Category Entertainment News

Strictly Come Dancing co-host Tess Daly has been a staple on our screens for over 20 years, but as she recently revealed, she kept a secret from her new bosses when she first started on the show

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Strictly Come Dancing’s Tess Daly has revealed she kept her first pregnancy a secret during her early days on the hit BBC show.

The beloved presenter, who first graced our screens in the very first episode of Strictly back in 2004, has been a constant fixture ever since, initially co-hosting with Sir Bruce Forsyth before Claudia Winkleman stepped into his shoes in 2014.

As the latest series kicked off, Tess shared a little-known fact about her personal life at the time of her Strictly debut over two decades ago.

In a candid chat with Giovanna Fletcher on her Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast, Tess reminisced about discovering she was expecting her first child, Phoebe, just weeks before starting on the dance show.

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She confessed that she chose not to share the news with her new employers, saying: “I was newly pregnant with Phoebe in 2004 and I didn’t tell them that I was pregnant because I thought, well, there were two reasons why I didn’t tell them.”

Explaining her first reason, she said: “One, I thought they might not give me the job.”

She then went on to reveal her second reason for keeping mum, adding: “Two, I thought, well, actually it’s really early on before you tell anyone. I’d not even told my own mother yet. It was sort of eight, nine weeks, I think it was.”

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After beginning her career as a model, she transitioned into television in the early 2000s, hosting ITV’s home-makeover show Home On Their Own.

Just a year later, she bagged a role co-hosting the newly created dance competition Strictly Come Dancing, taking a brief hiatus only after the birth of her first child in October 2004.

Off-screen, Tess and Vernon Kay’s romance began 25 years ago when they were asked to choreograph their own dance to Britney Spears’ …Baby One More Time at a BBC Christmas party.

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A few years after their initial meeting, the pair tied the knot and later welcomed their two daughters — Phoebe, born in 2004, and Amber, born five years later.

Following Tess’s recent revelations about her early days on Strictly, the show has returned for its 23rd series, with contestants vying for the coveted Glitterball trophy.

Tom Hiddleston and Taylor Swift briefly dated back in 2016 but the pair called it quits after around three months together and he’s attempted to shy away from discussing her publicly

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Tom Hiddleston cringed as he was asked about his ex, Taylor Swift, in a resurfaced interview. The actor avoided answering after the radio host randomly brought up his past relationship from 2016.

The funny interview took place back in August of this year when the actor was promoting his film The Life Of Chuck. However, the chat didn’t go as smoothly as he may have wanted.

Tom was in a brief relationship with Taylor for just three months back in 2016. The pair both went on to meet each other’s parents, but reportedly split amicably after realising they just weren’t meant to be.

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Heart Radio host Dev Griffin made the random Taylor comparison after Tom said one of his unusual habits was reading sports highlights online. He said: “Taylor Swift, big fan of a sourdough recipe blog, it’s very very specific but I can see how you can get into that.”

Tom raised his eyebrows at Dev’s remark, while his co-star Karen Gillan then said: “That is specific! Wait, that feels like an Easter Egg for something, though. No, I think it might be something to do with the Super Bowl!”

The interview attracted several confused comments by fans who picked up on the awkward tension. One person commented: “This is so painful to watch… it’s been nine years, do better,” as another added: “Karen totally doing Tom a solid gold favour by taking the focus off him.”

A third said: “This is funny because he literally has zero reaction to it.” As a fourth wrote: “Nice one Karen! She saved Tom talking about something uncomfortable or something he doesn’t even want to remember or to be part of. Ps: I’m a Swiftie, but I do respect boundaries.”

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Taylor and Tom were first spotted out together in June 2016 after she had called time on her relationship with DJ Calvin Harris. The new pair were seen several times over the next three months but it wasn’t meant to be.

By that September, the couple were no longer an item but it is thought it was “an amicable split”, according to People. Soon after Taylor then began her seven-year relationship with Joe Alwyn.

Taylor is not set to tie the knot with NFL superstar Travis Kelce following a proposal after two years of dating. While Tom has been engaged to his partner actress Zawe Ashton since May 2022, five months before she gave birth to their first child.

They then announced that they were expecting their second child this June, just a few hours before Zawe showed off her baby bump at the London premiere of The Life of Chuck.

Michael Barrymore was left fuming after he was told he could only buy two packets of cigarettes in a shop – and he later returned to confront the staff

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Michael Barrymore became embroiled in a furious dispute with shop workers over cigarettes. The television icon – formerly one of Britain’s most best-paid entertainers – shared footage of himself requesting four packets of Silk Cut Purple from a worker behind the till.

The employee came back with two and declared: “The law says we can only sell maximum two.”

Michael enquired how long this regulation had existed, with the worker maintaining it had been “a long time”. Baffled, Michael purchased the two and departed – only to march back into the establishment and confront another member of staff shortly afterwards.

The duo once more informed him he could only purchase two packets and insisted he was “not allowed” to acquire four. Onlookers could be observed supporting Michael, stating they had never encountered such a regulation.

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Michael even highlighted that he had purchased six packets from Tesco the previous day – yet the workers refused to relent. The footage was recorded in Shepherd’s Bush, London, on Monday and has subsequently become a sensation, accumulating 68,000 views.

The 73 year old rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s with popular ITV programmes including Strike It Lucky, My Kind of People and Barrymore. He subsequently featured on Celebrity Big Brother and Dancing on Ice, as reported by NeedToKnow.

According to numerous sources, there exists no statutory restriction on purchasing cigarettes. Adults may buy as many packets as they wish, though certain retailers might impose limitations at their own judgement – for instance, if supplies are limited or to deter bulk purchasing for reselling purposes. Michael’s TikTok video has since racked up more than 8,100 likes and 500 comments, with viewers having a right laugh.

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One viewer jested: “Beef with the boss man.”

Another wisecracked: “Think they mistaken cigs for paracetamol.”

Kayleigh chimed in: “You stand your ground Michael! Do they know who you are?!”

Tina added her two cents: “That’s ridiculous! ! ! I wouldn’t shop there again!”

Ryan remarked: “I don’t think that’s the law.”

Megan quipped: “Confrontational Barrymore unlocked.”

Lily pointed out: “There is no such law about buying in bulk.”

The Duchess of Sussex has shared a highlights reel from her whirlwind trip to New York, featuring an extraordinary amount of outfits and makeup – and a casual glimpse at Prince Harry

Meghan Markle has shared a behind-the-scenes look at her whirlwind trip to New York City with Prince Harry, featuring racks of designer clothes and shoes, and a cameo from a surprise A-lister during their trip to the East Coast of America.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex travelled to the Big Apple to mark World Mental Health Day last week, where they received the Project Healthy Minds’ Humanitarians of the Year Award in recognition of their campaigns to make the online world and social media a safer place for families and young people, through their work as co-founders of the Archewell Foundation.

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The following day, Harry and Meghan headed to Spring Studios to partake in a discussion about the harsh realities of the digital age for young people, while also acknowledging the opportunities and challenges time spent online creates.

Their short trip saw the Sussexes attend multiple events for World Mental Health Day, with Meghan now taking to Instagram to share a highlights reel of the trip.

The video showcased several racks of designer clothes with matching high heeled shoes lined up along the floor to match her several luxury outfits. As Meghan filmed the rows of clothing, Harry made a casual cameo, standing in the doorway smiling in a pair of grey track pants.

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Meghan then filmed an insight into her makeup routine, zooming in on the array of cosmetics bottles and brushes on her dressing table as she is spotted applying pink lipstick in the mirror.

Further clips show the couple all dressed up for their first public appearance in New York to receive their prestigious award, before bumping into Ed Sheeran for a brief friendly chat.

The video also shows Meghan indulging in some New York staples, such as slices of pizza, sushi in a luxe restaurant, and cookies in the shape of iconic yellow cabs.

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As Harry and Meghan accepted their award on stage in New York for their work ensuring online safety, Harry said: “This wasn’t content created by a third party. These were the companies’ own chatbots working to advance their own depraved internal policies. But here’s what gives us hope: these families aren’t facing this alone.”

Meghan also took the award as an opportunity to speak about the couple’s young children and her concerns for their future. “Our children, Archie and Lili, are just six and four years old. Luckily still too young for social media, but we know that day is coming,” she said to the crowd.

“Like so many parents, we think constantly about how to embrace technology’s benefits, while safeguarding against its dangers. That hopeful intention of separation is rapidly becoming impossible.”

Royal expert Pauline Maclaran, co-author of Royal Fever and professor at Royal Holloway, thinks the award is a good fit, that Harry and Meghan have earned the award, even if there has been pushback from critics.

She said: “I think Harry and Meghan probably have earned this award. It seems they have been working fairly quietly in the background on projects that have not necessarily been heavily publicised.”

After rising to fame in the 1970s with appearances in a number of popular films, Tim Curry has shared a fresh health update after suffering a stroke 13 years ago

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For years, legendary actor Tim Curry spent his time playing some of the biggest characters in Hollywood, but his life changed forever after he suffered a stroke back in 2012.

Having grown up in Cheshire in the 1940s, Tim landed his first major acting role at the age of 22 in an adaptation of the American musical Hair.

He later shot to fame with The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 1973, with a variety of other roles cementing his place as one of the most highly regarded actors in Hollywood in the years that followed.

However, his life changed forever in 2012 when a routine trip to the masseur took a shocking turn — one that would leave him feeling the impact to this day.

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In a recent interview with The Guardian, he revealed that he had initially not realised anything was wrong when his masseur raised the alarm.

Despite Tim being adamant that he was fine, his masseur’s decision to call for an ambulance proved to be the right one.

After tests revealed that he had suffered a stroke, he was quickly given surgery on his brain. While 13 years have passed since then, he continues to live with the effects of the condition to this day, relying on the use of a wheelchair.

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His condition also means he is unable to use his left arm and has a short temper, but the 79-year-old told the outlet that the most difficult thing for him to come to terms with is his short-term memory loss — and how it has had a knock-on effect on his career — saying: “I can’t remember a f*****g thing. I’m not sure that I could do theatre again.”

When asked whether he’s concerned about the possibility of sustaining another stroke in the future, he admitted that he has come to accept it: “I probably should. It could happen any time. I wouldn’t want to go through it again. Because it just makes you so f*****g vulnerable.”

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According to the NHS, “the main symptoms of a stroke can happen suddenly,” and they may include: “face weakness – one side of your face may droop (fall) and it might be hard to smile; arm weakness – you may not be able to fully lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm; and speech problems – you may slur your words or sound confused.”

Despite his condition, Tim’s acting career has continued in recent years. He last appeared on the silver screen in 2024, starring in Stream, directed by Michael Leavy.

Emma Louise Connolly has shared some of her favourite picks from Boden from autumn, including a pair of ‘beautifully made’ corduroy trousers that are already selling fast

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You might typically associate them with wet and windy weekends in the countryside, but a pair of corduroy trousers have become one of the top trending styles to wear this autumn – even if you’re not getting more rural than the park. If you’re looking for a great pair to add to your wardrobe, Emma Louise Connolly has tracked down a super stylish and easy to wear pair from Boden.

The model shared some snaps of her and her children dressed from head to toe in Boden pieces on Instagram recently, and one recurring item she was wearing was the Kensington Cord Trousers. Although they come in a very autumnal tan shade, it was the deep forest green colourway that Emma was wearing, and you can currently save 15% when you use the code WXVK.

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The Kensington Cord Trousers are priced at £119, although using the discount code means you can save £17.85, letting you snap them up for £101.15. They come in petite, regular and long lengths and sizes four to 22, with the Boden website noting that the style is currently “selling like hotcakes”.

The petite length has a 28 inch inseam, whilst the regular is 30 inches and the long is 32 inches. Corduroy is a deceptively luxe-looking material that brings instant warmth as well as some subtle texture to your autumnal outfits, and you can easily style them for both casual and slightly dressier occasions.

They have a wide leg fit that’s slim at the hips and thigh, and a high rise that sits at the natural waist, making them flattering and comfortable to wear. The Kensington Cord Trousers are perfect for keeping comfortable whilst running errands or heading out to lunch, but you could easily wear them with a platform heel and a fitted cardigan for a more evening-ready look.

We’ve spotted similar styles at Next, where the Cord Wide Leg Trousers are more affordable at £36, and come in regular and petite lengths with three colours to choose from; navy blue, tan and chocolate brown. Meanwhile M&S ’ Cord Wide Leg Trousers are £39.50 and also pegged as a popular choice amongst shoppers.

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However Boden’s Kensington Cord Trousers have gotten some great reviews from shoppers, with one saying they’re: “Fab – the best pockets!” and added: “Amazingly comfortable – front pockets big enough for a phone! Waist felt tight initially but they stretched and are now perfect. I bought long and can wear with sneakers at 179cm. I have a smaller waist and larger hips and they are very flattering for this body type. (Size guide told me to buy a 10, but I bought 8L and it is perfect).”

Whilst another said they were “beautifully made” but added: “Historically usually am a 10 but recently Boden trousers have been coming up large. Now order 8s and had to exchange one pair for a 6! Recently bought the tartan pleated wool culottes in an 8. Fitted perfectly and gorgeous. These do come up smaller; tighter but won’t upsize to 10 think they will be too big.”

Other shoppers also mentioned that the sizing was a little off on the Kensington Cord Trousers, writing: “Bought these in a size 6 and found them a little too tight in the waist. For reference, I’m 5’8 with a 28 inch waist. If the next size up were sold out, I could theoretically deal with it, but I expect corduroys to be comfortable. I love the quality of the pants and the color, though, so I’m returning and purchasing a size 8. If the sizing weren’t off, I’d give these 5 stars… but it is, so I’m deducting a star.”

However others didn’t find any issues, with one saying: “Great fit , bought in size 14, long. Little bit roomy but very comfortable. Colour is just fantastic. Can’t wait to wear it.”