: “We want to thank you for your beautiful messages. We’ve got another eight weeks, but it’s not about us. It’s about this incredible show and a Strictly champion to crown.”

And Tess added at the time: “We cannot wait to spend the rest of the series with you, our incredible couples and these four.” Fans watching the 2025 season now have less than a week to find out who will triumph after EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal and Australian dance partner Julian Caillon were booted off the show after failing a dance-off against Love Island star Amber Davies and dancer Nikita Kuzmin.

Amber and Nikita survived to confront social media star George Clarke, dancer Alexis Warr, footballer Karen Carney, and her dance partner Carlos Gu in the 2025 final. The last episode of the season will air on BBC One and via iPlayer on Saturday 20 December at 7pm.

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Reality star and model Danielle Mason has revealed that former This Morning anchor Eamonn Holmes reached out to her several weeks ago following the death of her father

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Eamonn Holmes reached out to reality star Danielle Mason after the death of her father. Her dad, Ronald, died in October this year after a courageous 12-year-long fight against leukaemia.

At the time of announcing Ronald’s death, Danielle, 42, said she had “never felt pain like this”. Now, Danielle, the sister of EastEnders legend Jessie Wallace, is facing the heartbreak of her first Christmas without her dad, who was married to her mum Annette for over four decades.

But while she’s currently dealing with her grief, Danielle explained that GB News and former This Morning anchor, Eamonn Holmes and Linda Robson, reached out to her on Instagram following Ronald’s death. She hopes speaking openly will help others who feel the same ache. “Christmas is really hard this year,” she admits. “I’ve got two children, so I have to keep things normal for them. My dad wouldn’t want Christmas cancelled. But my mum Annette doesn’t feel like putting a tree up – after 45 years of marriage, she’s suddenly on her own. I get why she can’t face it.”

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But Danielle admits she “needs” to put her tree up for her Children, admitting: “I don’t want them to miss out on their Christmas celebrations just because my dad’s passed away – he wouldn’t want that either.” She added: “My mum has her moments where we sit and talk and laugh, but then we can be crying the next minute. I am finding it very hard, but I’m starting to be able to function despite the grief constantly lingering in my mind. It feels like a wound that can open up at any time.”

Danielle is doing her best to support everyone around her, even while grieving herself. “I feel like I’ve had to be the strong one,” she says. “I don’t want to offload onto my mum because she’s hurting so much. My sisters have been a massive support – they’ve really helped hold things together. We lean on each other a lot.”

Danielle is doing her best to support everyone around her, even while grieving herself.“I feel like I’ve had to be the strong one,” she says. “I don’t want to offload onto my mum because she’s hurting so much. My sisters have been a massive support – they’ve really helped hold things together. We lean on each other a lot.”

The weeks following her father’s death were especially overwhelming. She’s found comfort in unexpected places – including the TV show she appeared on before her dad passed. “Being on The Masked Singer charity fundraiser with Pat Sharpe and other celebrities earlier this year is something my dad was so proud of.”

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Danielle smiles. “People still message me about it, saying how much they enjoyed it. It sounds small, but those messages really lift you when you’re grieving. We had to wait five weeks for the funeral, and I kept going to see him because I needed to know he was at peace,” she explains. “I thought I was coping, but when the funeral finally happened, it hit me harder than I expected. Then when they called to say his ashes were ready, the grief just started again. It comes in waves.

”The strain has affected her physically.“My panic attacks have come back. They just hit out of nowhere,” she says. “Grief brings everything to the surface.”But what has surprised Danielle most is the kindness of others. “The online community has honestly kept me going,” she says. “People I’ve never met have shared their own stories of losing a parent. It makes you realise you’re not the only one dreading Christmas. There’s so much comfort in feeling understood.”

She’s also been touched by support from well-known faces, including her GB News colleague Eamonn Holmes. “Eamonn messaged me, which meant so much,” Danielle shared. “He knows what grief is like, and he took the time to send such kind words. It reminded me how many people go through this.”

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Little keepsakes and spiritual signs bring her moments of peace.“I had some of the funeral flowers set into a resin ornament so I’ll always have them,” she says. “I cut a lock of my dad’s hair, and I’m having a necklace made with some of his ashes. And I’ve started noticing feathers and robins again. It might sound strange, but I take comfort in believing it’s him.”

Despite everything, Danielle is trying to move gently forward.“I’d like to start working again because keeping busy helps, but I’m not rushing it,” she says. “I’m just taking each day as it comes.”

Her hope is that by sharing her experience, others will feel less isolated. “Grief is love that doesn’t know where to go,” Danielle says. “Some days it’s quiet, some days it hits you like a fresh cut. But you learn ways to cope. And when you realise how many people are going through the same thing at Christmas, you don’t feel so alone.”

She added: “The waiting period for my father’s funeral was hard. I needed to see him for closure, but it affected me deeply. When I was informed that his ashes were ready, it struck me hard again: I wouldn’t see his face again. It’s been a cycle of emotions, and while I try to move forward, I often find myself thinking about what-ifs in his care that can lead to panic attacks resurfacing. Grief is love that has nowhere to go. Many out there experience the same pain, and I often wonder if they’re dreading Christmas as well.

“I find comfort in speaking to others who are navigating similar experiences. Many I’ve met online understand and share this journey, offering support. Friends have also been really good to me, and a couple of them have been through it too, which makes it easier. I feel like I can’t go to my mum because I have to support her, and it ends up being quite stressful.

“The whole family has been affected, but we came together for the funeral. I take comfort in my friends; I trust them to understand what I’m going through while I need to be strong for my mum. It’s what my dad would want. I feel lucky to have been there for him at the end, but that doesn’t make it easier. Grief is never easy, but we can help and support one another. As you navigate this season, remember that creating new traditions or sweet memories can honour your loved one beautifully.”

The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, call us on 0808 808 0000.

If you have been affected by this story, Cruse Bereavement Support offers free help to make sense of how you are feeling. Click here for their website or call 0808 808 1677.

Reality star Sam Vanderpump and pregnant fashion model Alice Yaxley are now husband and wife after swapping vows at the Chelsea Registry Office in front of family and friends

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Reality star Sam Vanderpump has married Alice Yaxley amid his ongoing health battle. The Made in Chelsea star – who is the nephew of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump – and fashion model Alice enjoyed an “intimate” celebration as they became husband and wife on Sunday.

The pair, who became engaged in March this year, are also due to become parents, with a baby set to arrive in February. Sam, 28, who was born with rare health conditions which have severely damaged his kidneys, wore a pristine white tuxedo as he swapped vows with Alice, 24, who dazzled in a sleeveless wedding gown.

The young couple said “I do” while joined by close friends and family at the Chelsea Registry Office. The pair beamed as they exited the public government building and as guests showered them with confetti. Their nearest and dearest cheered, applauded and smiled as the new Mr and Mrs Vanderpump made their way down the steps.

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Other guests were well-dressed, wearing striking crimson red suits and sharp black tuxedos among the company. And passersby joined in with the celebrations, cheering for the couple as they made their way to the reception area.

One insider told the Daily Mail – who published photos of the couple exiting their service: “Sam and Alice’s ceremony was very small and intimate, but still gorgeous. They’re calling it ‘the start of our marriage’. Sam told Alice from the moment they met that life would never be boring with him, and so far, he’s delivered on that promise.

“Their baby is due on Valentine’s Day, so they’re set for a very exciting start to the New Year and to married life together.” And the couple also posed for glossy photographs, for Hello! Magazine.

Earlier this year, Sam revealed that he may only have four or five years left to live as health issues he has had since birth developed into an irreversible condition. He explained that he had been told he had developed end-stage liver disease and would need a transplant in order to prolong his life.

He was born with the conditions congenital hepatic fibrosis of the liver and polycystic kidney disease; however, they had been dormant. He was hospitalised with sepsis at the end of last year, and his body began shutting down.

Expressing his hope that a transplant will help him overcome his health issues, he said earlier this year: “In all truth, a liver transplant is extremely successful. So I’m going to be here for my son. I know that. And there are those fears. But you know, the context is I’m healthy now. My liver might not be good for four or five years.

“But I’m going to have this liver transplant, and everything’s going to be fine. I will live a long, happy life.” Sam and Alice have previously opened up about their hope to have a second wedding celebration in May next year once their child has arrived.

They have also explained that they plan to call their son Marmaduke, and the couple have also previously discussed their excitement about starting a family together. Alice previously explained: “We were always going to have our big wedding that was going to take a few years to plan, but the baby changed that… I think it’s nice that we’ll all have the same last name together.”

And gushing over his now wife, Sam previously explained their lust to get married following a whirlwind romance after realising they wanted to spend their futures together. He said: “I knew from the moment I met Alice that, if I was lucky enough, she’d be the girl I was going to marry, but I felt you couldn’t do that after six or 12 months.”

He went on to explain his health battle helped him take action to secure a happy future, explaining: “But after nearly dying, it put everything into perspective. Any second, anything can happen in life. I love her to pieces. I want to marry her. Why wait two years?”

Chart topping Chris Martin shocked wedding guests when he slipped into the reception to perform a song while the happy couple took to the floor for their first dance

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Chris Martin left a couple stunned when he performed at their wedding. The Coldplay star was only too happy to hop behind the piano to play a song for the first dance of a happy couple who had just tied the knot at a ceremony in Rugeley on Saturday night.

The mother of the groom had contacted the 48-year-old chart-topping star to ask if he would send a video message that could be played during the wedding celebrations. However, Chris went a few steps forward – and revealed he was free on the night in question and would pop down to perform.

The wedding took place in Staffordshire with a reception held at Blithfield Lakeside Barns, where family and friends gathered to celebrate the happy couple. When it came to the first dance for the new husband and wife, Chris quietly entered and performed the song All My Love – much to the amazement of those around.

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Blithfield Lakeside Barns co-owner Alex Brown revealed that Chris was first approached to make a video, but insisted he could go all out for the pair. Alex explained to StokeonTrentLive: “Chris got back and said he could go one better.

“He said I’m free that night, so I’ll come and play the first dance. He didn’t want any introduction, so we said it was the first dance, and he walked in and performed. The bride and groom did know he was coming. It was kept as a surprise for the guests. I don’t think they realised it was him until the end.”

Alex went on to lavish praise on Chris for taking time out of his evening to take part in the wedding – and also noted that the A List star’s inclusion did not draw attention away from the pair on the dancefloor.

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Chris himself was previously married to American actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who was his wife from 2003 until their divorce in 2016. Despite the pair being megastars, their wedding was a very low-key affair – with the couple becoming husband and wife in secret.

They got married in Santa Barbara, California, in December 2003 after picking up their marriage license at the Santa Barbara County courthouse. Reports at the time claimed the couple celebrated their nuptials without any family or friends attending their wedding.

They welcomed their daughter, Apple, the following year, while son Moses, who now performs in a band called People I’ve Met, arrived in April 2006. Chris and Gwyneth sparked ridicule in 2014 when they announced they were “conscious uncoupling” after a decade of marriage – but have remained close ever since.

More recently, Chris was romantically involved with American actress Dakota Johnson, 36, whom he began dating in 2017. They went on to become engaged; however, the couple split by June 2025, with reports suggesting a myriad of reasons for their breakup.

It was suggested that their 13-year age gap had been a point of contention, differing views on having children, and gruelling work demands may have all contributed to the collapse of the relationship. Meanwhile, Gwyneth has found love with TV producer Brad Falchuk, 54, whom she married in 2018.

I’m A Celebrity star Martin Kemp has reportedly been struggling at home recently as wife Shirlie made a rare admission about life at their Hertfordshire property

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Martin Kemp has been left “struggling” to keep up with the latest changes at home after his wife, singer Shirlie Kemp, admitted she is still unable to finalise the design of one room in their house despite several attempts.

Shirlie, who rose to fame in the 1980s as part of Wham! and later as one half of Pepsi & Shirlie, recently opened up about her ongoing frustration with the couple’s dining room. The pair have lived in their Hertfordshire home for around four years, but according to Shirlie, the space has already undergone multiple redecorations without success.

Explaining the issue, the 63-year-old told the Three Rooms podcast: “That’s the other thing that my husband finds hard, so, since I’ve been in this house, I think I’ve redecorated the dining room three times.

“We still haven’t got it right, we’ve only been here, maybe four years. It needs to go through one more this year, but I can’t get my dining room right. And I keep thinking, is it because it doesn’t want to be a dining room. Yeah, the house is trying to tell me no, this isn’t the dining room.”

The comments provide a rare insight into domestic life for the Kemps, who have been married since 1988. The couple met during the height of their respective music careers, with Martin then performing as the bassist in Spandau Ballet while Shirlie was working closely with George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. Their relationship quickly became one of the most enduring partnerships to emerge from the 1980s pop scene.

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They went on to have two children: radio and television presenter Roman Kemp, born in 1993, and their daughter Harley Moon, born in 1989, who works as a songwriter and creative consultant. Despite their public profiles, Martin and Shirlie have generally maintained a private family life, choosing to settle outside of London in later years.

Martin, who has recently returned from starring in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity in the Austalian jungle, has previously been keeping himself busy with paintbrushes and gardening tools.

The Spandau Ballet musician, 64, has completely transformed his family home into a cosy cottage with his wife, Shirlie. Throughout the renovation, the pair have offered fans an inside look at the journey.

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The couple have been keeping fans updated with their efforts turning their Victorian property into their ideal retreat – a welcome sanctuary for Martin after long stretches spent sleeping in a hammock surrounded by critters.

Shirlie has been documenting the makeover on their joint Instagram account, Maison Number 9, where the former Pepsi star frequently posts videos of herself hard at work in the garden, which she is now preparing for Christmas.

Comedian and science writer Robin Ince has shocked his followers by revealing he will no longer appear on his BBC Radio 4 show, The Infinite Monkey Cage, after shock resignation

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Comedian Robin Ince has quit his BBC Radio job in protest over being “silenced” over his personal views. The 56-year-old comedian and writer is known for co-hosting the BBC Radio 4 show The Infinite Monkey Cage alongside Professor Brian Cox.

He has helmed the show since 2009, but felt compelled to walk away from the show after 16 years of service, as he allegedly faced being forced to “quieten” about his political beliefs. The Infinite Monkey Cage won over fans by looking at the world through a scientific lens – and adding comedic observations in the process.

However, Robin has accused the BBC of leaving him no option but to quit the series, claiming that bosses were objecting to his views on transgender issues, political movements, and other topics. Rather than censor himself, the comedian opted to resign from the show in order to speak out further.

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In a lengthy post shared via Bluesky, Robin explained that listeners will no longer hear his voice on the show. He wrote: “This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage.”

He went on: “I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until I dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys.”

Robin then went on to clarify that he had not been fired from the series, but rather, he had decided to leave the show. He explained: “I resigned in September, after 16 years of dedication to the show, a show that I named and helped develop over all those years.

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“Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for some time, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter.”

The stand-up star – who has opened shows for Ricky Gervais in the past and also performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – went on to claim he was backed into a corner that gave him no other option than to quit his show. He went on to claim: “In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain in Monkey Cage, or ‘Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices.’ I chose the latter. It broke my heart.”

Appealing to his listeners, he continued: “I love this show, and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open-mindedness, and empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn’t pamper myself with the luxury of silence.”

He went on further: “One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign, and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. Despite this, I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not ‘Just a job.'”

Ending with something of a manifesto for his future, he wrote: “I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists, too.”

Robin’s announcement has sparked a flurry of comments on social media – ranging from those expressing distress over his resignation from the show, to others questioning if he may not have resigned. Others have targeted his co-star, suggesting Brian Cox should resign in solidarity, and others, feeling the show cannot continue without the presence of the co-founder.