Blog

Stacey Solomon has reportedly quit one of her TV roles after fans were concerned that she had quit Loose Women when she failed to appear in the ITV’s show 25th anniversary photo

Stacey Solomon has quit another one of her huge TV projects, according to reports.

The Sort Your Life Out star, 34, recently stepped down from her role as a designer for In The Style to spend more time with her family and now it’s been reported she’s left her role on Rennovation Rescue.

Stacey fronted the Channel 4 show for one season, which saw the plucky mum-of-five come to the rescue of homeowners who’d been left stranded by their builders and needed help to salvage their half-built homes.

Explaining her departure from the show, a source said: “Stacey had a great time making Renovation Rescue but the fact she isn’t doing a second series allows her to focus on her projects with the Beeb.”

Stacey Solomon has quit another one of her huge TV projects, according to reports ( 
Image:
Channel 4)

With her down to earth charm and no-nonsense attitude, Stacey has a string of presenting roles under her belt. Her work on BBC’s Sort Your Life Out earned her a National Television award for Factual Entertainment, with a source telling The Sun of the episodes: “They’ve been a huge success and the NTA win is evidence that the viewing public love what she does.”

The Dagenham-born star has a legion of loyal fans, who follow her career closely. Recently they were concerned when Stacey was missing from the 25th anniversary portrait for Loose Women, which included several panellists and presenters, all wearing silver sparkly dresses.

Among those present in the studio snap are Christine Lampard, Judi Love, Katie Piper, Kelle Bryan, Frankie Bridge, Dame Kelly Holmes, Charlene White, Sunetra Sarker, and Olivia Attwood-Dack.

Stacey joined the show in 2016 and has become a favourite with fans since her first appearance. She has not commented about her absence from the photo, however she did post on X, formerly Twitter: “Happy birthday to you, Loose Women. I can’t believe you’re 25 years old and I can’t believe I get to call myself a Loose Woman, I’m such a proud Loose Woman! 25 incredible years and so many more to come. Love you loads and loads.”

Fans were worried when Stacey was missing from the Loose Women 25th Anniversary photo ( 
Image:
No credit)
Earlier this year, Stacey revealed she had stepped down from a huge role after three years to spend more time with her family. The X Factor star welcomed her fifth child, Belle, with her husband, Joe Swash, 42, last year. The couple also shares Rex, four, and Rose, two, while Stacey has 16-year-old Zachary with her ex Dean Cox and Leighton, 11, with former fiancé Aaron Barnham.

Posting a statement on her Instagram story, Stacey told fans: “Today has been a wonderful but emotional day as I shot my LAST EVER collection for In The Style. I have loved every single second of being able to design & create clothing with the most incredible team & literally bring my dreams to life.’

She continued to say that this year, she has “thought a lot about work/family balance’ and what she needs to prioritise and as a result needed to ‘give more of myself back to my family”.

In May, Stacey said her dream was to quit TV work all together to become a stay-at-home mum, stating she wants to only take on work she can do mostly from home apart from the occasional “passion project”.

Loose Women’s Denise Welch has revealed the full story behind a harrowing stalking ordeal that saw her family forced to move home and hire private security staff

Loose Women star Denise Welch has spoken of her fear and anger that a man convicted of arson on her property is due to be released in the next three months.

Toraq Wyngard was jailed for arson and stalking charges in 2022 but is soon to be released.

“The stalker who set fire to my property, who came to my house with knives – who could have killed me or a member of my family or the brave woman who came to help – is getting out of prison soon, and I am f***ing terrified,” she told the Daily Mail.

It’s still unclear why Wyngard, who also goes by the name of Todd Wyngard, targeted Denise and her family. She described how her ordeal began on one evening in September 2020.

A neighbour knocked on Denise’s door to alert her to the fact that a skip on her driveway was on fire. It was very close to her car, and Denise’s husband Lincoln rushed out to move the vehicle before the fire could spread to its petrol tank.

Denise’s husband Lincoln had installed CCTV at their home – without it they might never have connected the disturbing incidents ( 
Image:
Loose Women’s Denise Welch/Instagram)Later, examining CCTV footage revealed a man running away from the skip towards a nearby churchyard. Police managed to trace the man, who could be seen wearing a distinctive baseball cap in the CCTV footage, and detained Wyngard.

Denise recalled: “He was told he couldn’t come near our home for a month while the police investigated. But after a month we heard – and only because I demanded to know – the CPS wouldn’t be bringing charges.”

Wyngard was jailed for seven years and seven months at Chester Crown Court ( 
Image:
PA)Some months later, Wyngard was again seen on CCTV scrawling offensive graffiti on Denise’s front gate. But when she attended her local police station and presented officers with the evidence, they told her their hands were tied, because it required three incidents to trigger an inquiry into stalking.

It was only later, after Denise and her family managed to connect the two chilling incidents with a note marked with satanic imagery that had put through her door, that police were able to launch an inquiry.

In April 2022 ­Wyngard, 64, pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court to stalking, arson, possession of a bladed article and criminal damage. He was ordered to spend seven years and seven months in prison.

Denise has said she’s lucky that her job has given her the profile to speak out about the issue ( 
Image:
ITV)At that point his parole eligibility date was listed as October 2025, but Denise has since learned that he has been considered for early release. Her legal action to oppose his release was rejected, and Denise has been told that the authorities will notify her of which week Wyngard will be released, but not the actual day.

Denise says that she’s lucky enough to have a second home, and to be able to afford CCTV and private security guards – but that many women in similar positions don’t have those resources.

Even so, Denise says, the impact of the whole ordeal has been “devastating,” both for her and for her husband. “It isn’t over for us,” said Denise. “In December he will be free. But what about us?”

The Ministry of Justice has been contacted for comment

TOWIE star Pete Wicks has dished the dirt on how he’s able to remember certain dance move on Strictly Come Dancing as he revealed all while appearing on ITV’s Loose Women

Strictly Come Dancing star Pete Wicks has shared how he learns the dance moves while rehearsing for the much-loved BBC show.

The 36-year-old revealed all when he appeared on the latest instalment of Loose Women alongside his dance partner Jowita Przystal. Talking about how they’re currently doing in the compeition, the pair went on to discuss what goes on behind the scenes.

Jowita said: “I found a way that we work best, for example we write a script for every dance. So we have a story for everything and Pete has his own book and he write things in his own way, so yeah it doesn’t make any sense,” she explained.

Pete added: “I don’t understand the name of what the steps are so I have to name them myself.” When asked by Christine Lampard if he could name some of the steps he made up, he said: “Not on daytime TV.”

Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal appeared on Loose Women ( 
Image:
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal appeared on Loose Women)

But despite the rivetting discussion, fans were distracted and left swooning over Pete’s dashing looks. One viewer on X gushed: “Would never normally justify watching Loose Women, but cor blimey Pete Wicks, just make me pregnant.”

Another said: “Give me Pete Wicks over Olly Murs any day.” Another said: “Pete with his wet hair pirate charm, getting all the loose ladies a bit excited and making them giggle at everything he says”

Pete revealed how he learns his steps on Strictly ( 
Image:
ITV)
On Tuesday (October 1), Pete and Jowita caught up with their fans on social media by hosting a Q&A on Pete’s Instagram Stories. One of the first questions asked was: “How are your trotters holding up?” to which Pete replied: “Interesting question and this week, badly. Why’s that?” he asked Jowita who sheepishly replied: “Because you’re barefoot…”

He continued: “Because I’m dancing barefoot. No shoes.” Jowita then interjected to say: “But I clean the floor every morning I come here for you,” to which Pete said; “She cleans the floor every morning, hopefully, they’ll do the same in the studio but yeah, any of you foot fans out there you’re in for a treat this week.”

Pete will be appearing on Strictly on Saturday ( 
Image:
Guy Levy/BBC/PA)In addition to this, Pete was also asked what his biggest challenge will be this week. The pair admitted it would be “smiling more” before they were asked how things are going so far in training.

“We’ve just finished eight hours of dancing and I’m shattered, my feet hurt, I’m very sweaty…” Pete said as Jowita interjected: “But it’s amazing, right? I just stepped on your foot like three seconds ago, unfortunately, and because Pete’s barefoot it’s quite painful. I’m so sorry.”

Coronation Street aired a shocking arrest this evening following the fire at the Platts house, whilst a new suspect came to light following the fire

Coronation Street aired some new details about the fire at the Platts house tonight.

The Platts house went up in flames in shocking scenes earlier this week. David Platt had initially being researching ways to set fire to a house for the insurance money, but when questioned about it by Sarah, he ensured her he never did anything.

Shona had also been growing suspicious of him, but in the end, she believed him after he admitted he had been with his former prison inmate as a getaway driver. Whilst she wasn’t happy with his choice of a way to raise funds to pay back Harvey Gaskell, she was glad that he hadn’t been involved in burning the house down, with Max and Toyah still in dire situations in hospital.

As Nick found out from Sarah about David’s new friend, he decided he would go to the police station and report him for what he’d done, as Toyah could have lost her life in the blaze. David was then hauled in from Max’s bedside and was questioned by the police, who later arrested him – and he was locked into a prison cell.

A fire broke out on the Cobbles

Abi Webster was also quizzed about her part in the fire, with Kit and the police team convinced she could be responsible. Finally opening up about her hallucinations of Seb, Abi was adamant she needed support and help.

Elsewhere, Leanne Battersby struggled with her guilt. She had got Steve to lie about visiting her son’s grave but later admitted to him she wasn’t really there and that she had no recollection of what had happened that night.

Leanne also found matches in her pocket and was left worried she’d set fire to the house whilst drunk – but did she or is there someone else to blame? Whoever did it, we certainly know it wasn’t an accident.

Tonight, Kevin Webster trawled through the CCTV at the garage after noticing one of the jerry cans of fuel was missing. Convinced this proved it wasn’t Abi, he rushed down to the police station and showed them the footage.

Whoever the person was, they were wearing a black hoodie – but they seemed unsure where everything was – something Kevin said proved it wasn’t Abi who set fire to the house, as he tried to get her out of trouble.

At the end of the episode, Shona was stunned to see Max stir from beside her. He could barely speak as he asked what happened, before questioning where David was. David was still in a police cell, awaiting his fate, as the confusion surrounding the fire ramps up.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs onTikTok,Snapchat,Instagram,Twitter,Facebook,YouTubeandThreads.

Wynne Evans is taking part in a new BBC series alongside Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page, but bookies have tipped it to be axed after just one series amid his Strictly scandal

Wynne Evans’ new BBC series is tipped to be given the boot by bosses following the Strictly Come Dancing scandal.

The Welsh opera singer and his Gavin & Stacey pal Joanna Page set sail on watery adventures along the beautiful Welsh coastline in the series. While the BBC was said to be backing Wynne by refusing to pull his primetime travel show last month, insiders said the timing of the new series is ‘deeply unfortunate’ after his sexual remarks on the Strictly Live Tour.

The organisation is also facing mounting pressure to pull the show following the controversy in which Wynne made a crude remark to Janette Manrara at a press photocall event.

Wynne left Strictly Live Tour after his crude comment ( 
Image:
PA)
Now, according to bookmakers, the show is destined for the chopping block. It looks as if the possibility of a second series of the Welsh-based nautical series may be dead in the water, according to odds, with it priced just 1/8 that a second series of the show isn’t commissioned.

Lee Astley, spokesperson for BetIdeas, said: “Wynne Evans’ new BBC show ‘All At Sea’ is in danger of being cancelled and we go 4/6 the series is taken off air before the six episodes are aired. Calls for the show’s demise have stemmed from a reported inappropriate remark Evans made at the live Strictly tour and it looks increasingly likely the show will not reach its end.

“It’s highly unlikely that the show will have a follow-up series as a result – we make it 1/8 that a sequel series is not commissioned.”

Wynne recently stepped away from the Strictly tour following his latest controversy. He said at the time: “I’ve agreed with the BBC that I’ll take some time out from my radio show and the Strictly Live tour, as well as my other public commitments, to prioritise my wellbeing.

“I am deeply sorry for the pain my inappropriate actions have caused, and plan to take this time for self-reflection. Apologies to those I won’t get to see at the remaining performances and I’m grateful to my fellow tour gang for all the amazing support they have given me.”

Following the announcement, Wynne’s Strictly partner, professional dancer Katya Jones, 35, reacted to the news. Sharing his statement, she wrote over it: “Let’s show humanity and consideration. I will miss you my darling boy.”

Friends of Wynne’s have claimed the star is “worried he could lose everything” amid the scandal. It’s claimed he is bracing himself for more examples of his “inappropriate” comments to emerge. A friend said: “At the end of the day, he has been a bit of an oaf and made a stupid mistake but does he deserve such hatred? Yes, using the term spit-roast was absolutely wrong, and he realises this. His problem is that he is a joker and he continually wants to play to the crowd.”

The first episode of Amandaland aired on Wednesday night – as fans were left questioning where Motherland fan favourite characters Liz, Julia and Kevin had gotten to

BBC’s Amandaland fans were left questioning where three key characters of the Motherland spin-off were as the series premiered last night.

Motherland spin-off Amandaland aired it’s debut episode on Wednesday night, as Lucy Punch returned to our screens as mother, Amanda. Although Lucy made her return, fans were left questioning the return of other much beloved characters, who didn’t seem to get a mention.

The spin-off moves on from the events of Motherland, as Amanda relocates to South Harlesden in London following her divorce, while navigating the challenge of raising teenagers. It’s tougher times for the character, who’s been forced to cut back on many luxuries, including downsizing her flat and putting her kids in state school instead of private.

Amandaland premiered on Wednesday ( 
Image:
BBC/Merman/Natalie Seery)
Viewers witnessed Amanda reunite with long-suffering former bestie Anne (Philippa Dunne), who helped her navigate her new surroundings, but it left fans questioning the presence of other much beloved characters. Particularly, Julia, Kevin and Liz. Instead, Amanda is seen making bonds with lesbian parents Della (Siobhán McSweeney) and Fi (Rochenda Sandall). As Amanda starts over, has she dropped her friends in the process?

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan penned: “Amandaland is funny-ish (it’s Anne’s world and we’re just living in it), but way too vanilla. Could we have Liz, Julia, and Kev back instead of dull Della, Fi, and JJ? #Amandaland #Motherland.” Another wrote: “There is no julia in it – hard pass. #amandaland.” A third echoed: “#Amandaland Yeh, I’m missing Julia.”

Fans are holding out hope for a return of the trio, but they may be disappointed, as Anna Maxwell Martin, who played the role Julia, has spoken out about whether she’d be appearing on the show.

( 
Image:
BBC/Merman/Colin Hutton)
Just like the rest of the fans, The One Show’s Alex Jones was desperate to know whether Julia would be making a return. “Can Julia come and have a little cameo at least, a little coffee?,” she asked. However, Amanda broke fans’ hearts as she responded: “No, I don’t think Julia or Kevin or Liz are popping in.”

Despite the failure of Kevin, Liz and Julia’s return, many characters did reprise their role in the spin-off, including Joanna Lumley, as Amanda’s mother, Felicity. Philippa Dunne also reprised her role as Anne.

Although many fans were loving the spin-off, others were calling for a new series of Motherland, instead of a spin-off. Taking to X, on Wednesday night, one viewer penned: “Enjoyable but I kinda wish they had just done another series of Motherland. #Amandaland #MotherLand,” while another wrote: : “#AmandaLand if it was a brand new series everyone would love it, it’s only because we are comparing it to motherland that it doesn’t quite match up.”

Coronation Street has been pulled from the schedules again this week as the ITV soap is set to air just five episodes a week from now on after a major TV shake-up

Coronation Street has been taken off our screens this week in yet another scheduling reshuffle, amid ITV’s recent announcement of plans to reduce their weekly soap episodes.

On January 31st, Corrie devotees were left stunned when their daily dose of the cobbles was supplanted by Six Nations Live. Regrettably, it’s set to happen again. Instead of Coronation Street on Friday night (7 February), football enthusiasts can tune into Manchester United vs Leicester City as part of the FA Cup. The match will commence at 7:30pm following Emmerdale. Coronation Street typically broadcasts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for one hour from 8:00pm.

However, this week, Weatherfield fans have seen the soap air on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday instead. On Tuesday, ITV confirmed that fan-favourite soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale will adopt a new scheduling pattern due to ongoing budget cuts.

Emmerdale currently airs six episodes weekly, Monday to Friday with a double bill on Thursdays. Similarly, Coronation Street also airs six episodes per week, with two episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Now, only five 30-minute episodes of each show will be broadcast – a real terms cut to soap airtime of 17%. Bosses will now roll out a soaps power hour from Monday to Friday with 30-minute Emmerdale episodes airing at 8pm and 30-minute Coronation Street episodes airing at 8:30pm. However, each episode will continue to be available at 7am on ITVX before airing that same evening.

The launch of the new 2026 schedule is set to be a dazzling affair, as both Coronation Street and Emmerdale gear up for an audacious stunt that’s never been attempted before during a week of special episodes. Insights from research indicate that 30-minute episodes garnered higher audiences in 2024, offering more manageable chunks of drama that align better with evolving viewing patterns.

Coronation Street will air every day for half an hour in the new schedule shake-up
Coronation Street and Emmerdale, the UK’s most-watched soaps, boast a combined weekly audience exceeding 8 million viewers. This week, Corrie was ablaze with action – quite literally – beginning with a mysterious fire at the Platts’ residence last night, threatening to ruin far more than just the building itself.

Meanwhile, Emmerdale is set to deliver a pulse-racing plot, shot across several night shoots, revolving around a perilous evening that sees two limousines face danger, with one precariously perched on the edge of a treacherous frozen lake.

Kevin Lygo, ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment, commented: “The new commissioning pattern is viewer-led. We already give more choice than ever to viewers on how they watch us through ITVX and we want to present their favourite soap to them, in the most digestible way. In a world where there is so much competition for viewers’ time and attention, and viewing habits continue to change, we believe this is the right amount of episodes that fans can fit into their viewing schedule, to keep up to date with the shows.”

Coronation Street have explosives storylines coming up
The soaps are renowned for their brisk storytelling. The streaming-friendly, 30-minute episodes offer a better chance to meet viewer expectations for storyline pace, pay-off and resolution.

While viewing is increasing on ITVX, we’re aware that a significant portion of our soap audience still tunes in via the schedule. This new pattern is ingrained in the soap genre – no one else pulls off 30-minute drama this successfully.

It forms a consistent soap power hour that’s easy to locate in the linear schedule, for the UK’s biggest soaps. This new commissioning pattern will result in five hours of soaps a week, rather than the current six.

This week saw The Platts household go up in flames“Research insights also show us that soap viewers are increasingly looking to the soaps for their pacey storytelling. Streaming-friendly, 30-minute episodes better provide the opportunity to meet viewer expectations for storyline pace, pay-off and resolution. Whilst viewing is growing on ITVX, we know a significant proportion of our soaps’ audience still watch us via the schedule. This new pattern is in the DNA of the soap genre – nobody else does 30-minute drama this successfully. It creates a soap power hour that’s consistent, and easy to find in the linear schedule, for the UK’s biggest soaps. This new commissioning pattern will mean five hours of soaps a week, rather than the current six.”

“We recognise this will impact the people who work on the soap team. We’ll support our colleagues in ITV Studios as they navigate these changes, and will strive to minimise the impact on our staff. These changes are driven by what we believe is best for the long-term success of these crucial programmes. They also free up space in the overall programme budget for investment in programming that can help ITV expand reach in an extremely competitive market.”

The Duchess of Sussex’ ex-husband has announced the birth of his third child with in a sweet message. Their new baby is the couple’s first son

Huge congratulations are in order for Trevor Engelson and his wife Tracey Kurland, who have welcomed their third baby together.

Proud film producer Trevor shared the happy news that Tracey had given birth in Beverley Hills on Tuesday. Their brand new baby boy – the couple’s first son – has been named Logan Stanford Engelson.

Writing in Instagram alongside a sweet Instagram photo, Trevor, 48, wrote: “We are so proud to introduce the world to Logan Stanford Engelson! Our boy can’t wait to meet his big sisters. “I lay in awe of my bad ass wife who somehow pulls this all off with grace and composure. Once again, I’m the luckiest guy I know,” he added.

Trevor shared a sweet snapshot to celebrate the arrival of Logan Stanford Engelson
Trevor and Tracey were married in May 2019 at an outdoor ceremony at Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito, according to Entertainment Tonight. “It couldn’t have been more different than the royal wedding,” a source told the outlet at the time. “This was not stuffy! It was fun and casual and absolutely beautiful. Everyone was having the best time, especially Trevor and Tracey.”

The couple went on to welcome their first daughter, Ford Grace Engelson in August 2020, followed by Sienna Lee Engleson, who arrived in November 2021. Prior to meeting and falling in love with Tracey, Trevor was married to Meghan Markle. They were married in Jamaica in September 2011 after seven years of dating but separated in the summer of 2013, and officially divorced a year later.

In the book Meghan, A Hollywood Princess, Princess Diana’s biographer Andrew Morton claimed that the pair met at a dive bar while she was getting her start in acting. But “cracks began to appear in their marriage” shortly after they tied the knot, but that their separation was “totally out of the blue” for Engelson.

Meghan and Trevor were married from 2011-2014 ( 
Image:
Patrick McMullan via Getty Image)

Trevor and his wife Tracey are celebrating the safe arrival of their third child ( 
Image:
FilmMagic)
“Trevor went from cherishing Meghan to, as one friend observed, ‘feeling like he was a piece of something stuck to the bottom of her shoe.’”

At the time they had been trying to maintain a long-distance relationship and, as such, were not residing in the same city when they separated; Meghan was required to spend long periods of time in Toronto, where Suits was filmed, while Trevor lived in LA.

It’s been widely reported that Meghan posted her wedding and engagement rings back to Trevor in a “brutal” move. Royal expert Morton said: “A wealthy entrepreneur friend claimed that the marriage ended so abruptly that Meghan sent Trevor her diamond wedding and engagement rings back to him by registered mail. Another confirmed that the decision to end the marriage was made by Meghan and that it had come ‘totally out of the blue’.”

Trevor owns his own production company called Underground and has produced films including All About Steve with Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper and Remember Me, starring Robert Pattinson and Pierce Brosnan.

Princess Kate’s little-known talent that she developed long before she officially joined the Royal Family has likely helped her enormously since becoming a mum of three to George, Charlotte, and Louis

Long before Princess Kate married Prince William and officially became the future Queen, she had a career of her own, and it was something she is said to have had a “genuine talent” in.

This little-known specialty of the Princess of Wales, 43, is said to have helped her out enormously since she became a mum of three to Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six—especially when it comes to the royal youngsters attending high-profile events with their parents.

Back in 2006, Kate worked as a children’s accessories buyer at the high-street brand Jigsaw, and she is said to have displayed a serious knack for the role during the year she held the position. The Wales children always look seriously smart when they appear in public with their parents, and it’s likely some of the skills Kate picked up on the job – along with her natural aptitude towards stylishness – has helped her out hugely when it comes to getting her kids ready to attend a royal engagement.

The whole Wales family is also known to coordinate their outfits when they are out and about together in public – something a fashion expert has said previously is a way of projecting a “united front”.

Per the Daily Mail, royal author Katie Nicholls said in her book Kate: The Future Queen that Kate snagged the prestigious fashion job after getting in touch with a pal who owned the company – Belle Robinson – and seeing if there was any way she could find her a role.

“She rang me up one day and said: ‘Could I come and talk to you about work?’ She genuinely wanted a job, but she needed an element of flexibility to continue the relationship with a very high-profile man and a life that she can’t dictate,” the pal explained.

At that time, Kate and William had already been together for several years, after meeting whilst they were undergraduates at the University of St. Andrews – and due to their relationship, Kate was already a figure who attracted vast amounts of attention from the public.

After the position of children’s accessories buyer opened up, Kate impressed in the interview and landed the gig – and was known for her hard work whilst she was there. “She was very diligent and never late, and she had a very good work ethic. She made an effort to blend in and get on with the job,” a former coworker told the royal author.

Kate’s pal Belle, the owner of the company, also revealed: “There were days when there were TV crews at the end of the drive. We’d say, ‘Listen, do you want to go out the back way?’ And she’d say: ‘To be honest, they’re going to hound us until they’ve got the picture. So why don’t I just go, get the picture done, and then they’ll leave us alone.’

“I thought she was very mature.”

A judge in the United States has issued an update as to whether Prince Harry’s US visa application should remain private after he admitted in his controversial memoir to taking drugs

A judge has hinted that he is open to the possibility of releasing some of the sealed documents from Prince Harry’s US visa application.

Judge Carl Nichols has seen secret records revealing details of Harry’s visa status in the US, but they are currently sealed. The latest development in the two-year legal battle saw the judge explain in a Washington DC hearing today that he wanted “maximum disclosure as long as it doesn’t violate privacy.”

Judge Nichols said: “I’m not foreclosing the possibility that there might be some possible relief”, and asked Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide requests for redactions or “continued withholdings”.

He added that he wanted the “maximum disclosure as long as it doesn’t violate privacy”. John Bardo, a lawyer for the department, said the documents would be a “shell” once redacted.

Harry has admitted to taking cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

The long-running case was sparked when conservative Washington DC think tank The Heritage Foundation questioned why Harry was allowed into the US in 2020 after he admitted in his book Spare taking cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms.

The think tank has argued that Harry either received special treatment from the Biden administration, or had lied on his immigration forms. It requested for the release of his visa records under the Freedom of Information Act, arguing that the Prince should not have received a visa due to a history of drug use, but the request was rejected by the DHS.

US visa applications specifically ask the individual about current and past drug use, which can have a detrimental impact on the progress of the application. Prolific drug use can lead to applications being rejected, however, immigration officers use their discretion against a range of factors.

It is the first time the case has been in the US courts since Donald Trump returned to the White House last month. The US president, who can intervene and ask for the documents to be released, previously warned that Harry could face consequences if he lied about taking drugs on his US visa application.

Trump warned Harry could face consequences if he lied on his visa application ( 
Image:
AP)
In a previous hearing for the case in September, a judge ruled that the public did not have a strong interest in disclosure of the duke’s immigration records, but the Heritage Foundation is asking for the judgment to be changed. The organisation originally brought the lawsuit against the Department for Homeland Security (DHS) after a Freedom of Information Act request was rejected, with the think tank claiming it was of “immense public interest”.

In his controversial memoir, the duke said cocaine “didn’t do anything for me”, adding: “Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me.” The Heritage Foundation’s lawsuit argued that US law “generally renders such a person inadmissible for entry” to the country.

The think tank also said answers on the duke’s prior drug use in his visa application should have been disclosed as they could raise questions over the US government’s integrity. In the DHS’s response to the legal claim, it said: “Much like health, financial, or employment information, a person’s immigration information is private personal information.”

The submissions previously made by lawyer John Bardo on behalf of DHS also said no “publicly available information, shows that Prince Harry was ever convicted for a drug-related offence”.

Mr Bardo added that any suggestion from the Heritage Foundation of wrongdoing on behalf of the US government was “purely speculative”. Mr Trump said in a GB News interview with Nigel Farage in March last year that Harry should not receive preferential treatment.

Asked if the duke should have “special privileges” if he is found to have lied in his application, Trump said: “No. We’ll have to see if they know something about the drugs, and if he lied they’ll have to take appropriate action.”

It came after Trump also raged at the Biden administration for maintaining the privacy of Harry’s immigration application to “protect Harry.” He told the Express US: “I wouldn’t protect him. He betrayed the Queen. That’s unforgivable. He would be on his own if it was down to me.”

This is a breaking news story. Follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Apple News, Twitter, Facebook or visit The Mirror homepage.