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The Princess Royal, 74, spent five nights at Southmead Hospital in Bristol following a serious incident involving a horse at her home in Gloucestershire in June last year

Princess Anne has returned to the intensive care unit where she was treated for head injuries last year to “fill in the blanks” and thank medics for her care.

The Princess Royal, 74, spent five nights at Southmead Hospital in Bristol following a serious incident with a horse at her home in Gloucestershire on June 23.

The King’s sister had set out alone and on foot to feed her chickens before becoming involved in an incident, where she is believed to have been struck from behind by a horse, that left her concussed and badly bruised.

The Princess was rushed to hospital by ambulance and was treated as an in-patient before being discharged on June 28 to convalesce at home.

The Princess Royal spent five nights at Southmead Hospital in Bristol following a serious incident with a horse ( 
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At the time Buckingham Palace said she had been admitted “as a precautionary measure for observation”, but the princess today revealed the true horror of the accident.

On her return to the hospital, Anne met paramedics and members of the critical care team who treated her at the scene, as well as those who cared for her in the ICU, which had not previously been known.

The Princess told hospital staff that it was “useful” to meet them as she was still unable to recall what happened.

After touring the intensive care unit and chatting to several medics, including Morwenna Maddock, the ICU matron who oversaw her care, the Princess gave a short speech thanking them for their efforts.

She returned to visit the hospital where she was treated ( 
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“You’ve been filling in the blanks, which partly, from my perspective, is really useful to know how it happened, because I seriously don’t have any idea, and sadly, I don’t have huge memories of being in here either,” she said.

“But I just know I was really well looked after, so thank you. But whatever you did, it seemed to work…. the recovery has been relatively straightforward, thankfully. That isn’t always true, so I’m really grateful.

“But I’m also grateful in a weird sort of way that I remember nothing, because that has huge advantages – you can just carry on.”

Two days after the incident, Anne’s husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence told reporters outside the hospital she was “doing fine” adding her recovery was “slow but sure”.

Princess Anne revealed she doesn’t remember the accident ( 
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Three weeks later, Anne appeared at her first royal engagement sporting severe bruising under her left eye, saying: “I can’t remember a single thing.”

Her appearance at the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) National Championships at Hartpury University and Hartpury College was cut down to just two hours to compensate for her state at the time.

Appearing to joke about her horses today/yesterday (THURS) and which one may have been responsible for her injuries, Anne added: “I don’t know if there was a perpetrator who managed to do that much damage… they’re not letting on either, so relationships remain absolutely secure. No one has gone absent as a result of this.”

Among those who treated the Princess was Steven Pullin, a volunteer community responder, who was the first on the scene at Gatcombe Park.

She thanked hospital staff for their treatment ( 
Image:
Getty Images)An air ambulance crew was next to arrive followed by a second critical care team and an ambulance with paramedics on board, which eventually took her to hospital.

James Teakle, an emergency care assistant who drove the ambulance, recalled that the journey took 34 minutes.

“I know the area so could work out who it was,” he said. “It was just another job, but a person of importance. I wouldn’t have done anything different for anyone else.”

The Princess also met paramedic Sophie Taylor, who also accompanied her to the hospital, and the two-man critical care team who had the necessary skillset to treat her at the scene, doctor Richard Jeavons and specialist paramedic Callum Sutton, who work for Great Western Air Ambulance Charity.

Maria Kane, chief executive of North Bristol NHS Trust, thanked the Princess for taking time out from her busy schedule to meet those involved in her care.

“We feel very privileged to have you come and see us,” she said.

“I know staff who talked to you earlier today have been very, very grateful to hear that you’ve made such a lovely recovery and look so well today.

After the visit, Ms Maddock said: “She does look incredibly well, it was lovely. It was really nice for her to come back and see the team. She very kindly thanked us all.”

On patients returning to the hospital after they have been discharged, she added: “It doesn’t happen all the time, so it’s really important for our staff to see that their hard work has paid off.

“We often don’t see that onward journey and their recovery. So actually, to see them coming back, looking so well, looking so fit, and how they are normally, pre hospital, it’s a good feeling.”

Ms Maddock said that many patients were unable to remember their stay in hospital, adding: “That’s really, very common and it’s just nice to be able to piece it all back together for her.”

Sam Patel, medical director of the NHS Trust, said it was important for such patients to return and “close the loop”.

While medics who treated the Princess last year revealed that her injuries were consistent with being struck by a horse, the exact circumstances of her accident remain unknown .

The Princess recently revealed that she had been making her “regular visit” to see her chickens but added: “I don’t have any idea what I was doing in the field, because I never normally went that way.”

She suggested she had had a lucky escape as she had been “very close” to losing her faculties. She said she now counts every day as a bonus.

“It just reminds you, shows you – you never quite know, something (happens) and you might not recover,” she said during an interview last month.

Meghan Markle struggled to build relationships with her new family members after marrying Prince Harry in 2018, and her unusual approach to greeting the Royal Family left her feeling hurt

Meghan Markle was said to have had her feelings hurt after some members of the Royal Family “flinched” at her hugs. Insiders claim her “touchy-feeliness” caused some tension after she married Prince Harry in 2018.

Both Meghan and Harry have stated that Prince William and Kate found her love of hugging “jarring”, but now a royal expert has said it went even deeper in creating a “tense atmosphere”. Writing in his new book, Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants – which has been excerpted in The Times – Tom Quinn said: “Tension developed between William and Harry as a result of Meghan’s warm, friendly, hug-everyone approach. Kate, William and Charles tended to flinch when she moved in for a hug.

“Meghan was understandably hurt, as everyone apparently hugs everyone in California. Meghan even tried to hug a singularly stiff Old Etonian equerry. He too flinched as if she’d tried to poke him in the eye, as another member of staff put it.”

William was said to have ‘flinched’ at Meghan’s hugs ( 
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Tensions rose with Meghan and the rest of the Royal Family ( 
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The couple previously opened up about Meghan’s hugging in their Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan. Meghan said she did not know the Royal Family’s “formality” carries through behind closed doors and that she is a “hugger” – which she did not realise was “jarring for some Brits”.

She said: “Even when Will and Kate came over and I was meeting her for the first time I remember I was in ripped jeans, I was barefoot. Like I was a hugger, I have always been a hugger. I didn’t realise that is really jarring for a lot of Brits.

“I started to understand that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside, that there is a forward facing way of being and then you close the door and think, ‘OK we can relax now’. But that formality carries over on both sides and that was surprising to me.’”

Harry also recalled the somewhat awkward first meeting between his now wife and his brother and sister-in-law in his bombshell memoir Spare. He claimed William “recoiled” from Meghan’s hug and described the moment he introduced his sibling to his then girlfriend as a “classic collision of cultures”.

“[It] completely freaked him out,” Harry wrote. “He recoiled. Willy didn’t hug many strangers. Whereas Meg hugged most strangers. Will had hoped that she would greet him with standard reverence per the protocol,” he added, “[but] she didn’t know it and I hadn’t told her.”

Traditionally, hugging is considered inappropriate for royals during official events, with a bow or curtsey being the preferred greeting. Harry has openly discussed his experience of limited physical affection within the Royal Family, including a lack of hugs during his childhood.

But it appears King Charles is leading the way in breaking this old-fashioned protocol. In September, Charles broke with tradition when he met the New Zealand Women Rugby Team, who made an unusual request.

“Yeah, we all wanted a hug,” Ayesha Leti-I’iga told the monarch, adding, “but only if it’s okay with you.” To the team’s surprise and delight, the King accepted, replying: “A hug? Why not!”

After the group embrace, which he joked was like being “flattened by a scrum”, Charles thanked the team for their “warm hug”, which he described as “very healing”.

Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants by Tom Quinn is out on February 18.

Loose Woman star Janet Street-Porter is taking a break from the ITV hit chat show as she prepares to go into surgery on Friday with her co-stars confirming the latest show was her “last” for a while

Loose Women star Janet Street-Porter has confirmed that she is taking a lengthy break from the chat show. The broadcaster, 77, is renowned for her role as a panellist on ITV’s flagship daytime programme.

During Wednesday’s episode Janet was back on our TV screens alongside co-star Coleen Nolam, Christine Lampard and Katie Piper.

Just minutes into the show, Christine announced that it was her colleagues “last day for a little while” as she prepares to undergo a hip replacement on Friday.

It’s without a doubt that Janet is apprehensive about the surgery as she admitted that she can’t think about anything else and is ‘shaking and shivering’.

Loose Woman star Janet Street-Porter is taking a break from the ITV hit chat show a

Christina started off by saying: “Janet this is your last day for a little while because you are heading off for the operation, the one you have been waiting for a while.”

Janet confirmed: “Yes, on Friday I am heading off to have a hip replacement operation at last and I can’t think about anything else.”

She continued: “As I’m sitting here, I’m shaking and shivering and I keep dreaming about it. I keep thinking ‘what if they can’t get it back together’. I am going on Friday, I’ll have the operation Friday afternoon, stay in hospital for a few days then I’ll really work on it at rehab so I can come back as soon as possible.”

Everyone burst out laughing as she turned to her co-stars and joked: “I’ll have to do one of those broadcasts from my hospital bed.”

Janet is having a hip replacement ( 
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Coleen became visibly emotional as she revealed: “You know this morning when we were talking about it – it made me really sad because you always put on this tough image that nothing does your back in and at one point today you said ‘I’m really scared’ and I could have cried my eyes out.”

Janet fought back tears as she admitted: “I am vulnerable and you know what it’s my own fault because they told me in March to have it done but I delayed it but then at the weekend I have some vegetables delivered and even though I shouldn’t I was on all fours planting them.”

It was clear that it wasn’t her best idea as she continued: “I woke up on Sunday morning and I couldn’t move and now I’ve really messed up the other side of my back and I had to lie-down for two days.

She added: “I realised that I let myself get too weak and I’ve never been like this in my life and it’s just so irritating.” Janet was then surprised with a gift basket that had a framed picture of Coleen.

Stacey Solomon has reportedly quit one of her TV roles after fans were concerned that she had quit Loose Women when she failed to appear in the ITV’s show 25th anniversary photo

Stacey Solomon has quit another one of her huge TV projects, according to reports.

The Sort Your Life Out star, 34, recently stepped down from her role as a designer for In The Style to spend more time with her family and now it’s been reported she’s left her role on Rennovation Rescue.

Stacey fronted the Channel 4 show for one season, which saw the plucky mum-of-five come to the rescue of homeowners who’d been left stranded by their builders and needed help to salvage their half-built homes.

Explaining her departure from the show, a source said: “Stacey had a great time making Renovation Rescue but the fact she isn’t doing a second series allows her to focus on her projects with the Beeb.”

Stacey Solomon has quit another one of her huge TV projects, according to reports ( 
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Channel 4)

With her down to earth charm and no-nonsense attitude, Stacey has a string of presenting roles under her belt. Her work on BBC’s Sort Your Life Out earned her a National Television award for Factual Entertainment, with a source telling The Sun of the episodes: “They’ve been a huge success and the NTA win is evidence that the viewing public love what she does.”

The Dagenham-born star has a legion of loyal fans, who follow her career closely. Recently they were concerned when Stacey was missing from the 25th anniversary portrait for Loose Women, which included several panellists and presenters, all wearing silver sparkly dresses.

Among those present in the studio snap are Christine Lampard, Judi Love, Katie Piper, Kelle Bryan, Frankie Bridge, Dame Kelly Holmes, Charlene White, Sunetra Sarker, and Olivia Attwood-Dack.

Stacey joined the show in 2016 and has become a favourite with fans since her first appearance. She has not commented about her absence from the photo, however she did post on X, formerly Twitter: “Happy birthday to you, Loose Women. I can’t believe you’re 25 years old and I can’t believe I get to call myself a Loose Woman, I’m such a proud Loose Woman! 25 incredible years and so many more to come. Love you loads and loads.”

Fans were worried when Stacey was missing from the Loose Women 25th Anniversary photo ( 
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Earlier this year, Stacey revealed she had stepped down from a huge role after three years to spend more time with her family. The X Factor star welcomed her fifth child, Belle, with her husband, Joe Swash, 42, last year. The couple also shares Rex, four, and Rose, two, while Stacey has 16-year-old Zachary with her ex Dean Cox and Leighton, 11, with former fiancé Aaron Barnham.

Posting a statement on her Instagram story, Stacey told fans: “Today has been a wonderful but emotional day as I shot my LAST EVER collection for In The Style. I have loved every single second of being able to design & create clothing with the most incredible team & literally bring my dreams to life.’

She continued to say that this year, she has “thought a lot about work/family balance’ and what she needs to prioritise and as a result needed to ‘give more of myself back to my family”.

In May, Stacey said her dream was to quit TV work all together to become a stay-at-home mum, stating she wants to only take on work she can do mostly from home apart from the occasional “passion project”.

Loose Women’s Denise Welch has revealed the full story behind a harrowing stalking ordeal that saw her family forced to move home and hire private security staff

Loose Women star Denise Welch has spoken of her fear and anger that a man convicted of arson on her property is due to be released in the next three months.

Toraq Wyngard was jailed for arson and stalking charges in 2022 but is soon to be released.

“The stalker who set fire to my property, who came to my house with knives – who could have killed me or a member of my family or the brave woman who came to help – is getting out of prison soon, and I am f***ing terrified,” she told the Daily Mail.

It’s still unclear why Wyngard, who also goes by the name of Todd Wyngard, targeted Denise and her family. She described how her ordeal began on one evening in September 2020.

A neighbour knocked on Denise’s door to alert her to the fact that a skip on her driveway was on fire. It was very close to her car, and Denise’s husband Lincoln rushed out to move the vehicle before the fire could spread to its petrol tank.

Denise’s husband Lincoln had installed CCTV at their home – without it they might never have connected the disturbing incidents ( 
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Loose Women’s Denise Welch/Instagram)Later, examining CCTV footage revealed a man running away from the skip towards a nearby churchyard. Police managed to trace the man, who could be seen wearing a distinctive baseball cap in the CCTV footage, and detained Wyngard.

Denise recalled: “He was told he couldn’t come near our home for a month while the police investigated. But after a month we heard – and only because I demanded to know – the CPS wouldn’t be bringing charges.”

Wyngard was jailed for seven years and seven months at Chester Crown Court ( 
Image:
PA)Some months later, Wyngard was again seen on CCTV scrawling offensive graffiti on Denise’s front gate. But when she attended her local police station and presented officers with the evidence, they told her their hands were tied, because it required three incidents to trigger an inquiry into stalking.

It was only later, after Denise and her family managed to connect the two chilling incidents with a note marked with satanic imagery that had put through her door, that police were able to launch an inquiry.

In April 2022 ­Wyngard, 64, pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court to stalking, arson, possession of a bladed article and criminal damage. He was ordered to spend seven years and seven months in prison.

Denise has said she’s lucky that her job has given her the profile to speak out about the issue ( 
Image:
ITV)At that point his parole eligibility date was listed as October 2025, but Denise has since learned that he has been considered for early release. Her legal action to oppose his release was rejected, and Denise has been told that the authorities will notify her of which week Wyngard will be released, but not the actual day.

Denise says that she’s lucky enough to have a second home, and to be able to afford CCTV and private security guards – but that many women in similar positions don’t have those resources.

Even so, Denise says, the impact of the whole ordeal has been “devastating,” both for her and for her husband. “It isn’t over for us,” said Denise. “In December he will be free. But what about us?”

The Ministry of Justice has been contacted for comment

TOWIE star Pete Wicks has dished the dirt on how he’s able to remember certain dance move on Strictly Come Dancing as he revealed all while appearing on ITV’s Loose Women

Strictly Come Dancing star Pete Wicks has shared how he learns the dance moves while rehearsing for the much-loved BBC show.

The 36-year-old revealed all when he appeared on the latest instalment of Loose Women alongside his dance partner Jowita Przystal. Talking about how they’re currently doing in the compeition, the pair went on to discuss what goes on behind the scenes.

Jowita said: “I found a way that we work best, for example we write a script for every dance. So we have a story for everything and Pete has his own book and he write things in his own way, so yeah it doesn’t make any sense,” she explained.

Pete added: “I don’t understand the name of what the steps are so I have to name them myself.” When asked by Christine Lampard if he could name some of the steps he made up, he said: “Not on daytime TV.”

Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal appeared on Loose Women ( 
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Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal appeared on Loose Women)

But despite the rivetting discussion, fans were distracted and left swooning over Pete’s dashing looks. One viewer on X gushed: “Would never normally justify watching Loose Women, but cor blimey Pete Wicks, just make me pregnant.”

Another said: “Give me Pete Wicks over Olly Murs any day.” Another said: “Pete with his wet hair pirate charm, getting all the loose ladies a bit excited and making them giggle at everything he says”

Pete revealed how he learns his steps on Strictly ( 
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On Tuesday (October 1), Pete and Jowita caught up with their fans on social media by hosting a Q&A on Pete’s Instagram Stories. One of the first questions asked was: “How are your trotters holding up?” to which Pete replied: “Interesting question and this week, badly. Why’s that?” he asked Jowita who sheepishly replied: “Because you’re barefoot…”

He continued: “Because I’m dancing barefoot. No shoes.” Jowita then interjected to say: “But I clean the floor every morning I come here for you,” to which Pete said; “She cleans the floor every morning, hopefully, they’ll do the same in the studio but yeah, any of you foot fans out there you’re in for a treat this week.”

Pete will be appearing on Strictly on Saturday ( 
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Guy Levy/BBC/PA)In addition to this, Pete was also asked what his biggest challenge will be this week. The pair admitted it would be “smiling more” before they were asked how things are going so far in training.

“We’ve just finished eight hours of dancing and I’m shattered, my feet hurt, I’m very sweaty…” Pete said as Jowita interjected: “But it’s amazing, right? I just stepped on your foot like three seconds ago, unfortunately, and because Pete’s barefoot it’s quite painful. I’m so sorry.”

Coronation Street aired a shocking arrest this evening following the fire at the Platts house, whilst a new suspect came to light following the fire

Coronation Street aired some new details about the fire at the Platts house tonight.

The Platts house went up in flames in shocking scenes earlier this week. David Platt had initially being researching ways to set fire to a house for the insurance money, but when questioned about it by Sarah, he ensured her he never did anything.

Shona had also been growing suspicious of him, but in the end, she believed him after he admitted he had been with his former prison inmate as a getaway driver. Whilst she wasn’t happy with his choice of a way to raise funds to pay back Harvey Gaskell, she was glad that he hadn’t been involved in burning the house down, with Max and Toyah still in dire situations in hospital.

As Nick found out from Sarah about David’s new friend, he decided he would go to the police station and report him for what he’d done, as Toyah could have lost her life in the blaze. David was then hauled in from Max’s bedside and was questioned by the police, who later arrested him – and he was locked into a prison cell.

A fire broke out on the Cobbles

Abi Webster was also quizzed about her part in the fire, with Kit and the police team convinced she could be responsible. Finally opening up about her hallucinations of Seb, Abi was adamant she needed support and help.

Elsewhere, Leanne Battersby struggled with her guilt. She had got Steve to lie about visiting her son’s grave but later admitted to him she wasn’t really there and that she had no recollection of what had happened that night.

Leanne also found matches in her pocket and was left worried she’d set fire to the house whilst drunk – but did she or is there someone else to blame? Whoever did it, we certainly know it wasn’t an accident.

Tonight, Kevin Webster trawled through the CCTV at the garage after noticing one of the jerry cans of fuel was missing. Convinced this proved it wasn’t Abi, he rushed down to the police station and showed them the footage.

Whoever the person was, they were wearing a black hoodie – but they seemed unsure where everything was – something Kevin said proved it wasn’t Abi who set fire to the house, as he tried to get her out of trouble.

At the end of the episode, Shona was stunned to see Max stir from beside her. He could barely speak as he asked what happened, before questioning where David was. David was still in a police cell, awaiting his fate, as the confusion surrounding the fire ramps up.

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Wynne Evans is taking part in a new BBC series alongside Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page, but bookies have tipped it to be axed after just one series amid his Strictly scandal

Wynne Evans’ new BBC series is tipped to be given the boot by bosses following the Strictly Come Dancing scandal.

The Welsh opera singer and his Gavin & Stacey pal Joanna Page set sail on watery adventures along the beautiful Welsh coastline in the series. While the BBC was said to be backing Wynne by refusing to pull his primetime travel show last month, insiders said the timing of the new series is ‘deeply unfortunate’ after his sexual remarks on the Strictly Live Tour.

The organisation is also facing mounting pressure to pull the show following the controversy in which Wynne made a crude remark to Janette Manrara at a press photocall event.

Wynne left Strictly Live Tour after his crude comment ( 
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Now, according to bookmakers, the show is destined for the chopping block. It looks as if the possibility of a second series of the Welsh-based nautical series may be dead in the water, according to odds, with it priced just 1/8 that a second series of the show isn’t commissioned.

Lee Astley, spokesperson for BetIdeas, said: “Wynne Evans’ new BBC show ‘All At Sea’ is in danger of being cancelled and we go 4/6 the series is taken off air before the six episodes are aired. Calls for the show’s demise have stemmed from a reported inappropriate remark Evans made at the live Strictly tour and it looks increasingly likely the show will not reach its end.

“It’s highly unlikely that the show will have a follow-up series as a result – we make it 1/8 that a sequel series is not commissioned.”

Wynne recently stepped away from the Strictly tour following his latest controversy. He said at the time: “I’ve agreed with the BBC that I’ll take some time out from my radio show and the Strictly Live tour, as well as my other public commitments, to prioritise my wellbeing.

“I am deeply sorry for the pain my inappropriate actions have caused, and plan to take this time for self-reflection. Apologies to those I won’t get to see at the remaining performances and I’m grateful to my fellow tour gang for all the amazing support they have given me.”

Following the announcement, Wynne’s Strictly partner, professional dancer Katya Jones, 35, reacted to the news. Sharing his statement, she wrote over it: “Let’s show humanity and consideration. I will miss you my darling boy.”

Friends of Wynne’s have claimed the star is “worried he could lose everything” amid the scandal. It’s claimed he is bracing himself for more examples of his “inappropriate” comments to emerge. A friend said: “At the end of the day, he has been a bit of an oaf and made a stupid mistake but does he deserve such hatred? Yes, using the term spit-roast was absolutely wrong, and he realises this. His problem is that he is a joker and he continually wants to play to the crowd.”

The first episode of Amandaland aired on Wednesday night – as fans were left questioning where Motherland fan favourite characters Liz, Julia and Kevin had gotten to

BBC’s Amandaland fans were left questioning where three key characters of the Motherland spin-off were as the series premiered last night.

Motherland spin-off Amandaland aired it’s debut episode on Wednesday night, as Lucy Punch returned to our screens as mother, Amanda. Although Lucy made her return, fans were left questioning the return of other much beloved characters, who didn’t seem to get a mention.

The spin-off moves on from the events of Motherland, as Amanda relocates to South Harlesden in London following her divorce, while navigating the challenge of raising teenagers. It’s tougher times for the character, who’s been forced to cut back on many luxuries, including downsizing her flat and putting her kids in state school instead of private.

Amandaland premiered on Wednesday ( 
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BBC/Merman/Natalie Seery)
Viewers witnessed Amanda reunite with long-suffering former bestie Anne (Philippa Dunne), who helped her navigate her new surroundings, but it left fans questioning the presence of other much beloved characters. Particularly, Julia, Kevin and Liz. Instead, Amanda is seen making bonds with lesbian parents Della (Siobhán McSweeney) and Fi (Rochenda Sandall). As Amanda starts over, has she dropped her friends in the process?

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan penned: “Amandaland is funny-ish (it’s Anne’s world and we’re just living in it), but way too vanilla. Could we have Liz, Julia, and Kev back instead of dull Della, Fi, and JJ? #Amandaland #Motherland.” Another wrote: “There is no julia in it – hard pass. #amandaland.” A third echoed: “#Amandaland Yeh, I’m missing Julia.”

Fans are holding out hope for a return of the trio, but they may be disappointed, as Anna Maxwell Martin, who played the role Julia, has spoken out about whether she’d be appearing on the show.

( 
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Just like the rest of the fans, The One Show’s Alex Jones was desperate to know whether Julia would be making a return. “Can Julia come and have a little cameo at least, a little coffee?,” she asked. However, Amanda broke fans’ hearts as she responded: “No, I don’t think Julia or Kevin or Liz are popping in.”

Despite the failure of Kevin, Liz and Julia’s return, many characters did reprise their role in the spin-off, including Joanna Lumley, as Amanda’s mother, Felicity. Philippa Dunne also reprised her role as Anne.

Although many fans were loving the spin-off, others were calling for a new series of Motherland, instead of a spin-off. Taking to X, on Wednesday night, one viewer penned: “Enjoyable but I kinda wish they had just done another series of Motherland. #Amandaland #MotherLand,” while another wrote: : “#AmandaLand if it was a brand new series everyone would love it, it’s only because we are comparing it to motherland that it doesn’t quite match up.”

Coronation Street has been pulled from the schedules again this week as the ITV soap is set to air just five episodes a week from now on after a major TV shake-up

Coronation Street has been taken off our screens this week in yet another scheduling reshuffle, amid ITV’s recent announcement of plans to reduce their weekly soap episodes.

On January 31st, Corrie devotees were left stunned when their daily dose of the cobbles was supplanted by Six Nations Live. Regrettably, it’s set to happen again. Instead of Coronation Street on Friday night (7 February), football enthusiasts can tune into Manchester United vs Leicester City as part of the FA Cup. The match will commence at 7:30pm following Emmerdale. Coronation Street typically broadcasts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for one hour from 8:00pm.

However, this week, Weatherfield fans have seen the soap air on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday instead. On Tuesday, ITV confirmed that fan-favourite soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale will adopt a new scheduling pattern due to ongoing budget cuts.

Emmerdale currently airs six episodes weekly, Monday to Friday with a double bill on Thursdays. Similarly, Coronation Street also airs six episodes per week, with two episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Now, only five 30-minute episodes of each show will be broadcast – a real terms cut to soap airtime of 17%. Bosses will now roll out a soaps power hour from Monday to Friday with 30-minute Emmerdale episodes airing at 8pm and 30-minute Coronation Street episodes airing at 8:30pm. However, each episode will continue to be available at 7am on ITVX before airing that same evening.

The launch of the new 2026 schedule is set to be a dazzling affair, as both Coronation Street and Emmerdale gear up for an audacious stunt that’s never been attempted before during a week of special episodes. Insights from research indicate that 30-minute episodes garnered higher audiences in 2024, offering more manageable chunks of drama that align better with evolving viewing patterns.

Coronation Street will air every day for half an hour in the new schedule shake-up
Coronation Street and Emmerdale, the UK’s most-watched soaps, boast a combined weekly audience exceeding 8 million viewers. This week, Corrie was ablaze with action – quite literally – beginning with a mysterious fire at the Platts’ residence last night, threatening to ruin far more than just the building itself.

Meanwhile, Emmerdale is set to deliver a pulse-racing plot, shot across several night shoots, revolving around a perilous evening that sees two limousines face danger, with one precariously perched on the edge of a treacherous frozen lake.

Kevin Lygo, ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment, commented: “The new commissioning pattern is viewer-led. We already give more choice than ever to viewers on how they watch us through ITVX and we want to present their favourite soap to them, in the most digestible way. In a world where there is so much competition for viewers’ time and attention, and viewing habits continue to change, we believe this is the right amount of episodes that fans can fit into their viewing schedule, to keep up to date with the shows.”

Coronation Street have explosives storylines coming up
The soaps are renowned for their brisk storytelling. The streaming-friendly, 30-minute episodes offer a better chance to meet viewer expectations for storyline pace, pay-off and resolution.

While viewing is increasing on ITVX, we’re aware that a significant portion of our soap audience still tunes in via the schedule. This new pattern is ingrained in the soap genre – no one else pulls off 30-minute drama this successfully.

It forms a consistent soap power hour that’s easy to locate in the linear schedule, for the UK’s biggest soaps. This new commissioning pattern will result in five hours of soaps a week, rather than the current six.

This week saw The Platts household go up in flames“Research insights also show us that soap viewers are increasingly looking to the soaps for their pacey storytelling. Streaming-friendly, 30-minute episodes better provide the opportunity to meet viewer expectations for storyline pace, pay-off and resolution. Whilst viewing is growing on ITVX, we know a significant proportion of our soaps’ audience still watch us via the schedule. This new pattern is in the DNA of the soap genre – nobody else does 30-minute drama this successfully. It creates a soap power hour that’s consistent, and easy to find in the linear schedule, for the UK’s biggest soaps. This new commissioning pattern will mean five hours of soaps a week, rather than the current six.”

“We recognise this will impact the people who work on the soap team. We’ll support our colleagues in ITV Studios as they navigate these changes, and will strive to minimise the impact on our staff. These changes are driven by what we believe is best for the long-term success of these crucial programmes. They also free up space in the overall programme budget for investment in programming that can help ITV expand reach in an extremely competitive market.”