Category Entertainment News

Helena Ford, the star of Love Island, discusses her experiences living in the aftermath of her job as an air hostess, how being misunderstood, and how “instant fame is something nobody can prepare you for,” says Helena Ford.

View 6 Images

British Airways hostess-turned-Love Island star Helena Ford has had a rollercoaster summer following her stint in the famous Mallorcan villa. Since returning to the “real world ”, as the Islanders call it, the 29-year-old says her life has been a whirlwind and that overnight fame is something nobody can prepare you for – although she’s taking it all in her stride.

“Life’s been crazy, so overwhelming. For the first couple of weeks, I was like, ‘Oh my God. Is this my new life? Is this actually me?’” she exclusively opens up to OK!. “But once you start settling into it, you start enjoying it more. It’s been so much fun. I’ve loved it.”

READ MORE: Love Island finalist ‘went out on a whim’ as she reveals surprising casting process on ITV showREAD MORE: White Stuff’s £150 quilted coat that’s ‘very toasty’ on autumn walks is now down to £75

View 6 Images

Due to her heated arguments with Shakira Khan and her on-off romance with Harry Cooksley, Helena was at the forefront of a lot of the villa drama. She was also one of the show’s most contentious contestants at the time. However, she tells us in this exclusive conversation that the experience has opened her eyes and that she is now more than prepared to spend the night with a special someone.

When I left the villa, I kind of wanted to get rid of it all. She laughs, “I don’t want to talk to men ever again,” she said. She has, however, had a chance to reflect on both her love and her desires for a partner.

View 6 Images

I feel like my ideals have been altered. I want a family-oriented individual. Being in the villa and refraining from going out before made me feel very much like a party girl. I simply want someone who is genuinely interested in settling down. I’m not going to say I want kids any time soon, but I do want someone who, in essence, wants to be a little “homebody.”

She continues, “Cuffing season is coming up, and I’m ready to get cuffed,” with a mischievous grin in reference to the time of year when singletons seek out short-term romances to keep them company during the colder months.

On a more serious note, she admits that her time on Love Island offered up some huge life lessons. “I’ve gained so much self-awareness,” she says. “I learned a hell of a lot about myself in that villa, things I don’t think I would know if I hadn’t done Love Island .”

She continues, “I’ve come to the realization that I’m a very avoidant attachment type in relationships.” I avoid things. I dislike sat down and discuss issues. I’ll reply, “Oh no, it’s done, I’m never speaking to you again.” But I now feel empowered to work on that.

View 6 Images

Helena feels that the public didn’t necessarily see the real her, despite not having watched the entire series back. She claims, “I think I was incredibly misunderstood, which I detest.” They may have given the impression that I don’t care about anything, that I laugh everything off, and that I lack a backbone. I don’t take life too seriously, though, so that’s not to say.

View 6 Images

Helena still has close friendships with Megan, Meg, Dejon, Emily, Alima, and Lauren despite the overwhelming support from her fellow Islanders. However, Harry is another name Helena hasn’t heard from since leaving the villa, and he’s not on that list.

She admits, “I think I anticipated a lot of change in the outside world after Love Island.” I had assumed we would all be meeting up, but Harry and I haven’t even spoken to each other.

View 6 Images

Helena may not have had any contact with her old flame, but she has dipped her toe in the dating world again and has been on a few dates with the help of Breeze, which connects users for immediate, real-life dates by skipping the endless swiping and chatting that plague most dating apps.

She laughs, “I’ve been on a couple of dates over the past few weeks, and they’ve been really fun because I detest texting.”

“The guys weren’t for me, but we’re still going,” I said. I thought staying in a villa almost resembled speed dating. You are constantly grafting every day. So I’ve been like, “You know what?” since I’ve been out, then? I’ll just move things a little slower.

You can cut the chat and start planning your date directly with Breeze, a dating app, thanks to Helena’s partnership with the sparks. At breeze, learn more. social

Vernon Kay, a husband and wife of Claudia Winkleman, discussed his thoughts after the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 series was released.

3 images to be seen

Vernon Kay has heaped praise on Strictly Come Dancing, following a blunder during last weekend’s opening live show. On Saturday, all 15 celebrity couples stepped onto the dance floor to perform their routines in a bid to remain in the competition.

While the programme got off to a good start, trouble struck just before La Voix’s performance when a behind-the-scenes mishap occurred.

During this moment, presenter Claudia Winkleman was in conversation with EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal when she attempted to pass back to Tess Daly.

Claudia quickly improvised and began chatting awkwardly with the soap star once more when it became clear that her co-presenter wasn’t ready for the cameras as planned.

She received the cue to return to Tess just as it was happening.

3 images to be seen

Later, it was discovered that Chappell Roan’s Pink Pony Club’s American Smooth routine didn’t go as planned.

The RuPaul’s Drag Race star started her dance while seated on a pony and was supposed to descend to the floor before going down.

Speaking about the programme during his live mid-morning BBC Radio 2 programme, in conversation with Sara Cox, Vernon, 51, remarked: “We’ve done our fair share of live tele, and live tele is really difficult because anything can go wrong at any time.

“And I’m not just saying this because I feel connected to the show, but the one thing that always amazes me about Strictly Come Dancing is, touch wood, it never goes wrong.”

Sara asked, “Are you talking about La Voix as well on Saturday night?,” while mentioning the incident. The pony from La Voix had a problem; she was supposed to be slowly lowered and descended from the ceiling.

Nobody would have known anything else until someone said, “Oh the pony was supposed to go up,” according to Vernon.

Claudia returned to Tess and was like, “Oh no, hang on a minute, in a minute,” Sara continued, praising the presenters.

3 images to be seen

Although not all viewers shared the thoughts, Vernon’s spouse Tess’ replacement host, Scott Mills, also had heartfelt words for the audience that evening.

One poster demanded that Tess be replaced as host of the series next year on platform X.

Another reaffirmed that Tess presenting in 2026 needs to be replaced by La Voix. #Strictly is what I said when I said it.

A third person criticized the presenter, saying, “I think Tess Daly gets a really bad rap on #StrictlyComeDancing. She always makes the contestants at ease, in my opinion, and is lovely. She makes a fantastic opponent for judges, especially Craig.

Tess is always so cruel to everyone, a fourth person remarked, “She’s just trying her best.”

Camilla Kerslake, the wife of Strictly Come Dancing star Chris Robshaw, has expressed her thoughts on contestants with diverse dance backgrounds on the BBC show.

View 6 Images

Strictly Come Dancing’s leaderboard has already got fans talking – just one week in.

Chris Robshaw’s wife Camilla Kerslake has addressed the difference in experience between contestants on the show after her hubby first took to the dancefloor.

Chris, 39, and his dance partner Nadiya Bychkova, 36, were the first couple to perform during the first live show, which aired on Saturday. They danced a samba that earned them a score of 14 from the judges, which left them second from the bottom of the leaderboard at the end of the night.

Camilla, 37, his wife Camilla, 37, accompanied him in the audience. She has since commented on his performance and claimed that there is a “absolutely wild” difference in the contestants’ levels of dance proficiency.

READ MORE: Strictly’s Ellie Goldstein shares sweet promise from Vito Coppola after fans left ‘worried’ about herREAD MORE: Strictly Come Dancing fans spot ‘drama’ between couple as dance was ‘underscored’

Classical singer Camilla shared photos and videos related to the live show on Instagram yesterday. She wrote: “Proud forever. Up against people with years of experience when you’ve never even done a 2 step, opening the whole season and starting with one of the hardest dances going.

“They tested you HARD. You and [Nadiya] blew me, and the crowd away. Definitely some lessons for next week but you were absolutely astonishing. I couldn’t hold it together at all. We love you [Chris]. Team #SeeQuins. Let’s GOOOOOO #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing. Slide 5 of my first time meeting [Vicky Pattison] is something special.”

Fans shared supportive messages about Chris’ performance in the comments section. Whilst Love Island winner Amber Gill reacted to the post: “Unpopular opinion: I think having people with so much dance experience is unfair.” Camilla responded to the reality TV star by writing: “The experience differences are absolutely wild. Definitely [thinking emojis].”

View 6 Images

It comes after some contestants attracted attention over their apparent experience. Lewis Cope, 30, has admitted to having some dance experience and Amber Davies, 28, has acknowledged her background in the performing arts. The pair, who were both last minute additions to this year’s line-up, aren’t thought to have any Latin or Ballroom training.

Asked if she has any experience, Amber said in a VT shown in the episode: “I’m in musical theatre.” Her dance partner Nikita Kuzmin, 27, said that was “great,” but she added: “However, I have never done Ballroom. Never done Latin.”

Similarly, Lewis’ dance partner Katya Jones, 36, said: “When Lewis was younger, he did do some hip hop dancing [but it’s] not helping the natural swing of the jive.” Previously, in the launch show, Lewis said: “I haven’t danced now for about 12 years so I’m really excited to get going with that again.”

Strictly judge Anton Du Beke, 59, addressed contestants having varied dance experience in an interview with the Mirror ahead of the launch. He told us: “Some people might have done some dancing but it wont have been fox trots and cha-chas. It will be mainly musical theatre or commercial.”

He continued, “It will help them a little.” Really, it has a small advantage. However, I have not seen many of the people who actually won. Your choice is always yours. You can tell when they are really good in week one, and in week ten they are a little bit the same. They haven’t greatly improved.

Zoe Ball, a presenter for BBC Radio 2, has admitted that Woody, 25, has struggled with one major responsibility as he ages. She acknowledged that the 25-year-old has struggled with one major responsibility.

3 images to be seen

After admitting that his struggles with a similar issue to mine, BBC Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball recently admitted to having a sincere confession about a recent conversation she had with her son.

Woody appears to be pursuing a career as a DJ, while his father, Norman Cook (also known as Fatboy Slim), does so, but Zoe has come to realize that managing one significant responsibility as he ages is challenging.

A listener recently questioned the pair’s ability to teach their children the value of money while growing up during the most recent episode of her Dig It podcast alongside fellow broadcaster Jo Whiley.

Zoe shared her own parenting journey, revealing that Woody has struggled with finances because he is “really disorganized,” despite the fact that both of her children have jobs over the years.

She remarked, “Woody and I recently had serious conversations about him getting himself together because he’s just really disorganized.” Like, I’m quite disorganized, but he’d always pay parking tickets and I’d just sort things out for him, according to the Express.

3 images to be seen

She acknowledged that this well-intentioned intervention had an unexpected effect, but she was willing to take the reins and deal with her son’s parking fines, “because it was just chaos.”

She claimed that Woody had struggled to manage his finances because of his chaotic style, but that since he turned 25 years old, he has made significant progress. “So he’s only recently, at age 25, finally getting his head around budgeting and making his money last, because of course he works as a DJ.

He says, “He does really well in the summer, but there isn’t much work there.”

Norman and Zoe wed in 1999 after first meeting in Ibiza in 1997. Since then, they have welcomed two sons, Nelly and Woody, who were both born ten years ago.

In recent years, Zoe has remained a familiar voice across the airwaves, hosting various programmes for the BBC.

3 images to be seen

Her most notable accomplishments were likely those that followed Chris Evans’ departure, which was likely in 2019.

She resigned from the role last December after six years, explaining that the desire to spend more time with her family was behind the departure.

Get ready to dance all night as Lady Gaga is days away from hosting a week-long show to celebrate the success of her new music and a few throwback tunes.

View 2 Images

Gather up, Little Monsters, Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball finally lands in London for four nights. What better way to celebrate October’s spooky season by dancing to some of the decade’s best hits?

It’s been two years since Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, AKA Lady Gaga, performed in the UK, and fans have been counting down the days to her return. The highly anticipated concert is unlike any other, as the superstar will perform her most famous songs, such as Born This Way and Paparazzi, as well as her most recent ones, including Abracadabra and Disease.

Thankfully, Europe fans have been able to get a taste of the Mayhem Ball – and it’s a true masterpiece. Yes, that includes dramatic outfit changes and optical illusions. Classic Lady Gaga style.

READ MORE: Selena Gomez shares first look at breathtaking wedding dress and fairytale ceremonyREAD MORE: Bad Bunny’s net worth revealed as superstar is confirmed for Super Bowl 2026

View 2 Images

What is the Mayhem Ball set list?

Mayhem Ball by Lady Gaga’s set list has not been made available for public viewing. The concert will be divided into four distinct acts, each one of which is titled Velvet and Vice, And She Fell into a Gothic Dream, The Beautiful Nightmare That Knows Her Name, and Every Chessboard Has Two Queens. There will be both a finale and an encore after these acts. Based on previous productions, this structure was created.

Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, Conan Gray, Madison Hu, and Demi Lovato, all of whom attended Gaga’s show, have already expressed their excitement on social media.

The 14-time Grammy winner will make a full week-long stop in the UK capital before making it to Manchester, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and finally France.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated list of popular stories, moving interviews, and popular lifestyle picks from The Mirror’s Audience U35 team, and get them delivered straight to your inbox for more stories like this.

Where is Lady Gaga performing? list of UK andamp; Europe tour dates

• The O2 in London, UK, on September 29 and 30, and on October 1 and 4, respectively.
• Manchester, United Kingdom, Oct. 7 and 8, Co-op Live.
• Stockholm, Sweden, on October 12 and 13, Avicii Arena
• Milan, Italy, Oct. 19 and 20, Mediolanum Forum
• Palau Sant Jordi and the 28 and 29 October, Barcelona, Spain
• Berlin, Germany, on November 4 and 5, is the home of Uber Arena.
• Amsterdam, Netherlands, on November 9, has Ziggo Dome.
• Antwerp, Belgium, on November 11th, hosts Sportpaleis Arena.
• Lyon, France – LDLC Arena on November 13 and 14.
• Nov 17, 18, and 20 – Paris, France – Accor Arena

Will Lady Gaga be playing? In the comments section below, let us know.

How to purchase Lady Gaga tickets at the last minute

Unfortunately, Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball tickets are all sold out for all dates, which is unfortunate (but not surprising).

Fans can still purchase tickets from authorized resale partners like Ticketmaster and third-party companies, though. Fans must not, however, become victims of scams out of desperation. Always double-check before making a purchase!

For less than £1, you can get the teddy blanket hoodie for the chilly evenings. It is as wearable as a hoodie but warm and plush as a throw.

View 2 Images

It’s time to get cozy and stay warm at home because it’s getting cold outside. A snug bargain has been found for shoppers with this in mind: Dunelm’s teddy oversized blanket hoodie can be purchased for less than £1 in a new deal.

The hoodie, which retails for around £16, is a part of an eye-catching offer that has already piqued bargain hunters’ interest. New TopCashback members and Dunelm customers can save up to 72p on the cost of the teddy blanket hoodie as part of the promotion.

Read more: Find Bella Hadid’s exact trench coat in the must-have high street store for autumn.

READ MORE: Stacey Solomon’s newest jewelry collection offers 2-for-1 on all pieces.

There is still a great deal on TopCashback for those who are former Dunelm customers. The post-cashback price drops to 86p.

The one-size-fits-all, roomy fit, and multifunctional comfort make this oversized hoodie popular. Wearable as a hoodie but warm and plush like a throw, it’s the ideal loungewear for chilly evenings.

Although it’s worth noting that pink is only available for click and collect, it comes in a variety of colors, from charcoal grey to olive green. For convenience, it can also be machine washed.

View 2 Images

Customers might be interested in Oodie for cozy alternatives. The brand’s signature Oodie Original, which is made of buttery-soft fleece and fully lined with sherpa, is renowned for its ultra-snug blanket hoodies.

Otherwise, you can also get cozy in fleece pyjamas at home. This adorable Borg lounge set can be found at Boux Avenue. According to Yorkshire Live, Dunelm’s teddy oversized blanket hoodie has received a lot of positive reviews.

One customer said, “Really comfortable because they are not heavy.” keeps you warm and cozy. I ordered more for my daughters, who also adore them, because I was so impressed.

My teddy blanket is so warm, it will undoubtedly keep me warm when it’s cold outside, a customer said. It’s so soft and cozy.

However, the news isn’t entirely accurate.

The sleeves are very short, but it’s very soft to the touch, according to one customer.

This is helping me stay warm and cozy on these chilly autumn evenings in September and October when I need to battle without heating,” this blanket hoodie enthusiast said.

This oversized teddy blanket hoodie represents exceptional value for anyone looking for something toasty, luxurious, and affordable for winter nights.

How to make a £15 sign-up bonus and additional cashback?

New TopCashback members must register here to receive the cashback offer.
1. Click “Get Cashback Now” when searching for Dunelm.
2. Like before, shop and check out.
3. Within seven working days of purchase, Cashback will then be tracked and shown in the TopCashback account. After Dunelm has paid TopCashback the commission for the purchase, the cashback will be payable (and accessible to use).