Author: Mr Bang

Strictly Come Dancing 2024 has crowned its winner, with hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announcing the result live on air during Saturday’s final as Chris McCausland stormed to victory

Chris McCausland has won Strictly Come Dancing 2024, with the result revealed live on Saturday night.

The comedian and his pro dance partner Dianne Buswell burst into tears and celebrated as they were declared this year’s winners after a close final. Moments after sharing how much the win would mean to him, Chris was announced as this series’ champion.

Four couples remained with their final three performances all they could do to pull off a win. But only one couple could be victorious, as announced on air by hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

Chris and Dianne, Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola, JB Gill and Lauren Oakley and Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec all made it to the live final after months of live shows and training. As Saturday’s result came in, just one couple was awarded the Glitterball Trophy.

As the result came in, Chris and Dianne were in complete shock and quickly hugged it out. Left in tears, they were applauded by the judges, crowd and their co-stars as Claudia congratulated them.

Their fellow finalists rallied around them and embraced them, as Chris wiped back tears. Dianne was shaking, as the hosts asked Chris about his win.

Tess asked how it felt, with a speechless Chris saying: “It’s astonishing, I don’t know what to say. I thought I would go out in the first week or two. We have lasted and lasted and she has got so much out of me, she deserves this so much.”

Chris McCausland has won Strictly Come Dancing
He added: “This is for her and for everyone out there who thought… who got told they couldn’t do something or thought they couldn’t do it. With opportunity and support and determination anything can happen.” A teary Dianne told him it was “for both of them”, screaming: “We did it!”

Comedian Chris has inspired the whole nation with his performances, as the show’s first ever blind contestant. The way he has taken on the show and progressed his dancing skills, thanks to pro dancer Dianne’s help, has inspired viewers with them constantly heaping praise on the finalist.

In recent weeks the star has shared the obstacles he has faced throughout the series, with Dianne often explaining to the hosts, judges and viewers what they are up against in training. In a moving moment on Saturday night, judge Craig Revel Horwood revealed he finally realised just how much Chris and Dianne had to put into every training session in order to deliver such epic performances, as he visited the training room.

With Chris’ sight loss, Craig was able to see how Dianne trained him to dance and to follow the steps to ensure each routine was done correctly. The judge even wrote Chris a poem, after his newfound appreciation for Chris’ skill having seen how much work it takes to learn each step, direction, and to know what is going on around him.

Chris had previously confessed he put off Strictly for so long as he was unsure he could do it, and he also didn’t want to encourage negative comments. He decided to challenge himself and has gone on to win the entire show, something he wasn’t expecting.

The comedian and his pro dance partner Dianne Buswell burst into tears
Dianne was in tears in a recent episode after another amazing routine, as she detailed how Chris’ “safe space” had been looking at the floor for years, with him now changing his posture completely and seeming confident on the dance floor. It followed some critique about the way he was stood and his frame during his dance.

Ahead of the final, Dianne also shared how he had the disadvantage of not being able to see his fellow finalists, and not knowing how well they could perform as he had not seen a single step by anyone else. At the time, host Tess was so choked with emotion she could barely get the next link out. And Di’s words had a similar effect on all the pro dancers gathered in the Clauditorium.

Viewers had believed they knew who would win the series just hours before the finale on Saturday. Chris and Dianne were this year’s favourites amongst fans to claim victory over the three other pairings.

Taking to X before the live final and before any result was announced, one fan said: “Will win: Chris McCausland.” A second viewer agreed: “Chris will win out of highest quality year yet.” A third added: “There appears to be a consensus that Chris McCausland will win,” while another fan commented of who will win: “It’s obvious Chris & Dianne will win and if they do it’ll be well deserved!”

Comedian Chris has inspired the whole nation with his performancesThe comments kept on coming with another reading: “Genuinely never been so assured someone is going to win strictly before then I do think Chris & Dianne will do this evening.” A further theory read: “I think Chris will pass out if they win though, and Dianne needs some sort of special award for what she has achieved.”

Meanwhile, judge Anton Du Beke praised the series before the live finale as the consensus was it was one of the best series in years. With all four couples taking on three routines this weekend, Anton called this year’s series “magical”.

Co-judge Motsi Mabuse described the series as “one of the most exciting ever” and felt that all the finalists brought “something so unique to the competition”. She continued: “It’s been a joy to watch them grow. They really raised the bar this year. Heading to the final, it’s going to be a tough decision because each finalist brings magic to the dance floor. It’ll be a celebration of their talent and hard work and I can’t wait to see what they all deliver on Saturday night.”

Royal insiders fear Prince Andrew’s links to an alleged Chinese spy could overshadow the good work of King Charles and Prince William – but the monarch has come to two realisations, a source claims

King Charles is said to be furious that Prince Andrew has dragged the Royal Family into a big scandal – but he knows he cannot “divorce or sack” his little brother, it is claimed.

Prince Andrew’s relationship with an alleged Chinese spy has been another blow to the reputation of the British monarchy – but a source today reportedly claims Charles has been forced to accept two home truths.

A royal insider has this weekend told the Daily Mail that King Charles III has accepted he cannot “divorce or sack” his younger brother, because “there will always be a bond of blood”.

The source told the paper: “The Palace has behaved the best it possibly can with a difficult relation. Every sanction that can be imposed has been, but you can’t divorce or sack your brother from being your brother.

“There will always be a bond of blood and all families often have difficult relatives to deal with. Of course it is understood that it looks bad for the entire family but that is because of one individual.”

This week, it emerged that a suspected Chinese spy who has now been barred from the UK after being deemed a threat to national security had become friendly with the Duke of York, who accepted the suspect as his “confidante”. The monarch was briefed by British intelligence over the major security breach – the latest scandal involving Andrew’s shady contacts following his association with multi-millionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein .

A source told The Mirror the King is “very aware of what has been and what is being done about it.” However, another source admitted that the monarch is “truly exasperated by the ongoing situation with his brother.”

Andrew’s latest nightmare was exposed after an alleged Chinese spy lost his appeal this week against being barred from the UK. The man, known only as H6, brought the case after being banned in March 2023 on national security grounds despite having become a close contact of the Duke of York.

Judges heard H6 formed a close working relationship with Prince Andrew, receiving an invite to his birthday party in 2020 and being told he could act on his behalf. But now it appears the UK’s MI5 domestic intelligence agency suspects the Prince’s Chinese confidante may have become a “gateway” agent used to forge a path into Andrew’s network. British intelligence officials briefed the King’s most senior aides who held an emergency meeting with the monarch over the severity of the situation.

King Charles cannot abandon his younger brother ( 
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Once a “gateway” is established, that person would then be able to introduce Chinese intelligence officers into the network being targeted, in this case Prince Andrew and his associates. It is believed the Prince was targeted because Chinese intelligence suspected he was vulnerable over his costly association with Epstein.

It is understood that Royal insiders fear the new controversy could overshadow the good work of the King, and Prince William. And it comes under a fortnight before the King is due to deliver his Christmas message.

Earlier in 2024 King Charles stopped the £3million annual security bill for his brother at Royal Lodge, and was thought to be asking him to move into less lavish accommodation. But the Duke of York was allowed to stay when, it is reported, he secured funds from an anonymous source.

Counter intelligence officers at MI5 are investigating how deeply H6 could have penetrated the royals’ network of contacts and who else could have been targeted by China. The suspect is believed to have worked for the United Front Work Department (UFWD), an arm of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) which launches “influence operations.”

China’s president Xi Jinping sits alongside the Duke of York at a banquet at the Guildhall in London on the second day of his state visit ( 
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One security source told The Mirror: “The access this person would have had could have produced what China would view as a goldmine of information. Intelligence reporting on the Prince himself would have been of interest, perhaps producing telephone numbers, addresses, dates of forthcoming events and facts regarding his business and financial vulnerabilities.

“But crucially it would be about access to who he knows. In certain settings the Prince and his associates would have let their guard down lower than usual and this would have provided crucial access to powerful people. This means political and commercial targets of very high value may have been identified over a period of time and noted for future operations.

“And this person may have been able physically to get more people into the network, bringing in more intelligence officers to do more serious spying.”

H6 brought his case to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission, set up to consider appeals against bans from the country on national security or related grounds.

But the judge said that the then-home secretary, Suella Braverman , was “entitled to conclude H6 represented a risk to UK national security and that she was entitled to conclude that his exclusion was justified and proportionate.” The hearing found H6 surrendered a number of electronic devices, including a mobile phone, after being stopped by UK border security in November 2021.

On one of his electronic devices, a letter said: “Outside of closest internal confidants, you sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on.” It added: “Under your guidance, we found a way to get the relevant people unnoticed in and out of the house in Windsor.”

A document listing “main talking points” for a call with Prince Andrew was also found. It states: “IMPORTANT: Manage expectations. Really important to not set ‘too high’ expectations – he is in a desperate situation and will grab onto anything.”

Outrage over Andrew’s links to billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein saw him step away from royal duties in 2019.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Duke of York listen to speeches during a visit to Imperial College London, on day two of the state visit ( 
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With royal Christmas at Sandringham just around the corner, those invited to the festivities will be preparing their outfits for the celebrations – but it seems the Princess of Wales once had a regret over one of her choices

King Charles is preparing to host one of his biggest Christmas celebrations ever with 45 royals expected at Sandringham for celebrations.

The festivies range from formal to fun, with a black-tie dinner on Christmas Eve and after-dinner games after a turkey feast on Christmas Day. One part of royal Christmas that fans particularly love is the annual walk to church on Christmas morning, which also sees the Firm greet wellwishers who turn out to see them. In recent years, the Prince and Princess of Wales have been joined by their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis for the outing, along with the rest of the family. Four years ago during the walk, it appeared that Kate colour-coordinated the family’s outfits, and they all looked very smart in dark green.

Kate Middleton on Christmas Day in 2019 ( 
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UK Press via Getty Images)

Kate wore a heavy Catherine Walker coat ( 
Image:
WireImage)And while fans around the world loved their style, it turns out that Kate really regretted her outfit choice for the day, and even told one well-wisher she “really shouldn’t have worn it”. She looked stunning in a heavy grey Catherine Walker coat, with a green hat, bag and heels. But during a quick chat with 19-year-old fan Rachel Anvil, she admitted it was the wrong choice for the unseasonably warm weather.

Rachel’s mum told Metro : “Kate was talking to my daughter about clothes and how she was feeling too hot, she said ‘I really shouldn’t have worn this’. I’m there talking to Charlotte about dolls and my daughter’s talking about fashion with Kate. It wasn’t fake it was a genuine discussion, it was about a minute but it was tailored to my daughter, it was like speaking to a friend.”

Royal Christmases usually feature a morning trip to St Mary Magdalene Church, the greeting of well-wishers, and a family lunch with turkey and all the trimmings.

The royals are set to head back to Sandringham this Christmas ( 
Image:
PA)Earlier this week, Prince William hinted at just how big the festivities are shaping up to be telling guests at a party he will be celebrating the big day with around 45 relatives. Last month, the King travelled to Sandringham, where the royals traditionally celebrate the big day, to see how his Norfolk home is being prepared for the big day.

A royal insider said at the time: “The King is embracing the Christmas period already and really getting into the spirit. Staff who have seen him this week remarked how happy and healthy he was looking.”

In an interview, Camilla’s son Tom Parker Bowles confirmed his mum had requested that he and his family also join in with the royal gathering this year. This would mean invitations for Tom and his children Lola and Freddie as well as for Camilla’s daughter Laura, her husband Harry and their three kids Eliza, Gus and Louis.

However, two royals who are not expected at the big bash are the King’s estranged son Prince Harry, wife Meghan Markle and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. It was revealed earlier this month that they will not be returning to the UK for Christmas as they have not received an invite for this year’s get-together at Sandringham, according to a source close to the couple.

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, is under scrutiny over his relationship with a Chinese businessman, known as H6, who has been banned from the UK over spying concerns

Prince Andrew is still set to join the Royal Family at Sandringham for their Christmas Day celebration – despite the Chinese spy scandal.

The Duke of York, 64, had a suspected Chinese spy as a “close confidant” and trusted business adviser, it emerged last week. He has reportedly been ordered to “uninvite himself” from a pre-Christmas bash at Buckingham Palace this week to spare The Firm further embarrassment.

And King Charles is said to be “face a conundrum” about his brother’s presence at Sandringham for the traditional Christmas Day celebrations. The monarch is understood to be reticent to “ban” Andrew from the festivities on December 25, though the Duke of York’s presence alongside his closest relatives as they walk to church is feared to resurface the Chinese spy row.

“He (King Charles) is desperately hoping the Duke of York will ‘do the decent thing’ and ‘recuse’ himself from joining them at Sandringham to spare the rest of the Royal Family further embarrassment,” a royal reporter wrote today.

King Charles is thought to be an awkward position following the scandal concerning his brother and a Chinese spy ( 
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POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Duke of York meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in May 2018 ( 
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Andrew said he “ceased all contact” with the accused businessman when concerns were first raised about him in a statement from his office on Friday. However, questions were raised across national media on Sunday whether the row is an embarrassment for the UK.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp described alleged activities carried out by Beijing in the UK were “deeply concerning” and need “looking at very carefully”. The 48-year-old politician urged everyone in public life, academia and business to be “alert” to the risks of infiltration.

But Rebecca English, royal correspondent for the Daily Mail, said King Charles, 76, is reluctant to prevent his brother from joing The Firm next week. She wrote: “He is, at the end of the day, his blood brother: he can’t divorce him, or indeed prevent him from seeing other family members… As it stands, I am told, Andrew is due to join the rest of the family in Norfolk next week for the festive gathering… Engulfed in yet another furore of his own making, pressure is being placed on the duke to ‘see sense’.”

Should Prince Andrew ‘uninvite himself’ from the Royal Christmas party? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.

If Andrew continues with his plans, he and his ever-expanding family – including his ex-wife, the Duchess of York, and daughters Princess Beatrice and Eugenie and their children – will take over Wood Farm, a large property on the royal estate in Norfolk.

They will then join the rest of the 45-strong gathering privately to exchange gifts on Christmas Eve and then for Christmas Day lunch, which involves the very public walk to church in the morning.

And this year’s gathering is expected to be one of the biggest in recent memory, with even Camilla’s children invited, to acknowledge the challenges of the last 12 months and their hopes for a happier 2025.

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, is due to attend the pre-Christmas party at Buckingham Palace this Thursday but, following the Chinese spy debacle, insiders say he should do “the gentlemanly thing”

Prince Andrew has been told to “uninvite himself” from the Royal Family’s pre-Christmas bash over his friendship with a Chinese spy, reports claim.

The Duke of York, 64, is due to attend the lunch at Buckingham Palace this Thursday but, following the Chinese spy row, sources say he should “do “the gentlemanly thing” and skip the function.

His attendance would lead to fresh embarrassment over the scandal of his Chinese spy pal, insiders added. One said: “He is under pressure to step away.”

The Prince is also being urged to avoid being seen in public when the royals walk to church at Sandringham on Christmas Day, following a difficult year for The Firm.

King Charles may confront his brother at the function if Andrew attend, it is reported ( 
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Andrew’s invite to Thursday’s meal at Buckingham Palace for more than 50 members of the extended Royal Family is now said to be unten­able, with courtiers urging the Prince not to force King Charles’s hand in barring him. It would be the brothers’s first face-to-face meeting since the scandal broke, it is thought.

A source today told The Sun: “There would inevitably have to be some very awkward conversations and the King would not relish making his brother squirm.

“Andrew has managed the unthinkable and made a complete t*t of himself even before the Christmas party. It’s been a hell of a year for The Firm and the last thing they want is this scandal dragging on during a period of celebration. The thinking is he’s been foolish, but the more he keeps his head down the sooner everyone can move on.”

Should Prince Andrew ‘uninvite himself’ from the Royal Christmas party? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.

And Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, told the publication: “Andrew should take it on himself and decline both invites. It would be the gentlemanly thing to do so he isn’t embarrassing the King. But Andrew is pretty thick-skinned and maybe we have to rely on the influence of Fergie.

“Christmas Day is different because the walk to church is so public and the pictures go all round the world. He should take a back seat and just not go.”

Andrew has been pictured in a meeting with an alleged Chinese spy ( 
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AFP via Getty Images)The Duke of York was last week described in court papers as a “close confidante” of a suspected Chinese spy. Named only as H6, the businessman, 50, lost an appeal against a decision to ban him from Britain on national security grounds.

It is the latest scandal to hit the Duke, who withdrew from public life after paying damages to Virginia Roberts-Giuffre, a victim of his US paedo pal Jeffrey Epstein.

Though she divorced Prince Andrew nearly 20 years ago, the Duchess of York, known as Fergie, has stressed she will support Prince Andrew going forward amid the Chinese spy row

Sarah Ferguson insists she continue to support Prince Andrew in his scandal around his links to an alleged Chinese spy.

Fergie, 65, said she “won’t let Andrew down” as her ex-husband faces scrutiny over his relationship with the Chinese businessman, known as H6, who has been banned from the UK over spying concerns.

“I won’t let him down. He supports me as much as I support him. He’s supported me through thick and thin, not just marriage or divorce,” the Duchess of York, who divorced Andrew in 1996, said in a tell-all interview published by The Sunday Times yesterday.

The chat also gave a glimpse into Sarah’s relationships with the Royal Family as well as the mum’s battle with cancer. It is believed the interview was conducted before the China revelations emerged.

The Duchess of York, who shares two daughters with Andrew, added: “I was totally and utterly in love with Andrew. I would do it all over again, 100 per cent. He’s the best, a great man with a great heart, and kind. Our wedding was the best day of my life. But I gave up my anonymity that day. I was able to because love conquers all. It’s still with us today.”

Prince Andrew, pictured with his brother King Charles, is under scrutiny over his links with a Chinese businessman ( 
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The Duke of York, 64, said he “ceased all contact” with the accused businessman when concerns were first raised about him in a statement from his office on Friday. However, he has now been ordered to “uninvite himself” from a pre-Christmas bash with The Firm on Thursday, it is understood.

His attendance would lead to fresh embarrassment over the scandal of his Chinese spy pal, insiders added. One said: “He is under pressure to step away.”

In her interview, Sarah also spoke about her cancer journey. In July 2023, the Duchess of York went under the knife for an eight-hour mastectomy – but during the follow-up surgery, dermatologists had to remove several moles, finding one to be malignant melanoma. Sarah and Jane’s father died of melanoma, and the duchess said the diagnosis was scary.

Fergie, a novelist and memoirist, continued: “I was sure I was going to die, then I looked up ‘mastectomy’ and faced it… When I got that diagnosis on New Year’s Eve 2023, I nearly fainted.”

In a heartfelt plea, she urged people not to wait to be themselves. Gran-of-three Sarah continued: “Otherwise I’ve got to live life, I’m lucky, it’s (cancer) freed me from the shackles of my heart. Before, I didn’t think it was okay to be myself. Don’t wait to get cancer to free yourself.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have seen another staff member step down from their charity Sentebale – and they are not the first high-flyer who has worked for the Sussexes to then quickly move on

A new team quickly formed around Prince Harry and Meghan Markle when they dramatically quit their royal roles and moved to the United States for a new life.

But the couple soon gained something of a reputation for being unable to hang on to employees as they forge ahead with their charitable and production ventures outside the Firm. In recent weeks, three top executives at Harry’s charity, Sentebale, have stepped down – taking the total number of staff leaving them to 21.

In a major blow, the London-based chief executive of the charity that Harry co-founded in 2006, alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, stepped back after five years in the position – and isn’t set to be replaced. Instead, the Daily Mail reports, Richard Miller, aged 62, will be replaced by an “interim executive director” – Carmel Gaillard – who has been tasked with completing a “strategic transformation” of Sentbale and is based in Johannesburg.

The news comes only a few months after it was revealed that Harry’s chief of staff had left his role after just three months. Josh Kettler, a high-flying PR executive, took up the senior post working with Harry in May ahead of the Sussexes’ tour to Nigeria.

His departure came as Harry and Meghan were preparing for their working trip to Colombia in August. It is understood Mr Kettler was hired on a trial basis and the decision to part ways was mutual, with both sides agreeing it was not the correct fit. These names are not the only staff members to leave in recent years…

Prince Harry, whose chief of staff has left his position ( 
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Getty Images for Project Healthy Minds)

Josh Kettler, who has quit as chief of staff ( 
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Getty Images for Invictus Games Foundation)

Stepping back from Sentebale

Since he co-founded Sentebale – which means ‘forget-me-not’ in Sesotho, a nod to the late Princess Diana’s favourite flower – Harry has been dedicated to the charity, which works with children and young people living with HIV/AIDS. The news that Richard Miller will be giving up his role as chief executive comes after two other major resignations within the charity.

Baroness Chalker – the overseas development minister – has stepped back from the board of trustees after 18 years, but despite leaving her official position has said through a spokesperson that “her commitment to the charity and the Duke of Sussex remains unwavering”.

The Mail reports that alongside Baroness Chalker and Richard Miller, Sentebale also recently lost another important figure: Andrew Tucker. Said to have been dubbed as ‘Tucks’ by Harry, Tucker had held a senior position at the charity for a decade, before stepping away.

Richard Miller has said about his exit from the charity: “It is the logical next step for Sentebale, and the time is right for this shift to local leadership. Carmel is an incredible asset to position Sentebale further as a leader in the region.”

For their part, cofounders Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso said in a joint statement: “This shift reflects our continued commitment to being guided by voices from within the region we serve. We sincerely thank Richard for his pivotal role in steering our organisation toward this important evolution.”

Royal exodus

After Harry and Meghan wed in May 2018, the couple, who were still working royals at this point, saw a string of staff changes with several leaving their posts. Among those leaving were senior communications secretary Katrina McKeever, Meghan’s personal assistant Melissa Toubati, a female royal protection officer and their assistant private secretary Amy Pickerill.

Melissa Toubati mysteriously handed in her notice after just six months with the Duchess of Sussex. A source said: “Her job was highly ­pressurised and in the end it became too much. She put up with quite a lot. Meghan put a lot of demands on her and it ended up with her in tears.

“She is hugely talented and played a pivotal role in the success of the royal wedding. She’ll be missed by everyone in the household. Melissa is a total professional and fantastic at her job, but things came to a head and it was easier for them both to go their separate ways.”

Meghan Markle with the late Queen and Samantha Cohen in 2018 ( 
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In October 2019, their private secretary Samantha Cohen, who had worked for the late Queen also left. Former Times royal correspondent Valentine Low claimed in his book, Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, that fed-up Ms Cohen likened the job to “working with teenagers”.

In his book, author Low told how Ms Cohen organised the couple’s first official tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand but alleged she ended up being “screamed at”. “Sam always made clear that it was like working for a couple of teenagers,” Low claimed a source said. “They (Meghan and Prince Harry) were impossible and pushed her to the limit. She was miserable.”

Ms Cohen left soon after, told Australia’s Herald Sun that she only agreed to a short secondment but was unable to leave as the palace couldn’t find anyone willing to replace her. She said: “I was only supposed to stay for six months but stayed for 18 – we couldn’t find a replacement for me and when we did we took them on tour to Africa with Harry and Meghan to show them the ropes but they left (quit) as well while in Africa.” Meanwhile, after they left the royal lives behind, their director of communications Sara Latham also parted ways with them.

Archewell execs

When Harry and Meghan quit the UK for the USA, they quickly set up their charitable organisation Archewell, making several big appointments including chief of staff Catherine St Laurent.

However, she only completed 11 months in the role before she moved on. In an interview with The Cut, she described working for Harry and Meghan as “an incredible experience”. She added: “They are incredibly talented and creative leaders. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to do that, to be able to be with them on their journey. The time that I spent with them was incredibly fulfilling.”

Former Archewell executive Catherine St Laurent ( 
Image:
Linkedin)Just months later, the couple’s global press secretary Toya Holness also left Archewell after just a year in the role. She had been tasked with overseeing the Sussexes’ PR on both sides of the Atlantic. Insiders at the time claimed she “wanted out” after finding herself “having to fulfil a great many functions for the couple”.

The in December 2022, just days before Harry and Meghan’s controversial documentary landed on Netflix, then president of Archewell Mandana Dayani left her post after just 18 months. At the time, it was understood that Harry and Meghan were to take on full leadership of the organisation, and a statement from Archewell was at pains to make clear they had not fallen out.

Meanwhile, last year, Fara Taylor, who was in charge of marketing at Archewell also left the organisation as Harry and Meghan looked to ‘streamline’ staff.

Production staff

However, it hasn’t just been from their charitable arm where Harry and Meghan have lost staff. They’ve also seen a high turnover from their production company. The couple set up the production arm in the wake of signing multi-million dollar deals with Netflix and Spotify.

But in December 2022, the head of Archewell Audio, Rebecca Sananes, quit after being hired to work on Meghan’s Archetypes podcast. The podcast lasted one season on Spotify before the Sussexes’ deal with the streaming giant was axed.

Last year, Nishika Kumble, who was the senior vice-president of scripted television at Archewell, left after less than two years. She was closely followed by TV executive Bennett Levine, whose departure was described as a “serious blow”, after he moved to a rival organisation.

Also quitting was Oscar-winning producer Ben Browning, who worked on the Netflix docu-series Harry & Meghan, who had been their head of internal content.

The cast and crew of Strictly Come Dancing were in high spirits on Saturday night as comedian Chris McCausland was crowned the winner of the 2024 season after 13 exhausting weeks

The cast and crew of Strictly Come Dancing shared hugs, kisses and celebrations as the 2024 season came to an end with Chris McCausland scooping the glitterball trophy.

The 47-year-old comedian triumphed alongside professional dancer Dianne Buswell, 35 – as they saw off competition from JLS singer JB Gill and his dance partner Lauren Oakley, Love Island star Tasha Ghouri and her dance partner Aljaž Škorjanec, and actress Sarah Hadland and her dance partner Vito Coppola. On Saturday night, judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood watched on with pride as Chris and Dianne won the show.

Asked by show host Tess Daly how it felt to win, Chris tearfully declared: “It’s astonishing, I don’t know what to say. I thought I would go out in the first week or two. We have lasted and lasted and she has got so much out of me, she deserves this so much. This is for her and for everyone out there who thought… who got told they couldn’t do something or thought they couldn’t do it. With opportunity and support and determination anything can happen.”

Chiming in, a triumphant and tearful Dianne told him it was “for both of them”, screaming: “We did it!” And after the show finished airing, the cast and crew were all finally free to let down their hair. Taking to social media, head judge Shirley shared a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes images from the night.

Asked by show host Tess Daly how it felt to win, Chris tearfully declared: “It’s astonishing, I don’t know what to say. I thought I would go out in the first week or two. We have lasted and lasted and she has got so much out of me, she deserves this so much. This is for her and for everyone out there who thought… who got told they couldn’t do something or thought they couldn’t do it. With opportunity and support and determination anything can happen.”

Chiming in, a triumphant and tearful Dianne told him it was “for both of them”, screaming: “We did it!” And after the show finished airing, the cast and crew were all finally free to let down their hair. Taking to social media, head judge Shirley shared a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes images from the night.

One snap showed her hugging Italian dance professional Vito who pulled her in close and smiled happily as they hugged to celebrate the end of the season. Another snap showed Shirl snuggled up with Vito’s partner Sarah on the floor of the Strictly dance set.

Shirley made sure to catch up with Aljaž and Tasha too – with snaps showing her looking straight into the eyes of the hunky Slovenian dancer as they put their hands on each other, and another snap showing her holding hands with Love Island babe Tash. Singer JB couldn’t resist a beaming smile as he pulled in Shirls for an affectionate cuddle – while Lauren looked thrilled to have a catch up with the judge in another behind-the-scenes snap. Lauren, of course, took over from Amy Dowden who was forced to drop out of the show after the first six weeks due to injury.

But Amy was back at the Strictly studios on Saturday night to watch the final – and shared a snap of herself with the winners at the show. She wrote: “My bestie @diannebuswell and my talented friend, who works so hard but is so loyal, caring, everything a girl needs! Every few days would always check in, always stayed true to herself. Gosh you did such an incredible and inspiring job! @chrismccauslandcomedy in utter awe of you! Congratulations champs!”

Shirley and Aljaž Škorjanec madesure they made eye contact ( 
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Instagram)

Shirley took the hand of Love Island star Tasha Ghouri ( 
Image:
Instagram)In a lengthy message alongside the snaps that she shared, Shirley wrote: “Your @bbcstrictly Champions 2024 … @chrismccauslandcomedy and @diannebuswell. Huge congratulations to you both. I’m in awe of you. You are two truly extraordinary human beings and I am so very grateful to have crossed paths with both of you. Judging you each week has been a privilege.”

She continued: “Thank you each and every one of you for tuning in and voting. We hoped you enjoyed the show as much as we did. A huge congratulations to @jbgill @laurenmayoakley @tashaghouri @aljazskorjanec @hadderstime @vitocoppola for your outstanding commitment to our show. Walk out this ballroom with your heads held high. You are true inspirations. congratulations also to everyone who danced for us this year. You were all wonderful and it has been a blast.”

And she added: “I am forever grateful to be a part of a show that brings joy to millions of living rooms across the country. To all who work on and off the camera, thank you for putting on the best show on television. Thank you to you all for tuning in. I love you all. Have a beautiful Christmas. Hugs.”

Singer JB Gill was very excited to see Shirley following the season conclusion ( 
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The head judge caught up with dancer Lauren Oakley ( 
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Meanwhile, former show professional Kevin Clifton took to social media to share his own joy at watching Chris win. He wrote on Instagram: “Absolutely sobbing… Well done @chrismccauslandcomedy @diannebuswell im so proud of you! What you have achieved is nothing short of sensational. You deserve this sis!!! Also, for about 13 yrs ive heard people say and read articles saying @bbcstrictly is done. And yet, they delivered magic AGAIN. And those people were wrong AGAIN.”

Hilariously, his partner Stacey Dooley, who he won the show with in 2018, declared she was leaving Kevin in favour of Chris. She wrote: “Baby, IM LEAVING YOU FOR CHRIS. He’s knockout and I LOVE HIM.” Showering praise on Dianne, she added: “Lady Di, WADDA gal!” Her comment provoked a flood of crying-with-laughter emojis in response – although one fan wrote back to her to say: “get in the queue lol.”

Show judge Motsi also captured some charming moments after the final – snapping Dianne with members of her family as they celebrated their win. Motsi wrote alongside snaps on Instagram: “Wow, what an absolutely unforgettable night! Huge congratulations to @chrismccauslandcomedy , @diannebuswell , and the entire Strictly family on an incredible journey and an inspiring victory. Over the past 20 years, Strictly has shown us that it’s so much more than just dancing—it’s about the power of transformation, the courage to step outside your comfort zone, and the magic of hard work and dedication paying off.”

Motsi Mabuse shared triumphant scenes from the finale ( 
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Dianne Buswell received welcome hugs after her win ( 
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“Chris’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. From the very first steps to mastering those breathtaking routines, he’s shown us what is possible when you give it your all. It hasn’t just been about the steps—it’s been about the resilience, the growth, and the sheer joy of embracing something completely new.”

She added: “A massive congratulations as well to the other incredible finalists @jbgill @tashaghouri @hadderstime who made this season one to remember. Each of you brought something special to the dance floor, capturing our hearts with your passion, determination, and unique stories. You’ve shown us the true spirit of Strictly—a celebration of individuality, perseverance, and the joy of dance.”

“This season has reminded us why Strictly is so special. In just 12 weeks, it has changed lives, brought people together, and inspired millions to chase their dreams. Chris and Dianne’s partnership was the perfect example of the magic that happens when passion, talent, and commitment come together.”

And she typed: “Here’s to 20 years of Strictly changing lives and creating moments we will never forget. To Chris, Dianne, and all the finalists—you’ve inspired us to dance like nobody’s watching. What a celebration of life, love, and the transformative power of dance. Thank you, Strictly, for making the world sparkle just a little bit brighter.”

Under fire TV chef Gino D’Acampo has been accused of more questionable behaviour as it is claimed he was ‘difficult’ to work with, ‘thrust his crotch’ and exposed himself at crew on an ITV show

TV chef Gino D’Acampo is facing fresh allegations of professional misconduct while working on an ITV show.

The under fire 48-year-old TV star has previously been accused of workplace inappropriateness – but has now been accused of being “difficult” to work with, thrusting his crotch at staff and exposing himself to crew too while working on ITV’s Gordon, Gino & Fred: Road Trip. He made the show alongside fellow TV stars Gordon Ramsay, 58, and Fred Sirieix, 52 and Gino himself has strongly denied the allegations made against him.

Gordon, Gino & Fred: Road Trip has been on the air since 2018 and follows the trio as they travel around the globe discovering new and familiar ways to cook. The series, which has aired four seasons so far, is made for ITV by Gordon’s production company Studio Ramsay – and he also serves as a producer.

But the show is now under a cloud of controversy as allegations have been made about the behaviour of Gino. It has been suggested he was “super difficult” to work with and that he made a number of inappropriate comments and actions behind-the-scenes of the show – leading to the star’s manager to allegedly be called into a meeting at ITV in 2021.

ITV have rejected the accusation of a ‘cover up’

The Mail on Sunday has claimed that Gino provoked complaints on the series – which he quit abruptly in 2023 – by asking one producer about their sex life. It is also claimed he “thrust his crotch” at a female staff member and it is also alleged that he exposed himself to crew. Footage on the ITV series frequently featured Gino in a state of undress or naked while in front of cameras.

The Mail’s report claims there were “several complaints” made against the star – and that the complaints led “channel chiefs to summon D’Acampo’s then-manager to a meeting in 2021.” A source told the Sunday publication: “It looks more and more as if there has been a cover-up by ITV and the production company. ITV did step in and they had a meeting with Gino’s former manager where allegations of inappropriate behaviour were discussed.”

A further source is quoted as calling Gino: “Very touchy-feely, not in an appropriate way, and people did not like it. He’s rude and difficult.” The star himself has strongly refuted the claims in the paper, however.

He said in a statement that they published: “I have been completely shocked by, and deny utterly, these awful accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct against me, which are alleged to have taken place years ago during the shooting of Gordon, Gino & Fred. Let me be clear: This did not happen. I take such matters extremely seriously and in particular the suggestion that I have deliberately acted in this improper way against any female employees is deeply upsetting.”

When asked for comment of the claims by the Mail on Sunday and their suggestion of a cover up, ITV strongly rejected the accusations. A spokesperson told the Mirror: “The production companies who make shows for us have primary responsibility for the duty of care of everyone they work with, both on and off screen. We make clear our expectations when contracting with producers. This includes having appropriate controls in place to enable everyone who works on their shows to confidently and confidentially raise concerns.

“Where a complaint is made, or serious concerns raised, we expect it to be investigated and if it is found that something inappropriate has happened we expect that action will be taken. At ITV, we are completely committed to creating an environment where everyone is treated with respect and feels able to give of their best.

“Our promise to those we work with is that where a complaint is made, or serious concerns raised, we will always investigate and if we find that something inappropriate has happened, we will take action. We will continue to develop our efforts to give junior colleagues the confidence to speak up if they have something to raise.” The Mirror has contacted representatives of Gino and Studio Ramsay for further comment.

Chris McCausland has claimed the Strictly Come Dancing Glitterball trophy after impressing viewers at home. Away from the dancefloor, the comedian is happily married to ‘polar opposite’ wife Patricia

Chris McCausland has been crowned winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2024 alongside professional dance partner Dianne Buswell.

The blind comedian, 47 burst into tears as they were declared this year’s winners following a nail-biting final of the BBC competition. Their fellow finalists – Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola, JB Gill and Lauren Oakley, and Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec – rallied around them as a shocked Chris hugged Dianne tightly.

He will no doubt be continuing the celebrations away from the dancefloor with his family: his Brazilian wife Patricia and their 11-year-old daughter. The couple met in 2005 when CBeebies Me Too! star Chris was performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and Patricia was filming a documentary there.

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“We spent a lot of time together when the camera wasn’t running, socialising, going out and doing things, and we just had a lot of fun,” he previously explained. The star said his wife was “full of energy” and “took me out of my comfort zone”, while he made her laugh and was “almost this calming presence in her life that she was attracted to”.

But Chris affectionately says his wife Patricia, who is from Brazil, brings “chaos” into their relationship. “We were very opposite,” he told Gyles Brandreth on his podcast Rosebud.

“She comes across as very British but she’s Brazilian, she came across when she was five or six. Her life is chaos in the way that Brazilian people are chaos. It’s a natural attribute of their being that they are very proud of – they bring chaos to any room.

“The number of times she’ll be talking in Portuguese to her mum and then I’ll say to her: ‘Are you okay? What happened there?’ It sounds like they had the most horrific argument and they’re just talking about what they’re going to do that day.”

He has been married to Patricia for 12 years with an 11-year-old daughter called Sophie. The rarely seen youngster made an appearance on Comedians: Home Alone back in 2020, which showed her sitting with her dad at a kitchen table. Sophie is laughing at something Chris says, with the star looking relaxed in a blue t-shirt.

But the possibility of becoming a parent “terrified” him. “I was in such a dilemma about it because I knew I would regret not having kids but the thought of having kids terrified me,” he told Gyles Brandreth in an interview. “The idea of being a parent and all of the things I was going to be unable to do properly.

“My dad, all the things he used to do with me as a kid, taking me to different places, and the time he put in helping me build things. You go “how am I going to be able to do those things – I’m not going to be a proper dad, I’m going to be a half dad’.”

Back to Chris and Patricia, the star revealed they have very different ideas when it comes to heating their home. “As you can imagine, we are very different in terms of our culture and our biological response to temperature,” he joked. “While my wife still needs a winter coat in 22-degree sunshine, I find it hard to cope in temperatures above about 26.

“I believe there’s a high likelihood that one of us might be discovered lifeless in the hallway one day, reaching out towards the thermostat, while the other has fled the country.”