Author: bang1

Loose Women’s Denise Welch has confirmed she will be popping up in Emmerdale this month – making her the first actress to have appeared in all four of the big UK soaps

Loose Women star Denise Welch has confirmed she has landed a role in Emmerdale.

The 66-year-old actress is shown in first look images released by the iconic ITV soap that is set in the Yorkshire Dales. Her character Heidi will be linked to soap villain Tom King as he finally appears in court over his domestic abuse of wife Belle Dingle. But will he be sent down or will he get away with it?

Viewers will have to tune in to find out, but giving fans a few spoilers ahead of her upcoming role, Denise excitedly told the audience and her fellow Loose Women panellists: “I’m going to be in Emmerdale!”

She said: “It’s a one-off one hour special and it’s the first time Emmerdale have ever done it. And for those of you who are fans of Emmerdale, there is a very powerful year-long story of domestic abuse. Which of course, appealed to me when I knew I’d be part of it because of our Facing It Together campaign, and this is a culmination of that story.”

Denise as character Heidi, who has a huge role in villain Tom King’s storyline ( 
Image:
ITV/Mark Bruce)

Denise continued: “The episode takes place exclusively between the court and the jury and I am one of the head’s of the jury called Heidi. Obviously, I can’t say what the outcome is, but it’s a very, very powerful episode and some of the lines are taken from true cases. Refuge have seen it and they’re thrilled with how it’s been depicted so it was incredible to be a part of it, and that’s on I think December 19.”

Landing the role is a career milestone for Denise – who has already appeared in Coronation Street, EastEnders and Hollyoaks. Her role in Emmerdale apparently makes her a ‘CHEE’. She gushed: “So I’ve now been in all four soaps.” which earned a round of cheers from the audience.

Explaining what it means, Denise added: “‘I saw on social media that I’m now a CHEE and that’s because it’s quite something in America to be an EGOT, which is the winner of an Emmy, a Grammy, and Oscar and a Tony. So not quite that level, but Corrie, Hollyoaks, EastEnders, and Emmerdale.”

Denise in her first soap role as Natalie Barnes in Coronation Street in the 90s ( 
Image:
Granada TV)

She later appeared in EastEnders as transgender character Kyle’s mum, Alison Slater ( 
Image:
BBC)
Though there are some stars who have appeared in multiple British soaps, Denise is thought to be the first star to have appeared in all four of the current big ones. An actress from the age of 12, Denise got her big break on ITV series Soldier, Soldier in 1993, but it was her role as Rovers barmaid Natalie Barnes that made her a household name.

She played Natalie from 1997 to 2000. Her time in Corrie saw her have an affair with Kevin Webster while he was married to Sally, marry Des Barnes and later become the landlady of the Rovers Return. Her exit saw her flee Wetherfield pregnant with Rovers potman Vinny Sorrel’s baby. But Vinny was having an affair with her sister Debs and they ran off together to start a new life. In 2001, it was revealed Natalie had given birth to a daughter called Laura and was living in the Cotswolds with her cousin Helen.

In real life, Denise was pregnant with her son Louis, who is also an actor. She is also mum to Matty Healy, frontman of rock band The 1975. Denise later went on to star as transgender character Kyle’s mum, Alison Slater, in BBC’s EastEnders in 2016. And she played Trish Minniver in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks from 2021 to 2022.

The first ever winner of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Tony Blackburn, appeared on The One Show to discuss his time in the jungle, with his blunt advice leaving the hosts in stitches.

BBC radio icon Tony Blackburn, who clinched the title in the inaugural I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! back in 2002, graced The One Show with his presence alongside Loose Women panellist Judi Love this evening.

Chatting to presenters Alex Jones and Roman Kemp, Tony reminisced about his jungle adventure two decades on from his victory in the much-loved ITV show.

Though Tony shared some fascinating titbits about his stint on the program, it was one particularly forthright comment he made that left the presenters momentarily lost for words after a question from Alex, reports Wales Online.

“Tony, you won it, you were the first king of the jungle,” Alex prompted. “What advice would you give to the campmates?”

Tony Blackburn appeared on The One Show ( 
Image:
BBC)

In response, Tony deadpanned: “Don’t do it.” This provoked a burst of laughter from both Roman and Alex, evidently taken aback by his candidness.

“Get out of there,” chipped in Alex, going along with the levity before Tony pointed out he was “making a joke”.

Delving deeper into his Jungle experience, Tony expressed: “It’s a hard show to do. I’m a vegetarian and I didn’t have to eat all that stuff.

“I couldn’t do it now – it’s horrible, the stuff they have to eat. But I think you’ve just got to be yourself on, it because that’s all you can do.”

The 2024 season of I’m A Celebrity promises to be a glittering affair, featuring an ensemble of fan favourites like Love Island star Maura Higgins, McFly’s Danny Jones and the adored Strictly Come Dancing pro Oti Mabuse, all competing to seize the jungle crown.

Tonight’s instalment of the show will see the campmates compete for a coveted gold ticket to the legendary Celebrity Cyclone, granting them immunity from the next two eliminations.

Roman and Alex were in stitches ( 
Image:
BBC)
However, this new twist has left some fans disgruntled, with accusations flying at ITV for “ruining” the series. Discontented viewers took to social media to express their dissatisfaction.

On X, previously known as Twitter, one user expressed: “Nah, not up for this at all. Taking part in the cyclone is a privilege bestowed by the viewers. You’ve actually ruined a great series by doing this. And we all know it’ll be Colleen.” (sic)

Another viewer aired their concerns about the potential impact on the show’s dynamics, saying: “If this is an immunity thing, please don’t. It skews the order in which the public vote them out. I’m always suspicious of this. You know who is likely to be up next and are trying to save them unfairly.”

Despite the backlash, some fans are eager to see how the competition unfolds, with one enthusiast commenting: “Soooo good! Love it.” (sic)

Eamonn Holmes’ ex-wife, Ruth Langsford, flew to Australia last week to report on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity

Eamonn Holmes, 65, is reportedly “seething and hurt” over Ruth Langsford’s appearance on I’m A Celeb, according to a source.

Ruth, 64, seemed happy as she arrived in Australia last week to take part in the Unpacked spin-off. Ex-husband Eamonn, however, was reportedly far from impressed when he found out his former beau took the trip.

A source said: “Eamonn is seething about Ruth going to the jungle as she never wanted to go away with him. She told him she hated flying! He’d always dreamed of taking her on some special trips, places they could explore and enjoy together, but every time he suggested it, she shot the idea down.”

“Now, all of a sudden, she’s more than happy to hop on a plane for 22 hours each way to the other side of the world! It’s left him feeling completely baffled and a bit hurt, to be honest. It’s rubbed him up the wrong way because it feels like she’s willing to do it for the show but not for him,” they added to The Sun.

Ruth was flown in to Australia by ITV because she is a fellow Loose Woman colleague of Jane Moore, 62, and also works with GK Barry, 25, on the ITV show.

Eamonn Holmes is ‘seething and hurt’ over Ruth Langsford’s I’m A Celeb stint, according to a source ( 
Image:
Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)

Ruth was flown in to Australia by ITV because she is a fellow Loose Woman colleague of Jane Moore and also works with GK Barry on the ITV show ( 
Image:
PA)
About Jane, before she was eliminated, Ruth said at Brisbane Airport: “I think she is doing so well. Of course I am backing her to win, but of course I have Grace as well. I have two Loose Women. Maybe it could be a double win and two Queens of the Jungle.”

Talking about Jane’s performance, she added: “I thought Jane was extraordinary in her challenge when she swam underwater. That was extremely difficult, I would not have been able to do that. She was very calm, and you noticed that the only person who didn’t scream on the bus was Jane. She is a good woman.”

Whilst out in Australia, Ruth also opened up about This Morning which is set for a shake-up after its exec producer stepped down.

Asked about the This Morning changes, she said: “I don’t know, I haven’t been on it for two years.” Asked if she would fancy going back, she said: “Never say never.” But she ruled out going into the Jungle, adding: “Absolutely not.”

Ruth confirmed her split from Eamonn last May after 14 years of being together. Eamonn recently admitted that he can’t wait for his “tough year” to be over.

Eamonn, who has also long struggled with his health, especially in the past year, revealed: “It’s been a tough year and I’ll be glad to see the back of it.” The Belfast born presenter added: “But there are lots of things to be grateful for and I hope that my health improves next year.”

The TV has suffered from a number of health conditions in recent years and has expressed his fears that he may never be able to walk unaided again. He refused to have his hip replaced for three decades before finally undergoing surgery on both in 2016. Eamonn went ahead with the major op to tackle the chronic hip, leg and back pain which caused him ‘sleepless nights’ and ‘not being able to drive, let alone do anything more physically active’.

He made a good recovery from his double hip replacement and went on to lose three stone in a battle to boost his health, but said he just wished he had had it done sooner. “Waiting was the worst decision I ever made,” he told the Telegraph. “After having both of mine replaced aged 55, I haven’t had a single regret: in fact, it’s been life-changing.”

Eamonn made a red carpet appearance with his new girlfriend, Katie Alexander, at the 2024 TRIC Christmas lunch at The Londoner Hotel on Tuesday afternoon.

Mirror Online has reached out to Eamonn’s reps for comment.

Holly Willoughby was left ‘hurt and betrayed’ by Phillip Schofield after his affair with a young runner on This Morning was exposed but has remained dignified throughout his explosive return

The telly world has seen some major dramas lately. This week, Philip Schofield made a stunning comeback on TV with his new three-part reality show Cast Away, after he quit his presenting gig on This Morning last May amid revelations of an extra-marital affair with a young runner, effectively exiling him from the glittering realm of showbiz.

Schofield’s outing on Channel 5 featured him roughing it in true Robinson Crusoe style, bearded and weather-beaten, as he faced the trials of survival on a deserted island near Madagascar for 10 days, evidently trying to salvage his tarnished reputation. But it wasn’t just about survival; during his time alone, he couldn’t resist firing some thinly-disguised barbs towards figures in the television industry, reports OK! .

It seems there is little love lost these days between the former This Morning co-hosts ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)It seems fair to assume one of these targets was none other than his old mate Holly Willoughby. Their once tight-knit partnership on This Morning ended up frosty following Philip’s infamous love scandal last year. They had been inseparable co-hosts for over a decade. Although, instead of hitting back publicly or causing a social media frenzy over Phil’s biting remarks, Holly has opted to stay admirably quiet during his attention-stealing return.

A source confides that Holly’ s approach to the furore surrounding her ex-colleague has always been to keep things “respectful as possible – even though she was the one left to ‘pick up the pieces and deal with the fallout”‘. They whisper, “She was very hurt and betrayed by him as she felt he had lied to her but she has never really slated him – so for him to make thinly-veiled attacks on his new show was a real low.”

Phil was not shy with his opinions on reality show CXast Away ( 
Image:
Channel 5)

“She didn’t deserve that and she thought that after all she has been through in the past 18 months, that he might be a bit more understanding. But it’s clear he sort of blames her for his downfall and that he’s still angry about it all – and Holly knew he wouldn’t be able to keep quiet.” They added, “She had been gearing up for what he was going to say and it’s not nice but she feels she’ll get the last laugh as the show hasn’t exactly been well-received and he is getting criticism for playing the victim and trying to get sympathy.”

Once inseparable pals who would even take holidays together and whose bleary-eyed, giggly stints on the This Morning couch after raucous nights at the National Television Awards became iconic, fast forward 16 months and it appears they’re no longer on speaking terms. Fast-forward 16 months, though, and the two haven’t been spotted together publicly since their final appearance on May 18 last year, amid whispers of a ‘feud’ and Holly’s apparent lack of interest in mending their relationship.

Holly is riding high at the moment with three big telly gigs coming up ( 
Image:
hollywilloughby/Instagram)

Holly and Phil worked on the famous This Morning sofa together for years ( 
Image:
Getty Images)And during his big comeback show, Phil seemed determined to spill some personal grievances. While she isn’t named explicitly, Phil mentioned in the three-part series, “I miss parts of being on TV, certainly. I miss most of it, if I’m honest. I miss most of it. But there are bits that I really, really, really don’t miss.” He took a swipe with the pointed comment: “You learn a lot about people. I don’t miss that. When you throw someone under a bus, you’ve got to have a really bloody good reason to do it.”

Highlighting the moment that caught everyone’s attention, Phil couldn’t resist making light of Holly’s on-air query post his departure: “If you’re okay, then we’re okay and I’m okay. Are you okay? ” as he shared laughs during a barbecue in his garden with wife Steph and their daughters Molly, 31, and Ruby, 28.

Phil dropped a dramatic hint that his exit from This Morning was not by choice, but rather he was pushed out, declaring emphatically: “It’s inconceivable that I would quit [any show that he is on].I don’t quit. I’m fired. But I never quit.” While fishing, some fans speculated he might be alluding to Holly once more with the remark: “People just went who I thought were my friends and they just went. And that’s like ‘what the hell?’.”

The impact of Phil’s new show , Cast Away, on his future career remains uncertain. On the flip side, Holly has a buzzing career, growing further since her own departure from This Morning last October, following the foiling of a terrifying plot that resulted in security guard Gavin Plumb being sentenced in July to at least 16 years’ imprisonment for planning to kidnap, assault, and kill the star.

Phillip also stepped down from Dancing On Ice after last year’s scandal ( 
Image:
PA Archive/PA Images)

Holly will return to host the show in January without Phillip by her side ( 
Image:
Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Holly has made a strong comeback from past difficulties, and the ITV darling is gearing up for a trio of major shows. She’s set to host a revival of the game show ‘You Bet!’ alongside her pal Stephen Mulhern, launch into a fresh series of Dancing On Ice come January, and dive into her adventure reality competition Bear Hunt with Bear Gryll s.

The latter, which will premiere on Netflix, could catapult Holly to international stardom. An insider revealed, “That show is set to make her a global star and Netflix have high hopes for it and are predicting it to be a success in both the UK and America as well as other countries.

“If it does, Holly will become a big international star, something Phil always dreamed of. By keeping quiet and letting Phil get slated for his new show, Holly feels it is the best kind of revenge, especially after what he has implied about her.”

Former TOWIE star Ferne McCann has called it quits on her engagement with Dubai businessman Lorri Haines – just 16 months after welcoming their first child together

Ferne McCann has insisted she and fiancé Lorri Haines are back on track after sources claimed they had split just 16-months after welcoming their daughter, Finty, together.

The former TOWIE star, 34, first started dating the businessman, 33, in 2021 after meeting in Dubai, and the pair got engaged less than a year later in July 2022. Mum-of-two Ferne, who is also a proud mum to daughter Sunday from a previous relationship Arthur Collins, previously described Lorri as ‘the one’ as she shared her excitement about their future together.

Ferne is said to have taken some time out from her relationship with Lorri after the big blow out which started over ‘nothing’.

Speaking to The Mirror, a source exclusively told us: “Ferne and Lorri have always had a tempestuous relationship but there was one big blow out over something and nothing so she has decided to take some time out.

The pair first started dating in 2021 ( 
Image:
fernemccann/Instagram)

Ferne admitted she and Lorri have been rowing ( 
Image:
Instagram/fernemccann)

“Pals are saying it is permanent but who knows as these two are so up and down. Lorri has been effectively wiped from her Instagram and Ferne is now taking some time for herself and her two kids.”

Following the news, Ferne took to Instagram to clarify her relationship status. “We’re still very much together. Living together. We are even back in the same bed ” she said.

“What we aren’t getting is sleep. If we’re arguing it’s about lack of sleep. Finty is not sleeping and i’m one tired mama. So if anyone has any tips on that it would be very much appreciated. Thanks to anyone who has messaged to see if we’re OK but we’re still together.”

While their relationship appeared to be perfect on the surface, behind closed doors it appears that Ferne and Lorri struggled with every other couple in long-term relationships. Earlier this year, Ferne admitted that she and Lorri saw an intimacy coach after their sex life dried up in the wake of the birth of their baby.

Since Finty’s arrival, the couple had been sleeping in separate bedrooms which reduced time for intimacy between them. Opening up about the blip in her sex life, Ferne previously detailed how she and Lorri sought out specialist help because they went months without getting it on.

Ferne appeared to have wiped all trace of Lorri from her Instagram account ( 
Image:
Daily Mirror)

The couple got engaged in 2022 ( 
Image:
fernemccann/Instagram)In an interview with Heat! magazine, she said: “It was really insightful. We did lots of different activities that weren’t actually talking about sexual stuff, but it was more communication techniques and exercises that you can transfer into the bedroom.

“Also, we don’t share a bedroom, and I do think that played a big part in it, because when you’re in a bed together, you’re there and it’s easier. But, like with anything in life, if you want to make something work, you just need to give more attention to it, and make the time.”

However, at the time, Ferne insisted that her and Lorri’s bedroom issues are common for parents of babies. She said: “I think most parents will agree that when you have a baby, sex goes out the window and it isn’t a priority. When you’ve got kids, fish, dogs and you’re filming a TV show and running a business, the months fly by! It was getting to the point where I was like, ‘We need to do it,’ and it was becoming a bit more of a chore. So, we went to an intimacy coach.”

Ferne also praised Lorri for being a “hands-on” dad and even remarked she thinks that he even likes parenting solo. She said: “He’s so hands-on, and he’s an amazing dad. I had a night out with the school mums recently and I think he quite liked having the girls with him just by himself.”

Ferne first met Lorri while on holiday in Dubai ( 
Image:
lozzahaines/Instagram)
The split comes ahead of Ferne’s Dancing On Ice debut in January. The former TOWIE star will be partnered with professional ice skater Brendyn Hatfield. In a recent Instagram post, she said: “The news is in! I’ve met my Dancing On Ice partner and it is……BRENDYN! While he defo has his work cut out (sorry Brendyn!) we’re super excited to hit the ice and bring the sparkle.”

Ferne is no stranger to putting herself through her paces as she had appeared on I’m A Celebrity..Get Me Out of Here!, where she finished third. She joins a number of celebrities including TOWIE star Dan Edgar and Hollyoaks actress Chelsee Healy and Love Island star Chris Taylor.

The Mirror has approached Ferne’s representatives for comment on this story.

JB Gill and Lauren Oakley spoke about their Strictly Come Dancing journey so far on Good Morning Britain today, as he opened up on the biggest challenge

There are three weeks to go until Strictly’s Christmas special airs on TV – but the result has already been leaked online.

Like the weekly results show, the festive special is pre-recorded weeks in advance and this year includes a variety of celebrities – from a soap star to a Drag Race icon. The show was filmed on Tuesday evening, with pros Amy Dowden and Nikita Kuzmin spotted at Elstree Studios alongside some of the cast.

During the special, six couples perform a festive fuelled routine to impress the judges – Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Head Judge Shirley Ballas. The studio audience went on to vote for their favourite.

The winner of the show was subsequently leaked on social media in the early hours of this morning – though the Mirror will not be divulging the result.

Among those taking part include EastEnders ‘ Tamzin Outhwaite, Vogue Williams, Drag Race star Tayce, Gladiator star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and comedian Josh Widdicombe.

Jamie Borthwick won the show last year ( 
Image:
BBC/Guy Levy)
Professional dancer Amy will be back performing on the show after being forced to quit last month. The pro – who is recovering from breast cancer – sustained an injury in the days ahead of the live show on October 26. She was left gutted after being told by doctors that she needed to rest indefinitely in order to allow the injury to recover. She has since been replaced by Lauren Oakley – who is now dancing with JB Gill – for the rest of the series.

The Strictly Christmas special had already been struck by a last minute injury crisis after pro Carlos Gu was forced to pull out and was replaced by Gorka Marquez. The pro, 31, suffered a major ankle injury and had been originally paired with Vogue.

A Strictly spokesperson confirmed the news, saying: “Unfortunately, professional dancer, Carlos Gu, has sustained an ankle injury so is unable to participate in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special alongside contestant Vogue Williams. Fellow professional dancer, Gorka Márquez will be stepping in for him and dancing with Vogue. We all wish him a speedy recovery.”

Vogue and her husband Spencer Matthews welcomed Carlos into their home as part of filming, with the couple chatting about Vogue’s experience so far on their podcast. Spencer, who married Vogue in 2018: “I got to meet the great Carlos who is stealing my wife away from me, all day every day.” In response, Vogue joked: “You must be delighted.”

Vogue added: “When Carlos was over yesterday and Spenny obviously kept walking around with his top off. And Carlos was like ‘does he love himself’ and I was like ‘yeah, obviously, what do you think’. We had a great laugh, you’re so mad for yourself.

“You always do that when people come over to the house, you make sure that somehow you are seen with no top on. It’s the strangest thing, you do it all of the time.”

Fans have claimed that he has had a smooth ride throughout the entire series and has managed to avoid two of the hardest dances.

Strictly fans are convinced that Strictly is fixed after Pete Wicks’ two semi-final dances were revealed. The BBC show revealed the double dances on Instagram where they were met with furious fans claiming that the show has been fixed for the benefit of the former Towie star.

Strictly revealed Pete’s selection in the caption that partly read: “Pete and Jowita Argentine Tango to Bittersweet by Symphony The Verve and Foxtrot to Beyond The Sea by Bobby Darin.”

One speculating user commented: “Another week and Pete has still avoided the jive ahahahahah the show is fixed mate.”

Whilst another added: “Why does Pete get to avoid doing a Jive & a Charleston? Those are 2 really difficult dances that everyone else has had to do…seems unfair.”

“Are you joking me we’re not going to see a Pete Charleston or jive this season at all!!??,” echoed a third. But one fan defended the dance selection replying: “Funny how it’s two of the hardest dances tho isn’t it!.”

Whilst others were just looking forward to the performance with one adding: “Bittersweet Symphony” for Pete and Jowita sounds totally amazing and I literally cannot wait to see them perform this Dance.”

Strictly fans are convinced that Strictly is fixed after Pete Wicks’ two semi-final dances were revealed

Pete and Jowita Przystal will be doing the tango to Bittersweet by Symphony The Verve and will Foxtrot to Beyond The Sea by Bobby Darin
Pete paid a gushing tribute to his Strictly partner Jowita Przystal just hours before Maura Higgins confessed all about their relationship on TV.

The ex Towie star, 36, and former Love Islander Maura, 34, have been keeping their relationship under wraps for the last few months – with the exception of a few sightings of them on dates across the capital. However, on last Monday’s episode of I’m A Celeb, Maura let the cat out the bag as she revealed she was seeing ‘someone special.’

Fans have been guessing over the last few weeks if Pete has been seeing Maura or his dance partner Jowita, with whom he appears to have struck up a very close bond. The pair wrapped their arms around each other on the BBC results show on Sunday night as they were saved by the public.

Pete paid a gushing tribute to his Strictly partner Jowita just hours before Maura Higgins confessed all about their relationship on TV ( 
Image:
@p_wicks01/Instagram)Minutes later, Pete took to social media to pay a gushing tribute to his dance partner, he penned: “I’ve been struggling to think of what to say and it’s not often I’m lost for words.

“I am so overwhelmed and blessed to have had your support over the past 3 months, I never expected it and I have never taken it for granted. The belief you guys have had in me has been incredible and at times I’m not sure I’ve deserved it. I’ve said it before but no amount of words will ever be able to repay what you have given me. People talk about the “journey” and let me tell you, this isn’t my journey at all. It’s our journey. Jowita, you and I have all been on this wild ride and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

“I literally have no idea how I’m gonna get through next week but I can guarantee you I’ll be giving it my all. Thank you,” he finished alongside a love heart emoji.

I’m A Celeb star Melvin Odoom opens up about life in the I’m A Celebrity camp, revealing for the first time how he nearly quit and had to be rescued by security during a storm

I’m a Celeb star Melvin Odoom has told how he was dramatically on the verge of quitting the show.

Talking to the Mirror, the star reveals for the first time how he had to be rescued in the middle of the night by a security guard during a storm after crying out for help

It came after he woke drenched in the middle of the night during a storm having barely eaten the night before. “I had my mic on, and I was like, ‘guys, I want help.’ This guy came out like a commando…he had a light on, and he’s like ‘Melvin are you okay, come with me,’” he says.

Viewers watched as Melvin sobbed on Oti Mabuse on the night in question. But the star says his meltdown was much worse as nearly all the campmates took it in turns to be with him.

 

Asked if he contemplated quitting, he admitted: “Yes, because I found it difficult, and I thought the finish line seemed quite far away.” But he says he decided to tough it out – because he left first in Strictly Come Dancing.

Tears: Melvin reflects on life in camp ( 
Image:
Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
He added: “I didn’t want to let my family down. And the most similar process to this that I’ve ever done in my life was Strictly and I was the first person out, and I was aware of that in my head.”

Melvin explains he was already a naturally emotional person, and that his tears in camp left him embarrassed. “You’ve got people like Oti and Alan who are really strong, and Coleen, who I don’t think she shed a tear once during the time when I was there,” he says. “And I was like, ‘How can I sit here crying when these guys have got little babies at home and they’re just holding it together?’”

He says Danny Jones offered to make his bed, while Maura Higgins gave him a tissue, as Dean McCullough and Oti also came over. He adds: “When Oti came she just reminded me of family and she held my hand and I started bawling. I thought that was the worst thing ever. I was quite embarrassed.”

Mirrorman Tom with Melvin ( 
Image:
Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
Later Barry McGuigan came and hugged him, and held him tightly. “When he held my head, I was just like, ‘this guy loves me.’ He helped me like a father. I thought these lot love me and that’s what got me through the whole thing,” he says. “The best thing about the camp was the people. If it wasn’t for them, I feel like I would have wanted to leave a lot sooner.”

Melvin also confirmed that Dean WAS work-shy despite his insisting to the Mirror he did the chores. He said: “I was like, ‘bro, let’s get to work.’ There’s buckets to be carried here, and then my man was doing Reiki on Coleen, or he was having a shower.”

But he said that he hoped his stint on the show would secure his dream date with Carol Vorderman, who he spoke about regularly on the show. “I knew she was a fan of the show, and she’s been on it, so iit might be something she sees,” he says. Asked if he fancied an invite to the Mirror’s Pride of Britain to meet her, he laughs: “I mean, I enjoy any kind of party, I could DJ there. Carol Vorderman is such a woman. She’s so intelligent, she can fly helicopters. I just think she’s like the coolest person ever.”

When he came out of the jungle, he was met by his sister Yonah on the bridge. And she reassured him that he had not put a foot wrong in camp, or “cancelled”. “When I saw my sister, I said, ‘was everything okay?’ And she’s like, ‘bro you did so well.’” he says. “And that settled me, because you’ve got no idea what people think of you. Oti was my sister in there, but I trust my real sister. She just knows me 100% so when she said it, I could relax. I’ve not been canceled yet.”

Gregg Wallace stepped down from MasterChef this week amid the ongoing controversy around allegations of alleged inappropriate behaviour on the BBC show

Gregg Wallace has presented MasterChef since 2005, but he wasn’t the BBC’s only choice for the role.

Before the former greengrocer, 60, who has stepped down from the show amid the ongoing controversy around allegations of inappropriate behaviour, became a household name on MasterChef, presenter Giles Coren was also up for the job.

Giles, who has presented BBC’s Amazing Hotels with MasterChef star, Monica Galetti, was called into do a screen test for the series back in 2004 alongside John Torode, who had already got the gig.

Admitting he didn’t really want to present that “c**p old show from the nineties” believing “it will never work”, Giles went along to audition anyway. However, after claiming he had zero chemistry with John, who he claimed “would stare blankly” while Giles delivered “pristine culinary witticism like something out of Oscar Wilde”, he was called a taxi home.

Giles Coren was up for Gregg Wallace’s role on MasterChef ( 
Image:
PA Archive)

But then he saw Gregg on his way out, telling The Times: “When I was done, they called me a cab and as I sat waiting, a bald bloke with a very loud voice went through into the “studio”, shouting and laughing as he went. “Who’s that?” I asked. “That’s your competition,” they said. “He’s a greengrocer. Different sort of vibe.”

Giles continued: “The rest, of course, is … well, 20 years of melodramatically raised voices, fake jeopardy, irrelevant cooking and now poor old decent, baffled, wildly out-of-context Gregg hung out to dry by the BBC for being nothing more nor less than exactly what they were looking for. They didn’t want Oscar Wilde for John Torode’s foil in 2004, they wanted a greengrocer. And they got a greengrocer.”

MasterChef fans have called for the show to be taken off air amid the recent controversy surrounding Gregg. The dad-of-three has been accused of making “inappropriate sexual jokes” amongst other behavioural complaints. However, the presenter’s lawyer says: “It is entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”.

On Monday, the Peckham native apologised for his remarks suggesting complaints about his conduct came from “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age”. Taking to Instagram, he said: “I want to apologise for any offence that I caused with my post yesterday and any upset I may have caused to a lot of people.

“I wasn’t in a good headspace when I posted it, I’ve been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion, I felt very alone, under siege yesterday when I posted it. It’s obvious to me I need to take some time out, now while this investigation is under way. I hope you understand and I do hope you will accept this apology.”

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! star Coleen Rooney took part in the Arcade of Agony with Danny Jones, GK Barry and Richard Coles

I’m A Celebrity star Coleen Rooney had to be seen by a medic after the latest Bushtucker Trial went wrong.

On Wednesday night, viewers tuned in as WAG Coleen, Danny Jones, GK Barry and Reverend Richard Coles took on the Arcade of Agony. The stars were each allocated a grabbing a machine loaded with balls to win the task. Each ball they won from the machine contained tickets they could use to deposit into the ticket collection box.

Every go on the machine required the stars to use a coin, which were only available to get from a box of fish guts. The campmates had 10 minutes to win as many tickets as possible. The two stars with the most tickets at the end of the trial would get to go through to the final round and be one step closer to winning the ticket to Cyclone.

In classic Bushtucker Trial style, bugs and creepy crawlies were poured over the stars, including the classic mealworms, crickets, cockroaches and more. Coleen was the first star to get a coin but it didn’t come without a price. When their time ran out, Coleen came out of her grabbing booth and said: “I’ve got one in my ear!”

A creepy crawly came out of Coleen’s ears ( 
Image:
ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

The medic came in to take a closer look at her ear to remove it with a syringe, but it crawled out as they were taking a look. Ant said: “Oh my god! It just jumped out!” Meanwhile, Coleen knocked Danny off the top spot as the fan-favourite to become King/Queen of the Jungle.

Loose Women’s Jane Moore, radio star Dean McCullough singer Tulisa Contostavlos, and Melvin Odoom were the recent stars to be eliminated from the Australian jungle. With not long to go, fans are hoping their favourites will reach the final and be crowned the King or Queen of the jungle.

Danny used to be the fan favourite to win the show but he was knocked off the top spot for the first time since the show started. Wagatha Christie icon Coleen became the new favourite to win the show, with Grosvenor Sport revealing she came in at 5/4 while Danny Jones came in at 7/4 to win.

Richard Coles is near the top with 4/1 while Maura Higgins is at 16/1. The other stars’ odds are GK Barry at 25/1, Alan Halsall at 33/1, Oti Mabuse at 66/1, Barry McGuigan and Melvin Odoom at 150/1. A spokesperson for Grosvenor Sport said: “Coleen Rooney has emerged as the new favourite to win I’m a Celebrity overnight, knocking Danny Jones off his perch for the first time this series.