Do you have any trouble finding Christmas gifts for the man in your life? With our handpicked last-minute gift guide for men featuring items from LEGO to Antler, we’re here to assist you.
If you haven’t yet decided what to buy, you might be starting to panic a little as of the few weeks until Christmas Day. Finding the ideal gift for him is undoubtedly one of the most difficult aspects of Christmas shopping. Whether this be your husband, boyfriend, dad, nephew or brother, it can be difficult to find presents they actually want and will re-use.
We’ve compiled the best Christmas gift guide for him to fit every budget and interest, so to save you time looking for the perfect gift and any last-minute frantic searching.
Some of the biggest dramas on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here aren’t actually shown to the public.
You would think there was nowhere to hide in the notorious ITV jungle, but there are many scenes that never make it on television because cameras cover every inch of the camp. According to former campmates, rules are often broken and meltdowns are aplenty.
We examine some of the darkest backstage secrets and dramatic moments that viewers have missed over the years, including sex confessions, smuggled goods, and one actor who even had to be sedated.
Begging for meals
Jake Quickenden reportedly pleaded with the crew to provide food to the campfire (Rex).
Before signing up for the ITV show, the actors from I’m A Celeb receive a “talk of doom” before being given the necessary information. The film crew is frequently forced to fend for themselves by begging for food, but more often than not these strict rations come as a shock.
“People start getting hungry, then if it rains people start getting moody”, 2014 campmate Jake Quickenden once told The Sun, admitting he tried to scrounge food. Explaining how the crew are banned from helping, he continued: “Even when you walk into trials the cameramen don’t speak to you. That shut out the world around you. One of them was eating a Tic Tac and I said: ‘ Mate, I couldn’t have a Tic Tac could I? ‘ And he was like: ‘ I can’t give you a Tic Tac, I’ll get sacked'”.
Smuggled goods
Georgia Toffolo was allowed to take concealer in though others weren’t (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
No food items are permitted, just one luxury item, like a pillow or a photo. Hugo Taylor, the 2012 star, stowed a bag of salt and pepper sachets in his backpack, breaking the law.
In 2013, model Amy Willerton was able to sneak in an entire bag of makeup and survive for a whopping ten days. And TV chef Gino D’Acampo stuffed his pillow full of illegal goods. “I stuffed it with a lot of salt, sugar, four different teas and 10 sachets of coffee”, he said. It was also present in my shoes. I thought, ‘ If the security guys catch the stuff in the pillow, I still have the stuff in the shoes'”.
Georgia Toffolo, a 2017 star, was allowed to apply concealer once per day to cover her acne, despite the makeup ban. Because Georgia’s skin is sensitive to sun, it has always had issues, according to a source. “She’s been allowed access to concealer on medical grounds. It’s annoyed other female campmates who are jealous”.
Weird things are happening.
After leaving the jungle (Rex), Brian Conley claimed he needed to be sedated.
Hugo added that camp members vowed to put their vows to the grave after experiencing extreme hunger in some “very strange happenings” there. He claimed that there were some incredibly strange things that the jungle had that he had never and probably never will have spoken about.
“Things happened off camera because people had no food, because there was no food, or because they had specific requirements for their diets or medication intake. Some people stopped]taking] their medication which caused real problems. Which was never televised. That’s our jungle secret”.
Brian Conley, a comedian in the same year, quit after ten days because he was exhausted and malnourished, ending up in a sedated state. Despite producers’ demands, he claimed he stopped taking his anti-depressants. At the time, Brian said: “It was bad, because it was out of my control and it was their decision. I couldn’t lie to them. I’ve taken these tablets for 15 years.
I’m very proud that I kept my guns and said, “Well, I have to go.” I feel very proud that I didn’t saunter out and walk straight into the Versace]hotel] – that I had to be sedated because of exhaustion.
You’re looking at someone who doesn’t need anti-depressants, and I’m very proud that I made it, “and I think that’s because I did.” ITV is a large, multinational corporation that needs to execute their plans, and I have to bring these tablets in.
Escape bids
Rex made a break for freedom with Jake Quickenden and Jimmy Bullard.
For the safety of the contestants, a security boundary circles the camp’s perimeter. However, Jake and Jimmy Bullard once attempted to escape after being caught in the act and taken back to camp.
“Me and Jimmy, actually one day did a runner and wanted to see how far we could get”, Jake previously recalled. “And we got that far that we actually saw somebody, and he was full camouflage, under a bush, with a net, under a netted bush kind of thing. He just popped out and said: ‘ Go back to camp. ‘ We returned to camp after we s**t ourselves. Then, we were called back into Bushtelegraph and terminated.
Sex confessions
Jorgie Porter made a raunchy confession about ‘ self-love ‘ (Rex Features)
The campmates frequently share more than they want because they have nothing to do but squabble and chat. And some of it is so NSFW that producers are forced to cut it, such as when Jorgie Porter discussed having sex with herself. In 2015 the Hollyoaks star made a steamy confession about “self-love” but only a snippet was shown on screen of her admitting, “I’m gonna regret that”.
Secret vitamins
According to Hugo Taylor, they were given emergency vitamins (Rex) to boost energy.
If the celebrities leave the challenges with no food, they must rely on rice and beans for their daily needs. And producers had to step in and provide vitamins to campmates because they were so hungry, Hugo claimed to Cosmopolitan.
“At one point it was so bad, no one was doing anything. People were just wasting away, lying down doing nothing because they literally couldn’t move”, he said. “Producers brought a bag of orange powder that contained electrolytes. I mixed some of it with my beverage, and it felt like pure adrenaline. I immediately crashed afterward. But they were like, ‘ We have to give them something. ‘”
Modesty smock
Jimmy Bullard wasn’t a fan of the modesty smock (Rex)
Contestants in series one now receive what is essentially a sheet with a hole for a head so they can get changed without flashing their bits in response to complaints about a lack of privacy. Co-creator and executive producer Richard Cowles said: “I invented what I called a ‘ modesty smock ‘ – basically, a sheet with a hole to put your head through. It turns out to be exactly what they desired. We’ve used it ever since, and the design hasn’t changed. However, not everyone wants to “spare their blushes”!
*I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here finishes tonight at 9pm on ITV
As a smart alternative to Lidl for Christmas dinner, Oddbox offers £8 “wonky” veg boxes.
After achieving fame on the show and winning the £50, 000 prize, 26-year-old Sanam Harrinanan and Kai Fagan, both 26, have opened up about their careers and finances.
The couple got engaged in April after meeting and falling in love during the show’s winter season in early 2023. Unlike most successful islanders, however, both chose to return to their day jobs once back in the real world, instead of becoming full time influencers. Now, Kai is back at school as a PE teacher, with Sanam returned to work as a social worker.
In a new interview, both reality TV stars shared how “passionate” they were about their careers, and made it clear that quitting wouldn’t have been an option. We both felt very confident in our careers and our passions, so it’s true that if you go on Love Island and then go back to work, you’re unsuccessful. It’s a case of living the best of both worlds”, Sanam explained.
Kai works as a PE teacher, while Sanam is a social worker (Getty Images)
The couple revealed that they’re not ‘ materialistic, ‘ and turn down major deals in order to follow their true passions (Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Talking to the Daily Mail, she added that they both valued feeling that they were “being impactful” with their work and “making a difference”, with both loving working with kids. “I wasn’t on the show for a career change. Kai continued, “I was there for the experience and the chance to meet somebody.”
After the show, the couple revealed that they don’t use money to influence decisions that aren’t actually their own. Kai explained that he wouldn’t want to feel like he “couldn’t be himself” online, and didn, t want to have to churn out content for money. His girlfriend completely concurred with him, saying that she prefers to accept less than to “get a six figure deal.”
After leaving the villa, Kai also explained how he was with money, revealing that the couple only received £300 per week while on the show and then left without jobs lined up, so the prize money was crucial for tiding them over while they recovered. Thankfully, both Sanam and Kai shared that they didn’t care about big brands or luxury splurges, and divulged that they didn’t feel the need to use their prize money on anything “extravagant”.
Kai added that he was “quite materialistic” years ago, but is now more of a Primark man. Similarly, Sanam shared that she was more of a saver than a spender. The social worker blared that the prize money had helped her and Kai find their first home together, as well as supporting her mother and other members of her family.
She explained in a post earlier this year that she had passed all of her exams and that she was fully qualified as a social worker, and that she had added some wise words about being in the public eye. This serves as a reminder that your career and image can be saved. You can accomplish anything you intend to. Stay true to yourself always”, she wrote on Instagram.
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Molly-Mae Hague, a former Love Island star, shared photos of her and her newborn daughter’s festive day out.
The businesswoman and reality star, 25, shares Bambi, two, with her ex-fiancé Tommy Fury. The actress keeps her fans informed on her life by sharing photos of her family life on social media. Little Bambi was a big hit when Molly-Mae made sure to take her to meet Santa Claus as the holidays were approaching.
She and her adorable baby went to a Christmas market farm, but she was reluctant to meet Father Christmas. In a snap shared online, Molly-Mae held onto Bambi as they stood next to Santa. Molly-Mae looked delighted to be there while Bambi burst into tears in her mother’s arms.
Bambi wasn’t impressed with Santa Claus (Instagram/ @mollymae)
Molly-Mae and Bambi enjoyed a festive day out (Instagram/ @mollymae)
Molly-Mae captioned the hilarious photo: “I feel like the toddler crying with Santa pic is obligatory, to be honest x”. Thankfully, Bambi was a lot happier when they explored the donkey pen. In a fluffy fleece with little cherries emblazoned on it, Barbie looked adorable. Additionally, her mother tied her hair in two tiny buns. “Saturday fun”, Molly-Mae captioned the post.
Bambi is seen enjoying some of the market, according to her post. Molly-Mae wrote: “Mummy’s girl”. Following Molly-Mae’s revealing of her Christmas plans this year, this comes. Molly-Mae revealed in an online question-and-answer session with followers on Instagram that she is looking forward to Christmas because she will be bringing her family together for a festive gathering.
Asked what her plans for Christmas are, the reality star revealed: “I’m hosting!!! I’m so excited! I can’t wait to have everyone here and make it super special”. She did not, however, reveal if she will invite Tommy, 25, to the celebrations following their shock split announcement in August.
The two were engaged in 2023’s summer, and it had once seemed like they would win. However, this summer, the engagement ended. Now that Molly-Mae’s toddler daughter has been acting up, just months after the shocking split was discovered, she has revealed.
The influencer previously claimed that Bambi had started hitting her, and she later confirmed that the violence is ongoing and that she is trying to avoid taking it personally. Molly-Mae wrote: “No it hasn’t gotten any better yet. It’s so strange as she only does it with me, my mum and my sister… no one else!? Never did it to anyone in the nursery or those who were present with her. It’s like she knows who it’ll upset the most”.
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Harry Derbridge, a television star, has never been one to back down when it comes to discussing his recovery from the shock of the betrayal of Junaid Ahmed and Joe Blackman. In the final episode of the ITVBe show, viewers witnessed Joe and Junaid hooking up in one of the most explosive storylines TOWIE has ever seen. However, the 30-year-old’s perception is that the past is firmly in the past, and he tells OK! that he credits the enormous public support he’s received for guiding him through a “bad place.” He said: “I am in such a better place. In Cyprus, when it all happened, I don’t even remember it… I was there but not there. I’m so happy that I’ve overcome this. Time is a healer”.
Harry – who first appeared on TOWIE in 2010 – continued: “I will always be scarred by the situation and that scar will stay with me into my new relationships. However, I’m pleased that two people have revealed their true selves to me. I believed I would still be in a bad place at this point, but I’m fortunate that I managed to come together. Now, not only is the TOWIE OG filming a 90-minute Christmas special, Harry has revealed that he’s connected with someone new but they’re based down under. However, the pair haven’t even met yet. He explained: “I am seeing someone. It is early days. It is so early, we haven’t even met! He lives on the other side of the world, in Australia. I’m going for two weeks – to go on a first date”!.
Since last summer, Joe Blackman and Harry have been dating (Dave Benett/Getty Images for Sol de Janeiro).
Harry said ‘ time is a healer ‘ following his fall-out with Junaid (Dave Benett/Getty Images for Maybelline)
The star, who is cousins with fellow TOWIE alum, Amy Childs, has dubbed this time in his life as a “new chapter”. He said: “I’ve never been. I’m dreading the flight, I’ve never been on one that long. The first part lasts eight hours, the second thirteen. It is a new chapter. We have dates over FaceTime. He’s very handsome. I’m going to take my time. It’s the other side of the world, so it can’t be rushed”!. Harry has no doubt had a difficult time filming the Christmas special, as he has already stated he will never forgive them, despite the fact that he is looking forward to the future.
Harry explained: “I have only seen them once so far this Christmas special. That’s going to change today. There’s a lot of stuff that happened. The last time we saw TOWIE everyone was on the phone, going”, They’ve broken up… “I look at them and think”, You ain’t real. They may try to hurt me or rub it in my face, but I’m just seeing them for who they are right now. I will never forgive them, ever. And Joe’s apology was not a genuine apology. He apologized, and he later called me a liar. I just walked off with my head in the end. I am proud of myself. The person you last saw on screen? I’ve changed a lot since then. I turned my back, smiled, and carried on as they had to walk in yesterday. Harry ended with a heartbreaking six-word statement: “They don’t hurt me any more”.
On ITVBe and ITVX, The Only Way Is Essexmas airs on Sunday, December 15th, at 9 p.m.
Reigning Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas, 64, has voiced her pet peeve with contestants.
The Queen of Latin opened up about how some celebrity hopefuls have let her down on the show, while talking to JLS star JB Gill, 38, on Saturday’s show. The musician and his partner Lauren Oakley recently performed Requiem for a tower, which is their musical composition.
The judges were all blown away by his dancing skills, and scored him an almost-perfect 39. When I can actually see improvement and you have saved it for the final, “I love to see it,” JB said. You brought everything to that”, Shirley said of the impressive performance.
She then made the remarks, “My criticism of Paso Dobles has always been that they have the celebrity star in their lap while the professional does the work.” Shirley made it clear that JB and Lauren weren’t guilty of the offence, telling the pro dancer, “You, young lady, had him starting out from the very beginning. You had him rotating, turning, he was in shadow. You carried the risk with the cape, which you flawlessly carried out, and you did everything that a Paso Doble lover would. You went up a gear. Well done”.
The judge reacted indignantly to celebrities who allowed professional dancers to “do all the work” during challenging (PA) performances.
Former X Factor contestant JB earned a full 40 points for his second dance, a salsa set to the upbeat track Red Alert by Basement Jaxx, in addition to beating Shirley with his pasa doble. The judge playfully mocking Paul Hollywood on the Great British Bake Off stage while JB performed so well that Craig gave him a handshake.
Some fans at home believe that Shirley may be unfairly judging other people despite the fact that Shirley made her high standards clear when she shared her dig with JB. Viewers took to Twitter on Saturday to voice their disapproval of her compliments toward The Only Way is Essex star Pete Wicks, who they claimed she was being over generous with. “You are Mr Strictly Come Dancing. This show is all about you. Everybody at home, all the parents, will be sitting there and thinking, ‘ if Pete can do it, I can do it ‘ and you will inspire people to go to the dance studio.
You entered without any prior experience. You did a great job on your neckline and footwork, in my opinion, but in week one you did it brilliantly. You didn’t make any mistakes, you did a grand job. You must approach Mr. Strictly Come Dancing with your head high because you are. According to Shirley, who gave him the highest score of all the judges, nine out of 10, giving him a total of 32 out of 40, he was told on Saturday.
On Twitter, one fan raged:” Shirley calling Pete ‘ Mr Strictly Come Dancing ‘ when he shouldn’t even be in the semi finals in the first place… “with a second agreeing:” Shirley acting like Pete is God’s gift to dancing and giving him a bloody 9. “A third said:” Shirley giving that a 9?? I’ve defended her throughout the entire series, but is JB and Sarah the same? Please… “
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