In a season dominated by chaos, clashes and record-breaking votes, something extraordinary happened in the I’m A Celebrity jungle this year.
Not loud.
Not flashy.
Not dramatic.

Just quietly, beautifully transformative.

Tom Read Wilson — the gentle, eloquent TV personality known for his charm and kindness — walked into the jungle as a familiar face. But he walked out as something far bigger:

 a national sweetheart, an LGBTQ+ icon, and the emotional centrepiece of the entire season.

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 The Contestant Who Won Without Playing the Game

While others fought, panicked, clashed, or strategised, Tom did something radical:
He simply chose to be kind.

And that decision changed everything.

He grounded the camp.
He uplifted every teammate.
He reminded Britain that softness is not weakness — it is power in its purest form.

Across social media, viewers were unanimous:

“He’s the spirit of the series.”
“Reality TV needed this energy.”
“Tom Read Wilson restored my faith in humanity.”

His presence didn’t just entertain —
it healed.

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 The Emotional Arc No One Expected

Every season has a hero.
This year, that hero was not the loudest, the strongest or the most dramatic.

It was Tom — the soft-spoken storyteller whose compassion shaped the entire narrative.

He became the jungle’s moral compass.
Its warmth.
Its quiet strength.

Each episode revealed another layer of his resilience and depth — a steady glow in a setting designed to break people down.

By the time the public crowned AngryGinge the winner, tens of thousands were already saying the same thing:

“Tom is the winner in our hearts.”

And they meant it.

---

 A Friendship That Redefined Masculinity

One of the most unexpectedly beautiful parts of Tom’s journey was his bond with rapper Aitch — a pairing so unlikely, so genuine, so charming that it captivated the entire nation.

They joked, sang, supported each other, and created the kind of friendship that breaks stereotypes and builds bridges.

It was more than TV chemistry.
It was representation.
It was connection.
It was joy.

Their promise to continue meeting for breakfast in the UK sent fans into a frenzy —
because some friendships simply feel iconic.

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 A Symbol Britain Didn’t Know It Needed

Tom didn’t try to be a hero.
He didn’t try to be an icon.
He didn’t even try to stand out.

He just showed up as himself — gracefully, unapologetically, authentically.

And that was enough to change people.

In a reality-TV world built on conflict, Tom proved something radical:

 That gentleness can lead.
That kindness can win.
That being real is unforgettable.

---

 **Runner-Up? Yes.

Emotional Winner? Absolutely.**

Finishing second didn’t diminish Tom’s triumph — it amplified it.

The public didn’t fall in love with him because he conquered trials or outperformed rivals.

They fell for him because he made them feel something:

Seen

Safe

Hopeful

Connected

And at a time when people needed it most.

---

 A Future Brighter Than Any Crown

Since leaving the jungle, Tom’s popularity has exploded.
His name trends daily.
Celebrities praise him publicly.
Young LGBTQ+ viewers call him a role model.
Parents say they want their kids to grow up like him.

And yet, through all the noise, Tom remains exactly who he was on day one:

Gracious.
Gentle.
Grateful.
Glowing.

He entered the jungle as a contestant —
and left as a symbol of hope.

 A reminder that in a world starved for kindness…
one gentle soul can shift an entire nation.

‘I Choose to Hold Back’: Mark Wright’s Mum Shocks Fans as She Reveals How She Keeps the Peace in His Marriage to Michelle Keegan

‘I Choose to Hold Back’: Mark Wright’s Mum Shocks Fans as She Reveals How She Keeps the Peace in His Marriage to Michelle Keegan

Mark Wright’s mum Carol has offered a refreshingly honest glimpse into her son’s marriage to Michelle Keegan, revealing that she deliberately “holds back” to avoid tension and rows within the family.

The former The Only Way Is Essex star, 38, and the Fool Me Once actress, also 38, tied the knot back in 2015 in a lavish ceremony at St Mary’s Church in Bury St Edmunds. A decade on, their relationship — and Carol’s role within it — has become a topic of open discussion on the family podcast Wright At Home.

During the latest episode, Carol responded to a letter read out by her daughter Jess, which described a familiar fear many wives share: that their mother-in-law behaves as if her son has been “stolen”. Carol admitted the feeling is complicated, explaining that sons inevitably change when a partner enters their lives. She said that while many mothers struggle with this shift, she chooses to take a step back, consciously holding her tongue so as not to overstep.

Carol acknowledged that when a woman joins the family, she can feel overpowering to others, which is precisely why she prefers to restrain herself rather than risk unnecessary conflict. However, she was quick to add that her silence does not mean indifference. She explained that if she ever felt her son was about to marry someone who was truly wrong for him and destined to make him unhappy, she would not hesitate to intervene — insisting that a mother’s instinct to protect never truly disappears.

Her daughter Jess was keen to shut down the long-standing stereotype of the “evil mother-in-law”, stressing that her mum is nothing like that in real life. Carol agreed, saying her ultimate wish is simple: that once her children marry, they remain happy and stay married forever.

The candid conversation comes at a particularly joyful time for the family. Mark and Michelle have just celebrated their first Christmas as a family of three after welcoming their daughter, baby Palma, earlier this year. Festive snaps shared on social media showed the couple surrounded by relatives at their Essex home, with Michelle smiling beside Mark while holding a champagne flute, and proud aunt Jess cradling baby Palma in a red velvet outfit beneath a beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

Jess later captioned the photos with a heartfelt message about gratitude and togetherness, reflecting on how lucky she felt to be surrounded by family — while also sparing a thought for those missing loved ones during the festive season.

“YOU DON’T HAVE TO STRUGGLE EVER AGAIN”: ANGRYGINGE BUYING HIS MUM A HOUSE WILL BREAK YOUR HEART!

This isn’t a story about trophies, follower counts or roaring crowds.

It’s a story about a boy who grew up watching his mum fight three jobs just to keep the lights on — and the man who finally told her she could rest.

Before the fame, before the jungle crown, before the £1.4 million cheers, there was a tiny flat that cost just £350 a month. No shower. Bills stacked on the table. A mother counting pennies while her son watched, powerless, learning far too young what it means to survive.

For years, AngryGinge carried those memories quietly. While the world saw a confident creator and reality-TV star, behind the scenes he never forgot where he came from — or who had sacrificed everything so he could dream.

Then came the day that changed everything.

With shaking hands, he stood in front of the woman who had never once given up on him and placed a set of keys into her palm.

A house.
Worth £420,000.
A place where she could finally breathe.

“You don’t have to struggle ever again,” he whispered.

There was no big speech. No cameras screaming for attention. Just silence, tears, and a mother realising that the child she once worried about every night had become the person who saved her.

In that moment, debts weren’t just cleared — a lifetime of pressure lifted. The battles she’d fought alone were finally over, and the son who grew up watching her bend but never break had given her the one thing she’d never allowed herself to want: peace.

This was never about winning a show.

It was about winning back a childhood.
About turning survival into security.
About proving that real wealth doesn’t shout — it delivers, quietly, with love.

And somewhere in that small, unspoken exchange of keys, AngryGinge didn’t just buy his mum a house.

He gave her a future.

 BROOKLYN BECKHAM CALLED OUT AS A ‘G̼R̼I̼N̼C̼H̼’  Fans were stunned as Brooklyn Beckham shared a cosy snap from his LA home — after skipping both Holly Ramsay’s wedding and the Beckham family Christmas.

Brooklyn Beckham has suggested he is feeling Grinch-like as he shared a picture of his dog dressed up as the character after skipping Holly Ramsay’s wedding.

The son of David and Victoria Beckham, 26, was said to be invited to the nuptials where Holly, 25, tied the knot with Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty, 31.

It was reported that the Ramsays have an ‘open door’ policy when it comes to their relationship with Brooklyn, despite his bitter feud with his family.

The Ramsays and the Beckhams have been long-term pals, with the two groups of children growing up together after both families relocated to the U.S.

But rather than celebrating Holly’s wedding with the rest of the clan, Brooklyn remained in Los Angeles after also missing his own family Christmas.

Hinting at his thoughts on the day, Brooklyn posted a picture of one of his four rescue dogs wearing a green Grinch-themed hat.

Brooklyn Beckham has suggested he is feeling Grinch-like as he shared a picture of his dog dressed up as the character after skipping Holly Ramsay’s wedding

But rather than celebrating Holly’s wedding with the rest of the clan, Brooklyn remained in Los Angeles after also missing his own family Christmas

David and Victoria arrive for Holly Ramsay and Adam Peaty’s wedding. Victoria wore one of her own frocks, a stylish £1,290 teal number

Sir David and Victoria Beckham were among the celebrity–studded congregation waiting for a glimpse of the bride and groom.

Their sons Romeo and Cruz and daughter Harper, who are close friends of the Ramsays, were also there – but not estranged son Brooklyn.

The Beckhams and the Ramsays have been close family friends since the early 2000s, with the two families striking a bond across the pond.

However, the famous brood aren’t short of their own family dramas either, with eldest son, Brooklyn Beckham having his own reported rift between with his father.

It comes as sources claim the family believe Brooklyn has blocked them in a move that appears to be a sign of his ‘complete estrangement’ from his family.

Sources familiar with the nuptials say Brooklyn, as someone who was once a central part of the Ramsay/Beckham gatherings, ‘will of course be missed’.

Despite being best friends since they were toddlers, the Daily Mail revealed that his relationship with Gordon and Tana’s eldest son Jack – now in the Marines – had also fizzled out.

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The newlyweds left church at around 1.30pm to a joyful peal from the abbey bells and were driven away to their reception at Kin House

The Ramsays and the Beckhams have been long-term pals, with the two groups of children growing up together after both families relocated to the U.S (pictured both families)

The dark green silk dress worn by the bride’s mother, 51–year–old Tana, was also from Lady Beckham’s label

It is believed that they have not spoken for some time, and according to friends of both families, their bond began to unravel when Brooklyn began dating Nicola.

Much like Brooklyn’s parents, there was no sign of Jack at Brooklyn and Nicola’s service to renew their wedding vows in the summer.

It is not known if Brooklyn was invited to Holly’s wedding and declined or if he didn’t make the guest list.

However other insiders have suggested it would be unlike Holly to have snubbed Brooklyn because the Ramsays are thought to take ‘the door is always open’ view when it comes to the 26-year-old.

And they allegedly feel it is a ‘huge shame’ he isn’t going as he and Holly were once very close – he and Jack even closer.

LABOUR SURRENDER! REFORM UK OFFICIALLY BECOMES BRITAIN’S LARGEST PARTY AS 100,000 MEMBERS ABANDON STARMER IN TOTAL REBELLION!

Labour panics as trade union members flock to Reform UK in major boost to Nigel Farage

Newly elected Reform councillor David McLennan says the ‘old parties are dead’ after Scotland victory |

Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, issued the bruising verdict

Labour is facing a exodus of its traditional supporter base as trade union members flock to Reform UK, Sir Keir Starmer has been warned.

Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said the Prime Minister’s concern with his party’s dire polling results was causing it to bleed support to Nigel Farage’s political outfit.

“The government needs to focus relentlessly on the cost of living and then the polls will look after themselves,” the union boss stressed.

He added: “Politicians are focused on the minutiae of polls while ordinary people are focused on the minutiae of their bank accounts.”

As head of the TUC, Mr Nowak represents around 5.5 million workers as the UK’s national federation of trade unions. In his remarks, Mr Nowak celebrated Labour’s workers’ rights package passed just before Christmas and the abolition of the two-child benefit cap.

Nevertheless, he warned a failure to “deliver the ‘change’ that was on the front of the Labour manifesto” was leading voters to Reform, chief among them his own members.

The TUC chief acknowledged significant numbers of trade unionists were now backing Reform and cautioned against dismissing their concerns.

“A lot of our (union) members vote Reform. But we should not be going around calling them racists,” he told The Independent.

Keir Starmer has been warned trade union members are leaving Labour and flocking to Reform UK

Adding further incentive for labour’s traditional backbone, Reform has also recently flirted with more traditional left-wing economic polices, including promises to nationalise steel production and water companies.

Seemingly conceding this political realignment could propel Mr Farage into Downing Street, Mr Nowak also outlined his concerns for a Reform UK government.

“A Farage-led government would be a disaster for workers. Those new rights that we’ve just secured would be under attack,” he claimed.

The union boss feared a “return to austerity” and the “privatisation of our NHS” under Reform.

Trades Union Congress boss Paul Nowak said Labour were losing support by not handling the cost of living crisis

It would appear many of Mr Nowak’s own members, and the British public at large, do not necessarily share his worries as Reform continues to dominate the political landscape.

Earlier this month, Reform UK became the largest political party in Britain by membership after Labour’s share collapsed by 100,000.

Internal figures showed Sir Keir’s party has fallen below 250,000 in paid-up members since the 2024 General Election.

Meanwhile, Reform UK’s membership total stands at 270,859 on its live counter, just 12 months after overtaking the Tories on 131,680.

Meanwhile, the momentum of Mr Farage’s party appears to be similarly reflected in opinion polling.

Reform currently enjoys an imperious lead of seven points over Labour, according to YouGov.

In return, Labour’s support has dwindled from 34 per cent at the last election to just 20 per cent, according to More in Common.

Reform UK is also seeing results in real terms, winning 65 council seats since May’s local elections.

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK continue to dominate Labour in opinion polling

Mr Farage claimed a quadruple victory on December 12 after Reform UK picked up wards in Scotland, Lincolnshire and County Durham.

Compounding the misery for Sir Keir, Labour are facing challenges to its left in the battle for union support.

Unison, Britain’s largest union, recently elected Jeremy Corbyn ally Andrea Egan, who has pledged to reduce support for Labour.

The nation’s second biggest union, Unite, is also in talks to disaffiliate from the party.

𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙿𝙷𝙾𝚃𝙾 𝚃𝙷𝙰𝚃 𝚂𝙰𝙸𝙳 𝙴𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚈𝚃𝙷𝙸𝙽𝙶 Adam Peaty’s estranged brother has shared a devastating photo of himself and their mum standing alone outside Bath Abbey — after they were dis-invited from the wedding to Holly Ramsay.

Adam Peaty’s estranged brother James has shared a pointed message with a ‘dark hidden meaning’ to his sibling after being uninvited to his wedding.

The Olympic swimmer, 31, married Holly Ramsay, 25, in a ceremony at Bath Abbey on Saturday, but the majority of the groom’s family were not in attendance.

According to new reports, Adam’s father Mark was the only person asked to attend their big day, however he was told he’d have to sit at the back ‘behind the plus ones’.

After being kicked off the invite list, James posted an old photograph with their mother Caroline Peaty standing outside of the wedding venue.

The poignant photo was deleted just 15 minutes after it was shared on his Instagram Story, perhaps signalling regret at how bitter the feud has become.

It won’t be lost on those who have followed the fallout the choice of location in the image, where Adam and Holly married just hours before the snap was posted.

The photo – taken on a different occasion – shows mother and son stood alone and dressed in what could be wedding finery in a symbolic move.

Notably, James – who was arrested for allegedly sending threatening messages to the athlete during his stag do – used a telling song alongside the image.

Adam Peaty’s estranged brother James has shared a pointed message with a ‘dark hidden meaning’ to his sibling after being uninvited to his wedding

The Olympic swimmer, 31, married Holly Ramsay, 25, in a ceremony at Bath Abbey on Saturday, but the majority of the groom’s family were not in attendance

According to new reports, Adam’s father Mark was the only person asked to attend their big day, however he was told he’d have to sit at the back ‘behind the plus ones’ (pictured Mark Peaty, Caroline Peaty and Adam)

James’ song of choice was a remix of ‘Speak Softly, Love’, which appears several times in the iconic Mafia film, The Godfather.

The first of the trilogy was released in 1972 and tells the story of the son of a Mafia boss Michael Corleone [Al Pacino] meeting ‘outsider’ Kay Adams [Diane Keaton].

Seemingly in this case, James is comparing The Corleones to the Ramsays, who are the more powerful family – while his brother Adam is ‘the outsider’.

The relationship deteriorates as Michael embraces his role as the Mafia boss, culminating in the last scene where the door shuts on Kay, symbolising her exclusion.

The now-deleted post of James and his mother was the only photo shared to his Instagram page, which has since been completely wiped of any images.

Adam and Holly have been at the centre of a bitter feud with his family, who were all uninvited from the nuptials, aside from his sister Beth who was a bridesmaid.

Most his family stayed at home 150 miles away while the couple tied the knot in front of 200 guests in Somerset.

A family source told The Sun on Sunday: ‘Frankly, it’s disgusting that it went ahead without Adam reaching out to his mum and dad beforehand.’

According to the publication, Mark was told by Adam’s sister Beth he was allowed to attend the ceremony but he had to sit at the back.

After being kicked off the invite list, James posted an old photograph on the day with their mother Caroline Peaty standing outside of the wedding venue (stock image Bath Abbey)

James Peaty, pictured second left alongside his brothers and parents, was questioned by police for two days before being released on conditional bail

The source added: ‘For him to turn around and tell Beth that his dad could come and sit at the back of the church is awful.

‘Mark was told he could sit behind plus-ones — who Adam has probably never even seen or spoken to.’

The insider also claimed that Caroline became emotional as soon as she saw the photos released following the big day.

In lieu of his parents or brothers, Adam’s swimming coach Melanie Marshall delivered a reading during the wedding breakfast.

In stark contrast, Holly’s parents were integral to the day with her famous father Gordon walking her down the aisle and her mother Tana giving a reading.

There was no sign of strife as the newlyweds beamed and made their grand exit from the historic 7th-century building following their ceremony.

They smiled as they made their way through an adoring crowd, keen to catch the loved-up couple, before they headed to the opulent Georgian manor, Kin House.

Meanwhile, Holly’s proud father, 59, was seen thanking members of the star-studded guest list, including the Beckhams, as they left the service.

Adam and Holly pictured together after their ceremony

In what was seen by some as a display of defiance against her family, Bethany linked arms with Holly’s eldest sister as they entered the abbey carrying white arum lilies

But the run-up to the wedding has been anything but plain sailing, sparking a toxic family row that captured the nation and left Peaty’s family disinvited to the celebrations.

Adam’s other family members fueled further speculation of a rift by flying a Union Jack flag upside down in Staffordshire.

The inverted flag – an internationally recognised symbol of distress – has been interpreted by some as a subtle dig aimed at Adam and his bride.

However, is not known whether it was a deliberate snub or a simple mistake made by the patriotic family.

Caroline had reportedly planned to crash the wedding but has since decided against it explaining ‘it would be too sad’ and she doesn’t ‘want to spoil his big day’.

Her change of heart came after she’d previously insisted: ‘I will be there, and I will watch from the street.’

However, her husband Mark dissuaded her from crashing the wedding, telling her it would be ‘too upsetting’ to be there.

Instead, the Peatys remained at their home in Uttoxeter – the same home from which Caroline used to ferry her son to and from his countless training sessions and competitions, all those years ago.

Holly swept into her wedding in Bath Abbey on the arm of her celebrity chef father Gordon

David and Victoria arrive for Holly Ramsay and Adam Peaty’s wedding. Victoria wore one of her own frocks, a stylish £1,290 teal number

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Holly Ramsay looked radiant in her billowing ivory gown… but as the wedding party was buffeted by the freezing wind, an even icier text was winging its way to Adam Peaty

Six weeks ago, Caroline revealed her hurt and bewilderment in the wake of an extraordinary family bust-up that had exploded into the public arena after Holly’s very glossy hen-do, to which she was not invited.

Photographs of the glamorous gathering, posted on Instagram, notably included the bride-to-be, her family and friends, Victoria Beckham, Adam’s sister Bethany, but not Caroline.

She was at home, looking after Adam’s son, George, five, from his previous relationship with Eirianedd Munro.

The move kick started a row between the families, and Adam’s brother James was even arrested over allegations he sent threats to the sportsman during his stag.

James was questioned by police for two days before being released on conditional bail after allegations he sent Adam a barrage of verbal threats while he was celebrating his stag weekend in the Hungarian capital of Budapest.

It was revealed at the time that Caroline was uninvited from attending his wedding as a result of a fallout and was branded a ‘narcissist’ by his own family over his actions.

But since then a source close to the Ramsays pointed to ‘wider problems’ in the Peaty family which they say lie at the heart of the fallout – and that they are serious.

The insider explained that there were ‘horrible’ threats of violence against Holly, and Adam and that police have been involved.

A family source told the Daily Mail: ‘The boys have always been close, and Jamie, who is a builder, even helped Adam renovate his house.

‘They’ve always got on, but Adam has changed with his new celebrity lifestyle and family.

‘Now James has a potential charge hanging over his head and his parents have the headache of being disinvited and banned from their son’s wedding.

‘This is so hurtful and distressing for our family.’

Adam was reportedly granted a huge police escort at Manchester airport on night after flying back home from his stag do.

“I JUST WANT TO WALK AGAIN…” Thomɑs Mɑrkle is wɑiting for ɑ prosthetic leg — hoping for one lɑst chɑnce ɑt independence… while still estrɑnged from Meghɑn Mɑrkle

Meghan Markle‘s estranged father Thomas had ‘much to celebrate’ this Christmas as he successfully began the arduous journey towards walking again.

Mr Markle, 81, had his left leg amputated below the knee earlier this month and was in intensive care for five days after suffering a massive blood clot which cut off circulation to his left foot.

But as he celebrated Christmas this week from his hospital bed in the Philippines, Mr Markle said: ‘I have much to celebrate. I am doing well and would like to thank all the people from around the world who have sent well-wishes.

‘I’m doing physiotherapy every day and have managed to sit on the side of the bed and even stood on my one remaining leg with the help of a nurse and a walking frame. That was a wonderful Christmas present. There is a long way to go but I am so grateful to the wonderful doctors and nurses who are taking such good care of me.’

Mr Markle is now in a hospital rehabilitation unit in the Philippine city of Cebu where he moved with his son Tom Jr. at this start of this year.

Tom Jr. celebrated Christmas at his father’s bedside alongside his girlfriend of nearly a year Rose, 28, and Mr Markle’s private nurse Christine.

He said: ‘Dad’s doing remarkably well considering what he’s been through. Rose and I visited him for Christmas and took him a card with tinsel and a few sweets taped to the inside. He’s on a special diet and has had to drastically cut back on sugar but the doctors said he could have a couple of candies to celebrated Christmas.

‘He was able to get out of bed and was taken by a wheelchair to a recreation room where he enjoyed food and entertainment with some of the other rehab patients. He’s in good spirits, grateful to be alive and working really hard to get better. He a brave man and is determined to walk again with the aid of a prosthetic leg.’

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Mr Markle has been doing daily physiotherapy in hospital to build up his strength

Thomas Markle and Caroline Graham in Mexico in 2019

Mr Markle (pictured here with his daughter in 2011) famously fell out with Meghan on the eve of her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry

Mr Markle famously fell out with his daughter on the eve of her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.

He had posed for some paparazzi pictures in the misguided view they would help improve his public image and then suffered two heart attacks which prevented him walking his daughter down the aisle at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.

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My tears with Meghan’s dad as I told him to choose her over our friendship: CAROLINE GRAHAM

Meghan walked herself down the aisle part of the way but was escorted up to the alter by King Charles, an act Mr Markle called ‘extremely kind and generous.’

He said: ‘I will always regret not being able to walk Meghan down the aisle but King Charles stepped in and I shall be forever grateful to him. It was an extremely kind and generous thing for him to do.’

Mr Markle claims he received an ‘angry’ phone call from his daughter and Prince Harry as he recovered from the second heart attack – which led to their estrangement.

When he suffered a massive stroke in 2022 he did not hear from his daughter.

After his leg was amputated earlier this month she sent him a letter via the local US consulate which was presented to him in the presence of a lawyer who videotaped it being handed over.

Mr Markle has repeatedly said he would love to reconcile with his daughter and meet his grandchildren Archie, six and four-year-old Lilibet.

He has never met his son-in-law Prince Harry.

He is expected to remain in the rehab facility for at least three months as he learns to stand upright again, first with the aid of a walking frame and then with crutches. Doctors then hope to fit him with a prosthetic leg.

Tom Jr said: ‘There’s a long way to go but we had a lot to celebrate this Christmas.’

ICON GONE  𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐎𝐓 𝐃.𝐄.𝐀.𝐃 AT 91 France’s original “𝙨.𝙚.𝙭 𝙠𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣”, Brigitte Bardot, who stunned the world in And God Created Woman, has passed away aged 91.

Brigitte Bardot, the French actor and singer who became an international sex symbol before turning to animal rights activism, has passed away aged 91.

Bardot had been ill in hospital in Toulon, according to local media. The star’s animal rights charity announced her passing on Sunday morning with a statement.

‘The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announces with immense sadness the death of its founder and president, Madame Brigitte Bardot, a world-renowned actress and singer, who chose to abandon her prestigious career to dedicate her life and energy to animal welfare and her foundation,’ it said.

The organisation did not specify the time or place where Bardot died.

Known as the original ‘Sex Kitten’, Bardot shot to international notoriety with her role in 1956 film And God Created Woman, which was directed by her first husband Roger Vadim.

That turn as a voluptuous, hedonistic orphan made her an object of edgy fascination for millions, even though the film itself got a mixed reaction from critics.

Described by Time magazine as France‘s ‘most ogled export’, Bardot’s sex appeal was further fuelled by her outings as a model.

The star, who married and divorced three times before settling with her fourth husband Bernard d’Ormale in 1992, retired from acting in 1973 to focus on her passionate animal rights activism.

Brigitte Bardot has passed away aged 91. Above: The star in 2023, one of the last times she was pictured out and about

Known as the original ‘Sex Kitten’, Bardot shot to international notoriety with her role in 1956 film And God Created Woman, which was directed by her first husband Roger Vadim

But she drew controversy with her engagement in far-right politics, which saw her endorse National Rally leader Marine Le Pen and be fined six times for inciting racial hatred.

The star was reclusive in her final years, instead preferring to remain out of the spotlight at her secluded and very private property in Saint Tropez.

Born on September 28, 1934, in Paris, Bardot initially trained as a ballet dancer at the National Superior Conservatory of Paris for Music and Dance.

At 15, she had already appeared on the front cover of France’s Elle magazine and began to establish herself as a model.

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Brigitte Bardot reveals a ‘miracle’ saved her during suicide attempts as she recalls dark chapters

Her acting career began in 1952 when she starred in a series of small roles, but she soon began to turn heads at the Cannes Film Festival in 1953 when she frolicked on the beach in a skimpy bikini.

Brardot said: ‘Yes, I knew I was ugly as a child. I said to myself: “Well, I am ugly, so I must at least be bright and funny and have other things to compensate.”

‘I knew I had to be the best at something, otherwise I would be nothing. I knew I wanted the world to know about Brigitte Bardot.’

And the world certainly did.

Over the course of her career she starred in 47 films and recorded more than 70 songs.

Bardot’s willingness to be part of steamy on-screen scenes made her controversial.  And her personal life was no different.

Brigitte Bardot leaves the Elysee Palace on crutches after meeting Brigitte Macron, July 2018

In 1992 Bardot married her husband Bernard d’Ormale, a former adviser to Jean-Marie Le Pen of the Front National

Pictured: Playboy Roger Vadim with Bardot on set. After meeting the model, the French film producer helped her become a star

Bardot’s parents did not initially approve of her union with Vadim but agreed to her marriage after she attempted suicide. Above: Being walked down the aisle by her father, December 19, 1952

Brigitte with her second husband, Jacques Charrier, with whom she had a son, Nicolas

Bardot had little to do with her son Nicolas during his childhood after she gave Charrier custody of him when they divorced

Bardot’s third husband was German industrialist Gunter Sachs. The couple were married between 1966 and 1969

Despite her parents’ fierce opposition, she married Vadim in 1952. The couple’s relationship lasted just five years.

After their divorce in 1957, Bardot became ensconced with actor Jacques Charrier.

By the time they married in 1959, she was already heavily pregnant with her first and only child.

Nicolas-Jacques Charrier was born on January 11, 1960. Bardot would later say: ‘I’m not made to be a mother.

‘I don’t know why I think this because I adore animals and I adore children, but I’m not adult enough – I know it’s horrible to have to admit that, but I’m not adult enough to take care of a child.

‘I need somebody to take care of me. I’m sad to have had that baby. What will be his life? People who are making babies and families now are mad. It is such a bad world.’

In 1962, Bardot’s union with Charrier ended in divorce.

She went on to marry German millionaire playboy Gunter Sachs in 1966. But that relationship was similarly short-lived. By 1969, they had divorced.

Brigitte was born into a wealthy family in Paris and began ballet lessons from a young age after her mother enrolled her for classes

A very young Bardot (pictured in 1951) began her modelling career sporting relatively conservative fashion

Brigitte, pictured in 1955, began modelling before her film career took off when she met her first husband, Roger Vadim

Brigitte Bardot pictured smoking a cigarette after arriving in London, April 1959

Brigitte Bardot on the beach in Saint Tropez, 1984

Brigitte Bardot and James Bond star Sean Connery pose for a publicity shot during their first meeting in France before filming Shalako, 1968

Bardot pictured in 1970 at her home, La Madrague, in Saint Tropez

Bardot became known for her beehive hair, statement fringe – and for having a cigarette in her hand

Brigitte Bardot and French Academician Marcel Achard flanked by photographers attend the French artists Union Gala event at the Cirque d’Hiver in Paris on March 9, 1962

Brigitte Bardot in a scene from the film Les Femmes, 1969

La Madrague, the Saint Tropez home of Brigitte Bardot

Although she went on to have a string of other relationships, Bardot did not marry again until 1992, when she tied the knot with businessman Bernard d’Ormale, who had advised the far-right Front National.

Through the course of her life she attempted suicide four different times, including once at just 16.

At the peak of her fame, and after another suicide attempt, fans broke into her property to claim bloodstained curtains and bathroom tiles as mementoes.

After quitting acting in 1973, Bardot took her life in a different direction.

She said: ‘I gave my youth and my beauty to men, I am now giving and my experience, the best of myself, to animals.’

Setting up the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in 1986, she was a dedicated vegetarian and regularly campaigned for the rights of animals.

In 2013 she threatened to request Russian citizenship and leave France after a pair of 42-year-old elephants were refused treatment for tuberculosis in a Lyon zoo.

She referred to France as a ‘graveyard for animals’ but ultimately won the case and saved the two former circus animals.

Bardot became an animal rights activist. Above: Attending the international feline exhibition in Saint-Tropex, France, June 1977

Bardot visiting her dog refuge in Paris, 2001

In 2001 she also donated $140,000 over two years to sterilise and adopt 300,000 of Bucharest’s stray dogs.

Not all of her activism work since quitting acting was quite so well received.

In 2004 she was convicted by a French court and fined £4,000 for ‘inciting racial hatred’ in her book A Scream in the Silence.

She was a keen supporter of the far-right Marine Le Pen. At the 2017 French elections, she told people not to vote for Emmanuel Macron because he had a ‘coldness’ in his ‘steel eyes’.

She lived out the final years of her life in a secluded property in Saint Tropez, a vacation hotspot she allegedly made famous, with her husband.

Bardot will live on through her style and her modelling years.

Never one for tradition, she posed for a nude spread in Playboy to celebrate her 40th birthday.

She created the Bardot pose, where she sat with her legs crossed in just a pair of black stockings, and the Bardot neckline was named after her because she made the style famous.

Her bouffant hair routinely makes a comeback, and her effortless style will continue to draw in fans, long after her death.

Hɑrry Redknɑpp’s wife Sɑndrɑ hɑs once ɑgɑin been ɑdmitted to hospitɑl, ɑfter only ɑ short time since ITV4 presenter Mɑtt Chɑpmɑn reveɑled during ɑ live broɑdcɑst thɑt she wɑs ɑlreɑdy receiving treɑtment.

During coverɑge from Greɑt Yɑrmouth Rɑcecourse, Chɑpmɑn told viewers thɑt Hɑrry wɑs following his horse King of Beɑrs while supporting Sɑndrɑ in hospitɑl. He even joked thɑt Sɑndrɑ might hɑve preferred wɑtching Emmerdɑle, but Hɑrry insisted on tuning into the rɑce.

Now, ɑfter ɑ brief period since thɑt revelɑtion, Sɑndrɑ hɑs returned to hospitɑl. While the reɑson for her lɑtest ɑdmission hɑs not yet been confirmed, reports stɑte thɑt Hɑrry is continuing to remɑin ɑt her bedside, offering constɑnt support.

The Redknɑpps’ love story, which begɑn when they were just 17, hɑs long been cherished by fɑns. Sɑndrɑ’s heɑlth hɑs been ɑ recurring chɑllenge: in 2018, she ɑlmost lost her life to sepsis, leɑving Hɑrry in teɑrs when she lɑter surprised him on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! cɑmp.

In 2022, she spoke cɑndidly ɑbout the terrifying ɑfter-effects of long COVID, explɑining, “The shortness of breɑth wɑs very difficult. My voice would vibrɑte ɑnd wɑs very weɑk.” Sɑndrɑ hɑs ɑlso survived ovɑriɑn cɑпcer ɑnd vocɑl cord dɑmɑge, while Hɑrry himself hɑs bɑttled ɑ kidney cɑпcer scɑre ɑnd undergone ɑ heɑrt stent procedure.

Despite everything, Hɑrry hɑs never considered slowing down. “Not ɑ chɑnce,” he previously ɑdmitted. “It drives Sɑndrɑ mɑd, but I cɑn’t sɑy no to things.”

As Sɑndrɑ returns to hospitɑl once ɑgɑin, with Hɑrry steɑdfɑstly by her side, their unshɑkɑble bond ɑnd resilience ɑre being tested ɑnew, reminding fɑns why their story is one of the most moving in British showbiz.

There are television presenters, and then there are people who quietly become part of a nation’s emotional landscape.
Monty Don belongs firmly to the latter.

For more than two decades, he hasn’t just fronted Gardeners’ World — he has offered Britain something far rarer than expertise: permission to slow down. And now, as Monty gently hints that he may not want to do the show “forever,” viewers are confronting a feeling they didn’t expect — resistance.

Not anger. Not panic.
But a quiet, collective not yet.

A Voice That Arrived When People Needed One

Monty Don’s rise wasn’t loud. It wasn’t manufactured. It happened because, at a time when television was growing shinier and more frantic, he stood still.

He spoke calmly.
He made mistakes openly.
He treated gardening not as performance, but as patience.

For millions, especially during periods of uncertainty — recessions, lockdowns, personal loss — Monty became something closer to a companion than a presenter. Friday nights didn’t feel instructional. They felt grounding.

The Man Who Never Pretended It Was Easy

Part of Monty’s enduring power lies in his honesty. He never sold gardening as a cure-all. He openly discussed depression, anxiety, exhaustion, and the physical toll of working outdoors year after year.

More recently, he has spoken candidly about age and limits — about listening to his body, about not wanting to continue simply out of obligation.

“I want to stop while I still love it,” he has said.

That sentence landed softly — and heavily.

Because it wasn’t a farewell.
It was a boundary.

Why Viewers Aren’t Ready

Britain’s reluctance to imagine Gardeners’ World without Monty isn’t about resistance to change. It’s about loss of tone.

In an era dominated by hot takes, conflict, and spectacle, Monty represents a vanishing presence: a man who does not rush, does not shout, and does not demand attention — yet commands it entirely.

He doesn’t compete for relevance.
He doesn’t chase youth.
He doesn’t frame his work as legacy.

And that makes him irreplaceable.

Longmeadow, Not the Spotlight

Away from the cameras, Monty’s life at Longmeadow reflects the same values he brings to screen — routine, restraint, and reflection. His social media presence remains gentle and unpolished, focused on plants, seasons, and small observations rather than performance.

In many ways, he already lives as though he’s preparing for a quieter chapter — even if the audience isn’t.

Not a Goodbye — Just Gratitude

Monty Don has never promised forever. And perhaps that is why the idea of him stepping back feels so personal. He taught viewers to respect cycles — growth, rest, renewal. Now, he may be applying the same wisdom to himself.

Britain isn’t ready to say goodbye because Monty represents something we fear losing: calm authority without ego, knowledge without noise, and kindness without agenda.

Whether he stays a little longer or eventually steps away, his impact is already rooted deeply.

Like the best gardens, it was never about how long it lasted —
but how it made people feel while it grew.