Category Entertainment News

Strictly judge Anton Du Beke on throwing out the rule book for the festive show, the rumours that he could be the new host and why he won’t be celebrating his big birthday

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He started out as a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing and got promoted to the judging panel in 2021. Now, Anton Du Beke is being talked about as Strictly ’s next host. Presenting the dance competition would be a dream come true for the 59-year-old, as the top job would see him follow in the footsteps of his idol Sir Bruce Forsyth, whose legendary charisma launched the show in 2004 and turned it into the entertainment juggernaut it is today.

So how would the dance-show judge feel if he was offered the biggest job in showbiz? “Delighted I suppose but we’ll have to see if that ever comes up,” he chuckles modestly. “Wouldn’t that be lovely. Then I’ll have done all three jobs!”

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Bruce left Strictly in 2014, but remained great friends with Anton until his death in 2017, with the pair regularly playing golf. “Bruce has always been a great hero of mine,” grins Anton. “I’ve always been inspired by what he did. I loved the way he entertained. I loved the style of entertainer he was.”

Anton is currently preparing to take his seat alongside Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse on the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special , which features former Gogglebox regular Scarlett Moffatt, Gladiators’ Jodie Ounsley (aka Fury), EastEnders actor Nicholas Bailey, comic Babatunde Aléshé, Westlife singer Brian McFadden and All Saints star Melanie Blatt.

For Anton, the Christmas Day show holds a special place in his heart, as it’s that little bit more fun and relaxed than the competitive Saturday night version. Only six couples take part in the Christmas show, but Anton reveals he has hardly ever missed a festive special, even in his dancing days.

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“I absolutely love the Christmas Special,” he says. “If you get voted off early from the main show you invariably get a partner for the Christmas Special, so I’ve had a lot of partners over the years for the special having been voted off early on a number of occasions!”

And if he hasn’t had a partner on the Christmas show, Anton has offered to perform with the musical guest. He says, “I’ve danced in front of Michael Bublé a couple of times. It is such a lovely show and you get away with murder as well. I always try to be more ridiculous on the Christmas Special. You break all the rules. I love it.”

The judge is also very excited by the 2025 line-up. “I’ve played a lot of golf with Brian over the years and Scarlett, I might have given her some lessons years ago, so I know she can move,” shares Anton. “Melanie Blatt is exciting. And I can’t wait for Babatunde.”

As it’s Tess and Claudia’s final show, fans are bound to be emotional – as will the show’s cast and crew. “It will be emotional,” says Anton. “I’m sure they’ll have a couple of moments.”

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Anton is also taking part in another much-loved show over the festive season – The Great British Sewing Bee Christmas Special 2025 . Along with comedian Lucy Beaumont, Gladiators ’ Tom Wilson (aka Hammer) and Taskmaster’ s Susan Wokoma, Anton will try his hand at some Santa-inspired stitches – and he may have a bit of an advantage over his competitors.

“When I started out dancing, we all used to make our own costumes so we’d all make our own frocks and the more years we did it, the better we got at it,” says Anton. “I never got into full tailoring but I did get into full dressmaking so for them to ask me to do it was a throwback! I hadn’t done anything for 35 years but it was really, really enjoyable. I absolutely loved it. I like anything sartorial anyway. This was the perfect job for me really.”

Anton got on so wonderfully with Lucy, he wants Strictly producers to sign her up for the next series. “Lucy would be a joy,” smiles Anton. “I would come back to dance with Lucy. Any of them on the show would be a joy.”

With his stage show Anton And Friends currently touring, Anton has never been busier. But there is another show he’s itching to be on: The Celebrity Traitors . “I’d love to do that,” says Anton. “If they’ll take me, I’ll come on. Wouldn’t that be fun!”

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Anton, who has eight-year-old twins George and Henrietta with his wife Hannah, is embracing everything that comes his way – except his next birthday when he turns 60. “I can’t even bear it,” he despairs. “I didn’t realise until I read it myself. I thought I was turning 35. Staggering, isn’t it?

“I just don’t know how it’s happened, literally in a heartbeat, it’s just flown by. It’s all those old adages, they are true. I’m absolutely overwhelmed by the fact that I’m going to be that. I find it staggeringly upsetting.”

TNT Sports presenter Laura Woods has broken her silence on the terrifying two-year stalker ordeal that left her living in ‘real fear’ and forced her to increase security

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Laura Woods has broken her silence about the two-year stalking nightmare she endured at the hands of football fanatic Harneet Kaur.

The 38-year-old TNT sports presenter revealed that she lived in ‘real fear’ during the ‘relentless’ harassment campaign, which started in June 2021 and continued until September 2023.

Laura remembered receiving chilling birthday cards with messages like: “Today’s the day you were born and tonight’s the night you’re going to die”, before Kaur showed up at her home. She detailed how Kaur called the police, falsely claiming she had been pulled into Laura’s London home by a knife-wielding man.

“In 2023, I was in Poland, covering Oleksandr Usyk’s fight with Daniel Dubois, and she emailed me while I was on air. It was a video of my front door and a message, saying: ‘I know you’ve got three cameras in your house’, Laura shared. “I began sifting through all the video footage to see if anyone was inside. It was terrifying. She tried every conceivable way to reach me”.

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Kaur, a Liverpool football supporter who used the online alias ‘Krazy Harns’, also threatened to kidnap and kill Laura’s dog and sent a Bible and a sexual health testing kit to her home.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Laura said: “[She sent] Dating websites, spam websites, it was relentless, I couldn’t understand how one person could do it all”.

Last February, Kaur was sentenced to 14 months in prison and given a restraining order prohibiting her from contacting Laura and 14 other individuals, and from going within.

Within 500m of the presenter’s residence, Kaur, who is autistic, was prohibited from entering Liverpool’s Anfield stadium due to ticket touting. Her barrister argued that her autism, which resulted in ‘obsession and compulsion’, was the root cause of her offences.

Prosecutors in court stated that Laura was genuinely frightened and had been compelled to bolster security at her home and workplace.

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On Thursday, Laura moved her fiancé, Adam Collard, 30, to tears with a touching video recounting their love story, following the birth of their first child together in January. She was reminiscing about their journey since she first saw him on Love Island in 2018.

The video started with her watching the show, as she wrote: “In 2018 you’ll watch a TV show feature a very tall, very gorgeous red flag”- a reference to his playboy behaviour on the programme. The video then showcased moments from their relationship, including scenes with their baby Leo and their engagement.

As emotional music played in the background, she added in her caption: “In five years’ time, it’s very important you give him a chance…” Adam responded affectionately, saying: “Us 4 against the world, love you. Wow, I’m not crying, you are,” followed by a laughing emoji. The TV presenter replied: “I definitely am hahahaha xx”.

Her post came just a day after she made her return to television for the first time since her shocking on-air collapse, presenting TNT Sports’ coverage of the Manchester City vs Real Madrid match on Wednesday evening. The beloved presenter was hosting ITV4’s broadcast of the Lionesses’ match against Ghana on December 2 at St Mary’s Stadium, where she suddenly fell ill and collapsed forward.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright and fellow pundit Anita Asante were quick to catch her before the cameras cut away, causing worry among viewers. Laura was replaced by Katie Shanahan for the evening, but later reassured fans that she was in good health after receiving treatment.

“Gosh, that was a bit weird. Sorry to worry everyone, I’m OK. The wonderful paramedics at Saints have said it’s probably a virus, just need a bit of rest and hydration,” she posted.

Adam also confirmed Laura’s well-being on X after the incident: “Laura is all ok and with the right people. Thank you for all of your kind messages.”

Dad-of-three, Ryan Thomas, has lifted the lid on his relationship with former TOWIE star, Lucy Mecklenburgh, who he proposed to six years ago

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Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas has revealed his fiancée, Lucy Mecklenburgh, walked out on him recently when they were in a swanky restaurant.

The dad-of-three, 41, made the confession on his podcast with his brothers Adam and Scott and told his siblings that despite dining in the posh eatery in Manchester, the “energy” between the couple was “all off” and a row was “bubbling”.

Explaining that he had hand-picked the restaurant and hotel for Lucy, 33, who is mum to his kids, Roman, five, and Lilah, three, before things turned sour, Ryan shared: “We got to the hotel, lovely room, went for dinner in this beautiful new restaurant overlooking the whole of Manchester. It just slowly, I just started to feel it bubbling.”

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Claiming the energy was “all off”, he added: “And every time a conversation come up, it was a debate, right, rather than conversation, it was like, you just felt the energy was all off.”

Admitting that Lucy then picked up her jacket and left him sitting at the table, Ryan continued: “I thought she’s gone to the toilet, 10 minutes has passed, 15 minutes has passed, half an hour passed! And I was still sat there. So I text her and said ‘long toilet break’.”

Revealing that he rang Lucy before realising the night was over, he shared: “I rang her, and it went boom down, I rang her again, and it went down, and then I was like okay, so she’s not coming back.”

Ryan, who did not disclose what the row was about, then said he returned to the hotel room and had a glass of champagne by himself. However, all appears to be well with the pair now.

In the summer, Lucy revealed that she and the Games star sleep in separate beds as she branded the actor a “nightmare”. She also spoke out about the real reason their wedding planning has stalled, admitting the situation had been “quite hard”.

Asked about their sleeping arrangements, Lucy said on the Thomas brothers’ podcast: “Basically, we sleep in separate bedrooms because Ryan is a nightmare sleeper.” She went on to say that her fiancé snores and talks in his sleep.

Scott teased: “He always wants a cuddle.” Lucy responded: “I mean, that is annoying.” Sharing her reasons for sleeping separately from her partner, she then shared: “Basically, Ryan snores, he sleep talks, he whacks me in his sleep.”

Ryan proposed to Lucy over a romantic dinner in Italy in 2019 in Positano after meeting on Bear Grylls’ Celebrity Island two years earlier.

Lifting the lid on their nuptials after being engaged for six years, Lucy said the couple “do talk about” getting married but that plans got “pushed aside” once she realised that she was pregnant with their eldest child.

Admitting she is weighing up the financial implications, she said: “Now we’ve got kids, it’s valuing that money for other things more than a day. […] I would love it, but then, I don’t know, I find it quite hard.”

Lisa Faulkner has offered a rare insight into her true feelings about her husband, John Torode, being axed from MasterChef.

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Lisa Faulkner has opened up about her husband John Torode amid what she describes as “challenging times”, following his departure from MasterChef after two decades on the BBC show.

In an interview with The Times, in which she touched on multiple topics, the actress and TV presenter was asked how life had been at home since Torode was axed from the programme earlier this year.

“These are challenging times, but I have the most amazing husband. He’s an amazing man,” Faulkner answered.

Torode left MasterChef in July after being accused of using an “extremely offensive racial slur” in 2018. He has said he does not remember the incident or believe it occurred, but ultimately accepted the network’s decision. Since then, he has spoken publicly about the emotional toll of the sudden change, describing it as “unexpected and brutal.”

While the controversy has inevitably placed their private life under scrutiny, Lisa emphasised that she would not comment on the situation in detail.

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Asked about the mood at home and whether the family felt anger or resignation, she responded: “It’s not my story to tell, it’s not my place.”

Instead, she focused on her admiration for her husband: “I love my husband with all my heart – he is a fantastic, gentle, brilliant and kind man.”

The couple’s personal and professional lives have been intertwined for years. Faulkner won Celebrity MasterChef in 2010, after which Torode sent her a letter asking her on a date.

They married in 2019 and have since collaborated on-screen for shows such as ITV’s John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen.

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Reports have suggested the show may be scrapped in 2026, but Faulkner made it clear that no final decision has been made.

The couple has also launched a new joint project in the form of a YouTube cooking channel, filmed in their home kitchen, where they share self-described reliable, family-style recipes.

Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke has admitted he still has one regret from his time on the BBC show, before opening up on a dream job at the top of his wish list.

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After one of his Strictly Come Dancing co-stars announced her decision to leave the show, Anton Du Beke, 59, was left with a feeling of disappointment due to an unrealised dream.

Speaking in a recent interview, the King of Ballroom admitted that former Strictly judge and retired prima ballerina Dame Darcey Bussell “is the one living person I’ve always wanted to dance with, but never have”.

Darcey, 56, departed the BBC series in 2019, with Motsi Mabuse, 44, going on to take her seat on the panel, before Anton eventually landed his own role as a judge in 2021, replacing Bruno Tonioli, 70.

The professional dancer, however, still holds out hope that he’ll be able to take to the floor with Dame Darcey one day.

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He quipped to The i Paper: “We’re not as bendy as we once were, so maybe we’d do something a bit more sedate.”

Opening up about his personal dream led to Anton revealing a surprising professional ambition, with the star admitting he’d “like to learn the skill of acting”.

Anton said although he feels “lucky” as he loves his current job, becoming an actor still intrigues him.

He was also quick to insist that he would want to hone his craft properly before accepting any big roles.

The TV star explained: “I haven’t acted in anything. Now, I know all the actors out there are going to go ‘Oh, Christ – Johnny-come-lately thinks he can just turn up and do a bit of acting.’

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“But I don’t just want to turn up – I’d like to learn the skill of acting. I’d like to study it and do it properly.”

Teasing fans, Anton cheekily added: “Apparently, the new Bond is up for grabs…”

However, it has been rumoured that the dancer could be lined up for another new role – that of Strictly host – following Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s decision to quit at the end of this series.

Anton is currently one of the bookies’ favourites to get the job at 6/1, behind former This Morning host Holly Willoughby at 11/2 and Strictly: It Takes Two presenter Janette Manrara at 4/1.

Zoe Ball has announced she is leaving her role as presenter of her BBC Radio 2 show. The broadcaster, 55, also confirmed that she will be replaced by telly star Emma Willis.

Confirming the news, Zoe told listeners: “I have loved being betwixt my dear friends Romesh (Ranganathan) and Rylan (Clark), and you know, I love you all to bits, but I’m not disappearing completely.

“Obviously, it’ll be Christmas Crooners, and I’m doing an eras show in the new year, more on that later. But I am thrilled to tell you that you will be in the safest of hands, because there is a superwoman who is no stranger to you all, but this does mean that she will officially become a member of the Radio 2 family.

“You’ll have loved her on The Voice, The Circle, Big Brother, Cooking With The Stars, Love Is blind, and delivering babies, she’s a gorgeous lass, so welcome to the BBC Radio 2 family and Saturday afternoons, Emma Willis.”

Speaking about her new role, Emma said: “I’m a huge fan of Radio 2, so I’m absolutely chuffed to be joining the family – and it’s a real honour to follow in the huge footsteps Zoe leaves behind, who’s someone I admire and adore.

“I’m very much looking forward to spending my Saturday lunchtimes with the Radio 2 audience, and I’ll happily be the filling to a Romesh and Rylan sandwich!” In a statement, she added: “It’s really exciting, and it’s quite nerve-racking as well, because you’ve got, you always have fantastic boots and shoes, but they are very big boots and shoes to step into Zoe Ball.”

Meanwhile, Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2 added: “Emma is one of the UK’s most popular broadcasters, so I’m thrilled that she’s joining the all-star Radio 2 family of presenters.

“I’m certain that our loyal listeners will welcome her with open arms. I can’t wait to hear Emma’s new show as a part of our Superstar Saturday weekend schedule, which features Tony Blackburn, Dermot O’Leary, Romesh Ranganathan, Rylan, Liza Tarbuck, Gary Davies and Fearne Cotton.”

In a statement, Zoe said that spending Saturdays with Radio 2 listeners had been “an absolute hoot”, hearing stories and her “weekly giggles” with Rylan and Romesh had been one of her highlights. She added that she was “over the moon” for Emma to be taking over from her.

The news comes after Zoe made the decision to step down from her Radio 2 breakfast show in December of last year, having spent almost six years as the voice of early mornings. She made her return to the station just shy of five months later, taking the 1pm to 3pm slot on Saturdays.

At the time of her departure, Zoe said she wanted to “focus on her family” as well as escape the “very early mornings,” citing her 4am alarm clock taking its toll on her. This had worsened following a string of personal issues, including the death of her mother, Julia, in April 2024, and health problems. Zoe has spoken openly about her temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) diagnosis, which causes her to suffer from headaches. She was the highest-paid on-air female presenter in 2023/2024, taking home between £950,000 and £954,999. This saw her place second on the top-earning talent, behind Gary Lineker.

Emma, however, is no stranger to radio, having previously hosted on the Heart network between 2012 and 2018. She later went on to become a cover presenter of Radio 2 in 2019. Zoe became the first woman to present the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show on her own after Kevin Greening left the programme in 1998.

Away from Radio 2, Zoe’s first project for the corporation will be the Eras for Radio 2 and BBC Sounds podcast, focusing on the life and career of Phil Collins. Listeners will hear Collins throughout each chapter, focusing on different parts of his life, with new interviews and contributions from the likes of Bob Geldof, Sir Richard Branson and Phil’s son, Nic Collins.

Reflecting on her new role, Zoe said: “Phil Collins’ music is woven into all our lives, those songs are time machines, full of heart, drama and joy. I’ve been a lifelong fan ever since discovering Genesis as a young teenager, and their Wembley gig in ’87 is still one of the best nights of my life.

“I’ve been lucky enough to chat with Phil a few times over the years, but to dive into his extraordinary story for Eras and sit down with him again for such a special, intimate conversation about music, family and everything in between is an absolute dream. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”