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It’s no secret that royal followers love William’s rugged facial hair – and now a former aide to the Prince has revealed what his wife Princess Kate thinks of his beard…

Prince William’s beard has gone down a storm with royal fans – but what does his wife Princess Kate actually think about his new look?

The future king first debuted his rugged facial hair last summer when he appeared in a video alongside Kate to congratulate Team GB athletes. And it seems as though it’s here to stay, with William continuing to rock his beard in the many months that have followed

Now his former communications secretary and close confidant, Jason Knauf, has filmed for a special episode of 60 Minutes Australia and shared some surprising royal revelations, including details of a major mishap over the birth of Princess Charlotte, and how the Prince of Wales dealt with his wife’s cancer diagnosis.

He was also asked about William’s newly grown facial hair. “I love it. I think it’s great. But I’ve talked to him about it or tried to talk to him about it. He’s like, ‘It’s here. I have a beard. No further conversation’,” Jason said.

When asked if Kate was a fan of the beard, he mused: “If she didn’t like it, it wouldn’t be there. I could tell you that!”

While Kate might be a fan, it seems the couple’s daughter Princess Charlotte took some convincing. William was asked about his stubble at the end of a four-day visit to Cape Town in November, and he admitted: “Charlotte didn’t like it the first time. I got floods of tears the first time I grew a beard, so I had to shave it off. And then I grew it back. I thought, hang on a second and I convinced her it was going to be okay.”

When one of the reporters told the Prince that his new facial hair gives him a laid-back, ‘relaxed’ look, William expressed surprise. “It’s interesting you say that, because I couldn’t be less relaxed this year, so it’s very interesting you’re all seeing that,” he said of the previous 12 months, which saw both his wife, Princess Kate, and father, King Charles, diagnosed with cancer. “But it’s more a case of just crack on and you’ve got to keep going,” he said.

It comes after Prince Harry once claimed that William was jealous of his beard, and the fact he was allowed to have facial hair at his wedding, whereas William was not.

According to military dress codes at the time, Harry should have been clean-shaven while wearing the frock coat uniform of the Blues and Royals. But he sought special permission from the Queen – something that reportedly infuriated his sibling.

Harry wrote about ‘beard-gate’ in his tell-all memoir Spare . “And yet I now dared to make another ask – Granny, please, may I, for my wedding, keep my beard? Not a small ask either,” he said. “A beard was thought by some to be a clear violation of protocol and long-standing norms, especially since I was getting married in my Army uniform. Beards were forbidden in the British Army.”

When William found out he had been granted permission, Harry said he “became livid” and claimed his older brother said: “You put her in an uncomfortable position, Harold! She had no choice but to say yes.”

According to Harry, William would not let the issue drop, with the argument continuing for more than a week. It reportedly culminated with William ordering Harry to shave it off.

The Duke claimed he responded by saying: “For the love of God, Willy, why does this matter so much to you? ‘Because I wasn’t allowed to keep my beard.’ Ah, there it was. After he’d come back from an assignment with Special Forces, Willy was sporting a full beard, and someone told him to be a good boy, run along and shave it. He hated the idea of me enjoying a perk he’d been denied.”

Jason Knauf, who worked at Kensington Palace, for both the Prince and Princess of Wales as well as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, has spoken out publicly in an extraordinary TV interview

A former royal aide who was at the centre of the Meghan Markle bullying allegations has revealed his three-word message for the Sussexes.

Jason Knauf previously worked at Kensington Palace for both Prince Harry and Meghan, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales as their communications secretary. He later became chief executive of William and Kate’s Royal Foundation and is still considered a close confidant of the Prince of Wales.

In 2021, he hit headlines when it emerged that in 2018, he made a bullying complaint against Meghan – emailing his concerns to William’s then-private secretary, in an apparent attempt to force Buckingham Palace to protect staff. Meghan has always strenuously denied the allegations, with her team branding them a “calculated smear campaign”.

Former royal aide Jason Knauf during an appearance on 60 Minutes Australia ( 
Image:
9 Now)
Now, in an interview on Australian TV for 60 Minutes Australia, Mr Knauf said he wishes Harry and Meghan “the absolute best” and added: “We had lots of great times, working on their wedding was an amazing magical experience and I wish them absolutely all the best with their lovely family.”

In 2021, it emerged that several years prior, Mr Knauf sent an email to William’s then-private secretary, Simon Case, saying: “I am very concerned that the Duchess [Meghan] was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year. The treatment of X [name removed] was totally unacceptable.

“The Duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights. She is bullying Y [name removed] and seeking to undermine her confidence. We have had report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behaviour towards Y [name removed].”

Meghan’s lawyers said the claims were a “calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation”. An internal review into the claims was launched by Buckingham Palace but never made public. And when asked about this time in the interview, he insists how he wouldn’t “change anything”.

Mr Knauf receives an honour from William in 2023 ( 
Image:
PA)
He explained: “I think it, it’s tough, but it’s probably quite good. You know someone who has been helping other people through how to deal with the public eye. You probably had to take your own medicine sometimes.

“You can’t choose just to take the fun stuff in any job. And that applies to the Prince and Princess [of Wales] as well as everyone else working for them. So I wouldn’t change anything.” When asked if he had any regrets from his time in the role, he replied: “No, it’s not what I would’ve sought, but you know, at the end of the day, you get to do an amazing job. You’ve got to take everything that comes with it.”

Also in the interview, Mr Knauf revealed that William was at his ‘lowest” after Kate was diagnosed with cancer. Both the King and the Princess of Wales were treated for cancer last year. Kate is now in remission and Charles is having ongoing treatment.

Describing a phone call with William about Kate’s diagnosis, which was made public in March last year, Mr Knauf said: “It was awful, absolutely awful. It’s the lowest I’ve ever seen him.”

Mr Knauf was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) in the 2023 New Year Honours List and was presented with his award by William. Before joining the royal household the American-born former corporate affairs executive worked for a range of institutions, from the office of the New Zealand prime minister to HM Treasury and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Mr Knauf led a review of the Royal Foundation’s role and structure from March 2019, before becoming its chief executive in September of that year. He oversaw the launch of the Foundation’s Earthshot Prize – William’s £50 million environmental prize, now an independent charity, which recognises solutions, ideas and technologies that “repair the planet”.

King Charles visited Burton upon Trent today where he visited the family run business Tower Brewery – and he got to sample both one of its beers as well as a ‘supercharged’ spirit

King Charles could not resist sampling the local beer and a ‘supercharged’ spirit made with hops during a visit to the home of British brewing.

His Majesty was in Burton upon Trent today to visit Tower Brewery, a small, family-run business that has been based in the local area for 24 years. The King pulled a pint of Gone for a Burton, a traditional mid-strength beer that is one of the brewery’s popular special brands.

Owner John Mills, who joined the monarch behind the small bar, said: “Are you going to have a slurp of that, Sir?” The King chuckled, noting that if not, he was “in the wrong place.” Holding up his glass, he said: “To your very good health,” before taking a sip. “Are you selling this all over the place?” he asked.

King Charles pulls a pint at Tower Brewery in Burton upon Trent today ( 
Image:
PA)
Mr Mills then told the King about a 41 per cent proof liquor he had created with a colleague called The Spirit of Burton, explaining that it could not be called a whiskey as it is not matured but was a distilled version of one of his strong IPAs. The King sniffed the clear liquid before taking a sip. “Mmmm.. Interesting,” he said, with a laugh, adding: “Yes, it’s supercharged.”

The King then stood on a small platform to watch Mr Mills open the brewing steam hatch, which demonstrates the gravity-fed brewing process. Aided by the height of the tower, it uses gravity to feed the grist case and supply the water pressure.

The King was given a potted history of the town’s brewing background from Dr Harry White, chair of the National Brewing Centre in Burton. “I’m learning fast,” he said, before telling an aide who tried to move him along: “I’m having a fascinating history lesson.”

The King samples the beer on offer ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
Dr White told the monarch how India Pale Ale had become synonymous with Burton after the first beers were shipped from the town to India in 1822. The King asked if IPA was still made locally but was told that the term IPA was now overused.

Charles was given a bottle of The Spirit of Burton to take home, as well as several bottles of IPA and a bottle of 1902 King’s Ale, which was brewed by the newly crowned Edward VII in 1902 during a visit to the Bass brewery.

Earlier, the King also helped out on the JCB production line as he wished “many happy returns” for the firm’s 80th birthday.

The King helps to fit a tyre during a visit to JCB World Headquarters ( 
Image:
POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Charles, 76, was given a tour of JCB World Headquarters, in Staffordshire by billionaire chairman Lord Bamford. He helped fit a wheel with team leader Becky Bayliss, 32, who said his effort was “perfect”. Charles later also helped fill up a new JCB Backhoe Loader with hydrogen.

And he also greeted 100-year-old Ken Harrison who worked on the original factory floor when it opened in 1945. Around 3,500 staff, almost the entire workforce, lined up outside waving Union Flags to cheer the King as he departed. Lord Bamford then delivered a speech in front of JCB’s one millionth Backhoe Loader.

Speaking afterwards Becky said: “He was a little unsure if he managed to get the nut all the way up but the way he handled it was perfect.” Charles toured the vast warehouse set in 175 acres, shaking hands with staff and apprentices. He also viewed JCB’s new combustion engine fuelled by hydrogen and said: “And it takes three or four minutes to fill up?”

Charles plugs in a hydrogen pipe to one of the machines ( 
Image:
POOL/AFP via Getty Images)The King also got to meet students and graduates including Rhys Bradbury, 29, who he saw in 2011, who is now JCB sales operations manager for Scandinavia. More than 3,500 students have graduated since it was opened and currently has 1,000 pupils and 250 apprentices.

Meanwhile, meeting centenarian Ken, who worked for JCB for 36 years, he said: “Are you sure you should be here today? I’m very impressed. It must have done some good, I must say, to get to one hundred. Fantastic. And able to get about still, good. It’s quite a place here.” Charles added: “I hope you got your message on your hundredth birthday? I’m so glad the system works.”

Standing in front of JCB’s one millionth Backhoe digger, Lord Bamford gave a speech to King and staff gathered in the reception. He said: “I was most pleased for you to see the progress we have made in the development in hydrogen internal combustion engines

“We see an enormous emission free future in these engines both in machinery but also trucks, buses and possibly even in cars.” Showing King the one millionth Backhoe Loader he said was invented by his father in 1953.

The King enjoyed a special guard of honour when he arrived at the factory ( 
Image:
POOL/AFP via Getty Images)And he added: “Before that most trenches were dug by humans withs shovels. What an increase in productivity this machine has brought to the world and also how many bad backs there haven’t been as well.”

Charles turned to Lord Bamford and said: “Many happy returns for the 80th.” Outside the entire JCB World Headquarters staff lined up to cheer the King on his way. They included Annette Allerton, whose mother used to work in the canteen,who attracted Charles to her two shih tzu dogs Lottie, 8, and 10-year-old Bindy.

Fox News Personality Kat Timpf Breaks Hip While Pregnant

 Being pregnant can put an intense amount of strain on the body, as Kat Timpf found out when she suffered from a broken hip.

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The Zach Bryan Drama

Through her social media platforms, Kat Timpf has been quite public about her pregnancy. She has made numerous posts about it, and the struggles she has faced. It has been both physically and emotionally straining for her, and she’s happy to talk about it.

This has garnered a lot of support from other women out there who have also gone through the process. Getting knocked up, although initially very easy to do, quickly becomes quite the ordeal apparently. Recently, due to the stress of the pregnancy on her body, Kat Timpf has suffered a broken hip.

This can happen naturally, simply due to the added weight of a child on the hip, as Timpf discovered. She was seen hobbling to the voting booth just before the election.

She let her fans know she wasn’t going to let anything hold her back. “I’m on crutches right now because my doctor thinks I have a stress factor from being pregnant,” she said, swinging herself through the city. “She wants me on crutches every moment that I’m not on stage.”

Support For Kat Timpf Amid Pregnancy Hip Troubles

Since her hip incident, pregnant Kat Timpf has had plenty of support from fellow women, sympathizing with her struggle.

In the various posts she has shared, sporting a very fashionable pink crutch, fans have reached out.

“You’re amazing!!!!! Working, prego, and hip issues. Most people would curl up in bed. ????.

Prayers for you girl,” one woman says. It takes perseverance to carry on, even while in pain, and heavily pregnant. She is due around the new year so that baby is getting big. This leaves little space for Kat Timpf to let her hip get better.

Another loving fan gives praise to Kat Timpf while she struggles with her broken hip.

“I’m happy you are following the doctor’s orders even though you have a hectic schedule take care of yourself and baby and try to slow down a little if you can, love you.” Appreciation for her dedication to her job and responsibilities amid the struggle surely helped ease the pain.

EastEnders star James Bye appeared on The One Show on Monday night days after his character Martin Fowler made a dramatic exit during the 40th anniversary live episode

The One Show host Alex Jones was left with her head in her hands on Monday night’s show during a chat with EastEnders star James Bye. The actor, who played Martin Fowler for 11 years and was killed off during last week’s 40th anniversary live episode, appeared on the famous sofa to chat about his dramatic exit.

But during the interview, Alex had an embarrassing slip up when she called him by the wrong name.

Alex’s co-host Roman Kemp said: “Now James the live EastEnders episode didn’t pull any punches…” before a clip of Martin’s final dramatic scenes were shown when he was crushed by a metal beam during the Queen Vic explosion before dying of a cardiac arrest.

After the clip aired, Roman said: “It feels weird applauding it but it was great, it was unbelievable” as James confessed he had yet to watch it. Alex then chimed in: “Martin, Martin? I called you Martin! I did. James!” As the EastEnders star replied: “Right, that’s that then!” and pretended to storm off set.

Alex Jones is embarrassed when she slips up ( 
Image:
BBC)

Gathering herself together after putting her head in her hands, Alex continued: “I tell you what though, I mean the pressure isn’t it, not only are you having to die on screen, you’re dying live.”

James said: “I know, I know, listen I was incredibly lucky because I got to do that with my best friend Lacey Turner and we’ve worked together so much that we sort of knew every little tick that each one of us had. We’d already talked about if one of us went wrong. I was literally holding her hand throughout the whole live (episode) and I can definitely say I would not have been able to do it without her – 100%. Team work.”

They then played clips from heartbroken EastEnders fans reacting to Martin’s death and James appeared emotional as he listened in.

James Bye chatted about his soap exit ( 
Image:
BBC)
Speaking about his exit, James said he urged bosses to let him tell actress Lacey Turner who played Martin’s ex-wife Stacey that he was leaving. He said: “I was sworn to keep it a secret. Obviously the people involved in the storyline they were told not long after I was. In fact I told the exec producer that, well after he made the decision, that you have to let me tell Lacey.

“Anyone else you can tell, but that was the most difficult conversation. Other than telling my wife, she wasn’t over the moon with it to be fair. But telling Lacey was tough and it has been a really emotional couple of months.”

Born on the soap in 1985, Martin Fowler met his untimely end during the show’s live episode marking its 40th anniversary celebrations.

After the pub exploded, Martin tried to save as many people as he could while the building collapsed around him. After saving Stacey, a metal beam fell on his legs. While he waited for medical help, he proposed to Stacey, only for her to receive devastating news.

Paramedics explained that Martin could suffer from Crush syndrome, a potentially fatal condition caused by severe muscle damage. Tragically, Martin passed away after the beam was removed, with his death confirmed by chilling screams echoing around the Square.

One of the Nonnatus House regulars hasn’t been seen much this series – and won’t be there at all in the next one

Megan Cusack has quit Call the Midwife after four years, confirming what the fans have long suspected after her character, Nancy Corrigan, was absent for most of the current series.

Viewers saw single mother Nancy fall for pharmaceutical rep Roger in the Christmas special and then agree to marry him in the opening episode of series 14 last month. But she and daughter Collette have since been absent from Nonnatus House having moved to Netherditch, Surrey.

Now the nurse and midwife will return to Poplar for one last time for the BBC1 series finale on Sunday, in which Nancy ties the knot with Roger, played by Connor O’Donnell. Fans have been speculating for weeks over Megan, 28, being missing in action.

Megan is leaving the show as Nancy after deciding to try out more roles, particularly in theatre
Insiders said the actress – who joined the show in 2021 and is part of the renowned Cusack acting dynasty which includes her aunts Niamh and Sinéad – wanted to spread her wings and try out new roles. One insider said: “Megan is a much-loved member of the team and will be very missed but everyone wishes her the best in whatever comes next. Her decision to leave was a real wrench but she is young and keen to try other roles. And for Call the Midwife fans, it is lovely that Nancy gets her happy ending, which is a great way to end the series.”

Jenny Agutter on her niece being diagnosed with Cystic fibrosis

For the big day she does not have a big white dress instead opting for a 70s ensemble. She leaves Nonnatus House with all her friends and colleagues holding brightly coloured umbrellas in the rain, flanked by her good pal Millicent Higgins, played by Georgie Glen.

Fans have been wondering when Nancy would return for her marriage to Roger, having hardly seen her this series
In the story, nurse Nancy arrived in London from Ireland in 2021 and kept her young daughter a secret for months, having fallen pregnant as a teenager. Speaking in December ahead of the 14th series, Megan said Nancy was to get the dream ending she’d always secretly hoped for.

“Connor is gorgeous – he’s a dote,” she laughed. “It’s a thing of the time, having a child out of wedlock, those sort of things do seem further away from your grasp. For Nancy, she’s always longed for something that is conventional, even though she hasn’t been, in many people’s eyes, but that’s because she hasn’t had the option to be.

Nancy will be much-missed from Nonnatus House, having become a firm favourite with fans, along with her young daughter Colette“She’s been very lucky to have so many gorgeous people rally around her. It has allowed her to let someone come into her life. She lets her guard down and thinks maybe she’s worth it, maybe she deserves that kind of happy ending.” Her departure, with a wedding set in November 1970, was also heralded by the show’s writer and creator Heidi Thomas, who said: “Nancy’s life takes a new and dramatic turn.”

Fans will at least find the storyline of Nancy getting married and moving to live in Surrey with her new husband more believable than the one currently in play for Helen George’s character Trixie Aylward, who has also been absent from several episodes this series. Trixie is jetting back and forth between Poplar and New York, which is where her husband Matthew and step-son now live – since the departure of actor Olly Rix from the show last year.

Britain’s Got Talent fans took aim at the ITV show after claiming Simon Cowell failed to acknowledge a performer, who appeared on the US version of the series two years ago

Britain’s Got Talent is in hot water after the latest episode of the ITV talent show.

Fans took aim at the primetime programme on the weekend after claiming judge, Simon Cowell, failed to acknowledge one of the acts, despite them appearing on the US version of BGT two years ago.

Fans were left “feeling sick” on Saturday night when Auzzy Blood, a gothic cabaret stuntman, performed tricks including putting a giant screw through his mouth and nose while hoisting himself into the air with a hook through his jaw.

Simon appeared to be enamoured by the stomach-churning scenes and voted for Auzzy to stay on the show along with Amanda Holden and Bruno Tonioli. However, some viewers claimed that the media mogul was “acting like he never saw the guy before”, even though Auzzy rocked up on America’s Got Talent in 2023.

Auzzy Blood sent shockwaves through the Britain’s Got Talent audience with his stomach-churning routine

Taking to social media, calling out the SyCo star, one fan said: “The funniest thing for me was Simon acting like he never saw this guy before, he was on Americas got talent two years ago and Simon was a judge.” Another mused: “Simon has become a good actor” while a third claimed: “Simon has done it many times, Piff the Magic Dragon, Tape Face, Wes P, Gonzo to name a few.”

Auzzy is not the first person to appear on BGT twice and did perform a different act routine to the one on America’s Got Talent. Also, the rules of the show do not state that you can only perform once – or that you can’t be a professional act. A source previously told The Sun acts with past performing experience don’t have an unfair advantage as it “all boils down to the public vote”.

He has also appeared on America’s Got Talent
They said: “The show has never hidden the fact that auditions are open to everybody, irrespective of previous experience, and everybody is given the same opportunity on the show.

“Regardless of experience, these contestants are not household names, and are unknown to most of the public. The show offers contestants an opportunity to perform on a Global scale and pursue their dreams”.

Auzzy Blood, real name Austin Punton, is a cabaret performed from Las Vegas who first appeared on America’s Got Talent in 2022. On stage, he declared himself “a sideshow freak who likes to endanger his life for other people’s entertainment and to show people they can truly accomplish anything you put your mind to.”

For his audition, the performer was seen swallowing a number of knives before asking judge Howie Mandel to get in on his act and push one down his gullet. He eventually made it through, but was knocked out in the wildcard round.

The Mirror has contacted ITV for comment on this story.

Today’ Co-Host Sheinelle Jones Breaks Silence About Being Absent From Show

Sheinelle Jones has been notably absent from ‘Today’ for weeks, causing some viewers to speculate about changes with the shows lineup.

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The Zach Bryan Drama

Jones is the third-hour co-host of the popular American morning TV show and has been a part of the roster since 2014. Her unexplained absence has caused rumors to run rampant, but Jones has finally broken her silence and addressed the situation on Instagram.

Earlier today, Jones posted a message that reads: “Hi everybody… I sincerely appreciate all of you who have reached out while I have been absent from the show. I want to share with you that I am taking time to deal with a family health matter.”

“It’s not lost on me how lucky I am to have not only the support of my Today Show family, but to also have all of you. Your kindness means so much to me. I’ll see you soon. Love Sheinelle.

Co-Hosts And Fans Eagerly Await Jones’ Return To Today

The statement certainly points to Jones returning to the show in the future. While Jones doesn’t provide any dates for her return, her message should quash any rumors while she attends to her family.

Savannah Guthrie read the message out on the Today show on Wednesday, saying, “We want to share some news here about our friend Sheinelle. We know so many of you have been asking about Sheneille and missing her, and we miss her too.” Co-host Craig Melvin shared the sentiment, saying, “We all love you, and we are so looking forward to having you back!”

Jones’s Instagram post has quickly garnered over 35,000 likes, with many well wishes from fans. One user, OliviaMac33, replied, “I was worried about you, so I appreciate you letting us know. I will be praying for you and your family. Sending you love and light!.”

Hundreds of replies from other users offer similar messages of support, wishing her family well. The New York Post reports that Jones’ absence raised eyebrows as she wasn’t present for co-host Hota Kotb’s final show on Friday.

Grieving Loose Women star Gloria Hunniford declares she “happy to be alive” as she releases a new pop album at the age 84 – just six months after losing her beloved husband Stephen Way

At 84, Gloria Hunniford has earned a break.

She was just seven when she earned her first pay day as a singer in her native Ireland. And in the 77 years since she has barely stopped.

Now a Loose Women regular and one of the hosts of BBC’s Rip Off Britain, she’s a staple on our screens each week.

But it isn’t just her passion for righting wrongs and fighting charlatans that is driving her to keep working.

In an exclusive interview, she reveals it’s actually the only thing that can s ave her from her grief. So she determined to do what it takes to keep busy.

It’s been 21 years since she lost daughter Caron Keating to cancer – and just six months since she lost her husband Stephen Way, aged 85, after 30 years together.

“Work makes me feel safe, because I have a structure, I know what I’m supposed to be doing,” she explains. “All the emotional stuff and all the heartbreak, that’s the hard bit to cope with.

“As long as you can take your [self] away from grief for an hour it helps clear your mind for a little while.”

She adds: “I’ve worked since I was seven and for me doing things and keeping busy is good for my head. To do nothing would be miserable for me. My way of coping wouldn’t be for everybody and I’m sure it’s quite controversial, but I love work.”

It’s been especially vital these past few months. Gloria – who turns 85 on April 10 – is currently experiencing a year of firsts without her beloved “Stevie” : the first Christmas, first birthday, first anniversary….

Gloria Hunniford with her late husband Stephen Way

Gloria and “Stevie” were together for 30 years and married for 26
She and the businessman were together since the mid-1990s and married in 1998, six years after her divorce from the father of her three children Don Keating.

“Some of my worst times when Caron passed and also when Stevie passed were if I was at home on my own,” she reveals. “And suddenly your mind wanders and you think: ‘what happened there, for goodness’ sake?’.”

It was a similarly poignant reason that prompted Gloria to take part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2005, a year after losing Caron, aged just 41. While Gloria’s Rumba was given just two points by notoriously-harsh Craig Revel Horwood, she still loved it. “When Caron died, I said: ‘I don’t think I’ll ever smile again’,” Gloria recalls. “One of my sons found that very sad, so when Strictly came up, they said: ‘look, it’ll be good for you.’

“And it was. It gave me something to laugh about, it was a challenge, the people were lovely and the glitter was lovely; it was helpful.

“One of the hardest aspects of grief is when you lose a child. You cannot carry a baby for nine months, love that child and not feel the incredible pain at losing that child. It’s indescribable.”

Gloria Hunniford with daughter Caron Keating ( 
Image:
Daily Mirror)
While Gloria clearly relishes trying something new – this spring will see her competing in Celebrity Bake Off – she is best known as a regular panellist on the ITV lunchtime chat show Loose Women, as well as for her campaigning work on the acclaimed BBC consumer series Rip Off Britain, which she has presented for the past 16 years, currently alongside Julia Somerville and Louise Minchin.

Rightly proud of both programmes, she hopes to still be working on them at 90. “It depends whether the producers would still want me when I was heading towards 90, but I’ve no plans to retire,” she says.

“Work may retire me, or I may be unlucky enough to have some pain or ache or a situation where I can’t do it, but give or take, I want to do it for as long as they want me.”

Gloria is, after all, determined to wring every moment of joy out of her days. “I’m glad to still be alive,” she explains when thinking about her upcoming birthday. “The years go by so bloody quickly.

“I don’t like the zeros – 60, 70 and 80, but once that zero has passed, you just continue.

“I try not to think about age too much.

“But then sometimes I hear myself mentioning it, like when the gas company are supposed to read my meter.

“I say: ‘I am in my 80s you know, I’m in a vulnerable category.’ There comes a point when you start using it for yourself!”

Gloria Hunniford sang purr-fectly as Snow Leopard on the 2022 series of The Masked Singer ( 
Image:
ITV)She’s certainly not letting her age put her off her ambitions.

In the 1980s she spent eight years at the helm of the popular chat show Sunday, Sunday, where she interviewed a host of A-list stars, from Audrey Hepburn and Doris Day to Charlton Heston. More than 40 years on she would love to do it again.

“We had every Hollywood star that you can think of,” she smiles. “I loved talking to people, so if somebody thought that there was a chat show in an 80-something I would be so thrilled!”

Meanwhile Gloria’s latest venture sees her re-releasing her 1979 studio album A Taste of Hunni. Fans of ITV’s The Masked Singer will remember her impressive vocals on the show in 2022 as Snow Leopard, but she actually began singing in her native Northern Ireland as a child.

“My dad worked for newspapers by day and he was a magician by night and when I was seven, he asked me to join him,” she says. “They were called concert parties and we’d perform in church halls, town halls and schools. There was no TV then, so that was everyone’s entertainment.”

Gloria released several singles during the 60s and 70s and even supported Roy Orbison when he toured her native Northern Ireland in 1969.

Gloria Hunniford reunited with her good friend Sir Cliff Richard at her album launch party last week ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Will she be back in the charts in time for her 85th birthday? Gloria was smiling again as she celebrated the re-release of her 1979 album A Taste Of Hunni ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images)
A decade later she recorded A Taste of Hunni, a collection of popular songs, including Feelings, You Are The Sunshine of My Life and What the World Needs Now. Today, 46 years later, she’s just thrown a lavish album launch party with the likes of Sir Cliff Richard to celebrate its re-release. She will know how it charts by the end of the week.

“To have a record out at this stage of my life is so exciting,” she smiles. “Mind you, there are some records I made in Ireland that I’d pay anybody to bury and never be seen again!

“But actually, I’m really pleased with this one – the song choice is good, the musicians are good, the arrangements are good and I could really sing in those days.

“So many memories are tied up in this album. It feels like my life has come full circle, so it’s a real thrill to have it re-released.”

It was following a BBC interview in Belfast about her singing career that Gloria ended up switching careers. Out of the blue they offered her a job in broadcasting, with her new boss telling her: ‘Remember, you’re as good as any bloke in this room.’ “That took away any worry that I might have had about sexism,” she recalls.

After starting in Ulster, she moved to London and became the first woman to have her own Radio 2 show. A host of programmes followed before she joined Loose Women a decade ago.

“I love the camaraderie,” she says of the daytime show. “I enjoy the meetings in the morning as much as the air-time – it’s much naughtier than anything that goes on air!”

Gloria’s album is getting re-released for a whole new generation
Work may be Gloria’s emotional crutch, but she also knows her family are there to lean on when things get really hard.

Her sons Paul and Michael were vital in helping her through her painful first Christmas without Stevie.

“I was dreading Christmas because Stevie and I had 30 Christmases together, but my boys really saved the festive season,” says Gloria, who lives in Kent..

“The youngest one Michael did Christmas and my two grandchildren from Caron were able to spend three days with us. Then for New Year we all went to France and then Fort Lauderdale for a week and sat in the sun. My sons organised all of that, which was really kind.

“I think as you get older you really appreciate your children more and more. My two boys have been so amazing since Stephen died. Having children was the best thing I ever did in my life.”

Inside Fox News’ Hillary Vaughn and Peter Doocy’s marriage after small wedding and famous best man as they welcome baby

THEY are known for entertaining and informing Americans on the latest developments in politics and business.q

But, Fox’s Hillary Vaughn, 32, and Peter Doocy, 35, had some breaking news of their own as they welcomed Bridget Blake Doocy into the world on February 1.

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Peter Doocy tied the knot with Fox Business star Hillary Vaughn in 2021Credit: Instagram

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The tuxedo-clad White House correspondent was seen cutting his wedding cake with his wifeCredit: Instagram

White House correspondent Peter and Fox Business Network broadcaster Hillary tied the knot in a ceremony in South Carolina in April 2021.

Peter’s dad Steve, an anchor on Fox & Friends, revealed that there were just 18 guests, as the nuptials were held during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He told Fox News that his son and Hillary were supposed to marry in January 2021.

Steve said that the nuptials were “beautiful.” He revealed that he was his son’s best man and gave a speech at the event.

He recalled that members of the Doocy family write poems for celebratory occasions.

Steve said: “I was good until the next to last line. I had to stop for a second.”

He admitted that memories from his son’s childhood came flooding back while reading the poem.

Reminiscing on the event, Steve said: “The weather was perfect. The food was perfect. It was absolutely lovely.”

Fox News viewers were treated to a montage of snaps from Peter and Hillary’s big day.

Peter sported a dapper tux while Hillary dazzled in her long white gown.

Heartwarming pictures showed the newlyweds cutting their towered wedding cake together.

More than a year later, it was revealed in September that Hillary was expecting a child.

The news was announced during a live cooking segment.

Steve was on-air for the moment when he shared a recipe from The Simply Happy Cookbook.

‘EATING FOR TWO’

The broadcasters were gathered to try the Iowa Caucus Casserole, inspired by Peter’s work in politics.

Steve said: “This food is particularly good if you are really hungry, and Hillary is hungry all of the time.”

Hillary quipped: “That’s because I’m eating for two.”

She said at the time the baby was due at the end of January.

The couple has now become first-time parents after Bridget was born at the start of the month.

She was born in northern Virginia, weighing eight pounds and one ounce.

Hillary told People: “I didn’t realize this until now, but I’ve been training for motherhood my entire career by trying to get lawmakers on Capitol Hill to respond to my questions. This job isn’t much different.

‘Baby Bridget – can you give us a comment? Are you hungry or gassy, or both?’ Trying to get an on-the-record answer is tough!”

The new mom revealed that her water broke while she was on the way to Capitol Hill.

Just a week has passed since Bridget was born and Hillary said that it’s the “best assignment” she’s ever had.

Political reporter Peter has opened up on the names that White House staffers suggested in the run-up to the birth.

He said: “The Press Secretary gave me permission to name the baby Karine.”

Karine Jean-Pierre has served as White House press secretary since May 2022.

 

It comes as Kayleigh McEnany returned to host Outnumbered on Tuesday – months after she gave birth to her second child Nash.

She and her husband former MLB pitcher Sean Gilmartin welcomed the baby in November.