Author: bang1

Eamonn Holmes, 64, is appearing to ignore recent comments made by Ruth Langsford’s friends regarding her hurt over his friendship with another woman

Eamonn Holmes has brushed off comments from Ruth Langsford’s pals about her “hurt” over his friendship with another woman by posting about his favourite Irish romance.

It comes as Ruth, 64, is set to take a break from ITV’s Loose Women for the rest of the month as she struggles with the split and fallout. She is said to be upset over the discovery that, in the wake of their separation, her husband Eamonn, 64, is being consoled by another woman with whom he’s been on a string of outings.

Taking to Instagram, Eamonn posted a photo from 1952 classic The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. He wrote: “Probably my favourite film ever. A Romantic view of Ireland. Amazingly released 72 years ago.”

His followers quickly took to their comments to share their appreciation of the film, with one writing: “They just don’t make films like that anymore . I’ve read that Maureen was his favourite leading lady and I can see why.” While another commented: “Grew up watching this with my grandparents and still watch it to this day. ‘When I drink whiskey, I drink whiskey; and when I drink water, I drink water’ Michaleen.”

It comes after Eamonn and Ruth’s relationship was dubbed unmendable by pals, who say that there is “no chance” of the pair reconciling. It has been suggested that a large part of the reason is the revelation that Eamonn, 64, is being consoled by a blonde divorcee in her 40s.

Eamonn and his lady friend are believed to have met while she was working as a relationship counsellor and have struck up a friendship over the past couple of years. He is said to have taken her out to a number of venues including a trip in February to a safari park, plus a Manchester United game, Centre Parcs and a Beyonce gig. Eamonn is said to have grown close to the woman over the past year.

An insider close to Eamonn said earlier this month that the woman is “bowled over by being lavished with attention and kindness from him”.

Ruth is believed to have not known about their day trips until recently and it has been described as a key factor in their decision to call time on their relationship. She has also been left “deeply upset” over suggestions that she’s walked away from her marriage because of Eamonn’s ongoing health woes.

“Ruth was hurt when she learned about Eamonn’s friendship with another woman but she is strong and she will be back soon with a smile on her face, putting her best foot forward, as she always does. She needs a bit of time to regroup after everything that’s gone on, which is understandable, but she plans to return to Loose Women, with renewed vigour, in July,” a source told the Mirror.

Music PR Alan Edwards was welcomed on Loose Women this Friday as he spoke about his close bond with David Bowie and revealed the star had performed some good deeds.

His work is considered a monument in music history but according to Alan Edwards, David Bowie also had a string of kind acts he could have been proud of.

The music mogul chatted to the Loose Women panel this Friday, June 7, as he promoted his new book I Was There: Dispatches from a Life in Rock and Roll, a memoir in which he recalls his biggest career moments.

Although some ITV viewers took to X to point they had “no idea” who Alan was his stellar list of clients includes names fans have definitely encountered in the past as he has worked for the likes of the Rolling Stones, the Spice Girls, Blondie, Prince, Britney Spears, Robbie Williams, David Beckham, Naomi Campbell and even Amy Winehouse.

But by cosying up to some of the world’s biggest stars, Alan was able to notice moments admirers had no way of knowing about as he told Kaye Adams all about his last moments with David Bowie.

Alan Edwards shared years of friendship with David Bowie, catching him in unguarded moments, miles away from his eccentric public persona ( 
Image:
ITV)

Alan, the founder and CEO of public relations firm The Outside Organisation, recalled how he and the Starman hitmaker shared an outing before eventually parting ways.

“In the street, he gave me a hug”, Alan remembered, “and it was really nice but I didn’t realise how he really was.” The devastating news of David Bowie’s death, which took place on January 10 (two days after his 61st birthday) 2016, was shared a month after the pals last saw one another.

Looking back on their last encounter, Alan admitted he realised what the embrace really mean: “he was consciously saying goodbye to me.”

After claiming his famous friend was “very self-effacing, very modest”, Alan recalled how David Bowie had an obliging streak as he remembered a time the late hitmaker had taken care of him and his co-workers.

David would casually make his way to Alan’s office on Tottenham Court Road, with Alan remembering: “he’d sometimes just rock up, no body guards.” Once on location, “he’d come up in the office some days and he’d make tea and coffee for everyone. That’s what kind of a man he was.”

The star’s guitarist made similar revelations, relayed by The Daily Mirror. Earl Slick exposed David Bowie’s sweet tooth and penchant for espresso coffee in his later years, after fighting off his addictions. Earl and David worked together for the singer’s 25th studio album, The Next Day.

Loose Women’s Linda Robson has been banned from driving by her children after she racked up £3,000 worth of parking tickets – and she’s not allowed to park her car anymore

Linda Robson has confessed to amassing a whopping £3,000 in parking fines.

The 66-year-old Loose Women star revealed her penchant for ignoring parking rules, believing her status as a “national treasure” gave her the freedom to park “anywhere [she] likes”. Revealing all on Good Morning Britain, she told presenters Susanna Reid and Ed Balls: “I’ve just paid £3,000 worth of parking tickets.”

Linda also shared that her children, including daughter Lauren from her marriage to ex Tony Tyler, and Louis and Roberta with former spouse Mark Dunford, have confiscated her car keys due to her reckless parking habits. She explained: “They’ve taken my car keys off of me, my kids, they’re taking control of my money and my car. So I’m not allowed to drive anymore because I just go, ‘Well, I’m a national treasure – I can park wherever I like’.”

The former I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! contestant also admitted to being put on an allowance, receiving “pocket money” twice weekly because she’s not to be trusted with her own finances. She disclosed: “I get pocket money on a Monday and a Friday because I can’t be trusted with my money either!”

When quizzed about her spending habits, Linda revealed her weakness for “expensive candles” and her love for “treating her family”. She elaborated: “I like candles, so I buy expensive candles. And I like treating my family, my kids and my sisters.” The Birds of a Feather actress left fans even more gobsmacked when she disclosed that former EastEnders star Joe Swash had his first sexual encounter in her home.

Linda is no longer able to drive thanks to her family ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
She elaborated: “Joe lived, like, opposite me. Joe actually lost his virginity in my house!” Linda has previously shared how her family have helped her with mental health struggles in the past and organising her finances. She credited her Loose Women co-stars with helping her when she struggled with an alcohol addiction.

Appearing on Lorraine earlier this year, Linda’s daughter Lauren shared: “She’s always been really bad with money. She used to get store cards and just spend on them, it’s like she didn’t think you had to pay them at the end of the month.” Host Ranvir Singh then went on to say how generous Linda was with other people as Lauren said that her mum used to buy everything for her friends.She explained: “She used to buy everyone everything, pay for everyone to go on holiday, pay for us to go places, so it’s not like she just goes out shopping and spends everything on herself.” Linda then interjected saying: “I love buying presents for people.” Lauren said: “When she lost all of her money and went bankrupt she was in a terrible state so we never want that to happen to her again. I have her money, it goes into an account that I have access to and then I give her money on a Monday and a Friday.”

Linda’s daughter Bobby used to be in charge of her money before Lauren took on the job. She explained that Lauren tends to be stricter with her. The TV star explained: “(Bobby) was easier, I used to be able to get money off Bobby easier, but now Lauren’s got it she’s quite strict.”

Former Take That star Robbie Williams’ wife Ayda Field has called for the singer to receive an OBE following his work with Soccer Aid for the past 18 years

Ayda Field has called for her husband Robbie Williams to receive an OBE for his work on Soccer Aid.

The American actress, 45, joined the Loose Women panel on Wednesday as she reflected on Robbie’s hard work at the charity event. Soccer Aid took place on Sunday night as stars took to the pitch to raise money for Unicef. A host of celebrities and former football stars descended on Stamford Bridge for the annual event.

Since kickstarting in 2006, the match has raised an impressive £90 million for the charity, helping those in need in countries across the world. Robbie, 50, was joined by Paddy McGuinness, Erin Doherty, Danny Dyer and Bobby Brazier taking part for the England team.

Meanwhile, Roman Kemp, Usain Bolt, Tommy Fury, Martin Compston and Lee Mack featured on the World XI team. Robbie helped to come up with Soccer Aid after meeting football agent Kenneth Shepherd at a charity game. The Take That star started working with children’s charity Unicef in 1998 and two years later became an ambassador.

His former bandmate Gary Barlow was awarded an OBE in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours for his “services to the Entertainment Industry and to Charity”. Ayda was asked by Loose Women co-star Denise Welch why Robbie hasn’t been given one yet, to which she replied: “Well Denise I don’t know how to answer that on live TV.

Ayda has called for her husband to get an OBE ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images)

The Let Me Entertain You hitmaker helped create Soccer Aid ( 
Image:
Mike Marsland/WireImage)
“All I can say in the Williams household, there is an OBE. We gave it to the dog, we figured it was about time there was one in the house. He is called Mr Showbiz OBE.” She then added: “I’m rooting for a knighthood, but listen Rob never set out for any accolades when he started this 20 years ago. That has actually helped people in a really powerful way.”

Speaking of this year’s event on Sunday, Ayda commented: “I was really impressed, I had a real proud wife moment when he came home.” Back in 2019 a decision to award former Take That star Robbie an OBE was overturned after it was deemed he had used a controversial investment scheme. The senior HMRC civil servant who informed the honours committee of its decision suggested the star only had himself to blame.

“If you do not pay your dues to the Athenaeum you cannot expect to enjoy the benefits,” the official reportedly said. In the same year, Robbie joked about his lack on an OBE while on the Jonathan Ross show with David Walliams. They discussed visiting Buckingham Palace as David said he’d been “many, many, many, many, times” and added: “But you only see bits of it.” Robbie interjected: “I’ve seen all of it.”

David asked: “Did you get an award or something?” Which prompted Robbie to reply: “Yeah no, no awards. Gary Barlow OBE, Robbie Williams, nothing.” Former Britain’s Got Talent judge David then teased: “Why do you think that is, why do you think the Queen hates you?” Robbie quipped: “Obviously not flavour of the day. You organise a jubilee for her on the roundabout outside the house, OBE straight away. Robbie Williams, no.”

Race Across The World stars Betty and James reflected on their time on the BBC show and their conversation which has been dubbed the ‘most moving TV moment of the year’

Race Across The World stars Betty and James have opened up on their heartbreaking moment from the show that left viewers in tears.

The brother and sister duo came third on the BBC race through Eastern Asia. They competed against four other pairs on the epic race through countries without planes, smartphones and credit cards in the hopes of winning £20,000. Despite not taking home the cash prize, Betty and James wowed fans with their bond that grew over the series.They admitted to not being close with each other before taking part in the show. While on the race, 25-year-old Betty heartbreakingly shared her health battle as she does not have a uterus, womb and only one kidney. She was diagnosed with MRKH at the age of 16, which is a rare congenital disorder that affects the female reproductive system.

Betty decided to open up on the fact she cannot have children to James. After their chat, he broke down while talking to the camera and begged the cameraman for a hug. They both appeared on Loose Women, where they opened up on the moment. Betty said: “Everything that you see on screen is exactly how that conversation would have gone because the producers said ‘we are not producing this, just have this conversation naturally’.

“We just sat and chatted. When I got diagnosed, James was 11. I was born without a uterus and I have one kidney. Your little brother doesn’t need to know about that when he is little. It was just a conversation that didn’t come up at home. It was a difficult conversation to have.” She then broke down and told the panel: “I feel like the first time I am free, I finally belong where ever I am.”

James shared his thoughts on the emotional moment as he said: “We saw that on the show, everything was raw and natural. That was just how I felt at the time, that raw emotion just came out. Kudos from our cameraman who was there to step in and give me a hug when I really needed it.”

Betty broke down as she recalled their conversation ( 
Image:
ITV)
He added: “My motto was everything happens for a reason, Betty for obvious reasons can’t see that. That conversation it opened doors to understand each other as adults.” Their mum was sat in the Loose Women audience and explained: “It was very hard, it still makes me hard even now just seeing the way they were both able to open up about their emotions when in society we don’t do that. It just makes me really proud of them.”

Viewers were touched by the moment on Race Across The World as one said: “Omg Betty and James each week make me love them even more, as if I was their parent. Bizarre to say I know. They are fun, the loveliest, kindest, strongest siblings. Emotionally there for each other… I hope they win this.”

Another added: “This will be the most moving TV moment of the year I feel.” Someone else commented: “How brave of Betty to tell everyone about her health. Oh and James asking the cameraman for a hug.” A fourth wrote: “Can someone just come and hug me please [crying emojis] James and Betty are my winners.”

Loose Women panellist Brenda Edwards has confessed to snubbing pop star Taylor Swift at a star-studded wedding for a very touching reason

Loose Women’s Brenda Edwards revealed she once snubbed pop star Taylor Swift at a wedding for a touching reason.

The TV star, 55, recalled her encounter with the pop star while on the ITV daytime show on Friday. She shared how their paths crossed when she attended a wedding with her late son Jamal Edwards. Brenda didn’t disclose whose wedding it was, but many viewers believed it could have been Ed Sheeran’s 2019 ceremony with Cherry Seaborn.

Ed was close friends with Jamal and has a tight bond with Taylor. Jamal sadly died at the age of 31 in 2022 following a cardiac arrest. Opening up on the experience with Taylor, Brenda shared: “The reception time had come and we came into the room and everybody found a seat and sat down.

“I thought to myself Jamal’s brought me here so I am going to sit and not say anything and keep my eyes down, which I did. Which is very out of the ordinary for me.” She continued: “So I sat there and after about half an hour she was sat talking and I could hear the conversation but its not my conversation. And then she says to me ”hi, would you like to come and sit with us?’ and I said, ‘no thank you’ and afterwards I was like ‘ugh!’.

“I spoke to Jamal after and he said ‘mum you should gone and spoke to her, don’t be so awkward’ and I said ‘I was trying not to embarrass you and say something stupid, like I normally would!’ But she was very lovely and she was very down to earth, and you could feel her aura about her that was so calm and pleasant.”

Brenda attended the wedding with son Jamal ( 
Image:
jamaledwards/Instagram)

It is believed to have been Ed Sheeran’s wedding as he’s pals with Taylor Swift ( 
Image:
Getty Images North America)
Brenda’s son Jamal founded the music platform SBTV in 2006 which helped launch Ed’s career. Ed, who used to take drugs twice a day, said that it would be disrespectful to ever play around with substances again after Jamal’s tragic death. The pop star confessed that he first started taking them in his mid-20s, and then gradually became hooked.

Last year, Ed broke down in tears as he was performing an intimate show with Apple Music Live at the Eventim Apollo in London. During the performance Ed admitted he ‘wanted the world to stop’ as he dedicated two songs to Jamal. Ed shared his grief and admitted to the audience: “I’m still not over it, I don’t want to be.”

He told the audience, according to the Daily Mail: “The last time I was in this venue was with my friend Jamal, to see a comedy show, and I’ve not been here since. The first time I ever played this song, I cried when I introduced it, I cried at the start, I cried at the end and… I’m going to cry now.”

Brenda previously shared how Ed comforted her following Jamal’s death as he “was literally at my house for a week, just looking after us”. “There wasn’t anything that he wasn’t sorting out and doing if we needed anything, and everybody has been so so wonderful and so supportive,” she shared on Good Morning Britain.

National treasure Dame Kelly, who is Honorary Colonel of the Royal Armoured Training Corps, tore into Rishi Sunak for quitting the sombre commemorations early

Military veteran Dame Kelly Holmes has slammed Rishi Sunak for “disrespecting” D-Day heroes after he left the 80th anniversary commemorations in Normandy early.

The Olympian, who is Honorary Colonel of the Royal Armoured Training Corps, said following the Prime Minister’s latest blunder: “We need change now.”

National treasure Dame Kelly, who became the first British woman to win double gold at the Olympics 20 years ago, also slammed Mr Sunak’s National Service plan and accused him of “vilifying” marginalised communities like trans people for political gain.

She said: “What I hate is all the bullsh*t that comes out of the Conservatives mouths about what they’re going to do now if they get in at the next election, but why didn’t they do them all this time while they’ve been in power? Veterans have been suffering for years with homelessness, housing, mental health issues and now all of a sudden their care and support for them is important and in the agenda because of the D-Day celebrations, why wasn’t it a priority over the past 14 years?

Dame Kelly Homes said it was time for ‘change’ ( 
Image:
Press Association)

“The fact is, it’s 80 years of D-Day and we know that at the next celebration, in five or 10 years, it’s very very unlikely that we will have many or any veterans left from Great Britain and it’s up to us to keep that memory alive. Some of them drowned before they even got to the beach, but it was clearly not that important to our Prime Minister when he didn’t even stay.

“That, at that point yesterday was so emotional. You look at it and you think, we were part of any allyship that gave certain countries their freedom. The sacrifice is that we were sending kids, 16, 17 year old kids. Give people respect where it was due. Other people stayed on. I don’t know what he was coming home for and I don’t really care.

“If he was coming home for a media interview that could have waited until tomorrow. It’s disrespectful. It is.”

The Loose Women presenter, 54, who served for 10 years in the Army and has long been an active campaigner on veterans’ rights, dubbed the proposed National service scheme as “crazy”. “Again, why are they starting to talk about that now?

Dame Kelly Holmes, who served for 10 years in the army, has been staunch campaigner on veterans’ rights ( 
Image:
Handout)

Dame Kelly Homes said Rishi Sunak’s National Service plan is ‘crazy’ ( 
Image:
Press Association)
“We already have in the Army Foundation College up in Harrogate which serves 16-18 year olds who can go there, have a full education, get paid to be there and learn life skills and then at the end decide whether or not they want to join the army. There is already a system in place. This whole national service thing is just to try to get votes, it’s crazy.

“You can’t have a blanket approach but also there are kids in schools who would benefit from being in training between 16 and 18 if they are not academic but this isn’t the way. Our Army is getting smaller and smaller, they don’t put the money into it, they don’t look after the veterans after they leave service. They need to think about that first.”

Dame Kelly, who chose to come out at the age of 52 in an interview with the Sunday Mirror also spoke about Sunak’s record on trans rights. “It’s a difficult topic but my main thing I would say to him is: ‘stop vilifying people for your political gain’

“Just get on with the causes, stop targeting minority groups that you think are getting the headlines to help you win an election when actually there are thousands and thousands and thousands of people who have been suffering from some of the things that you have not been sorting out for so many years.

“You are literally ruining lives for your own political gain. It’s ridiculous. We used to be number one in the world for diversity and inclusion and we’re number 16 now. It’s wrong. Stop trying to hurt peoples’ lives by bringing up something that is irrelevant to what else is going on in this country at the moment with the cost of living crisis, pouring sewage into our waters, energy bills and everything else.”

Ruth Langsford previously said that she would never have “bothered” to defend herself against “stupid people” who were circulating rumours online about her divorce from Eamonn Holmes

Ruth Langsford’s fierce rebuttal of divorce rumours with Eamonn Holmes have resurfaced after the TV power couple split.

The pair recently revealed they had separated after a 14-year marriage and are currently undergoing divorce proceedings.

But it appears rumours of a split were long inthe making, after Ruth’s comments on the Be Honest with Jojo and Bruce podcast from 2022 emerged.

Ruth said at the time: “I think these days, particularly when you do live shows, they have teams of people at newspapers and magazines and things; their job is to sit online, watching live shows, and whatever we say is, you know, reported, but it’s always with that kind of headline, you know, ‘Ruth discusses divorcing Eamonn’.

Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes in happier times ( 
Image:
(Image: Eamonn McCormack/Getty Images))

“And I’ll say… it’ll have been something funny I’ve said like, ‘oh, if he ever wears Crocs again, I’ll divorce him’, but they make it something. So I kind of stop looking at it now because I think people start commenting on a story that they haven’t even seen.”

Ruth admitted she often questioned herself: “Why am I trying to even defend myself against these stupid people? So I don’t bother.”

Recent reports suggested that the former TV power couple might have been living separately for up to two years before they publicly announced their split. However, neither Ruth nor Eamonn have confirmed this.

A joint statement from their reps read: “Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes have confirmed their marriage is over, and they are in the process of divorcing.”

The former couple own a luxury £3.2million mansion in Weybridge, Surrey. But Eamonn, who is also father to three other children from his previous marriage to Gabrielle Holmes, is believed to have moved out.

Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes are parents to their grown-up son, Jack ( 
Image:
(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images))
Nonetheless, insiders have suggested that the duo are “determined to stay friends and keep things amicable” for the sake of their 22- year-old-son, Jack.

Loose Women’s Ruth had opened up about her heartbreaking moment when Jack left home for university, describing it as if her heart “had been ripped out.”

During a conversation with Hello! magazine last December, Ruth reminisced: “I would say that first week of not having him at home literally felt like part of my heart had been ripped out. I kept his bedroom door shut. I remember coming home and going into his bedroom and crying.”

Reflecting on their history during an appearance on the Events That Made Me podcast back in 2020, the 64-year-old presenter recounted how she and Eamonn initially crossed paths in the TV business, although they had “a rocky start”.

Expressing her thoughts on certain misperceptions, Ruth posited: “We have a healthy respect with what we do. I do smile sometimes because I think there were people, a lot in regional TV, who thought I got onto TV when I started seeing Eamonn, and that’s why I’m here.”

Rumours about the split started circulating earlier this year after fans noticed that the couple hadn’t been seen together for several weeks. This followed reports that they had separate rooms in their family home for when they wanted some alone time.

We delight to inform you that the Nobody’s Child dress even has pockets

If there’s one wardrobe staple Loose Women’s Linda Robson loves, it’s a midi dress. One of her latest outfits comes from a celeb-loved fashion brand and is perfect for the summer months.

The 66-year-old hit the ITV talk show panel last week on June 13 wearing a Denim Blue Smock Rochelle Midi Dress from Nobody’s Child. It’s the ultimate throw-on-and-go piece that requires minimal effort for maximum impact, and has a ‘big bonus’ according to shoppers.

Priced at £75, the easy-dressing number is cut in a stylish smock shape with a tiered hem that falls to a midi length. With a height of 5’4”, Linda and her stylists are well aware that their calf-length hemlines flatter her petite frame, and this dress is no different.

While Linda’s dark indigo version is selling fast, it’s also available in a ‘sunshine-infused light blue wash’ with mid-length puff sleeves – another of the Loose Women star’s signature silhouettes. The oversized fit is perfect for anyone who is a little self conscious of their tum, disguising the waist without being shapeless. And fashion fans will no doubt be excited that it has pockets.

The dress, which is also sold at John Lewis, has received a number of five star reviews from shoppers, one of which said: “Bought this with a Personal Shopper – she was wearing it and gave me the confidence to try it too. It hangs really well and has generous side pockets (big bonus). Bit long for me (I’m 5’2″) but with a bit of a modification it’s fantastic. Will be wearing it on holiday in a couple months of weeks.”

Linda Robson, right, wearing the Nobody’s Child dress with a pair of comfortable sandals ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/Shutterstock/ITV)
Another added: “Nice soft fabric in beautiful colour. Perfect for spring/summer season.” While a third penned: “What a lovely feel and fitting dress. Can’t wait to wear it just need some Spring like weather soon.”

However, one person said it was ‘way too long’, commenting: “This dress is gorgeous and great quality- I like the structure and style. However- it was way too long on me- it was maxi length (I’m 5ft7) and would have needed to be altered to take a few inches off – so sadly I sent it back.”

We think this dress is perfect for styling with sandals and a straw bag this summer, but equally, sport some trainers so you can look chic on your errand runs.

Another high street midi dress Linda wore recently is the Black Floral Puff Sleeve Shift Midi Dress, from River Island. The £50 dress boasts a large patterned floral print with on trend puff sleeves, perfect for showing off her tan after coming back from a holiday.

Some of our favourites in recent weeks include this Bella Pink Textured Midi Dress from Phase Eight, and this Cos Oversized Grandad-Collar Shirt Dress. But if you’re heading on holiday or fancy a new outfit for your summer plans, you can buy her £75 Nobody’s Child dress here.

Loose Women panellist Judi Love is to front a new culinary travel show, Judi Love’s Culinary Cruise, for ITV later this year

Judi Love is swapping the Loose Women panel for a culinary cruise in a new ITV series. The 44 year old comedian said: “I am so excited to be setting sail on this new adventure with ITV. Growing up within a Jamaican family, food was always at the heart of any function and occasion.”

“So I’m truly excited to experience the culture, people and food of the beautiful Mediterranean.”

The Celebrity Gogglebox star will be seen tucking into local delicacies in Kotor in Montenegro, plus four Greek locations Parga, Kerkira, Kefalonia, and Itea.

She added: “I’m looking forward to exploring all of the different destinations as food has such a way of telling a story for many, especially in the Mediterranean where it’s about sharing love, traditions and identity.”

“I have always loved watching loved ones cook and I truly love serving up a hearty plate of food for my family and friends. So I’m thrilled to be able to embrace this with ITV and the audience at home… I can’t wait to get started.”

Judi Love has landed a cruising show for ITV ( 
Image:
BANG Showbiz.)
The former Strictly Come Dancing contestant, who became a regular on Loose Women after producers spotted her on Instagram ranting about a roundabout, said: “I’m truly excited to experience the culture, people and food of the beautiful Mediterranean.”

Speaking of her past, she beautifully reminisced on how making patients laugh made her think she might have a chance in the entertainment world.

Whilst appearing on ITV’s This Morning, she said: “As much as I see that video now, it takes me back, but it brings me so much joy because [producers] Sally and Tom saw it and thought ‘You connect with other people! ‘”.

The star explained: “I trained as a social worker and there was a time when I was doing some training in a mental health rehabilitation home, people with really serious psychosis.”

Recalling a poignant moment, she shared: “We were laughing and I was making jokes, we were all laughing, I remember standing there watching everyone laugh and just taking it in. It makes me emotional, one gentleman turned to me and said ‘Thank you, I forgot about my psychosis’.”

She added: “And that was one of the things that pushed me to just try. I’ve been through adversities in life and one of the things that got through it was laughing. It’s about taking those chances. If I never said to myself, ‘Okay, I don’t think this is the place that I’m supposed to be’, then I wouldn’t be here.”