Category Entertainment News

It has been playing on the radio for almost 50 years – but still many Bee Gees fans have no idea what one of their most popular songs is about. The Bee Gees, composed of brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, have sold more than 120 million records worldwide throughout their music career, with hits including Stayin’ Alive, Night Fever, How Deep Is Your Love, Massachusetts, More Than a Woman, You Should Be Dancing and Don’t Forget to Remember.

But while their Stayin’ Alive tune is known to be a groovy number, its subject matter is actually quite serious. According to Smooth Radio, RSO Records wanted to name the song ‘Saturday Night’ – but the Bee Gees turned this down as “there had been too many songs with Saturday in the title”. Not only this but their album already included a song called Night Fever.

Speaking about Stayin’ Alive, Robin said: “The subject matter of ‘Stayin’ Alive’ is actually quite a serious one; It’s about survival in the streets of New York, and the lyrics actually say that”. Barry added: “People crying out for help. Desperate songs. Those are the ones that become giants. The minute you capture that on record, it’s gold. ‘Stayin’ Alive’ is the epitome of that.

“Everybody struggles against the world, fighting all the bull**** and things that can drag you down. And it really is a victory just to survive. But when you climb back on top and win bigger than ever before, well that’s something everybody reacts to everybody”.

Finally, Maurice said: “We’d also written a song called ‘Saturday Night’. But there were so many songs called ‘Saturday Night’ even one by the Bay City Rollers, so when we rewrote it for the movie, we called it ‘Stayin’ Alive’.” It took the three brothers only a few days to write the iconic song while working on a staircase at the Château d’Hérouville studio near Paris.

Like many artists at the time, the band recorded the majority of the soundtrack in France for tax reasons. A statement on Smooth Radio reads: “The track was recorded at Criteria Studios, with Maurice Gibb playing a bass line similar to the guitar riff, Barry Gibb and Alan Kendall on guitar riffs, and Blue Weaver on synthesizers. Barry chose to sing falsetto on the whole song, except on the line “life’s going nowhere, somebody help me”.

Due to the death of backing drummer Dennis Bryon’s mother in the middle of the sessions, the group looked for a replacement. “However, as there was a shortage of qualified drummers in the area, they tried out a drum machine, with unsatisfactory results. After listening to the drum track of the already-recorded ‘Night Fever’, they took two bars from that track, and re-recorded thebulm as a loop on a separate tape.

As a joke, the group listed the drummer as ‘Bernard Lupe’ (a riff on session drummer Bernard Purdie). ‘Lupe’ became a highly sought-after drummer soon after!” Commenting on the song in response to the Reddit thread, ‘ What was it like when the song “stayin’ alive” by the bee gees came out?, one user said: “It was a gigantic hit, as were most of the songs on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.

“Yes, I did know people like in the movie in Brooklyn. Very realistic portrayal of Italian kids in Bensonhurst.” Another user added: “We were divided into rock people and disco people, with lots of disdain for disco.” A third user said: “It was mocked by me and my friends. We were listening to The Clash.”

He’s known and loved by millions for getting to the point. And midway through our conversation, Strictly Come Dancing judge, Craig Revel Horwood, does just that.

Talking about his upcoming tour, Revelations, he said: “This show is unlike anything I’ve ever done. People aren’t going to see ‘The Judge, Craig’. They’re going to see the real Craig. It’s about my life, it’s who I am. It’s the most personal tour I’ve ever done.”

The tour, which will start on April 4 and run until June 28 and will visit more than 50 theatres across the UK and can be traced back to his roots.

The star, who turned 60 last month, has become a national treasure after starting out in musical theatre. His first ever job was West Side Story, after taking singing lessons as a kid, in his native Australia.

Music was in his life throughout his schooling. “It just seemed to be a very natural journey for me to go into musicals. I just loved performing in them until I was 30. People don’t really know me as a singer because I’ve been in the background doing it, I suppose.”

Other areas of his life took over. He became one of the UK’s best and most influential directors and choreographers, winning Laurence Olivier Award nominations for Spend Spend Spend and My One and Only. He directed the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and was invited to join the judging panel for BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2004. As of 2025, he’s Strictly’s only original judge.

The BBC hit show made him a household name as a stringent rule-follower who has dished out more low scores of ‘one’ than any other judge. Becoming famous for catchphrases – from ‘chah-chah-chah’ to ‘fab-u-lous’ – Craig has outlasted everyone. And yet there are many more strings to his diamante-encrusted bow, and singing is foremost among them. So when the opportunity arose last year to record an album of songs with the UK’s leading musical theatre record label, Westway, he jumped at the chance.

“I thought: ‘Come on, you’e 60. Do it.’ My mum’s always told me to get an album together, and do something. So I thought: ‘Yeah, I’ll do it.’

“I grew up in the era before things were recorded – so there are no recordings of my earlier performances in theatre. No one had mobile phones and all of that malarkey back then. Now everything is recorded, no matter what you do, I walk out the hotel room, and it’s recorded by someone.”

Craig went into the studio and recorded Revelations – Songs Boys Don’t Sing. It was a stunning collection of tunes that showcased a marvellous, emotive, pitch-perfect voice. His interpretations of such songs as Memory showed a discombobulating degree of warmth and empathy, Don’t Rain On My Parade cast him as the ultimate razzle-dazzle showman, while As Long As He Needs Me, from Oliver!, became a song that took on new meaning with Craig’s thoughtful tenderness.

Craig is understandably thrilled with the finished product. “Singing is such a liberating experience. Each song on the album means something to me. You know, the first ever musical that my mum went to see with the kids was Jesus Christ Superstar, so I’ve recorded I Don’t Know How To Love Him.

“Waltzing Matilda is in there because I was born in Australia and when we grew up it was like a national anthem,” he laughed.

Craig’s show will be about much more than his favourite songs, of course. He’ll also tell stories about the part they’ve played in his life – and, yes, spoiler alert, there’ll be plenty of tales about Stories, from the other side of the dancefloor.

“I want to talk about the songs that I love and the reasons they are still with me and in my life. I know I’ve written three autobiographies, but my autobiographies were always about how I got Strictly. This show, for me, is strictly about music and my passion and love for it.

“That’s what drives my life and it’s just so nice to be able to get up there and sing and entertain people really because that’s what I was born to do.”

Many of the songs will be familiar to Craig’s fans – and will have a special place in their heart, just as they do in Craig’s.

“I wanted to do Memory, from Cats, because I was in that show, but I’d never get to sing that song because I’d obviously never get the part of Grizabella. It’s the same with I Don’t Know How To Love Him, from Oliver! It just goes without saying that I’ll never play Nancy.

“So the record, and the tour, gives me an opportunity to sing songs that I know and love. The show will be about my love for the music and how it’s affected my life. It’ll be about relationships, too, because we all go through the same emotions in relationships.

“I’ll be talking about that, and heartbreak, and where it can lead. Adele has proved how much emotion heartbreak can evoke, not just for singers, but for the audience, too.”

Craig will be joined on stage by the super talented musician, Ben Goddard, who fans will recall from their double-act on Celebrity Gogglebox. He can’t wait to hang out with one of his best mates, and is expecting plenty of laughter along the way.

“The tour will be the opportunity to have a good time along with Ben, who I love. I’ve worked with him quite a lot, either directing with him or we did a one-man show together, which was hilarious.

“For me, this is about the real Craig Revel Horwood, not the judge Craig Revel Horwood. It’s about my life before I became a judge, and then my life after being a judge, because that, of course, is the only thing that I’m famous for.”

Music is a universal language. We all have songs that we love – and for myriad reasons. In Craig’s case, listening to his selection of favourite songs, and understanding the meanings of them, helps us get to know him. So, for instance, My Way is a song he associates with his father’s death and is deeply personal.

“That was my father’s favourite song and I had to sing it when he died, just before Christmas, 10 years ago. And I’ve been singing that sort of ever since in pantomime, but it always reminds me of my father because that was one of his favorite tunes.

“So there’s a lot of emotion behind each one of the songs that I sing. There’s a lot of fun in there as well, because, of course, I have nothing really to do with Disney’s The Lion King.”

There will be other tributes during the show, including to The Vivienne and Paul O’Grady, artists Craig knew and admired. And, of course, there’ll be plenty of Strictly.

“It’s been Fab-U-Lous to have been there since the start. None of us could ever have believed it would become the phenomenon that it did. It’s been a huge part of my life and the reason that people know me. So yes, of course, I’ll be talking about Strictly – I don’t think people would forgive me if I didn’t.”

It’s no mean feat to be releasing a debut album at 60. At a time in life when many are slowing down, Craig is continuing to chase his dreams. And recording a debut record was foremost among them. He had to find his voice, in a sense, and work out how he wanted to deliver songs.

Having worked in musical theatre, where the objective is often to be loud and proud, he found the greatest moments were in a hush, where he lowered his voice to a more personal level. “Recording taught me so many things. It taught me how to be quiet, it taught me how to add more emotion into the sound of my voice as well.

“It’s not that I wanted to sound like Barbra Streisand or Shirley Bassey, but I had to discover who I was. Who is Craig Revel Horwood? What is his sound and what is his voice?

“I think a lot of artists come across that. Human League has a certain sound. Rod Stewart had the raspy sound. But I thought, what is Craig Revel Horwood’s sound? I think you can break more of the rules.

“Singing is about having an amazing vocal quality, rather than a pitch-perfect voice. Dame Judy Dench once came on stage and she sang Send in the Clowns. No, she’s not a singer. She’s never been able to sing. But because of her commitment to the character, to the emotion, it came across brilliantly. That was one of the best renditions of Send in the Clowns I’ve ever heard.”

And now it’s time to hit the road. Craig will be completing a huge tour and can hardly wait. He’s more than happy to temporarily ditch the comfort of his judge’s chair on Strictly, or the comfort of a West End theatre, as he heads into the regions.

“The reason I love touring is that it takes me to the people and I get to see the country. It’s about that as much as meeting people and learning because, you know, in in certain areas, you’ll get different audiences.

“Every city and town has a wonderful theatre and we’ll be visiting those gems. I’m going to 53 theatres around the country in three months – it’s pretty full on. But it’s great, it’s fantastic, and there’s some places I’ve been before that I can’t wait to return to, and those places I’ve never been. I’m looking forward to it.”

You can find full tour dates at www.craigrevelhorwood.com

Modern-day dating is exhausting enough without the fear of getting scammed – but one woman was conned out of her life savings by a man she met online.

Marisha Wallace, 39, met a new guy through a dating app, and was pretty impressed by what she saw, but quickly fell into a money scheme trap and lost thousands. She was love struck by his apperance, and said he was attentive – quite different from her usual type.

The West End actress had not long seperated from her husband of ten years, and was excited for a fresh start in London while appearing in the Dream Girls production. She matched with the man who told her he was an accounts manager at a financial institution and started going on dates. Her new man would call her after every show, but at first, his attentiveness never felt “over the top” as she knew she wasn’t after anything too serious.

A few weeks into their fling, the bloke mentioned he had a good return on an investment and Marisha told him she had plans of making some money on her savings, with hopes to buy her mum a house. With no reason to distrust her lover, she was intrigued. He told Marisha about his ‘accounts manager’, and she gave him a call.

The actress, who also appeared in in Celebrity Big Brother, recalled how they had an “in-depth” conversation about her money and how it would be invested in currency trading. He assured her she could monitor her investments online and was excited. She deposited £20,000 and hoped for the best.

She was then overjoyed to see a few weeks later she’d made £2,500 and told Metro: “I was in Vienna on holiday in August when I logged into my account. I thought, ‘Oh, my God, it’s working!’ Then [he] called and asked if I got my return. It felt great, so I went and bought a designer purse.”

The so-called accounts manager reportedly called her two weeks later and told her about another event where she could get a higher return if she invested even more. Tempted by the previous win, she then put her life savings into the account, depositing £40,000. But it wasn’t long before she got a gut feeling something was wrong, and contacted him to find out what was happening to her money.

“I called and I called and he didn’t answer. Until this point, whenever I rang him he would pick up no matter what. When he didn’t, I knew something wasn’t right and I started feeling sick,” Marisha told the publication. She she rang her lover out of desperation to tell him she wanted her money pulled from the scheme.

When he told her to trust him and try and stay calm she said she knew something was wrong. She then realised it was a scam and her lover was in on it as well. She knew he was her only link to her money, so played innocent and invited him over. While chatting she casually asked him to remind her what his surname was – and she claimed he gave her a different name to before.

The star then reportedly contacted his company, who didn’t recognise the name she’d given, but once she sent them a photograph, was contacted by the company lawyer who told her he was a receptionist at the firm. Following Marisha’s enquiry, the company investigated the man’s activity and brought him in for questioning. He reportedly confessed that he had taken her money and sent it to an account in Turkey. Because it was offshore, Marisha had no chance of getting it back.

Marisha said the dating scam was the “wost thing” that has happened to her in her life. “It’s the betrayal of it. Before it happens to you, you think people are inherently good, but there are evil people in this world. Professional scammers, for whom this is their job.”

When she tried to report it to the police, she was told they couldn’t do anything as she had given the money willingly, according to The Metro. She now reconises she had been a victim of organised crime and said a lot fo these men are on dating apps and “prey on vulnerable women”. Marisha is now in a happy relationship but said the whole situation had “messed” her up for a long time before realising she had fallen for a master manipulator.

Do you have a story to share? Email niamh.kirk@reachplc.com

Model and presenter Lisa Snowdon admits that her relationship history is actually one of the reasons she’s so happily loved-up with fiancé George Smart. The couple, who live together in London, first had a relationship more than 20 years ago when Lisa was working as a DJ at MTV and George was head of events.

But a combination of bad timing and some dodgy romances meant it was another two decades before they were both in the right place to appreciate what they could have together. She told us in an exclusive chat, “Relationships are about security, trust, communication and supporting each other. A healthy relationship is being respectful of each other, and each other’s needs, dreams and desires.”

Lisa continues, “I’ve had so many dodgy relationships in the past and they taught me so much about the things that make a good relationship. Proper communication is something I could never do. For years, I always found I had a lump in my throat and I felt like my throat chakra was completely squashed. I was like, ‘I can’t say that,’ or ‘I shouldn’t say this,’ because I felt like I was going to be judged.

“But I can say anything to George, and we’ll talk it through. The fact I can say and go to him with anything is the most important part of our relationship because nothing’s perfect, s**t happens, you lose jobs, win jobs, have life stresses, everything. But when I’m having a meltdown, George is there for me.”

When we chat to them, they’re looking blissfully happy and more than a little bit sun-kissed, which is not what you’d expect on a rainy February day. But as our amazing photographs show, the pair recently enjoyed something of a bucket list trip to the adults-only Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines resort in the Caribbean.

They have rarely done joint photoshoots or jobs together, but they invited us for a sneak peek at the special trip to celebrate Lisa’s 53rd birthday.

“We just spent every day together laughing and connecting,” Lisa beams. “When we’re both at home or working, I might be out all day or George might be out in meetings, so we don’t just get to sit and have lunch or dinners together.

“We both absolutely love travelling and we do it really well together. We like exploring, we like reading our books, going to the gym, and we like eating. In fact, eating might be at the top of the list! It was so stunning and we were swimming in the sea, hiking, riding bikes, trying all the local food, it was perfect.”

The couple got engaged in 2017 after George popped the question, and Lisa has been incredibly open in the past about being thankful that she never settled before he came along – again. But there’s still the big question of when she’ll walk down the aisle?

While the pair are clearly besotted and fully committed, it’s one of the very few things they’re not 100% on the same page about. When we ask them if they have any worries, however small, that getting married could actually change their pretty perfect dynamic, they give two different answers.

“It does a tiny bit for me,” Lisa says. “Deep down I do know it wouldn’t, but then I think, ‘Well my mum and dad’s marriage didn’t last,’ and some people say, ‘Don’t do it because it changes things.’ So there’s 90% of me that knows nothing would change, but a tiny hint of reservation where I think it would.”

Thankfully, though, George has no hesitation whatsoever and would happily marry Lisa tomorrow if they could manage the logistical nightmare of their friendship group being “dotted around the world ”.

He adds, “I know nothing would change, and I think that’s part of the way that this relationship works, you’ve got to have that bravery to keep doing the next step. And if you get married, it doesn’t alter anything. It’s not like we met each other six months ago so things are new. The only other thing it would change is that people would stop asking when we’re going to get married!”

Even with her 10% of reservation, when we ask what she thinks might change in a positive way, when they eventually do work out the logistics, Lisa beams and says, “Being able to call him ‘my husband’ and saying, ‘My husband’s coming soon, I’m just waiting for my husband!’ I think I prefer ‘my husband’ to ‘my fiancé’ – I’d love it!”

Lisa, who was spotted by a model agency scout when she was 19, has been travelling the world for much of her career and spent time living on both sides of the Atlantic. It’s also been a fairly similar experience for George, who runs a branding and communications firm.

So they want to make the most of the time they have together now that they’re reconnected. Health and wellness is a big part of their life together, be it going to the gym at 6.30am on a rainy day in London or getting in their 20,000 steps on a dream-like island in the Caribbean.

Now 53, Lisa, who chats all things ageing with various celebrity guests on her We’re Not Getting Any Younger podcast, still looks as incredible in her bikinis and tankinis as she did back in the day, but she admits it takes work and a certain mindset.

“I feel good in a bikini, but it’s the most exposed we ever are,” she laughs. “We don’t walk around in our underwear in front of other people normally, and then suddenly you’re on a beach wearing hardly any clothes, so you panic. But then you get there and nobody cares what you look like, and nor do you. You’ve got a Pina colada or a beer in your hand and you think, ‘We’re all in the same boat.’ So I just don’t worry about it.

“Obviously working out helps me feel good about myself, I get the endorphins and the boosts of serotonin. It’s part of my daily routine anyway so as long as I keep that up, I feel great. I think we put too much pressure on ourselves but I get it. We’re so exposed in front of people that we don’t know, but we don’t know them, we’re never going to see them again, so who really cares?!”

After getting back together a decade ago, Lisa and George, 45, are determined not to waste a moment of their time together. And coming into a relationship when you’ve already learnt a few hard lessons along the way, George tells us, means they haven’t wasted time on the things that don’t really matter.

It also means they know what they want and what they bring to the table. “We’ve known each other for about 23 years,” he says. “And that’s something we’re really proud of and there’s a lot of history there. That history is a great building block. I honestly think communication is vital.

“As anyone does at our kind of age, you acknowledge that you don’t have forever, so you can’t put stuff off. Even the little things. Yes, you could sit and spend another half an hour doing some work, or you can go to the butchers together, or whatever it is. You’ve really got to commit to being present with each other because it’s so easy to think, ‘Oh I’ll just finish this,’ or, ‘I’ll just watch the end of that,’ but then you miss out, and we don’t want that.

“Nothing’s perfect, but we talk to each other all the time, whatever’s going on in each other’s lives, because we’re best friends. I know that’s a bit of a cliché, but it’s really true.”

As well as making sure they’ve got healthy emotional intimacy, Lisa, who published her book Getting Started: Lessons In Life, Love And Menopause last year, says they’re on the same page when it comes to physical intimacy.

“We’re really, really touchy and tactile,” she shares. “We hug a lot, we kiss on the lips and we cuddle. We have a really lovely closeness. The most important thing for me at night is our little snuggles and our spooning. I love the connection and sometimes I notice that we go to sleep holding hands.

“I think it’s simply because we’re really grateful to have each other. Time is precious and you just don’t know what’s round the corner. You hear so many scary things with health and families and friends, so we’re very appreciative and very grateful for what we have, and we just really try to live in the moment. We try to do that with our families as well, we tell them we love them. Life is precious, we just need to act in the now.”

As for what’s next for the couple, Lisa says more travel is definitely on the horizon – with Chile, Peru, Thailand and Guatemala all high on the wish list. And it’s also not surprising that given how into their health and fitness they both are, this is an area they’re hoping to delve into more deeply as a couple.

George says they’ve even mooted the idea of hosting their own wellness retreats together. “Somewhere tropical and beautiful because we’re really into that,” says Lisa. “I love empowering women and not teaching per se, but showing people the things I’ve learnt that have worked for me. “Whether it’s movement, nutrition, or holistic therapies, that’s kind of where we’re looking.”

As for TV work, they’d also love to have their own travel show – but they have to agree on a title first. “Couples Travel,” George says, before Lisa quickly interjects and laughs, “Oh, we can come up with a better name than that!”

* Lisa Snowdon and George Smart stayed at Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. To find out more or to book, visit sandals.co.uk

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JB Gill opened up about his torn emotions when his young daughter was rushed to hospital last month.

The JLS star shares two children with wife Chloe Tangney: son Ace, 10, and daughter Chiara, six. Little Chiara ended up being cared for by medical professionals both at A&E and at home after a worrying health scare, while JB, 38, was away from home on the Strictly Come Dancing tour.

The X Factor’s JB spoke to the Mirror at the TV Choice Awards this week, and gave an update about Chiara’s recovery while also admitting how he struggled with being on tour during the family crisis.

When asked if Chiara had got the all clear, JB enthused: “Yeah, absolutely. She’s much better.” However, he also had some mixed news to share, revealing that the doctors hadn’t been able to clarify what had caused her sudden illness. “I don’t know what it was, still don’t know what it was,” he said.

“But yeah, she just basically had – her eye was swollen and she got an infection, and so obviously we just kind of erred on the side of caution, took her to the doctors, the GP, and they referred her.”

JB – who was a runner up on last year’s Strictly – added: “For me obviously it’s tough, because I was on the road at the time, travelling, and you’re always sort of wondering ‘Should I be coming home, do I need to come and support…?’

“Under normal circumstances that’s something I’d obviously be right there with Chlo, we’d all be there together for our daughter. But she was okay, she just obviously needed to have urgent care and attention, and she got that.”

Former dancer Chloe broke the news of Chiara’s illness last month, sharing photos of the young girl getting IV antibiotics and then being checked over by a professional back at home.

“When you get that gut feeling you can’t shift, this is your reminder to ALWAYS listen to it! I ended up taking Kiki to A&E a few days ago as I wasn’t happy with her eye, she didn’t have a stye she ended up having Periorbital Cellulitis and needing IV Anti-biotics straight away to get it under control,” Chloe wrote in her Instagram post, urging other parents to trust their instincts when it comes to their kids’ wellbeing.

She added at the time: “She’s finally on the mend and turning the corner, I can’t thank all the doctors and nurses in the Pedeatictis department at @kingscollegehospital and hospital at home team, Rachael & Kelly enough for being so lovely to her and looking after her your job is invaluable and we appreciate you all so much!

“Thank you to the NHS you really are living angels!! ‘#nhsheroes #appreciation #grateful.”

Although away from home on the Strictly tour, JB showed that he was very much still in touch with his family, commenting: “Baby girl… Love you,” beneath the sweet photos.

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Barrel leg jeans are the biggest denim trend to come about over the last year. It’s likely you’ve been seeing them cropping up, and this spring, more and more high-street retailers are dropping their own takes on the silhouette. I’ve been conflicted about the style ever since they became popular. On one hand, I think they perfectly combine that slouchy, relaxed look with a fashionable, cool-girl vibe. However, on the other I find they can look overly balloon-y and make proportions look a bit odd.

That has all changed, however, since I found my dream pair of barrel leg jeans from H&M. The best part is, I didn’t spend a fortune on them; in fact, they were less than £40.

I have tried on an endless amount of barrel silhouette jeans, and no pair ever felt truly right. I think my skeptcism with the trend led me to finding faults in any pair that had a shape too extreme, or as I’m 5ft 7, many styles came up for too short for my liking. Luckily, H&M came to the rescue. I’ve struggled with H&M jeans in the past, but their Barrel High Leg, £37.99, have officially converted me.

READ MORE: The lunchbreak buy: What to click ‘add to cart’ on today according to our fashion and beauty experts

READ MORE: Mirror team puts 5 pairs of gym leggings to the test to find which feel comfy and don’t fall down

Pros

• The comfiest jeans I’ve ever owned
• Available in 13 different washes
• Far more affordable than other barrel leg jeans
• Great fit for larger thighs and bums

Cons

• If you’re taller than 5ft 7, these will be too short
• The description says they are high-waisted, but I find them to be more of a mid-rise

H&M Barrel High Leg Jeans Review

When I first tried this pair on, I was really surprised by the softness and quality of the denim, considering the price tag. I hate overly stiff denim that feels restrictive, however, often the stiffness comes with the high quality feel so I have to suck it up. However, that’s not the case with this pair. They have that soft, relaxed fit while remaining thick and sturdy. I wore them to the office all day and it honestly didn’t even feel like I was wearing jeans.

On to the shape, as I’ve previously said, other barrel leg jeans I’ve tried often leave me feeling out of proportion and too balloon-y, which is not the look I’m going for. H&M’s silhouette perfectly toes the line between not enough (and therefore just baggy, rather than barrel leg) and too extreme.

The barrel shape is still pretty visible, but instead of over-exagerrating my proportions, H&M’s pair actually give a really fantastic shape. I don’t have an hourglass shape, and these jeans help to create the illusion of one.

In terms of the length, they are perfect for me at 5ft 7. I think barrel legs jeans look the best when ending right on the ankle, no longer or shorter, and that’s exactly where this pair sit. That’s why I think if you’re any taller, these could turn into ankle swingers.

The only issue for me is that I’m annoyingly in between-sizes. I usually fit perfectly into size 10 H&M denim, however, this size 10 pair run a little big at the waist, while the 8 is slightly too small. I’m not too mad at this though, as I prefer to have a little room for comfortability.

This pair work really well for larger thighs and bums, however, H&M also have a Curvy Fit available for the same price if you find the waist to be too gapey.

Another pair I would be keen to try out is River Island’s Yellow Denim Barrel Jeans, £45. Butter yellow is a huge trend this year, and I like the idea of combining this colour trend with the barrel silhouette.

M&S also have their own take on the barrel leg with their High Waisted Carrot Leg Ankle Grazer Jeans, £39.50. This pair have rave reviews from shoppers praising the flattering fit and value for money.