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One former Strictly star has said the BBC show has become ‘too woke’ and called for judges and pros to be axed amid numerous scandals and the departure of hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman

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One former Strictly Come Dancing pro has ripped into the BBC show’s current cast and called for pros and judges to be axed, labelling judging panel as “too woke”.

In the wake of several new scandals and the shock departure of long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman at the end of this year’s series, James Jordan has called for the show to have a major shake-up that would involve sacking half of the pros.

The former pro dancer said: “Now Tess and Claudia are leaving, it is time for a big shake-up. Let’s get rid of some of the judges, 50% of the pros, and bring back a brand new Strictly.”

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He added that the only people the show couldn’t get rid of are the backstage crew, like costume designer Vicky Gill and the hair aand make-up team who provide the show’s iconic spray tans. “Everyone else, I feel they are replaceable,” warned James in a chat with The Mail on Sunday.

He told the paper that half of the Strictly pros need to go next year and that he felt the show should get some “fresh young ones in”, putting an emphasis on getting “some more British people on the show”.

James, who was on the show from 2006 to 2013, appeared on the show alongside his Polish-born wife Ola Jordan. He was a controversial figure on the show, as he often spoke back to the judges, particularly Craig Revel Horwood, who is still on the show.

The former pro said he felt a “different mix of judges” could work better on the show, as he feels it has gotten “a little bit panto” now. He was especially critical of Craig, stating that he felt the judge, known for being the most brutal, had “lost his harshness”.

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‘I feel he has lost his harshness. I liked Craig when he was… I just think everything finishes with a positive, and there’s nothing wrong with saying someone isn’t good at dancing if they aren’t a dancer.”

He added that he felt the judges have become “too woke”. “I just feel it has become too woke for me,” he said. “We need to go back to the old days. You don’t have to be horrible, but I want honesty. Constructive criticism, I think we need more of it.”

James also suggested that Anton Du Beke no longer be a judge. But this is because he thought the pro-turned-judge would make a good replacement for Tess and Claudia.

He suggested that if Anton became a host, James himself should replace him on the judging panel. He added that he hoped it wouldn’t become “box-ticking exercise” when replacing the presenting duo.

The couple, who were widely regarded as the strongest pair in this year’s series, have reportedly called time on their relationship

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Married At First Sight UK’s Keye Luke and Davide Anica have called it quits, according to reports. The same-sex couple, who were seen as the strongest duo in this year’s series, had pledged their commitment to each other during the Final Vows ceremony of the season.

However, sources reveal they’ve now parted ways, a development that will likely stun fans of the E4 reality show. Keye, a 33 year old marketing executive, and Davide, a 34 year old flight attendant, only encountered one significant hiccup during filming – a disastrous visit to a cat café during Davide’s home stay.

Overwhelmed by the number of cats, Keye stormed out and spent the night in a hotel rather than at Davide’s home in Horsham, West Sussex.

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Despite this, the pair managed to reconcile and stayed together for the remainder of the series, frequently discussing their aspirations for a long-term relationship off-camera. Now, however, they’ve decided to end their romance.

A source told the Daily Mail: “Keye and Davide have ended their relationship. They had high hopes of making it work, but outside the MAFS bubble, it just wasn’t the same. However, they did give it a good go. Davide spends a lot of his time abroad for work, and Keye has major commitments in London, so it was never going to be easy.”

The couple were a massive hit with viewers, forming a strong bond from the moment they met at their TV wedding. When Keye nervously confessed he had been married before, Davide quickly eased his anxiety by being understanding about his past relationship.

The couple often provided a comforting presence for their co-stars who were having a tough time in their marriages.

Their journey was filled with memorable moments, such as Keye teasing Davide about his hometown of Horsham having a Greggs, while proudly stating that his local bakery was a Gail’s.

Davide, originally from Portugal, had previously lavished praise on Keye during the Final Vows ceremony, expressing: “I have never had anyone make me feel as wanted and desired as you do. There have definitely been moments where you have been loud, but not because of your way of being, it’s the way you show me your love.”

Keye confessed he had ‘never loved anyone’ like he loves Davide, who reciprocated by saying his husband ‘makes me feel like I’m good enough. There is a beautiful future waiting for us.’

In an Instagram post commemorating the show’s final dinner party, which aired on Thursday, Davide hinted at worries about life post-filming.

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He penned: “If I’m honest, the only fear was life after all this and wondering if I’d still be enough for Keye when the cameras stop rolling. But if this journey’s taught me anything, it’s that regardless of any outcome, I’m strong, I’ve always been myself, and that’s all I want to be.”

The duo, who don’t follow each other on social media, have kept quiet on their accounts and haven’t featured in any video content since the series concluded.

By the time the final meeting with the experts airs this Sunday, Keye and Davide will have already parted ways. Only two couples from this year’s series are still together. Abigail Callahan and John Shepherd, along with Bailey Smith and Rebecca Fen.

One Grey’s Anatomy star, who has been in it since the start, has devastated fans by revealing that he are battling the same disease his character is on the show

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It’s been a difficult time for one Grey’s Anatomy star, as he revealed he is dealing with the same disease as his character. The actor shared that he “would have been surprised” if he hadn’t been diagnosed with a particular illness.

This week, it was revealed that Dr Richard Webber, the former chief of surgery and a mentor to many on the hit medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, is suffering from cancer. In a sad twist of fate, the actor who plays him, James Pickens Jr, is also battling cancer.

James shared that he was not surprised when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. The 71-year-old said in an interview: “It’s not the kind of news anyone wants to hear, but to be honest, prostate cancer has run through my family.”

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Speaking to Black Health Matters, he added: “My father had it. He had a lot of brothers; several of them had it. I would have been surprised if I hadn’t gotten it.”

James was so concerned he may get prostate cancer that he has been getting annual health check-ups for 34 years. This year, his doctor flagged that his PSA levels (the amount of a prostate-specific antigen in his blood) were elevated.

An MRI later showed “something suspicious” in the area and a biopsy confirmed it was a tumour. The cancer, thankfully, had not spread further than the prostate.

James subsequently went for a radical prostatectomy. He explained that his proactive approach to health really helped: “We caught it really early, and so they thought that would be the best route to take. I do have a rare variant that you don’t see very often. hey wanted to err on the side of caution and keep an eye on it.”

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James is using his experience to raise awareness about prostate cancer. Taking to social media, he shared that one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and that the risk for Black men in higher. He urged men to get screened regularly, as prostate cancer is highly treatable if caught early enough, but often isn’t detected until late, as there are sometimes no noticeable symptoms.

He added that he is “living proof that early detection works”, as he is now doing well and continues to act. He has been on Grey’s Anatomy since it began in 2005.

It is unknown what form of cancer Richard Webber is suffering from, as all that has been revealed is that he was diagnosed with the disease. The episode including his diagnosis was the midseason finale, so fans have to wait until January to learn more.

If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at Macmillan Cancer Support and Prostate Cancer UK.

Tony award-winning actress Elizabeth Franz has died after a devastating health battle, and fans have flocked to social media to pay tribute to the iconic actress

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Elizabeth Franz, best known for roles including Mia in Gilmore Girls and for iconic stage performances in Death of a Salesman on Broadway, has died aged 84.

The actress’ husband, screenwriter Christopher Pelham, confirmed that she died on 4 November, after a battle with cancer. Elizabeth, who made her first appearance on stage in 1967, won a Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Play.

The star’s first job was as a secretary, which she did until she had earned enough money to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After graduating, she appeared in a number of stage productions, as well as TV roles.

Notably, she played Mia Bass in Gilmore Girls, the owner of the Independence Inn, who was a mother figure and mentor to Lorelai (Lauren Graham) when she ran away to Stars Hollow.

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On stage, Elizabeth was in Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Dead, as well as productions of Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors, and Dickens’ Great Expectations.

In 1999, she took on Linda Loman in the 50th anniversary production of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. It was for this role that she won her Tony.

Miller himself praised her performance, saying she had achieved what many other actresses had not. He said: “[Elizabeth] has discovered in the role the basic underlying powerful protectiveness, which comes out as fury, and that in the past, in every performance I know of, was simply washed out.”

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Elizabeth played the same role a year later in a production aired on Showtime, which earned her an Emmy nomination. Elsewhere on screen, she played Alma Rudder on Another World and Helen Wendall on As the World Turns. She was also Bev Scheel in Christmas with the Kranks.

Following her death, fans have flooded X with tributes to the actress. One said: “Such a beautiful woman RIP Elizabeth.” Another added that she would be “forever in our hearts”.

One X user said: “#RIP Elizabeth Franz. She injected fire and intimacy into her turn as Linda Loman opposite Brian Dennehy in ‘Death of a Salesman.’”

I’m A Celebrity stars have earned a fortune from appearing on the ITV reality show over the years, but how much are the highest-paid campmates really paid to head to the jungle?

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I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! 2025 is nearly here, with a fresh line-up of famous faces preparing to tackle Ant and Dec’s stomach-churning Bushtucker trials in the Australian jungle.

The ITV reality programme has been a television staple for over two decades, featuring countless celebrities including Katie Price, Stacey Solomon, Gemma Collins, Caitlyn Jenner, Jamie Lynn Spears, Matt Hancock and Nigel Farage.

This year’s contestants include Emmerdale star Lisa Riley, Loose Women panellist Kelly Brook, Martin Kemp and Eddie Kadi, Alex Scott, Shona McGarty, Jack Osbourne and Aitch – who is thought to be banking £250,000 for his appearance.

A producer for I’m A Celebrity has hinted this will be the “toughest” series to date, with Olly Nash revealing: “We need to see more celebrities earning their keep, that’s the most important thing.” But what are the stars actually being paid for their three-week jungle stint? We’ve investigated the programme’s biggest pay packets….

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Coleen Rooney reportedly secured the joint highest-ever fee in the show’s history when she joined last year’s series, following her high-profile Wagatha Christie court battle with Rebekah Vardy. The WAG was rumoured to have pocketed £1.5million, and demonstrated her value as viewers voted to keep her in until the finale.

She narrowly missed out on victory to McFly’s Danny Jones, whilst Reverend Richard Coles claimed third spot. Nigel Farage also reportedly pocketed £1.5million for his stint on I’m A Celebrity in 2023, where he finished third whilst Sam Thompson was crowned King of the Jungle.

The reality star later confessed he was stunned by Farage’s earnings, telling The Times: “Was he? Bloody hell! I didn’t have a clue. You could buy five houses for that!”

He insisted his jungle experience wasn’t driven by money or career ambitions, saying: “Mate, I would have done it for anything! I would have been a very, very easy negotiation. I would have paid them to be on it.”

Noel Edmonds famously became the programme’s highest-paid participant at the time, despite spending just nine days in the jungle camp during the 2018 series. He received £600,000, and having arrived last before being voted out first, reportedly earned £66,667 per day. That series was won by Harry Redknapp, who became the programme’s oldest winner when he was crowned King of the Jungle.

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Initial reports suggested Boy George, who appeared in the 2022 series, was receiving £800,000 for I’m A Celebrity, though that figure was later revised to £500,000. He promised to give bosses value for money and certainly delivered, saying: “I feel like I’ve been paid well for it so I’m going to be as Boy George as I can.”

However, just months before, the Karma Chameleon hitmaker had suggested he’d “never” need to appear on the programme for financial reasons, when Ant and Dec asked him on Saturday Night Takeaway: “I’ve always wanted to know, what does Karma Chameleon mean?” He responded: “It means I never have to say, ‘I’m a celebrity, get me out of here!'”.

Rumours circulated that Caitlyn Jenner pocketed £500,000 for her appearance on I’m A Celebrity in 2019, with Ant and Dec making light of her fee. Dec started off by saying: “We’ve got reality TV royalty Caitlyn Jenner. Most people come into the jungle to lose a few pounds..”

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Ant chimed in with: “But she’s going to be gaining 500,000 of them according to the papers.”

Harry Redknapp, the 2018 King of the Jungle, was reportedly paid £500,000 for his stint on I’m A Celebrity, and later claimed ITV offered him double what the BBC did for Strictly Come Dancing. He revealed: “What happened was I’m a Celebrity came and offered me twice as much money so I went there instead!”.

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! is back on Sunday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

Cleto Escobedo III worked alongside Jimmy Kimmel from the show’s inception in 2003, with the TV host sharing his heartbreak following the death of his close friend

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The cause of death of Jimmy Kimmel’s childhood friend, Cleto Escobedo III, has been confirmed.

The 59-year-old musician, who led Cleto and the Cletones, the house band for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, passed away on November 11. He appeared on the show from its inception in 2003 until his death in 2025, having known Jimmy, 58, since they were children.

According to reports, Cleto died “because his heart couldn’t pump enough blood to keep him alive.” TMZ obtained a photo of the band leader’s death certificate, listing cardiogenic shock as the immediate cause of death, with vasodilatory shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation and alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver listed as the underlying causes.

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Cardiogenic shock is a life-threatening condition which happens when the heart suddenly can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs, the Mayo Clinic explains. TMZ reported that the document also says other conditions that contributed to Cleto’s death included sepsis, graft versus host disease, immunosuppressed, chronic kidney disease, and pneumonia.

According to the publication, Cleto was cremated, with the certificate also noting he was an entertainer who played music for 40 years. He had been absent from Jimmy Kimmel Live! for months after falling ill.

Jimmy confirmed his passing in an emotional Instagram tribute, writing on Tuesday: “Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III. To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement.

“Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old. The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true. Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers.”

The comedian then opened his show on Tuesday with what he described as the most difficult monologue of his career. “We’ve been on the air for almost 23 years, and I’ve had to do some hard monologues along the way, but this one’s the hardest because late last night, early this morning, we lost someone very special who was much too young,” he told viewers.

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Their friendship began in 1977, when Jimmy’s family moved from Brooklyn in New York City to Las Vegas. They settled in the Spring Valley area, where the young Jimmy met Cleto, who lived just a few doors away.

“He was a year older than me. His name was Cleto, but we called him Junior,” Jimmy said, adding that the two became inseparable. “We had sleepovers constantly. One stretch, I slept at his house 33 nights in a row.”

“He was a phenomenal sax player from a very young age,” he continued. “He was a child prodigy who would get standing ovations in junior high school, if you could believe that.” Cleto’s passion for music came from his father, Cleto Escobedo II, a saxophonist who eventually gave up performing live to support his family.

Years later, he joined his son in Cleto and the Cletones, the in-house band for Jimmy’s show. “When Cleto Jr. became a professional musician, Cleto Senior was thrilled,” Jimmy said. “He got to live vicariously through his son, who started playing in bars, and clubs, and lounges around Las Vegas.”

Following his friend’s passing, Jimmy said his whole team was “devastated” and decided to cancel his shows on Wednesday and Thursday. He also launched two fundraisers – one for the UCLA Medical Center where Cleto received medical care in his final days and another for The Animal Foundation in memory of his love of animals.