News

Vicky Pattison says she’s ‘overwhelmed and intimidated’ amid Strictly rehearsals

https://i2-prod.ok.co.uk/incoming/article36062190.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/0_Vicky-Pattison-5.jpg

Vicky Pattison has admitted she feels “overwhelmed and intimidated” amid rehearsals for Strictly Come Dancing, as she continues the show with partner Kai Widdrington.

Vicky Pattison has admitted she feels somewhat out of place during rehearsals for Strictly Come Dancing, detailing how it can be “overwhelming” behind the scenes.

“All the pros are carved like angels, and I’m there sweating away in my gym gear. It’s both intimidating and overwhelming. But as you get older, you don’t often get the opportunity to get out of your comfort zone. I like to prove I’m capable,” she explained.

Vicky, 37, is partnered with professional dancer Kai Widdrington on the BBC dancing competition, and took on a Great Gatsby-themed Cha Cha for last weekend’s Movie Night performance.

READ MORE: ‘Best’ Charlotte Tilbury product sells ‘one a minute’ and is ‘brilliant for mature skin’

While she regularly hits the gym, Vicky tells Women’s Health that she doesn’t feel so fit when it comes to learning dance moves, admitting: “I think it’s going to be the cardio that lets me down… everyone is so fit.”

Vicky rose to fame on Geordie Shore as a rowdy twenty-something and was known for her antics on the MTV reality show, but says she’s keen to show people how different she is these days.

Admitting that the publicity that Strictly brings makes her worried about public perception, Vicky said, “I’ve spent 10 years working to show people that I was young, making mistakes and I wasn’t the best version of myself… I’m scared that under this spotlight, I’ll mess up.”

Last weekend, she and dance partner Kai received critical reviews from the judging panel. However, it was ultimately Ross King who was eliminated from the show on Sunday evening.

While she may be throwing herself into rehearsals, former I’m A Celeb! star says the show hasn’t had the greatest impact on her personal life. Vicky is married to Ercan Ramadan, and says he’s hoping to have her back home soon as the show has created a dip in their sex life.

“After a full day doing the Charleston the last thing you feel like is going home to do the Mattress Mambo,” I’m A Celebrity winner Vicky laughed.

“He’s having to be a bit patient at the moment. I think he’s the only person in my inner circle who is secretly hoping I get booted out. He’s my number one supporter though. I am really lucky but he’s probably hoping he gets sex soon.”

Vicky also admitted she’s been miffed with Ercan, 32, this week after he jetted off on holiday without her. “He’s actually in the dog house at the moment,” she admitted. “Obviously I love my husband but he’s been on holiday to see his family.

“We had this trip booked and then I got Strictly so I told him to go because all I’ve been doing is rehearsing, coming home knackered, whinging and going to bed. I told him to go away because he deserved a break putting up with me. So he went and I’ve been coming home to an empty house. He’s not there. The dogs are in day care because I’m working 14-hours a day. I’m coming home alone and it’s dark and cold.

“You need that normality coming home to your lovely partner or your dogs when you are out of your comfort zone, scared, lonely, working hard. It’s been really hard without him but he’s back now.”

Article continues below

Liam Payne’s family raise £250,000 for children’s cancer one year after his tragic death

https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article34727428.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/8_Big-Up-Uganda-Fundraising-Gala-For-Save-The-Children-Hosted-By-Adwoa-Aboah-Felix-Cooper.jpg

Liam Payne’s memory has inspired almost £250,000 in donations to support a new children’s cancer centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital

Nearly £250,000 has been raised in memory of Liam Payne to support children battling cancer, following the late singer’s tragic death last year.

The 31-year-old former One Direction star died on October 16 after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires. At his funeral, Liam’s heartbroken family encouraged mourners to donate to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) instead of sending flowers, and the response has been overwhelming.

A spokesperson for the children’s hospital confirmed that the donations will help fund a new cancer centre designed to offer “pioneering research, cutting-edge treatments and expert care.”

“We’re so touched by the generosity shown towards GOSH in Liam’s memory. Every donation is helping us take another step towards a world-leading children’s cancer centre.

READ MORE: Liam Payne death update as police ‘still scouring through CCTV footage and evidence’READ MORE: Louis Tomlinson reveals whether One Direction will reunite after Liam Payne’s death

“It’s a place of hope which will help build the future of children’s cancer care and save more lives. It’s a lasting legacy that will make a difference for generations,” the statement added to The Sun.

According to the order of service from Liam’s funeral, the new centre will be a key part of his legacy. It read: “Thank you for your donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity in memory of our friend Liam Payne.

“Your donation today will continue Liam’s legacy by helping to build a brand new Children’s Cancer Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital. This incredible new building will help give seriously ill children childhoods that are fuller, funner and longer.”

The much-loved singer, who rose to fame in The X Factor boyband in 2010, was widely known for his charity work and generosity throughout his career. Fans around the world have also made private donations and shared messages celebrating the cause in his name.

Meanwhile, Liam’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy recently opened up about the depth of her grief, revealing she fell into a two-month depression after his death.

“I was always just kind of doing nothing and just dealing with that grief and pain,” she told Page Six, admitting she had felt “not wanting to really live my life.”

She shared that, over time, she began to rebuild her strength: “I finally realized, okay, I need to live my life, I need to get up, get out of bed.”

Kate said she began setting her alarm earlier each day, started exercising, and focused on “eating clean” and “living for both of us.”

Through the memorial donations, Liam’s loved ones say his name will live on and will help bring hope and healing to countless children and families.

Article continues below

The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, call us on 0808 808 0000.

Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

READ MORE: Maura Higgins says affordable £10 root spray ‘saves her life’ and covers grey hairs

‘Heart-in-mouth’ Belgium loss leaves Wales facing play-off challenge

Reuters
  • 14 Comments

Matches against Belgium have provided defining moments for Wales and their golden era of the past decade.

Most notably, there was the Euro 2016 quarter-final triumph – the greatest night in Welsh football history – and the qualifying win in Cardiff a year earlier.

Monday’s reunion had the ingredients of another classic but, unfortunately for Wales, their 2015 meeting remains the last time Belgium were defeated in a World Cup or European Championship qualifier.

That remarkable 46-game unbeaten run was under threat as Wales exploded out of the blocks, though Belgium soon had things back under control and looked a class apart as they sat back and chose their moments to pick off their desperate opponents.

Now, after this 4-2 defeat, Wales’ hopes of qualifying automatically for the 2026 World Cup are effectively over. The play-offs will have to suffice, as they did in 2022.

Head coach Craig Bellamy was unbeaten after his first eight games in charge but, having lost four of his past five matches, he is starting to face a little more scrutiny.

And while Wales are still capable of accomplishing Bellamy’s stated aim of getting to next summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the route they must take there is looking more convoluted than they would have hoped.

“The draw wasn’t going to get us first place. We knew that. We’re aware of our play-off positioning as well.

“But to me I honestly love playing these top teams. It’s so good. Your heart is in your mouth at times, you’re really living on the edge.

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Wales ‘a team with flaws because I have them’

Wales’ players were crestfallen at the final whistle, glazed looks in their eyes as it dawned on them that a huge opportunity had slipped through their grasp.

Belgium’s goalless draw with North Macedonia on Friday had opened the door for Wales, who needed to win their remaining three games to finish top of Group J and qualify automatically for the World Cup.

But they fell at the first hurdle, outgunned by Belgium in another chaotic shootout after losing 4-3 in Brussels in June.

Again, Wales’ bold approach – to press and to pour forward at every opportunity – left them exposed defensively, and once again they were ruthlessly punished by Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne and the rest.

On reflection, did Bellamy feel his side were just a little too open?

“We felt the best way of being able to combat this team was to have the ball,” he answered. “And we created a lot of chances, but we felt that was the way of being able to beat this team because we needed to win.

“It was as simple as that, and you could see even towards the end, we opened up more. We lost a bit of control in the game. But I always believe the way you can stop the opposition from scoring is by having the ball.

“But that transition moment, with Jeremy, it’s so fearful every time you have the ball that if it turns over, this kid, he’s just that.

“I’ve experienced it. I had him on my team [at Anderlecht], and I knew how dangerous he was, but going against him… We knew there were going to be difficult moments in that game.”

This has been a bruising window for Bellamy, whose decision to take on England in a friendly at Wembley last Thursday was met with a mixture of scepticism, bemusement and outright criticism.

The outcome, a chastening 3-0 defeat, intensified the fans’ discontent, though they were willing to keep an open mind if it helped Wales beat Belgium.

Supporters will be less forgiving now Wales have lost – making it 12 goals conceded in five games – and seen their hopes of qualifying automatically go up in smoke.

But nothing will deter Bellamy, unshakeable in his beliefs.

“I’ve seen a lot today that makes me feel we can get close to these. We can get close. We need to keep improving,” he said.

“But I told you at the start when I was going to do this. I’m going to press, and I won’t sit back. I know that goes against some people, but this is who I am.

Related topics

  • Belgium
  • Wales Men’s Football Team
  • Football

More on this story

  • Trossard celebrates
    • 2 days ago
    Neath-born Ben Davies made his Wales debut in a 2-1 win over Scotland in 2012, soon after his Premier League bow for Swansea
    • 1 day ago
    Brennan Johnson shouts in celebration while holding the ball after equalising against Belgium in Brussels in June 2025

US Republican leader warns government shutdown could be longest in history

Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Mike Johnson has said that the current government shutdown could become the longest in history, as an impasse between the Democrats and Republicans drags on with no end in sight.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Johnson, a Republican, said that he would not negotiate with Democratic lawmakers until they suspended policy demands related to healthcare, a dispute at the core of the shutdown.

Recommended Stories

list of 3 itemsend of list

“We’re barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history,” said Johnson, who leads Republican lawmakers in the House.

The administration of President Donald Trump has used the shutdown, now in its 13th day, as a pretext for pushing forward a series of cuts and layoffs to government services and agencies, although its legal authority to do so remains in dispute.

Trump has plainly stated that such cuts will target his political rivals, saying last week that he would reduce “Democrat programmes” if the party refused to drop its demands on healthcare subsidies.

Recent polls have shown that US voters blame Democrats, Republicans, and Trump himself in roughly equal measure for the shutdown.

Democrats have called for an extension of subsidies under the Affordable Care Act that millions of people in the US rely on to buy healthcare plans.

Republicans have said that the issue can be addressed after the government is reopened, but Democrats have expressed doubt that the Republicans will honour that pledge.

Earlier this year, Republican lawmakers passed a huge tax and spending bill that is set to result in the loss of healthcare access for more than 15 million people.

While government shutdowns have become a routine occurrence in US politics in recent years, they can disrupt or reduce access to key services and force employees to work without pay for uncertain periods of time.

The US military said over the weekend that it would use unspent funds originally set aside for research and development to ensure that military personnel continue to receive pay.

Irish Olympian Ryan joins Enhanced Games

Getty Images

Irish Olympic swimmer Shane Ryan has joined the Enhanced Games, a multi-sport competition that will allow athletes to use performance-enhancing substances without being subject to drug tests.

Ryan, who was born in the USA, competed in three successive Olympics Games for Ireland before announcing his retirement from the sport earlier this month.

“After a decade dedicated to traditional competition on the world’s highest stage, I’m excited to dive into this next chapter with the Enhanced Games,” the 31-year-old said on his decision.

Ryan joins Team GB Olympic swimmer Ben Proud, four-time Greece Olympian Kristian Gkolomeev and US sprinter Fred Kerley in announcing his intentions to compete at the Games.

The move has been criticised by Sport Ireland, which says it is “deeply disappointed” with the decision.

The first Enhanced Games are due to take place in Las Vegas in 2026 with each event awarded a total prize purse of $500,000 and a $1m on offer for competitors who break world records.

Swim Ireland has also condemned the move, confirming his disassociation with the organisation and that he will no longer be provided with any funding or services.

Ryan competed at the Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games, becoming the first Irish swimmer to participate at three Olympics.

Related topics

  • Swimming
  • Olympic Games

NI down but not out after ‘sore’ Germany defeat

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

  • 6 Comments

The full-time whistle at Windsor Park was met by jeers, which then turned to a loud round of applause.

The frustration was directed towards the match officials who left the field of play after adding only two minutes onto the end of 90 minutes, and waved away late appeals for a penalty.

The cheers, which soon drowned out the jeers, were for a young Northern Ireland side who had given everything and put Germany on the ropes in the closing stages of the 1-0 defeat in World Cup qualifying.

Ultimately, it came down to small margins.

What if Paddy McNair hadn’t strayed offside in the build-up to Dan Ballard’s disallowed effort?

What if the ball had bounced over or wide from Nick Woltemade’s shoulder, rather than into the net?

What if Callum Marshall’s chance had fallen on his stronger foot?

    • 1 hour ago
    • 2 hours ago

Those questions don’t change the result on the night, but they were the difference as a Germany side far from their vintage best got the job done to take charge of Group A.

“We’re disappointed and it’s a sore loss,” O’Neill, who was taking charge of his 100th game, said after the defeat.

“I thought in the first half we lacked a bit of belief with the ball. Germany forced their physicality on top of us, and it was difficult for us to get any rhythm in the game.

“The disallowed goal would have helped us at that point, but it was offside. We shouldn’t be offside in that situation so that’s an error on our part.”

O’Neill felt Woltemade’s first-half winner was a “freak goal” but said his players should have defended the corner better.

“It comes off the player’s shoulder and ends up in our net.

“That was the disappointing thing. But in the second half we were terrific. We just couldn’t force an equaliser in the end.

‘The crowd carried us’

It is not the first time Northern Ireland’s young players had matched Germany after a battling 60 minutes in Cologne before the hosts pulled clear with a quickfire double.

The contrast this time was stark, as Northern Ireland piled the pressure on the German defence in an additional two minutes that ended all to quickly – a tally O’Neill described as “ridiculous”.

O’Neill also said that Northern Ireland missed the energy and quality of the suspended Bradley at right-back, but was delighted with the performance of his players in the second half.

Windsor Park was at its rip-roaring best on Monday to greet Germany and O’Neill said the home support “carried” his young squad as legs started to tire.

“We’re at home, that’s the biggest difference [to the reverse fixture].

“We’re at home and we’re chasing the game. We’ve put a huge amount into the game on Friday night [in a 2-0 win over Slovakia] and the crowd carried us tonight when we needed them to carry us.

Getty Images

Despite the loss, and his frustration, O’Neill still had time for a joke with a member of the German media.

“Having looked at the stats, ironically Germany played more long balls than us in the game,” he said.

For his part, Julian Nagelsmann, whose comments after the reverse fixture in Cologne prompted O’Neill’s quip, was relieved to get through a “tough” game.

“The second half was all about defending,” Nagelsmann told BBC Sport.

“As I said before the game it was a really tough opponent, a lot of long balls and they fight and we had to fight as well.

“It was a good step in the right direction to beat a team like Northern Ireland and to fight for second balls and be as tough as the opponent.”

Top spot in Group A is now a long shot given Germany have put their grasp on automatic qualification.

But second place and a guaranteed play-off is still on the cards ahead of November’s two qualifiers in Slovakia and home to bottom side Luxembourg.

It may not be much consolation now, but a play-off as one of four Nations League group winners seems to be a more secure fall back given other results across Europe, if Northern Ireland were to miss out on the top two.

Related topics

  • Northern Ireland Men’s Football Team
  • Germany
  • Northern Ireland Sport
  • Football
  • Irish Football