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In this Friday’s Mirror Daily Digest, we’ve pulled together the biggest stories of the day from a shocking plane crash to all the latest on the Strictly 2025 pro line-up.

The full line-up for Strictly’s tour has been unveiled, leaving some fans disheartened by the absence of two major stars(Image: PA)

Welcome to the Mirror’s Daily Digest, where we’ll be pulling together all the best stories of the day from our News, Showbiz, Sport teams and more. This Friday we’re featuring everything from Rishi Sunak bestowing gongs on his cronies to a shocking plane crash.

The plane slammed into the side of a highway in Florida, sparking a massive fireball that shook nearby buildings. Three people are feared dead. We’ve also got the very latest on a terrifying virus which has closed Europe borders amid fears it may be a ‘biological attack’.

Meanwhile, our Showbiz team have been delving into the new Strictly 2025 pro line-up, as well as catching up with new dad Mark Wright, who’s been busy gushing over his daughter.One witness across the road from the site of the collision said his building shook from the force of the impact, adding “unfortunately I’m certain lives were lost here today”. Footage from the scene shows palm trees lining the side of a highway on fire as sirens blare in the backround. At least three people are believed to have died in the crash, which happened near the glades overpass shortly after 10am local time, The Sun Sentinel reports.

This Friday, our Showbiz team have been foxtrotting their way through Strictly Come Dancing’s 2025 professional dancer line-up – where no one has been axed despite months of speculation!

However, it has also been confirmed that Giovanni Pernice won’t be returning, despite his hope that he would be back on the show after winning the Italian version of Strictly, Ballando con le Stelle, last year. His comeback would have likely been supported by the likes of judges Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke, who have remained close to the Italian dancer.

Fan favourite Giovanni sensationally quit after his celebrity dance partner Amanda Abbington made a string of allegations regarding his “abusive” behaviour, with the Italian dancer later cleared after a BBC investigation.

Terrifying virus closes Europe borders with fears it may be a ‘biological attack’

A virus is sweeping through Europe today, forcing the closure of borders, with fears it could have been launched in a “biological attack”. Livestock are being slaughtered by the thousands after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Hungary – the first in more than 50 years.

In response, neighbouring Austria and Slovakia have closed dozens of their border crossings to the landlocked country, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health. A Hungarian spokesperson said the disease, which was first detected on a cattle farm near the northwest border, may have been “artificially engineered”.

Rishi Sunak gives gongs to Gove, Hunt and Cleverly – see full honours list

Our Politics team have been taking a look at top Tories Michael Gove, Jeremy Hunt and James Cleverly being awarded gongs after Rishi Sunak’s controversial resignation honours list was finally published.

Mr Gove has been handed a peerage, and will soon sit in the House of Lords, while Mr Hunt and Mr Cleverly have been awarded knighthoods. Former Tory cabinet members Grant Shapps, Mel Stride and Andrew Mitchell were also made Sirs, while there were a string of honours for members of Mr Sunak’s No10 team.

The defeated Prime Minister’s handing awards to his close allies immediately sparked accusations of “shameless cronyism”. In a surprise move, cricket-mad Mr Sunak also awarded a knighthood to former England fast bowler James Anderson. There was also a gong for fimmaker Matthew Vaughn, whose credits include producing Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Mark Wright gushes over daughter and shares advice from Ed Sheeran

Finally, Mark Wright has shed light on his fatherhood. The telly star who found fame on The Only Way Is Essex became a first time dad last month, with him and his wife, former Coronation Street star Michelle Keegan revealing she’d given birth. In a joint social media post, the couple shared a sweet black and white snap of their daughter.

Captioning their post, they said: “Together we have a new love to share… Our little girl. Palma Elizabeth Wright. 06.03.25.” During an appearance on ITV’s This Morning with his mate Olly Murs, Mark gushed over his daughter and revealed he’s getting parenting tips from his famous pals. Mark told hosts Sian Welby and Dermot O’Leary: “The best thing for me, he’s 11 months in front of me.

“I just have to ask him questions and he warns me about what’s next.” Mark added: “She’s absolutely amazing, she’s so good, she’s only five weeks old. We get to 11pm and she won’t wake up til 5.” Mark revealed that Ed Sheeran offered him advice, admitting: “It gets easier.”

Meghan Markle took to Instagram to share a sweet message sent to her from the Deputy Ukrainian Prime Minister following Prince Harry’s trip to the nation – but one part of it caught the eye of many people

Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle raised eyebrows by sharing a message featuring a royal title that was no longer in use to her. The Duchess of Sussex took to Instagram to share a message that was sent to her by Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister. It comes after Prince Harry made a secret visit to the war-torn country last week to visit injured veterans.

As a token of thanks, he was given a basket of Easter bread to take back home to Meghan and their children. In a sweet Instagram update at the weekend, Meghan posted a story showing Princess Lilibet cutting the bread and sharing it with the family for breakfast.

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Meghan shared a message on her Instagram story

The video caught the eye of Ms Svyrydenko, who wrote Meghan a message of thanks on X for her family’s support for Ukraine after the Russian invasion, which the Duchess later shared on Instagram.

The politician started the message: “Your Royal Highness.” When Harry and Meghan stepped back as working royals in 2020, it was agreed they would no longer use their HRH titles. And even though the Ukrainian politician might not have been aware of the situation using the title, some have questioned why Meghan has shared the message given she is no longer using her HRH title.

A source close to the King told the Daily Beast: “The deal with the HRH was a way to stop them cashing in while letting them walk away with pride and dignity and trust, and now Markle is using her HRH on a website which seems to exist to sell jam.”

It comes after Harry visited the Superhumans Centre in Lviv – an orthopaedic clinic and rehabilitation centre for adults and children affected by the war in Ukraine, last Thursday after a trip to the UK. The organisation provides specialist prosthetics, mental health support and physiotherapy to injured veterans and civilians free of charge.

Prince Harry in Ukraine last week (Image: AP)

During the visit, the Duke toured the centre and met patients and medical professionals to learn about the services provided there. He was joined by people from the Invictus Games Foundation on Thursday’s visit, including four veterans who have had similar experiences to the civilians and ex-service personnel being rehabilitated at the Superhumans Centre.

Meanwhile, Meghan has continued to post on her Instagram account today, sharing two stories about her collecting fruit, flowers, and eggs from her garden in a basket. She also shows a pretty orange flower in bloom with the words: “That means it is almost Easter.”

To mark the upcoming holiday weekend, she also shared Easter-related products on her ShopMy account. The account allows Meghan to post about products, clothes, or accessories she has worn or recommended. If people click through to buy the items, Meghan may make a commission on any sales.

As part of her new Easter edit, items shared include children’s toys, including a kids’ gardening set that’s £19, an Easter bunny-themed box with mini eggs for £15 and a £15 Lego bunny.

She also shared children’s clothing, including a boy’s smart jacket and trousers from J Crew, which cost a total of £200, and a girls’ floral dress from Trotters for £58.

The Princess of Wales joined Chief Scout Dwayne Fields as well as Scouts from Cumbria and Manchester for a trip to the Lake District, where she opened up about finding peace amid a “very busy world”

The Princess of Wales has opened up about her ‘spiritual’ and “very emotional” connection with nature and why it brings her peace in a “very busy world”.

Kate has appeared in a brand new video as part of her role as joint president of the Scouts that shows her joining a group of Scouts and Chief Scout Dwayne Fields on a trip to the Lake District.

Filmed last month, the footage sees the princess walking on the shores of Lake Windermere and spending time with Scouts aged 10 to 15 from groups in Cumbria and Greater Manchester as they undertake a challenge to earn their Naturalist Badge.

In one part of the video, Kate, who wears hiking boots and a bakerboy hat walks among the beautiful scenery with the Chief Scout discussing the importance of the natural world. And she gives a deeply personal insight into what nature means to her, admitting: “I find it a very spiritual and very intense emotional reconnection I suppose, these environments.

The Princess of Wales in a brand new video on a trip to the Lake District with Scouts

“Not everyone has that same relationship perhaps with nature, but it is so therefore meaningful for me as a place to balance and find a sort of sense of peace and reconnection in what is otherwise a very busy world.”

Kate, who is in remission from cancer, has long advocated the benefits of spending time in the natural world, previously revealing how nature became her family’s ‘sanctuary’ in the wake of her diagnosis and during her chemotherapy treatment.

The princess and Mr Fields also discuss the impact being in nature can have on young people in building their confidence and skills for later life. He tells Kate: “I think it’s really important for young people to have access to nature because it’s a space where they can push themselves, they can challenge themselves, they learn leadership skills, spend time making friends and those life-long really great memories that we all hold onto.

Kate with Chief Scout Dwayne Fields

“And I think if we can do that, we’ll build up a generation who is passionate about our natural spaces and passionate about protecting them as well.”

The Princess, in a knitted roll neck jumper, jacket, matching trousers, and walking boots, is then seen in the video joining Scouts on a walk before crouching down and helping them plot their routes around Windermere with maps, telling them: “It’s so beautiful because so many of the walks here you can see Lake Windermere because it is huge isn’t it?” She also asks them: “Look how hilly it is in here. Have you done any of these big mountains?”

She was also photographed standing and laughing with the Scouts while they sat eating ice-creams at a picnic table at the edge of the lake.

Kate has been joint president of the Scouts since 2020, and experiencing well-being in nature is said to be a cause very close to the princess’s heart. She explains: “What’s so fantastic about the Scouts is that the same foundations that have always been there and still despite how different the modern day world is now, actually it still resonates with so many young people – and it is making such a massive difference to them.”

Kate helps the Scouts plot a walking route around Windermere

Mr Fields adds: “When you come out into a natural environment, it helps you understand your self that much more. “We really belong in nature. We’re in tune with it and I think we need to come back to it because there is definitely something about being in nature that’s connected to our wellbeing.”

The video marks the first time that Kate has met the new Chief Scout since his appointment. Born in Jamaica, Mr Fields came to the UK at the age of six. He grew up in inner city London without access to nature and said the Scouts made a “huge difference” to his life.

He said: “In an increasingly complex world digital technology has its place, but the few hours we spent in the hills without screens was magical: we are often at our best in the outdoors, and I want more young people to experience outdoor adventures like this for themselves.

“Outdoor adventures can build the vital skills young people need for the rest of their lives, they hugely benefit health and wellbeing, and boost friendships. And with the help of more adult volunteers, we hope to get more young people out into nature in the future.” Kensington Palace said Kate’s visit to the Lake District, which was not announced at the time, took place in March.

Kate has been joint president of the Scouts since 2020

Just several weeks ago, Kate also opened up about nature being her family’s “sanctuary” over the past year in a message to mark Mother’s Day. The princess, who was diagnosed with cancer last March, posted the message alongside a short video that included scenes of some of the UK’s most striking natural environments, from woodlands and fields to beaches and the ocean.

In the accompanying message, signed ‘C’, Kate wrote: “Over the past year, nature has been our sanctuary. This Mother’s Day, let us celebrate Mother Nature and recognise how our bond with the natural world can help not only nurture our inner selves, but remind us too of the role we play within the rich tapestry of life.”

The Princess underwent a course of preventative chemotherapy after her cancer diagnosis and announced in September that she had completed her treatment.

Katy Perry has blasted off into space today as part of a historic all-female Blue Origin mission – the first of its kind in over 60 years

Pop star Katy Perry and five other women have blasted into space aboard Jeff Bezos’ space tourism rocket. The Teenage Dream singer, 40, has set off on the 11-minute flight with author Lauren Sanchez, 55, TV host Gayle King, 70, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, 33, rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, 38, and filmmaker Kerianne Flynn, 57.

The New Shepard rocket lifted off from its West Texas launch site as the launch window opened at 08:30 local time (14:30 BST). The flight will last 11 minutes and take the crew more than 100km above Earth – technically entering space as the capsule crosses the Karman line, the boundary of space.

Katy’s once-in-a-lifetime trip is the first all-female crew since Russian engineer Valentina Tereshkova’s solo flight in 1963. Katy and her four fellow passengers will experience about four minutes of weightlessness and will have time to float around and take in the views of Earth from the large windows before the capsule descends back to Earth using three parachutes.

Katy Perry has blasted off into space
Before her life-changing trip to space, the Roar hitmaker managed to squeeze in some last-minute astronaut training in Texas on Sunday, as revealed by photos shared online by BlueOrigin. Katy also posted her own pictures, promising to put “the ‘ass’ in astronaut” ahead of her exciting trip in a post that also featured Ms Sanchez.

The pair were seen sporting blue jumpsuits, which were specially designed by Ms Sanchez for the mission.

Katie and her fellow rocket pals were excited as they entered the vehicle ( 
Image:
Blue Origin)
Given that Katy is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with more than 115 billion streams, she is more than excited to add to her many accolades by becoming one of the few women who have been to space. As of today, 100 women have officially flown to space – with Katy, Lauren, Gayle, Amanda, and Aisha making up the last five.

It comes as Ms Sanchez said in a video post that she hopes the mission will inspire people to “dream big”. “If someone would have told me that I would be able to go to space one day, I would have definitely, well, I don’t know, laughed”, she said.

Kris Jenner and Khloe Kardashian were there to watch the five women blast off ( 
Image:
INSTAGRAM)“I can’t believe it’s happening. My dad used to teach people how to fly, and I used to hang around the hanger and I thought dreaming of becoming a pilot was a huge deal, and this is even bigger.

“The incredible women that are going on this flight are extraordinary in all of their fields, but more importantly, they’re incredible storytellers. So what I’m hoping for is, this flight is not just transformative for them, but also for all of the people that they tell their story to. Hopefully it sparks that imagination to a dream big and reach for the stars.”

Blue Origin has flown tourists on short hops to space since 2021. Some passengers have been given free rides, while others have paid a hefty sum to experience weightlessness. Mr Bezos, 61, climbed aboard with his brother for the inaugural flight.

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Actor Colson Smith will be leaving Coronation Street this summer and show fans have been left guessing over his next career move following 14 years on the ITV soap

Colson Smith shared snaps of his latest venture over the weekend(Image: Getty Images)

Corrie star Colson Smith teased a career move after spending his weekend delivering baby lambs.

The actor, whose exit from Coronation Street was announced earlier this year, will bow out in the months ahead. He is leaving the Cobbles after 14 years – and he will be involved in a dramatic departure, it has been claimed. Colson was just 11 when he joined the show and he is now planning for the future.

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He was pictured in a barn, surrounded by sheep and lambs yesterday, with sister Hannah a vet. Uploading the cute shot to Instagram, he wrote: “Spent my Sunday delivering lambs. Midwife mode: activated.” The former Celebrity Big Brother star is taking some time to consider his next step.

The actor, who lost a staggering 10 stone during and after lockdown, insisted he felt nothing but positive about the future. “I feel incredibly lucky to have grown up in, on and around Coronation Street,” he said. “I’ve learnt pretty much everything about life from the people who call it home. I’m excited to play out the exit story for Our Craigy.

He spent his Sunday in a barn and got fans talking! (Image: colsonjsmith/Instagram)

“For me, this is the end of the beginning. I genuinely can’t wait to see what chapter two has in store for me.” And showing he has no bitterness towards the soap’s new boss Kate Brooks, he added: “Long live the cobbles!” Fans must wait to find out how he goes – but there’s suggestions it could be explosive.

A source told The Sun: “Craig has grown up on the street, and he’s become part of it, so it was a tough decision to make but one that will be worth it. PC Tinker will meet his maker in heroic circumstances this summer, and there won’t be a dry eye in the house when it goes out. Colson is taking it well, and there’s a real feeling that this chapter is closing for him, and there are bigger and brighter things ahead.”

The actor is the latest of many to leave the soap in recent months. Craig’s on-screen mum, Beth Tinker, left the show in the summer when actress Lisa George was written out. Christmas saw the departure of Helen Worth, who decided to quit the cobbles after 50 years of playing Gail Platt. And this weekend it emerged that Sue Cleaver, who has played Eileen Grimshaw for the past 25 years, is also on her way out.

Colson was just 11 when he joined the programme struggled with unhealthy eating habits and weight gain. He told the Mirror in 2021 that moving to Manchester aged 17 had made things worse, explaining: “When everyone else was at uni, I’m sat on bloody Deliveroo every night. So I kind of had got myself into a really unhealthy position where food was a self-harm to me. It was my comfort and I didn’t realise how much damage I was doing to myself with it.”

EastEnders star, Jamie Borthwick, has reportedly been dumped by his girlfriend, Chloe, with a source claiming the award-winning actor ‘acts like a boy in a man’s body’

Jamie Borthwick’s love life has more drama than an episode of EastEnders

Jamie Borthwick’s love life has more drama than an episode of EastEnders. The Jay Brown star, 30, has recently found himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons amid reports he’s been dumped by his girlfriend, Chloe.

The Strictly Come Dancing star, who a source claimed “acts like a boy in a man’s body”, is said to have annoyed his now ex after bragging about a sex toy Welsh GoCompare star, Wynne Evans, sent him while he was on tour with the BBC dance show. However, in more drama, Jay is rumoured to be romancing Strictly co-star, Jowita Przystal, who he was papped looking very cosy with last week. So, as we wait for the actor to lift the lid on exactly what’s going on behind the scenes, here’s an inside look at his bitter breakup with his girlfriend – as well as those Jowita rumours…

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Jamie Borthwick has reportedly been dumped by his girlfriend for not spending enough time with her during the Strictly tour(Image: PA)

Jamie Borthwick dumped by girlfriend because he ‘wasn’t spending enough time with her’

Jamie has reportedly been dumped by his girlfriend, Chloe, who he was in a relationship with during Strictly last year.

Despite supporting the EastEnders star, who almost made it to the final of the star-studded show, Chloe is now said to have called it a day.

Opening up about the pressures of the show as well as Jamie’s commitment to its UK tour, a source told The Sun: “Strictly was a whirlwind for Jamie and they managed to keep it going when he was on the show. But Chloe dumped Jamie when he finished the Strictly tour. She said she felt like Jamie didn’t have time for her.”

Strictly sex toy shame

In another own goal for scandal-struck Strictly, footage emerged showing Jamie waving around a sex toy that had been sent to him by Go Compare opera singer Wynne, 53.

The awkward exchange escalated after it was claimed that the footage was shared within a messaging group that included other Strictly stars – who it is suggested did not expect nor want to be included in an conversation that had a sexual connotation.

In another own goal for scandal-struck Strictly, footage reportedly emerged showing Jamie waving around a sex toy that had been sent to him Wynne Evans(Image: PA)

As many of the Strictly gang are considered family friendly and with squeaky clean images, there are fears that they could be tarnished due to Jamie and Wynne’s alleged behaviour.

Claiming Jay’s ex, Chloe, was mortified by the behaviour, a source said: “Seeing the video of him with the sex toy and acting so weirdly made her realise it was the right choice. Jamie acts like a boy in a man’s body. She doesn’t have time for that.”

Jowita rumours

Strictly stars, Jamie and Jowita looked extremely loved- up when they were papped in London earlier this month. The EastEnders actor and professional dancer, 30, were rumoured to be dating after meeting on the BBC dance show’s Christmas special two years ago.

Seen in the capital outside the Adelphi Theatre where they’d arrived to see Strictly stars, Amy Dowden and Carlos Gu, in their production of Reborn, the pair had smiles a mile wide as they hugged in the April sunshine.

Jamie was rumoured to be romancing his Strictly co-star, Jowita(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Jay and Jowita met on Strictly in 2023, when the Jay Brown star was crowned the winner with Nanxy Xu. Despite being partnered with other stars, feelings backstage are soon said to have started brewing before the pair allegedly formed a secret romance.

Almost two years after meeting, the pair have continued to grow close on the Strictly tour across the UK.

Sources claimed that the pair grew close while filming the BBC One dancing competition and Jowita instantly saw a spark with the Jay Brown actor. “Things did get romantic between them, Jowita loves Jamie’s playfulness and sense of humour, not to mention he’s a very talented dancer,” a source said.

They went on to tell the MailOnline: “So many rumours were circulating about Jowita and Pete that her relationship with Jamie went under the radar, which was something they laughed about. They’re still enjoying each other’s company as they perform on the Strictly tour, with the cast believing their romance could well lead to something long-term.”

Meanwhile, Jowita’s recent ormer Strictly partner, Pete Wicks addressed their closeness on his Staying Relevant podcast.

“If you couldn’t dance with me, who would you like to dance with? I know the answer to this… 100 per cent, Jamie.” Jowita revealed Jamie would “probably” have been her choice, having met him prior to the recent series, coyly adding that the pair “get on very well.”

The Mirror has contacted Jamie and Jowita’s reps for comment.

Gavin and Stacey actress Joanna Page, who previously spoke on Loose Women about her decision to have her fallopian tubes cut, has admitted to still feeling “very maternal”

Joanna Page has candidly discussed the possibility of expanding her family with her husband, despite previously having her “tubes tied”.

In a recent issue of Woman and Home magazine, the Gavin and Stacey actress and mother-of-four revealed that she’d had discussions with her husband, actor James Thornton, about potentially having more children.

Joanna previously told the Loose Women panel about her decision to have her fallopian tubes cut in her mid-forties, and reportedly considered reversing the procedure. She confessed to still feeling “very maternal”, but disclosed that a health check this year led to a moment that “felt huge”.

Joanna stated: “I’ve been thinking about fostering or adopting. It’s something I’ve chatted about with James because I’m still very maternal, and it’s something that I would think about in the future.”

Joanna Page admitted to still being “very maternal” ( 
Image:
Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)

“I don’t regret having my tubes tied, and although I felt broody at the start of the year, I don’t any more. At the beginning of this year, I did a health check, which involved a scan that showed that my right ovary had packed up.

“There wasn’t anything left, no eggs. That moment felt huge, as if my body was saying, ‘That is it’.”

She further revealed that she was prescribed HRT patches after visiting a menopause doctor, but was hesitant to use them as she believed that it meant she wouldn’t have any more kids.

However, she admitted: “I was very down, very depressed. I could cope with flushes, they weren’t bothering me. It was just my mood”.

Speaking previously on Loose Women, Joanna revealed she had been feeling “broody”, but, afterwards, didn’t give it much thought. She then realised that having another pregnancy would be impossible, admitting it would leave her “utterly exhausted”.

Joanna revealed that a health check this year led to a moment that “felt huge”
The Love Actually star continued: “But not that long ago, I went on the internet, I looked up: ‘Can you have your tubes put back together?’ You can. One-in-200 women can maybe get pregnant after doing that. I told James, he just looked at me and went: ‘You what? What on earth are you going on about?’ So I will not be having anymore. I’ve got my beautiful four children.”

As a mother of four young kids, Eva, Kit, Noah, and Boe, Joanna has reportedly decided to scale back her acting work and take on presenting roles to spend more time with her family. She previously joked about nearly divorcing her husband after the Covid lockdown affected their sex life, with the couple struggling to find time for each other while caring for their kids during the school closures.

Joanna shared that they argued and threatened to divorce throughout lockdown, even going a month without speaking to each other.

Paddy McGuinness has replaced Gregg Wallace as a co-host on Inside the Factory, with him having worked alongside the likes of Cherry Healey on the BBC show’s new series

Presenter Paddy McGuinness has addressed speculation over romance rumours with his colleague Cherry Healey after having worked together on a show.

It was announced in the summer of 2023 that Paddy, now 51, would replace Gregg Wallace on Inside the Factory. He’s since filmed the new series alongside co-host Cherry, 44, who has been on the BBC show since it launched in 2015.

Paddy made his debut in a Christmas special that aired last month, ahead of the ninth series launching on Tuesday. He reminded of the show’s return later this week in a message to his followers on Instagram over the weekend.

The post included several photos of Paddy and co-star Cherry – who present Inside the Factory alongside historian Ruth Goodman – together. The pair were seen beside each other in selfies, as well as in a photo of them at a restaurant.

Alongside the photos, Paddy wrote about his colleagues in the accompanying caption of the post. He told his followers last week: “The whole crew on Inside The Factory have been a joy to work with. A small but perfectly formed team.”

He continued: “Also I’d never met @cherryhealey before but we hit it off straight away. Absolutely love working with her, she’s an absolute diamond!” Paddy concluded: “The new series starts Tuesday 7th on BBC1 & @bbciplayer.”

Paddy McGuinness (left) has shut down speculation that he’s begun a romance with his Inside the Factory co-star Cherry Healey (right) ( 
Image:
Instagram/ @mcguinness.paddy)
The post was met with speculation about a potential romance between the colleagues. One person reacted: “Is this a soft launch of the new Mrs?” Another asked: “Ooh I’m liking this. New lady, Paddy? You look cute together.”

Paddy however has since addressed the rumours, which he shut down when responding to a fan who asked: “Is this your new love? If so all the very best (you look very comfortable together).” Paddy replied: “Not at all. She’s just a great person.”

Former Top Gear presenter Paddy was once in a long-term relationship with Christine McGuinness. The pair, who share three children, announced the end of their 11-year marriage in a joint statement released back in July 2022.

They said at the time: “We’re moving forward as the best parents we can be for our three beautiful children. We’ll always be a loving family, we still have a great relationship and still live happily in our family home together.”

His colleague Cherry was once married to Rory Allen, with whom she shares her two children, but the former couple split up in 2016. She later began a relationship with Justin Mountstephens and they are thought to still be together, having celebrated her birthday together last month.

Darragh Ennis, also known as The Menace on ITV quiz show The Chase, appeared on Loose Women on Wednesday (January 22), where he opened up about losing his dad to dementia

The Chase star Darragh Ennis has revealed he struggled to film the ITV gameshow after his dad died from dementia.

Darragh, who is also known as The Menace, appeared on Loose Women on Wednesday (January 22) to discuss his father’s battle with the neurological disease.

After losing his dad in July 2024, Darragh shared that was “playing to a script” while going about his daily life, especially when he returned to The Chase.

“In the end it was quite sudden. He had been physically quite well but then I got a phone call, and I barely made it home in time,” he said, adding that he was left “broken” inside.

Darragh Ennis appeared on Loose Women on Wednesday (January 22) ( 
Image:
ITV)

“We had a natural break in filming, but when I did go back to work, I was put under that stressful situation,” Darragh continued.

He revealed that he struggled to answer questions under time restraint, saying: “Normally when I start making mistakes, I’d naturally be able to handle it.

“I’d just plant my feet and keep going, but this time when I went to put my feet down, there was nothing underneath them. They just fell away.”

Darragh also shared that he got “camera shy” as the pressure completely “overwhelmed” him.

Darragh Ennis lost his father to dementia in July 2024 ( 
Image:
ITV)
“I had a couple of episodes like that, where every time I tried to reach for that part of myself that’s normally very calm under pressure, it wasn’t there anymore,” he continued.

Darragh explained that the producers quickly clocked onto his struggles and offered him extra time off. They’ve also arranged for counselling

When he was first offered help, Darragh initially “shrugged it away” as he didn’t want to admit that he was struggling. Once he accepted the support, he acknowledged that it felt like he was being saved from “drowning”.

In light of his experiences, Darragh has since become an Ambassador for grief charity At a Loss.

The Chase airs weekdays at 5pm on ITV1

Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan has announced that she is preparing to move house and ‘downsize,’ with her having teased that she is looking ahead to a ‘fresh break’

Helen Flanagan has revealed that she’s preparing to move house. The former Coronation Street cast member has shared that she’s looking forward to the “fresh break” but she’s also expressed some concern over “downsizing”.

Helen, 34, announced recently that she’s in the process of leaving her home in Bolton, Greater Manchester after getting the property four years ago. She had initially lived in the eight-bedroom house with her now ex-partner Scott Sinclair, 36, and their three children, prior to the couple’s separation in 2022.

The Celebs Go Dating star has revealed that she will be “downsizing” though as she considers relocating to London. She spoke about moving house on an episode of the Declutter Hub Podcast.

Helen said: “It actually makes me sad that I’m gonna be leaving this house soon because I actually put so much effort into it.” She added whilst a guest on the podcast: “I put like a lot of my savings into like doing the house up and stuff, and making it look really beautiful.”

She said that it’s a “big house” though. Helen explained: “It’s an eight bedroomed house which is obviously really hard to keep on top of. I mean, I feel really lucky to to live here – well, soon to have lived here – because it is gorgeous but it’s a lot to like keep on top of.”

Helen Flanagan, pictured with her three children, has revealed that she’s preparing to move house(Image: Instagram/Helen Flanagan)

The actor said the house provided more space than when her and Scott were renting as a family. Helen then continued: “I think I’m gonna struggle to… Obviously when I do [move] because obviously I will be downsizing so much.”

She said that whilst she’s “down to Earth” and didn’t want to “sound a certain way,” she suspects it will “feel weird” living in a smaller property after being in her current home. She added: “Obviously, I will get used to it, I’m sure.”

Helen shared: “But it will feel weird to downsize everything because I’m gonna have to get rid of so much more because, for example, all my beautiful furniture that I’ve bought it’s designed for this house.” She added: “It won’t fit in my new house, y’know, which is fine.”

She’s lived at her current home for four years after moving in with her now ex Scott Sinclair and their kids(Image: Helen Flanagan/Instagram)

She went on to share that a smaller property will be more “manageable”. Helen – whose partner Robbie Talbot is said to have lived with her at one point – shared: “I think it will be better for me, actually, to be honest with you, to live in a small house because I think it might be more manageable for me.”

At the time of recording the podcast, Helen revealed that she hadn’t yet “chosen” her new house. She shared that she was considering relocating to London, which would be “amazing for work” but hadn’t decided.

She said: “I don’t know if I’m best, because it’s not that far on the train, to just keep commuting.” Helen then went on to say: “But I kind of feel like I want a fresh break. I don’t know if I kind of want to stay in my hometown.”

Helen – who has spoken about her mental health in recent years and discussed financial difficulties just months ago, saying that at one point she “lost basically all [her] money” – suggested that she wants “a change” following a challenging period in her life. She said: “I feel like I want like a change because, even though everything’s great now, it’s been a really kind of quite heavy few years for me.”