Blog

The Princess of Wales has joined the Irish Guards for their annual St Patrick’s Day parade to hand out the traditional spigs of shamrock after missing the event last year due to her cancer diagnosis

The Princess of Wales has made an emotional return to a poignant St Patrick’s Day event she was forced to miss last year – and made a generous gesture. Today, Kate, in her role of colonel of the Irish Guards has joined the regiment for their annual St Patrick’s Day parade. She was unable the event last year as she was recovering from abdominal surgery and had also received her cancer diganosis.

But now she is gradually returning to public duties, she has awarding long service and good conduct medals to soldiers and presented the traditional sprigs of shamrock to officers and guardsmen at Wellington Barracks in London. Also present was the Irish wolfhound regimental mascot.

The Princess of Wales at the Irish Guards St Patrick’s Day Parade today ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

Kate is colonel of the Irish Guards ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

Wearing a bottle green coat, Kate was greeted by senior officers before heading to the Officers’ Mess to present medals. The event is particularly special this year as the regiment celebrates its 125th anniversary. Following tradition, Kate handed out the symbolic shamrocks to officers, warrant officers, and the regiment’s Irish wolfhound mascot, Turlough Mor.

And not only did she hand out the shamrocks, it also emerged she put money behind the bar to buy those in the regiment a drink to toast their special day saying it’s the “least I can do”. Kate took the salute as colonel during a march-past and met Irish Guards veterans as well as junior cadets from Northern Ireland known as Mini Micks. The princess also spent time in the junior ranks’ dining hall, where senior guardsman proposed a toast in her honour, and gathered with families in the sergeants’ mess.

Last time she took part in the parade was in 2023, when she visited the Irish Guards on St Patrick’s Day with Prince William at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, after taking over the role of colonel from her husband. Last year, the guardsman gave three cheers for their absent colonel while the princess was away from public duties.

Kate presents traditional sprigs of shamrock to officers and guardsmen ( 
Image:
Samir Hussein/WireImage)
In June, Kate was also forced to miss the Irish Guards at the Colonel’s Review, the traditional rehearsal to Trooping the Colour. But keen to express how sorry she was to be missing the event, Kate wrote a letter to the regiment to pass on her best wishes ahead of their rehearsal and express her pride in the regiment.

The letter on Kensington Palace headed paper and shared on the Irish Guards account on X, said: “I wanted to write to let you know how proud I am of the entire regiment ahead of the Colonel’s Review and Trooping the Colour. I appreciate everyone Trooping this year has been practising for months, and dedicating many hours to ensure their uniforms and drill are immaculate.

“Being your Colonel remains a great honour, and I am very sorry that I am unable to take the salute at this year’s Colonel Review. Please pass my apologies to the whole Regiment, however, I do hope I can represent you all again soon. Please send my very best wishes and good luck to all involved.”

Kate with the regiment’s Irish Wolfhound mascot ( 
Image:
Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror

Kate finished the letter by handwriting the Irish Guards’ motto Quis Separabit, which means ‘Who shall separate us?’ and signs it ‘Colonel Catherine’. Her appearance today comes after she and Prince William cheered on opposing sides at Saturday’s Wales v England Six Nations match.

William and Kate took their seats at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff to watch the teams compete in the competition’s final round of matches. The prince is patron of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) while the princess holds a similar position with the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

Kate enjoys a Guinness as she marks St Patrick’s Day with the Irish Guards ( 
Image:
PAThe famously competitive couple have previously joked about supporting different teams during the tournament with William supporting Wales and Kate rooting for England. The royal couple spoke of how they watch Princes George and Louis play rugby at weekends in ‘freezing’ weather.

“At weekends we go from one competition to the next,” William said. Kate said: “Louis is six and he’s just started touch rugby and George is 11 and he plays a bit more. They do really enjoy it, actually. She added: “They’ve been exposed to lots of different sports.”

Sarra Hoy, the wife of Olympic cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy, has opened up about how the family is coping after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis just six weeks after her husband was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer

 

Lady Sarra Hoy spoke to Lorraine about her own multiple sclerosis diagnosis – and her husband’s cancer diagnosis

Sir Chris Hoy’s wife Lady Sarra Hoy has opened up about her and Chris’ biggest fears amid their health battles. Chris has been diagnosed with cancer, whilst Sarra was also diagnosed with multiple sclerosis within weeks of one another.

During a conversation with Lorraine Kelly today on her show, Lady Sarra opened up about her own health battle and explained that their focus is just their children. She admitted that she struggles to sleep over what the future holds but she is desperately trying to embrace what is happening to their family and not worry about the things she can’t control.

Speaking on Lorraine today, she revealed: “It came very early on. You just don’t sleep; it’s awful. It was about just trying to control what I could. I can’t do anything about cancer and I can’t do anything about MS.

“I can’t control any of that – but what can I do? What can I change? And that’s where the idea of when everything is spiralling, just to stop and think right now, we’re safe, the children are safe. This can’t define us. We will not become the victims to this.”

Chris and Sarra Hoy were diagnosed within weeks of one another(Image: Getty Images)

Elsewhere, Lady Sarra admitted there’s no time for either of them to stop – and their focus is making things as great as they can for their children, insisting that is what has been helping to get them through.

“With kids you don’t get a chance, there’s no time to stop and have a day in bed, you just don’t get that opportunity. So yes, the children are everything for us and our family that surrounds us are everything,” she explained, “It’s been okay and I think people are really surprised to know that you can sort of be okay, and I think that’s definitely what’s helped us get through.”

With the diagnosis coming within weeks of each other, Lady Sarra admitted it felt like a “final straw”. She explained: “It did feel like a final straw, it was so surreal that it was in some ways easier to deal with – with my diagnosis – because I could just say, I have to just put that aside right now.

“I didn’t tell Chris [straight away] but he was the only person I wanted to tell. Never ever held a secret like that, but it was literally six weeks when the diagnosis came after his and I just knew it wasn’t the right time.”

Sarra spoke to Lorraine on her show today

She added: “The family around us. We have great friends who have managed to identify and have the confidence to give us the help, rather than wait to see what we need. You sometimes don’t know when someone says let me know if there’s anything I can do.

“You realise how precious things are. That bird that just tweeted, us here together. All those things are so special. Make it simple. The most simple thing you can do right here right now – is it going to be a sunny day.”

In a heartbreaking admission, she added: “There’s another version of me who didn’t go to the doctor that day and didn’t get that diagnosis. I’d be going on unaware that something’s going on. Again, that’s bringing it back to the here and now. We’re really lucky. We’ve been unlucky in a small area of our lives, the rest – we are surrounded by wonderful people and great things.”

Davina McCall appeared on The One Show on Monday night, just four months after undergoing surgery to remove a benign brain tumour

Davina McCall on her first tv appearance after brain surgery

Davina McCall made her first live show appearance on Monday night after undergoing brain surgery.

Just four months ago, the TV presenter underwent surgery to remove a benign brain tumour, known as a colloid cyst. In November 2024, Davina revealed she had a 14mm tumour and had surgery to have it removed.

On Monday night, Davina, 57, appeared on The One Show, revealing it was her first live television appearance since her surgery, as she talked about the upcoming Red Nose Day.

Welcoming the presenter to the studio, host Alex Jones said: “We are so pleased to see you, we haven’t seen you since you had your operation to remove a benign tumour. We were just saying how worried we all were.”

Alex, 47, then read out some messages from viewers, where she said: “Ems has been in touch, she asks: ‘How does it feel to be back at work after your operation?’.”

Davina McCall made her first live show appearance on Monday night after undergoing brain surgery(Image: BBC)

To which Davina replied in a three-word response: “It feels amazing!”, adding: “I am so happy to be back it was like the final piece of the jigsaw! I was recovering at home in my bedroom a lot, going for a couple of walks a day.

“But I was kind of stuck in my bedroom, it became my safe space. I kind of didn’t want to leave. I got a bit nervous about going back to work and I kept thinking in my head: ‘Well I could just make a bit of an excuse.’

“And Michael said to me: ‘I know you, I know how much you loved work and how much it means to you. I know you’re scared but this is the final piece of the jigsaw and I think it’s going to make a big difference when you go back.’

“I was so angry with him, and then when I went back, at the end of the day I sat in the car and I was like: ‘Yes!’ It felt so good! to see everybody and to be back to normal! It felt like something normal I could do that I love!”

Davina then pointed out another milestone as she declared: “First live show today!” to which Alex and co-host Vernon Kay applauded her.

Davina then pointed out another milestone as she declared: “First live show today!” to which Alex and co-host Vernon Kay applauded her

The TV star previously recalled how she felt “angry” the tumour had “taken control” of her.

Speaking to friend Stephen Bartlett about the tumour on her podcast Begin Again, she recalled: “I felt like this thing had taken control of me and I was so angry about that.

“I couldn’t let it go, I was like, ‘How dare you control my daily life like this and make me feel every day like I’m in danger?’ … I have a newfound enormous sympathy for people who have benign brain tumours.

“I have had so many people say to me: ‘Well, at least it was benign.’ And you think: ‘You have no idea that benign brain tumours can still kill you.’

“It’s just, you don’t know when it’s going to happen. It could happen tomorrow, it could happen in years’ time. It’s different to cancer, but it is also awful. A benign does not mean fine.”

This Morning presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard were left in shock as one guest revealed that she makes thousands from selling her toenails – but viewers weren’t impressed

This Morning: Guest speaks about selling her spit

This Morning viewers were put off their lunch during today’s show as one guest spoke about selling her toenails for thousands of pounds online. Latiesha Jones, who sells her toenails online, appeared on This Morning today to speak to hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard about her booming business – but left viewers feeling unwell.

Latiesha revealed that she makes £5,000 a week by selling her toenails and spit online, having started her OnlyFans business almost five years ago and finding success with a particular demographic. The 24-year-old dropped out of university to focus on OnlyFans despite originally planning on becoming a doctor.

“I went to university to study biomedical science and then I left in second year,” she said. “I’m very money-motivated and when I was younger, I didn’t understand to what degree that I loved to make money.”

Latiesha Jones revealed on This Morning that she makes thousands from selling her toenails(Image: ITV)

She added that she decided to start selling her toenails, spit and bathwater after a customer requested the items. “It came from a customer, they messaged me and said this is really weird but I was wondering if you would sell me your spit or shower water. I was thinking, ‘What on earth?’” she said.

Latiesha revealed that she has now paid off her debts and bought her first property from the money she has earned through her business. “think from when I started, I feel so much more comfortable and my boundaries are more in place. I feel I have more control over it now,” she said.

“The most expensive thing that I sold was my spit for £1,500. I had a long-term relationship with that person but on average there isn’t anything that has sold for less than £400 or £500.”

Viewers weren’t particular impressed with Latiesha’s business, with one writing on X: “Selling toenails, spit etc online is making me want to… #ThisMorning,” alongside a GIF of someone gagging.

Another simply wrote: “FOUL,” while a third said: “Why the hell would you buy someone else’s toenails #thismorning.”

“How low have people sunk? Selling spit and toenail clippings – I could cry #ThisMorning,” another wrote.

However, others were quick to praise Latiesha’s entrepreneurial spirit. “Good on her flogging toenail clippings #thismorning,” one wrote.

“So she is earning £240k a year selling her toenails… *logs onto OF* #ThisMorning,” a second tweeted.

Martha and Humphrey have their hands full in Beyond Paradise as they continue their fostering journey. As if this wasn’t enough, a surprise return may rattle them.

After two years of absence, one Beyond Paradise star has decided to return to the BBC show for its third series(Image: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barratt )

While Humphrey continues to solve crime in the third season of Beyond Paradise, Martha faces an array of challenges in the popular drama.

DI Humphrey Goodman is back for another season of the popular Death In Paradise spin-off, with actors Kris Marshall and Sally Bretton reprising their roles as the loved-up couple.

Last year, Humphrey and Martha left BBC One viewers stunned when they decided against tying the knot, despite their engagement. But their relationship couldn’t be any stronger.

“They’re in a really good spot together,” Sally says. “They’re very busy but happy,” says Sally. Martha has her hands full this season as she relaunches her restaurant Ten Mile Kitchen, unaware that her mother Anne is set for a huge obstacle of her own this season.

Adding drama to the intrigue, Martha’s ex-fiancé, Archie (Jamie Bamber), makes an unexpected return – this time with a business proposal.

Jamie, 51, was last seen in Beyond Paradise’s first season, when Archie and Humphrey’s rivalry reached a boiling point. After locking horns, it seemed like Archie’s chapter had come to an end. But when executive producer Tim Key pitched the idea of a return, Jamie was intrigued.

Archie was last seen coming to blows with Humphrey – but will he come between the detective and Martha? (Image: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barratt )

“Archie was always one of Humphrey and Martha’s obstacles,” the Battlestar Galactica alum says, “You can’t have the same obstacle forever. And it was true to Archie’s character without repeating what we’d already seen

One key change? Archie isn’t here to win Martha back. Having spent time in Australia refining his wine-making skills, he’s accepted that their romance is over. Instead, he sets his sights on a different kind of connection – as sparks begin to fly between him and DS Esther Williams (Zahra Ahmadi).

“He’s successful in many areas of his life, but not in relationships,” Jamie says. “Maybe this time will be different, or maybe he’ll make the same mistakes.”

Regardless of where the storyline takes him, Jamie was thrilled to be back on set. “It’s one of the happiest casts and crews I’ve ever worked with.” He’s especially drawn to the show’s fresh take on police drama. “Why do police shows always have to be about dead bodies?” he says. “Most police work isn’t murder investigations – solving the puzzle should be enough.”

Actor Jamie Bamber has teased sparks with Humphrey’s partner on the force, Esther Williams(Image: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Joss Barratt )

Adding to the tension is Martha’s mother, Anne (Barbara Flynn), who returns to Devon from a failed relationship only to face a health scare. But instead of turning to her daughter for support, Anne withdraws, reluctant to burden Martha further. “Anne takes a step back because Martha has so much going on,” Barbara says, “She doesn’t want to add to her stress.”

Unfortunately, the secrecy only leads to more trouble. It takes a push from Zoe (Melina Sinadinou) before Anne finally confesses her health concerns, but by then, Martha is already seething that she didn’t come to her sooner.

“Martha’s fiercely protective of the people she loves,” Sally says, “When she finds out Anne’s sick, she gives her a hard time. But it’s because she doesn’t want Anne going through things alone.” Not that Anne will take kindly to being mothered by her daughter: “There’s no way Anne will let Martha parent her,” Sally says.

Despite the aura of conflict their bond remains unbreakable. “They drive each other mad,” Sally says, “But they’re incredibly close. Anne puts Martha back in her place, and they find their equilibrium again.” But how will Archie fit into this? And could it mean trouble for Humphrey and Martha?

The 55-year-old discussed the bloating she’s experienced from taking ‘very strong antibiotics’ following her pneumonia diagnosis

 

Andrea McLean has opened up about a ‘nasty’ symptom she’s been facing in the aftermath of her pneumonia diagnosis(Image: 2024 Mike Marsland/WireImage/Getty)

Andrea McLean has opened up about a ‘nasty’ symptom she’s been facing in the aftermath of her pneumonia diagnosis. The former Loose Women star, 55, said that while she starts the day appearing ‘kind of normal’, by dinner time it looks like she’s ‘swallowed a balloon’.

Although Andrea said the issue is bad enough at home, she also feels compelled to wear baggy clothes to hide her stomach when out and about. Thankfully, one thing has helped—and she’s encouraged others who suffer from bloating or digestive issues to give it a try, too.

“I start the day looking kind of normal,” she told her 300,000 Instagram followers. “Then, by dinner time, I look like I’ve swallowed a balloon. Which is bad enough if I’m at home, but if I go out, it means I have to wear something baggy to hide it, and that doesn’t feel tight. Not fun.

“Some of you may know I was very poorly at the start of the year, and ended up on very strong antibiotics for a while. This completely messed up any poor little bacteria that were hanging on for dear life in my gut. This meant all kinds of added issues – let’s just say I felt pretty sluggish, and the bloating was off the scale. It was nasty.

“I was recommended Gut Works by @drveganco and thought I’d give it a go. (I’m not vegan, but I’m open to trying anything that helps!) And it did!”

In December, Andrea spent a week ‘sweating and shivering with a raging temperature and chills’ before collapsing on the bathroom floor. She lay there for an hour before her husband saw this – he immediately called 999.

After being rushed to the hospital, Andrea faced numerous tests and scans. These revealed that she had acute kidney injury, sepsis, and severe pneumonia, resulting in a significant loss of lung capacity.

Andrea was then given ‘super-strong antibiotics’, painkillers and drips across several days. She previously described her hospital stay as a ‘sensory overload’, with relentless bright lights, distressing yells, and the omnipresent ‘smell of poo’.

Sharing her ordeal on Substack, Andrea said last month: “Note to self; being a big brave girl and not saying how much pain you’re in when you’ve lost 80% capacity in one of your lungs to severe pneumonia and infection is not a smart move. Get on the strong stuff ASAP.”

Andrea suffered a black eye earlier this month after fainting on her bathroom floor(Image: Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/Getty Im)

While Andrea is now back home, she hasn’t fully recovered yet. Earlier this month, she suffered a black eye after fainting on her bathroom floor in a separate health scare.

“I wish that I had a super exciting story as to why. I didn’t leap from a moving car or parachute off a building,” Andrea previously joked on Instagram. “Nope. I just woke up yesterday morning and got out of bed too fast, I guess before I’d properly woken up. By the time I’d walked the few steps to the bathroom I thought: ‘I don’t feel too good..’ and fainted. I landed on my face.

“Literally face planted onto the bathroom floor. I have been checked out at A&E and thankfully my cheekbone isn’t broken, and I won’t lose any teeth. I was really lucky.

“Lesson learned. Take a moment. I’m not quite ‘better’ yet.” Despite this, it appears that small measures, like Gut Works supplements, are gradually helping Andrea recover.

“I felt better after a couple of weeks,” she said, reflecting on her experience with supplements this past weekend. “The bloatedness calmed down, things were moving more like they should and I started to feel a difference. It’s been about two months now, and I feel more like myself again, but better.”

Charlene White could not withhold her emotions as she praised her Loose Women co-stars saying ‘I am so proud of them’ as they bravely opened up about their experience with domestic abuse

Loose Women’s Charlene White was overcome with emotion as she hosted a “very special” episode as the ITV show marked one year since the launch of their domestic abuse campaign Facing It Together.

The stars of the daytime programme aired their own individual situations as well as speaking to victims in hope of changing the stark statistics. The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) estimated in March 2024 that 1.6 million women experienced domestic abuse.

Charlene was joined on Monday’s (March 17) show by Jane Moore and Denise Welch and Kéllé Bryan.

Both Kéllé and Denise were willing to share their own harrowing ordeals with viewers and audience members. Before handing over to former Coronation Street star Denise, Charlene wanted to air her own praises for her and Kéllé for bravely coming forward in hope of helping the cause.

Charlene White in tears moments into show

She aired: “One thing I do want to say about the ladies that work on this programme when they talk about their own personal experiences, it’s not easy.

“It’s quite a difficult thing to do but it is something that they want to do in order to be able to change those patterns and hopefully stop other people going through the things that they have been through.”

Through tears, Charlene stated: “Don’t underestimate that by telling their story that it’s an easy thing for them, it’s not and it’s a really difficult thing for them to do and the women are going to be talking about their stories, here this afternoon.”

Charlene wanted victims to know there was help

Reinforcing the message with significant emotion, the host added: “It will again be difficult for them to talk about but I am very proud of them for doing that because we’ll never stop using out platform to talk about issues.”

Denise bravely opened up about her own experience, telling the panel: “I was in a relationship that was coercive control and not physical abuse. It was coercive and the difference is you can’t see the bruises.”

Loose Women opened the campaign one year ago with many panel members sharing their own experiences

The former soap star revealed that she had been in a relationship before husbands Lincoln Townley and Tim Healy, she explained: “He started to chip chip away at my personality.

“He told me ‘your friends aren’t laughing with you, they’re laughing at you’,” as she recounted a situation “tipped” the table in a restaurant after she’d smiled at a couple walking in.

Eternal singer Kéllé also showed bravery talking through emotion about a number of frightful situations where she was physically restrained by her wrists.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the programme Jane Moore could be seen with tears streaming from her face as she outlined the programmes producers had contacted the Home Office with their findings from their very own campaign.

Anyone affected by Domestic Abuse can call the helpline 0808 2000 247 but anyone in immediate danger needs to phone 999.

Loose Women aired a special show to highlight their campaign Facing It Together, and Denise Welch opened up about suffering domestic abuse in a past relationship

Loose Women: Denise Welsh speaks about domestic abuse

Denise Welch described her heartbreaking experiences in a past relationship during an emotional moment on Loose Women today. The ITV star joined Kéllé Bryan in sharing their stories of domestic abuse, as part of the show’s campaign Facing It Together.

During the special episode, Denise, 66 – who has been happily married to Lincoln Townley – detailed an abusive relationship she suffered through before becoming a household name.

“I fell in love with this incredibly charismatic man, very, very good-looking, and I thought that my whole life had aligned and this was the person for me,” she said.

Unfortunately, things began to change. “And then, of course, you don’t realise what’s happening, so he started to chip, chip, chip away at my personality,” she said of the gradual process.

“Personality traits that I thought made me quite popular suddenly became detrimental, and he would say things like, ‘You know your friends aren’t laughing with you, they’re laughing at you. You know, when you told that joke that they all laughed at, why did you tell that joke? It was rude. You know they were all rolling their eyes at each other,’ and you start to slowly believe.”

Denise is now in a loving marriage, but she went through a horrifying journey with a man with narcissistic personality disorder(Image: SCU)

The Dancing on Ice star added: “What they do is as well, is that they very, very often have a dysfunctional family of their own. And this is sort of a part of narcissistic personality disorder. And because I was close to my family, bearing in mind probably three phone calls a week from a call box, because we didn’t have mobile phones, I was obsessed with my family. And so they very slowly start to bring you apart.

Denise then shared how the man turned his own toxic traits back on her, explaining: “Also the jealousy that comes, which is unbelievable, is because it’s your fault.” She quoted: “‘If I didn’t love you so much – it’s because I love you so much that you make me like this.’

“So an example of that, before I was on the telly, nobody knew who I was, we were sat in a restaurant together and I was facing the door. The door opened and a couple walked in, and we just made eye contact, so I smiled at them and they smiled at me.”

Recalling her ex’s reaction, Denise described: “He saw, he turned around and he looked at the guy, and I’m not going to say exactly what he said, but the table went up and he said, ‘You want to… my wife, right?’ Well not my wife, my girlfriend.

After being asked how the relationship made her feel, Denise shared: “I was – you can imagine that any normal person listening to that story would say, ‘Why did you not just leave?’

“But you are so desperate to change that person, and they make you feel like you are the centre of their life. And the other thing is… it’s very easy to say ‘Why don’t you leave.’ But basically they are incredibly manipulative.”

The actress added that she’d just watched an upcoming documentary about narcissistic personality disorder, and revealed what she’d learned from it. “Their desire to hurt that person overrides any fear of the law, any fear of anything. Their buzz, as it were, comes from their desire to hurt,” Denise noted.

Denise shared her story as part of a special show marking one year since the launch of Facing It Together, and also spoke with survivors of domestic abuse to encourage others to keep hope and find help.

Anyone affected by Domestic Abuse can call the helpline 0808 2000 247 but anyone in immediate danger needs to phone 999.

The Prime Video show is packed with comedy cameos, format twists and surprises designed to lure a smile from the players.

New Prime Video series Last One Laughing features a stellar lineup of stars from across British comedy. Comedian Jimmy Carr challenges 10 of Britain’s funniest comics to spend the day together without so much as cracking a smile.

The rules are simple: laugh and you’re out.

Over the course of the series, they will use every ounce of their comedic talents to try and break their opponents without cracking up themselves.

And it’s not just their rivals they need to watch out for — the show is packed with comedy cameos, format twists and surprises designed to lure a smile from the players.

The first four episodes will be released on Thursday (March 20) and the final two episodes will launch on Thursday, March 27 exclusively on Prime Video.

It’s a stellar lineup of British comedy talent as you’ve never seen them before, but who will be crowned the inaugural winner of Last One Laughing UK?

Bob Mortimer

Comedian Bob Mortimer is a national treasureBob Mortimer is one of Britain’s most beloved comedians. He first formed an iconic comedy act with Vic Reeves and appeared together on Shooting Stars, The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer and Bang Bang, It’s Reeves and Mortimer.

The comedian is a published actor thanks to his books The Satsuma Complex and The Hotel Avocado, co-hosts Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing and makes memorable appearances on BBC’s Would I Lie To You?

Daisy May Cooper

Daisy May Cooper attends the BFI screening of Am I Being Unreasonable? ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
The comedic actress from Gloucestershire shot to fame thanks to her BAFTA-winning series This Comedy alongside her brother Charlie Cooper.

Her success has seen her star in The Personal History of David Copperfield, Avenue 5, The Witchfinder and Rain Dogs. She is also one of the team captains on Never Mind the Buzzcocks and has appeared on Taskmaster, The Big Fat Quiz, The Masked Singer and RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. the World.

Her latest show, Am I Being Unreasonable?, was a smash hit for the BBC in 2022 with 3.2 million viewers and won various awards.

Joe Lycett

Joe Lycett attends National Student Pride 202 ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
The stand-up comic has appeared on TV shows including Live at the Apollo, Taskmaster, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, 8 Out of 10 Cats, QI.

He has hosted Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back and Late Night Lycett for Channel 4 and became known for his big public stunts.

Judi Love

Loose Women’s Judi LoveThe presenter and comedian has appeared on 8 Out of 10 Cats, Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and Blankety Blank. She is also a regular panellist on the ITV talk show Loose Women and starred on Celebrity MasterChef, Strictly Come Dancing and the thirteenth series of Taskmaster.

Rob Beckett

Comedian and host Rob Beckett ( 
Image:
Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
The comedian made his debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2012 and his comedy career has got from strength to strength ever since.

He’s landed some big presenting gigs, including I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! NOW!, and is the narrator of hit E4 show Celebs Go Dating as well as a team captain on 8 Out of 10 Cats. He also hosted BAFTA TV Awards with fellow comedian Romesh Ranganathan.

Sara Pascoe

Sara Pascoe used to host The Great British Sewing Bee ( 
Image:
BBC/Love Productions)
The comedian and presenter is widely known for hosting The Great British Sewing Bee as well as appear on television programmes including 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Taskmaster and QI.

Lou Sanders

Lou Sanders starred on Dancing on Ice ( 
Image:
ITV)
Her show Shame Pig was the joint winner of the Comedians’ Choice Award for Best Show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2018 and he has since launched a successful comedy career.

Sanders has appeared on QI, Would I Lie to You?, Travel Man, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Hypothetical, The Russell Howard Hour, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Red Nose Day for Comic Relief, Live at the Electric and Question Team.

Joe Wilkinson

Known just as much for his dry wit as his iconic facial hair, his comedy career then began in 2004 when he attended an open mic night at his local village pub.

He is perhaps best known for his numerous 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown appearances, as well as starring in Ricky Gervais’ hit black comedy-drama Netflix series After Life. He is also in the comedy duo Two Episodes of Mash, alongside Diane Morgan.

Harriet Kemsley

The stand-up comedian has appeared on Sam Delaney’s News Thing, Roast Battle, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and 8 Out of 10 Cats.

Richard Ayoade

The Crystal Maze host Richard Ayoade ( 
Image:
Cynon Valley Leader)He is widely known for playing socially awkward IT technician Maurice Moss in Channel 4 sitcom The IT Crowd, but Richard has appeared in a range of shows and films. Ayoade has frequently appeared on The Big Fat Quiz of the Year, Was It Something I Said Gadget Man, Travel Man and the revival of The Crystal Maze.

He has also appeared in Early Man, The Lego Movie 2, Soul and The Bad Guys.

Ruth Langsford is celebrating her 65th birthday today and it is the first without Eamonn Holmes in over 14 years after they parted ways last May

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford split last year to the shock of many fans

TV presenter Eamonn Holmes has been advised to send ex-wife Ruth Langsford an important message as the pair approach a year apart.

Eamonn and Ruth parted ways last May after a 14-year marriage and they are currently navigating divorce proceedings. But, as Ruth celebrates her 65th birthday today, relationship guru James Preece of HeraHaven.com has clear advice for Eamonn.

James suggests Eamonn, 65, should extend a ‘Happy Birthday’ wish to Ruth to sidestep any “unnecessary tension”. James said: “It would be rude not to [contact Ruth] – especially if he wants to keep things amicable.

“A simple ‘Happy Birthday’ text is sufficient. He doesn’t need to make a big gesture, as this would be inappropriate, but he should at least acknowledge the day.”

Choosing to overlook the occasion, according to James, might “create some unnecessary tension and become a discussion point in the future”, reports Belfast Live.

James also reflected on how this birthday could feel for the Loose Women star, potentially tinged with both sadness and the prospect of new beginnings. “There could be some sadness, and she may feel isolated or lonely as she previously celebrated with Eamonn,” he noted.

The pair at Terry Wogan’s memorial service in 2016(Image: WireImage)

“However, she might also see it as a fresh start, a chance for renewal and an opportunity to embrace new things. She’s a strong woman, so while it might be bittersweet, I don’t think she’ll dwell on it for too long.”

Finally, James encouraged Ruth to surround herself with loved ones on her day, “in order to feel supported and appreciated”. TV host Ruth, mum to a 23-year-old with Eamonn, has publicly acknowledged that their split was “very difficult”, but she realised she had “to move on”.

Speaking to Woman and Home Magazine, she stated: “You can let yourself crumble or you pick yourself up and get on with life. It’s a choice.”

True to her words, Ruth appears to be embracing her newfound single status, spending more quality time with pals like Rylan Clark and Lizzie Cundy. In the meantime, Eamonn Holmes, a fixture at GB News, has also turned a new leaf in his personal life and is now involved with Katie Alexander, 43, a professional relationship counsellor.