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The Spice Girls’ Netflix biopic is reportedly back on track – with the streamer signing a huge name to write the script

Netflix’s Spice Girls drama ‘back on track’

Spice Girls fans will be over the moon to hear that the band’s Netflix biopic is back on track, according to reports. Not only that, the streamer has reportedly signed a huge comedian to write the plot.

Last year, it was reported that The Spice Girls were set to be the subject of a tell-all TV drama whether they are involved or not. It was revealed that a biopic was going to be made to mark 30 years since the release of their hit Wannabe. It’s expected to air sometime next year.

At the time, a source told the Sun: “Executives are keen to have all the group on board providing as much input as possible – after all they are pop royalty. But Netflix are the organisation who defied the wishes of real royalty and went ahead and made The Crown, so they aren’t afraid to go it alone when they have to.”

However, it was reported that things could be put on hold due to alleged rifts in the band. Now, it looks like the streamer has been granted the green light once again, with Channel 4 comedian Jack Rooke on script writing duties.

Netflix’s Spice Girls drama is reportedly back on track(Image: Corbis via Getty Images)

“Bagging Jack is a real coup for the project and might be the crucial element that drives the drama forward after its rocky start,” a source told the Sun.

The source then went on to say that Jack already has a great relationship with Mel C, as she’s a huge fan of his show Big Boys.

“Of course, Netflix has yet to confirm it has commissioned the show and there’s still a lot to play for. But there now seems to be a genuine will to make things happen,” the source continued.

The Mirror has contacted Netflix for comment.

The Spice Girls were together from 1994 – 2001(Image: Getty Images)

The girl group exploded onto the music scene in 1996 and went on to be one of the most successful British bands in the world. Geri Halliwell, 51, Victoria Beckham, 50, Mel B, 49, Mel C, 50, and Emma Bunton, 48, had worldwide success and went on to release two albums before Ginger Spice sensationally quit.

It isn’t the band’s first tie to the streaming service. In 2022, Emma and Mel B took part in The Circle USA where they were seen catfishing the other contestants pretending to be a man named Jared.

The duo admitted they are “massive fans” of the reality show, with Mel adding: “So when they asked us [to appear], no brainer.”

Britain’s Got Talent will see the return of KSI this week and there’s speculation that Simon Cowell is considering him being a judge next year amid calls to replace Bruno Tonioli

Simon Cowell is reportedly considering introducing a new judge on Britain’s Got Talent(Image: Getty Images)

Simon Cowell is now considering replacing Bruno Tonioli on Britain’s Got Talent, it has been reported. The talent show creator is also said to have already eyed up a new addition to the judging panel for the ITV show’s future.

Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno, 69, joined BGT in 2023 as the replacement for David Walliams. He’s back beside Simon, 65, Alesha Dixon, 46, and Amanda Holden, 54, for his third series this year, but KSI, 31, stepped in to cover for him at auditions that he was unable to attend.

Fans previously called for content creator KSI – also known as JJ Olatunji – to replace Bruno on the panel after his guest stint earlier in the series. There’s continued to be calls for KSI to be a permanent judge amid criticism of Bruno.

KSI is set to return to the panel for this weekend’s live semi-final and one fan wrote on X: “At last KSI is back.. keep him.” The latest reaction from viewers of the long-running show comes following criticism of Bruno earlier in the series.

Simon Cowell is reportedly considering a shake-up to the Britain’s Got Talent panel for next year(Image: ITV)

Someone said: “Anyone want Bruno replaced with KSI permanently or just me? Bloke does my absolute heading.” One fan wrote: “Was really hoping Simon would have fired Bruno and brought in KSI for the remaining live shows.”

Amid the reaction from viewers, Closer reports that Simon is considering further changes to the judging panel in the future. And a source told the outlet that he is “growing a bit fed up” of co-star Bruno’s “antics” on the show.

The source said: “With the X Factor no longer on air, BGT has become Simon’s baby, and he is obsessed with the show. Bruno’s currently in his third year as a judge, but there are already rumours that Simon is growing a bit fed up with his antics and recently summoned him to his house in the Cotswolds for a meeting.”

He’s said to be ‘keen’ to have KSI, who has been a guest judge this series, back(Image: ITV)

They went on to claim that Simon is “keen” to get KSI – who is a member of the YouTube group the Sidemen – involved with the next series of BGT. The source said: “Simon’s said to be keen to get KSI signed on for next year’s series.”

KSI had temporarily replaced Bruno – who is thought to have been away filming Dancing with the Stars in the US – at auditions held for the latest series of BGT in Blackpool just months ago. He’s also covered for Simon on the show.

KSI covered for Bruno Tonioli earlier in the series(Image: Variety via Getty Images)

His return to the judging panel was announced last week. BGT host Dec Donnelly, 49, shared the news with viewers at the end of the latest live semi-final on Sunday night.

The presenter also confirmed that this weekend’s episode will aired on Saturday, as usual for the new series. As previously reported, Dec said on the ITV show just days ago: “We’ll be back on Saturday with KSI joining the judging panel.”

This year’s National Television Awards will look a lot different with the addition of the Reality Competition category which will blend celebrity series with civilian-based formats

Ant and Dec could risk losing their 23-year reign of success in massive NTA shake-up(Image: Getty Images for the NTA’s)

The stage is set for a high-stakes showdown at the National Television Awards as two of Britain’s most talked-about reality shows prepare to compete in the same category. I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! will now go up against The Traitors in the newly reshuffled Reality Competition section – a major change that blends celebrity-fronted series with civilian-based formats.

This shake-up moves the jungle-based staple out of its usual Entertainment category, pitting the ITV juggernaut against the BBC ’s breakout psychological thriller in a battle that will surely divide the audience vote.

Big-name presenters also feature prominently this year, including Alison Hammond, Holly Willoughby, Jeremy Clarkson, Maya Jama, and Gary Lineker, whose departure from the BBC could make this his final shot at victory.

One unique highlight of this year’s nominations will be the first-ever father-and-son face-off at the NTAs, thanks to Bradley Walsh and his son Barney, who are both up for recognition following their work on the Gladiators reboot.

The Traitors will go head-to-head with I’m A Celebrity(Image: PA)

Meanwhile, Netflix ’s gripping drama Adolescence is poised for a strong showing, with four nods. Lead actor Stephen Graham, young co-star Owen Cooper, and Erin Doherty are all nominated for individual performances, while the show itself is a frontrunner in the New Drama category.

Fresh new series haven’t gone unnoticed either. Disney+ adaptation Rivals by Jilly Cooper and the BBC’s chaotic comedy Amandaland are both in contention.

I’m A Celebrity, which last year featured Maura Higgins, has amassed a staggering 15 NTA wins to date. However, The Traitors, which debuted in 2022, is undefeated in its category winning both years it has been nominated.

Elsewhere, fans of Gavin & Stacey will be hoping the show’s final episode finally gets its due, following a BAFTA snub, with a chance to score big in the Comedy category.

Ant and Dec will be up against The Traitors(Image: ITV)

ITV also dominates nominations in the Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award, boasting nostalgic revivals like Bullseye and You Bet!, as well as innovative new shows like 99 To Beat and the groundbreaking interview series The Assembly.

Over on Prime Video, Last One Laughing also enters the race, buoyed by the comedic chemistry between Bob Mortimer and Richard Ayoade, who kept audiences in stitches.

Soap operas, as always, remain a stronghold of talent. Steve McFadden earns acclaim for his haunting portrayal of Phil’s breakdown in EastEnders, while Emmerdale ’s Eden Taylor-Draper and Doctors alum Beth Cordingly are praised for their work on coercive control and sexual abuse storylines, respectively.

Celebrity Big Brother champion Jack P. Shepherd could also score for his powerful scenes in Coronation Street as David Platt’s world unravels.

Returning Drama is another competitive category, marking significant transitions in long-running series. ITV’s Vera secures a nomination following Brenda Blethyn’s emotional departure. Doctor Who and Death in Paradise also land spots, thanks to their refreshed casts. They’ll battle streaming heavyweights like Black Mirror, Heartstopper, and Slow Horses.

Molly-Mae Hague has been given a nod for her Amazon Prime series(Image: Dave Benett/Getty)

In another thrilling match-up, Rivals leads David Tennant and Danny Dyer will face off in the Drama Performance category.

The NTAs will also highlight television’s power to tell deeply personal stories. The Authored Documentary section features several emotional standouts, including Freddie Flintoff’s Flintoff on Disney+, which shares his road to recovery after a horrific Top Gear accident.

The BBC also shines with Amy Dowden’s Cancer And Me and Sir Chris Hoy’s Finding Hope. Molly-Mae Hague scores a nod with her Prime Video documentary Behind It All, while Flintoff also doubles up with Field of Dreams in the Factual Entertainment category. There, he’ll compete with former co-stars Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris for Road Tripping.

Jeremy Clarkson is also in the running twice with nominations for both Clarkson’s Farm and The Grand Tour.

Fan-favorite programs like Strictly Come Dancing, The Voice UK, and Great British Bake Off continue to dominate the Talent show category, while This Morning, BBC Breakfast, Good Morning Britain, and Loose Women are all recognised in the Daytime bracket.

Freddie Flintoff’s Flintoff on Disney+ is up for an award(Image: Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Ima)

Celebrating 25 years on air, Bargain Hunt also receives a nod. The revised Reality Competition category throws up another twist, as audiences are now forced to choose between celebrity and civilian versions of the same shows.

That includes Celebrity Big Brother versus Big Brother, Celebrity Race Across the World versus the original format, and Love Island going head-to-head with Love Island: All Stars.

Even if I’m A Celebrity doesn’t pull off another win, presenters Ant and Dec remain frontrunners for the TV Presenter title – a title they’ve famously claimed for 23 consecutive years.

This year’s nominations also nod to innovation and reinvention, with shows like The Repair Shop On The Road and Policing Paradise breaking new ground in storytelling.

ITV have announced huge changes to their Daytime output, including Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women amid fears of money-saving cuts at the broadcaster

ITV daytime will look very different in a few months with huge changes coming to shows including Good Morning Britain. The ITV news and magazine shows usually run from 6am to 1.30pm weekdays and include the breakfast show followed by Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women.

From January 2026, Good Morning Britain will be extended by 30 minutes to run from 6am to 9.30am daily. While Lorraine Kelly’s show has been cut in half and will now run from 9.30am until 10am. Not only that, but the programme will only air for 30 weeks of the year.

During the weeks Lorraine is not on air, Good Morning Britain will run from 6am to 10am. This Morning will remain in its 10am-12.30pm slot on weekdays throughout the year, while Loose Women will be in the 12.30-1.30pm slot for a seasonal basis of 30 weeks too.

Lorraine Kelly returned to work this week after undergoing surgery earlier this month ( 
Image:
ITV)
Kevin Lygo, Managing Director of ITV’s Media and Entertainment Division, explained of the huge changes: “Daytime is a really important part of what we do, and these scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust as well generating savings which will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres.

Lorraine Kelly frustrated at not being able to hold granddaughter

“These changes also allow us to consolidate our news operations and expand our national, international and regional news output and to build upon our proud history of trusted journalism at a time when our viewers need accurate, unbiased news coverage more than ever. I recognise that our plans will have an impact on staff off screen in our Daytime production teams.”

Loose Women will only air 30 weeks of the year ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
He added: “We will work with ITV Studios and ITN as they manage these changes to produce the shows differently from next year, and support them through this transition. Daytime has been a core element of ITV’s schedule for over 40 years and these changes will set ITV up to continue to bring viewers award winning news, views and discussion as we enter our eighth decade.”

The expanded Good Morning Britain will see a mix of news, interviews, debate and competitions as well as more regional news and more investigations as well as more analysis of the biggest stories of the day.

GMB will be made by a special team within ITV News at ITN whilst Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women will continue to be produced by ITV Studios. It will be broadcast from a new location in central London. ITV Studios is now working with its Daytime teams that will see the three shows produced by one team sharing resources and operations.

Lorraine recently made her return to work following an operation. Speaking about it on her show, she said: “Well, it was keyhole surgery to get rid of my ovaries and fallopian tubes, keyhole is amazing.

“I’ve got three new holes in my body which are fantastic, all healing beautifully … I’m all good, absolutely fine, I’ve had it before and I was fine. I only stayed in for one night but so well looked after, I couldn’t have asked for better care. Obviously when I went home, Steve had to do everything. So I’m not even allowed to hoover, apparently, not allowed to lift anything.”

Lorraine’s show was covered by guest presenters in her absence but she has yet to break her silence about her show changes.

The Loose Women star, 66, illuminated a little-known health issue that’s possibly linked to depression symptoms

In 36 years of fighting depression, Denise said she had never heard of this health issue before(Image: Getty Images)

Denise Welch has opened up about the return of her depression and the possible underlying cause of her ongoing symptoms. The 66-year-old said she recently discussed mental health with a neurologist in Los Angeles, who explained that a lesser-known health issue could be behind her struggle.

In 36 years of fighting depression, Denise said she had never heard of this health issue before and spoke on ITV’s Loose Women to spread awareness. “I met, through a friend, a neurologist in Los Angeles, and I’d never talked to a neurologist before,” she told her fellow panellists.

“And I was explaining to him the onset of my depression, and he said, ‘That is incredibly, incredibly rare.’ Whether it is endogenous, that’s chemical, or whether it’s reactive. And he said, because your son has excruciating cluster migraines, he said, ‘Have you ever had a migraine?’ I said, ‘No, I barely get a headache, I’m a stomach person.’

“And he said, ‘Have you ever heard of a non-headache migraine?’” Nodding to co-star Coleen Nolan, Denise continued: “You’re the only person who said you had, and I had never heard of such a thing.

“I then became aware of it and started to study it because he said that when I get the tingling in my palm and the taste in my mouth, he said it’s almost like a migraine sufferer has an aura.”

“Anyway, I’ve started looking into this and thought, in 36 years nobody has said to me, ‘Have a look at the symptoms of non-headache migraine and cortical spreading depression,’ which comes on in a wave, which is linked to migraine.

“So, again, I’m not saying, ‘Oh, that’s what I’ve got,’ but it’s just how lacking we are in constant research and information about depression as an illness.” Non-headache migraines, also known as silent migraines, usually encompass just the aura without any head pain.

Like other migraines, these can last between two hours and three days. It’s believed that just 5% of people with migraines suffer from non-headache, silent episodes.

However, the Cleveland Clinic adds: “Some silent migraine symptoms are similar to other more serious medical conditions. So, don’t hesitate to get immediate medical attention if you have sudden, significant symptoms like difficulty talking, numbness and weakness.”

The Loose Women star said she spoke with a neurologist about her symptoms(Image: Getty Images)

Potential warning signs before a silent migraine

Depression
Urinating more frequently
Tiredness/exhaustion
Heightened sensitivity to light and sound
Irritability
Hyperactivity
Neck pain or stiffness
Specific food cravings
Nausea
Sleeping difficulties
Trouble concentrating, reading or speaking

Other potential symptoms during a silent migraine

Trouble speaking – slurring or mumbling words
Tinnitus – ringing or buzzing in the ears
Dizziness – feeling faint or that your head is spinning
Numbness and tingling in the arms, face, lips or tongue

It’s crucial to seek GP guidance if you are experiencing regular, debilitating migraines. For more information, visit the NHS website.

Staff on Lorraine fear its much-loved host might choose to quit if the standard of the show falls due to sweeping ITV cuts – as the channel’s employees are left shell-shocked and in tears over the news

Staff fear BAFTA winner Lorraine may walk if the standard of the show falls (Image: Getty Images for BAFTA)

Staff on Lorraine fear its much-loved host could quit the show after it bore the brunt of massive ITV cuts.

The presenter has been left devastated by the scale of job losses set to hit the programme which is set to be slashed from an hour to 30minutes. It will also now only air for 30 weeks out of 52.

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ITV boss Kevin Lygo has insisted that presenters will remain the same across all affected programmes.

But a source said: “There are genuine fears among staff that Lorraine may decide to walk if the quality of the show they are putting out declines. It’s hard to see how standards won’t fall….and there are questions over whether Lorraine will want to be associated with that. Lorraine and her team are perfectionists – it’s why the show is loved by so many.”

The source said the move was a “kick in the teeth” especially given ITV was crowing this week about the show amassing its highest ratings for four years.

A second insider added: “This is a presenter who has just come back from having an operation, has won a BAFTA, is enjoying record ratings….and then ITV show their appreciation by yanking her off air half the year. Staff are beside themselves, and have been in tears constantly. It doesn’t make any sense given the trajectory the show is on.”

Lorraine Kelly: Staff are worried about her future

Altogether, ITV is slashing 220 jobs, as it aims for cost savings of up to £50million.

Insiders reported “collective devastation” after being ordered to a meeting of all daytime staff yesterday to be told that almost half of the 450 jobs in ITV Daytime were being cut.

The overhaul will see the money saved being “reinvested” into other programming with a focus on drama, sport, entertainment and reality programming.

From January 2026, Loose Women will also adopt a “seasonal” schedule of 30 weeks a year, a loss of more than 10 weeks on the current schedule but a return to the pattern it held for more than a decade before 2016.

ITV’s news provider ITN is to take over production of Good Morning Britain from next year as part of the major revamp of the channel’s long-running daytime brands. GMB will be re-homed within ITN’s Gray’s Inn Road headquarters and be extended by half an hour for 30 weeks of the year (6am – 9.30am), and by an hour for the remaining 22 weeks when Lorraine is now off air (6am – 10am).

The changes aim to allow GMB to benefit from “the journalistic and production resources already in place for national news bulletins”. The extra hours each week will be filled with extra regional news, investigations and analysis of the biggest stories of the day.

Staff reacted with widespread dismay to the huge number of job cuts. The current Good Morning Britain team was particularly hard hit – of the 133 employees who currently make the early-bird magazine show, hosted by Susanna Reid, Richard Madeley and Ed Balls, just 38 will make the move to ITN.

Lorraine recently had an op (Image: Lorraine Kelly/Instagram)

An insider said: “The devastation among the staff is palpable after the announcement. To say it blindsided them would be an understatement.

“There had been whispers going round for some time over a merger between ITV News and Good Morning Britain, but no indication that the Daytime shows would be affected.

“We still don’t know how many people are going to lose their jobs, but rumours around 50% of the entire staff from GMB, Lorraine and This Morning will be affected which is staggering. “All of the shows are produced by teams of super dedicated professionals, everyone is completely devastated.”

In terms of scheduling, This Morning has emerged unscathed and will remain in its 10am -12.30pm slot on weekdays. Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women, all made by ITV Studios, will move collectively to new studios within central London.

Presenter Lorraine, who last year celebrated 40 years in broadcasting and was awarded a special Bafta to mark the milestone, will now present her shorter show for five days a week, rather than four. Her regular stand-ins, Christine Lampard and Ranvir Singh, will provide holiday cover and will “remain as part of the ITV Daytime family”. Ranvir also hosts GMB while Christine does stints on Loose Women.

ITV media and entertainment managing director Kevin Lygo said that the aim was to save cash amid huge hikes in costs without losing any of the on-air talent. “Daytime is a really important part of what we do, and these scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust, as well generating savings which will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres.

ITV will undergo major changes to their Daytime offerings – including Good Morning Britain(Image: RAY BURMISTON)

“These changes also allow us to consolidate our news operations and expand our national, international and regional news output and to build upon our proud history of trusted journalism at a time when our viewers need accurate, unbiased news coverage more than ever.”

In a statement, ITV said the money saved would help to fund dramas like Mr Bates vs The Post Office and coverage of the biggest sporting events like next year’s football World Cup, plus reality and entertainment shows.

Lygo said that the changes would future-proof the much-loved daytime brands for decades to come. “Daytime has been a core element of ITV’s schedule for over 40 years and these changes will set ITV up to continue to bring viewers award winning news, views and discussion as we enter our eighth decade.”

Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid on GMB(Image: ITV)

The changes will form part of a renewed five-year deal between ITV and ITN national, international, London and digital news provision.

They come just a few months after a major overhaul of the channel’s soaps, which will each move to a five-nights a week scheduling model from January.

In February it was announced that both Coronation Street and Emmerdale will be reduced by an hour a week to create a soap “power hour” every weeknight – but also to save money. One year ago, ITV CEO Carolyn McCall announced 200 redundancies would be made from departments including commercial, technology and operations.

ITV’s budget for programme-making has been steady at around £1.3bn for a number of years.

After ITV announced a major shakeup to it’s daytime television shows, it’s feared Loose Women’s cast could be cut by up to a third with the show being reduced across the year

The Loose Women lineup could be cut(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

Major changes are coming to ITV, and it could spell bad news for a number of popular presenters. It was announced recently that the organisation is having a massive shake-up with how its daytime TV will feature, and it appears the Loose Women crew could feel the full force of the switches.

ITV daytime is set to look very different in a few months following the announcement of the huge change. It sees a rejig of a number of shows, including Good Morning Britain. ITV news and magazine shows usually run from 6am to 1.30pm weekdays and include the breakfast show followed by Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women.

However, from January 2026, Good Morning Britain will be extended by 30 minutes to run from 6am to 9.30am daily. The change also sees Lorraine Kelly’s show cut in half.

It will now run from 9.30am until 10am, and only be on our screens for 30 weeks of the year – the same amount of weeks as Loose Women will now air.

Loose Women will only air for 30 weeks a year

It’s thought up to a third of the 26-strong pool of Loose Women presenters could now face losing their job. A source told The Sun: “Everyone is completely gutted and in shock.

“We can’t believe they would dismantle these brilliant shows. It’s the death of daytime TV.”

Another added: “There’s no way all the Loose Women will be needed now there’ll be far fewer episodes to fill.”

Despite the on-screen show being cut, Loose Women: The Podcast will continue and provide more work for the cast.

The overhaul was announced yesterday by Kevin Lygo, managing director of ITV’s media and entertainment division. He said: “Daytime is a really important part of what we do, and these scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust as well generating savings which will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres.

“These changes also allow us to consolidate our news operations and expand our national, international and regional news output and to build upon our proud history of trusted journalism at a time when our viewers need accurate, unbiased news coverage more than ever.”

He added: “I recognise that our plans will have an impact on staff off screen in our Daytime production teams.

“We will work with ITV Studios and ITN as they manage these changes to produce the shows differently from next year, and support them through this transition.

“Daytime has been a core element of ITV’s schedule for over 40 years and these changes will set ITV up to continue to bring viewers award winning news, views and discussion as we enter our eighth decade.”

TV star Denise Welch has recalled the panic of learning maths at school and how its impact lasts until this day – as she backs a new drive to improve numeracy in the UK

Denise Welch: ‘No matter how hard I concentrated, numbers never made any sense’

Loose Women legend Denise Welch has spoken of her fear of maths at school – which has stayed with her until now.

The actress and TV star says: “I used to look at my school timetable – which I can see in my mind’s eye – and I would see ‘double maths’ and ‘double maths’. It used to make my palms sweat and I would be crying. Rather than thinking, I’ve got to get better at this, it instilled such a fear, which has lasted to this day. I am one of those people who struggles with maths. I have always struggled with maths, and I got left behind a long time ago.”

Denise Welch says he experience of learning maths at school had left ‘deep scars’(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Denise was interviewed ahead of National Numeracy Day, on Wednesday, which aims to inspire everyone to improve their number confidence and skills. The initiative is run by the charity National Numeracy, the UK’s only charity dedicated to everyday maths.

She says she was “number-phobic” despite her dad having a degree in economics, adding he “could never understand why I found it so difficult. He would try to explain things to me, but my brain would just shut down. So, instead, he took control. Dad did my finances for as long as I can remember, balancing my accounts, paying bills, and ensuring everything was in order.”

Denise , 66, recalls a primary school teacher who, she claims, made matters worse by being strict and impatient. She recalls: “I would sit in class, heart racing, stomach in knots, trying desperately to keep up. I’m convinced he got some kind of kick out of it because he’d pick on me repeatedly. And anybody who has struggled with numbers will know – being put on the spot is definitely not the answer.

No matter how hard I concentrated, numbers never made any sense. The more frustrated he became, the worse I felt. My anxiety grew so intense that I would shake uncontrollably before maths lessons and would vomit from sheer panic. That experience left deep scars. I never really learned how to deal with numbers properly, and as I grew older, I avoided them at all costs.

Denise Welch with Loose Women panel (Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

“Homework with my two sons was a particular struggle; they’d come to me with their maths questions, and I’d break out into a cold sweat, fumbling through the basics, hoping they wouldn’t catch on to my complete lack of confidence.”

She went on: “Money management has been the bane of my life. Anything to do with my tax, or with mortgages – I still do that la la la la la la la. I would love to have been shown some techniques to make life a little bit easier.”

Denise threw her weight behind the National Numeracy Challenge, which takes about 10 minutes to complete, and aims to incrementally improve people’s confidence with maths.

The need for action is also supported by consumer champion Martin Lewis, a National Numeracy Ambassador. He said: “It’s a funny thing about maths – no one ever goes around saying, ‘I’m terrible at reading, you know?!’ But over the years of talking about money on television – which often involves maths, because the two are really closely linked – the number of presenters who have said, ‘I’m terrible at numbers, I wouldn’t know,’ as if that’s perfectly acceptable, is astonishing.

“I’m not trying to shame anyone who isn’t good at maths. I’m just trying to change attitudes. I’m trying to say we should aspire to be good at maths – we shouldn’t boast about being bad at it. Of course, there are many people out there with dyscalculia or other issues that mean they’re always going to struggle with numbers. But for most people, you can improve your numeracy, and it’s crucial to do so.

Martin Lewis: ‘If you’re not good with numbers, it makes it easier for you to be ripped off’(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

“It’s one of the reasons I’ve long been proud to be an Ambassador with National Numeracy. For all of us, having a fundamental understanding of numbers and functional numeracy empowers everything we do. If you’re not good with numbers, it makes it easier for you to be ripped off. So if you have the opportunity to take the National Numeracy Challenge – to see where you’re strong with numbers and where you’re not – I’d urge you to do so.”

Research by National Numeracy suggests women feel less confident making financial decisions, with “serious implications” for their well-being and independence. It found women are significantly less comfortable discussing money. In a poll of 2,000 people, 17% of women admitted they had low number confidence, compared to just 6% of men. Sam Sims, chief executive at National Numeracy, said: “This new data shows that overall women are less likely to feel comfortable, capable, or in control when it comes

Hits Radio recently announced the end of its regional breakfast shows in England and Wales, with Fleur East, Will Best and James Barr to front a nationwide version instead soon

A radio host was seen fighting back tears as he announced the end of a long-running show on Hits Radio. It comes following the news that regional breakfast shows will come to an end on the radio station in just a few weeks time.

Bauer Media Group announced recently that Hit Radio’s regional breakfast shows in England and Wales will be replaced by a national version from June 9. The new show will be hosted by Fleur East, Will Best and James Barr.

Among those affected by the news are John Dalziel – known as JD – and Roisin McCourt, whose breakfast show covers the West Midlands. They shared the news with listeners just days ago ahead of the final broadcast on June 6.

JD said: “This is one of those moments that’s honestly really tough to kind of say out loud but we’ve got some news for you. After almost 20 years of broadcasting around here, our show is coming to an end and we just wanna thank you because we’ve loved being part of your morning routine and can’t thank you enough for letting us into your lives.”

Roisin said: “We have and from my point of view, I think I’ve had three children – they’re 13, they’re nine, they’re five – and I’ve been here waking you up every morning but now I’m gonna be at home waking them up, which they’re either gonna love or hate. You’re also gonna see a crazy woman driving around Coundon in a Citreon so watch out for me, but honestly, it’s been absolutely incredible but 21 years is a very long time on a breakfast show and we really wanna thank you!”

John Dalziel (left) and Roisin McCourt (right) have announced the end of their Hits Radio breakfast show(Image: Instagram)

Visibly emotional, JD said: “We’ve had an incredible journey. Y’know we’ve grown up on this show, we’ve lived our lives out loud. We’ve had kids, we’ve been through different partners, we’ve had breakups, we’ve had the lot. But y’know what? There’s nothing more than the priviledge of broadcasting to the area that you call home. The place that you’re born and brought up with and that’s always gonna be incredibly special to me.”

He added: “You shared your lives daily with us, y’know your weddings, your breakups. I think we’ve even got a couple of kids named after us somewhere round here.”

He continued: “From June 9th the all new breakfast show will be here. I know the guys well and they’re gonna give you a great wake up in the morning. […] They’ve got loads planned over the summer.

“But I just wanted to say, the biggest thank you to firstly you [Roisin], you’ve been my partner in crime. You’ve been my daily giggle. You’ve been the beating heart of this show. You’ve shared everything with not just me and Paul, but the whole of the West Midlands, and Paul I’m gonna miss the daily belly laugh everyday. You make everything funny even when it shouldn’t be.”

Hits Radio announced the end of the current regional breakfast shows in March ahead of their final broadcasts. The brand confirmed that it will introduce one single national Breakfast show across England and Wales from June 9.

It was also shared at the time that Hits Radio and Greatest Hits Radio will continue to broadcast local news, including traffic and travel information. Additionally, parent company Bauer Media said it would “streamline its operations by consolidating its production capabilities into seven key centres”.

Simon Myciunka, CEO of Bauer Media Audio UK, said: “We continually evolve to meet audience behaviours and advertiser needs and by launching one single national Breakfast show across Hits Radio, we are supercharging our efforts to provide a more unified, engaging experience across the entire schedule while also retaining local news and information.” They added: “I’d like to extend my thanks to our Hits Radio Breakfast teams in England and Wales as they embark on their final run of shows. Their significant contribution has played a hugely important part of the Hits Radio story so far and we wish them well for the future.”

Actress Elizabeth Hurley is getting ready to make the next big move with musician Billy Ray Cyrus ahead of her milestone birthday just a month after announcing their shock romance

Liz Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus surprised fans with their unlikely romance(Image: INSTAGRAM)

Elizabeth Hurley is gearing up to take her romance with Billy Ray Cyrus to the next level as she marks her milestone birthday. The actress stunned fans with her unexpected relationship as she cosied up the the Achy Breaky Heart hitmaker, 63, at Easter.

Even Liz admitted the pairing was “unexpected,” having first crossed paths on the film set of Christmas in Paradise in 2022. After production wrapped up, they didn’t exchange words for two years.

Yet it was Liz who rekindled their friendship at a time when Billy Ray needed companionship the most during his separation from his wife, Firerose. The pair seem to not be taking this slow as they have already begun to merge their lives.

Liz has since shared an insight into her plans for her 60th birthday, with Billy Ray by her side. “He should be in England for my birthday. He’ll be meeting my family – and my dogs – and hopefully, it’ll be lovely,” she said.

The couple went public at Easter

Opening up on her plans, she told Hello! magazine: “I love every birthday. I always get overexcited if it’s a big birthday – I think people are even nicer to you, maybe give you more presents, more flowers, and generally spoil you more. I welcome it.”

Her plans with Billy Ray go beyond just her birthday, as Liz recently shared her wishes of creating a “great life” with the musician. Speaking with E! News, she shared: “It was unexpected. But we’re very happy together. And hopefully we’ll have a great life.”

Billy Ray has also been candid about his feelings towards the Austin Powers actress. He spoke warmly about their connection while on The Ty Bentli Show, reflecting how they bonded during the shooting of their 2022 film.

He said: “We did very few scenes together but the couple times we were in the same scene there was a chemistry there. We just laughed, and it was at a time I wasn’t laughing a lot.

“The oddest part was first, how much we laughed. Second, I figured we were so different but in some very strange way we had way more in common than we had different.”

Billy Ray gushed: “If all we ever were [is] the friends that we are, I would take that. She’s so impressively brilliant. She reminds me a lot of Dolly Parton. She’s a very smart businesswoman.”

“If you can laugh together, you can make it through everything.”

Billy Ray acknowledged the tough times following his divorce, sharing: “I felt like, ‘Wow, can life get any harder? Can it get any tougher?’ For me, at a certain point it was like, you can’t get knocked down any flatter than laying on your back when life is kicking you. And in this moment … a friend reached out.”

He responded to an unknown number, only to find out it was Liz reaching out. “I text back, I go, ‘Who is this?’ And it’s like, ‘Elizabeth Hurley.’ Of all the people to reach out to me in that second that maybe I needed most … this friend who made me laugh.”