Let’s take a look at the couples who have shown the show can really work by expressing gratitude to the experts. From being strangers to being married at first sight.
How many Married At First Sight UK couples are still together now that the cameras have stopped rolling? They walked down the aisle as strangers and took a huge leap of faith in the name of love.
The E4 reality hit has produced more tears than we can count, as well as explosive rows, jaw-dropping dinner parties, and surprisingly heartwarming love stories over the years. As the season draws nearer, we’re looking at which couples have defied the odds to survive and thrive in their relationship.
Days before he kissed Strictly partner Jowita Przystal on stage, reality TV star Pete Wicks was caught snogging a mysterious blonde in a posh London restaurant.
Pete Wicks was spotted getting close to another woman(Image: @p_wicks01/Instagram)
TOWIE star Pete Wicks was caught locking lips with a mystery woman just days before he appeared to confirm his romance with Jowita Przystal. The TV personality long sparked romance rumours with Jowita after they were paired on Strictly Come Dancing last year.
While they both tried to play down the rumours, the pair shared many sizzling dance routines together and struck up a close bond away from the dancefloor. Pete, 36, soon became linked to Love Island’s Maura Higgins, however, until they split earlier this year.
He and Jowita, a 31-year-old dancer, have since rekindled their friendship, but they have remained firm on this. When Jowita and best friend Sam Thompson made an unexpected appearance at London’s O2 Arena for Pete’s Staying Relevant podcast show, things started to change this weekend.
READ MORE: Strictly told to ‘get on with it’ as fans hit out at BBC show almost immediatelyREAD MORE: Jowita Przystal admits her ‘dream comes true’ after confirming Pete Wicks romance
Pete and Jowita shared three kisses as part of their dance(Image: p_wicks01/Instagram )
The pair were partnered on last year’s Strictly(Image: p_wicks01/Instagram )
They attempted to dance the Strictly final but locked their lips three times throughout the performance. According to a source, Pete and Jowita have been dating for a while and are now a thing.
There was no crossover with Maura, but they kept things professional on Strictly. However, once Pete and Pete were single, they rekindled their friendship, and recently, the relationship has grown into more.
However, just before their steamy routine, Pete and a mystery blonde had an intimate evening at The Maine Mayfair in London. An onlooker described the pair as “very intimate and really giddy” after he was caught kissing the woman.
A diner said they saw the pair arrive at around 8:30pm and at one point during the evening, they disappeared for about 15 minutes. They told the Sun, who have seen the photos: “They didn’t really eat. It was more about intimacy than dinner – they just kept snogging.
They “thought they had it all to themselves,” I believe. They claimed that the waiters “kissed like teenagers” while they “left them to it.” By the time they left the posh restaurant at 11 p.m., the onlooker added that there were “a lot of leftovers.”
A glass of wine and a photo from the night’s episode of Pete’s Instagram account also contained the statement, “This week coming up may be the end of me.”
She sent a message to her fans that included a sweet nod to the reality star following Pete and Jowita’s routine on Friday night. She wrote, “I’m still buzzing after my performance last night, and to be honest, I feel absolutely speechless.”
“But just wanted to say thanks to @stayingrelevantpodcast for including me in your legendary one night only; you always make me feel like I’m a member of the family.”
She thanked @p_wicks01 for making my dream come true in a direct comment to Pete. the most enjoyable night ever. More to come, J.
On his podcast, Pete confessed to being “in love” just weeks before locking lips with Jowita. Sam asked him, “Are you in love with someone right now?,” while he was taking a lie detector test.
Pete said “no,” but it was later established that he was lying because the polygraph examiner found him telling the lies by downplaying his answer.
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Following Pete and Jowita’s very private dance last night, one fan yelled out, “Was that like a hard launch?” A second said, “You & jowita, jowita,” while a third wrote, “with a heart eye emoji,” which was a difficult launch for Pete and Jowita.
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After “doing some research” online, BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay has shared how he has been able to treat a painful health condition.
Vernon Kay shared details about his painful health issue(Image: Dave Benett, Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Vernon Kay, a host of BBC Radio 2, revealed to the audience how he discovered a treatment for a less well-known medical condition that affects almost one in ten people.
The 51-year-old broadcaster revealed that he had purchased a new pair of shoe insoles to address a long-standing health issue. He had been presenting his regular morning program.
He explained how the problem presents itself on Wednesday’s show (September 17), saying, “I have Morton’s neuroma in my left foot, and it’s a nerve issue. So three or four of my toes are not able to feel.”
He went on to explain how he managed to ease the agonizing condition, saying, “So what I did was, I bought some proper insoles. I actually conducted some research. The pain has vanished since I purchased the elevated-arched insoles. Although it hasn’t completely cured it, the pain doesn’t return as frequently as it did in the past. I’m content, I’m good.
Vernon shared the update on his BBC Radio 2 show(Image: Jo Hale, WireImagevia Getty Images)
Then he cleverly added, “Check your insoles if you’re going raving and misbehaving.”
The NHS characterises the ailment as: “Morton’s neuroma is where there’s a thickening of tissue around a nerve in your foot that’s been irritated or damaged. The symptoms can often be eased with treatments you can try yourself.”
He revealed how a new remedy has significantly helped ease the condition(Image: Joe Maher, Getty Images for Great British Racing)
The NHS has also provided a number of additional suggestions to help ease the discomfort, including: “Rest and raise your foot whenever you can, take ibuprofen or paracetamol, try to lose weight if you’re overweight, and avoid or reduce impact activities like running and jumping.”
It comes after Vernon revealed that the death of Manchester boxing legend Ricky Hatton “hit” him hard.
Ricky’s passing, at the age of 46, caused a ferocious outpouring of grief. “Yes, I haven’t mentioned the passing of Ricky Hatton this morning because it’s a difficult one for many people,” Vernon said.
And from my personal encounter with him, Ricky was always, always, the one who had a conversation with you, he knew what you were up to. In both personal and professional settings, at parties and social gatherings, and other places.
He is set to return to our screens this weekend(Image: Andrew Redington, Getty Images)
“It struck me when I saw the news because he was such a lovely bloke,” according to the tributes I’ve read all contained the same words.
Vernon’s career has flourished in recent years after taking over from broadcasting legend Ken Bruce on his BBC Radio 2 mid-morning programme in 2023.
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His breakthrough came when he started hosting All Star Family Fortunes from 2006 to 2000.
He’s due to return to ITV’s M&S Dress the Nation alongside co-presenter AJ Odudu, while Loose Women favourite Frankie Bridge will appear as a guest judge this weekend.
Dianne Buswell, a professional dancer for Strictly Come Dancing, expressed disappointment that she had to miss a significant family milestone as she focused on the BBC dance competition.
Dianne Buswell has been partnered with fellow Aussie Stefan Dennis (Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston)
Dianne Buswell may be on cloud nine after sharing her pregnancy and returning to the Strictly Come Dancing dancefloor, yet living thousands of miles from her family can take its toll. The Aussie professional dancer is in the midst of rehearsals for the hit BBC dance competition, which kicked off last night.
She is expecting her first child with YouTuber Joe Suggs, having met on the show. Dianne is making history as the first Strictly star to compete while pregnant, and has been given a nod to her Australian roots thanks to her celebrity dance partner.
The 36-year-old has been partnered with Neighbours star Stefan Dennis and they will make their dancefloor debut on Saturday night for the first live show of the series. However, being halfway across the world for work means Dianne has been forced to miss out on huge events.
READ MORE: Strictly Come Dancing betting odds as stars secure huge advantageREAD MORE: Strictly Come Dancing fix row as star told to ‘stop pretending he’s not a trained dancer’
Dianne shared a sweet photo of her parents heading to the party(Image: Instagram/diannebuswell)
She missed her big brother’s 40th birthday celebrations(Image: Instagram/diannebuswell)
Her dearly beloved family was celebrating Dianne’s 40th birthday as Strictly kicked off last night. She shared photos of her parents getting ready for the milestone event, and a photo of the birthday boy was shared as well.
Stop staring at my beautiful parents to my brother’s 40th birthday, Dianne eloquently said. I adore missing out on these things. In one photo, Dianne’s father can be seen posing alongside her brother while holding a microphone.
She continued, “Ohhhh, I can’t wait to watch this speech’s video.” This weekend, Diane and her 2024 celebrity partner Chris McCausland performed “one last dance.” on the big screen.
They performed a second rendition of the successful You Never Walk Alone routine, which received a standing ovation from many viewers who were teary-eyed.
Chris declared, “It has been lovely to be back.” “Chris is the best friend I never knew I needed in my life,” Dianne continued. In a heartfelt way, she referred to him as a “friend for life.”
He also had to step back and allow Dianne to take on a new celebrity, which required him to return the Glitterball Trophy. The success of last year is what Dianne and Stefan hope to achieve.
Dianne introduced both her current and former partners in a sweet backstage moment. The dancer emailed a moving clip of the moment, which included a red love heart emoji and the phrase “Stefan meet Chris.”
In 2018, Dianne met her husband while he was a BBC showrunner. They shared their happy news earlier this month on Instagram with a sweet stick-figure illustration of them and a young child.
Dianne and Joe gushed, “Our little baby boy,” alongside the adorable post. We look forward to meeting you.
She discussed how having a baby affects her dancing with Chris and said, “I’m still doing everything I did before.” Although my doctor has stated that everything is normal, lifts will likely require a little more caution.
He said, “You shouldn’t stop what you do if you’ve done it before… then crack on and keep doing what you were doing.”
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As he paid tribute to the much-loved journalist who passed away this morning, Martin Frizell shared a photo of John Stapleton with his wife Fiona Phillips and Kate Garraway.
Fiona Phillips with her husband, Martin Frizell(Image: Getty Images)
Fiona Phillips’ husband, Martin Frizell, has shared a throwback photo of her at work as he paid tribute to John Stapleton.
The 66-year-old producer and editor, who has been married to Fiona since 1997 and shares two children with her, described John as “a constant presence” in his career. Martin remembered his former colleague and mentioned some of the stories they covered together – including when they reported from Kosovo and Iraq.
After John passed away, Martin shared a photo of him, Fiona and Kate Garraway on Instagram – with a moving caption in tribute to the late journalist. He wrote, “What fun we had. Such sad news to hear that Stapes, as we called him, has passed away.
READ MORE: John Stapleton dead: GMTV and Watchdog legend dies at 79
Martin shared this photo on Instagram(Image: Instagram/martinfrizell1)
He and I worked together on numerous stories about Kosovo and Iraq, shared many laughs, and were a constant source of conversation throughout our careers. Before entering broadcasting, John, like me, rose through the ranks of newspaper journalism and never gave up the desire to dig out a story.
We will miss him, even the ribbing from him when Chelsea lost to City, which happened frequently, says “one of the greats of his generation”! His agent confirmed that John had battled Parkinson’s disease, which sadly passed away at the age of 79, adding that pneumonia was a contributing factor to the condition.
The dearly cherished presenter passed away peacefully this morning in a hospital. He was well-known for his television appearances on CNN, Newsnight, GMTV, and the BBC’s Watchdog.
John Stapleton passed away this morning(Image: PA)
John shared his Parkinson’s diagnosis in October 2024, saying he was “learning to live with it” and had been “miserable” for almost 50 years on the screen. This included reporting on four US elections. His agent Jackie Gill shared the depressing news that John passed away: “John had Parkinson’s disease, which was complicated by pneumonia. His son Nick and daughter-in-law Lisa have always supported him, and John passed away peacefully this morning in the hospital.
Nick Stapleton, a journalist and broadcaster known for his work on Scam Interceptors, made a shocking revelation on BBC Morning Live that John’s passing had “taken a turn for the worse.”
Nick responded, “Unfortunately, Dad has a bit of a chest infection, and that can be pretty nasty if you’ve got Parkinson’s,” when the host offered him his best wishes. And I just felt like I needed to help him a lot this weekend.
John with his former GMTV colleagues including Fiona, Lorraine Kelly, Penny Smith, Eamonn Holmes and Anne Davies(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
“And thankfully, that is now in place, and I’m optimistic that, as you know, he’ll return to form soon. Absolutely, Gethin expressed his support. We send him all our love, of course.
John bravely revealed his Parkinson’s diagnosis to his son Nick on Morning Live last year. He said, “For the better part of 50 years, speaking is how I’ve made my living. Sometimes it’s very frustrating, especially when [people keep asking you, “Sorry, what did you say? ” And you must constantly repeat yourself.
“I’m optimistic about the possibility that this will get worse. What purpose does it serve to be negative, I try to stay positive? He continued, “It won’t ever change, there’s no point in being miserable.” For the rest of my life, Parkinson’s is right here with me. The best thing I can do is try to control it and heed the advice of the experts.
After learning that he and professional dancer Amy Dowden will be paired with him on the 2025 series of Strictly Come Dancing, Thomas Skinner has criticised BBC presenter Peter Levy online.
After recently being caught up in a cheating scandal and posting contentious views online, the Apprentice star, 34, has received criticism from Amy’s fans and followers. The most recent celeb to make a comment on the Strictly paring is BBC presenter Peter Levy, who also goes by the name of Twitter: “I feel sorry for Amy Dowden….”
Don’t feel sorry for Amy, Peter, Thomas replied politely and wrote back. We’re going to have a great time on Strictly because she is such a talented woman and a fighter. We haven’t even stopped laughing, actually. You might be cheering on a talented dancer who has triumphed over more difficult battles that you and I have to face instead of making ridiculous digs at me.
On the Strictly Come Dancing (BBC) 2025 series, Thomas and Amy Dowden compete in dance.
You should stick reading the autocue, he said, and I should stick learning the cha-cha. In order to prevent her from falling in love with me, I’ll be trying my hardest to learn to dance. I want to do everything in my power, not just for myself but also for her. Bosh”.
In order to win the Glitter Ball trophy, Skinner is one of fifteen stars who have graced the Strictly Come Dancing dancefloor this season. Skinner acknowledged that he was “beyond excited” to be joining the BBC dancing show after being announced that he had been chosen. He also admitted that he had never danced in his life other than at weddings.
He stated, “I’m beyond excited to be joining Strictly Come Dancing.” I’ve already had a few large breakfasts and the boardroom, but getting onto the dance floor under that glitter ball is next level!
One of the fifteen Strictly Come Dancing stars (CREDIT LINE: BBC/Ray Burmiston) is Skinner.
I’ve never danced in my life, other than at weddings, but I’m up for it and, of course, laugh. Bring the BOSH, sambas, and sequins to the ballroom, of course!
While The Dance Duo appear intent on airing the series, many of Amy’s fans were left furious by the paring, including one user who wrote, “Oh, this is SO unfair on Amy. Literally, he’s the reason I’m not tuning in to this season.
While The dancing duo seems eager to begin the series, many of Amy’s fans were left furious by the paring (BBC)).
Another questioned whether they should have given Amy because she is so well-liked and adored in an effort to lessen some of the hate. One third wrote, “Come in guys, this isn’t right,” while the other said, “Stop.” Amy recently experienced a difficult time, and she has shown incredible perseverance and resolve. And how do you match him? “.
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