Devastating first look at Coronation Street and Emmerdale crossover shows multiple lives at stake in horror car pile-up

DEVASTATING scenes have been revealed as the first look for the Coronation Street and Emmerdale crossover.

A new promo released by ITV tonight shows the harrowing aftermath of a catastrophic pile-up and teases multiple deaths as lives of some of the soap’s biggest characters hang in the balance.

Corrie’s Shona Platt is comforted by Emmerdale’s Charity Dingle in the harrowing first look imagesCredit: ITV

Kevin Webster and estranged wife Abi desperately search for missing DebbieCredit: ITV

New characters confirmed as being amongst the residents of Weatherfield and Emmerdale caught up in the drama are Corrie’s Kit Green, James Bailey, Asha Alahan, Carla Connor and Shona Platt.

Meanwhile Emmerdale’s Cain Dingle, Sarah Sugden, Charity Dingle, Jacob Gallagher, Robert Sugden and Joe Tate will also feature.

In the aftermath of the multiple vehicle smash police detective Kit takes control of the situation whilst a frantic Carla can be seen trying to calm someone down.

Injured Shona and David Platt are tended to at the roadside by Emmerdale paramedic Jacob Gallagher, whilst Corrie’s own trainee paramedic Asha Alahan shares the screen with Cain Dingle as she tries to help more casualties.

Read more on CorrieDale

Both shows have pregnant women caught up in the drama, Charity Dingle can be seen trying to help a screaming Shona in a scene in Hotten General Hospital.

And as the trailer draws to a close Kevin and Abi Webster search for Debbie at the crash site, while a desperate Robert Sugden screams out for Aaron in the darkness alongside Joe Tate.

ITV has also confirmed that the special crossover will not be made available on ITVX earlier that day.

Instead the two lead-in episodes will appear at 7am on the streaming service but CorrieDale will air first on ITV at 8pm for an hour.

The special episode is a celebration of the soap genre and will launch ITV’s new ‘soap power hour’ scheduling pattern for Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

After the episode – that will air on January 5 – the ITV soaps will move to a new schedule.

Explosive first look at Coronation Street and Emmerdale crossover as soap faves SCREAM for help in car crash pile-up

Pregnant Shona looks to be seriously injuredCredit: ITV

Medical student Jacob Gallagher rushes to help Corrie’s David and ShonaCredit: ITV

Asha joins Jacob in trying to treat the injuredCredit: ITV
Emmerdale will air weeknights at 8pm for a 30 minute episode.

Coronation Street following at 8.30pm for its own 30 minute edition.

Emmerdale Christmas Turns Dark as Kim Tate Plans Her Revenge.

Christmas in Emmerdale is rarely a time of peace, but this year the festive lights barely disguise the gathering storm. In a twist that promises to reshape the power dynamics of the Dales, Kim Tate’s brush with death becomes the catalyst for betrayal, ambition, and a chilling promise of revenge. What should have been a season of recovery and reflection instead marks the beginning of a ruthless new chapter for one of the soap’s most formidable figures.

The drama begins with a single, devastating moment. Kim Tate lies motionless in a hospital bed after a near-fatal accident on her own land at Home Farm. Her leg, heavily bandaged and elevated, is a stark reminder of how close she came to losing everything. The trap—illegally set by hunters—nearly crushed her limb beyond repair. Doctors call her survival a miracle. Kim, however, knows miracles always come with a price.

That price is Ice.

Kim’s beloved horse did not survive. Ice was more than an animal; she represented loyalty, strength, and a rare purity in Kim’s world of ruthless deals and shifting alliances. The loss cuts deeper than the physical pain Kim endures, and as she lies in silence, grief mixes with simmering fury. Yet it isn’t the beeping machines or murmured voices of nurses that reach her first. It is Joe Tate’s voice—calm, measured, and already looking toward a future without her.

Earlier that day at Home Farm, the atmosphere was thick with dread. Joe stood rigid in the yard as Vanessa Woodfield delivered the verdict he had been fearing. Ice’s injuries were catastrophic. Even survival would mean a lifetime of pain. Vanessa, professional yet compassionate, gently made it clear: euthanasia was the only humane option.

Dawn Fletcher instinctively turned to Joe, expecting him to hesitate, to insist they wait for Kim. After all, this was Kim Tate’s horse—her pride, her comfort, her responsibility. Dawn argued that Kim deserved to make the decision herself. But Joe’s response was swift and chillingly decisive. With an unsettling calm, he ordered Vanessa to proceed. The decision was framed as mercy, but the speed with which Joe acted hinted at something darker. This was not just practicality—it was power.

Back at the hospital, Kim lay still, eyes closed, listening as fate unravelled around her. Joe took calls at her bedside, speaking in the language of assets, continuity, and succession. When he returned to Dawn, his words cut sharply: he spoke of “preparation,” of officially taking over Home Farm should the worst happen. Dawn challenged him, accusing him of planning Kim’s future as though she were already gone. Joe brushed it off with a careless shrug. “None of us live forever,” he said.

Behind the curtain, Kim heard everything.

It is in that moment—silent, unseen—that the balance of power shifts. Kim Tate does not wake with tears or weakness. She wakes with clarity. When Joe finally enters the room alone, expecting a fragile woman still clinging to life, he is met instead with Kim’s piercing stare. Her eyes snap open, sharp and burning with awareness.

“So,” she says coolly. “You’re preparing already.”

The confrontation is electric. Kim wastes no time. She states, rather than asks, that Joe authorised Ice’s euthanasia without her consent. Joe defends himself, insisting it was necessary, that Ice was suffering. Kim’s response is devastating in its simplicity. He didn’t do what was right—he did what suited him.

Joe attempts to dismiss her anger as emotion, grief clouding her judgement. But Kim, wounded yet unbroken, delivers a warning that lands with terrifying precision: grief does not make her stupid. For the first time, Joe falters. Fear flickers across his face, fleeting but unmistakable. He knows he has miscalculated.

As night falls over the Dales, Kim is left alone with her thoughts. Christmas approaches, but there is no comfort in the season. She imagines Home Farm filled with echoes and forced smiles, simmering with unspoken power struggles. Joe is watching, waiting. But so is Kim—and she is already planning her next move.

Her solitude is interrupted by an unexpected visitor. The figure arrives without a name, carrying an aura of danger and familiarity. There is no pity in their voice, only knowing. They have heard what Kim overheard. They understand the game Joe believes he is playing—and the fatal mistake he has made in underestimating her.

The conversation is laden with subtext and threat. Home Farm, the visitor reminds her, is more than land. It is history, blood, legacy. And there are people willing to help Kim reclaim what is hers. Kim listens, weighing every word. When she finally speaks, her intention is crystal clear. Joe thinks she is weak. He thinks she is broken, distracted by grief. But Ice is not the only thing she has lost—and what she intends to regain is far more dangerous.

Control.

Meanwhile, back at Home Farm, Joe is unraveling. Alone in the vast living room, the silence presses in on him. The house that once symbolised victory now feels like a warning. He pours himself a glass of wine, his hand betraying a tremor. He cannot shake the memory of Kim’s eyes—those of a woman who has just realised her enemy revealed his hand too soon.

As Christmas looms, the Dales brace themselves for the fallout. Kim Tate may be confined to a hospital bed for now, but her mind is already steps ahead. Loyalties will be tested. Old alliances may be revived. New betrayals are inevitable. When Kim finally returns to Home Farm, it will not be as a survivor grateful for mercy—but as a queen reclaiming her throne.

This Christmas, Emmerdale promises not goodwill, but war. And anyone who has ever crossed Kim Tate knows one thing for certain: she never forgets, and she never forgives.

SURPRISE BABY NEWS: Gogglebox Star Helena Worthington Reveals SECRET Pregnancy — And She’s Due in Just 7 WEEKS!

Gogglebox star Helena Worthington has revealed that she’s pregnant – and is due in just seven weeks!

The star shared the news of her secret pregnancy on Instagram, and her fans are thrilled.

Helena (left) is pregnant (Credit: Channel 4)

Gogglebox star Helena Worthington pregnant

Taking to Instagram recently, Helena revealed that she’s just a few weeks away from giving birth to her second child.

The star, who has appeared on Gogglebox since 2017, shared a picture of herself and her son, Erwin, at the RHS Garden Bridgwater.

In the photo, Helena can be seen wearing a big winter coat, as her blossoming baby bump can be seen underneath her floral purple dress.

Erwin, meanwhile, can be seen taking an interest in some of what’s growing in the conservatory they’re standing in.

“Pregnant. Tired. Raging indigestion.

“Still crouching down to explain why we don’t dig up all the bulbs,” Helena captioned the post.

Helena is expecting a baby girl (Credit: Channel 4)

‘Pregnant. Tired. Raging indigestion’

Helena’s caption continued.

“33 weeks pregnant at RHS Bridgwater with my first baby, while waiting for my next one,” she wrote.

“We took Erwin here often when he was a new bean. These in-between moments feel really precious lately — messy, slow, and very real,” she then continued.

“I’m excited, but I feel weird that Erwin will seem so big all of a sudden.”

Last night, Helena revealed that she is expecting a baby girl. The star shared the news in a post paying tribute to her gran, who died recently.

“I’m expecting a baby girl in the next month, and my heart aches knowing my nana won’t get to meet her. But I know she’ll be part of her in so many ways — in stories, in humour, and in that same strength and warmth,” she wrote.

Helena’s followers sent their well wishes (Credit: Channel 4)

Fans gush over Helena’s baby news

Helena’s followers took to the comments of her baby post to gush over the joyful news.

Fellow Gogglebox star Ellie Warner took to the comments to post a string of love heart emojis. Meanwhile, Celebrity Big Brother star Danny Beard posted a couple of heart eyes emojis.”

“Omgosh, many congratulations!!How precious,” one commented.

“Looking great,” another said.

“Ahhhh huge congratulations! Feels like an age ago we were in your Whalley Range garden talking about whether or not you’d want another. What a great family your baby is about to join,” a pal of the star said.

“Love you guys,” another said.

“ONE WORD… AND THE ROOM FELL SILENT”  Pete Wicks Breaks Down After Spending £5M to Build Rescue Farm and Save 13 Forsaken Pups — His Haunting Moment Sparks an Emotional Wave Across Britain

In the glittering world of reality TV, where scandals and spotlights often steal the show, Pete Wicks has always been the wildcard—the tattooed heartthrob from The Only Way Is Essex who traded party nights for paw prints. But beneath the Essex swagger lies a fierce advocate for the voiceless, a man whose love for dogs runs deeper than any scripted drama. In a move that left animal lovers worldwide in awe, Wicks, now a self-made millionaire from his TV empire and bestselling books, stunned everyone by splashing out £5 million on a sprawling dream farm in the English countryside. His mission? To rescue 13 terrified puppies, mere hours from the slaughterhouse, and give them—and countless others—a fighting chance at life.

The story unfolded like a scene from one of Wicks’ own emotional documentaries. It was a crisp autumn morning in rural Essex when Wicks received the desperate call from Dogs Trust, the UK charity he’s long championed. Thirteen mixed-breed pups—barely weaned, shivering in a dingy crate—had been dumped at a notorious puppy mill on the outskirts of London. Bred for profit in squalid conditions, these innocents were slated for the bolt gun at a local abattoir, their tiny lives reduced to a grim ledger entry. “They were skin and bones, eyes wide with fear that no puppy should know,” Wicks later recounted, his voice cracking in a recent interview. With his fortune built from TOWIE residuals, endorsement deals, and his heartfelt book For the Love of Frenchies, he didn’t hesitate. Within hours, the farm was his—a 100-acre haven complete with heated kennels, organic meadows for romps, and a state-of-the-art vet clinic.

But this wasn’t just a celebrity flex; it was a calculated strike against the underbelly of the pet trade. Wicks, drawing from his 2017 odyssey to South Korea where he helped Humane Society International liberate 170 dogs from a dog meat farm, knew the stakes all too well. There, amid the stench of despair, he’d witnessed horrors that haunted him: cages stacked like prison cells, dogs bred solely for brutality. “I held one in my arms, a Jindo mix like these pups, and promised we’d end this nightmare,” he said. Back in the UK, the puppy farming crisis rages on—thousands of dogs suffer annually in hidden hellholes, pumped full of hormones and separated from mothers too soon. Wicks’ farm, dubbed “Paw Haven,” aims to dismantle that cycle, partnering with rescues to rehabilitate and rehome while funding raids on illegal breeders.

The turning point came during the farm’s grand opening, a star-studded affair buzzing with influencers, vets, and tearful volunteers. As champagne flowed and the 13 pups—now renamed Hope, Valor, and their playful siblings—tumbled across the grass, Wicks stepped to the mic. The room hushed as he shared a raw, unspoken truth from his Korean mission, a single, bone-chilling phrase that echoed like thunder: “Every meal on those tables was someone’s Eric.” Eric, his loyal French Bulldog rescue, the furry anchor who pulled Wicks from personal darkness after a string of heartbreaks and losses. The words hung heavy, a visceral reminder that behind every statistic is a soul like Eric’s—loyal, loving, irreplaceable. Gasps rippled through the crowd; donors pledged double, celebrities vowed campaigns, and the room transformed from celebration to crusade.

Wicks’ act ripples far beyond those 13 lives. Paw Haven will house up to 500 dogs yearly, offering therapy programs for trauma and spay/neuter clinics for strays. It’s a beacon in a world where animal welfare battles corporate greed, inspired by global shifts: South Korea’s 2024 dog meat ban, now under enforcement, and the UK’s push for stricter breeding laws. Yet challenges loom—rising costs, black-market breeders evading crackdowns. “This farm isn’t my trophy,” Wicks insists. “It’s their fortress. And if one whisper can silence doubt, imagine what a roar we can make together.”

Pete Wicks’ journey—from Essex lad to dog-saving dynamo—proves that true power lies not in fame, but in fierce compassion. As the pups chase sunbeams on their new turf, one thing’s clear: in the war for the innocent, Wicks isn’t just fighting; he’s rewriting the ending.

BRITONS TAKE ACTION! New Frɑnce Footɑge Spɑrks Migrɑtion Firestorm ɑcross the Chɑnnel  Ｗhen ministers won’t ɑct, the public steps in — ɑnd the drɑmɑtic new clips ɑre igniting ɑ nɑtionwide debɑte overnight.

British vigilantes slash small migrant boats on French coastline

Britons have been filming themselves travelling to beaches in France and ‘destroying’ small boats – gaining thousands of views in the process

Sanya Burgess is an award-winning journalist whose investigations have included revealing Deliveroo was not paying the living wage to all riders, despite the company’s pledge to do so. She has also tracked disinformation and far right hate speech in the UK during the Southport riots, conspiracy theories about the attempted shooting of Donald Trump and revealed that Elon Musk was paying some of Tommy Robinson’s legal fees. She has also worked on issues relating to Big Tech and underage gambling, as well as uncovering war crimes and human rights abuses in Iran, Myanmar and the UAE – including the ‘hostage’ tapes of the detained Dubai Princess Latifa.
British vigilantes who spearheaded efforts to fly England flags across the country have launched a new anti-migrant protest – attempting to block illegal Channel crossings.

Using the term “Operation Stop The Boats”, members of the group have been filming themselves slashing small boats before they are used by migrants to cross the English Channel from France.

Posts on social media show members calling for other British men to join them in France, including making a direct appeal to football hooligans, saying “we need to make a stand”.

In one video message shared this week by a member of the Raise the Colours group – the grassroots movement that has seen flags fixed to lampposts, motorway bridges and roundabouts across England – two men are seen evoking military language and the spirit of the British fight against the Nazis in the Second World War.

Claiming to be recording from the northern French coast, one said: “Just like in the 1940s, we must take a stand, and it starts with the men of England and Britain.”

Making an appeal to “firms” – a phrase that refers to football hooligan groups – the other man added: “Our country is doing nothing. Weak government, weaker borders.

“They are doing nothing, so we need to make a stand, boys. Get the lads together, get your firms together, get the lads in the pub, get the lads down the bars, if you’re talking about it and you agree with what we are doing, give us a hand.”
The Government is under pressure to act after more than 36,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats (Photo: raisethecolours.org.uk/Instagram)
The Government is under pressure to tackle the issue of migration amid a record number of asylum applications, surging small boat crossings and protests at hotels housing asylum seekers.

On Monday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood set out a package of reforms to asylum policies aimed at tackling illegal migration, telling MPs the current situation is “out of control and unfair”.

The latest videos shared by those linked to the Raise the Colours group have separately been referred to as “Operation Overlord”.

Earlier clips showed two men saying they were taking matters of illegal migration into their own hands and filming themselves stamping on and smashing a small boat’s engine.

In the clips, they refer to themselves as “patriots” and make a number of claims without evidence, such as that they are stopping “rapists and murderers” from “coming to a town near you”.
One video shared by the group (Photo: raisethecolours.org.uk/nstagram)
The flag-raising group, who have a combined 100,000 followers on X and Instagram, also posted a plea on X for donations last week, writing that they are: “STOPPING The Boats, whether the migrants or government like it or not!”

Two videos from the group have recently been shared to the 1.7 million X followers of Tommy Robinson. The far-right figure and former leader of the English Defence League, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has previously been accused of mobilising football hooligan firms in an attempt to launch anti-Muslim rallies across the country.

Separately, French media reports that the Dunkirk Public Prosecutor’s office has opened a preliminary investigation into “aggravated violence” against migrants by suspected British far-right figures.

One of the details being examined by the French prosecutor is the claim that in September, four men waving British and UK flags verbally and physically attacked migrants on the French coast. It is alleged that they told the migrants they were not welcome in England and proceeded to steal some of their belongings.

The men are not the first anti-migrant figures to travel to France in a bid to take matters into their own hands.

In September, Ukip, Nigel Farage’s former political party, posted a video to their X account showing what appeared to be sleeping migrants in France being woken by people flashing strobe lights in their faces and shouting at them.

Nick Tenconi, Ukip’s current leader, also posted a video captioned: “In Calais hunting for illegal invaders trying to cross into Britain.”

The Home Office and French authorities were contacted for comment.

“WHAT THE HELL?!”  Piers Morgan UNLEASHES Furious On-Air Tirade at 𝘒𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳 After Bondi Beach Attack — Explosive TV Moment Sparks Instant Backlash

It comes after the Prime Minister’s pre-timed message.

Piers Morgan’s sweary outburst at Keir Starmer after Bondi Beach attack (Image: GETTY)

Piers Morgan hit out at Keir Starmer’s celebratory social media post following the Bondi Beach tragedy. The Labour leader penned a message meant to celebrate a Jewish holiday but it sparked a furious backlash online after it was posted in the wake of a terror attack in Sydney, which has left at least 11 people dead.

Keir posted: “As Jewish communities come together to celebrate Chanukah, I send my warmest wishes to families across the UK and around the world. May the Festival of Lights bring hope, peace and comfort. Chanukah Sameach.”

While it is believed the Prime Minister’s post was pre-scheduled it sparked furious backlash online due to the timing of the post.

Piers reshared Keir’s message just minutes after it was posted, as he tweeted: “FFS… check the news, Prime Minister.”(sic)

Prime Minister Keir Starmer sparked backlash (Image: Getty)

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His 8.6 million followers reacted, as one commented: “This is why you don’t schedule tweets.”

Another remarked: “Be kind Piers, he probably had a scheduled tweet!”

“If there were an award for the worst possible timing, this would win it,” a third wrote.

Another added: “Keir, for the love of all that’s holy, check the news and don’t pre-schedule your posts.”

Piers Morgan reacted to Sir Keir Starmer’s pre-scheduled tweet (Image: X/Piers Morgan)

An hour after the Prime Minister’s orginal tweet he followed up with another message.

Keir wrote: “Deeply distressing news from Australia. The United Kingdom sends our thoughts and condolences to everyone affected by the appalling attack in Bondi beach.

“I’m being kept updated on the developing situation.”

He later added: “Chanukah should be a time of celebration and joy. The news that the Bondi beach attack was an antisemitic terrorist attack against Jewish families at a Chanukah event is sickening. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.

The United Kingdom will always stand with Australia and the Jewish community. We are actively working with the @CST_UK on the policing of Chanukah events.”

SHOCKING TWIST French Presidential Frontrunner Signals EXPLOSIVE Alliance With Nigel Farage — Radical Migrant Crackdown Plan, Including Royal Navy Role, Sends Shockwaves Across Britain and Europe

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France’s presidential frontrunner Jordan Bardella is moving to forge an alliance with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to “restore Europe’s borders” after the pair held talks in London on Tuesday.

Mr Bardella, the leader of the National Rally party, pledged to change France’s border policy to support Britain in tackling the Channel small boats crisis should he secure victory in next year’s elections.

Speaking to The Telegraph, the 30-year-old said he would support joint patrols with Britain and give the UK Border Force the green light to carry out “pushbacks” in the Channel.

Despite repeated attempts by successive British Governments, France has so far refused to take back vessels that attempt to reach British shores.

The National Rally leader also vowed that Mr Farage “will be the next Prime Minister” and labelled Labour’s “one-in-one-out” deal a political “smokescreen”.

Mr Bardella insisted that France should let its allies follow the same rules it expects for itself.

He told The Telegraph: “NGOs funded by public money go and pick up boats 20 kilometres off the Tunisian or Libyan coast and then Frontex [the European border and coast guard agency] takes them.

“I’m against this, so I have to be consistent with my principles.

Mr Bardella pledged to change France’s border policy to support Britain in tackling the Channel small boats crisis

The 30-year-old is widely tipped to reach the second round of next year’s French presidential elections.

He is predicted to secure between 35 to 37 per cent of the vote, safely in front of the second-place candidate.

After the meeting, Mr Bardella was full of praise for his British counterpart, labelling Mr Farage a “pioneer” who fought for Britain’s independence from the EU.

The National Rally leader described the talks as preparations for governing.

And over lunch, according to The Spectator, Mr Farage told him he would instruct the Royal Navy to turn back small boats in the Channel – one of Reform’s longest-held campaign promises.

The 30-year-old said he would give the green light for UK Border Force to carry out ‘pushbacks’ in the Channel

He said: “We came to the conclusion that we must prepare our political movements to exercise power and that it is possible we will do so at the same time.”

Discussing his plans for France should he win the presidency, the 30-year-old pledged to delegate asylum processing to consulates and embassies overseas and carry out “the systematic expulsion of foreign offenders and criminals”.

Mr Bardella also vowed to give French citizens “priority access to social housing and social assistance”.

He added that he believes these policies will transform France into “the least attractive country for mass immigration in Europe” and help put an end to Channel crossings.

Mr Bardella is widely tipped to reach the second round of next year’s French presidential elections

The National Rally leader stated his belief that Mr Farage ‘will be the next Prime Minister’

Speaking to the Political Thinking podcast, the National Rally leader declared: “If I am head of the French Government tomorrow, France will no longer be a country of mass immigration.

“Therefore, by implementing measures designed to drastically reduce immigration to France, this will inevitably have consequences for the departure of migrants from Calais, in northern France, to Great Britain.”

After the talks, Mr Farage wrote on social media: “Over lunch with Jordan Bardella today, I made it clear that the future of Anglo-French relations depends on the UK being able to carry out push backs into French waters.

“It is encouraging to see that this position is now reflected in his policy.”

“He Was the WORST Lover I Ever Had” — Tony Blackburn Affair Claims EXPLODE 50 Years On

Margot Webb told The Mail on Sunday she was fed up with Tony Blackburn’s ‘endless bragging’ about their short-lived relationship

In the mid-1970s, Tony Blackburn was at the peak of his fame — a Radio 1 superstar married to rising television actress Tessa Wyatt, living a seemingly idyllic life in leafy Berkshire.

Seventies DJ, Tony Blackburn previously boasted about of bedding 500 women

Just next door lived another glamorous showbiz couple: actress Margot Webb and her husband Roger, a highly respected musician and songwriter whose work would later soundtrack some of Britain’s best-loved television shows.

The two couples became inseparable neighbours. They played croquet on manicured lawns, hosted swimming pool parties, and shared long summer afternoons surrounded by pets — including three donkeys grazing in the garden.

Margot Webb and DJ Blackburn who had an affair in the 1970s. He claimed Mrs Webb’s husband was having an affair with his wife Tessa Wyatt, which she denied

But behind the relaxed Home Counties façade, a far more complicated story was unfolding.

A ‘Love Square’ — Or Something Else Entirely?

In recent weeks, Blackburn reignited headlines after boasting on a podcast that the four neighbours had become entangled in what he described as a “wife swap” — claiming he slept with Margot while her husband was simultaneously having an affair with Tessa.

An aerial view showing Tony Blackburn’s former home and the Webb’s property

He even likened it to a “Celebrity Wife Swap” decades before the show existed.

But now, Margot Webb, the only other surviving member of that alleged love square, has decided to tell her side of the story — and it sharply contradicts Blackburn’s version.

Speaking exclusively, Margot admits she did have an affair with the DJ. But she dismisses his dramatic retellings as exaggerated, self-serving — and deeply hurtful.

‘He Was the Worst Lover I Ever Had’

Blackburn and Tessa Wyatt in 1972. They were married for five years before divorcing in 1977

Margot, now 77, says she is exhausted by what she calls Blackburn’s “endless bragging” about a relationship that lasted less than a year.

“I haven’t had many lovers,” she says plainly. “But Tony was the worst one I ever had. Wham, bam, thank you, ma’am. He didn’t have a clue.”

A ‘pool party’ hosted by Margot Webb at her and her piano player husband’s home

She adds: “He keeps talking about something that happened 50 years ago. Why? Everyone already knows what he got up to.”

From Convent Girl to Cautionary Tale

At the time, Margot describes herself as shy and naïve — a former convent girl who felt flattered by the attention of a famous man.

Pictured right, Tony Blackburn, playing croquet at one of Ms Webb’s pool parties

“Sleeping with him was always the part of the date I looked forward to least,” she admits.

She insists there was no wife swapping, no orgies, no naked pool parties — despite Blackburn’s colourful claims.

“We had fun, yes. But people wore swimsuits. Children were around. There were donkeys in the garden, not debauchery.”

The Man Behind the Mirror

Blackburn and his ex-wife Tessa with their son Simon petting a goat

Margot paints a far less glamorous picture of Blackburn than the one he has spent decades projecting.

She describes him as vain, insecure and obsessive about his appearance — recalling how he would spend up to an hour in front of the mirror each morning applying mascara to disguise a bald patch.

“He wouldn’t go out in the rain,” she says. “He could be pleasant — but his insecurities made him exhausting.”

While Blackburn nicknamed her “Magnificent Margot,” she privately called him “Noddy,” joking that he resembled a puppet.

“I don’t hate Tony,” she says. “But I am really annoyed with him.”

What Hurts the Most

Blackburn with his son Simon and Margot and her daughter Julia, who later passed away in a car accident aged 34

What angers Margot most is Blackburn’s repeated implication that her husband Roger had an affair with Tessa — a claim both she and Tessa strongly deny.

Blackburn with his former wife Ms Wyatt after they announced their engagement

“Roger was gentle and shy,” she says. “He would hate to be remembered like that.”

Roger died of a brain tumour in 2002. Their daughter Julia was killed in a car accident in 2005, aged just 34.

“All I have left are memories,” Margot says quietly. “I don’t want them tarnished by nonsense designed to make someone else look exciting.”

The End of an Illusion

Margot, a former actress, who told The Mail on Sunday that she was fed up with Tony Blackburn’s ‘endless bragging’ about their short-lived relationship

Margot briefly left her marriage during the affair, believing Roger no longer wanted her — but they ultimately stayed together.

Roger Webb with his wife Margot Webb on holiday in Capri, Italy

Blackburn’s marriage, however, did not survive the decade. He and Tessa divorced in 1977. Tessa later found happiness elsewhere and has long dismissed his claims as untrue.

Now, as rumours swirl that Blackburn may be writing yet another memoir, Margot says she felt compelled to speak.

“I don’t want sympathy,” she insists. “I just want the record set straight.”

“SACK ME IF YOU WANT — I’M NOT BACKING DOWN.” Rylan Clark Torches His ITV Career With Defiant Stand That’s Rocked TV

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.”

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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.”

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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.”

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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.

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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.

STRICTLY SHAKE-UP  New Favourites to Replace Tess & Claudia REVEALED — As ‘Flattered’ Amanda Holden Finally Breaks Her Silence

With Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman saying goodbye to Strictly this weekend, speculation has reached fever pitch over who the BBC will name as the show’s new hosts.

Two people it won’t be, though, is Amanda Holden and Alan Carr. They have ruled themselves out of replacing Tess and Claudia as hosts of Strictly Come Dancing. The pair shut down reports that they were in the running to host the BBC dance show on Amanda’s Heart FM Breakfast Show today (December 15).

Their comments came after reports that the BBC has a shortlist of 10 presenters it’s going to chemistry test in the New Year in a bid to find Tess and Claudia’s replacements.
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly host their last-ever Strictly live show this weekend (Credit: BBC)

Strictly shortlist ‘drawn up’

Reports over the weekend suggested that the BBC had whittled its shortlist of potential Strictly presenters down to 10 household names. The report said Alan, Amanda, Alex Jones, Bradley Walsh, Holly Willoughby, Angela Scanlon, Zoe Ball, Alison Hammond, Rylan Clark and Rob Rinder were all in the running to take over from Tess and Claudia.

However, speaking to Ashley Roberts this morning, Amanda ruled herself and Alan out.

Ashley asked Amanda: “Speaking of jokes, Amanda, because your name has been all over the press. Is it a joke or not that you and Alan Carr are stepping in for Claudia and Tess to host of Strictly Come Dancing?”

She replied: “Oh, do you know, I am so happy you’ve asked me about this. Because as it was pointed out, there was a massive article in the newspaper at the weekend. And there’s lots of people in the mix and there’s a huge picture of me and Alan saying that we’re doing chemistry tests and this and that and auditioning. I want to say now that me and Alan are 100% not doing Strictly.”

Amanda then added: “We are so flattered to be in that mix. We love Strictly, we watch Strictly. Obviously we work for the BBC with the Amanda & Alan show. But we are not doing it. We both are not doing it. I do Britain’s Got Talent and take up a lot of weekends with that. Alan’s career has just blown up even more because of The Traitors. So, yes, take our names off the list because we’re not doing it.”
Alan Carr and Amanda Holden won’t be the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing (Credit: BBC)

Bookies share odds for new Strictly host

Of the remaining names, bookies at Sports Casting UK place Alex Jones as the frontrunner to take over with odds of 11/4. Bradley Walsh and Holly Willoughby are both at 3/1.

Meanwhile, Zoe Ball – who announced at the weekend she’d left her Radio 2 show – and Angela Scanlon are at 4/1.

Alison Hammond (5/1), Rylan Clark (6/1) and Rob Rinder (13/2) complete the line-up.
Alex Jones is the new favourite to be announced as one of the hosts of Strictly Come Dancing (Credit: BBC)
Sports Casting UK spokesperson Shane Orton exclusively told us: “A reported shortlist of 10 names has emerged to replace Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, with Alex Jones and Bradley Walsh believed to be among the frontrunners currently under serious consideration by BBC executives.

“However, it would be premature to rule out the pedigree of Holly Willoughby. Meanwhile, Angela Scanlon and Zoe Ball both bring valuable experience and familiarity with Strictly, keeping them firmly in contention.”

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman host the Strictly final this weekend (December 21). It will be their last-ever live show. Viewers will see the pair back on screens on Christmas Day, hosting the pre-recorded Strictly Christmas Special, though.