Alan Carr has addressed growing speculation that he could be in line to take over presenting duties on Strictly Come Dancing.
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Alan Carr(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty I)
Alan Carr has broken his silence on speculation linking him to one of the most coveted jobs on British television.
Rumours are swirling around about who could replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as frontrunners to host Strictly Come Dancing, and the 49-year-old comedian and broadcaster has been mentioned as one of the standout contenders.
“I know my name’s been bandied about,” he told the Daily Mail. “It’s nice to be in the running, but no one approached me.”
“It’s such big shoes to fill, and everyone loves it,” he added, recognising the audience’s affection for the long-running show.
If chosen for the role, Alan could be stepping into a position previously filled by one of the industry’s most recognisable presenting duos.
Tess has fronted Strictly since its launch in 2004, initially alongside Sir Bruce Forsyth, and Claudia joined her in 2014. The duo announced they would step down from the position in a joint statement in October.
Alan’s hesitation, he jokes, appears rooted in nerves. Reflecting on his recent win on Celebrity Traitors, he admitted that even minor moments would leave him flustered.
“Traitors has reawoken something playful in me. It’s what I do best, but I am a bit flustery.”
“I got nervous going down for breakfast in the castle, eating a croissant after murdering Celia,” he added.
“[So] imagine me doing Strictly live on a Saturday night. Would I be good on it, or would my wings be a little bit clipped? Let’s see what happens.”
Alan is reportedly one of ten people shortlisted by BBC bosses to take on the role, in one of the show’s biggest “shake-ups” to date.
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Executives are said to be testing potential duos on chemistry rather than focusing on presenters’ solo skills, and Alan has been boosted by his recent TV appearances, sold-out live shows and renewed interest from the audience.
Friends star, Jennifer Anniston, has found love with life coach and hypnotist, Jim Curtis, after calling it quits with her ex-husband, Justin Theroux, in 2018
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Jennifer Anniston’s Christmas plans have been revealed
Jennifer Anniston’s Christmas plans have been revealed following the star’s heartbreaking divorce from Justin Theroux. The pair called it quits in 2018 after three years of marriage, with Justin insisting they parted ways amicably.
Friends star, Jen, 56 – who is yet to reveal why she and the Wanderlust star split – is notoriously protective over her private life. However, in the summer she went public with her new, “quite extraordinary” boyfriend, Jim Curtis – who she will be spending the festive season with.
Jennifer speaks highly of the hypnotist and life coach – who she was first linked to in July – after her divorce from Justin. The actor, 54, who is documentary maker, Louis Theroux’s cousin, is preparing to welcome his first baby with new wife, Nicole Brydon Bloom. However, Jennifer is looking forward to spending Christmas with Jim as a source close to the actress revealed their plans.
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Speaking to People magazine, they said: “The holidays are when she slows down, truly enjoys her house and spends time with the people she loves. She’s very happy to be spending it with Jim this year. They have a trip to the snow planned and a sunny trip for New Year.”
Jennifer, who reportedly ‘loves Christmas’ and gets a real tree each year, was initially just friends with Jim before things turned romantic.
Claiming that the Rachel Green star was “cautious” at first, the source continued: “When it all took a turn to something more romantic, she was cautious at first. Now, she’s excited that she just went for it. It feels like kismet, she truly loves Jim. He’s brought so many good things into her life.”
After confirming the relationship in August when she posted a photo of the couple together on Instagram, Jennifer gushed about her “extraordinary boyfriend” and praised him for helping people to ‘heal’.
Speaking to Elle magazine, she said: “Hypnotism is one of the many things that he does. He’s quite extraordinary and helps many, many people.
“He’s very special, very normal, and very kind, and wants to help people heal, move through their trauma and stagnation into clarity.”
Meannwhile, Wanderlust star, Justin, who was married to Jennifer from 2015 to 2018, is about to become a dad with his new wife, Nicole.
The couple announced their pregnancy while attending the premiere of Prime Video’s Fallout season two, which Justin guest stars in. The actor’s mother, Phyllis-Grissim Theroux, was also in attendance.
Nicole, a fellow actor most recently known for her role in Paradise, and Justin were first seen together back in February 2023 at celebrity hangout, Zeron Bond in New York City.
They later made their Instagram hard launch in December, when Nicole shared a carousel of photos, one including Justin, from her twin sister’s wedding, plus their red carpet debut at the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party in March.
Jennifer has not revealed why she and Justin divorced, however the dad-to-be insisted they went their separate ways without any hostility.
Speaking to the New York Times in September, Justin said: “The good news is that was probably the most — I’m choosing my words really carefully — it was kind of the most gentle separation, in that there was no animosity.”
Strictly Come Dancing pro Nikita Kuzmin spoke out to defend his dance partner Amber Davies after she faced relentless trolling because of her professional dance experience
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Nikita Kuzmin spoke out in defence of Amber Davies(Image: PA)
Strictly Come Dancing star Nikita Kuzmin left viewers divided after he urged them to be “be kind” to his dance partner Amber Davies.
After performing a Couple’s Choice routine to RAYE’s rendition of Fly Me to the Moon, Nikita, 27, and Amber, were awarded the maximum 40 points from judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke. The result left them second on the leaderboard as they had already secured 27 points earlier in the show for their Tango.
Following the performance, Nikita and Amber spoke to host Claudia Winkleman where the professional dancer made a plea to keep his partner in the final.
Many have criticised Amber, who has wound up in the bottom two twice, due to her past working as a professional dancer and performing on the West End Stage prior to joining the series.
Directing his comments at Amber he said: “You have had so much hate every single day from the moment you joined. You’ve had so much hate this week and yet, you came every single day into the training room with a big smile ignoring everybody.
“And just giving me love, giving me a ginger shot as well. But you gave so much love, you always were kind, so caring, you care more about me when I’m supposed to care about you. You care about me every single day, you are such a lovely kind person.
“And I think sometimes, and I speak to the audience at home, just please be kind because it costs nothing and you (Amber) don’t deserve none of it. You only deserve love because without you I wouldn’t be here, and the show wouldn’t be as good as it is.”
Taking to X to comment on the moment one viewer wrote: “Its crazy that Amber ended up being the villain of this series instead of Tom Skinner. She’s the falsest contestant in years – acts like she’s been so hard done by when she’s a trained theatre star.”
A second said: “Amber does not deserve to be in the final. Strictly began as a competition for celebs who had no professional dance experience, Amber goes against that ethos.”
A third shared: “It’s not even that I said weeks ago I’ve no issue with dance experience. I take issue with them pretending like they don’t have it. See last week when Shirley told Amber she was ready for The West End now. That’s literally her current job. Being a West End Star…”
A fourth commented: “Giving Amber Davies the ‘poor me’ edit when she gives off mean girl vibes. Not buying it sir .” A fifth added: “Even Ashley Roberts wasn’t as hated as Amber Davies is for being a trained dancer Why? Bc Amber is ridiculously false, lies about her theatre work & the judges desperately overpraise her to guarantee she’s in the final. Karen is a worthier winner.”
On Wednesday, December 10, Amber appeared on Strictly spin off show It Takes Two, where she admitted the backlash has been getting to her. She joined the series at the last minute to replace fellow former Love Islander Dani Dyer, after she suffered an injury that ruled her out of the show in the days before the first live episode of the season.
Viewers were left angry when Nikita and Amber beat Lewis Cope and dance pro Katya Jones to secure a place in Saturday’s semi-final, with comments flooding in via social media. Amber said: “I would like to think I have thick skin, but obviously the start of the week has been tougher than usual.
“I would just like to remind everybody that I was never supposed to be here. I was a quick replacement. I’m just doing my best.” She also acknowledged those who have supported her journey adding: “The love is actually more overpowering than the hate, so if you’ve sent a message or a kind comment our way, then we really do appreciate it so much.”
Amber shared her own feelings on Instagram following the dance-off, writing: “I will always be your number one fan Lewis Cope. To go up against one of the greatest dancers Strictly has ever seen was simply terrifying, however, I was actually dancing against my best friend in this competition, and that broke my heart.”
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Marks and Spencer shoppers have been racing to get their hands on a trending cosy jacket before it sells out, as they say the £55 buy ‘looks more expensive than it was’
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The M&S jacket is easy to style for any occasion(Image: M&S)
The cold weather means that now more than ever, we need to make our outerwear the star of our outfits. A great coat or jacket can carry even the most basic outfit and make it look expensive and smart, which is why shoppers have been dashing to Marks & Spencer to pick up the Borg Gold Button Relaxed Jacket.
A perfect mixture of cosy, smart and sophisticated, the jacket is a guaranteed workhorse in your wardrobe. You can wear it everywhere from the office to evening drinks and your next Christmas party, and the £55 price tag means you won’t have to blow your budget to get your hands on it.
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Although it comes in a very on-trend chocolate brown colour, the Borg Gold Button Relaxed Jacket is versatile and timeless enough that we have no doubts it’ll be one you reach for year after year. Gold button details give it a luxe edge, whilst the borg material is thick and soft, making it feel much more high end than its price tag.
The boxy, relaxed fit and V-neckline means it’s easy to throw on over everything from chunky knits to silky midi dresses and high neck tops. It also brings just the right amount of elegance to be able to wear this for any occasion, whether you’re wrapping up for a winter wedding, heading into the office or just have a brunch date with friends planned.
Chocolate brown is also one of those colours you can pair with just about any other colour, whether it’s a tonal head-to-toe brown look, a simple pair of blue jeans and a white T-shirt, or some brighter colours like red, pink and navy. If you want something even more neutral, Next’s Ecru Cream Borg Duffle Fleece Jacket is £82 and has a distinctly designer-inspired look.
For something a little more casual to throw on, New Look’s Mink Borg Button Through Jacket is on sale down from £39.99 to £23.99. Its relaxed fit, button up front and patch pockets give it a more laid back feel that you could layer over knits and hoodies before you head out and about.
However M&S ’ Borg Relaxed Jacket has been such a hit with shoppers that it’s already racked up a 4.8 star rating. One said: “Love this jacket. Get so many compliments. True to size.”
Whilst a second wrote: “Really pleased with this jacket. It’s very warm and has a really good weight to it. It looks more expensive than it was. I wear it a lot and have had quite a few positive comments.”
Even those who returned the jacket praised its quality and style, and only sent it back as it didn’t suit them. One said: “Whilst this is a really nice little warm jacket, in a fashionable dark brown,it did not look good on me.The size was generous and quality appeared excellent but sadly I returned for a refund.”
Whilst another agreed: “Loved this but it made me look like an old teddy bear so had to return.”
However, plenty more raved about the Borg Relaxed Jacket, with one happy shopper saying: “Very cosy and warm, feels smart enough to use in the evening, or just casual in the day.”
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Whilst another praised: “This is a lovely smart but comfy jacket. The colour is a rich brown and hope to get a lot of wear out of it.”
Real Housewives of Cheshire star Tanya Bardsley has revealed the excruciating pain she want through before diagnosis which had left her cancelling work and not ‘living’
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Tanya Bardsley(Image: @Tanya Bardsley/Instagram)
She may be known for her bubbly personality, but a crippling condition has knocked the wind out of Real Housewives star Tanya Bardsley ’s sails, she admits – leaving her in excruciating pain and turning her into a ‘monster’.
Now, she feels it’s time to open up about her horror health battles – and raise awareness for other women out there who may be suffering behind closed doors. The former model and reality TV star, 44, has been diagnosed with adenomyosis – a painful condition where the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows into its muscular wall.
And as Tanya admits, dealing with it sometimes turns her into ‘the troll under the bridge’, admitting she feels sorry for husband of 11 years Phil Bardsley, who she jokes married one person before having to deal with another person entirely.
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Years of pain and different doctors appointments, explains the mother-of-four – as well as, ultimately, a hysterectomy – left her feeling like she wasn’t really ‘living’. The condition which she calls the ‘evil twin of endometriosis’ left her cancelling nights out and work events at the last minute – as she simply couldn’t handle the excruciating pain.
But Tanya – who previously admitted she was worried Phil would ‘leave her’ amid her devastating health battles, also reveals that not getting solid answers from medical professionals when she sought out help in the first place left her pulling her hair out.
“I’ve always had bad periods,” Tanya tells OK. “Every month it was really painful, and then I sort of hit perimenopause, like really early, at 38.
“And it got worse and worse. The bleeding was getting heavier. Towards the end, it was like labour pains. I was literally on all fours, panting through the pain. I couldn’t have gone to work. It was just awful.”
According to the NHS, adenomyosis is more commonly diagnosed in women over the age of 30. While it’s not clear what causes it, you may be more likely to suffer from it if you are over that age – and have given birth.
After Tanya was eventually diagnosed last year, she was told the shocking news that her womb was 10 centimetres bigger than it should have been. “It was ruining my life. I wasn’t living. I felt weak all the time. I couldn’t plan anything.”
But she quips that hubby Phil, 40, was “useless” through it all – apart from bringing her the odd paracetamol. In agony, she would end up just screaming at him, she recalls. “It really is hard for him,” she confesses. “But it’s hard for women because we’re changing so much and we don’t mean to be angry.
“Sometimes I can hear what I’ve said, and I’m like, I didn’t mean it to come out like that, so I’ll try again, and it still comes out really aggressive! I don’t mean it to be.”
The Real Housewives of Cheshire star admits, her other half must have thought she was just whinging when doctors kept missing the symptoms. And it must have been “horrible” for her four children too. Tanya and former Sunderland star Phil share Rocco, 15, Renz, 12, and Ralphi, 5, with Tanya, as well as influencer Gabriella, 23, from a previous relationship.
“Obviously it’s not nice for the kids to be around,” she says. “Then I’m panicking and overthinking, when really, it’s just Mother Nature.” Adenomyosis affects roughly one in five women and Tanya thinks there will be many women with the condition and are “getting fobbed off”. “It’s a lot more common than people realise. Then when you throw perimenopause in the mix… yeah, women are really, really struggling. So please, be persistent when you go to your GP for answers.” Meanwhile, says Tanya, the chaos of family life in Cheshire continues apace. And it’s that authentic chaos that has made the family’s warts’n’all, fly-on-the-wall show, ITV ’s The Bardsley Bunch, such a success. Tanya calls it a “feel good family show” but it’s also hilariously candid – and sees her tell it like it is, including calling her own kids “t***ers”. Despite sharing her life on the Real Housewives, which she left in 2021 following a tough off-screen battle with anxiety and ADHD, Tanya was a little more wary about inviting cameras into her family home 24/7. “I thought, Oh God, I’m gonna get trolled by the Karens, with all our bickering. But not one. Even the Karens were complimentary. It’s authentic. This super-nice parenting? It’s not sustainable!” Tanya and Phil are preparing for their first Christmas away as a family. The clan usually stay at home due to former footballer Phil’s hectic festive schedule. But before 16-year-old budding footballer Rocco takes over the baton of being the family sporting star, the group are heading to Dubai for some winter sun. “We are going away this year – for the first time ever,” she tells us, excitedly. “We’re going to Dubai because we’ve never been away, obviously, because of Phil’s football. So I’m excited for a different kind of Christmas in the sun this year.” “As soon as Rocco is in the first team [he is currently in Stoke City’s academy], that will be us in England again, because I’ll never leave that big boy at Christmas.” Despite her excitement, Tanya admits that Christmas time always comes with a fiery flare up or two – not from her condition, but from the stresses and strains of the festive season. “Oh, my God, every Christmas we have arguments,” she laughs – as she claims that anyone who doesn’t have a big blazing row or two at this time of year is ‘clearly lying’. “We have more rows at Christmas time than at any other time. Every time we go Christmas shopping, we’re falling out by the time we’re at the end of the drive”, she says. “We’re never talking around the toy shop. Honestly, it’s not even just a one off. It’s every single Christmas. Holidays are the same. We’ve always fallen out by the time we get to the hotel. It must be healthy, though – because we’re 18 years in now. But yeah, we have some big, big rows.”
And long-suffering Phil doesn’t escape Tanya’s wrath when it comes to presents, either. Speaking of the best gift he’s ever got her, the TV personality praises him for gifting her a gorgeous ring once.
But after 18 years together, she laughs, she still doesn’t know how the former Manchester United star doesn’t know her shoe size. “He still buys me wrong size shoes I’m like it’s not f***ing hard, you know? So now, yeah, I just don’t take any chances. I just have to help him out.”
While Tanya refuses to buy into the Elf on the shelf craze – bluntly confessing that the whole trend ‘annoys her’ – there are a number of special family traditions she looks forward to each year.
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“The kids normally have to wait on the stairs (in the morning). Phil goes down, puts the fire and the music on and goes to see if Father Christmas has been. So, then we shout ‘he’s been’, and they’ll all run down. And then it’s chaos from then on in – wrapping paper flying everywhere. But we love it.”
Khartoum, Sudan – Iman Abdel-Azim had to bury her brother in the courtyard of her home in Khartoum North when he died as fighting between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces raged around them.
Her brother died of cholera in September last year, unable to access medical care.
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Her neighbours had to help her bury him because it was impossible to access cemeteries during the fighting. She was not the only resident of the capital region’s three cities – Khartoum, Khartoum North and Omdurman – who had to do this.
After Khartoum State announced at the beginning of December a major effort to exhume the remains of people buried in this makeshift manner and move them to cemeteries, Abdel-Azim feels her grief has been renewed as she relives the pain of losing a loved one.
Organised campaign
State and local committees were formed to implement the exhumations. They are made up of representatives from forensic medicine, Civil Defence, the Sudanese Red Crescent, and neighbourhood management and services committees.
Ahmed Abdel Rahman, executive director of Khartoum North, told Al Jazeera that the campaign aims to alleviate the psychological burden on families and improve the health and humanitarian situation in the capital region.
According to Abdel Rahman, the campaign is being overseen by the High Committee for Collecting the Remains of Those Who Died During the Battle of Dignity.
The process will unfold in stages, the first of which is identifying makeshift burial sites.
After that, families are notified and allowed to nominate a representative to be involved in every step, from exhumation to burial.
Forensic medicine specialists will supervise the exhumations and reburials in cemeteries with full documentation of the remains.
The process of transferring these remains began as early as when the Sudanese army took control of Khartoum State, Hisham Zain al-Abidin, director of the Forensic Medicine Authority in Khartoum State, explained to Al Jazeera.
He affirmed that by the first quarter of 2026, Khartoum and its seven districts would be free of any makeshift graves.
However, he added, the field teams responsible for the exhumations and reburials are facing a number of challenges, including a shortage of body bags, “which could affect the work being carried out as required”.
Forensic experts and the Sudanese Red Crescent exhume remains from makeshift graves in Khartoum’s al-Azhari on August 2, 2025 [Ebrahim Hamid/AFP]
Sabotage
According to Zain al-Abidin, the Rapid Support Forces sabotaged the DNA units used to preserve samples from several buried bodies, which has made it difficult to identify many victims.
He said teams are numbering and documenting the burials of unidentified bodies, then burying them in graves specifically for unidentified individuals.
He called on stakeholders, organisations and citizens for help in preparing the graves and stressed that the work ahead is extensive and requires concerted efforts between the government and citizens.
For her part, Shireen Al-Tayeb Nour Al-Daem, vice president of the Steering and Services Committee in the Shambat neighbourhood of North Khartoum, told Al Jazeera that the committee had surveyed graves in homes, mosques and public squares in several neighbourhoods as a preliminary step before the arrival of medical teams and the commencement of exhumations and transfers of bodies.
Nour Al-Daem said the committee informs victims’ families to attend and follow up on the official procedures with the legal and medical teams until the transfers and burials are completed.
The committee is working on identifying and surveying the locations of makeshift graves, collecting data and communicating with families, Nour Al-Daem said, urging citizens to report the locations of makeshift graves so field teams can access them.
When teams arrive to undertake the exhumations and reburials, the committee will also undertake the logistics and support for those teams. This includes coordinating between the field teams and the families of the deceased to ensure the presence of the family or a representative.
If no relatives of the deceased are present, she added, the High Committee has instructed that the exhumation be halted.
She indicated that the country needs further efforts to complete reconstruction and rebuilding and what the committees are doing “paves the way for a safe environment for the return of citizens” despite the difficulty of people experiencing a second farewell to their loved ones.
