Author: bang1

Strictly Come Dancing 2024 concludes with its grand final on Saturday, with Chris McCausland, JB Gill, Sarah Hadland and Tasha Ghouri all in the running to be the next winner

There’s now just a few days until the Strictly Come Dancing final, with speculation over who will be next to lift the glitterball trophy this year ongoing ahead of the result.

The latest series of the BBC show concludes on Saturday with its grand final. Comedian Chris McCausland, 47, JLS’ JB Gill, 38, actor Sarah Hadland, 53, and Love Island star Tasha Ghouri, 26, will compete to be crowned the winner.

Ahead of their performances, bookmaker Coral has named Chris the odds-on favourite to win. He’s been given odds of 1-20 to win, with the bookmaker adding that those odds suggest he has a 95 per cent chance of winning the final.

Coral’s John Hill has suggested that it is a “one-horse race” for the glitterball trophy, saying: “[Chris] is the shortest price any contestant has been going into a Strictly final. We think it is a one-horse race, as it has been for quite some time.”

The bookmaker’s latest odds have singer JB as second best in the betting to lift the trophy at 14-1. Former Miranda cast member Sarah is third at the moment with odds to win of 25-1, whilst reality TV star Tasha can be backed at 33-1.

Frontrunner Chris, who is the first blind contestant to compete on Strictly, is partnered with professional dancer Dianne Buswell, 35, on the show. Chris is one of just two celebrity finalists this year not to have been in a dance-off. Sarah, who’s partnered with Vito Coppola, 32, is the other.

Chris McCausland (right), pictured with his dance partner Dianne Buswell (left), is the favourite to win Strictly Come Dancing 2024 ( 
Image:
BBC/Guy Levy)
JB, who is now partnered with Lauren Oakley, 33, survived a dance-off in the fifth week of the competition, when he was still partnered with Amy Dowden, 34. Whilst Tasha and her dance partner Aljaž Škorjanec, 34, instead avoided being eliminated as part of a dance-off just last weekend.

Tasha however has topped the leaderboard the most out of the four finalists, with JB following shortly behind her as the second highest scoring of the group. Sarah has topped the leaderboard twice, whilst Chris has not, as of yet, done so.

Speaking about his time on Strictly recently, Chris said: “I wouldn’t change anything about it.” Ahead of the final, he added that he now “can’t remember” life before taking part in the show, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

He said: “It’s the maddest experience of time in that the training days, they drag, because it’s just relentless. But the Saturdays come around so fast. Usually when you do something like this you say, hasn’t the time flown? But I can’t remember my life before Strictly. It literally feels like this is all I’ve ever done.”

This Morning fans were left gobsmacked today after a guest on the show admitted to taking four weird-looking elf dolls to bed because ‘they’re nice to cuddle’

This Morning fans have been left horrified after a guest on the show made a bizarre brag about his sleeping arrangements.

Viewers had tuned into the ITV daytime show hoping for some Christmas cheer, however they were gobsmacked when Nick Rawet opened up about his £15,000 ‘cuddly’ elf collection.

Joining the show via video from his home in North Wales, Nick sat alongside his unusual family members, one of whom, ‘Saoirse’, was sporting pixie ears – and a low-cut top. Proudly revealing the identities of his dolls, he said: “The one to my right is Foreshe, she’s a forest elf. I call her the Gaelic in glass because she is green.”

Going down the line, Nick continued: “This is Eshe, she’s a drow elf or night elf or a dark elf. This one is Saoirse, she’s a silver elf. She’s the princess guardian of Cavina, who is the queen elf. She’s the gold elf.”

Nick Rawet insisted his relationship with the elves wasn’t sexual ( 
Image:
ITV)

Admitting he took the full-sized dolls to bed because they were “nice to cuddle”, Nick said his relationship with the elves, who sported a variety of multi-coloured wigs and extra terrestrial make-up, wasn’t sexual, insisting: “No, no, I mean they’re wearing more clothes than what most women do. They’re nice to cuddle.

“It’s better than just cuddling the sadness of a pillow and the lovely thing is they actually warm up because they have metal skeletons, they actually retain the warmth. As long has they have the bed covers on them you can potter around and get back into bed and they’re still lovely and warm.”

When asked about people’s reactions to the dolls, he admitted strangers ‘can be shocked’, sharing: “Strangers to the house come in and they’re a little bit shocked, especially when they see Cavina, because she’s so tall. She can be a bit scary, which was the idea,” he giggled, before adding: “But normally people are just a bit fascinated by them and it’s surprising how many people come out of the woodwork about how they like Lord of The Rings, Elves, and all that sort of thing.”

Following the segment, fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their thoughts, with several slamming This Morning for “scraping the barrel”.

One user exclaimed: “Just spat out me tea! Take her to bed?’” A second mused: “Taking Elf on the Shelf to the extreme.” A third said: “How to do a segment in sex dolls without saying sex dolls” while a fourth felt sorry for Nick, saying: “Feeling slightly sorry for him now saying it something to cuddle. Someone please get him a friend.”

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly looked thrilled to be back on UK soil after a long stretch in Australia for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly couldn’t hide their delight as they arrived home after weeks away in Australia working on I’m A Celebrity.

The pair were spotted strolling through Heathrow Airport with their families in tow after taking the long flight back from Brisbane.

Hosts Ant and Dec, both 49, were in a jubilant mood as they touched down in the UK following another successful series of the long-running reality show, that saw McFly star Danny Jones be crowned King of the Jungle in a nail-biting final.

Proud dad Dec was seen holding onto a suitcase and the hand of his daughter Isla. While Ant McPartlin took charge of the luggage while wife Anne-Marie pushed their seven month old son Wilder in his pushchair. The 2024 series has been the first time Ant has juggled dad duties with working in Australia, after becoming a first time dad earlier this year.

Delan Donnelly beamed as he strolled through Heathrow Airport with daughter Isla after landing home after I’m A Celebrity ( 
Image:
w8media)

Ant McPartlin was joined by wife Ann-Marie and their son Wilder ( 
Image:
w8media)

The Geordie duo have joined the mass exodus of ITV stars leaving Oz – with GK Barry, Coleen Rooney and Alan Halsall also being pictured heading home following Monday’s wrap party.

Coronation Street star Alan was moved to tears as he reunited with his daughter Sienna, who he shares with former girlfriend and o-star Lucy Jo Hudson. While Coleen had to wait to see her husband Wayne and eldest children again as they had a reunion behind closed doors at home.

More than seven million people tuned in to watch Danny Jones be crowned the king of the jungle on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! on Sunday night – a jump of around half a million over the finale last year.

An average audience of 7.1 million viewers tuned in to see the McFly star Jones beat TV personality Coleen Rooney to the title, a rise from the 6.6 million viewers who watched TV star Sam Thompson win last year, ITV said.

Singer and guitarist Jones secured his win after receiving 55.2% of the public vote, while Rooney came in second with 44.8%, according to the vote count.

Ant and Dec will be enjoying Christmas at home with their families after weeks away ( 
Image:
w8media)
During his time in the jungle, Danny completed trials with creepy crawlies and opened up about personal issues including how his father does not speak to him. Appearing via video call on ITV’s Lorraine on Monday, he said: “Jungle time is crazy. It goes so slow but friendships seem to blossom really quickly.

“And you do have time to talk and there’s no distractions like phones and other things. So all we had was a campfire, a lovely stream, some jungle to chill in and the trials to do so you get to know everybody really well.

“But I think what made it for me was the campmates, the campmates were incredible. They had questions and they listened and we chatted, and we got to know each other so well.

“It was the most overwhelming, amazing, rewarding experience I think I’ll ever have in my life.”

It marks Jones’s third win this year after he came first on the latest series of The Masked Singer and his artist on ITV’s The Voice, Ava, whom he coached alongside his McFly bandmate Tom Fletcher, won the show in October.

Coronation Street star Alan Halsall’s daughter look thrilled to see him as the two shared a hug at Manchester Airport ( 
Image:
MANCPICSS66)

The soap star spoke in the jungle about how much he was missing his girl ( 
Image:
MANCPICSS66)Danny described it as a “crazy year”, admitting that he had planned to take six months off to move house ahead of his tour next year, but that he could not turn down I’m A Celebrity… when the opportunity presented itself.

He also admitted he did not expect to show his vulnerable side on the show and that he leaned on former Irish boxing champion Barry McGuigan for advice, describing him as his “jungle dad”.

“I just thought I’d go on there and have a bit of a laugh, which I did. I did chase the fun, I had a great time,” he said. “But I showed a side that only my nearest and dearest see, really. So I’ve been myself and shown everything, and I feel really thankful that everybody was bothered to vote for me. Honestly, I feel on top of the world being king of the jungle.”

Coleen Rooney arrives back in Manchester after appearing in I’m a Celebrity with sons Kitt and Cas ( 
Image:
MANCPICSS66)

The star was joined by her mum who took care of two of her sons while their mum was in camp ( 
Image:
MANCPICSS66)
The singer also revealed he feels “overwhelmed” by the support from the public and is “forever thankful” they voted for him being himself rather than as part of the band, as he is usually known.

During the final, Jones, Rooney and the Rev Richard Coles, who finished in third place, faced critters including spiders, snakes and cockroaches as they embarked on the last Bushtucker trial, The Towers Of Terror, where they had to collect stars and manoeuvre then across various levels and through untying knots.

The trio were able to retrieve all of the stars, meaning they won a reward of a three-course meal and drink.

Speaking via video call to Good Morning Britain, Coleen 38, said she felt ready to take on the show this time as her children were more grown up and she wanted a “challenge”.

She described it as an experience she will “never forget” but admitted it was “really hard” at times. “You what was my fear going in? It wasn’t the trials, it wasn’t the sleeping outside or the critters – it was karaoke and cooking,” she revealed. “And I didn’t have to cook because we had some cooks in there. And the karaoke night, I enjoyed everyone else and I had a singalong, but I stuck to me guns, I don’t do karaoke, so why would I go on a show and think I had to do it?”

Rooney, the wife of former England footballer Wayne Rooney, also explained she went in to the jungle for herself and with “no plan”.

“What you see is what you get and I think even my campmates were surprised,” she said.

Coleen’s family travelled back in style ( 
Image:
Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
“I think they thought: ‘Oh she she lives in a nice house. She’s used to luxury.’ I don’t mind getting stuck in, I’m a mum of four boys, we go on trail walks, we go into ponds, we go into lakes, we get dirty. I clean up after them.

“I’m strong and I don’t mind mucking in and getting busy with things. And the one thing that everyone said to me, and I knew I was going to stick to throughout the jungle, was to stay true to myself.”

TV star and author Coles, who was part of pop duo The Communards, hailed I’m A Celebrity as a “magical experience” following his departure, after securing third place.

“I’ve got 12 really good mates that I didn’t have before. I’ve learned stuff about myself, and I think most of all, it’s a renewed willingness to say yes to life’s challenges and adventures”, the 62-year-old told This Morning on Monday on a video call.

“Sometimes it’s hard to do that when you’re in your 60s as I am, but that’s no reason not to say yes. I’ve so glad I said yes, and I’ve been rewarded for it so hugely.”

When Coleen Rooney signed up for I’m A Celebrity, executives at ITV could scarcely believe their luck.

The nation’s most talked about WAG since Victoria Beckham was prepared to leave her palatial £20 million mansion for a camp bed in the Australian Outback, and swap haute cuisine for a diet of rice and beans.

It was one of the greatest coups in the show’s 21-year history. Not least because, unlike a number of the other stars, she didn’t need the appearance fee. A busy mum to four boys, her main focus has been to keep husband Wayne in check and raise her sons.

I’m A Celeb’s viewers lapped up her tales of life Chez Rooney, including the unlikely revelations of her meeting with Donald Trump and Wayne’s penchant for writing her romantic poems. Together with her determined performance in Bushtucker trials, it earned her second place in the final.

Now, as she returns to the UK, the Mail can reveal the secret reason why Coleen went to the jungle: a new reality television show likely to net her and her husband an eye-watering £5 million.

While Coleen, 38, has been facing challenges involving snakes, cockroaches and rats, her agent has been working just as hard. Paul Stretford, who also represents her husband, has orchestrated a bidding war between the world’s biggest streaming giants.

 

Coleen in the I’m A Celeb jungle shower, following in the footsteps of other bikini-clad contestants

 

Bosses at rival Disney and Amazon are competing for a warts ‘n’ all fly-on-the-wall show that will follow the Rooneys inside their Cheshire super-mansion.

I can reveal that Netflix opted not to bid, since they had already commissioned David Beckham’s hit four-part docuseries Beckham – which racked up well over 200 million hours of viewing time globally – as well as a series focusing on his wife Victoria, to air next year.

It is Disney who are close to paying the multi-million pound fee, though competition has been fierce.

‘It was all set to be Disney’s and then Amazon appeared in the frame,’ says an industry source. ‘That has sent the fee up. It looks now like the show will go to Disney, but there’s still time.

‘Coleen’s time on I’m A Celeb has made her the nation’s sweetheart, even if she didn’t win. The British public can’t get enough of her. Her profile is bigger than ever and the fee for her family’s reality show will reflect that.’

I’m told that 39-year-old Wayne – currently manager of Championship side Plymouth Argyle – and Coleen are both enthusiastic about the prospect of opening up their home to the cameras, despite it being somewhat of a madhouse by many accounts.

The couple’s four sons, Kai 14, Klay 11, Kit eight, and Cass, six would appear on the show. Indeed, the youngest two appeared before seven million I’m A Celeb viewers on Friday night when visiting their mum in camp, before charming the nation in Sunday night’s tearful reunion with her. Meanwhile, the eldest two have regularly supported Mum on her (and Wayne’s) Instagram accounts.

And then there are Coleen’s beloved parents Colette and Tony. Only Colette appeared on I’m A Celeb alongside her grandsons, but Tony was there to meet his daughter at the bridge when she left the show.

 

Coleen greets her mum and two youngest sons Kit and Cass as they visited her in the jungle

Opening the doors to their £20million mansion? Coleen and Wayne could be the new Osbournes

An ‘At Home with the Rooneys’-style reality series would be quite the move for Coleen, who despite being half of one of football’s most famous couples, took a decision 15 years ago to step out of the limelight to focus on her family. Her time in the jungle has transformed her into not only a star, but a highly relatable one.

‘Coleen is the most underestimated person in showbusiness,’ said a source close to the Rooneys. ‘Despite her fame and wealth, she hasn’t forgotten her Scouse roots. She can get on with just about anyone.’

‘She was very savvy to share a little of her family life with the nation, and has definitely left them wanting more.’

One person who knows this is Stretford, the veteran football agent who masterminded Wayne’s 2004 blockbuster move from Everton to Manchester United in a deal worth £27 million.

Stretford also negotiated Coleen’s jungle contract, reported to be £1.5 million, and is described by those who know him as a ‘terrifying genius.’

He later set up Cheshire-based Triple S Communications, which also represents former England manager Gareth Southgate and defender Harry Maguire.

It’s clear the PR firm was behind the clever social media campaign while Coleen was on I’m A Celebrity, during which Wayne lobbied fans to nominate Coleen for the frequently repellent Bushtucker Trial challenges that do so much to boost contestants’ popularity.

‘Of course, the goal was to raise Coleen’s reputation and there was massive hope she would win the show,’ said an insider. ‘Social media was hugely important and there was a lot more going on behind the scenes than perhaps Coleen’s followers thought.’

Coleen’s fortitude during the revolting Bushtucker trials gained her lots of fans

‘It is all now becoming clear that at the end of this is a big television deal.’

Despite their relative reticence compared to footballing couples such as the Beckhams and the Vardys, both Wayne, who has been manager of Plymouth Argyle since May, and Coleen have made documentaries about their lives.

In 2022, the former England striker teamed up with Amazon to make Rooney, a feature-length programme about his life in sport. Coleen’s three-part series about her notorious court battle with Rebekah Vardy, called Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story, aired on Disney last year.

 

Both shows were deemed huge successes for their respective streaming companies. And Coleen has TV experience under her belt: she hosted her own reality show, Coleen’s Real Women, on ITV2 in 2008, but gave up her TV career to be a stay-at-home mum after she gave birth to Kai in 2010.

 

Other than a campaign with McDonald’s to find the UK’s most committed ‘football mum’ back in 2017, Coleen kept a low profile – until of course the Wagatha Christie case. In October 2019, she found herself making headlines after taking to social media to share her suspicions that Rebekah Vardy had been leaking stories about her to The Sun newspaper.

A very public battle followed which ended in the High Court in 2022, with Coleen claiming victory after her rival unsuccessfully sued her for libel. Vardy, not one to let things lie, has documented her rival’s time in the jungle in an uncharitable column in the Sun newspaper.

But Coleen has had the last laugh. The Rooneys are now set to join an illustrious list of families who invited cameras into their homes, following the Osbournes, the Kardashians and most recently, the Rees-Moggs.

Keeping Up With The Kardashians catapulted Kim and her four sisters to global fame when it launched on America’s E! channel in 2007. By the time the show ended in 2021, it was estimated to have made them £2 billion.

While the Rooneys might not harbour such lofty financial ambitions, they can be sure of entertaining fans by sharing their personal lives – on their own terms.

‘There has been so much said and written about the Rooneys since Wayne and Coleen were teenage sweethearts at school,’ said a friend of the pair. ‘Now it’s time for them to share their own story and it will be compulsive viewing.’

He’s won the hearts of the nation thanks to the extraordinary partnership he’s formed with Dianne Buswell, now the public are poised to make him their Strictly champion on Saturday

The Strictly Come Dancing glitterball is now Chris McCausland’s to lose but, judging by the way the audience is voting and according to every poll going, there’s no chance of that.

All four of the remaining celebs have earned their place in the final and each one of them would make a worthy winner. But the public have been totally captivated by Chris’s staggering ability to take on everything Dianne Buswell has thrown at him – despite being unable to see what he, or she, is doing.

When Dianne pointed out in Saturday’s show that Chris doesn’t even know what he is up against, because he hasn’t seen one step from Tasha Ghouri, JB Gill or Sarah Hadland, presenter Tess Daly 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.

Throughout this process, Chris has never been able to watch himself on video in order to improve his performance, or look in the mirror to check his frame or make sure his leg/arm/head is in the right place or watch Dianne to see how a complicated step should be done. It’s clear his sight loss, at the age of 22, makes the learning process immeasurably harder than it is for any other competitor and yet, somehow, he’s completely smashed it.

Chris and Dianne’s partnership has captivated Strictly fans ( 
Image:
PA)

The truth is, what he’s achieved with Dianne is nothing short of miraculous and he’s done it with such joy, determination, surprise and good humour that the audience has been right behind them from the very first moment they stepped onto that dance floor.

This Saturday, in time-honoured fashion, the finalists will each perform three dances – their favourite of the series, a show dance, and one picked for them to repeat by the judges.

Tasha, partnered with Aljaz, is a beautiful performer who should absolutely return to being a professional dancer, as she was in her younger days. Their biggest issue is that the bar was so high when she started there hasn’t been much of a journey, and the voting public very much like to be taken on one.

Ditto JB, who also has many years of experience thanks to his time with JLS. He has wowed over the weeks and managed to remain incredibly consistent despite having to swap partners from Amy Dowden, sadly injured halfway through the competition, to Lauren Oakley, who stepped in to provide a brilliantly seamless transition.

JB and Lauren have garnered a horde of fans ( 
Image:
PA)

Tasha and Aljaz have consistently topped the Strictly leaderboard ( 
Image:
PA)
Actress Sarah Hadland, dancing with Vito Coppola, has done wonders for the reputation of 50-something women because she’s shown that she’s every bit as capable as her younger co-stars. Fearless, funny and (importantly) flexible, she’s been hugely entertaining throughout.

All four celebs will be a delight to watch in the final for the 20th anniversary, which is shaping up to be one of the best we’ve ever seen. But it’s comedian Chris, with his “impeccable footwork” – according to head judge Shirley Ballas – and love of heavy metal, Liverpool football club and daft quips in the studio, who has most moved and impressed the audience week after week. The partnership he has built with Dianne – who has made the final twice but never won – is probably the most endearing in the show’s history.

This weekend the result is based only on the public’s votes and regardless of where Chris ends up on the leaderboard, my money is firmly on him and Dianne to lift that glitterball trophy. Well, I only wish my money WAS on him, because he started the competition as a 25-1 outsider to win, and today is placed at 1-10, making a flutter pointless.

But it does’t matter. I was lucky enough to see Chris perform live in the Strictly studio back in October, drawing a standing ovation from the awestruck audience. He couldn’t see us all climbing to our feet, but there’s no doubt he felt it.

Before he started on the show, Chris said: ”If anybody out there is thinking ‘how the hell is he going to do that?’ then rest assured that I am thinking exactly the same thing.” Now, thanks to Dianne, he knows the answer.

Go Chris. You’ve got this.

Coleen Rooney’s son Cass claimed her I’m A Celebrity hat as she arrived at Brisbane Airport for journey home on Tuesday.

The WAG, 38, who came second to Danny Jones during Sunday’s final, was joined by her two youngest sons, Cass, six, and Kit, eight, and her parents, Colette and Tony.

Despite not winning the jungle crown, Coleen did steel the hearts of the UK after opening up about her humble beginnings cleaning apartments at Pontins.

Checking in for her flight, she looked stylish in an all-black outfit consisting of a vest top and linen trousers.

The TV personality layered over a matching shirt and carried a quilted leather shoulder bag with a chain strap.

Walking beside her Cass was dressed in a practical bright blue tracksuit, and proudly wore his mother’s Akubra hat.

+34
View gallery

Coleen Rooney’s son Cass claimed her I’m A Celebrity hat as she arrived at Brisbane Airport for journey home on Tuesday

+34
View gallery

The WAG, 38, who came second to Danny Jones during Sunday’s final, was joined by her two youngest sons, Cass, six, and Kit, eight, and her parents, Colette and Tony

Coleen’s parents and her two youngest sons made a surprise appearance on the ITV show last week, staying in Australia for a fortnight.

The WAG revealed she didn’t struggle at all settling into jungle life which she credits to the job she worked as a teenager before finding fame.

When asked how she coped with having no luxuries in camp, Coleen said it reminded her of when she used to clean apartments at Pontins in her younger days.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, she said: ‘I have got luxuries in life but I’m no princess. I feel my campmates were surprised that I wasn’t fazed by living outside.

‘I might not have camped that much but I used to clean the apartments at a Pontins holiday park when I was younger.’

‘Going to the dunny [camp lavatory] doesn’t bother me, I’ve gone behind a tree before. I don’t mind getting my hands dirty, I’ve got four boys, we’ve been in situations where we’ve got dirty.

‘We go to ponds and mud trails. None of that fazed me and if I had all of my lot there, I could have stayed there for weeks and weeks.’

Indeed, Coleen took on many of the chores to make up for not looking after her sons. ‘It’s just my daily life to pick up after people, to just get on with it,’ she said.

+34
View gallery

Despite not winning the jungle crown, Coleen did steel the hearts of the UK after opening up about her humble beginnings cleaning apartments at Pontins

+34
View gallery

Coleen giggled as she picked up her hat

+34
View gallery

Checking in for her flight, she looked stylish in an all-black outfit consisting of a vest top and linen trousers

+34
View gallery

The TV personality layered over a matching shirt and carried a quilted leather shoulder bag with a chain strap

+34
View gallery

Walking beside her Cass was dressed in a practical bright blue tracksuit

+34
View gallery

Coleen’s parents and her two youngest sons made a surprise appearance on the ITV show last week, staying in Australia for a fortnight

‘If I don’t do it myself it mightn’t get done. It was hard to step back from not doing other people’s. There were times when people took longer to do their chores. I was desperate to go and do that but we got punished for it.’

The first thing she did after coming out of the jungle was to FaceTime her husband. ‘Wayne just said how proud he was,’ she said. ‘Obviously, in the letter he sent to me in camp, he said he’s never missed me as much as he does now.

‘I can understand that because we’ve not spoken. We’ve been apart for weeks and weeks on end. [Normally] we speak a number of times a day, and we FaceTime. To not have that communication, it’s been tough.’

Wayne remained in the UK to manage his football team, Plymouth Argyle, in Devon, while their two eldest sons Kai, 15, and Klay, 11, also stayed home.

Elsewhere, GK Barry and Jane Moore were also seen heading home after their jungle stint in Australia as they were spotted making their way to the airport.

The podcaster-turned-reality star, 25, and journalist, 62, were seen arriving at Brisbane Airport on Tuesday with their bags in tow.

GK – whose full name is Grace Eleanor Keeling – kept it casual for her journey back, sporting a pair of white towelling Nike drawstring shorts, with a black racerneck vest.

She paired the sporty ensemble with white trainers and wore an array of gold jewellery, including an elegant bangle with a collection of rings, and carried a black tote bag.

GK was seen at the flight check-in desk with her footballer girlfriend Ella Rutherford, who sported a baggy t-shirt and basketball shorts.

Meanwhile Jane opted for a grey hooded long jacket as she prepared to return to the colder UK temperatures.

She finished off her look with a white open-necked shirt, high-waisted black paperbag trousers and scuffed trainers.

+34
View gallery

The WAG revealed she didn’t struggle at all settling into jungle life which she credits to the job she worked as a teenager before finding fame

+34
View gallery

When asked how she coped with having no luxuries in camp, Coleen said it reminded her of when she used to clean apartments at Pontins in her younger days

+34
View gallery

Speaking to the Daily Mail, she said: ‘I have got luxuries in life but I’m no princess. I feel my campmates were surprised that I wasn’t fazed by living outside’

+34
View gallery

She added: ‘Going to the dunny [camp lavatory] doesn’t bother me, I’ve gone behind a tree before. I don’t mind getting my hands dirty, I’ve got four boys’

+34
View gallery

Coleen stacked three large suitcases on top of one another and wheeled them through the airport

+34
View gallery

+34
View gallery

Elsewhere, GK Barry and Jane Moore were also seen heading home after their jungle stint in Australia as they were spotted making their way to the airport

+34
View gallery

The podcaster-turned-reality star, 25, and journalist, 62, were spotted arriving at Brisbane Airport on Tuesday with their bags in tow

GK’s departure came hours after she sent fans in overdrive after sharing her ‘jungle essentials’ which include a ‘wine, fake tan and Canesten’.

GK took to her Instagram following her stint on the hit ITV show, spilling the beans on the must-haves she brought with her Down Under.

She shared a look at her open luggage showing the essential items.

The essentials also included a pair of Crocs slippers, a book called ‘Why Mom Stopped Stripping’, fake lashes, Digestive dark chocolate biscuits, a deodorant, a rescue remedy spray and a silky sleep mask.

She captioned: ‘POV: Grace packed her suitcase with her Jungle Essentials. Wine to handle those Jungle nights, fake tan for the glow, and the Canesten… well that’s self explanatory x.’

Fans were left in stitches and flooded the comment section below the post, praising her for not forgetting the ‘rescue remedy’ spray.

‘The rescue remedy’; ‘Rescue remedy is so real’; ‘bit of us’;’cool essentials’; ‘bear grylls who’; ‘The rescue remedy got me’; ‘So true girl’; ‘The rescue remedy with a straw’.

+34
View gallery

+34
View gallery

 

GK – whose full name is Grace Eleanor Keeling – kept it casual for her journey back, sporting a pair of white towelling Nike drawstring shorts, with a black racerneck vest

+34
View gallery

GK was seen at the flight check-in desk with her footballer girlfriend Ella Rutherford, who sported a baggy t-shirt and basketball shorts

+34
View gallery

She paired the sporty ensemble with white trainers and wore an array of gold jewellery, including an elegant bangle with a collection of rings, and carried a black tote bag

+34
View gallery

Meanwhile Jane opted for a grey hooded long jacket as she prepared to return to the colder UK temperatures

+34
View gallery

She finished off her look with a white open-necked shirt, high-waisted black paperbag trousers and scuffed trainers

+34
View gallery

Rev Richard Coles was all smiles as he made his way through the airport

+34
View gallery

+34
View gallery

Oti Mabuse giggled as she entertained her daughter ahead of their long flight

+34
View gallery

The dancer dressed practically in a white tracksuit for her journey

+34

View gallery

 

Barry McGuigan threw a celebratory fist in the air as he arrived at Brisbane Airport

+34
View gallery

He was joined his wife Sandra

+34
View gallery

Alan Halsall wore a black Adidas T-shirt and matching shorts

+34
View gallery

Melvin Odoom continued to rock his I’m A Celeb hat

Even the Crocs official account commented as the internet star included a pair of the cosy slippers: ‘Couldn’t be more ready to take on the jungle!’

During her time in the jungle, Grace revealed the incredibly expensive purchase she made after achieving overnight fame following her social media success.

The star soared to fame during the first Covid-19 lockdown when she started making TikToks about her daily life while studying film at Nottingham Trent University.

A successful podcast and guest stints on Loose Women have followed, and she’s also kept fans on their toes while documenting her love life.

Chatting with her pal Reverend Richard Coles she confessed she impulsively bought a Porsche after thinking: ‘I could buy a Porsche and it would not be an issue.’

Richard asked the star: ‘So Grace did you go from working in Costa to all of a sudden being able to buy a house?’

+34
View gallery

GK’s departure came hours after she sent fans in overdrive after sharing her ‘jungle essentials’ which include a ‘wine, fake tan and Canesten’

+34
View gallery

Her essentials also included a pair of Crocs slippers, a book called ‘Why Mom Stopped Stripping’, fake lashes, Digestive dark chocolate biscuits, a deodorant, a rescue remedy spray with straw and a silky sleep mask

As she replied: ‘Yeah,’ he continued: ‘So you didn’t go from poor, poor, poor, a little less poor, a bit more money, you went from poor to rich?’

Grace then explained: ‘Yeah, pretty quick. And I remember being like, “I’m making enough money to buy a new car now”.

‘I remember a Porsche drove past me as I had that thought and I remember thinking, “I could buy a Porsche and it would not be an issue.”

‘I went to the centre, I was looking at an old one that was cheaper, but the one that I wanted was next to it and it was so nice.

‘I rang my accountant and I was like, “Can I do it?” And he was like, “Yeah”, so I bought it. I picked it up two days later.’

The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins defended his old video criticising Liam Payne’s ‘arrogant’ behaviour in interviews

The Darkness singer Justin Hawkins has defended previous comments he made about Liam Payne.

Justin called the One Direction singer ‘arrogant’ and criticised the late singer’s behaviour on his popular YouTube channel, Justin Hawkins Rides Again, in early 2023. The star uses his channel to discuss his time in the music industry and share his thoughts on newsworthy events.

In the video, he looked at old interviews that Liam had done and slammed the star’s behaviour as coming across as “arrogant”. A huge part of the video was about Liam’s controversial interview with Logan Paul where the 1D star called Zayn Malik a ‘d**k’ and claimed One Direction was formed for him.

However, he’s mostly complimentary towards the late star – who died aged 31 in mid-October after falling from his hotel balcony in Argentina. “I’m going to offer a bit of media training to Liam Payne because he’s my favourite one and I feel like his brand suffered the most post One Direction,” he said.

Justin said he wouldn’t be deleting the video from early 2023 ( 
Image:
Redferns)

Liam Payne died aged 31 in October ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Speaking about Liam’s comments on Logan’s show, Justin added: “He’s definitely got a little bit of a David Brent about him with the way he conducts himself in these interviews. There’s a level of arrogance and a complete lack of self-awareness. It’s quite inspiring.”

Almost two months after his death, Justin addressed his old video after a fan commented that he had “blood on his hands”. The comment, which he shared in a new clip, said: “And now he’s dead, well done. You have blood on your hands.” Another angry comment said: “Well I hope you’re happy. You did it.” Others called for him to delete the video.

Defending his video, Justin told viewers: “I didn’t see that Liam situation coming. I didn’t pay enough attention to his career to recognise that there were signs of mental instability. I just thought it was somebody who wasn’t coping with fame or trying to big themselves up or come across as somebody inauthentic. That’s what I was highlighting really. It really was just watching some videos where he was obviously behaving like a b*llend.”

He added: “As simple as that. There are videos of just about every artist in the world who hits a low ebb or on a bad day where they get interviewed and they make themselves seem like pricks. There just seems to be more of them with Liam at my disposal for that particular episode.” He explained why he didn’t ‘take it down’, saying: “Why would I do that? Why would I pretend that I hadn’t observed those things?”

Justin said: “It’s really sad what happened to him, but at the end of the day, it’s not going to change my view on those specific behaviours. Everybody’s complex and there are layers to this and laughing at some stuff that’s laughable… that’s what I do. It’s what I’ll always do.”

Coleen is set to reunite with her husband in the UK after finishing in second place on the ITV show

Coleen spoke about her time in the jungle on Good Morning Britain (Image: ITV)

Coleen Rooney has spoken out about the first thing her husband Wayne Rooney said to her after leaving the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here jungle. In Sunday’s final of the ITV show (Dec 8), it was revealed that the mum-of-four finished in second place behind McFly’s Danny Jones.

Danny was crowned King of the Jungle after reaching the final with Coleen and Rev Richard Coles, who came in third place. The stars took on two trials together on their last day, and managed to walk away with a full house of stars, earning them each a three-course meal of their choice on their final night.

After surviving the full three weeks in camp, Coleen, 38, told Ant and Dec: “I couldn’t have wished for someone better to be in the final with, you know, fellow northerner, easy to get on with. But, the whole camp was – everyone was from different backgrounds, had different life stories, but as a group, we were all open, and we could relate to each other in different ways.”

Just hours after leaving the jungle, Coleen appeared on Good Morning Britain on Monday (December 9) to chat to hosts Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid about her time in camp.

Speaking about doing the show, she told the presenters: “I felt ready to give it a go. It was a challenge for myself to take myself away from my family, and I don’t regret anything now after coming out.”

Whilst she was in the jungle, Coleen was surprised with a visit from her mum Colette, as well as her too youngest boys Kai and Cass. The emotional reunion saw Coleen break down in tears as she told her songs: “I’m crying because I’m happy, because I’ve missed you so much.”

Coleen was reunited with her mum and two sons (Image: Mirror Pics)But as Wayne wasn’t able to be in Australia to greet his wife of 16 years, the pair are now looking forward to their reunion when Coleen lands back in the UK.

Speaking to Richard and Susanna, Coleen said: “He just said how much he missed me, how proud he was and that the support back home has been unbelievable.”

She added: “He just can’t wait to see me and I can’t wait to see him as well.”

 

It started as a little-known sitcom, but achieved legendary cult status. As Gavin & Stacey heads towards its final episode, the cast reflects on the end of an era

When actor mates James Corden and Ruth Jones concocted an idea for a sitcom in a hotel in Leeds 20 years ago, they could never have imagined the huge sensation it would become.

Starting as a hidden gem on BBC Three, Gavin & Stacey, a comedy about two families – one from Barry, one from Billericay – went on to be a huge hit for BBC1, becoming one of Britain’s best loved shows. Now, after 17 years, Ruth and James have penned one last episode that fans hope will bring a bang tidy ending to the sitcom, which also stars Joanna Page, Mathew Horne, Alison Steadman, Larry Lamb and Rob Brydon. And as an extra treat for fans, BBC1 will air a nostalgic documentary special, charting the journey of the sitcom with plenty of behind-the-scenes footage from the first ever day of filming right through to this final instalment.

Mat Horne, who plays Gavin, on set while filming the final episode ( 
Image:
BBC/Toffee International Ltd./Tom Jackson)James says: “The documentary is based on this idea that we just had so much footage, from our first ever day, from the first Christmas special and from series two and three. For the 2019 Christmas special and this finale we had a film crew following the entire time. It’s very emotional watching everybody because the very last thing that we shot is the very last moment of the show. So there were a lot of tears that day and I hope that people that like the show will enjoy getting a little glimpse into it.”

Joanna, who plays Welsh lass Stacey, says: “It was funny having the documentary crew there, because in the beginning you feel a bit self-conscious as there’s always like an extra camera there with you in your quiet moments, when you’re having your breakfast or your makeup done. I can’t wait to watch as there are bits from our auditions and we get to see the whole 17 years’ and how much we’ve grown as characters and also as people. I hope that there are loads of outtakes.”

Ruth Jones, who plays Nessa, having her makeup touched up while filming the finale ( 
Image:
PA)

As a legion of fans prepares for the final farewell, it’s fair to say that for the cast, it has been a hugely emotional time. James, who plays Smithy, says: “I don’t think anybody when you start writing a TV show thinks you’ll still be writing these characters 20 years on. It’s nuts really. Gavin & Stacey is just a huge part of my life, it changed my life in every way. When I think back to when we started, I couldn’t feel more like a different person really. The thing it means to me most is my friendship with Ruth. To have an idea with a friend in a hotel in Leeds 20 years ago and then be sat here today with what it’s become… if you think about it too much you could really just start crying all the time. I love her so much and I’m so proud of what we’ve done. Being part of the show, as soon as it started to become successful, was incredibly intoxicating. It was discombobulating really because it seemed to go from 0 to 10 very very quickly.”

Ruth, who plays Nessa, says: “I feel terribly proud of how long it’s lasted and how people who weren’t even born when it came out are now fans. That means such a lot. I suppose in the first series we just didn’t know what the series was or how it was going to look or anything so it was all a bit of a gamble, diving into the unknown. It started off as this quiet little show on BBC Three in 2007 with 500,000 viewers, we had no idea how big it would grow. I remember a couple of people texting me after the first episode went out saying, ‘Oh I like that new thing you’re in’ and it just felt great to have a little bit of positive feedback.”

Mat Horne filming for Gavin & Stacey: The Finale which airs on Christmas Day ( 
Image:
PA)
Ruth adds that to be back writing and filming for Gavin & Stacey was “mixture of excitement, nostalgia and sadness”. She says: “It’s sad of course because this is the last time these characters will ever be on screen again, but so exciting to bring them to life again. And nostalgic because we’d be on set with the cast and we’d go down memory lane remembering the early episodes. It’s always so enjoyable to be in the room writing with James. We act out the characters when we write – I love playing Bryn and Stacey and James does a great Pamelarr!” She adds: “I have so many favourite Nessa moments from the series. I love Nessa. I wish I could be more like her in real life.”

Fans have high expectations for the episode, to be aired in the primetime evening slot on Christmas Day, with plenty of loose ends that need to be tied up. It’s been five years since we left Nessa down on one knee declaring her love for Smithy. In Barry, Bryn is packing the Picasso in readiness for a trip to Essex, while Stacey and Gavin want to spice up their marriage and Gwen is behaving most strangely. Nessa has started a new business venture and Neil the Baby is about to begin an apprenticeship with his dad. Over in Billericay, Pam is stressing out at the prospect of playing hostess, not helped by a newly retired Mick practicing his golf swings in the living room. And will we ever find out what happened on that fishing trip?

Alison Steadman as Pam, Larry Lamb as Mick, Rob Brydon as Bryn, Robert Wilfort as Jason, and Melanie Walters as Gwen, in Gavin and Stacey: The Finale ( 
Image:
PA)

James won’t give any spoilers, but he says: “When we finished the last special, we knew that we’d left a door open. It’s such a privilege to be able to end a show on your own terms. The show is about love and about people who like each other. It’s about family and friendship. There’s so much warmth and love – none of that is faked, that’s all there in our relationships as a cast really.” Joanna reveals she was blown away by the latest script, which she received while queuing for a burger at a service station. She says: “It was really exciting. I got in the car and ate my burger and read the first half of the script. Then I thought, I’d better move on to another services before I get a parking fine. I was just voice noting Ruth, going ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe this’.”

Joanna adds that being on set with everyone for the last time was “traumatic”. She says: “When I walked on set I just burst out crying and then I kept crying. It just felt like it was such a huge journey that was ending. I just alternated between hysterically crying and hysterically laughing. Then right at the very end, on our last bit of filming, I just got this sense of calm wash over me. I remember looking around at everybody and thinking, ‘Wow, look where we all are now’. I delivered my last lines, the way that I wanted to and then when they shouted, ‘It’s a wrap’ and then they clapped all of us goodbye and I just hugged Mat, and we both stood there crying.”

Rob Brydon as Bryn and James Corden as Smithy in the final episode ( 
Image:
PA)Mat, who plays Billericay boy Gavin, adds: “It felt very much like the end of an era, being on set with everyone for the last time. Gavin Shipman will be on my epitaph, but the show will live on long after I am gone. I am still discovering what the show means to me, but it has defined my career to date and therefore my whole life. Filming the documentary was intense as they caught me at a particularly raw moment – hopefully anything with me sobbing uncontrollably will be cut.” He adds: “My expectations of this final script were exceeded. It’s nothing short of a masterpiece.”

While the entire cast were emotional when the show ended, they did however manage to sneak off set with a heap of mementos. Ruth admits she stole the glazed egg holder that sat on Gwen’s kitchen windowsill, while Joanna took a framed painting from Gwen’s house and an ornamental glass duck from Stacey’s sideboard, Larry has a few of Mick’s shirts and Mat is the proud owner of Gavin’s office door sign. But Rob, who plays Bryn, has bigger plans. He reveals: “I’ve basically taken all of Bryn’s clothes. I’m always asked for donations for charities and things, so I’ve got suits and jumpers and cardigans. I’ve got the apron from when he cooked Christmas dinner on the last special. I’ve got all sorts. So keep your eyes on charity auctions near you.”

Behind the scenes with Alison Steadman – footage will be shown in the documentary Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell ( 
Image:
PA)
It’s clear the show means a lot to the dedicated cast. Joanna says: “I started on it when I was 29 and now I’m 47 and I’ve got four kids. All of the stuff that I’ve gone through in my life, Gavin & Stacey has always been there. And it really put Wales on the map.” Ruth adds: “I think it’s popular because it’s so relatable. The lovely friends I’ve made from it and the happy times we’ve had filming are such a joy. I feel very lucky.” Alison Steadman, who plays Gavin’s mum Pamela, says: “It’s been such a special time in my life. I love it when people stop me and say it’s changed their lives. A lot of people also tell me how it brings their family together at Christmas. That’s special.”

EastEnders’ Cindy, who is engaged to Ian Beale, realises she has nowhere to hide as all hell breaks loose in both the Beale and Knight families

It’s going to be another barrel of laughs in Albert Square this Christmas – as the truth about Cindy Beale’s cheating in EastEnders is exposed in spectacular fashion.

The incriminating evidence – captured on tape – will reveal Cindy’s true love for ex-husband George Knight (Colin Salmon) and her scandalous affair with his son, Junior (Micah Balfour).

Cindy, who is engaged to Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), realises she has nowhere to hide as all hell breaks loose in both the Beale and Knight families.

Actress Michelle Collins promises: “You’ll certainly be on the edge of your seats, but I would say it’s dramatic, powerful and moving. A classic EastEnders.”

Elsewhere Wallace and Gromit seem to be having a bit more fun although Gromit is growing concerned at Wallace’s over-dependence on his inventions. This is borne out when Wallace creates a ‘smart gnome’ that seems to develop an evil mind of its own.

All hell will break loose on EastEnders ( 
Image:
BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Outnumbered is back after a decade away with the Brockman children Jake, Ben and Karen now all grown up. Viewers will discover that Pete and Sue have downsized since their children moved out – and become grandparents. Actors Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner said they loved being reunited with their TV brood. “It’s really nice relating to Tyger, Ramona and Daniel and getting to know the adult versions of them. You are such lovely people,” Claire told them.

Hugh agreed: “I was also thinking that if Claire and I were your actual parents I’d be thinking we’ve done a really good job.”

Outnumbered is back this Christmas ( 
Image:
RADIO TIMES)

Call the Midwife will return for not one but two specials this Christmas and Don Gilet arrives as the new lead DI Mervin Wilson in Death in Paradise – look out for Marcus Brigstocke playing a karaoke-singing Santa who is found murdered on the beach.

Gilet, who takes over from Ralf Little as Neville Parker, said that joining the hit drama was “exciting and terrifying in equal measure”. He added: “I liken it to one of those scary rides at a theme park. I’m going on it, and I know it’s going to be scary, but I’m going to do it.”