Strictly Come Dancing fans were left fuming tonight after Karen Carney delivered what many are calling the performance of the series—only to be blocked from a perfect 40 by Craig Revel Horwood’s infamous scoring paddle.

The former Lioness, dancing alongside pro partner Carlos Gu, stunned the Blackpool Tower Ballroom with a blistering paso doble to O Fortuna that had the entire venue roaring before the judges even spoke.

But the drama?
That came seconds later.

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A performance that brought Blackpool to its feet

Karen, 38, and Carlos, 32, charged through their routine with ferocity, precision, and theatrical flair—earning immediate praise the moment they stepped off the floor.

Tess Daly declared it “superb,” barely able to hide her excitement.

Craig Revel Horwood began strong too, calling the routine “insane” and “a goal scored beautifully”—a cheeky nod to Karen’s football past.

But then he paused.
Took a breath.
And hinted that he had just one criticism.

He didn’t get far.

The Blackpool audience erupted—booing so loudly that the veteran judge was completely drowned out. Even Motsi, Shirley, Anton, and the celebrities in the balcony were laughing in disbelief as Craig attempted to fight through the noise.

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Judges blown away: “I’ve never seen a paso like that”

Once the room settled, the praise poured in:

Motsi Mabuse: “I don’t even have a paddle that can express how good that dance was.”

Shirley Ballas: applauded Carlos’ choreography as “top competitive quality” before adding, “I’ve never seen a paso doble like that.”

Anton Du Beke: “When you come to Blackpool, you bring your best—and that was extraordinary.”

The energy in the ballroom was electric. It felt like a history-making moment.

Then came the scores.Everyone was outraged Craig even dared give criticism! (Credit: BBC)

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9. 10. 10. 10. And the internet explodes.

Fans were already preparing their celebratory tweets for the show’s second perfect 40 of the series.

But then Craig lifted his paddle: 9.

Gasps.
Groans.
More boos.

And within seconds, Strictly Twitter was at war.

One viewer fumed:
“Craig should have given Karen a 10. End of.”

Another wrote:
“A 9??? For that paso?? Absolute madness.”

A third accused Craig of sabotaging perfection:
“He robbed them of their perfect 40. Nobody can convince me otherwise.”

Many fans even began predicting Karen as a potential winner, calling her routine “the highlight of the entire season.”

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A night Karen won’t forget — score or not

Despite the controversy, Karen and Carlos walked away with one of the highest scores of the series—and with the audience firmly in their corner.

Blackpool wanted perfection.
Most of the judges wanted perfection.
The fans definitely wanted perfection.

And whether Craig agrees or not…
Karen Carney just became a serious contender for the Glitterball.

Wedding bells are ringing!

Bachelor Nation watched Mel Owens search for love on Season 2 of “The Golden Bachelor.”

During the season finale, fans saw him hand out his final rose to Peg Munson and give her a ring as a symbol of his commitment.

Since then, the two have been enjoying their lives together as a couple and keeping followers updated with their adventures online.

Now, the “Golden Bachelor” couple is sharing more about their relationship on the “She’s All Bach” podcast and dishing on what they envision for their future.

Bachelor Nation
During the interview, Peg revealed that she and Mel have discussed tying the knot one day.

“Have we talked about marriage? Yeah, we have! Because guess what? We’ve dated now and we really have that special connection,” she shared, “So that connection is there; we just didn’t want to rush it. Just because someone is telling us to get engaged or somebody is telling us to do it the way it’s supposed to be done, we had to be authentic and true to ourselves.”

Peg also shared details on what their dream wedding would look like, including whether or not they would want to televise it.

“We’ve been talking about that — if and when that comes, you know, what does that look like to us?… We’re open to [televising] it,” she admitted, “But you know what? It’s going to be small. We’re not big — we’re not the big show people. If we do, we’ve been talking about maybe the beach, just having a really nice [day] with friends and family.”

Disney/John Fleenor
The Bachelor Nation star shared she envisions herself wearing a linen dress and walking down the aisle barefoot.

Peg then revealed that she’s planning on keeping the ring Mel gave her in Antigua when he eventually proposes, instead of getting a new engagement ring.

“No, we’re going to keep this ring,” she said, “and we’ll probably just get another band — just, like, a wedding band.”

We couldn’t be happier for Mel and Peg, and we’ve loved being able to watch their love story unfold. We can’t wait for them to tie the knot one day — it sounds like it will be beautiful!

How Albo and Jodie met

Theirs is the most modern of a love story, even if it isn’t especially prime ministerial.

Eighteen months after the break-up of his first marriage, then opposition leader Anthony Albanese was the keynote speaker at an event where an attractive woman boldly shouted her support for his favourite team.

A short while later that attractive woman, Jodie Haydon, would make the first move and slide into his DM’s with a “hey, we’re both single”.

It’s the 40+ version of “u up?” and it began a romance that, today, culminated in a wedding.

Haydon and Albanese have never revealed publicly what he replied, but we do know they next met by coincidence at a function, where he invited her for a drink at hipster Newton brewery Young Henrys.

When it closed they made the three-minute stroll around the corner to since-closed Turkish joint Stanbuli, the one with the famous pink pastel door.

The whole story is so “everyman” that one could be forgiven for thinking it was manufactured by Albo’s spin doctors to lean into the working class bloke, just like you image he was trying to curate as he made his play to lead the country.

Anthony Albanese, Jodie Haydon and dog Toto enjoy the sunshine in Canberra. Picture: Instagram

But it is their love story and they are sticking to it.

After that very-inner-west first date, their courtship continued clandestinely at various Marrickville establishments as their connection grew before Albanese upped the ante and invited Haydon to the Woodford Folk Festival, where they would spend several nights sharing shipping container sleeping quarters.

“It was really early on to sort of dive in like that. We barely knew each other. It was the first time we had been away together and, romantically, we stayed in a shipping container, which is what you do at Woodford,’’ told the Sunday Telegraph in an interview in 2022.

The pair’s shared love of music and the opportunity for Haydon to see a more relaxed, even playful side, of Albanese bonded them further.

But it was the pandemic-induced lockdowns that really helped the couple’s love grow, particularly without the glare of the public gaze.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon at the Lodge in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Their blossoming love in lockdown echoed the everyman narrative of their early meeting. They spent time cooking together, binge watching shows and listening to music – just like the rest of us.

They haven’t mentioned it but there’s no doubt they also stressed about the nationwide shortage of toilet paper – just like the rest of us.

But in June 2020 the couple’s relationship was no longer a secret, with the pair photographed dining at China Doll.

A besotted Albanese was pictured laughing and looking relaxed, serving rice for himself and his new love, before they leant in for a tender kiss.

Albo’s bachelor days were over and Haydon’s previously quiet life was splashed in the headlines.

Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon announce their engagement. Picture: AFP

Until that day, she said, she had never been in the paper.

That would all change as the couple took their love public, as Albanese took his campaign to be prime minister on the road.

When he won the 2022 election, returning Labor to government after a lengthy stint in opposition, Haydon was by his side as he claimed victory.

Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon on election day in 2022. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Dressed, appropriately, in Labor red she would be by his side through his first term as the nation’s leader – a glamorous addition to what could been the Lodge as a bachelor pad if she hadn’t shouted “up the Rabbitohs” and slid into his DM’s.

She has been there as he has met world leaders, she was with him at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, and she was again with him when he claimed victory, and a second term as Prime Minister this year.

Throughout, she has kept her career – saying when their relationship became public knowledge that “my job will be to focus on my day job and allow Anthony to focus on his”

And she has done that, maintaining her career in financial services, while adding some “first girlfriend” — or “first fiancee” more lately — duties to her load, including patron of the National Portrait Gallery and Ambassador for childhood cancer charity Redkite.

The Copacabana beach house the couple bought for $4.3 million.

When the Prime Minister proposed on Valentine’s Day last year, the announcement was made, appropriately and somewhat sentimentally, on the platform formerly known as Twitter – the same place she slid into his DMs all those years ago.

She has effortlessly, and elegantly, navigated the choppy waters of being a political spouse — rarely dancing with controversy, never standing in the shadows but also never stealing the spotlight, and always armed with a dazzling smile that does truly seem to take the Prime Minister’s breath away.

In fact, the closest Haydon has come to controversy in their two-election, six-year relationship is last year when the couple purchased a $4.3 million home in Copacabana on the NSW Central Coast, where she grew up, with some criticising them for the lavish purchase during a cost of living crisis.

Instead, Haydon has been largely praised for challenging the norms for political spouses, who are often expected to give up their careers.

And now their very modern relationship has reached its zenith as the couple wed.

Former Senɑtor Lindɑ Reynolds sɑys she wɑs excluded from the settlement process ɑnd could eɑsily hɑve defended Ms Higgins’ mishɑndling clɑims. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper/The Sundɑy Times

Exρlosινe new documents hɑve detɑiled Lindɑ Reynolds’ ɑlleged sidelining ɑnd rɑilroɑding by the Federɑl Government ɑs it seemingly bent over bɑckwɑrds to reɑch ɑ $2.4 million settlement with Brittɑny Higgins.

Fresh from winning her epic defɑmɑtion cɑse ɑgɑinst her ex-stɑffer, the former Liberɑl senɑtor hɑs tɑken legɑl ɑction ɑgɑinst the Commonweɑlth over the December 2022 pɑyment.

It wɑs clinched ɑfter Ms Higgins’ clɑimed her former boss mishɑndled her ɑllegɑtion she wɑs rɑped by colleɑgue Bruce Lehrmɑnn ɑt Pɑrliɑment House in Cɑnberrɑ in 2019.

“It just, ɑnd the ɑmount of it … gɑve rise to ɑ perception thɑt everything thɑt Brittɑny Higgins hɑd … (sɑid) ɑbout her wɑs true,” Ms Reynolds’ lɑwyer Mɑrtin Bennett told reporters on Wednesdɑy.

An ɑffidɑvit then publicly reveɑled thɑt less thɑn two hours before Ms Higgins’ limitɑtion period wɑs due to expire, the Federɑl Government dropped ɑ bombshell though lɑw firm HWL Ebsworth.

Ms Higgins clɑims she’s now broke, Ms Reynolds’ lɑwyer Mɑrtin Bennett told ɑ sepɑrɑte bɑnkruptcy heɑring in the sɑme court on Tuesdɑy. Credit: AAP

In ɑ letter, Ms Reynolds wɑs informed thɑt Attorney-Generɑl Mɑrk Dreyfus hɑd decided the Commonweɑlth would exercise its discretion to tɑke over defence of the cɑse.

She wɑs told to not just stɑy ɑwɑy from the mediɑtion but mɑke no mention of it, with the meɑsures ɑimed “to ensure the Commonweɑlth puts itself in the best position to ɑchieve ɑ resolution”.

Just six business hours lɑter, the Federɑl Government then extended Ms Higgins’ limitɑtion period by ɑlmost three months, despite Ms Reynolds’ previous refusɑl to extend.

She ɑrgues she wɑs not given enough time to get independent legɑl ɑdvice ɑnd refuse the conditions imposed on her ɑbility to defend herself.

As it turns out, the settlement wɑs done ɑnd dusted ɑ week lɑter.

Ms Reynolds just before finding out she hɑd won her bitter defɑmɑtion cɑse ɑgɑinst her former stɑffer in August. Credit: Iɑn Munro/The West Austrɑliɑn

“It contɑined no protection, essentiɑlly, for Lindɑ, no non-dispɑrɑgement clɑuse or something of thɑt nɑture,” Mr Bennett sɑid.

Since then, Ms Higgins’ clɑims of ɑ pσliticɑl cover-up ɑnd other mishɑndling hɑve been rejected in two courts.

Mr Bennett sɑid Ms Reynolds wɑs now feeling “reputɑtionɑlly, very much vindicɑted”.

“And thɑt’s reflected in the fɑct thɑt she cɑn’t wɑlk in public without people stopping her ɑnd telling her how much they ɑdmired her tenɑcity,” he sɑid.

“She wɑs overseɑs … ɑnd people were uniform in their congrɑtulɑtions to her.

“Now it’s just ɑ mɑtter of seeking finɑnciɑl vindicɑtion.”

After ɑ first, brief heɑring in the Federɑl Court on Wednesdɑy, the Commonweɑlth hɑs until Februɑry 6 to file ɑ defence to whɑt Mr Bennett describes ɑs “essentiɑlly ɑ negligence ɑction”.

Lɑwyer Mɑrtin Bennett ɑrrives ɑt the Federɑl Court on Wednesdɑy. Credit: Sɑndrɑ Jɑckson/The West Austrɑliɑn

Ms Reynolds is ɑlso seeking to hɑve Ms Higgins ɑnd her husbɑnd Dɑvid Shɑrɑz declɑred bɑnkrupt, in ɑ bid to secure huge dɑmɑges ɑnd court costs.

The next court dɑte for Ms Higgins is November 18 ɑnd December 16 for Mr Shɑrɑz.

Mr Lehrmɑnn continues to mɑintɑin his innocence ɑfter his 2022 rɑpe triɑl wɑs ɑborted due to juror misconduct ɑnd the chɑrge wɑs then dropped.

In ɑ subsequent defɑmɑtion cɑse ɑgɑinst Network Ten ɑnd journɑlist Lisɑ Wilkinson thɑt he lost in 2024, he wɑs found to hɑve rɑped Ms Higgins, bɑsed on the bɑlɑnce of probɑbilities, which is the stɑndɑrd of proof in civil cɑses.

Kelsey Anderson is sharing the next wedding planning step she’s most looking forward to.

While chatting with PEOPLE at the inaugural TikTok Awards, hosted by La La Anthony, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on Dec. 18, the bride-to-be, 27, revealed what she and her fiancé, Joey Graziadei, 30, are “super excited for” going into the new year.

“I’m really looking forward to solidifying wedding venues this year,” Anderson says. “We’ve looked at a couple already, and super excited for that.”

 Phillip Faraone/Getty

Although Anderson is making advances in wedding planning, she’s not becoming a bridezilla, with her noting that her only wedding must-have is that she and Graziadei are “happy” on their big day.

“I’m kind of for whatever makes us happy, that’s my non-negotiable,” she says.

At Heidi Klum’s Halloween Party in New York City on Oct. 31, Anderson reiterated that wedding planning is a priority for 2026, with purchasing her ceremony gown at the top of her to-do list.

She told Sports Illustrated Swimsuit in May that she envisions a “timeless” wedding aesthetic.

“I want it to be able, in 30 or 40 years, to look like it could be done then,” Anderson noted to the outlet, adding that she hopes the celebration is a combination of both her and Graziadei.

“I want the wedding to be a part of both of us,” she shared. “I know a lot of times the guys kind of let the lady take over, but I don’t know [about that]. I want it to be a representation of both of us equally.”

Anderson and the Dancing with the Stars champion, who got engaged during the season 28 finale of The Bachelor that aired last year, have repeatedly expressed that they don’t want to rush wedding planning because they want to enjoy their engagement.

Joey Graziadei and Kelsey Anderson in November 2025. Anthony Avellano/Deadline via Getty

Speaking to PEOPLE in January, Anderson said that just because her romance with Graziadei has been a whirlwind doesn’t mean they need to sprint down the aisle.

“Because we got engaged so fast — we got engaged in two months — we want to really take our time still getting to know each other and be really serious about the wedding, and we don’t want it to be a stressful thing,” Anderson said at the time. “We want to be able to enjoy the process of picking out the things that matter most to us in our wedding.”

Dame Esther Rantzen Shares Heartbreaking Update as She Faces Her Final Christmas After Ending Cancer Treatment

Dame Esther Rantzen has delivered one of her most emotional updates yet, speaking candidly about life after stopping all treatment for stage-four lung cancer.

The beloved broadcaster, 85, was first diagnosed in January 2023 and underwent months of experimental therapy. But the side effects eventually outweighed the benefits — and she is now receiving no medical treatment at all.

“I’m celebrating Christmas early… just in case.”

In a deeply moving interview with The Times, Dame Esther revealed that she has planned an early Christmas with her children and five grandchildren — because she fears she may not live long enough to reach the real date.

“This year I’m having an ‘official’ Christmas slightly ahead of time,” she shared. “I want to be sure I’m alive to enjoy it with them.”

Her daughter Rebecca will once again decorate the home “beautifully,” using Esther’s old ornaments — a tradition that has brought the family comfort for decades.

“I didn’t expect to see another Christmas.”

Esther admitted she is astonished to still be here.

“When I was diagnosed last January, I didn’t think I would make it to the next Christmas. Being here now is a wonderful surprise.”

But her most recent scans show the disease is continuing to progress, though slowly.

Life without treatment — and a new fear: “scanxiety”

She explained that her doctors chose to suspend her medication because the side effects had become too severe.

“The cancers are progressing, but very slowly,” she said.
Then she revealed a new struggle she never expected — the mental toll of waiting for every new scan result.

“We cancer patients call it ‘scanxiety.’ As each scan approaches, your fear rises. You have no idea what is happening inside your body, and every appointment could bring terrible news.”

Her final wish for 2026

Esther, a long-time advocate for the Assisted Dying Bill, said her greatest hope is that the legislation will finally pass in full through Parliament in 2026 — even though she doesn’t believe she will live to see it.

She has been one of the bill’s strongest public supporters, arguing that terminally ill people deserve “a peaceful, dignified choice” at the end of life.

“These are people whose suffering is unbearable,” she said. “They don’t want to shorten their lives — they want to shorten an agonising death.”

Planning her own memorial

In her trademark style — honest, practical, and unexpectedly humorous — Esther revealed she has been actively planning her own memorial service.

“It’s actually quite fun to organize,” she said with a smile. “I’m being ruthless with favours. And thankfully, my friends are magnificent readers — Tom Conti, Imelda Staunton, Judi Dench.
It’s going to be quite an event.
Pity I can’t be there myself.”

Did asbestos exposure play a role?

Esther has previously questioned whether her lung cancer may be connected to asbestos at the BBC’s Lime Grove Studios, where she filmed That’s Life! for 21 years. She recalled workers in protective suits tearing down asbestos-ridden walls during the late 1980s.

Her team even nicknamed the hallway “asbestos alley.”

Amber Davies has been called out for her ‘Queen behaviour’ as her hilarious demand to Nikita Kuzming while on the Strictly Come Dancing dancefloor has been ‘exposed’.

The pair were last out to perform on Saturday night (November 29) as week ten of the BBC One dance contest took place, and they couldn’t have impressed any more as they landed a perfect score from the judges with their jive to Ike and Tina Turner’s Proud Mary.

Craig Revel Horwood described it as “fab-u-lous” while Shirley Ballas said she was “speechless” following their efforts. But they didn’t have much time to celebrate as they rushed to take part in the Instant Dance challenge.

The mystery dance tested the couples’ knowledge, as it was one that they learned over the course of the competition and was revealed in an envelope which they picked out last week but did not open until the live show.

They were then given 15 seconds to pick a costume, quickly change backstage, and then given just ten seconds to decide how they were going to perform the dance, The judges ranked each of the performances, with the best earning six points and the worst earning just one.

Amber and Nikita won an extra four points for their samba in the Instant Dance challenge, which then pushed them down from joint first to joint second on the leaderboard once last weekend’s scores were combined with this week’s, and the Instant Dance scores were added.

Amber and Nikita during Strictly’s Instant Dance challenge(Image: PA)

But it wasn’t until Sunday’s (November 30) results show that Amber and Nikita’s future in the competition was confirmed, with the pair revealed to be through to week eleven, which just so happens to be the show’s Musicals Week special and the quater final of Strictly’s 2025 series.

As they now prepare for their next routine, which will be a Charleston to Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ The Boat from Guys And Dolls, Striclty has revealed what the contestants and their pro partners were saying during the new chaotic challenge.

And Amber caused a stir as her demand to Nikita was caught on a secret microphone that captures the dancers’ conversations from the dance floor before the Strictly team cut them all together to make a must-watch social media reel.

Responding to the clip on Instagram, @abbythelionx said: “Every pro frantically telling their celeb what to do, then there’s Amber to Nikita GET ON YOUR KNEES.” @nicolawillis444 commented: “GET ON YOUR KNEES [crying laughing emoji] amazing.”

@elliegantgems replied: “Get on your knees is my favourite. Excellent work all.” @abixx2008 wrote: “Love amber telling nikita what to do.” secrets.5012 laughed: “Amber instructing Nikita ‘get on your knees’. You tell him @amb_d! @nikita__kuzmin.” @louhumphriesphotos added: “QUEEN behaviour & we are HERE FOR IT.”

Amber Davies has been called out for her ‘Queen behaviour’ as her hilarious demand to Nikita Kuzming while on the Strictly Come Dancing dancefloor has been ‘exposed’.

The pair were last out to perform on Saturday night (November 29) as week ten of the BBC One dance contest took place, and they couldn’t have impressed any more as they landed a perfect score from the judges with their jive to Ike and Tina Turner’s Proud Mary.

Craig Revel Horwood described it as “fab-u-lous” while Shirley Ballas said she was “speechless” following their efforts. But they didn’t have much time to celebrate as they rushed to take part in the Instant Dance challenge.

The mystery dance tested the couples’ knowledge, as it was one that they learned over the course of the competition and was revealed in an envelope which they picked out last week but did not open until the live show.

They were then given 15 seconds to pick a costume, quickly change backstage, and then given just ten seconds to decide how they were going to perform the dance, The judges ranked each of the performances, with the best earning six points and the worst earning just one.

Amber and Nikita won an extra four points for their samba in the Instant Dance challenge, which then pushed them down from joint first to joint second on the leaderboard once last weekend’s scores were combined with this week’s, and the Instant Dance scores were added.

Amber and Nikita during Strictly’s Instant Dance challenge(Image: PA)

But it wasn’t until Sunday’s (November 30) results show that Amber and Nikita’s future in the competition was confirmed, with the pair revealed to be through to week eleven, which just so happens to be the show’s Musicals Week special and the quater final of Strictly’s 2025 series.

As they now prepare for their next routine, which will be a Charleston to Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ The Boat from Guys And Dolls, Striclty has revealed what the contestants and their pro partners were saying during the new chaotic challenge.

And Amber caused a stir as her demand to Nikita was caught on a secret microphone that captures the dancers’ conversations from the dance floor before the Strictly team cut them all together to make a must-watch social media reel.

Responding to the clip on Instagram, @abbythelionx said: “Every pro frantically telling their celeb what to do, then there’s Amber to Nikita GET ON YOUR KNEES.” @nicolawillis444 commented: “GET ON YOUR KNEES [crying laughing emoji] amazing.”

@elliegantgems replied: “Get on your knees is my favourite. Excellent work all.” @abixx2008 wrote: “Love amber telling nikita what to do.” secrets.5012 laughed: “Amber instructing Nikita ‘get on your knees’. You tell him @amb_d! @nikita__kuzmin.” @louhumphriesphotos added: “QUEEN behaviour & we are HERE FOR IT.”

Just married!

Bachelor Nation fans got to know and love Peter Kraus on Season 13 of “The Bachelorette.”

Since his time on the show, Peter found love off-screen with TV host Hana Ostapchuk and the two officially announced their engagement over the summer after one year of dating.

And a few months ago, the happy couple shared that they are also expecting their first child together — a baby girl.

Now, Peter and Hana have officially tied the knot in a stunning outdoor wedding in Jupiter, Florida.

Photo: Jennifer Huck
This week, Hana took to Instagram to share the exciting news and posted beautiful photos from their big day.

The photos show Peter and Hana walking hand-in-hand around their venue, looking stunning in a dark green suit and sleek satin, halter styled dress.

Hana wrote, “12.27.25 🤍 Just Married,” and loved ones filled the comments with their congratulations.

One person wrote, “the most perfect beautiful pair! I’m crying all over again 😭 love you both so much.”

Photo: Jennifer Huck
Another person shared, “So incredibly stunning! So happy for you both. Huge congratulations!! ❤️”

One follower added, “It’s giving vogue magazine 😍😍😍 Congrats guys.”

Fellow Bachelor Nation star Eric Bigger also commented, “Congrats!!! ❤️❤️❤️”

So sweet!

We couldn’t be happier for Peter and Hana, and we’re wishing them a lifetime of happiness. Congratulations to the newlyweds!

A DNA test on a Polish woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann ‘conclusively proves’ she is not the missing child, the officer in charge of the search told a court.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cranwell said a sample was taken from Julia Wandelt when she was arrested in February and compared with Madeleine’s.

Asked what the results showed he replied: ‘A comparison took place and it conclusively proved that Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann.’

Wandelt, 24, is on trial accused of stalking Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry between June 2022 and February 2025, bombarding them with phone calls, letters and messages claiming to be their daughter – and even turning up at their home in Rothley, Leics, to demand a DNA test.

Prosecutors say Wandelt carried out a ‘well-planned campaign of harassment’ against the McCanns that lasted almost three years, along with ‘supporter and confidante’ Karen Spragg, 61, who is also on trial, and who is said to have ‘adopted and evolved’ her bogus claims ‘with gusto’ from last year onwards.

They both deny the charges.

Detective chief inspector Mark Cranwell from Operation Grange, the Met police investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine

Julia Wandelt, 24, was informed of the DNA results in April, the court heard today

Karen Spragg, 61, is on trial alongside Wandelt, accused of stalking the McCanns

Giving evidence on Tuesday, Mr Cranwell, a senior investigating officer from Operation Grange, the Metropolitan police investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance, said by the start of the year, he believed Wandelt’s conducted had ‘reached the threshold for harassment’.

He said he made the decision to take a DNA sample to ‘prove or disprove’ her claims even though it was against ‘procedure’ and was aware of the ‘potential ramifications’.

He said: ‘It weighed heavily on my mind because this was against policy and procedure’.

He said he was also worried Wandelt would not accept the results and ‘would suggest we have tampered with the sample’.

‘There was a possibility she would never accept she isn’t Madeleine even when provided with scientific proof.’

He said if it became known police had ordered a DNA comparison, it could also lead to a ‘series of people coming forward saying they are Madeleine’ but added: ‘I believed it was the right thing to do.’

A court sketch of Wandelt and Spragg in the dock at Leicester Crown Court, where they are on trial accused of stalking

Kate and Gerry McCann have both given evidence describing the ‘distress’ Wandelt’s actions have caused them

Asked by Michael Duck KC, prosecuting, what the ‘driving force behind that view was?’ he replied: ‘To get the results to prove that she isn’t Madeleine and inform her of that decision in the hope she may stop her behaviour towards the McCann family’.

Mr Duck said: ‘Do you think that would be achieved?

Mr Cranwell replied: ‘I was skeptical and nervous’.

The court was told the DNA sample would have to be given voluntarily, and Wandelt agreed.

Mr Cranwell said: ‘I was weighing up the best time to take the DNA, I was aware Leicestershire [police] were likely to be arresting her at some point and I made the decision the DNA would be taken on her arrest.’

The sample was taken in February this year after she and Spragg were arrested at Bristol airport.

Asked what the results showed he replied: ‘A comparison took place and it conclusively proved that Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann.’

Mr Cranwell said he and a colleague then visited Wandelt in Peterborough prison on April 1 this year to tell her the results.

He said he told her: ‘A sample was a taken from you when you were in custody.

‘I went on to say your sample was submitted to the laboratory and a profile was established for you.

‘This has now been compared to the profile of Madeleine McCann, they do not match, you are not Madeleine McCann’.

Mr Cranwell said Wandelt asked him about a test she had taken, which she earlier claimed showed was an almost 70 per cent match to DNA found at the crime scene in Portugal.

Mr Cranwell said he told her: ‘I can’t comment on work done by other people.’

‘She also asked me did you really want to find Madeleine? To which myself and colleague Gary replied ‘yes’.

Earlier, Mr Cranwell told the court a total of 12 people had come forward claiming to be Madeleine.

He said Operation Grange was once a ‘full time’ operation.

But he said it had now been reduced to him working on it one day a week, his deputy also working one day a week, and another detective employed for two days per week.

He added the investigation worked with the Portuguese and ‘latterly’ the German authorities – with the ‘German aspect’ including looking into ‘an individual with the initials CB’.

The court heard there were over 42,000 documents in Operation Grange’s current system, with 21,000 ‘nominals’ named – with ‘nominal one’ being Madeleine, and others including police officers, witnesses, and anyone else who had come into contact with the case.

DCI Cranwell added over 11,838 ‘actions’ had been carried out, and more than 22,000 emails received.

Asked by Mr Duck how many times the inquiry had ‘encountered individuals who claimed to be Madeleine McCann’, he replied that nine had been revealed by searching the system with the terms ‘I am Madeleine’, and that a further three were then discovered.

All had come forward after 2021, Mr Cranwell said, with ‘parameters’ put in place after 2022 to ‘triage’ any claims.

In respect of the nine women who were found via the ‘I am Madeleine’ search, he told jurors they ‘looked if anyone had submitted photos and did a visual comparison.

The detective added: ‘Madeleine had a very distinctive eye pigmentation and it was very easy to discount anyone who did not have that pigmentation.

‘Those that did enclose photos, we made an assessment and re-engaged to either get more photos or more background. To establish whether there was a possibility they could be Madeleine McCann.

‘Ultimately I was the decision-maker whether anyone would be suitable for further work.

‘It was almost like a triage process. It was only right that I made those decisions.’

Mr Cranwell said Operation Grange had never taken a DNA profile from a person claiming to be Madeleine, although within the last two months a woman had sent a profile in and asked it to be compared to the sample the inquiry had on file.

He added that was indeed compared ‘because it was an easy process and could put her mind at rest’.

However, Mr Cranwell said: ‘Taking DNA was a last resort. If I got to that stage I was working with or talking to someone who is Madeleine McCann. At that stage it would have been to prove or disprove.

‘My policy decision is we would not taken DNA unless we believed that person was Madeleine. I did not want to set a precedent. If it became known in the media that I had taken the DNA of an individual, I was concerned I would have had a lot of people come forward saying, ‘I was Madeleine’, and set a precedent, and there would be an expectation.’

Asked what his concerns were of the effect on the McCann family of taking DNA from individuals who came forward, he replied: ‘I genuinely had major concerns about approaching the family.

‘That could have raised their hopes and it could have been done multiple times and been quite emotionally damaging and difficult for the family.

‘I had a responsibility to the investigation and family to be prudent with that decision making.’

Asked about what his thoughts were in relation to Wandelt’s claim, Mr Cranwell said: When I make any assessment I base it on age, physical features, and most importantly eye pigmentation. That would be the major criteria, and professional judgement.

‘My initial assessment and subsequent assessment was that she was not Madeleine McCann.

‘My understanding was Julia had a similar eye pigmentation but it was in a different place within the eye. The iris was a different colour as well.

‘On my direction, being completely satisfied that Julia was not Madeleine, I said to DC Mark Draycott please speak to her and inform her we do not believe she is not Madeleine and we are satisfied she is not Madeleine.’

He added that the ‘feedback’ he received was that Wandelt was ‘relieved’.

The court also heard that in February 2023, after Wandelt began contacting the family again, officers showed the McCanns images of her for the first time.

DCI Cranwell said: ‘I genuinely thought if i took and compared and it had been negative i could have explained to Julia she is not Madeleine and it may have stopped this pattern of behaviour

‘The McCann family had seen photos and were satisfied it was not Madeleine.’

But after Wandelt stepped up her alleged harassment and began contacting Madeleine’s siblings, DCI Cranwell said he made a ‘change of decision’ and sought DNA from her.

Last week the court heard Detective Constable Mark Draycott had ruled out Wandelt after studying photos she had sent and comparing them with the missing girl, who had a small blemish called a coloboma of the iris on her right eye.

He added: ‘We were already aware of the condition in Madeleine’s eye.

‘We were able to make that professional opinion relating to that.

‘The experts said it wouldn’t have faded in that time. The medical expertise is that it couldn’t move and couldn’t fade. We had already worked on facial recognition, etcetera, etcetera.’

LISTEN: The Trial of the ‘McCann Stalkers’. Listen to the latest on this Daily Mail podcast

On Monday, jurors at Leicester Crown Court were played voicemail messages left by Wandelt in which she claimed Madeleine was not dead.

They also heard messages begging Ms McCann for a DNA test, claiming she was a 69.23% genetic match to samples from the ‘crime scene’ contained in the Portuguese police files into Madeleine’s disappearance, which are online.

In one message, she told Ms McCann: ‘You are my mother, it’s science, no one can deny it.’

In another, she said: ‘I am not a scammer, I am your daughter.’

She also explained away differences between her and Madeleine’s appearance by saying she was ‘ugly and fat because of medication I was given’, and claims to remember trying to shout ‘mummy and daddy’ on the night the three-year-old disappeared in Portugal in 2007.

Strictly fans were left enraged after Amber Davies achieved a perfect score of 40 for her Charleston during Musicals Week on Saturday night.

The theatre star, who finished starring in Great Gatsby on the West End prior to competing on Strictly, was in her element for this week’s quarter final.

Amber and Nikita Kuzmin performed a Charleston to Sit Down, You’re Rocking The Boat, from Guys And Dolls.

And the pair blew the judges away, once again, as they scored 40, with Anton Du Beke commenting he ‘wished he could score them 25’.

However Amber came under criticism from fans for her dancing experience as they accused her of ‘essentially doing her day job’.

As well as Great Gatsby Amber has also starred in West End productions of Pretty Woman, 9 to 5 The Musical, Back To The Future and is due to star in Legally Blonde.

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Strictly fans were left enraged as they accused Amber Davies of ‘doing her day job’ as West End star secured a perfect score of 40 for her Charleston during Musicals Week on Saturday

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Amber and Nikita Kuzmin performed a Charleston to Sit Down, You’re Rocking The Boat, from Guys And Dolls

Taking to Twitter viewers penned: ‘Amber just essentially doing her day job. Bound to get a 40’;

‘I do like Amber but performing in musicals is her day job so a 40 is imminent!!’;

‘Amber has just come out of The Great Gatsby, where she did the Charleston every night.’

Another fan asked: ‘#Strictly can we please get back to having stars who have no dance experience. Its crazy to have someone, as an example, that dances in music theatre competing.

‘Not to mention others who competed in a TV dance comp previously.’

However others stood up for the star as they added: ‘God get over it, she’s fab to watch and she deserves to be in the show!’;

‘the most deserved 40!!! make sure to vote for amber and nikita’.

Elsewhere on Saturday Balvinder Sopal was consoled by judge Mosti Mabuse as she broke down in tears.

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As well as Great Gatsby Amber has also starred in West End productions of Pretty Woman, 9 to 5 The Musical, Back To The Future and is due to star in Legally Blonde

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The pair blew the judges away, once again, as they scored 40, with Anton Du Beke commenting he ‘wished he could score them 25’

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Taking to Twitter viewers penned: ‘Amber just essentially doing her day job. Bound to get a 40’

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However others stood up for the star as they added: ‘God get over it, she’s fab to watch and she deserves to be in the show!’

Musicals Week saw Balvinder and Julian Caillon performed a Viennese Waltz to Never Enough from The Greatest Showman.

The performance proved emotional as the EastEnders star was visibly in tears while being comforted by Tess Daly.

Judge Mosti quickly rose from the desk and rushed to the floor to console Balvinder in a sweet moment.

After making her way up to Claudia Winkleman, the tears continued as the star received a supportive video message from her young nieces.

Claudia later revealed to Balvinder how she scored her highest marks of the series – a respectable 35 points.

George Clarke had opened Musicals Week with his pro partner Alexis Warr as they performed an Argentine Tango to The Point of No Return from The Phantom of the Opera.

Last week he said of musicals: ‘I hate them. I just sort of skip the music parts. That’s if I’m watching them on a TV, I don’t just get up and go to the toiler if I’m at a theatre.’

Following his performance, Claudia revealed legendary music composer Andrew Lloyd Webber – who is behind The Phantom of the Opera – had a message for him.

The 77-year-old then appeared on screen and said: ‘Good evening, George. I have a message from the Phantom of the Opera.’

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Elsewhere on Saturday Balvinder Sopal was consoled by judge Mosti Mabuse as she broke down in tears

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Balvinder and Julian Caillon had performed a Viennese Waltz to Never Enough from The Greatest Showman

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George Clarke was left stunned during the Strictly Come Dancing quarter-final as Andrew Lloyd Webber surprised him with a video message after he admitted to ‘hating’ musicals

He continued to read out: ‘Greetings, Monsieur George, I congratulate you on choosing the music of my legend tonight.

‘I trust that your conversion to musicals is now complete, lest a disaster should occur beyond your imagination. Your obedient servant, the opera ghost.’

Breaking character and smiling, Andrew concluded: ‘Good luck, George.’

Stunned at the sweet message, George confirmed to Claudia he had now been converted as a fan of musicals.