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Actress Helen Worth – aka Coronation Street’s one and only Gail Platt – will be leaving Coronation Street this Christmas Day after more than 50 years worth of drama, family strife and, of course, plenty of disastrous marriages.

And away from Weatherfield, Helen, 73, has also found herself unlucky in love on occasion, with her first husband’s affair leaving her feeling as though she was “drowning”.

Helen’s most famous character is, of course, set to wed for a seventh time this festive season, this time to former child entertainer Jesse Chadwick (John Thomson). However, with her family harbouring some serious doubts about her latest romance, it’s unlikely we’re in for a harmonious wedding reception.

For Helen, much like Gail herself, heartache is sadly no stranger. She had once believed she’d be with her ex-husband Michael Angelis for the rest of their lives, only for his shock secret affair to explode all that she’d hoped for…

Michael fessed up after realising his affair was about to be made public ( 
Image:
PA)

Helen tried to fix her broken marriage – but to no avail ( 
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EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS)

In 1991, Morecambe-born Helen married her long-term love, Michael Angelis, best known as the former narrator of the classic children’s TV series Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. The couple had been smitten since the mid-70s and were all smiles on their wedding day, but sadly, their marital bliss was short-lived.

Just four years after the confetti was thrown, Michael admitted he’d had an affair, feeling he had no choice but to be honest after learning a newspaper would be running a story about his infidelity. Opening up about this dark time during a 2001 interview with the Mirror, Helen admitted: “Nothing can ever prepare you for the day your husband sits you down and tells you he is having an affair.

“My marriage was everything to me. It was the foundation on which everything else was built. I had been with Michael for nearly half of my life. I never imagined that we wouldn’t grow old together. When he told me, everything just went black. Things started to make sense. Maybe I realised right away that something like that had been bound to happen. Things hadn’t been right for some time, but – naively maybe – I didn’t think it was serious.”

She continued: “The pictures were about to be published and he knew he had to tell me fast,” she continued. “He just said he was having an affair. I went through every emotion. I was hurt. Then angry. So angry. I tried to tell myself it wasn’t happening.

“The worst thing was that I knew it was going to be in the papers the next day. To know that the rest of the world had to know about my pain was just unbearable.”

Although they initially tried to mend their broken relationship, it became apparent the damage had been done, leading to many heartfelt discussions about where exactly they’d gone wrong. Helen, now 73, said: “I can’t describe how hard it was,” she recalls. “Everything was slipping away and I couldn’t do anything to stop it. I’d be up in Manchester, just trying to get on with the job and telling myself everything would be OK. But maybe I knew, deep down, that it was never going to be OK again.”

They eventually called it a day in 2001 when more photos emerged of Michael with his mistress, the Welsh model Jennifer Khalastchi, who he went on to marry. Expressing that she felt as though she was “drowning” and being “dragged down” as their relationship imploded, Helen used work as a coping mechanism. She admitted: “I was afraid to let go. I just couldn’t imagine a world that didn’t have Michael in it. But in the end, I didn’t have a choice. I had to accept it. It was either accept it, or go under, and I was never going to do that. I’m a survivor. I’d just never been put to the test until then.”

Helen and Trevor locked eyes at a 90th birthday party ( 
Image:
UK Press via Getty Images)

It was love at first sight for the smitten pair ( 
Image:
PA)Reflecting upon the turmoil they endured, Helen revealed that she doesn’t bear a grudge, explaining: “He was called a love rat and a cheat. But he wasn’t. That’s not how it was, things are never that easy. He just met someone who made him happier than I could. It wasn’t a crime. It was just desperately sad.

“I know now that Michael suffered as much as I did. He still loved me when he left. It tore him apart that he was hurting me. He would never willingly have caused me pain. He is the gentlest man I know.” Helen and Michael remained friends after their divorce, and would regularly have lunch together until his death in 2020.

After remaining single for some years, Helen found love again with Trevor Dawson, a deputy headmaster, seven years her junior. The pair met at a friend’s 90th birthday bash, and say it was ‘love at first sight’. Speaking with the Mirror in 2016, smitten Trevor confirmed he was a Corrie fan, sharing: “We watch the show together. I had always been a fan going back some years. I used to watch it with my mum. Of course, Gail was my favourite.”

After keeping their blossoming romance under wraps for more than a year, Helen and Trevor said ‘I do’ at St James’s Church in London in 2012, surrounded by many fellow Coronation Street stars. As they left the ceremony, the newlyweds were also greeted by nearly 200 cheering well-wishers, all of whom were happy to see Helen loved up once more.

Thanking her guests at the time, Helen said: “It’s been the most fantastic day, it has exceeded all expectations. We are thrilled that so many of our friends and family could be here to celebrate with us.” Years later, it would appear Helen is still besotted by her second hubby. During an appearance on This Morning back in 2021, she gushed: “I met Trevor about 10 years ago, and I just thank my lucky stars really. He’s just gorgeous.”

.On her decision to leave Weatherfield behind, Helen previously said: “This year felt like the perfect time to leave the show after celebrating 50 years in the most wonderful job on the most wonderful street in the world.

Strictly Come Dancing may be over for another year but there is still the festive special to get excited about

Strictly Come Dancing’s Christmas special is on its way with the full famous line-up announced ahead of the ballroom’s winter wonderland transformation.

BBC fans couldn’t hold back the tears when blind comedian Chris McCausland won Strictly Come Dancing 2024 with his professional partner Dianne Buswell.

It was sad to say goodbye to the dance competition once again but there is still some Strictly magic to come with the Christmas episode jingling its way to our screens.

Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special start time

Strictly Come Dancing’s Christmas special is airing on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25, at 3.55pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

The joyous spectacular will run for one hour and 15 minutes before Doctor Who airs, but who are the six celebrities taking on the dazzling challenge this year?

Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special cast

Vogue Williams

Strictly Christmas special cast: Presenter, DJ and podcaster Vogue Williams. ( 
Image:
BBC)
Presenter, DJ and podcaster Vogue Williams is taking to the dancefloor this Christmas with her professional dance partner Carlos Gu.

She is often seen on ITV ’s Lorraine presenting the fashion and red carpet segments and is married to former Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews.

Vogue joked that Carlos would “have more of a chance of winning a Nobel prize” than turning her into a good dancer but that could change on the night.

Josh Widdicombe

Strictly Christmas special cast: Stand-up comedian and actor Josh Widdicombe. ( 
Image:
BBC)
Best known for starring on Channel 4 ’s The Last Leg as well as his own BBC comedy Josh, the stand-up comedian and actor has appeared on a variety of comedy and quiz panel shows like Have I Got News For You, QI and League Of Their Own.

Josh, 41, who has admitted to being “utterly terrified”, will be partnered with dancer Karen Hauer for the festive Strictly episode.

Tayce

Strictly Christmas special cast: Drag artist, model and presenter Tayce. ( 
Image:
BBC)
Tayce is to make Strictly history as the first ever drag queen to perform on the show.

The drag artist, model and presenter rose to fame as a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season two and declared the series’ runner-up.

Since then, she has modelled for Jean Paul Gaultier, presented on MTV, Sky and BBC Radio One and launched her own rap single Swagzilla.

Partnered up with Kai Widdrington, she said: “I cannot wait to sleigh on the Strictly Ballroom floor. My partner and I are going to dance for our lives!”

Tamzin Outhwaite

Strictly Christmas special cast: Former EastEnders actress Tamzin Outhwaite. ( 
Image:
BBC)Actress Tamzin Outhwaite is best known for portraying Mel Owen in EastEnders but has also starred as DCI Sasha Miller in BBC’s New Tricks.

Most recently, she featured in Channel 5’s mystery drama The Wives alongside Jo Joyner and Angela Griffin.

The 54-year-old star, who is “excited to swap the stage for the Strictly ballroom”, will be paired with dancer Nikita Kuzmin.

Billy Monger

Strictly Christmas special cast: Racing driver and presenter Billy Monger. ( 
Image:
BBC)
Partnered with Strictly professional Nadiya Bychkova, racing driver and presenter Billy Monger scored podiums in British Formula 3 and also won the Pau Grand Prix in European Formula 3.

Sadly, following a high-speed collision during Formula 4, Billy had to have both his legs amputated and continues to lobby for disabled and non-disabled drivers to race alongside one another.

He joked that dancing “in front of Craig Revel Horwood fills me with fear I’ve never experienced before”.

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey

Strictly Christmas special cast: Gladiator and Olympian Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. ( 
Image:
BBC)
Also known as Nitro, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey is a star of BBC’s reboot of Gladiators and recently appeared on Celebrity Masterchef.

The 36-year-old, who has been matched with Nancy Xu, is also a Team GB, Commonwealth and World gold medallist sprinter and was the first athlete to win gold medals at both the 100 and 200 metres at the World Youth Championships.

The Gladiator star was awarded the 2005 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year when he was 17-years-old.

Talking about his Strictly debut, Harry said: “I’m swapping my trainers for dancing shoes, and trust me, I’m bringing the power, the energy and the moves!

“This December I’m gonna light up that dance floor and crank the Christmas spirit all the way up. Let’s do this!”

The winners of the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special have been announced, with the likes of Josh Widdicombe, Vogue Williams, Tayce, Tamzin Outhwaite, and Billy Monger taking part

The winners of the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special have been revealed as Kai Widdrington and RuPauls’ Drag Race UK icon Tayce.

Earlier this month, comedian Chris McCausland – the show’s first blind contestant – picked up the Glitterball Trophy with dance partner Dianne Buswell. It wasn’t long before fans of the show got to tune in again as the Christmas special returned to bring festive joy to viewers at home.

The dance competition’s first drag queen, Tayce, and Kai lifted the Christmas star-shaped trophy after getting a perfect score of four 10s for their cha-cha to 100 Degrees by Kylie and Dannii Minogue. Judge Craig Revel Horwood was in awe over the two and said it was “absolutely fierce, serving realness, serving fab-u-lous.”

Comedian Josh Widdicombe and Karen Hauer also participated in the special. They performed a Charleston dressed as penguins to the Glee cast version of Let It Snow. The duo received a respectable score of 36, with Anton du Beke saying: “I have to tell you one thing though, it has finally happened, the moment has come.

They got a perfect score of four 10s for their cha-cha to 100 Degrees by Kylie and Dannii Minogue ( 
Image:
BBC/Guy Levy)

“Karen has turned into me. She is the longest-serving professional on Strictly and they give you a Widdicombe, congratulations, you’ve earned it. I am gobsmacked, that was totally, totally brilliant.” He was referencing when he was partnered with Ann Widdecombe in 2010.

Others in the show were Vogue Williams and Gorka Marquez, who did a jive to Rockin’ Robin by Bobby Day. They received a 33 out of 40 points. Elsewhere, former EastEnders star Tamzin Outhwaite and Nikita Kuzmin danced a Viennese waltz to KD Lang’s version of Hallelujah.

Anton told them: “It was like my favourite sherry trifle at Christmas, it was layered, you had the lovely creamy, lovely top, with that beautiful cherry on the top which was your lovely top line… your arms were like the whirling cream across the custard layer… Your lifts were gorgeous, give me another spoonful of your trifle.”

Meanwhile, racing car driver Billy Monger and Nadiya Bychkova danced the American smooth to Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s Merry Christmas while Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and his dance partner Nancy Xu danced street commercial to the Glee cast version of Christmas Wrapping.

The festive special began with a group routine from the celebrities and their dance partners to I Love Christmas from the Scrooge film and ended with a closing number to Leona Lewis’s version of I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day. The episode also saw Emma Bunton perform a rendition of the Spice Girls song 2 Become 1.

Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page, who plays titular character Stacey Shipman, has revealed her hopes for a spin-off series of the show as it comes to an end very soon

Gavin and Stacey is about the come to an end, 17 years after the very first episode aired, with the highly anticipated ‘finale’ episode airing tonight. Luckily, actress Joanna Page, aka Stacey Shipman, given fans hope that there might be more from the franchise on its way.

Joanna teased the show could potentially continue with a spin-off focusing on Neil ‘the baby’ now that he’s all grown up. While Joanna seemed excited by the idea, she did say it would have to be created and written by James Corden and Ruth Jones. Joanna told The Sun: “A spin off series would be fun, I think the curiosity would be very high. But only if it was to be written by Ruth and James.”

Joanna has hinted she’s hoping for a Neil ‘the baby’ spin-off ( 
Image:
Mike Marsland/WireImage)

Joanna isn’t the only cast member to hint for a spin-off, Ruth and James have revealed they would like to see what’s next for their characters, Smithy and Nessa. Speaking on the Table Manners podcast with Jessie and Lennie Ware, James said: “We don’t know if we have another idea in us but I can honestly say that if we didn’t attempt to try and even explore the idea of writing together then I’d be so disappointed.”

Fans all over the country are waiting for the episode to drop on Christmas Day with the question still hanging in the air, did Smithy say ‘yes’ to Nessa? Nessa popped the question to Smithy in the last Christmas Day episode in 2019 which was promptly met by the rolling of the credits.

There have been lots of theories about what the final episode has in store from wedding bells to a potential death. On Heart Radio, Ruth and James teased what’s to come.

Ruth and James aren’t giving anything away ahead of the finale ( 
Image:
Ian West/PA Wire)Ruth replied: “The thing is, I think it would spoil it for you if we told you what’s actually going to happen. I think you’re just going to have to go with the flow and ride those emotions.” While another asked if viewers will finally learn of what happened on the fabled fishing trip between Rob Brydon’s character Uncle Bryn and Robert Wilfort’s character Jason West. But Ruth only teased: “All we can say is it is not illegal in this country.”

Rumours of a character death were spun by James himself when he said earlier this year: “What we were editing today was a very moving and emotional scene at Bryn’s funeral. I’m joking, I promise. Or am I?”

Gavin and Stacey actress Joanna Page, who previously spoke on Loose Women about her decision to have her fallopian tubes cut, has admitted to still feeling “very maternal”

Joanna Page has candidly discussed the possibility of expanding her family with her husband, despite previously having her “tubes tied”.

In a recent issue of Woman and Home magazine, the Gavin and Stacey actress and mother-of-four revealed that she’d had discussions with her husband, actor James Thornton, about potentially having more children.

Joanna previously told the Loose Women panel about her decision to have her fallopian tubes cut in her mid-forties, and reportedly considered reversing the procedure. She confessed to still feeling “very maternal”, but disclosed that a health check this year led to a moment that “felt huge”.

Joanna stated: “I’ve been thinking about fostering or adopting. It’s something I’ve chatted about with James because I’m still very maternal, and it’s something that I would think about in the future.”

Joanna Page admitted to still being “very maternal” ( 
Image:
Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)

“I don’t regret having my tubes tied, and although I felt broody at the start of the year, I don’t any more. At the beginning of this year, I did a health check, which involved a scan that showed that my right ovary had packed up.

“There wasn’t anything left, no eggs. That moment felt huge, as if my body was saying, ‘That is it’.”

She further revealed that she was prescribed HRT patches after visiting a menopause doctor, but was hesitant to use them as she believed that it meant she wouldn’t have any more kids.

However, she admitted: “I was very down, very depressed. I could cope with flushes, they weren’t bothering me. It was just my mood”.

Speaking previously on Loose Women, Joanna revealed she had been feeling “broody”, but, afterwards, didn’t give it much thought. She then realised that having another pregnancy would be impossible, admitting it would leave her “utterly exhausted”.

Joanna revealed that a health check this year led to a moment that “felt huge”
The Love Actually star continued: “But not that long ago, I went on the internet, I looked up: ‘Can you have your tubes put back together?’ You can. One-in-200 women can maybe get pregnant after doing that. I told James, he just looked at me and went: ‘You what? What on earth are you going on about?’ So I will not be having anymore. I’ve got my beautiful four children.”

As a mother of four young kids, Eva, Kit, Noah, and Boe, Joanna has reportedly decided to scale back her acting work and take on presenting roles to spend more time with her family. She previously joked about nearly divorcing her husband after the Covid lockdown affected their sex life, with the couple struggling to find time for each other while caring for their kids during the school closures.

Joanna shared that they argued and threatened to divorce throughout lockdown, even going a month without speaking to each other.

A 56-year-old Pot Noodle addict has taken his love to festive heights. He’s decorated his home for Christmas with more than just tinsel and baubles – it’s adorned with his favourite Pot Noodle memorabilia, having wolfed down over 4,700 pots and collected £4,000 worth of related items.

Dean Pugh, a dad-of-three from Pershore, Worcestershire, has converted his living room into a Pot Noodle paradise, replete with a themed Christmas tree twinkling with special crackers, rare discontinued flavours, and an angel not typically seen on nativity scenes – the 90s mascot Ned The Noodle.

Unlike others who might dine on turkey and trimmings, Dean will be indulging in a ‘Christmas Dinner’ flavour Pot Noodle on the big day and is eagerly awaiting a hamper full of them as a gift. His lounge isn’t just festive; it’s a shrine to the snack complete with vending machines, retro advertising and a Chicken Korma pot signed by Caprice from the 90s.

READ MORE: Aldi to enforce ‘two per person’ rule for customers from December 27

This plasterer’s quirky collection hasn’t gone unnoticed, earning him the title ‘Pot Noodle King’ across the globe ( 
Image:
SWNS)

His pals started calling him ‘Mr Noodle’ or ‘Noodle King’ ( 
Image:
SWNS)

Of his unique holiday decor, Dean says, “I just thought it would be a bit of fun although the wife doesn’t quite agree.” He adds, “I’ve spent years building up this collection and have become known across the world as the Pot Noodle King, so I thought I should show it off at Christmas too.”

And to those who default to the same decorations yearly, he suggests, “People always have the same old decorations up each year so I thought I’d do something a bit different. I think it looks fantastic but the wife thinks I’m nuts. She’s just learnt to tolerate it but my daughter loves it.

“The angel on top is a Pot Noodle mascot which you had to send tokens off for years ago. He’s called Ned the Noodle and they fetch about £60 on eBay. I’ll be having Pot Noodle Christmas Dinner flavour on Christmas Day, although it went out of date in 2011 so I hope it doesn’t make me ill.

“The family know to get me a Pot Noodle hamper – what else would the Pot Noodle King have for Christmas? ” “There’s two lads in Worcester collecting Pot Noodles to help feed the homeless this Christmas and I’ll be donating to them so its all about good causes too.”

He first became hooked on the snacks about 30 years ago at work ( 
Image:
SWNS)
Plasterer Dean, who lives with wife Louise, 50, first became hooked on the snacks about 30 years ago at work and would have one or two a week. He soon started taking them out on his regular metal detecting tips where his pals started calling him ‘Mr Noodle’ or ‘Noodle King’.

The name has stuck ever since – and he began eating them every day about 11 years ago. Dean says he loves the classic Chicken and Mushroom flavour but his favourite is the Bombay Bad Boy.

He also scours the web for unopened pots of discontinued flavours, like Mac and Cheese, Spicy Curry and Brazilian barbecue Steak and buys them on eBay. Dean also forked out £500 for a vending machine previously from a race course which dispenses his favourite snack and also plays music.

He once consumed a Beef and Tomato pot that was 14 years past its sell-by date to raise funds for charity. He said: “I just like Pot Noodles because they are a quick, easy, tasty snack. But now that’s all I’m known for.”

“I don’t mind though, it’s a fun thing to be known for and cheers people up. People contact me from all over the world saying how brilliant it is. I get sent Pot Noodle memorabilia in the post, I had some Pot Noodle earrings the other day. It started as a habit which grew into a massive hobby and now I’m always on the lookout for new additions to my collection, I look online constantly for items.”

The late Liam Payne’s partner Kate Cassidy has shared a heartfelt post about experiencing grief at Christmas.

It comes two months on from the news that Liam had died, aged 31. Last month, Kate was among the loved ones who gathered at a funeral for the One Direction member. She’s now shared a post about grief ahead of Christmas Day. Kate, whom Liam had been dating since 2022, shared the post on her Instagram Story on Tuesday night.

The post included a few lines about the holiday season, reminding her followers that it can involve “sadness and grief”. The post read: “As the holidays are here, I realize it is a time for happiness and joy, but it is also a time of sadness and grief for so many. Be gentle with those around you this time of year, as the holidays can feel different for everyone.”

It continued: “Sending all my love to those carrying grief this holiday. I hope the seasons bring you comfort and peace.” The post that was shared by Kate concluded: “Wishing everyone a love-filled and healthy holiday season this year.”

Kate Cassidy shared a post this week about people experiencing grief at Christmas ( 
Image:
instagram.com/kateecass)

Kate (right) has experienced the loss of her own late partner Liam Payne (left) recently ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Just days ago, Kate appeared to unveil a tattoo tribute to Liam, which featured a pair of angel wings. She has made references to angels since his death, like mentioning the number 444, which is described as the “angel number”.

Kate paid tribute to Liam just days after his death in October. She wrote at the time: “Thank you for all of the kind words and love that has been sent my way. I have been at a complete loss. Nothing about the past few days have felt real. I ask and pray that you’ll give me the grace and space to navigate this in private. Liam, my angel. You are everything. I want you to know I loved you unconditionally and completely. I will continue to love you for the rest of my life. I love you Liam.”

She later told fans that Liam had planned to propose to her within the next year. As previously reported, she wrote in a post on social media: “Your energy was contagious, lighting up every room you walked into. […] You had the kindest soul and the most fun-loving spirit. It feels like I’ve lost the best part of myself. I can’t imagine a day without your laughter and love. You brought so much light into my life.”

Kate added: “A few weeks ago, we sat outside on a beautiful evening manifesting our lives together. I keep your note close, even though you told me not to look at it. It said ‘Me and Kate to marry within a year/engaged & together forever 444.’ Liam, I know we’ll be together forever, but not in the way we had planned. You’ll always be with me. I’ve gained a guardian angel.”

Then, if you want to take your Brussels to an even higher level, you can add pancetta or bacon, as well as chestnuts, for the delicious dish that will have your Christmas dinner guests clamouring for more. To make the recipe – which is featured on Mary Berry’s Absolute Christmas Favourites and is available on the BBC website – you will need 900g of sprouts, 50g of butter, and salt and pepper. For the elevated recipe, you’ll then need 200g of pancetta or bacon, 225g of frozen chestnuts which have been defrosted and halved, and one onion.

Method

Remove the outer leaves from the sprouts, trim the base of each one and cut in half from top to bottom, through the root. Cook the prepared sprouts in boiling salted water for 3-4 minutes, or until nearly tender. Drain and refresh in a bowl of cold water to retain their bright-green colour.

 

Heat half of the butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. When the butter is foaming, add the pancetta and fry for 3-4 minutes, or until crisp. Remove from the pan using a slotted spoon and set aside to drain on kitchen paper.

 

Heat the remaining butter in the same pan. Add the onion and chestnuts and fry for 8-10 minutes, or until the onion has softened. Stir in the cooked pancetta.

 

Drain the sprouts well, then stir them into the pancetta, chestnut and onion mixture. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve piping hot alongside roast turkey with all the trimmings.

The recipe might sound complicated, but Mary said you can save yourself some time by frying the pancetta and chestnuts in advance before adding the fresh Brussels sprouts. Mary added: “Ensure that the sprouts are at room temperature when you add them to the pan – if they are added straight from the fridge, they take too long to heat through. This dish is best eaten freshly cooked, but leftovers can be stored in the fridge for one day.”

The Royal Family is currently gathering at Sandringham, where they’ll be enjoying their beloved, and not to mention eccentric, Christmas traditions. But Prince Andrew won’t be joining them.

While the gag gift swapping and tree decorating gets underway, Andrew has stepped well away from this year’s festivities to avoid any further embarrassment for his elder brother, King Charles III. Royal sources have confirmed he’s “done the right thing”, with senior members of the Firm said to be ‘exasperated’ by him.

The Duke of York, whose friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein brought great shame on the family, has faced yet more controversy in recent times amid a scandal involving alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo, who is now banned from the UK after losing an appeal earlier this month.

Now Andrew, 64, will instead be spending a quieter Christmas at Royal Lodge with his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, as some 45 regal guests celebrate in style at the breath-taking Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

Over the weekend, Andrew was spotted heading out on his own near Windsor Castle, ahead of what looks set to be a lonely festive period.

The Duke was recently spotted driving out on his own near Windsor Castle ( 
Image:
Kelvin Bruce)
So what will the festive season have in store instead? Well, it seems it will be very different from last year when he was surrounded by his relatives. Instead, he will stay at his Royal Lodge home – with seemingly only ex-wife Fergie for company.

The pair have an unconventional relationship. Despite being divorced, they still live together in the 30-room mansion in Windsor, amid reported attempts by King Charles to evict them. Earlier this month, Fergie declared she will always “support” the father of her children.

Andrew will be spending this Christmas with ex-wife Fergie ( 
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
She added: “I was totally and utterly in love with Andrew. I would do it all over again, 100 per cent. He’s the best, a great man with a great heart and kind. Our wedding was the best day of my life. But I gave up my anonymity that day. I was able to because love conquers all. It’s still with us today. I won’t let him down.”

Princess Beatrice will spend Christmas with her in-laws ( 
Image:
UK Press via Getty Images)

Princess Eugenie with husband Jack Brooksbank ( 
Image:
UK Press via Getty Images)
Andrew and Sarah have two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who also have three children between them. However, sources have said they will be spending Christmas with their respective in-laws for the first time this year. Beatrice, who is expecting her second child, will be with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and their three-year-old daughter Sienna. Eugenie will be with her husband, Jack Brooksbank, and his family, along with their sons, August and Ernest.

Andrew disappeared from public life since stepping down from official duties in 2019, but he carried on joining the Royal Family on Christmas Day in the past. Last year, he walked from Sandringham House to church with the other royals – seen as symbolic of his gradual rehabilitation within the family.

Andrew at King Charles’ Coronation last year ( 
Image:
PA)
After the service, the duke laughed and threw up his hands as he joked with well-wishers and was joined by his ex-wife, the Duchess, who returned to the royal fold after missing Sandringham for a number of decades.

Andrew’s status as a member of the Royal Family was left in tatters when the late Queen later stripped him of his honorary military roles and remaining royal patronages. In a dramatic fallout from his civil sex case, he gave up his HRH style. He no longer attends Trooping the Colour, Remembrance Sunday commemorations at the Cenotaph, or the annual Commonwealth Day service.

But he was at the King’s coronation, and is still a member of the Order of the Garter, taking part in the senior order of chivalry’s annual service behind closed doors, but does not appear in the public procession.

Royal biographer Ingrid Seward told the Mirror: “His irresponsible behaviour and dubious friendships have exasperated his older brother for some time now. However, nothing has been quite as damaging to the monarchy as Andrew’s current situation. It involves the British government, MI6 and the Chinese government. It is almost like a television spy special.

Married At First Sight star Ella Morgan has split from her Celebs Go Dating star boyfriend Alex James Ali amid claims he was unfaithful.

The 30-year-old reality star first found fame on E4’s chaotic dating show Married At First Sight where she caused controversy by dumping husband Nathanial Valentino in favour of fellow contestant, JJ Slater – who had been married to Bianca Petronzi. Despite getting on well during their time on the show, Ella and JJ’s romance quickly imploded once cameras stopped rolling – and she was left devastated when he sparked a romance with her friend Katie Price.

Ella hit out at Katie at the time for breaking ‘girl code’ – but the glamour model is still dating JJ almost a year on. But love appeared to bloom for Ella with hairdresser Alex when she took part in E4’s other chaotic dating show, Celebs Go Dating, earlier this year. The couple flirted wildly on the show – and appeared to be going strong months after the cameras stopped rolling as they both featured each other on their social media feeds as recently as last week.

But now the relationship is said to have gone down in flames – with a report suggesting Ella walked away after accusing Alex of messaging other women.

The duo found love on E4’s Celebs Go Dating earlier this year ( 
Image:
E4)

A source told The Sun: “Ella is absolutely heartbroken and disappointed but the trust is gone now for her. On the outside they appeared so happy and loved up but there was cracks growing on the inside.

“Fans absolutely adored them and that initially spurred them on to try and make things work and they even planned to move into Alex’s house at some point. She’s going into the New Year single with a positive mind frame but it has come at the worst time with Christmas and her birthday just days away.” The Mirror has approached representatives of both Ella and Alex for comment.

Just four days ago, Alex expressed his love for Ella in an Instagram post that she shared. She had attended a lavish event celebrating the transgender community and highlighting an organisation that offers access to safe healthcare for transgender people. After she shared a highlights reel of the night on her Instagram grid, Alex reacted with a string of flame emojis. And days earlier, Ella had responded with a love heart emoji to a post that Alex shared on his own post.

Fans will note that the duo still follow each other on Instagram amid the reports that they have broken up. In October, Ella gushed to the Mirror about how happy she was to have found love with Alex. She said: “Life has been amazing since Celebs Go Dating. I’ve got my man. I love him. I literally love him.” Sharing an insight into the couple’s next big move, she continued: “We’ve talked about marriage, moving in and me meeting his son.”

She went on: “The show completely changed my love life. After 30 years, I finally have a boyfriend. I’m still in shock that it happened to me. I genuinely never thought I would meet someone after 10 years of not dating. I had started to think that I was the problem and I would always be lonely. Being trans, I have more struggles to contend with. I thought I would always be on my own.”

Following the difficulties she had endured in past relationships, she had noted that Alex had restored her faith in love. She said: “I’m really grateful I have found someone that I have an amazing connection with. It’s not about being trans, it’s not a fetish for him. We actually haven’t even spoken that in-depth about it, and that’s the first time for me with any guy I’ve dated. He just says, ‘You’re Ella to me’ and I love it.”