Author: banga

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has claimed Anna Turley has “total contempt for democracy” after the Labour Party Chairwoman was accused of refusing to rule out delaying the next general election.

Ms Turley, who is facing a challenge in her Redcar seat from Reform UK, struggled to confirm whether the next national poll would get the go-ahead if substantial constitutional changes were made to the House of Lords.

Fears arose about the next general election after Sir Keir Starmer invited more than 60 local authorities to postpone elections slated for May next year.

When asked to rule out delaying the next general election, Ms Turley told Sky News: “The reality is we’re moving to unitary councils, there’s a huge restructuring of local government and it’s really difficult for them to manage that alongside running elections as well.

“We’ve got a huge programme of elections this May, but the reality is while we’re undertaking the biggest restructuring in a generation it’s really important we give councils the capacity to do this so they don’t keel over.”

When asked if Sir Keir’s manifesto pledge to abolish hereditary peers could necessitate a delay, Ms Turley again failed to answer.

However, Ms Turley insisted general elections “always come at the decision of the Prime Minister and that’s the reality of the process we have in this country”.

“I’m looking forward to spending the next couple of years setting out our programme for reform and delivering for the country,” the Redcar MP added.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has claimed Anna Turley has ‘total contempt for democracy’

 

Mr Farage delivered his verdict on Ms Turley’s comments just a few hours later.

“Labour chair Anna Turley has total contempt for democracy,” the Reform UK leader said.

However, Ms Turley later clarified her position, pointing out the date for the next general is set in stone.

“There’s no change to the General Election,” the Labour Party Chairwoman told Times Radio.

“The law is very clear: we will have a General Election by 2029.

“That won’t change. I’m not quite sure where he was going with that I’m afraid. I’m a big fan of Trevor but I think there was some confusion there. There’s absolutely no change to the General Election.”

She added: “The General Election is there, it’s set in law. It will happen. There’s no doubt about that.”

Mr Farage has been outspoken about plans to cancel local election contests across England following a separate set of delays in May this year.

A Reform-made petition against delaying local elections has already received more than 130,000 signatures.

Anna Turley (right) refused to rule out delaying the next general election

 

The Clacton MP last year compared Sir Keir to Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe and warned Britain is slowly becoming a “banana republic”.

However, Mr Farage has also blasted Tory leader Kemi Badenoch after a number of Conservative-run councils hinted at requesting a delay.

He said: “Turkeys don’t vote for Christmas. Tory County Councils look set to collude with Labour to keep their control until 2027.

“Only a banana republic bans elections, that’s what we have under Starmer.

“Kemi Badenoch must instruct her council leaders to allow elections to go ahead.”

Sir Keir Starmer is inviting local authorities to yet again delay contests slated for next May

 

Mrs Badenoch has voiced her frustration with Labour postponing the contests but will not overrule Tory-run councils in favour of a delay.

Meanwhile, Ms Turley’s comments about the next general election come as MPs prepare to debate holding an immediate national poll after Christmas.

A Westminster Hall debate will take place on January 12 after more than one million Britons signed the petition calling for a general election.

Despite MPs being given the opportunity to debate the petition, it is incredibly unlikely that Britons will go to the polls anytime soon.

Kemi Badenoch is also under pressure over the response from Tory-run councils

 

The Dissolution & Calling of Parliament Act restored the Prime Minister’s ability to call a General Election via the Royal Prerogative.

A no-confidence motion could theoretically force a General Election, although the composition of the Commons makes such a scenario incredibly unlikely.

The last time a Prime Minister was defeated in a confidence vote came in 1979, when James Callaghan lost by one vote ahead of Margaret Thatcher’s first General Election victory.

With his voice cracking but his resolve unshaken, he admits: “If speaking the truth costs me everything, so be it.” Producers panicked. Viewers froze. Britain wants answers. So what EXACTLY did he say that scared ITV this much?

Rylan Clark has confirmed that his time at This Morning is over—this time for good. After a whirlwind week of controversy, the TV star revealed that his contract with ITV has officially been terminated following the backlash to his explosive remarks on immigration.

In an emotional sign-off, Rylan, 36, told viewers on Friday: “At last, I can finally breathe easy and speak out about those disgusting truths. I have no regrets for speaking up, even if it cost me my career. Thank you, everyone…”

The announcement marks a dramatic end to his stint as stand-in host alongside Josie Gibson, who had been covering for Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard during their summer break. Josie responded on-air with: “What a week!”—but fans had no idea that it would also be Rylan’s last.

The storm began earlier in the week when Rylan clashed with viewers over his take on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s mass deportation plans. Speaking live on air, he questioned:

“How come if I turn up at Heathrow Airport as a British citizen and I’ve left my passport in Spain, I won’t be let in? But if I arrive on a boat from Calais, I get taken to a four-star hotel?”

Rylan insisted that he was not against immigration, adding: “This country is built on immigration—legal immigration. They pay tax, they help our country thrive. But illegal routes? That’s something we can’t ignore.”

He also highlighted what he saw as a growing injustice: “You’ve got people who have lived here all their lives struggling, while others are handed hotels, phones, even iPads. Something major has to change.”

The remarks instantly divided audiences, with critics accusing him of spreading misinformation about asylum seekers in the UK. Social media erupted, and within hours, calls were mounting for ITV to act.

On X, Rylan fought back, declaring: “You can be pro-immigration and against illegal routes. You can support trans rights and respect women. You can be straight and support gay rights. The list goes on.”

But by Friday, the damage was done. ITV confirmed behind the scenes that his role would not continue, with insiders revealing that the network and Rylan had “mutually agreed” to terminate his contract.

Fans reacted with heartbreak. One wrote: “Please keep Rylan and Josie on! They’re the best duo in years.” Another added: “I won’t be watching come next week—he was the only reason I tuned in again.”

The news came just as former host Ruth Langsford teased her own return to the iconic sofa. Speaking to The Mirror, she hinted she’d happily reunite with her “TV son” Rylan:

“I love Rylan. He’s like my son. We’ve worked together before, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. If ITV asked, I’d be there.”

However, with Rylan’s future at ITV officially closed, fans are now left wondering: could the duo reunite on an entirely new project away from This Morning? Ruth teased that something might already be in the works.

For now, one thing is clear: Rylan Clark is stepping away from daytime   TV on his own terms—louder, prouder, and with no regrets.

This Morning continues weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX—without one of its most outspoken stars.

Voters believe Keir Starmer is spending his last Christmas in No10 as anger mounts within Labour ranks.

YouGov research found half of the public expect the PM to be gone within a year, including 19 per cent who are ‘definite’ about his demise.

That compared to just 35 per cent who thought he has a chance of surviving until the next festive season.

The growing sense of doom surrounding the premier is a stark contrast to his triumphant arrival in Downing Street just 17 months ago, on the back of a landslide election victory.

The government’s misery deepened today as announced another humiliating U-turn, watering down the inheritance tax raid on family farms just days after Sir Keir insisted it was ‘sensible’.

Despairing Labour insiders have complained that the leadership seems to have learned nothing from the debacle over the winter fuel allowance and abortive effort at benefits reforms.

They now braced for a climbdown on business rates increases, which have seen Sir Keir and other Labour MPs banned from pubs across the country.

Labour Party chair Anna Turley told Sky News at the weekend that Sir Keir would ‘absolutely’ still be PM next Christmas.

But Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham are increasingly seen as on manoeuvres with the PM looking down the barrel of apocalyptic local elections in May.

Voters also appear pessimistic about the prospects in 2026, with just 15 per cent hopeful their own financial situation will improve over the next year, while 40 per cent expect things to get worse.

Some 39 per cent anticipate little change.

Despite the grim backdrop, the latest YouGov poll did show Reform’s advantage on headline voting intention narrowing from 10 points to five.

Sir Keir’s allies will be watching closely to see if that trend continues to show up in the New Year.

Voters believe Keir Starmer is spending his last Christmas in No10 as anger mounts within Labour ranks

Under the original plan unveiled by Rachel Reeves in the 2024 Budget farmers faced paying IHT at a 20 per cent rate on agricultural property and land worth more than £1million from April.

It triggered a huge wave of protests in London and a backlash from Labour MPs in rural seats.

But in the PM’s latest U-turn Defra today lifted that threshold to £2.5million, admitting that it had acted after it ‘listened to concerns of the farming community’.

A Defra spokesman said the change would halve the number of farms affected by the change to Agricultural Property Relief.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: ‘I am thankful common sense has prevailed and government has listened.

‘From the start the government said it was trying to protect the family farm and the change announced today brings this much closer to reality for many.’

But shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins said the change to the ‘vindictive’ scheme would be ‘too late for some’, adding: ‘Businesses and lives have been lost.

Kelvin Fletcher and his family have been living away from their farm after a fire broke out in the farmhouse.

Kelvin Fletcher and his wife Liz have faced challenging times following a “devastating” fire, but they’ve now shared a significant update.

Last October, the family-of-six were enjoying a break away from their farm when they received news from a neighbour about a blaze at their farmhouse.

The fire rendered their home uninhabitable, forcing them to seek temporary lodgings. However, over a year later, they’ve made their return to the farm they hold dear.

In the season three finale of ITV’s Fletchers’ Family Farm, Kelvin Fletcher announced: “As far as big days go, this one’s huge.

“We’re taking delivery of our new lodge, the final step in getting us back living on the farm after a year of renting following a fire in the farmhouse.”

Fletchers’ Family Farm star Kelvin Fletcher, his wife Liz and their four children. (Image: ITV)

Kelvin Fletcher and his wife Liz were “devastated” when there was a fire at their farmhouse home last year. (Image: ITV)

Upon the arrival of the first part of their new temporary home, Liz reflected on the aftermath of the fire.

She revealed: “These things, dealing with the fire, it takes so much longer than you can ever imagine.

“It’s a full-time job trying to go through the whole process, the surveys, everything that needs to be done.

“As well as then, we haven’t even started the point of clearing the house out and actually making a start on that building work.

“So this just feels, although it’s temporary, feels like it will help us make those steps a bit more efficiently, a bit more not having to be in two places at the same time.”

Kelvin added: “After everything we’ve been through this year, the hardest part has been feeling so disconnected as a family.

“Being back on the farm brings us back together again and we couldn’t be happier.”

Kelvin Fletcher and wife Liz give ‘huge’ emotional update after ‘upsetting’ year (Image: ITV)

Liz light-heartedly referred to their current abode as a “posh caravan”, expressing relief and a sense of “a weight is lifting” with this significant move.

“The thought of being back at the farm 24/7, it just feels like the best feeling.”

In a voiceover, Kelvin acknowledged the “challenge” that lies ahead in this next phase of their adventure.

“It’s been a long road but our dream of returning to the farm is finally taking shape.

“But before we dig in, we’ve got to adapt to lodge living and with four kids in tow, that’s a whole new kind of challenge.”

Liz concurred: “It’s not your average caravan but there’s six of us.”

She then enthusiastically concluded: “It’ll just take the edge off of the upset of the fire I think and when we do the renovation, we’re here, we’re on site, we’re back. We’re back on the farm.”

 

Strictly Come Dancing finalist George Clarke left viewers in tears as he struggled to contain his emotions during a moving interview on It Takes Two, just hours before the grand final tonight (Saturday, December 20).

George and Alexis discussed the final (Credit: BBC)

Fans were in tears too (Credit: BBC)

George Clarke and dance partner Alexis Warr (pictured) are hoping to emerge victorious in Saturday’s finale of Strictly Come Dancing

YouTuber George Clarke has become the people’s favourite in this year’s Strictly for both his impassioned dancefloor performance and the way he dedicated his routine as a ‘love letter’ to his family, specifically his adored mother Nicky – who is currently fighting breast cancer

The 26-year-old TikTok sensation, joined by pro partner Alexis Warr, was overcome when shown heartfelt messages of support from his family during the show on Friday evening. Unable to continue, George wiped away tears and apologised, admitting: “Sorry… this is awful of me,” as he reflected on the journey that has brought him to the verge of the Glitterball Trophy.

It’s all too easy to see why Strictly bosses hope that privately-educated George’s popularity with savvy online youngsters may revitalise what has become an increasingly toxic and tired television brand

George explained that he’d tried not to think about the final in order to stay present, saying the experience has already given him “imposter syndrome,” but also acknowledging how difficult the aftermath of the competition may feel once the whirlwind ends.

Fans watching at home were visibly moved, taking to social media to share their own tears and praise his humility and vulnerability. Messages poured in: “I’m emotional for George,” “Don’t cry, you’ll set me off,” and “He is so loved.”

Despite being a strong favourite among the public, bookmakers currently place him behind Karen Carney in the odds. But George’s journey has resonated far deeper than scores or rankings — driven not by fame, but by love and a desperate desire to make his mother proud.

In week eight, his emotional rhumba dedicated to his mum Nicky — who is bravely battling breast cancer — earned widespread admiration. The routine, described as a “love letter,” left both George and his family in tears and marked the moment when the wider Strictly audience embraced him.

George spoke candidly about his mother’s diagnosis, admitting that she has endured more than most: “Nobody deserves what she has gone through, least of all her.” Her illness now dominates family life, and George has been open about how the news has affected him.

The YouTuber, known for his massive online following — 2.4 million TikTok fans, nearly a million across Instagram and YouTube — has captured attention beyond his digital audience. Strictly bosses reportedly hope his popularity with younger viewers may breathe new life into the long-running show.

Unlike his rivals, George has no professional dance background. Friends say the only dancing he ever did before Strictly was at university socials, making his progress even more remarkable. Meanwhile, fellow finalists Amber Davies and Karen Carney have sparked debate due to their extensive dance experience.

George’s journey is also tied to a quieter family story. His mother’s resilience isn’t new — she previously battled encephalitis when he was 16, leaving George traumatised after witnessing her seizure. Yet he describes her as selfless and strong, apologising to the family even after her recovery.

Supporting him from the audience is his girlfriend, model Yasmin Bennett, credited by George as believing in him “more than I did.” His upbringing in Bristol, private education, and university degree paint a picture of a grounded young man who chose effort over shortcuts — despite his father’s senior role at Aardman Animations.

Amber Davies, meanwhile, has faced backlash from viewers because of her stage background and will not participate in the Strictly tour due to prior commitments to the musical Legally Blonde.

George’s growing public profile, however, seems set to extend beyond Strictly, with new  TV opportunities reportedly emerging. Insiders say he may be on the verge of becoming a breakout star — not just online, but across mainstream media.

And should he lift the Glitterball Trophy tonight, no supporter will be cheering louder than his mother — the woman whose courage inspired his every step on the Strictly dancefloor.

Detroit’s Nine Design + Homes warehouse still reeked of fresh paint and betrayal when Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas hit record on November 14, 2025. The Bargain Block duo—inked, in love, and incandescent—unleashed a 27-minute Instagram Live that detonated like a wrecking ball through HGTV’s glass façade. “We were laughing,” Keith choked, tears carving rivers down his tattooed cheeks, “because it was insane. They told us straight up: ‘We need you out of the picture.’ Not the show—the us. The gay us.” Evan, usually the quiet anchor, slammed a fist on the workbench: “They hated that we turned blight into rainbow pride. Said it ‘confused heartland demos.’” Within minutes, #HGTVGate trended worldwide, 8.7 million posts, 1.2 million signatures on a Max-stream revival petition, and a boycott that crashed the network’s ad portal for 14 hours straight.

The smoking gun? A June 2025 email chain—leaked verbatim to this outlet by three terrified production assistants—dated the day Bargain Block was greenlit for Season 6, then axed 48 hours later. Subject line: “URGENT: Brand Risk Mitigation.” Sender: Discovery SVP of Unscripted. Key bullet: “Bynum/Thomas visibility—LGBTQ+ saturation exceeds 12% threshold. Midwest focus groups flag ‘agenda push.’ Recommend immediate sunset.” Keith read it aloud, voice cracking like cheap plaster: “We flipped 47 homes, saved 200 Detroit jobs, mentored queer kids on camera—and we’re the risk?” Evan scrolled to the kicker: “Replace with neutral hetero duo. Same format, safer palette.” The warehouse erupted—Shea Hicks-Whitfield, their realtor ride-or-die, hurled a paint roller into a wall, screaming, “They wanted beige over us?!”
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Flash to the final wrap party, July 2025. Crew toasted Season 5’s 1.6 million viewer average—HGTV’s highest-rated reno ever. Then the call came. Keith recounts the producer’s whisper: “It’s not ratings. It’s the kiss in Episode 8—the one after the rainbow kitchen reveal. Execs lost three advertisers overnight.” Evan’s eyes blaze: “That kiss? We’d been married six years. It was real.” They laughed—manic, gut-deep—because the alternative was collapse. “We built an empire on love,” Keith sobs, clutching Evan’s hand. “They tore it down for fear.”

The ripple is seismic. Jonathan Knight FaceTimed mid-stream: “Same playbook, brothers.” Erin Napier posted a single broken heart emoji. Tarek El Moussa pledged $100K to their indie pilot. Detroit’s mayor declared November 15 “Bargain Block Day,” 10,000 locals flooding Core City with pride flags. Keith and Evan’s next move? A crowdfunded Bargain Block: Uncut on YouTube—first episode drops December 1, no network leash. “We’re not erased,” Evan vows, voice steel. “We’re everywhere now.”

HGTV’s response? A sterile statement: “Creative evolution.” Translation: cowardice. But the queer joy they tried to bury is blooming louder—on murals, in merch, in every cracked sidewalk they once saved. Stream the leaked email. Share the Live. Scream it from rooftops. Because when a network tries to paint over love, the world grabs the brightest brush and fights back.

The designer opened up about “using substances” in his HGTV special “My Lottery Dream Home: David’s Happy Ending”

David Bromstad revealed that he sought treatment amid filming My Lottery Dream Home: David’s Happy Ending

The special documents how Bromstad’s dream home being nearly destroyed by a storm caused him to spiral

He got candid about “using substances” and opened up about unresolved childhood trauma

My Lottery Dream Home: David’s Happy Ending premiered on HGTV on Dec. 19 at 9 p.m. ET

David Bromstad is getting candid about getting the help he needed when he was in a dark place.

The HGTV star opened up about seeking treatment in the middle of filming My Lottery Dream Home: David’s Happy Ending, after a major set back set him on a bad path.

In an exclusive clip shared with PEOPLE from the episode , Bromstad, 52, spoke about “using substances” while discussing how he coped after a storm all but destroyed his Florida dream home mid-renovation. “I got into some unhealthy behaviors and it’s really easy to go there when you’re under distress,” he shared. “I knew I was in trouble.”

Later in the special, which premiered on Friday, Dec. 19, Bromstad opened up about how his mental well-being had become intertwined with the project. “I think with the house, with where I’m at emotionally, physically, spiritually, psychologically, everything has stopped. I was literally screaming out for help,” he began.

HGTV

David Bromstad in ‘My Lottery Dream Home: David’s Happy Ending’

The house is a fairytale-like creation he designed to help heal some childhood trauma, he explains, revealing he was “super depressed” growing up because he was bullied.

“Back when I was a teenager, I didn’t deal with what really happened,” he explained. “I was exactly this amount of gay, this amount of perfect, but that was not celebrated, that was looked [at] in a different way back then.”

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“I was super depressed. I was super bullied. And so for me to idealize my childhood was a complete defense mechanism that was beautiful; it saved me,” he explains.

“Now my childhood fantasy, my house, is broken, like me,” Bromstad continued. The extreme water damage from rain and flooding caused an extensive mold problem in the half-finished home that required everything to be ripped out down to the studs, essentially setting the project back to square one.

Realizing the seriousness of his situation, Bromstad said, “I decided it’s time. I need to put my house on hold and I need to check myself into some sort of program.”

“I need to talk. I need to climb out of this hole. I need to understand why I climbed into it in the first place,” he added.

After getting the help he needed, Bromstad took a trip to Norway to celebrate his 50th birthday in August 2023. He posted about his journey on Instagram and reflected on the “most unique year” of his life.

“I could not be more grateful for every aspect of my existence. Learning to love myself, warts and all, has been the hardest and most beautiful process.”

He added that celebrating his milestone birthday in Norway was a way to connect with his roots. Bromstad was able to “see how my ancestors lived and the air they breathed.”

“Being here has answered so many questions about why I love the things I do. It was a perfect day hiking, kayaking and communing with nature and all her glory. Thank u for allowing me another trip around the sun.”

Bromstad also mentioned his sobriety in another social media update about the trip. “Feels good to be present, sober and living the life I was intended to live,” he wrote about climbing the 2,000 steps of Reinebringen.

In his final television appearance, Chris Rea shared the heartbreaking truth behind one of Britain’s most-loved Christmas songs, Driving Home for Christmas.
The music legend, who has died aged 74 following a short illness, spoke candidly on the BBC special Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Christmas Fishing about how the festive anthem was born not from joy, but from despair.

Rea revealed that when he wrote the song, he was broke, on the dole and banned from driving. He recalled how his manager had just walked away, leaving him with barely £200 to his name. At the time, it was his then-girlfriend – now wife – Joan who drove down to London in a tiny Mini, picked him up and took him home for Christmas. That long, humbling journey became the emotional backbone of a song that would later soundtrack millions of festive trips across the UK.

Looking back, Rea admitted that the track still takes him back to that fragile chapter of his life. He said the song always reminds him of a simple holiday in the Maldives and confessed that, despite his success, he never quite felt like a polished pop star, often comparing himself unfavourably to artists like Sting.

Beyond music, Rea also spoke openly about decades of serious health battles. After suffering pancreatic cancer,  doctors removed his pancreas in 2001, leaving him a Type 1 diabetic dependent on dozens of daily pills. He later endured a stroke in 2016 and ongoing kidney problems, admitting that he never truly recovered from the physical toll. Still, he joked that his heart had remained “very good” through it all.

Just hours before his death was announced, Rea quietly shared a final nod to his Christmas classic on social media – an image of a snowy motorway with the words “Driving home for Christmas with a thousand memories.”
It was a fitting farewell from a man whose most famous song captured not festive excess, but love, survival and the long road home.

Katie Piper has revealed she has undergone yet another planned operation on her eye, sharing a candid update with fans as she appeared with her face bandaged.

The  TV favourite’s life was irrevocably changed in March 2008, when she survived a brutal acid attack that left her blind in her left eye and caused severe injuries to her face, neck, chest and arms. Since then, she has endured years of complex and often exhausting medical treatment.

This week, Katie told followers she had returned to surgery once again for what she jokingly described as her “pain in the neck” eye.

Posting a video from her dressing room on Instagram, the star appeared wearing a bandage over her left eye as she spoke openly about how the experience made her feel.

She told her 1.2 million followers that it was “planned eye surgery,” before admitting she had been surprised by her own reaction to being bandaged. Katie explained that she actually liked having that side of her face covered, saying it made her reflect on self-acceptance and how, like anyone else, she has good days and bad days.

She went on to explain that living with visible scarring means “never having a day off,” but that the bandage felt like a rare break. While she acknowledged that most people might feel more self-conscious with a bandage, she said people have stared at her for years anyway, something she is now completely used to.

Speaking with her trademark honesty, Katie joked that her eye had been a problem for nearly 17 years, adding that she was genuinely thrilled to receive a prosthetic eye. Laughing at herself, she admitted it sounded strange to be happy about getting a glass eye, but said it brought her relief.

The Loose Women star stressed that her feelings had nothing to do with beauty or attractiveness, but rather the mental rest that came from having the eye “covered and out the way” for a while. Reflecting on the experience, she said it had taught her more about herself and joked that maybe enjoying it made her a “weirdo”.

Fans quickly flooded the comments with messages of admiration and support. One follower told her she was “one of the bravest people I know” and said they had followed her journey from the very beginning. Another praised her kindness and gentle nature, wishing her a Merry Christmas, while others described her as inspirational, talented and beautiful.

BBC viewers were left ‘crying their eyes out’ by an ‘underrated’ drama’s Christmas special that ‘should have taken Mrs Brown’s Boys place in the TV schedule’.

Beyond Paradise – a spin-off of popular crime drama Death in Paradise – hit our screens in February 2023.

It’s gone on to air 20 episodes across three seasons, starring the likes of Kris Marshall as Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman, Sally Bretton as Martha Lloyd, Zahra Ahmadi as Detective Sergeant Esther Williams and Dylan Llewellyn as Constable Kelby Hartford.

They are also joined by Felicity Montagu, Melina Sinadinou, Jamie Bamber and Barbara Flynn.

There has been a Christmas special every year since it premiered, and this year it aired on December 22.

The episode follows Kris and the team try to figure out the identity of a man with dementia who has a photo of Kris, claiming that he knows him.

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BBC viewers were left ‘crying their eyes out’ by an ‘underrated’ drama’s Christmas special that ‘should have taken Mrs Brown’s Boys place in the  TV schedule’

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Beyond Paradise – a spin-off of popular crime drama Death in Paradise – hit our screens in February 2023

The BBC’s synopsis states: ‘An elderly man living with dementia turns up on the police station steps, clutching only a photograph of Humphrey.

‘He’s searching for his sister, Louise, and believes that Humphrey is his last hope. But with precious few clues to her whereabouts, the team must work against the clock to unravel the mysteries of his past.

‘Just as they dive into the search, the station is rocked by another call. There’s been a break-in at a local wine bar, where the team celebrated their Christmas party just hours before. On top of this, Kelby is called to an unusual emergency: a man hopelessly trapped inside a snowman suit after his head was glued on as a prank.

‘As the clock ticks down, could the snowman hold a vital clue to solving another festive mystery?

‘With an influx of unexpected visitors, a slew of holiday crimes to crack and a heartwarming reunion on the line, can the team juggle it all and still be ready for a life-changing reveal?’

The episode left many feeling very emotional and many took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts.

‘#Beyondparadise ooh I am not crying.’

‘What have you done to me, I am a 49 year old man and I’m crying my eyes out, that is how you do a Christmas Episode, emotional, funny, heart, Selwyn!! Absolutely fantastic and Ade Edmondson is a National Treasure. #BeyondParadise.’

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There has been a Christmas special every year since it premiered, and this year it aired on December 23

‘Crying ugly tears at the #BeyondParadise Christmas special. So beautiful, poignant & emotional. I can’t handle it.’

‘Oh my goodness #ChristmasSpecial #BeyondParadise. I’m not crying, honestly I’m not.’

‘Crying and smiling throughout this episode. Just brilliant as always.’

While others shared how much they loved the instalment – and even shared how they wanted it to air on December 25 instead of other programmes.

‘Beyond Paradise doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Brilliantly written, brilliantly cast, brilliantly acted.’

‘Just finished watching #BeyondParadise a nice harmless Christmas show with a great outcome. Question; Why didn’t the BBC schedule this for Christmas evening rather than Eastenders, Mrs Browns Boys and yet even more bloody celebrities in programmes?’

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‘What a great episode the Christmas special was.’

‘This was a lovely Christmas special.’

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Many took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share how emotional they got as they watched the Christmas special

Talking about the episode, actor Kris told the Beeb: ‘It’s such a personal story for Humphrey. A man turns up on his doorstep with a picture and we’re not sure why, but it soon becomes a deeply touching story.

‘I find it becomes especially personal because of the eventual reason as to why he has Humphrey’s photograph – it’s a very Christmassy story that warms the cockles.’

It comes after upset viewers hit out after the BBC released their 2025 Christmas TV schedule, fuming ‘what a letdown!’

There will be festive editions of several BBC programmes, each filled with seasonal moments for fans to enjoy next month – but clearly they’re not to everyone’s tastes.

As the broadcaster shared what they had in store, X users raced to share their grievances – and didn’t mince their words.

One example is Mrs Brown’s Boys – which has become a staple for the Beeb since debuting in 2011 – and will have two specials.

This sitcom features creator Brendan O’Carroll, 70, portraying foul-mouthed matriarch Agnes Brown.

Other shows on the BBC One schedule include The Night Manager, Amandaland, Death in Paradise and Here We Go, to name just a few.

Also among the list are The Traitors, EastEnders, Beyond Paradise, Call The Midwife‘s specials, Here We Go and Strictly Come Dancing.

For BBC Two, viewers will be able to enjoy the likes of Gone Christmas Fishing, Christmas University Challenge and Mammooth.

Reacting online, one person penned: ‘Genuinely not one thing that stands out! What a letdown.’

Another wrote: ‘Well, that’s a whole lot of nothing special!’

A third added: ‘Please don’t ruin Christmas with Mrs Browns Boys!’

While a fourth chimed in: ‘My expectations after last year’s line up were low but holy.’