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  • Strictly Come Dancing’s Nikita Kuzmin gives relationship insight as he admits ‘I’m lucky’

    Strictly Come Dancing’s Nikita Kuzmin gives relationship insight as he admits ‘I’m lucky’

    Strictly Come Dancing pro Nikita Kuzmin appeared on Loose Women on Friday and opened up about his relationship with model girlfriend Lauren Jaine.

    Strictly Come Dancing star Nikita Kuzmin gushed about his girlfriend Lauren Jaine on Friday’s episode of Loose Women. The BBC dancer was there to speak about his upcoming tour, but the conversation swiftly veered towards his love life.

    With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, the ITV panel were curious about his plans, to which he cheekily responded: “I’m not sure how much of a surprise it would be if I said it on national television! But, definitely something; I am a romantic guy. I just love to organise surprises.”

    The audience cooed as he confessed to trying to spoil his partner with weekly flowers, prompting him to quip that anyone could receive a bouquet.

    He continued: “I don’t want to jinx anything, saying things are going well because they are.

    “I love Lauren so, so much and I’m really happy. I can support her in her own career and she can support me in mine, very lucky. I feel very lucky.”

    Strictly Come Dancing's Nikita Kuzmin gives relationship insight as he admits 'I'm lucky'
    Strictly Come Dancing’s Nikita Kuzmin gives relationship insight as he admits ‘I’m lucky’
    Nikita and Lauren, a model by profession, usually keep their relationship under wraps, though they occasionally post snippets on social media, reports Wales Online.

    Reports suggest the couple started dating in summer 2023 and went public in October that year. On another note, Nikita shared his excitement about his first solo tour beyond Strictly, exclaiming: “It’s so, so exciting. I genuinely cannot comprehend the fact that this is actually happening.

    “I cannot comprehend the fact that more than my mum is coming to see me. Actual real people are coming to see me!

    Strictly Come Dancing's Nikita Kuzmin with his girlfriend Lauren
    Strictly Come Dancing’s Nikita Kuzmin with his girlfriend Lauren 
    Image:
    INSTAGRAM/NIKITAKUZMIN)
    “It’s just a dream come true. I’ve always dreamed of it, and it’s been four years in the making. It’s finally happening, we have the most beautiful story.”

    The star couldn’t contain his excitement as he shared with the panel that his upcoming tour will be ‘magic’. In an admission of his perfectionist tendencies, Nikita acknowledged his inner ‘control freak’, revealing he’s trying to supervise every aspect of his show.

    He wants to ensure everything from costumes and staging to music is top-notch. Nikita added: “The thing is, I feel like if people come to see my tour, if people give their hard-earned money and they give me two hours of their time, I want the costumes to be something they’ve never seen before.

    Nikita shared his excitement over his upcoming tour
    Nikita shared his excitement over his upcoming tour“I want the show to be the best thing they’ve ever seen. That’s also the power of the theatre. It’s the only way to communicate today, especially with the movies. It’s the only place you can hold the audience for two hours, and there is no phone in sight.”

    “It’s just you and this beautiful interaction like we’re having right now. I think it’s so powerful. I feel like I need to give the audience back everything they deserve.”

    Loose Women continues weekdays on ITV from 12:30pm.

  • Awkward moment angry Phillip Schofield scolds Gino D’Acampo after vulgar sex joke

    Awkward moment angry Phillip Schofield scolds Gino D’Acampo after vulgar sex joke

    This Morning host Phillip Schofield told Gino D’Acampo that he had ‘gone too far’ after the chef made a very lewd joke to the ITV star in resurfaced footage shared online

    A shocking moment when Phillip Schofield accused Gino D’Acampo of crossing the line with a risque joke has resurfaced, as the chef now faces allegations of sexually inappropriate and intimidating behaviour.

    In a throwback clip from This Morning from 2013, Gino, 48, is seen cooking a dish alongside former hosts Phillip, 62, and Holly Willoughby, 43. However, he seems to upset co-star Phillip with a saucy remark about ‘tough meat’ and ‘making love to your wife’, leading the host to chastise the Italian star live on air.

    The footage shows Phillip jovially saying: “We do not want tense meat” as he stirs a sauce, likely under the guidance of the chef, who regularly hosted cooking segments on the ITV daytime show.

    Gino is seen agreeing, telling the pair: “We don’t want that because tense meat, it becomes tough meat. Right?” Phillip, addressing the camera, affirmed: “Tense meat is a friend to no one.”

    Gino insulted Phil with the rude sex joke
    Gino insulted Phil with the rude sex joke 
    Image:
    ITV)

    Standing next to Holly, Gino then added: “No seriously, tense meat it comes a tough meat. That’s why you should never annoy your wife before you make love. You want her to be nice and soft.”

    After Gino’s sexually explicit statement, Holly raised an eyebrow but chose not to comment and instead continued to prepare her dish. However, Phillip appeared to be annoyed by Gino’s comment. Turning to Gino, his expression hardened as he declared: “Now you’ve gone too far. That’s too far.” As Gino insisted he was innocent, Phillip sharply retorted: “That’s a step too far.”

    It comes after dozens of people have detailed experiences described as “unacceptable,” “distressing” and “horrendous” while working with TV chef Gino over a period spanning more than 12 years. Responding to the claims in their entirety, in a statement to ITV News, Gino said: “I have been told by ITN news that allegations have been made about me acting inappropriately, some dating back over ten years ago.

    “I have never been made aware of these matters previously and the allegations are firmly denied. I would not do anything that I thought would upset or distress anyone. This is simply not in my nature. I do not recognise the version of events being put to me.

    Gino is a regular on This Morning
    Gino is a regular on This Morning 
    Image:
    ITV)
    “Not only have these allegations never been raised with me before, I have been repeatedly supported by executives at the highest level and was commissioned on prime-time programmes during the period in which it is now suggested I was acting inappropriately.

    “I am a father, husband and have worked with well over 1,500 people on around 80 productions in my career, which I have been so proud of. I take such matters extremely seriously and the suggestion that I have acted in an improper way against is deeply upsetting.”

    The TV chef who has appeared on the likes of ITV’s Family Fortunes and Gino and Fred: Emission Impossible faces accusations dating back over ten years. Individuals are said to have been fearful of any consequences if they ever spoke of their alleged encounters with the 48-year-old.

    Gino has “firmly denied” the allegations made by “dozens” of people”, adding that they were “deeply upsetting”. One woman, who has been named as Hannah to protect her identity has told an investigation that she was on the receiving end of vulgar comments from Gino in 2011.

  • This Morning sparks fan fury as stars ignore shock Gino D’Acampo allegations

    This Morning sparks fan fury as stars ignore shock Gino D’Acampo allegations

    Gino D’Acampo has been accused of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ dating back over a decade, and his This Morning co-stars stayed silent after the chef strongly denied the claims

    Dermot O’Leary and Rochelle Humes have failed to speak out after their co-star Gino D’Acampo was accused of sexual misconduct by “dozens” of people.

    The This Morning duo chose not to address the ITV investigation currently underway about the claims, which accuse the celebrity chef of inappropriate behaviour dating back over 12 years. Gino’s actions have been described as “unacceptable”, “distressing” and “horrendous”, with complainants claiming they were scared of repercussions if they spoke out at the time.

    While Gino has “firmly denied” the allegations, Rochelle and Dermot stayed silent about the claims made against him while on This Morning today.

    Dermot O'Leary hosted alongside Rochelle Humes during today's episode of This Morning
    Dermot O’Leary hosted alongside Rochelle Humes during today’s episode of This Morning 
    Image:
    ITV)
    Fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter to address the silence from the stars, as one penned: “They aren’t gonna talk about Gino..” while a second questioned: “Are you lot really surprised they didn’t talk about Gino?”

    A third commented: “It’s funny how they are avoiding to talk about Gino,” as another questioned: “So no talking about Gino then?”

    Gino himself has publicly addressed the claims made against them, releasing a statement refuting the “deeply upsetting” allegations. The Italian star said: “I have been told by ITN news that allegations have been made about me acting inappropriately, some dating back over ten years ago.

    “I have never been made aware of these matters previously and the allegations are firmly denied. I would not do anything that I thought would upset or distress anyone. This is simply not in my nature. I do not recognise the version of events being put to me.”

    Gino
    There was no mention of Gino on Friday’s This Morning 
    Image:
    ITV)
    Gino added: “Not only have these allegations never been raised with me before, I have been repeatedly supported by executives at the highest level and was commissioned on prime-time programmes during the period in which it is now suggested I was acting inappropriately.

    “I am a father, husband and have worked with well over 1,500 people on around 80 productions in my career, which I have been so proud of. I take such matters extremely seriously and the suggestion that I have acted in an improper way against is deeply upsetting.”

    Many production companies who’ve worked with Gino or received claims against him have also addressed the ongoing process into the allegations, with ITV itself sharing a long statement detailing the situation.

    Alongside outlining their safeguarding process, ITV made it clear that they were “following up” on allegations. In part, they wrote: “We have also reiterated our expectations of our on screen presenters’ behaviour through our Conduct and Standards Guidelines for On Screen Personalities issued in 2024. All of the concerns and complaints raised by those who have spoken to ITN describe behaviour which is inappropriate and unacceptable. Most of them were not reported to ITV at the time. Where issues have been raised with ITV action has been taken.

    “We can only act where we know that concerns have been raised, and will now be following up on those that had not previously been reported to us. If anyone has experienced or witnessed inappropriate behaviour while working on an ITV show, we encourage them to raise their concerns with us either directly or through our confidential speaking up hotline Safecall.”

  • Fred Sirieix breaks silence after co-star Gino D’Acampo ‘sexually inappropriate’ behaviour claims

    Fred Sirieix breaks silence after co-star Gino D’Acampo ‘sexually inappropriate’ behaviour claims

    Fred Sirieix has broken his social media silence for the first time since Gino D’Acampo was accused of “sexually inappropriate” behaviour

    Fred Sirieix has posted on social media for the first time since Gino D’Acampo was accused of “sexually inappropriate” behaviour.

    Last night, ITV News reported that TV chef Gino D’Acampo had been accused by dozens of people of “unacceptable”, “distressing” and “horrendous” behaviour over the space of 12 years.

    D’Acampo has “firmly denied” the allegations, adding that they were “deeply upsetting”. He has appeared on shows like ITV’s Family Fortunes and more recently, Gino and Fred: Emission Impossible with Fred Sirieix.

    The pair have worked together multiple times over the years, starring alongside Gordon Ramsay in Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip.

    Now, Fred Sirieix has posted for the first time since the allegations against D’Acampo broke, sharing a video to social media about his new kitchen. Opening up about his kitchen makeover with Howdens Joinery, Fred posted the ad to Instagram with the caption: “My brand new @howdensjoinery kitchen. I’m loving the cosy farmhouse feel inspired by a picture of my lovely grandparents.

    Gino D'Acampo, Fred Sirieix and Gordon Ramsay have worked together on a number of shows
    Gino D’Acampo, Fred Sirieix and Gordon Ramsay have worked together on a number of shows 
    Image:
    ITV)
    “I wanted this kitchen to feel traditional in style, functional in its design, and practical for everyday use – with Lamona appliances bringing it all together,” he added. “It’s now a space in my home filled with memories, both old and new. What do you think?”

    In the video, Fred says: “Welcome to my new Howdens kitchen, I love it. I want to say a big thank you to the trades people who built it because the quality is second to none and to host in this kitchen is a dream come true.” Fred is yet to address the allegations made against D’Acampo.

    On Thursday, ITV News reported one woman’s allegations that D’Acampo made vulgar comments to her in 2011, claiming that he said he would “like to turn me over and f*** me up the a*** against the kitchen counter”. She went onto claim that there were laughs from the crew members after he made the comment, which made her feel “very, very, very small”.

    “I definitely saw it as some kind of power play,” the woman, named as Hannah in the report to protect her identity, told ITV News. “The very act of what he said was aggressive. He did not think that was an inappropriate thing to say to me.”

    D’Acampo’s representatives told the outlet: “This allegation from almost 15 years ago has never, until now via a media request for comment, been raised or put to Mr D’Acampo. He does not recall it, nor accept that this happened. Mr D’Acampo is horrified to be accused of ‘power play’ and an ‘aggressive act’. He emphatically and unequivocally denies these allegations.

  • Gino D’Acampo’s ITV shows pulled from schedule amid ‘sexually inappropriate’ behaviour claims

    Gino D’Acampo’s ITV shows pulled from schedule amid ‘sexually inappropriate’ behaviour claims

    Gino D’Acampo has been accused of “distressing” and “sexually inappropriate” behaviour in an ITV News probe but has firmly denied the allegations

    Gino D’Acampo’s shows with ITV have been pulled from the schedule amid claims of “distressing” and “sexually inappropriate” behaviour.

    Dozens of people have detailed experiences described variously as “unacceptable,” “distressing” and “horrendous” while working with the TV chef over a period spanning more than 12 years. The TV chef who has appeared on the likes of ITV’s Family Fortunes and Gino and Fred: Emission Impossible faces accusations dating back over ten years. Individuals are said to have been fearful of any consequences if they ever spoke of their alleged encounters with the 48-year-old.

    Gino has “firmly denied” the allegations made by “dozens” of people”, adding that they were “deeply upsetting”.

    This weekend, ITV have dropped two episodes of Gino’s Italy: Secrets of the South. They were expected to air between 6pm and 7pm on Sunday on ITVBe, but now Abbey Clancy: Celebrity Homes will be broadcasted instead.

    Gino D'Acampo hosts Family Fortunes for ITV
    Gino D’Acampo hosts Family Fortunes for ITV 
    Image:
    ITV)

    Family Fortunes will also reportedly not air and ITV News reports that episodes that were filmed in 2023 will never be broadcasted. The episodes were expected to air this Spring but now is believed to have “no plans” to work with Gino again.

    One woman, who has been given the name Hannah to protect her identity, told an investigation that she was on the receiving end of vulgar comments from Gino in 2011. She claimed Mr D’Acampo said he would “like to turn me over and f*** me up the a*** against the kitchen counter.” The woman claimed that there were laughs from crew members after he made the comment. But she says she saw the “shock” and “horror”, claiming his alleged behaviour made her feel “very, very, very small”.

    Speaking to an ITV News Correspondent, Hannah shared: “I definitely saw it as some kind of power play. The very act of what he said was aggressive. He did not think that was an inappropriate thing to say to me.”

    Gino's Italy: Secrets of the South has also been pulled from schedules
    Gino’s Italy: Secrets of the South has also been pulled from schedules 
    Image:
    ITV)
    In response, Gino’s legal representatives said: “This allegation from almost 15 years ago has never, until now via a media request for comment, been raised or put to Mr D’Acampo. He does not recall it, nor accept that this happened. Mr D’Acampo is horrified to be accused of ‘power play’ and an ‘aggressive act’. He emphatically and unequivocally denies these allegations.”

    Another woman told the news broadcaster: “He opened the door in his boxer shorts, nothing else. And jumped on the bed and was sort of – leg up.” The woman, whose identity had also been protected, went on to claim that she felt “disgusted” after having to “sit there” looking at Gino who allegedly made a reference to his penis, saying: “It’s only small.”

    Legal representatives for the chef said in a statement: “Mr D’Acampo categorically denies these allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour. To his knowledge no such allegations have been made against him in relation to his time on ‘Gino’s Italian Express’ and this is the first time, six years later, he has been informed of these alleged incidents, and he does not accept them, not least because some of this is considered by Mr D’Acampo to be a fabricated work of fiction.”

  • Who is Meghan Markle’s pal who accidentally revealed secret snap of Archie and Lilibet?

    Who is Meghan Markle’s pal who accidentally revealed secret snap of Archie and Lilibet?

    Eagle-eyed fans spotted a never-before-seen photograph of Harry and Meghan with their two children after it was inadvertently revealed by a friend of the couple

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are notoriously strict when it comes to sharing photographs of their children. But they faced a setback this week when an image of Archie and Lilibet appeared online.

    A Sussex family snapshot appeared in the background of an Architectural Digest photograph, showing the foursome smiling while lying down in the grass. According to People, the black-and white image was included inside the private Christmas card that the couple sent to their close friends and family in 2023.

    And it was inadvertently revealed this week when eagle-eyed fans spotted it on a side table – nearly two months after Architectural Digest originally shared a look inside Gloria Steinem’s New York City home.

    It’s unsurprising that Gloria had been sent the candid family image; the 90-year-old activist became friends with Meghan shortly after the Sussexes moved to California in 2020 and the pair have been close ever since.

    Harry and Meghan have gone to great lengths to retain privacy for Archie and Lilibet; they have appeared in photos shared with the public before, including the Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, but their faces are largely hidden.

    “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,” a friend told PEOPLE last summer.

    “As a dad and husband, Harry is determined to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself,” the friend added, referring to Harry’s mother, Princess Diana.

    The Sussex children lead a markedly different life from their Wales cousins, growing up away from public view on America’s West Coast. They have little to do with the royal family given Harry and Meghan’s fall-out with the Firm.

    Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, have seemingly not visited their father’s home country since 2022, when the Sussexes returned to celebrate the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. It’s thought to be the only time King Charles has ever met his youngest granddaughter, Lilibet, in person.

    Harry has cited fears for his family’s security in the UK, having lost his tax-payer-funded security when he quit The Firm. Royal expert Jennie Bond previously told The Mirror: “It must remain a great sadness to the King to be so distant from his two US-based grandchildren – he hardly knows them and there’s no prospect of that changing any time soon. The early years in a child’s life are so magical – and once they’re gone, they’re gone. I hope the King doesn’t dwell on his loss too much, but it must hurt. Maybe, behind the scenes, Harry and Meghan have sent pictures to the King… we can but hope!”

  • Princess Anne reveals full horror of horse accident at hospital that treated her

    Princess Anne reveals full horror of horse accident at hospital that treated her

    The Princess Royal, 74, spent five nights at Southmead Hospital in Bristol following a serious incident involving a horse at her home in Gloucestershire in June last year

    Princess Anne has returned to the intensive care unit where she was treated for head injuries last year to “fill in the blanks” and thank medics for her care.

    The Princess Royal, 74, spent five nights at Southmead Hospital in Bristol following a serious incident with a horse at her home in Gloucestershire on June 23.

    The King’s sister had set out alone and on foot to feed her chickens before becoming involved in an incident, where she is believed to have been struck from behind by a horse, that left her concussed and badly bruised.

    The Princess was rushed to hospital by ambulance and was treated as an in-patient before being discharged on June 28 to convalesce at home.

    The Princess Royal, 74, spent five nights at Southmead Hospital in Bristol following a serious incident with a horse
    The Princess Royal spent five nights at Southmead Hospital in Bristol following a serious incident with a horse 
    Image:
    Getty Images)

    At the time Buckingham Palace said she had been admitted “as a precautionary measure for observation”, but the princess today revealed the true horror of the accident.

    On her return to the hospital, Anne met paramedics and members of the critical care team who treated her at the scene, as well as those who cared for her in the ICU, which had not previously been known.

    The Princess told hospital staff that it was “useful” to meet them as she was still unable to recall what happened.

    After touring the intensive care unit and chatting to several medics, including Morwenna Maddock, the ICU matron who oversaw her care, the Princess gave a short speech thanking them for their efforts.

    She returned to visit the hospital where she was treated
    She returned to visit the hospital where she was treated 
    Image:
    Getty Images)
    “You’ve been filling in the blanks, which partly, from my perspective, is really useful to know how it happened, because I seriously don’t have any idea, and sadly, I don’t have huge memories of being in here either,” she said.

    “But I just know I was really well looked after, so thank you. But whatever you did, it seemed to work…. the recovery has been relatively straightforward, thankfully. That isn’t always true, so I’m really grateful.

    “But I’m also grateful in a weird sort of way that I remember nothing, because that has huge advantages – you can just carry on.”

    Two days after the incident, Anne’s husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence told reporters outside the hospital she was “doing fine” adding her recovery was “slow but sure”.

    Princess Anne revealed she doesn't remember the accident
    Princess Anne revealed she doesn’t remember the accident 
    Image:
    Getty Images)
    Three weeks later, Anne appeared at her first royal engagement sporting severe bruising under her left eye, saying: “I can’t remember a single thing.”

    Her appearance at the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) National Championships at Hartpury University and Hartpury College was cut down to just two hours to compensate for her state at the time.

    Appearing to joke about her horses today/yesterday (THURS) and which one may have been responsible for her injuries, Anne added: “I don’t know if there was a perpetrator who managed to do that much damage… they’re not letting on either, so relationships remain absolutely secure. No one has gone absent as a result of this.”

    Among those who treated the Princess was Steven Pullin, a volunteer community responder, who was the first on the scene at Gatcombe Park.

    She thanked hospital staff for their treatment
    She thanked hospital staff for their treatment 
    Image:
    Getty Images)An air ambulance crew was next to arrive followed by a second critical care team and an ambulance with paramedics on board, which eventually took her to hospital.

    James Teakle, an emergency care assistant who drove the ambulance, recalled that the journey took 34 minutes.

    “I know the area so could work out who it was,” he said. “It was just another job, but a person of importance. I wouldn’t have done anything different for anyone else.”

    The Princess also met paramedic Sophie Taylor, who also accompanied her to the hospital, and the two-man critical care team who had the necessary skillset to treat her at the scene, doctor Richard Jeavons and specialist paramedic Callum Sutton, who work for Great Western Air Ambulance Charity.

    Maria Kane, chief executive of North Bristol NHS Trust, thanked the Princess for taking time out from her busy schedule to meet those involved in her care.

    “We feel very privileged to have you come and see us,” she said.

    “I know staff who talked to you earlier today have been very, very grateful to hear that you’ve made such a lovely recovery and look so well today.

    After the visit, Ms Maddock said: “She does look incredibly well, it was lovely. It was really nice for her to come back and see the team. She very kindly thanked us all.”

    On patients returning to the hospital after they have been discharged, she added: “It doesn’t happen all the time, so it’s really important for our staff to see that their hard work has paid off.

    “We often don’t see that onward journey and their recovery. So actually, to see them coming back, looking so well, looking so fit, and how they are normally, pre hospital, it’s a good feeling.”

    Ms Maddock said that many patients were unable to remember their stay in hospital, adding: “That’s really, very common and it’s just nice to be able to piece it all back together for her.”

    Sam Patel, medical director of the NHS Trust, said it was important for such patients to return and “close the loop”.

    While medics who treated the Princess last year revealed that her injuries were consistent with being struck by a horse, the exact circumstances of her accident remain unknown .

    The Princess recently revealed that she had been making her “regular visit” to see her chickens but added: “I don’t have any idea what I was doing in the field, because I never normally went that way.”

    She suggested she had had a lucky escape as she had been “very close” to losing her faculties. She said she now counts every day as a bonus.

    “It just reminds you, shows you – you never quite know, something (happens) and you might not recover,” she said during an interview last month.

  • Meghan Markle’s hidden ‘hurt’ as Kate, Charles and William ‘flinched’ at hugs

    Meghan Markle’s hidden ‘hurt’ as Kate, Charles and William ‘flinched’ at hugs

    Meghan Markle struggled to build relationships with her new family members after marrying Prince Harry in 2018, and her unusual approach to greeting the Royal Family left her feeling hurt

    Meghan Markle was said to have had her feelings hurt after some members of the Royal Family “flinched” at her hugs. Insiders claim her “touchy-feeliness” caused some tension after she married Prince Harry in 2018.

    Both Meghan and Harry have stated that Prince William and Kate found her love of hugging “jarring”, but now a royal expert has said it went even deeper in creating a “tense atmosphere”. Writing in his new book, Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants – which has been excerpted in The Times – Tom Quinn said: “Tension developed between William and Harry as a result of Meghan’s warm, friendly, hug-everyone approach. Kate, William and Charles tended to flinch when she moved in for a hug.

    “Meghan was understandably hurt, as everyone apparently hugs everyone in California. Meghan even tried to hug a singularly stiff Old Etonian equerry. He too flinched as if she’d tried to poke him in the eye, as another member of staff put it.”

    Prince William and Meghan Markle hug
    William was said to have ‘flinched’ at Meghan’s hugs 
    Image:
    PA)

    Meghan Markle and Princess Kate
    Tensions rose with Meghan and the rest of the Royal Family 
    Image:
    Getty Images)
    The couple previously opened up about Meghan’s hugging in their Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan. Meghan said she did not know the Royal Family’s “formality” carries through behind closed doors and that she is a “hugger” – which she did not realise was “jarring for some Brits”.

    She said: “Even when Will and Kate came over and I was meeting her for the first time I remember I was in ripped jeans, I was barefoot. Like I was a hugger, I have always been a hugger. I didn’t realise that is really jarring for a lot of Brits.

    “I started to understand that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside, that there is a forward facing way of being and then you close the door and think, ‘OK we can relax now’. But that formality carries over on both sides and that was surprising to me.’”

    Harry also recalled the somewhat awkward first meeting between his now wife and his brother and sister-in-law in his bombshell memoir Spare. He claimed William “recoiled” from Meghan’s hug and described the moment he introduced his sibling to his then girlfriend as a “classic collision of cultures”.

    “[It] completely freaked him out,” Harry wrote. “He recoiled. Willy didn’t hug many strangers. Whereas Meg hugged most strangers. Will had hoped that she would greet him with standard reverence per the protocol,” he added, “[but] she didn’t know it and I hadn’t told her.”

    Traditionally, hugging is considered inappropriate for royals during official events, with a bow or curtsey being the preferred greeting. Harry has openly discussed his experience of limited physical affection within the Royal Family, including a lack of hugs during his childhood.

    But it appears King Charles is leading the way in breaking this old-fashioned protocol. In September, Charles broke with tradition when he met the New Zealand Women Rugby Team, who made an unusual request.

    “Yeah, we all wanted a hug,” Ayesha Leti-I’iga told the monarch, adding, “but only if it’s okay with you.” To the team’s surprise and delight, the King accepted, replying: “A hug? Why not!”

    After the group embrace, which he joked was like being “flattened by a scrum”, Charles thanked the team for their “warm hug”, which he described as “very healing”.

    Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants by Tom Quinn is out on February 18.

  • Loose Women star shares ‘last day’ announcement and confirms lengthy break from ITV show

    Loose Women star shares ‘last day’ announcement and confirms lengthy break from ITV show

    Loose Woman star Janet Street-Porter is taking a break from the ITV hit chat show as she prepares to go into surgery on Friday with her co-stars confirming the latest show was her “last” for a while

    Loose Women star Janet Street-Porter has confirmed that she is taking a lengthy break from the chat show. The broadcaster, 77, is renowned for her role as a panellist on ITV’s flagship daytime programme.

    During Wednesday’s episode Janet was back on our TV screens alongside co-star Coleen Nolam, Christine Lampard and Katie Piper.

    Just minutes into the show, Christine announced that it was her colleagues “last day for a little while” as she prepares to undergo a hip replacement on Friday.

    It’s without a doubt that Janet is apprehensive about the surgery as she admitted that she can’t think about anything else and is ‘shaking and shivering’.

    Loose Woman star Janet Street-Porter
    Loose Woman star Janet Street-Porter is taking a break from the ITV hit chat show a

    Christina started off by saying: “Janet this is your last day for a little while because you are heading off for the operation, the one you have been waiting for a while.”

    Janet confirmed: “Yes, on Friday I am heading off to have a hip replacement operation at last and I can’t think about anything else.”

    She continued: “As I’m sitting here, I’m shaking and shivering and I keep dreaming about it. I keep thinking ‘what if they can’t get it back together’. I am going on Friday, I’ll have the operation Friday afternoon, stay in hospital for a few days then I’ll really work on it at rehab so I can come back as soon as possible.”

    Everyone burst out laughing as she turned to her co-stars and joked: “I’ll have to do one of those broadcasts from my hospital bed.”

    Janet Street-Porter
    Janet is having a hip replacement 
    Image:
    ITV)
    Coleen became visibly emotional as she revealed: “You know this morning when we were talking about it – it made me really sad because you always put on this tough image that nothing does your back in and at one point today you said ‘I’m really scared’ and I could have cried my eyes out.”

    Janet fought back tears as she admitted: “I am vulnerable and you know what it’s my own fault because they told me in March to have it done but I delayed it but then at the weekend I have some vegetables delivered and even though I shouldn’t I was on all fours planting them.”

    It was clear that it wasn’t her best idea as she continued: “I woke up on Sunday morning and I couldn’t move and now I’ve really messed up the other side of my back and I had to lie-down for two days.

    She added: “I realised that I let myself get too weak and I’ve never been like this in my life and it’s just so irritating.” Janet was then surprised with a gift basket that had a framed picture of Coleen.

  • Stacey Solomon ‘quits’ another huge project as she takes big step back from major roles

    Stacey Solomon ‘quits’ another huge project as she takes big step back from major roles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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