Category Entertainment News

Strictly Come Dancing picked up an award at the 2025 TV BAFTAs thanks to a public vote after being snubbed in other categories but Chris McCausland was noticeable by his absence

Winner Chris McCausland shared why he didn’t attend the BAFTAs – and it was nothing to do with being convinced Gavin & Stacey would win!

The drama surrounding Strictly Come Dancing did not appear to put off the public who voted Dianne Buswell and Chris’ waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone as the most memorable moment in TV. But he wasn’t there to pick up the award, leaving his partner to do the honours.

Dianne was at the ceremony to pick up the gong – which recognised a special dance routine with her celebrity partner, blind comedian Chris.

The winning couple’s “blackout” dance, which went viral on social media, saw him place his hands over her eyes as the room faded to black, mimicking his everyday experience.

When the lights returned, the 47-year-old was spinning around with Dianne on his shoulders as pyrotechnics flared in the background.

On stage last night, she gushed: “In one minute and 30 seconds of a dance, I feel like this told such a story. A story of hope, determination, resilience and vulnerability. This moment meant so much to the both of us, so I’m just so thrilled that we have this.”

Chris wasn’t there for his big moment and explained why. He was thrilled to take home the trophy – and teased that the pair could fall out if they both don’t get one! Taking to Instagram, he told his followers why we was absent and couldn’t accept the BAFTA.

He said in a video: “We only went and won a BAFTA! I’m very proud of her representing the two of us. Her speech was amazing. I’m actually in Warrington, I’ve had two shows here today and these are the shows I cancelled to do Strictly…. I couldn’t exactly cancel a second time to go to the BAFTAs, could I?

“And to be honest I thought Gavin & Stacey could win! Thank you so much for voting. I just hope we get two of them or me and Dianne are going to fall out trying to share that thing aren’t we!” The clip, filmed in the theatre, ended with cheers from the team.

The moment won over scenes that aired on The Traitors, Rivals, Bridgerton, Gavin and Stacey and Mr Bates vs The Post Office. Strictly is normally up for the Best Entertainment Programme but has been snubbed this year for the first time ever in the show’s history.

Instead, the Entertainment Programme is made up of nominees The 1% Club (ITV1), Michael McIntyre’s Big Show ( BBC One), Taskmaster ( Channel 4 ) and Would I Lie To You? (BBC One).

Last year, Amanda Abbington, 51, alleged she was subjected to “inappropriate, mean, nasty bullying” in a “toxic environment” while she was a contestant on Strictly in 2023. The BBC upheld “some, but not all” of the allegations made by Amanda about her dance partner Giovanni Pernice – who has always denied the accusations.

The Bafta TV Awards show began in Traitors style with Alan Cumming wearing the well-known dark cloak in the Scottish Highlands castle. Cumming, who described himself as the “devilishly handsome” host of the US Traitors, was summoned to the Traitor turret and asked to host the Bafta TV Awards this year.

Taking on a new sinister role for Paramount+ in The Game, Robson Green had a great time filming for the thriller in Spain. His son, Taylor, 25, was even able to join him.

Robson Green flew abroad for his latest project. But amid his hectic filming schedule, he managed to find some downtime with his son, Taylor, 25.

The actor, 60, it portraying a mysterious newcomer in Paramount’s new thriller The Game alongside Sunetra Sarker and his former Being Human co-star, Jason Watkins.

Here, Jason plays Huw, a retired detective still tormented by the case he never cracked – the Ripton Stalker. Years earlier, the serial killer narrowly evaded capture, leaving Huw with nothing but the memory of their voice – and a haunting sense of failure.

Despite the series’ dark subject matter, the shoot itself was anything but grim. Filming in Spain felt like a summer adventure for the cast, with daily group drives to set and plenty of off-camera laughs.

“It felt like going to summer school,” Sunetra says, “We were living like students.” A lively WhatsApp group kept the fun going. Robson Green jokes: “I’m glad you don’t have eyes on it!”

The Basque Country provided another major perk: incredible food. “Many a Spanish meal was had in the Basque Country,” Robson says, “I was certainly well looked after.”

He even got to share the experience with Taylor, who visited him during filming. “We spent time in San Sebastian and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao,” he says, “He’s a history nut so he loved it!”

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Robson shares Taylor with his ex-wife Vanya Seager, to whom he was married from 2001 to 2013. And though Taylor is rarely seen in the public eye, Robson has often said they share an “extremely close” bond.

More than anything, Robson was thrilled to work with Jason again. When his agent mentioned Jason’s involvement, he signed up immediately for The Game.

“I love reconnecting with people I’ve worked with before,” Robson says, “Watching their careers and journeys from afar, it’s a joy.” Even the demanding schedule – which initially worried Robson – turned out to be a blessing. “We shot a huge showdown with Jason in just half a day,” Robson says, “What I thought would be stressful was actually joyous.”

In the original script, Huw was a keen runner – but Jason quickly vetoed that. “I can’t really run anymore because of my attempts at professional football as a teenager,” he says.

“My knees aren’t what they should be. So I made it quite clear early on that I wouldn’t be running, only cycling and playing golf.” Robson still can’t get over his pal’s skills, grinning: “He’s got a very good swing!”

Sunetra Sarker, on the other hand, plays Huw’s long-suffering wife Alice – and she couldn’t be more different from her on-screen character. “Alice was the voice of reason,” she says, “It’s very different from the real Sunetra.”

Alice and Huw start the series close, but his obsession with Patrick drives a wedge between them. It’s not the first time Huw’s struggled. “He was sectioned for a couple of weeks,” Sunetra says, “They’ve rebuilt things but his obsession triggers her trauma too.”

Sunetra loved working with Jason and Robson – and her mum was impressed too. “She couldn’t believe I was working with Robson Green,” she says.

Both actors are veterans with long careers filled with iconic roles, from Touching Evil and Wire in the Blood for Robson to The Crown and Line of Duty for Jason.

Behind the scenes, Sunetra and Jason built up Alice and Huw’s bond by staying in character, even off camera. “They’ve got these pet names and in-jokes,” she says.

“Jason and I did the same whenever we could.” Jason adds: “But the more Huw tries to convince Alice he’s right about Patrick, the more insane he seems. He wants peace in his retirement but he can’t let this case go.”

ITV Lorraine presenter Ranvir Singh was forced to pull out of hosting the show on Friday after she was rushed to hospital and underwent surgery for a ruptured appendix

TV presenter Ranvir Singh has received an outpour of support from fans after revealing a recent health ordeal landed her in the hospital for emergency surgery. The 47-year-old, known for filling in for Lorraine Kelly on ITV’s Lorraine and for hosting Good Morning Britain, took to Instagram with an update and pictures showing her pre- and post-surgery contrasts.

In one photo, she looked chic in a white suit at the ITV studios, while others show her in a hospital bed connected to medical gear, including an IV drip. She captioned the post, explaining: “Had a fab time as always hosting @lorraine last Wednesday wearing this gorgeous linen white pinstripe suit, felt a bit drained and foggy in the morning but nothing a couple of coffees couldn’t sort out.”

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Her story continued with a shocking turn: “I’m off air – all good – at 1030am I feel this sudden stomach ache. I stay in bed all day. Turns out I had a ruptured appendix and had urgent surgery at midnight on Thursday!

“Woke up 5am on Friday morning, high on anaesthetic and certain I could get into work to host the show as normal [laughing emoji]..

“Pretty nasty few days, the bacteria had spread and infected my blood etc and told to take this week off by @jadeens I’m sore and shuffling around, can’t drive for a week, and no exercise for 4 weeks (! ) so really it’s the boredom that will kill me! Ps. Anyone else have this horrendous shoulder pain afterwards? It’s mad isn’t it!”, reports the Express.

Some of her pals and colleagues were quick to show their support for Ranvir. In the comments, GMB’s Alex Beresford penned: “Awwww wishing you a speedy recovery xxxx.”

Emmerdale’s Bradley Riches chimed in with: “Sending my love xoxoxo,” as I’m a Celeb’s Melvin Odoom dropped an ok-sign emoji. Fans also sent their good vibes, with one posting: “Wishing you a swift and full recovery.”

Another said: “Get well soon! Take it easy!” A third shared: “Hope you feel better soon.”

ITV’s Lorraine saw an unexpected presenter change on Friday after Ranvir had to opt-out at the last second – and now we know why. Regular viewers got quite the surprise when they switched on to find Andi Peters steering the ship after Ranvir was out due to sickness.

He relayed a message to the audience, announcing: “First thing’s first, I’ve just got to say get well soon to Ranvir, who can’t be here today.”

With a bit of a laugh, he quipped, “Which is why they’ve brought in a bloke in a blinding orange shirt – just to ensure you’re wide awake this morning.”

Further, he expressed heartfelt sentiments, “Get well soon Ranvir, we’re sending all our love your way.”

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The BAFTA TV Awards ended on Sunday night with a boozy afterparty. The stars let loose with their pals after a long night of gongs and speeches

The BAFTA TV Awards saw the UK’s biggest stars hit up Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London for a glitzy night of accolades, appetisers and alcohol. This year, the award ceremony was dominated by Netflix hit series Baby Reindeer, Mr Bates Vs the Post Office, Disney+’s Rivals and Slow Horses.

Maura Higgins made her highly anticipated return to the red carpet, marking the first time since her kiss scandal with McFly’s Danny Jones. The married singer shocked when he was filmed kissing Maura at the BRIT Awards earlier this year. Meanwhile, Alan Cumming was forced to apologise after Danny Dyer’s expletive-filled acceptance speech.

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It was a night of chaos, tears and laughs for the stars before they headed to a boozy afterparty to celebrate their well-deserved wins.

After a long night of celebrating, the stars were seen leaving the bash one by one as they got into black cabs to go home for a long-nights rest.

Una Healy was spotted hopping into a cab looking bleary-eyed as she smiled for the cameras before heading off home.

Meanwhile, EastEnders icon Danny Dyer grabbed a quick cigarette outside the venue as he took a break from the chaos inside. The star held onto his award as he took a drag of his cigarette.

Danny was presented the BAFTA for Best Male Performance in a Comedy and he couldn’t hide his delight earlier in the night.

The former EastEnders man won the accolade for his performance in Sky Comedy series Mr Bigstuff. When it cameto accepting the prize, Dyer admitted: “The acting was so bad it was funny”.

He then said: “Girls – Sunni, Dani, I done it,” before breaking the rules, emphatically saying: “I f***ing done it.” The 47-year-old star’s vocabulary left Alan Cumming needing to say he was “asked to apologise” for the language from Danny.

Meanwhile, Bridgerton star Luke Newton and his girlfriend Antonia Roumelioti were in their own worlds as they embraced each other and smooched outside the building.

Luke had his hands around her hips as she wrapped her arms around his neck for a quick kiss before leaving the party.

Pals Rob Rinder and Rylan Clark, dressed in all black outfits, hopped into a cab together after bagging an award for Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour in the Factual Entertainment Category.

Rob glared right at the camera lens as he got comfortable in the cab while This Morning presenter Rylan – who had a pal sitting on his lap – was waiting for them to leave.

The Inbetweeners star Emily Atack stunned in a long-sleeved form-fitting dress as she patiently waited in her taxi alone before heading home.

Tired after a long night of celebrations, Emily had her head down and covered her face with her hand.

The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman gave up on her high heels and held the pair of white shoes in her hands as she walked barefoot out the venue.

She didn’t have a care in the world as she smiled and laughed at the cameras. On Sunday night, the show she hosts was nominated for three gongs – standing to win the Best Reality award, Best Entertainment Performance award, and the public-voted Memorable Moment award.

But – to the outrage of devoted fans – the series failed to win a single gong. Channel 4’s The Jury: Murder Trial proved triumphant in the Best Reality category – while show host Claudia Winkleman failed to bring home the Best Entertainment Performance award, losing out to Joe Lycett for his Channel 4 show Late Night Lycett.

Despite having a loyal fanbase, the series also failed to win the public voted Memorable Moment award – and Strictly Come Dancing waltzed off with it instead for a powerful dance performed by Dianne Buswell and Chris McCausland.

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Billie Shepard, who is set to star in a new fly-on-the-wall series with sister Sam, talks fashion, parenting – and the trend that worries her when it comes to her eldest, Nelly

For Billie Shepherd, fashion isn’t just about looking good – it’s about making life easier for busy mums like her. And when you’re juggling three kids, a business and a camera crew, looks that are simple and stylish make all the difference. The 35-year-old recently shared the exciting news that she’s reuniting with her sister Sam Faiers for a new fly-on-the-wall TV series, four years after The Mummy Diaries ended.

She teased in an Instagram post, “The new series will follow us as we navigate our careers, motherhood and relationships – and we can’t wait to share this next chapter with you all. Coming soon.” In the meantime, she’s been busy with her new kidswear collection for George at Asda, and it’s clear her own kids – Nelly, ten, Arthur, eight, and Margot, three – are at the front of her mind when it comes to the range, she reveals exclusively to OK!.

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She tells us, “I’d never design something I wouldn’t dress my own children in. I’m always very inspired by the kids and what they like to wear, especially when it comes to fabrics.”

With Nelly starting to develop her own sense of style, Billie admits dressing her can be a bit of a challenge these days. “The age Nelly’s at now, and I’ve spoken to other mums who say the same, it’s the hardest age to dress them. She’s still my little girl and she’s not a teenager yet, but it’s that in-between stage.

“They want to feel grown up, but you still want them to be dressed appropriately for their age. “Nelly has her own sense of style. She’s quite an effortlessly cool chick. She’s not into bows or sequins. She doesn’t like much fuss going on with her clothes.”

Billie admits her husband Greg is happy to leave the styling to her. Laughing, she recalls once coming home to find Margot had been out for the day in what looked like a pair of pyjamas. “It was a little two-piece outfit, but I did say to Greg, ‘Really?!’” she says. “I usually take control when it comes to dressing the kids.”

Even when she’s busy at work, Billie makes sure everything’s prepped at home. “If I’m not there in the morning, I’ll fold up outfits for Arthur and Margot and put them in their rooms,” she says. “Nelly’s great now and gets herself ready.”

Billie and Greg tied the knot in the Maldives in 2019 and have long shared their family life on social media and on their hit show The Family Diaries , which recently ended after six seasons. At the time, Billie explained she’d like the young family to be able to grow up “away from the cameras”.

Though her life is packed with filming, fashion collabs and family duties, the former TOWIE star still makes time for fitness and self-care. “I try to eat as healthily as I can. I don’t really eat processed foods and I’m big on cooking from scratch,” she reveals. “I’m also really active. I love weight training and I enjoy reformer pilates too. I think I’ve found a good balance. I’m not someone who says, ‘I’d never eat carbs.’ I love my food and I enjoy it, so I try to keep it balanced.”

But she admits she doesn’t like to go to the gym with Greg. “It just doesn’t really work for us. I can’t take it seriously,” she says. “I don’t want to be in the gym with him. It’s just not for me.”

When it comes to keeping the kids active, Billie says it’s second nature. “Arthur plays football two or three times a week and Nelly does horse riding and netball. They love swimming and whenever we can we’re out in the garden. We’ve even got a netball post up now.”

Billie is also mindful of what her children eat. “I try to avoid too much sugar,” she says. “Easter was hard. I found an Easter egg hidden in Arthur’s bedroom drawer the other day! I always keep berries, apples and oranges in the fridge so they have healthy snacks.”

As a fashion lover herself, Billie’s own style has evolved with age. “I definitely know what suits me now,” she says. “Day to day I’m super casual, but when I get the chance to dress up I love it. I’d say my style is quite classic – it’s all about the fit and shape of things.”

She’s a fan of mixing high street finds with a few designer touches. “I’m very much a high street girl,” she says. “I’ve got the odd designer bag or pair of shoes, but most of my clothes are high street.”

It’s a similar story with her beauty routine: it’s simple but effective. “I use a cleansing soap bar in the shower that’s got little beads in it,” she says. “Then I use moisturiser and eye cream. I’ve also started using a red light LED mask that has a setting for pigmentation, which I suffer from quite badly, and I’ve really noticed a difference.”

But with TikTok fuelling a rise in younger girls experimenting with skincare, Billie’s having to lay down the law to her children. “Nelly loves the idea of skincare but I’ve had to be really strict with her because she’s still so young,” she says. “I don’t want her to clog up her beautiful skin too early.

“We’ve got a rule. I’ve only bought her a couple of really natural, two-ingredient products. I’ve explained everything to her because I know it’s a craze.”

“When you’ve got a full outfit ready to go, it just makes life so much easier as a mum,” she says.– she’s got all these brightly-packaged products on her dressing table. I’ve had to be really strict with her, because she’s still so young – I don’t want her to clog up her beautiful skin too early.

I’ve told her, “You cannot put that on your skin!”” Billie explains. “I’ve bought her a couple of really natural bits, TV star has become known for her stylish mum and baby collections, and it’s her role at home that inspires her designs, she shares.

Billie’s George at Asda children’s spring range is available online and in store, with pieces from newborn to 14 years.

EXCLUSIVE: Playboy model and wrestling commentator Mayra Dias Gomes has made a public plea as she opened up on her sobriety journey and pain felt after friend Shifty Shellshock’s death

A Playboy model has shared a candid message on Mental Health Awareness week as she calls on the public to “stop rewarding perfection”. Brazilian-born model, writer and wrestling commentator, Mayra Dias Gomes, instead thinks people should “start honouring persistence”.

Her plea comes as she continues her sobriety journey. Mayra, 37, exclusively told the Mirror: “I’ve been sober for over four years, but sobriety is about so much more than abstaining. Some days I move through life with clarity and strength. Other days, I’m just trying to survive.

“There’s space now for reflection, for growth, and for peace I never used to believe was possible. That’s the work. I’m still in it.”

And she admitted that she is opening up in public as she feels it is important for those in the public eye to talk openly. “When people in the public eye talk openly, it gives others permission to drop their mask too,” she said.

“So many people are suffering quietly because they don’t want to be seen as broken. But silence can be fatal. Talking doesn’t solve everything, but it lets light in. It reminds us that we don’t have to carry everything alone.

Mayra also praised her close friend Shifty Shellshock for publicly sharing his struggles prior to his death.

The Crazy Town singer, whose real name was Seth Bizer, died aged 49 in June last year. His death shocked his fans, with the band’s manager, Howie Hubberman, revealing that drugs played a role in his death.

At the time, he told PEOPLE: “Seth Binzer, after struggling with addiction and Crazy Town’s rapid success with ‘Butterfly,’ never was able to reach out on a more successful level to deal with his addictions. We all tried, but ultimately we all failed, or Shifty would still be here.”

The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner later concluded that the effects of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine were responsible for the star’s death, and ruled the manner of death as accidental.

Mayra knew of the star’s struggles firsthand. Speaking of their connection and her loss, she said: “It’s been almost a year, and I still feel like I’m grieving.

“There’s something about losing someone who meant so much to your younger self that just stays with you. I often talk about him with one of his best friends, Oscar Brown, who misses him dearly. “

Mayra explained how Shifty was “someone whose lyrics shaped me long before I ever knew him personally”. She later went on to be romantically connected to the star and admitted: “During those times, I saw firsthand what his struggles looked like in the everyday moments.”

She candidly revealed how Shifty would always be open with her about his mental health. “I think he trusted that I could see what was beneath the surface, and that I wouldn’t judge him for it,” she explained.

“That’s the kind of safety we shared. And he was really proud of me for getting sober. He always wanted to go to meetings together.”

Mayra, also praised Shifty for allowing the world to “witness parts of his journey” through shows like Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew and Sober House. In them, he “allowed people to see not just his pain, but also his deep desire to heal,” she went on.

“In many ways, he used his music to metabolise that pain, turning his experiences into something others could hold onto. He never pretended to be perfect. He wanted to get well, and at times, he was.”

Just eight weeks before Shifty’s death, the star took to Instagram to open up about his struggles with sobriety. He shared at the time: “I’m a lover than a fighter …but the one I need to love more Instead of fight with is myself .. mr shifty true Love # Sober alive and grateful (sic)”.

Mayra went on to share a candid message that she would have told Shifty if he was still here. “You’ll be remembered not just for the struggle, but for the strength it took to keep going,” she emotionally said.

“For your talent, your passion, your resilience. For the way you turned pain into poetry and chaos into sound. You weren’t defined by addiction, you were so much more than that. You were a father, a friend, a force. You mattered because you made people feel less alone. And that doesn’t go away. That stays forever.

And in a plea to the world of showbiz, Mayra added: “Behind every headline is a human being, often isolated, often struggling, and rarely offered real help. The system glamorises the highs and abandons people during the lows. That has to change.

“We need structures that protect, not exploit. Accessible, ongoing mental health and addiction support should be standard, not optional.”

*If you are struggling with mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk