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Wynne Evans, one of the celebrity contestants on Strictly Come Dancing, was seen looking visibly dejected as he made his way to Elstree Studios alone,

without his professional dance partner, Katya Jones. The sight of Evans walking solo raised eyebrows, especially after the pair had become the subject

of public scrutiny following an awkward incident involving their hand movements during their most recent performance. The incident, which many viewers and critics labeled as an awkward misstep,

quickly became the talk of the show, and soon after, the bookmakers made Evans and Jones the favorites to be eliminated in the upcoming episode.
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Evans, a well-known Welsh tenor, has been a popular figure on the show, but recent events have cast a shadow over his journey.

The incident in question occurred during their most recent dance, where viewers and judges alike pointed out a somewhat clumsy and uncomfortable moment where Evans

and Jones seemed to fumble with their hand positioning. The moment didn’t go unnoticed by the audience at home, and it was subsequently highlighted in post-performance analysis,

both on social media and by the panel of judges. While the judges did offer praise for their overall effort, the awkward hand movements seemed to stick out in a way that led to some criticism.

The mishap, which became a major talking point, sparked a wave of disappointment among viewers who had grown fond of the pair’s chemistry on the dance floor.

However, it was also the catalyst for a rise in the odds that had Evans and Jones as the favorites to be eliminated in the next round.

The bookmakers began to favor them to be sent home, which only added pressure to the already stressful environment of live  television.

In the face of this mounting expectation, Evans seemed to cut a dejected figure as he made his way into Elstree Studios, looking less upbeat than usual.

The fact that he arrived solo, without his professional partner by his side, did not go unnoticed.

While it’s not unusual for contestants and their partners to arrive separately on the day of the show, the solo arrival of Evans seemed to underline the tension that had developed since the “hand incident.”

Fans and media outlets alike speculated that the mishap had strained their working relationship, or at least affected their spirits.

In a sport as emotionally charged as competitive dancing, a single mistake can have significant repercussions, both on and off the dance floor.

In interviews earlier in the competition, Evans had expressed how much he had enjoyed working with Katya and how much he had appreciated her expertise.

The two had shown great potential as a partnership, despite their occasional stumbles in performances.

Evans, a novice to the world of dance, had made significant progress under Katya’s guidance, and many had been rooting for them to advance further in the competition.

However, the hand incident seemed to dampen the mood, leading to concerns about their standing in the competition.

As the bookmakers continued to adjust the odds, many fans took to social media to express their disappointment at the sudden shift in fortunes for the pair.

Some lamented how one small mistake could so drastically impact their position in the competition, while others were more critical, suggesting that Evans might not have the “natural grace” required to succeed in a show like Strictly.

Despite these opinions, many fans rallied to support him, urging viewers to vote for Evans and Katya, hoping that they could overcome the setback and prove their resilience.

The upcoming episode is crucial for their chances of staying in the competition, and Evans’ solo arrival without Katya may have been a sign that he is taking the situation seriously.

The dance world, particularly in the context of Strictly Come Dancing, is filled with ups and downs, and moments of doubt are common for even the most seasoned performers.

However, the pressure of the live shows and the high stakes of public voting can sometimes amplify the emotional toll of these setbacks.

Whether this awkward incident marks the beginning of the end for Evans and Katya remains to be seen, but it certainly highlights the unpredictable nature of the show.

As the pair prepare for their next performance, all eyes will be on how they handle the pressure and whether they can turn things around to keep their place in the competition.

In the meantime, Evans’ solitary walk to Elstree Studios serves as a reminder that, in the world of Strictly, the road to success is rarely without its challenges.

The Duchess was tipped to release a new Netflix show celebrating ‘the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining, and friendship’ – but it has yet to be given an air date

Meghan Markle’s dreams of releasing her new Netflix cookery and lifestyle show might be in jeopardy, according to an industry insider.

For almost a year there have been rumours that Meghan is making her own programme celebrating ‘the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining, and friendship’.

But there is still no sign of any release date for the series, which was set to complement Meghan’s lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard . Updates have been notably quiet too, save for the release of a few products – namely jam and dog biscuits.

And now a Netflix insider has told MailOnline’s Martin Robinson that the Duchess’s long-awaited show “may not see the light of day”.

“Others suggest it might, especially if it boosts Meghan’s lifestyle brand, but it will be ‘make or break’ for the couple who had hopes of building a TV dynasty,” he wrote. “And after their Polo show flopped, the source said: ‘There won’t be another deal. There may be one offs but that’s it’.”

Another source confirmed to the Mail’s Alison Boshoff: “It’s make or break. People say Netflix are exhausted.”

Certainly, the pressure is on for Meghan following the release of Polo on Netflix earlier this month. Critics and viewers were less than impressed . Many took issue with the premise of the documentary itself, noting that the polo field is “the playground of the rich”.

In its review, the Telegraph branded the series “tedious”, while the Mail on Sunday dismissed it as a “load of old tosh”. The Guardian stated that “Polo looks destined to fall through the submenus into obscurity at the speed of light. And rightly so”.

Harry and Meghan signed a five-year agreement with Netflix in 2020, worth an estimated $100million (£80million). It is due to come to an end in autumn next year.

Whether or not the streaming giant will continue to work with the couple remains to be seen – especially after the Sussexes’ £15million Spotify contract ended early in June last year . Hollywood executives have stated that any new deal will amount to nothing like the $100 million they previously received, primarily due to the lack of content the couple have actually produced.

Should Meghan’s series be given air time, it is most likely to launch – alongside her brand – in the first quarter of the year. It has not been included in Netflix schedules for January, and therefore might hit screens in late February – after Harry’s Invictus Games in Whistler, Canada – or in March.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have seen another staff member step down from their charity Sentebale – and they are not the first high-flyer who has worked for the Sussexes to then quickly move on

A new team quickly formed around Prince Harry and Meghan Markle when they dramatically quit their royal roles and moved to the United States for a new life.

But the couple soon gained something of a reputation for being unable to hang on to employees as they forge ahead with their charitable and production ventures outside the Firm. In recent weeks, three top executives at Harry’s charity, Sentebale, have stepped down – taking the total number of staff leaving them to 21.

In a major blow, the London-based chief executive of the charity that Harry co-founded in 2006, alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, stepped back after five years in the position – and isn’t set to be replaced. Instead, the Daily Mail reports, Richard Miller, aged 62, will be replaced by an “interim executive director” – Carmel Gaillard – who has been tasked with completing a “strategic transformation” of Sentbale and is based in Johannesburg.

The news comes only a few months after it was revealed that Harry’s chief of staff had left his role after just three months. Josh Kettler, a high-flying PR executive, took up the senior post working with Harry in May ahead of the Sussexes’ tour to Nigeria.

His departure came as Harry and Meghan were preparing for their working trip to Colombia in August. It is understood Mr Kettler was hired on a trial basis and the decision to part ways was mutual, with both sides agreeing it was not the correct fit. These names are not the only staff members to leave in recent years…

Prince Harry, whose chief of staff has left his position ( 
Image:
Getty Images for Project Healthy Minds)

Josh Kettler, who has quit as chief of staff ( 
Image:
Getty Images for Invictus Games Foundation)

Stepping back from Sentebale

Since he co-founded Sentebale – which means ‘forget-me-not’ in Sesotho, a nod to the late Princess Diana’s favourite flower – Harry has been dedicated to the charity, which works with children and young people living with HIV/AIDS. The news that Richard Miller will be giving up his role as chief executive comes after two other major resignations within the charity.

Baroness Chalker – the overseas development minister – has stepped back from the board of trustees after 18 years, but despite leaving her official position has said through a spokesperson that “her commitment to the charity and the Duke of Sussex remains unwavering”.

The Mail reports that alongside Baroness Chalker and Richard Miller, Sentebale also recently lost another important figure: Andrew Tucker. Said to have been dubbed as ‘Tucks’ by Harry, Tucker had held a senior position at the charity for a decade, before stepping away.

Richard Miller has said about his exit from the charity: “It is the logical next step for Sentebale, and the time is right for this shift to local leadership. Carmel is an incredible asset to position Sentebale further as a leader in the region.”

For their part, cofounders Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso said in a joint statement: “This shift reflects our continued commitment to being guided by voices from within the region we serve. We sincerely thank Richard for his pivotal role in steering our organisation toward this important evolution.”

Royal exodus

After Harry and Meghan wed in May 2018, the couple, who were still working royals at this point, saw a string of staff changes with several leaving their posts. Among those leaving were senior communications secretary Katrina McKeever, Meghan’s personal assistant Melissa Toubati, a female royal protection officer and their assistant private secretary Amy Pickerill.

Melissa Toubati mysteriously handed in her notice after just six months with the Duchess of Sussex. A source said: “Her job was highly ­pressurised and in the end it became too much. She put up with quite a lot. Meghan put a lot of demands on her and it ended up with her in tears.

“She is hugely talented and played a pivotal role in the success of the royal wedding. She’ll be missed by everyone in the household. Melissa is a total professional and fantastic at her job, but things came to a head and it was easier for them both to go their separate ways.”

Meghan Markle with the late Queen and Samantha Cohen in 2018 ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
In October 2019, their private secretary Samantha Cohen, who had worked for the late Queen also left. Former Times royal correspondent Valentine Low claimed in his book, Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, that fed-up Ms Cohen likened the job to “working with teenagers”.

In his book, author Low told how Ms Cohen organised the couple’s first official tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand but alleged she ended up being “screamed at”. “Sam always made clear that it was like working for a couple of teenagers,” Low claimed a source said. “They (Meghan and Prince Harry) were impossible and pushed her to the limit. She was miserable.”

Ms Cohen left soon after, told Australia’s Herald Sun that she only agreed to a short secondment but was unable to leave as the palace couldn’t find anyone willing to replace her. She said: “I was only supposed to stay for six months but stayed for 18 – we couldn’t find a replacement for me and when we did we took them on tour to Africa with Harry and Meghan to show them the ropes but they left (quit) as well while in Africa.” Meanwhile, after they left the royal lives behind, their director of communications Sara Latham also parted ways with them.

Archewell execs

When Harry and Meghan quit the UK for the USA, they quickly set up their charitable organisation Archewell, making several big appointments including chief of staff Catherine St Laurent.

However, she only completed 11 months in the role before she moved on. In an interview with The Cut, she described working for Harry and Meghan as “an incredible experience”. She added: “They are incredibly talented and creative leaders. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to do that, to be able to be with them on their journey. The time that I spent with them was incredibly fulfilling.”

Former Archewell executive Catherine St Laurent ( 
Image:
Linkedin)

Just months later, the couple’s global press secretary Toya Holness also left Archewell after just a year in the role. She had been tasked with overseeing the Sussexes’ PR on both sides of the Atlantic. Insiders at the time claimed she “wanted out” after finding herself “having to fulfil a great many functions for the couple”.

The in December 2022, just days before Harry and Meghan’s controversial documentary landed on Netflix, then president of Archewell Mandana Dayani left her post after just 18 months. At the time, it was understood that Harry and Meghan were to take on full leadership of the organisation, and a statement from Archewell was at pains to make clear they had not fallen out.

Meanwhile, last year, Fara Taylor, who was in charge of marketing at Archewell also left the organisation as Harry and Meghan looked to ‘streamline’ staff.

Production staff

However, it hasn’t just been from their charitable arm where Harry and Meghan have lost staff. They’ve also seen a high turnover from their production company. The couple set up the production arm in the wake of signing multi-million dollar deals with Netflix and Spotify.

But in December 2022, the head of Archewell Audio, Rebecca Sananes, quit after being hired to work on Meghan’s Archetypes podcast. The podcast lasted one season on Spotify before the Sussexes’ deal with the streaming giant was axed.

Last year, Nishika Kumble, who was the senior vice-president of scripted television at Archewell, left after less than two years. She was closely followed by TV executive Bennett Levine, whose departure was described as a “serious blow”, after he moved to a rival organisation.

Also quitting was Oscar-winning producer Ben Browning, who worked on the Netflix docu-series Harry & Meghan, who had been their head of internal content.

Experts have suggested that 2025 will be a make or break year for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle amid questions over their plans for the future and their roles in the US

It’s been a difficult month for Prince Harry and Meghan. Having endured speculation about the state of their marriage following a slew of solo appearances, they returned to the spotlight with their latest Netflix show, Polo, in early December.

It made headlines – just not in the way the couple would have hoped.

Even The Cut, a magazine once favoured by Meghan, turned against the Duchess with a very scathing review in an article titled ‘Harry and Meghan’s Projects Can’t Stop Flopping’. Writer Danielle Cohen commented on the couple’s “tortured attempts to launch a successful Stateside endeavour” which, she wrote, “continued this week” with the release of Polo. “Seems like this one is bound for the same fate as Markle’s beleaguered jam company,” she wrote.

Indeed, the negativity surrounding the couple’s most recent endeavours has led to questions about the couple’s future plans – and the roles they will fill.

When Harry and Meghan first relocated to Montecito following their royal exit, they were warmly welcomed with open arms. But now the mood seems to have changed.

As Maureen Callohan noted in the Daily Mail: “America has moved into a new phase of this relationship. We no longer even rubberneck with these two. We have become utterly uninterested. And that’s the death knell for Brand Sussex.

“Was it fun to hate-watch their first Netflix series, Meghan mocking her curtsy to the Queen, Harry looking on mortified, both of them bitching endlessly? Of course! Was dissecting ‘Spare’, with its humiliating revelations about Harry’s frozen ‘todger’ and his mother’s face cream as the ultimate salve, a guilty pleasure? You bet.

“However, just as the opposite of love isn’t hate, but indifference, America has grown bored.”

Adding that their future ‘humiliating’ future together is an ‘open secret’ across the pond, she continued: “We’ve heard and seen it all. We’ve become that guest at the party cornered by the griping dullard that nobody wants to talk to, looking haplessly about for a more sparkling conversationalist. Or at least a top-up on the Champagne.”

US-based royal commentator Lee Cohen also previously spoke about the Sussexes’ plummeting popularity in the States. He said Harry and Meghan had once “epitomised a modern fairy-tale”, but that America’s love affair with the pair has “significantly cooled”.

He wrote in The US Sun: “Harry and Meghan just love to complain. And in America’s largely optimistic society, that is a bad look. While some view the couple’s openness as a brave stance against institutional rigidity, many others perceive it as ungrateful and divisive.

“A segment of Americans, particularly those of us who respect and admire the monarchy , find these repeated criticisms disrespectful and unbecoming. So the Sussexes’ endless narrative of grievance has alienated many who once admired their candour.”

Adding further salt to the wound, Richard Mineards, one of Harry and Meghan’s neighbours in Montecito, appeared on the German documentary Harry – The Lost Prince, and publicly criticised the Duchess. “I personally don’t think that Meghan is an asset to our community,” he stated. “She doesn’t really go out or get involved with the community. Harry has to a certain extent, because he’s quite jolly… but Meghan doesn’t seem to get seen anywhere… And you don’t see him either.”

According to reports, the pressure is now on Meghan to ‘salvage’ the situation. With Polo failing to impress, her upcoming lifestyle show is the couple’s “last chance” to save their Netflix deal.

For almost a year there have been rumours that Meghan is making her own programme celebrating ‘the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining, and friendship’. But there is still no sign of any release date for the series, which was set to complement Meghan’s lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard. Updates have been notably quiet on the front too, save for the release of a few products – namely jam and dog biscuits.

King Charles and Queen Camilla met local community volunteers during their final engagement of 2024 at Waltham Forest Town Hall just hours after it was confirmed the monarch’s cancer treatment will be ongoing in 2025

King Charles joked “I’m still alive” as he asked after his health during his final engagement before Christmas.

Charles and Queen Camilla hailed the community spirit as they meet local community volunteers, young people, emergency services, and faith representatives, at Waltham Forest Town Hall, north London. Harvinder Rattan, Sikh faith representative, said: “Your Majesty, good morning, how are you?” The King, 76, replied, jokingly: “I’m still alive.”

It comes as it was confirmed the monarch’s cancer treatment will be ongoing in the New Year. Charles and Camilla also met locals at a reception where refreshments were provided by Havens Café, whose owner Usman Khalid is a former asylum seeker who now trains refugees to be baristas. Charles spoke to Usman and said his coffee “looks good.”

Charles met local community volunteers, young people, emergency services, and faith representatives ( 
Image:
PA)
Camilla handed two bags of Buckingham Palace teddy bears to community group Citizens UK who will donate the toys to local children. George Gaillett, community organiser at Citizens UK, said afterwards: “The Queen said ‘we hope you can distribute this and they can go to the right people’.”

Alexandra Martinelli-Kinmouth, of charity The Together Space, made the King a cup of tea. She said afterwards: “I said to him I hope it’s not too cold and spoke about my charity. He smiled and said he hoped it had some honey in, which it did.”

The couple also donated food to Tracey Rogers, of Highams Park Hub, to be handed out at a food bank. Tracey said afterwards: “I went to the Coronation and told him the atmosphere was absolutely phenomenal.” Monwara Ali, CEO of Waltham Forest Community Hub, also gave the King a high-five.

Queen Camilla at the reception today ( 
Image:
PA)
She said afterwards: “It’s important that our generation, particularly those in leadership roles, need to engage with the younger generation; it’s part of our succession plan. He was happy to do it and the fact he agreed was amazing.”

Outside, the King enjoyed a rendition by A Little Choir of Joy, a children’s choir made up of 8 to 12-year-olds from across schools in the borough. He went to speak to the youngsters and said: “I hope you have a Happy Christmas. And also to your poor teachers.” The King went to speak to dozens of well-wishers who turned out while the Queen waited in the car as it was too cold.

King Charles during a reception at Waltham Forest Town Hall today ( 
Image:
PA)

Caroline Akuffo, 77, showed the King a black and white photo she had kept framed on her wall from a meeting in Osaka, Japan, in 1970. She said: “It was a trade fair. He came to the pavilion and I remember shaking his hands and they were so soft it was like holding cotton wool. He was so happy to see the photo and said I was wearing a lovely dress.”

Thousands of residents in Waltham Forest held a peaceful anti-racism protest following the nationwide disorder after the stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed party in Southport.

Waltham Forest was officially recognised as a Borough of Sanctuary by the national charity City of Sanctuary in December 2023. It is the final royal engagement before the King and Queen take a Christmas break.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s 2024 Christmas card also features an adorable rare snap of their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet – as well as another hardly-seen member of the family

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Christmas card gives a glimpse into their Californian life.

As part of the card, the Sussexes included an adorable rare snap of their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet running towards them as they prepare to wrap the children up in a big hug. The couple have rarely exposed their children to the limelight and in the image, their faces are not shown as Lilibet, three, approaches her father while five-year-old Archie sprints to his mother.

But it’s not just the couple and their children that feature in the family snap – their three pet dogs do too and it offers the first proper reveal of their newest dog, Mamma Mia. The beagle, called Mia for short, joined fellow beagle Guy and labrador Pula as members of the Sussex family two years ago.

Harry and Meghan’s dog Mamma Mia – a Beagle ( 
Image:
Beagle Freedom Project/ Youtube)
Harry and Meghan adopted the now nine-year-old beagle from an animal shelter after she was rescued when the animal testing facility she had been living at shut down. She was taken in by an organisation called the Beagle Freedom Project based in California after being rescued.

Speaking at the time, Shannon Keith, who runs the project, said she was called by Meghan to register her interest in adopting a beagle. The couple then reportedly made an after-hours visit to the project, where they played with Mia and eight of her newborn puppies.

However according to Ms Keith, the couple was interested in the older dog – and not the younger pups. She told the LA Times: “The duchess is holding Mia and was like, ‘We’re adopting her’. She was like ‘No, we don’t want a Christmas puppy. … We want ones we can help who are older.”

Harry and Meghan’s Christmas card in full

The couple are carefully guarding their children’s privacy ( 
Image:
Archewell Foundation via Getty Images)
Mia’s appearance comes in one of six images that feature within the card, which was sent by email. It has the message: “On behalf of the office of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archewell Productions and Archewell Foundation, we wish you a very happy holiday season and a joyful New Year.”

The card is intended for professional use by the couple and their team, with the Sussexes sending a separate card to their close family and friends which will remain private. The images are thought to reflect the couple’s year, with one picture showing Meghan embracing a young girl while in another Harry puts his arm around his wife.

Another picture shows the couple laughing while sitting in a row of people, the fifth is at an outdoor event with the Sussexes wearing sunglasses and smiling, and in the final picture, the duke clasps hands with a man lying in a bed.

Despite quitting as working royals almost five years ago, the Sussexes have continued the tradition of sharing the picture used on their Christmas card like other members of the Firm. Last year’s card featured a snap of the couple beaming at the 2023 Invictus Games in Dusseldorf with Harry looking smart in a black shirt and jacket combination and Meghan wearing an elegant dark green strapless gown.

The seasonal card is always eagerly anticipated but they have not always opted to show their children on the design. Earlier this year a friend of the Sussexes told People how Harry wanted to protect his children by keeping them out of the limelight. They said: “Harry has been reluctant to show his children publicly, not out of a desire to hide them but to protect their privacy and safety from potential threats. He wants them to lead as normal a life as possible without the fear of kidnapping or harm.”

Some have voiced scepticism of claims of a high-speed car chase involving paparazzi and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, with New York Mayor Eric Adams previously suggesting it was “hard to believe”

Prince Harry suspected there was a “cover-up” in the “high speed” chase in which paparazzi tailed the duke through New York City.

The Duke of Sussex reportedly made the suggestion in emails and letters about the May 2023 incident, and allegedly demanded the New York Police Department (NYPD) make arrests the day after the incident and threatened to make an official complaint.

“The Duke feels intentionally misled and is suspicious of a cover-up” one complaint from his security company TorchStone to the NYPD said, according to MailOnline. Harry and Meghan Markle said in a statement last year that they had been involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” that involved “a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi” who followed them through Manhattan.

The Sussexes claimed the high-speed chase happened following an event in New York last year ( 
Image:
Getty Images Ms. Foundation for Women)

Harry made his demand after the NYPD’s chief intelligence officer John Hart sent police in London two letters, one that said there was not enough evidence to make arrests and another three months later that said there was. Despite this, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident.

Hart’s first letter was sent across the Atlantic in September last year with the second arriving in December that year. TorchStone then sent an email outlining the duke was upset at what he perceived as being the slow pace of the NYPD’s investigation and claimed to have felt “intentionally misled.”

Harry and Meghan make surprise appearance at Vancouver ice hockey game

NYPD top intelligence officer John Hart reportedly sent two letters to London over the incident ( 
Image:
NYPD)

Harry later petitioned California Governor Gavin Newsom for a contact with prosecutors based in New York with a view to escalate the matter. One of the TorchStone security team previously told CNN that it was “chaotic” and even could be fatal.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were tailed by paparazzi after attending an awards ceremony with Meghan’s mum, Doria Ragland. The three are said to have been subjected to a “relentless pursuit” involving half a dozen blacked-out vehicles, described as “a near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi”

The couple is said to have feared for their lives ( 
Image:
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images).

The couple are said to have been hounded by paparazzi as they left the event ( 
Image:
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Harry and Meghan had attended the Ms Foundation Women of Vision Awards that evening ( 
Image:
Getty Images Ms. Foundation for Women)Harry made his demand after the NYPD’s chief intelligence officer John Hart sent police in London two letters, one that said there was not enough evidence to make arrests and another three months later that said there was. Despite this, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident.

Hart’s first letter was sent across the Atlantic in September last year with the second arriving in December that year. TorchStone then sent an email outlining the duke was upset at what he perceived as being the slow pace of the NYPD’s investigation and claimed to have felt “intentionally misled.”

Harry and Meghan make surprise appearance at Vancouver ice hockey game

NYPD top intelligence officer John Hart reportedly sent two letters to London over the incident ( 
Image:
NYPD)

Harry later petitioned California Governor Gavin Newsom for a contact with prosecutors based in New York with a view to escalate the matter. One of the TorchStone security team previously told CNN that it was “chaotic” and even could be fatal.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were tailed by paparazzi after attending an awards ceremony with Meghan’s mum, Doria Ragland. The three are said to have been subjected to a “relentless pursuit” involving half a dozen blacked-out vehicles, described as “a near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi”.

The couple are said to have been hounded by paparazzi as they left the event ( 
Image:
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Harry and Meghan had attended the Ms Foundation Women of Vision Awards that evening ( 
Image:
Getty Images Ms. Foundation for Women)

Model Vogue Williams has opened up about her upcoming appearance on the BBC Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special and admits her family had mixed reactions

Vogue Williams shares the name of a dance style but the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special star says the similarities end there, with ­sceptics in her own family.

The radio presenter, 39, who has three children with husband Spencer Matthews, 36, said the former Made in Chelsea star found it bizarre that she had signed up for the BBC show. She said: “Spenny finds it entertaining that I’m going to be dancing. I showed my daughter a video the other day and she asked to see someone else who was dancing because she didn’t want to watch me. So that was nice.”

The former model, who will dance with Gorka Marquez, said: “I’ve always tried to dance, I’m just not natural at dancing. I wanted to be in a band when I was younger and I can’t sing either. I used to try street dance. I once did jazz. And I was always at the back, hiding.”

Vogue admits Spencer found it ‘hilarious’ she was taking part in the show ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

Vogue will dance with Gorka Marquez ( 
Image:
BBC Studios/Guy Levy)
But Vogue added: “I said yes because it’s just so fun. It’s such a fun, ­brilliant show. If you’re asked to do ­something where you’re able to learn a skill, it’s really cool. You get a professional dancer teaching you how to dance and you’re getting to go out in an amazing costume.

“Every single part of it, it’s just so exciting to me. I love the idea of learning how to dance, ­especially because I’m not really a good dancer at all. I do like ­challenging myself and this is a very big challenge.” Vogue added: “I think the problem is that people think I look like I can dance.

“I don’t know why they get that idea but I actually can’t. It’s a really fun thing to be able to try and learn.” The rest of the Christmas cast includes ­Strictly’s first drag queen Tayce, ­stand up comedian Josh Widdicombe, Gladiators athlete Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and ­ EastEnders star Tamzin Outhwaite.

Vogue, mum to Theodore, five, Gigi, four, and Otto, three, said: “Unfortunately I did catch a glimpse of some of the others and it brought me back down to earth. I’m just in it for the ­experience. I’m now saying that after seeing someone dance. I’m so competitive.” She added: “I know that I’ve trained as much as I possibly could. I really want to go out and enjoy it and not get anything wrong.”

The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air on BBC One and iPlayer on Christmas Day from 3.55pm.

A documentary on the BBC dancing series called Strictly Come Dancing: 20 Fabulous Years, airs tonight at 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

Gavin and Stacey duo Ruth Jones and James Corden have announced that the beloved characters from the show will be making a comeback in a new form next year

Gavin and Stacey creators Ruth Jones and James Corden have revealed the sitcoms much-loved characters will return in a new form next year.

Gavin And Stacey: The Finale will air on Christmas Day on the BBC and it will be the show’s final episode following 2019’s festive special which ended on a cliff-hanger when Vanessa ‘Nessa’ Jenkins, played by Ruth, proposed to James’ character Neil ‘Smithy’ Smith.

But the story doesn’t end there! Ruth and James have announced that they are writing a new book together, titled When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between: A Story Of Love And Friendship. The pair’s literary offering with hit book shops in Autumn 2025 and will detail their journey to creating a comedy that touched the hearts of a nations.

Speaking in the wake of the book deal being announced, Ruth, 48, and James, 46, told fans: “We’re so excited to be sharing the story behind the story of Gavin and Stacey. The show has played a huge part in our twenty-five-year friendship and we hope this book will give readers a fresh insight into how it all came about.”

A teaser image of the final episode ahead of it airing next week ( 
Image:
PA)

“Gavin and Stacey is a TV series like no other. Now, for the first time, its creators James Corden and Ruth Jones tell the full extraordinary story of how they turned their little show into a full-on cultural phenomenon,” the book’s publisher Penguin added in its description of the upcoming book.

“As they recount the rejection, obstacles and challenges they faced on the way to giving birth to their beloved comedy creation, James and Ruth also explore the flourishing of their own real-life friendship. While their now legendary on- screen characters Nessa and Smithy had a profound awkwardness to negotiate, culminating in that marriage proposal in the 2019 Christmas special, Ruth and James forged a magical relationship of mutual support based also on a deep, shared sense of subversive fun.

“Here, from their tentative initial pitch to the emotionally overwhelming final day of filming, the duo detail what’s occurred every step of the way, bouncing off each other in inimitable style. Full of revelations and never-before-heard stories, this is a one-of-a-kind book about a show that’s already gone down in history.”

The book announcement comes in the wake of James admitting he “never ever thought” Gavin and Stacey would be a long-running show and that its success had been “a dream come true”. The 46-year-old added that just having a show that is “worthy of a Christmas special” was enough for him and that he thought ending at three series was the right decision.

Speaking at a screening in London earlier this week ahead of the Christmas Day episode airing, the Smithy actor said: “We’ve honestly never ever thought past what we’ve been commissioned to do, when we were writing the scripts for the first series, we didn’t know if the show would get green lit.

The final episode of Gavin and Stacey airs on Christmas Day ( 
Image:
PA)
“Then it gets green lit, then you shoot it, and then you’re hoping that someone finds it, then you get to do another series. And then suddenly, as that one starts coming out, it feels like lots of people are watching it. And then we did the first Christmas special, which was just a dream come true for us, like an absolute dream come true, to have a show that was considered worthy of a Christmas special, that was enough for us is the truth.

“And then we really felt like we probably told enough of the story, and if we’re honest with ourselves, we were finding it hard to construct ways for the families to keep meeting up… And so I think when we ended the third series, it was definite that was it.”

He explained that a finale episode was not certain and there was a chance that he and co-writer Ruth would leave the show at its cliff-hanger ending. James added: “We had a week in September, where we were like let’s get together then, and if there’s nothing there, if the characters don’t show us what the story is, it doesn’t matter.

“We haven’t told anybody, we haven’t told the cast, we haven’t spoken to the BBC, and it’s kind of lovely hearing Charlotte (Moore, the BBC’s Chief Content Officer) talk about those moments. We didn’t contact Charlotte till we’ve written, I think 70 pages of this special, because by then we felt like, ‘oh, we’ve got something that we feel that we’re ready to share’. Because it may sound like a complete nonsense but it doesn’t really feel like we’re in charge of writing, I feel like we just have to be together, and we sort of open a portal and the characters arrive, and they tell us what they want everybody to know.”

*Gavin And Stacey: The Finale will air on BBC One from 9pm on Christmas Day and will also be available on BBC iPlayer. The documentary Gavin And Stacey: A Fond Farewell will be shown at 7pm on New Year’s Day on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

The Christmas 2024 Number 1 single and album has been revealed, Wham! winning the battle and becoming the first song to grab the coveted top spot two festive seasons

The 2024 Christmas Number One has been revealed, with Last Christmas by Wham! reigning supreme once again and making chart history in the process.

Official Charts confirmed that Last Christmas is the first song to clinch two consecutive Christmas Number 1 victories, marking its 40th anniversary as the most-streamed and physically purchased song of the week. Originally penned by the late George Michael for 1984’s Official Christmas Number 1, Last Christmas was initially outshone by Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas?

But the iconic festive hit finally claimed the festive chart crown in 2023, completing a record-breaking journey to Christmas Number 1 of 39 years. Now recognised as the UK’s favourite Christmas song, Last Christmas fended off stiff competition from Gracie Abrams and Mariah Carey, as well as a spirited attempt by Tom Grennan to disrupt the festive chart race.

Wham! star Andrew Ridgeley is delighted to be number one again
Last Christmas secured the Christmas Number 1 through both digital and physical domination, with 12.6 million streams, and being the best seller of the week physically too, thanks to a range of limited edition 40th anniversary collectibles, including zoetrope vinyl, picture disc and CD.

Earlier this week, bookmakers had Wham! and their festive classic Last Christmas as a sure bet to become to be the first song to claim back-to-back Christmas number ones, after topping the charts for six weeks in 2023. “It seems more and more unlikely that any other contenders will mount a serious challenge for number one, with Tom Grennan (8/1) and Mariah Carey (12/1) some way adrift in the betting,” Lee Phelps from William Hill said on Wednesday. “It looks like the UK is heading towards another year of Wham! dominating the radio waves this Christmas.”

Speaking exclusively to Official Charts, WHAM!’s Andrew Ridgeley says: “37 years to get to Number 1, 39 years to Christmas Number 1, and then like London buses they all come along at once! I’m especially pleased for George, he would have been utterly delighted, his fabulous Christmas composition has become such a classic, almost as much a part of Christmas as mince pies, turkey and pigs in blankets.”

“It’s testament to a really wonderful Christmas song that in a lot of people’s minds evokes and represents Christmas as we would all wish it to be. I’d like to thank everyone who has listened to, downloaded, bought, streamed Last Christmas and been a part of history. Thanks so much and Merry Christmas!”

Last Christmas is the nation’s favourite festive song ( 
Image:
PR)
WHAM! now enter a rare Official Charts club, as one of only a few acts to achieve the Official Christmas Number 1 multiple times. Their peers now include; Queen (2), Spice Girls (3), The Beatles (4) and the current record-holders, LadBaby (5). On WHAM! joining the likes of Queen and The Beatles with multiple festive chart-toppers to their name, Andrew observes: “Artists of that calibre and songwriters, of which George was one, transcend the ages and decades and endure because of their quality. I think that’s the reason why Last Christmas has endured.”

Fans have since taken to social media to share their excitement, with one writing: “The most deserving of winners and record breakers!” “Yippee! George would have been so happy,” exclaimed a second. Meanwhile, another went on to add: “Outstanding achievement!” “Woo hoo Last Christmas went is number one official for Christmas on its 40th Anniversary. Bitter sweet beating Band Aid. Congratulations @GeorgeMichael @ajridgeley @WhamOfficial_,” typed another.

Gracie Abrams’ former chart-topper ‘That’s So True’ has secured the number 2 spot this week, following a last-minute surge ahead of the Christmas competition. This confirms her status as one of this year’s biggest breakout acts. ‘That’s So True’ previously topped the Official Singles Chart for five consecutive weeks. Meanwhile, Mariah Carey, the Queen of Christmas, may be celebrating 30 years of ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ this year, but she has to settle for a finish at number 3, maintaining her position from last week.

Sabrina Carpenter has bagged the Christmas Number 1 Album with her sixth LP Short N Sweet, released in August this year. The album has already produced three UK Number 1 singles; Espresso, Please Please Please and Taste, and shows no signs of leaving the charts anytime soon. Thanks to her Netflix special, A Nonsense Christmas, Sabrina’s album was favourite to claim a second non-consecutive week at Number 1 and receive the prestigious Christmas honour.

Given that Jesus was a carpenter, it seems fitting that Ms Carpenter’s LP should reign supreme on his birthday. However, she faced stiff competition from a familiar festive favourite. Michael Buble, aka Mr Christmas, was hot on Sabrina’s heels in the midweek charts. His 2011 album, Christmas, is a Yuletide classic and was in second place on Monday – just 150 units behind Short ‘N’ Sweet.