Category Entertainment News

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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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.

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“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.”

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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.

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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 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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READ MORE: Emma Louise Connolly’s cosy M&S winter coat feels like a hug and ‘hangs so nicely’

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.

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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.”

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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.”

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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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.”

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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.

“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.”

Matthew Wright sparked concern from LBC listeners after appearing to breakdown as he reacted to the tragic events unfolding live in Australia.

While the radio presenter was on air on Sunday morning, New South Wales Police reported that two gunmen had opened fire at Bondi Beach. Multiple people died in the shooting with two police officers also injured.

The news came hours after two students died and nine other people were injured after a mass shooting at Brown University in the US.

An LBC journalist at the scene alerted listeners to ‘scary scenes coming from Australia’ as the second shooting was documented during Matthew’s breakfast show.

“Australia is a country which has largely escaped the scourge of mass shootings which do appear to plague everywhere these days. New Zealand has also had a terrible time of it,” said Matthew after the bulletin. “It’s such a lovely, chilled hippy dippy place. It’s difficult to reconcile.

“I’m not a religions person but I will be hoping with every fibre of my being that the reports of no bodies is how this story stays. It’s difficult to believe it,” he told listeners.

Minutes later the news broke that at least ten people had been injured at the famous holiday hotspot.

“I find these things very distressing. It’s terrible, terrible news,” said Matthew. Before taking a breath he said: “What a world.”

As he continued to inform listeners of the other stories of the day, he admitted, “It’s difficult to park events in Australia out of my mind and your mind I’m sure.

“I appreciate all the support when my voice cracks on air. For those of you who don’t know I have PTSD and struggle with death… suicide in particular. But any kind of death does set me off.

“I just don’t understand how anyone wakes up in the morning and thinks, ‘I’m gonna pick up a gun and kill people’. I don’t understand it.”

“I’m very distressed about events in Australia. It’s all too frequent there was a shooting in America overnight,” he added.

Two people have now been arrested following the shooting incident at Bondi Beach.

New South Wales Police warned the public of a developing incident at Bondi Beach on Sunday, where two people with guns reportedly opened fire on beachgoers.

People were advised to avoid the area and take shelter as police responded to the incident.

“Two people are in police custody at Bondi Beach; however, the police operation is ongoing and we continue to urge people to avoid the area,” NSW Police Force said in a statement published on X.

A Jewish Hanukkah celebration had reportedly started in the area of the shooting, according to ABC News – although there has been no official confirmation that this event was a target. Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is an eight-day festival of light.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she would speak with her Australian counterpart later on Sunday about the incident on Bondi Beach.

She told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show: “I’ve just seen the breaking news as I’ve arrived into the studio here this morning.

“I can fully understand the anxiety this might be causing people here at home about relatives over in Australia, but first and foremost, our thoughts must be with the victims of this attack in Australia and with with the Australian people as well.

“We will obviously watch closely as details emerge of what exactly has happened, and I’ll be talking to my Australian counterpart later on today.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “The scenes in Bondi are shocking and distressing.

“Police and emergency responders are on the ground working to save lives. My thoughts are with every person affected. I just have spoken to the AFP commissioner and the NSW premier. We are working with NSW Police and will provide further updates as more information is confirmed.

“I urge people in the vicinity to follow information from the NSW Police.”

Thinking Out Loud star, Ed Sheeran, has made a savage dig at Strictly Come Dancing after being asked at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball if he would ever take part in the BBC show

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Ed Sheeran has taken a savage swipe at Strictly Come Dancing as he vowed never to sign up for the BBC show.

The superstarsinger, 34 – who put his ballroom dancing skills to the test in his 2014 video, Thinking Out Loud – would be an A-list addition to the BBC series, which ends next week in a star-studded finale.

Many fans would love to see Ed strut his stuff on the dance floor. However, the Regrets star insists there’s no way we’ll see him slipping into sequins any time soon as he made a cheeky dig at the primetime programme.

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Referring to the so-called Strictly curse, which has seen married couples fall for their Strictly professional partner – or another celebrity on the show – Ed made his feelings clear when asked if he would ever take part in the show. Speaking backstage at the Capital Jingle Ball, he stated, firmly: “No,” before quipping: “I enjoy being married”

The former busker also insisted he wasn’t very good at dancing, saying: “You’ve got to do what you’re good at and that ain’t what I’m good at.

“I’ve done some dancing, but I do lots of rehearsals for that. [Thinking Out Loud] was six weeks of full on ballroom dancing every single day. A bit like hardcore Strictly Come Dancing, but not going on television.”

During his set on Jingle Bell Ball on Saturday, Ed paid tribute to his wife, Cherry, after adding the Play album track Heaven to his performance — because it’s her favourite.

The singer, whose net worth has been estimated to be as much as £370 million, married his school friend at a private ceremony in 2018 after dating for three years but waited almost a year to confirm the news publicly.

Cherry, who shares two kids with Ed, was reportedly set to appear in the video for star’s recent track, Camera, in private footage of the pair.

The idea was to pay tribute to his partner as Ed shared with the his fans how thankful he has been for Cherry’s support as he shot to fame as a global superstar after busking on the streets of Edinburgh.

However, the Mail reports that at the 11th hour, after consulting with Cherry, Ed chose Bridgerton actress, Phoebe Dynevor, to play his wife, recreating the ‘best moments’ of his 20 years with his childhood friend.

Taking to social media, explaining the importance of privacy to the couple, Ed said: “As you guys know, we are an intensely private couple, and some things we wanted to keep just for us.”

However, at a Spotify pop-up ahead of the ball, the star was forced to defend his marriage when some fans expressed concern after hearing some of the songs from his new album.

In the track Problems, he sings: ‘Flowers in our garden are dying, When did the water run dry? Who can tell? But you want the truth, we’re not fine. We got problems, and we don’t know how to solve them.’

However, insisting he recorded the track at a time of ‘heightened emotion’, Ed said: “Sometimes people listen to records today and assume that what that song is, is their world 100 per cent at the time. It’s very much like heightened emotions. You never write a song on a ‘meh’ day.”

Lorraine Kelly has admitted she plans to “spoil” her granddaughter baby Billie but has addressed the notion that she and her daughter Billie may be putting the 16-month-old in the public eye

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Scottish daytime TV legend Lorraine Kelly has proved to be quite the granny extraordinaire, since her daughter Rosie welcomed her first child, a little girl, Billie, last August with fiancé, Steve White. Here, along with Rosie, 31, Lorraine’s only child with TV cameraman husband of 33 years, Steve Smith, she tells about their Christmas plans – including how she’s going to unashamedly spoil the youngest member of the clan this festive season.

Bubbly and down-to-earth as ever, Lorraine, 65, laughing, also opens up on her plans to wear the ‘biggest hat ever’ at her daughter’s wedding next year – and shares her true feelings about upcoming changes at ITV – including her own beloved show, Lorraine…

Hi both, ready for Christmas?

Lorraine: Oh, it’s the same every year, we get a shock, it comes around so fast!

Rosie: I was sorted early this year. Bit mad. But mum and dad’s birthdays are in November, so I do that and then kind of do Christmas at the same time.

Lorraine: My daughter’s very organised. She has a spreadsheet for everything. I’m afraid I’ve done nothing ’cause we moved house quite recently, to be closer to Billie and Rosie – so we’ve been up to our eyeballs with the move!

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How are you spending the day itself?

Rosie : I’ll have Christmas morning at my house, then walk to mum’s house. It’s only a six-minute walk away or a minute’s drive. Boxing Day we’ll do Christmas again, so we have two Christmases, at my partner’s parents house with Billie.

Is Billie more aware of Christmas this time round? Rosie: Last year she was only four months old, so she didn’t really know anything. This year she’s a little bit more like ‘Ooh…’ She loves looking at the tree and all the sparkles.

You might be the most famous granny in the country, Lorraine. Are you going to be spoiling Billie?

Oh, totally! When I tell you that I haven’t got any presents, clearly I’ve got all of Billie’s presents. The trouble is, I buy her something and don’t want to wait!

And what about Steve, is he a doting granddad?

Haha, trouble is, I’ve got a Steve and Rosie’s got a Steve – you don’t want to say Old Steve and Young Steve because that’s a bit weird. Maybe Scottish Steve and English Steve? Big Steve? But yes, my goodness, my husband’s obsessed!

He’s very Scottish so he doesn’t show it perhaps as much as I do. But it genuinely gives him a new lease of life. When you’re the parents, I think it’s more difficult. But as grandparents you just see the world through their little eyes.

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Rosie, what’s the biggest thing you’ve learned since becoming a mum?

I knew it would be full on, but I didn’t expect it to be constant! I also didn’t expect the sleep thing would be an issue and my God, I’m in shock. You’re like a zombie the first couple of months. I still feel like a zombie now. But she’s a good baby, we’re very happy.

Are you considering baby number two at all?

Not any time soon! I’ve got a lot coming up – like getting married next year. I want to focus on the wedding and then we’ll see. I do have a couple of friends who had their babies at the same time as me and are already pregnant again. I just think they’re mad but they’re born to be mums, they’re super mums.

How are you preparing as mother-of-the-bride, Lorraine?

You’ll probably see my hat from space. No, I’m joking – I don’t think I’m gonna do that! It’s going to be such a lovely, typical Scottish wedding, very relaxed. We want the boys in kilts. Billie will be nearly two, I think, so she’ll be a wee flower girl.

Billie’s been on telly a few times now – do you ever worry that it’s early to be putting her in the public eye?

Lorraine: I know what you mean – I was very much like that with Rosie.

Rosie: I think at this age, every baby kind of looks like a baby right now. But later on – no. I won’t put her on. It’s the same with social media. Even now, I’m picky with what we do.

Lorraine : Rosie posts Billie’s outfit of the day, every day on her Instagram. It’s lovely. Everybody’s been so kind. When she was born, viewers actually took the trouble to knit blankets for her, which she uses and gorgeous little cardigans and shawls.

Lorraine, you’re very open on TV – do viewers feel like they know you?

Yeah, it happens all the time when we’re out and about – people chat away like we’re old friends! I think it’s just ’cause I’ve been doing it for such a long time, 41 years now. I can’t believe it. People really have grown up with me and had their own kids .

Did the news of reduced episodes from next year come as a shock?

Not really. I’m just glad that we’re still here. It wasn’t a decision that I made. I just feel lucky to still be doing what I love – and what’s not to love? Next year our regulars will still be there, Dr. Hilary, Doctor Amir,Mark Hayes and Ross King. It’ll be different. But I’ve been through many regime changes. it will still be really good fun and I still really, really enjoy it. So I feel very lucky.

Have things have changed for women on TV since you were pregnant?

When I started, Anne Diamond was doing TV AM and she was one of the first women that sat on a sofa on live television visibly pregnant. People said, ‘Oh my gosh, the world is going to end!’ She was a real trailblazer and made it easier for people like myself to do that.

Famous faces debuting their bumps is now a regular occurrence…

Yes, just look at the Fashion Awards recently, where Sienna Miller and Ellie Goulding showed off their bumps – and looked absolutely stunning. I salute that. It’s absolutely brilliant to celebrate when women are pregnant and then have their children. We’ve got to make the world a more child-friendly place. But we’ve got a long way to go.

You’ve teamed up with EE for their Christmas campaign – tell us more…

Well their research suggests that Brits are preparing to have up to three Christmas days, travelling between multiple homes! So it’s about staying in touch with loved ones. A main part of our day is actually gonna be phoning and making video calls, to people that live far away – like Graham, my brother, who lives in Singapore.

Calling my mum, Rosie’s granny – though she’s not that bothered about us now, we’ve gone down the list of priorities. It’s all about her great-granddaughter! And she’ll want to see her. That’s when you need your internet, your Wi-Fi. So you can do all of that, which is very special and necessary over Christmas!

Lorraine Kelly and Rosie Smith have teamed up with EE to share how they’re using EE’s broadband and mobile network to make things run smoother. Find out more and watch the Christmas campaign at www.ee.co.uk/eedoesmore