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  • Princess Diana’s love of children to be celebrated with a £3million revamp of playground

    Princess Diana’s love of children to be celebrated with a £3million revamp of playground

    The memorial playground dedicated to the late Princess of Wales in Kensington Gardens and visited by a million people a year is set to get a ‘Peter Pan’ makeover

    Princess Diana’s love of children will be celebrated with a £3million revamp of the playground built in her memory.

    The memorial playground dedicated to the late Princess of Wales in Kensington Gardens and visited by a million people a year is to get a ‘Peter Pan’ makeover.

    The site, which opened in 2000 marking what would have been the princess’s 39th birthday, will close for six months from this autumn while its ageing features are replaced.

    The Royal Parks charity said the refit will feature a new galleon to replace the old pirate ship which will be more accessible for youngsters of all abilities.

    The refit will feature a new galleon
    The refit will feature a new galleon 
    Image:
    PA)

    Plans will “retain the characteristics of the existing Peter Pan-inspired playground but will provide more accessible and inclusive play, as well as challenging physical play, so that children of all abilities can enjoy creative and imaginative play together”.

    The galleon will include an additional ‘crow’s nest’ and a double storey ‘stern’ with a ship’s wheel and a telescope.

    The galleon will include an additional ‘crow’s nest’ and a double storey ‘stern’ with a ship’s wheel and a telescope
    The galleon will include an additional ‘crow’s nest’ and a double storey ‘stern’ with a ship’s wheel and a telescope 
    Image:
    PA)
    A new multiple-level Tree House encampment, constructed with sustainably-sourced timber, will provide opportunities for children to climb and play at different heights and includes areas accessible to wheelchairs. Three towers at different heights will provide different levels of challenge, while other features include a suspension bridge, a tunnel slide, a rope bridge and a see-saw bridge with a slide.

    A redesigned and improved Mermaid Fountain will expand the water and sand play area. The new designs will allow runoff water to be collected and reused for irrigation.

    Three towers at different heights will provide different levels of challenge
    Three towers at different heights will provide different levels of challenge 
    Image:
    PA)
    New tree planting for shade and biodiversity, together with sensory, allergy-friendly and pollinator-friendly planting will improve the playground’s natural setting, alongside new seating and paths which will improve access for all.

    Andy Williams, Park Manager, Kensington Gardens says: “It’s been wonderful to welcome millions and millions of children to what is arguably the most famous playground in the world, set against the beautiful backdrop of Kensington Gardens.

    The playground was opened to mark what would have been the Princess' 39th birthday
    The playground was opened to mark what would have been the Princess’ 39th birthday 
    Image:
    Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)

    Diana with husband Charles and sons William and Harry
    Diana with husband Charles and sons William and Harry 
    Image“We’re delighted to share the first designs for this exciting renewal which will retain the character of the existing playground, but will incorporate new improved features, inspiring children to be curious about the natural environment, for many years.

    “We’re working together with local communities, especially children, to gather and incorporate their feedback into the designs at every stage, so that all children feel welcome and can enjoy free, accessible, creative and social play, fostering their health and wellbeing.”

    The playground will reopen in spring 2026.

  • The One Show hosts stunned as Tony Blackburn gives just three words of advice to I’m A Celeb stars

    The One Show hosts stunned as Tony Blackburn gives just three words of advice to I’m A Celeb stars

    The first ever winner of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Tony Blackburn, appeared on The One Show to discuss his time in the jungle, with his blunt advice leaving the hosts in stitches.

    BBC radio icon Tony Blackburn, who clinched the title in the inaugural I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! back in 2002, graced The One Show with his presence alongside Loose Women panellist Judi Love this evening.

    Chatting to presenters Alex Jones and Roman Kemp, Tony reminisced about his jungle adventure two decades on from his victory in the much-loved ITV show.

    Though Tony shared some fascinating titbits about his stint on the program, it was one particularly forthright comment he made that left the presenters momentarily lost for words after a question from Alex, reports Wales Online.

    “Tony, you won it, you were the first king of the jungle,” Alex prompted. “What advice would you give to the campmates?”

    Tony Blackburn on The One Show
    Tony Blackburn appeared on The One Show 
    Image:
    BBC)

    In response, Tony deadpanned: “Don’t do it.” This provoked a burst of laughter from both Roman and Alex, evidently taken aback by his candidness.

    “Get out of there,” chipped in Alex, going along with the levity before Tony pointed out he was “making a joke”.

    Delving deeper into his Jungle experience, Tony expressed: “It’s a hard show to do. I’m a vegetarian and I didn’t have to eat all that stuff.

    “I couldn’t do it now – it’s horrible, the stuff they have to eat. But I think you’ve just got to be yourself on, it because that’s all you can do.”

    The 2024 season of I’m A Celebrity promises to be a glittering affair, featuring an ensemble of fan favourites like Love Island star Maura Higgins, McFly’s Danny Jones and the adored Strictly Come Dancing pro Oti Mabuse, all competing to seize the jungle crown.

    Tonight’s instalment of the show will see the campmates compete for a coveted gold ticket to the legendary Celebrity Cyclone, granting them immunity from the next two eliminations.

    Roman and Alex on The One Show
    Roman and Alex were in stitches 
    Image:
    BBC)
    However, this new twist has left some fans disgruntled, with accusations flying at ITV for “ruining” the series. Discontented viewers took to social media to express their dissatisfaction.

    On X, previously known as Twitter, one user expressed: “Nah, not up for this at all. Taking part in the cyclone is a privilege bestowed by the viewers. You’ve actually ruined a great series by doing this. And we all know it’ll be Colleen.” (sic)

    Another viewer aired their concerns about the potential impact on the show’s dynamics, saying: “If this is an immunity thing, please don’t. It skews the order in which the public vote them out. I’m always suspicious of this. You know who is likely to be up next and are trying to save them unfairly.”Despite the backlash, some fans are eager to see how the competition unfolds, with one enthusiast commenting: “Soooo good! Love it.” (sic)

  • ITV I’m A Celebrity’s Dean McCullough’s three-word response as he’s evicted from show

    ITV I’m A Celebrity’s Dean McCullough’s three-word response as he’s evicted from show

    I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! fans have voted Dean McCullough to be the second person sent home from the camp just days after Jane Moore was brutally sent packing

    The second person has been sent home from the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! camp.

    During Sunday night’s episode, hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly announced that Dean McCullough was the second person to leave the Australian jungle. The vote was between him and Irish boxer Barry McGuigan – who only just won 10 stars for the camp during his ‘impossible’ trial.

    Immediately after being voted out, Dean said: “I’m going home, I’m going home, I need my underwear, I’ll see you later! I’m going home!” Speaking to Ant and Dec in the studio following the eviction, he said: “Boys, it’s absolutely nuts. I still can’t believe I’m here.” When Ant and Dec pointed out he didn’t look disappointed to be voted out, he said: “Not at all, I have really soaked up this whole experience. All the trials.”

    The hosts then brought up the fact Dean yelled out ‘ I’m A celebrity, get me out of here!’ multiple times to get out of trials. Ant admitted he was harsh with the radio star, with Dean yelling out: “You were so harsh!” However, the hosts claimed it was simply ‘tough love’ to get Dean to finish the tasks as they thought they were “do-able”.

    It comes just days after Loose Women’s Jane Moore was sent packing as the first evictee. Earlier this week, Jane was chosen as the first person to leave the Australian jungle after taking part in gruelling trials and eating measly meals of beans and rice.

    Dean McCullough
    Dean McCullough was the second star to be voted out 
    Image:
    ITV)
    Jane spoke to Ant and Dec following her departure, describing her stint in the jungle as “such a weird and magical experience”.

    When asked if she was disappointed to be first out, she responded: “No more washing up – yes!” She also stated that: “Hard work doesn’t get rewarded.” During her stint in the jungle, Jane came under fire after she accused Barry McGuigan and Danny Jones of being “sexist” and “ageist” over a camp chore.

    Reflecting, she said: “I collected the logs, I built the fire, I emptied the dunny, because my partner was Dean, who was on trials all the time. So I did it all on my own, put out the rubbish. I had three jobs. I worked like a dog, and then they gave me the washing up, which is a really tough job to go three times a day all the way to the bottom of the creek, lugging everything. I wasn’t pleased about that, to be honest. I said to Danny when he walked out: ‘don’t give me cleaning’.”

    She added that she “can’t wait to get rid of the washing up,” adding: “I’m never washing up again, ever. Yeah, it’s been hard work down there this year.” She also shared her thoughts on who should win the show. Picking Melvin Odoom and Coleen Rooney, she said: “I think Melvin is an absolute slogger. He’s very quiet. He doesn’t push himself forward. Colleen is another one. So they keep everything going. They’re not flamboyant but they’re solid.”

  • I’m A Celebrity’s Jane Moore explains real reason she was so angry over washing up duties

    I’m A Celebrity’s Jane Moore explains real reason she was so angry over washing up duties

    The first campmate to be booted off this year’s series of I’m A Celebrity was announced to camp on Friday, with Loose Women’s Jane Moore the first evictee of the new series

    I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! star Jane Moore has made her first TV appearance after being evicted from the Australian jungle.

    The TV star, 62, reunited with her Loose Women co-stars on Monday as she joined Christine Lampard, Linda Robson, Judi Love, and Brenda Edwards via video call from Down Under. During the call, Jane addressed her anger over being given the task of washing up by jungle camp leaders, Barry McGuigan and Danny Jones.

    When asked about the backlash she received after standing up and calling both Barry and Danny ‘sexist’ for giving her the duty of washing up in camp, Jane said there was a deeper reason why she was so annoyed.

    “The first eight or nine days I was collecting the logs, but when you do that, it’s not just collecting logs. You have to go down over a hundred steps, right down to the bottom of the jungle and then collect all the logs and bring them all the way back up those steps. I then had to keep the fire going, I was emptying the toilet and I was taking out the rubbish.

    Jane shared her real reason for getting angry
    Jane shared her real reason for getting angry 
    Image:
    ITV)

    “You always have a camp workmate, but my workmate was Dean and the poor love was consistently on trials so he was always out of the camp and so I was doing it all on my own. In the first week, I was doing it all on my own – even though I am quite physically strong. I was trying to preserve my energy but by the end of week one, I was completely exhausted physically and mentally.”

    Jane went on: “So when there was a change of leaders, I said to Danny to please not give me the task of washing up or cleaning as I called it, because that is actually the most physically draining and demanding job in camp because again you have to go up and down those hundreds of steps and it’s three if not four times a day, with two massive buckets full of all the dishes and cutlery.

    “Then there’s a cast iron pot and frying pan. They didn’t hear me say that, so they gave me the washing up. Tulisa has a bad back too so the pair of us really struggled with that.”

    During Friday’s instalment of I’m A Celebrity, it was announced that Loose Women’s Jane was the first campmate voted off the new series of the ITV show. Jane spoke to Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly following her departure, describing her stint in the jungle as “such a weird and magical experience”.

    Whilst talking to Ant and Dec, Jane reflected on the experience of having been a campmate. When asked if she was disappointed to be first out, she responded: “No more washing up – yes!” She also stated that: “Hard work doesn’t get rewarded.”

  • ITV Loose Women’s Kaye Adams had to ‘reinvent Christmas’ as she opens up on devastating loss

    ITV Loose Women’s Kaye Adams had to ‘reinvent Christmas’ as she opens up on devastating loss

    Kaye Adams opened up on Loose Women about losing both of her parents and how this has impacted Christmas for her, as the panel discussed grief during the festive period

    Loose Women presenter Kaye Adams has admitted she had to “reinvent” Christmas following the loss of a parent in a candid confession.

    The ITV star discussed grief and Christmas with her fellow Loose Women – Frankie Bridge, Kelly Brooks and Kéllé Bryan – in an emotional segment on the daytime show on Wednesday (December 4).

    Kaye, 61, opened up about losing both her mum and dad, revealing her first Christmas without her father felt like she was “sleep walking”. She told her co-stars: “I think you kind of have to reinvent it. Like similar to you, I’ve lost both my mum and my dad, and Christmas was always, always at their house. The first one after my dad died, we just kind of slept walked through it.”

    Loose Women
    Kaye discussed losing her parents with her Loose Women co-stars
    “We went through the motions. We were kind of anaesthetised to the whole thing. You did it , because it felt like a big thing to ignore it, but like I say, we were sleep walking. But in the years since, you’ve just got to reinvent it. Because it was so much associated with them. For us, we just had to have a different thing,” Kaye emotionally added.

    Elsewhere in Wednesday’s show, the Loose Women were joined by TV chef Gino D’Acampo, as he promoted his new cook book. However, things turned awkward as outspoken Gino made an ‘awkward’ remark about an on-screen ‘kiss rule’.

    Just seconds after appearing on the panel, things took a turn as Gino went around a gave each of the presenters a kiss on the cheek. It appears as though he broke a rule as he went on to reveal: “They told me ‘please don’t kiss the ladies on the table’ but what kind of Italian would come on the show without kissing the ladies. The rules are rubbish.”

    Gino D'Acampo
    Gino D’Acampo appeared on Loose Women on Wednesday 
    Image:
    ITV)
    The panellists laughed off the remark as Kelly turned to Gino and joked: “Well I think you’ve just got fired.,” as the panel burst out laughing as a baffled Gino questioned: “What, for a kiss?”

    Viewers watching at home wasted no time sharing their reaction online as one viewer took to X, formally known as Twitter and pointed out: “That was very awkward…. #loosewomen Frankie looked uncomfortable.”

    #Another commented: “#loosewomen Gino being so careful with his innuendo today.” One wrote: “Careful Gino they’ll be wanting to cancel you. #loosewomen.” Meanwhile another asked: “Do you really think they told him not to kiss them? #Loosewomen.”

  • Coleen Rooney offered Loose Women spot by Ruth Langsford after ITV I’m A Celebrity success

    Coleen Rooney offered Loose Women spot by Ruth Langsford after ITV I’m A Celebrity success

    Loose Women star Ruth Langsford has revealed her hopes for Coleen Rooney to join the ITV panel following her success on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!

    Ruth Langsford has set her sights on a new Loose Women panelist.

    The TV star, 64, jetted Down Under to support her co-star Jane Moore following her exit from the I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! jungle. However, she appears to be trying to recruit another member for the Loose Women panel. ITV are reportedly wanting to sign Coleen Rooney to the hit daytime show upon her jungle exit.

    The WAG is a fan favourite to be crowned Queen of the Jungle and has spilled on her life with famous husband Wayne and their four sons. Coleen has already appeared on Loose Women as a guest but has never secured a permanent spot. She is said to have turned down the opportunity while her sons Kai, 15, Klay, 11, Kit, eight, and Cass, five, were young.

    Ruth confessed she would “love” to have Coleen on the show and branded it “absolutely fantastic”. Speaking on spin-off show, I’m A Celebrity… Unpacked she said: “On Loose Women, we share our lives, warts and all. So actually the fact that we don’t know Coleen very well, she’s very private, maybe now she’s felt comfortable enough to open up and she’s met Jane, they’ve become friends, so Coleen please come on.”

    Ruth Langsford
    Ruth has flown to Australia to be at the I’m A Celebrity camp 
    Image:
    Ruth Langsford/Instagram)

    Coleen Rooney
    Coleen has been impressing viewers 
    Image:
    James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
    Loose Women’s Jane reunited with her co-stars earlier today as she joined Christine Lampard, Linda Robson, Judi Love, and Brenda Edwards via video call after her exit. She threw her support behind Coleen and said she deserves to win the show. Jane admitted that she felt she couldn’t get too close to Coleen, 38, given that she was from a journalistic background. However, as the days went on, Jane found herself gravitating towards WAG Coleen more and more.

    Jane told her Loose Women co-stars that the mum-of-four is quite reserved and quiet in the jungle. “I now call her Col. We’re not Coleen anymore, we’re Col. She’s brilliant. She’s very quiet and quite reserved. I thought in the camp that I would quietly get to know her. I wanted her to come out of her shell a bit, and she did confide in me that she was a bit overwhelmed by all the big personalities in camp – which is understandable. I really think that she’s coming into her own now. She is such a grafter and I hope she wins.”

    Jane became the first celebrity of the series to be eliminated from the show. The TV star described her stint in the jungle as “such a weird and magical experience”. Talking about Jane’s performance upon landing in Australia, Ruth told the Mirror: “I thought Jane was extraordinary in her challenge when she swam underwater. That was extremely difficult, I would not have been able to do that. She was very calm, and you noticed that the only person who didn’t scream on the bus was Jane. She is a good woman.”

  • ITV Loose Women ‘awkward’ moment as Gino D’Acampo questions on-screen ‘kiss rule’

    ITV Loose Women ‘awkward’ moment as Gino D’Acampo questions on-screen ‘kiss rule’

    Gino D’Acampo appeared on ITV Loose Women on Wednesday afternoon alongside panellists Kaye Adams, Frankie Bridge, Kelly Brooks, Kelly Holmes

    Loose Women hosts were left taken back as Gino D’Acampo made an ‘awkward’ remark about an on-screen ‘kiss rule’.

    During Wednesday’s episode of the ITV hit chat show, panellists Kaye Adams, Frankie Bridge, Kelly Brooks, Kelly Holmes were joined by the Italian TV chef, 48, as he promoted his new cook book.

    However just seconds after appearing on the panel, things took a turn as Gino went around a gave each of the presenters a kiss on the check.

    It appears as though he broke a rule as he went on to reveal: “They told me ‘please don’t kiss the ladies on the table’ but what kind of Italian would come on the show without kissing the ladies. The rules are rubbish.”

    The panellists laughed off the remark as Kelly turned to Gino and joked: “Well I think you’ve just got fired.” Everyone burst out laughing as a baffled Gino questioned: “What, for a kiss?”

    Gino D'Acampo
    Gino D’Acampo appeared on Loose Women on Wednesday 
    Image:
    ITV)
    Viewers watching at home wasted no time sharing their reaction online as one viewer took to X, formally known as Twitter and pointed out: “That was very awkward…. #loosewomen Frankie looked uncomfortable.”

    #Another commented: “#loosewomen Gino being so careful with his innuendo today.” One wrote: “Careful Gino they’ll be wanting to cancel you. #loosewomen.” Meanwhile another asked: “Do you really think they told him not to kiss them?? #Loosewomen.”

    Talk soon turned to Gino’s ‘ultimate air fryer cookbook’ that has quickly become one of Sunday Times Bestsellers. Kaye was quick to point out: “So you say what type of Italian doesn’t give someone a kiss when they greet them but what kind of Italian uses an airfryer.”

    Pointing at the book, Gino insisted: “An Italian who made a hell of a lot of money.” Kaye jumped in: “At least you are honest.”

    Gino’s remark comes following the Gregg Wallace controversy surrounding allegations of inappropriate comments to female contestants.

    Gregg Wallace
    Gregg has been hit with allegations of inappropriate comments to female contestants 
    Image:
    BBC)
    The former MasterChef presenter, 60, has recently been embroiled in scandal after a number of people stepped forward to claim he had used inappropriate sexual language on the set of his BBC show.

    Attempting to address the allegations, Gregg released a string of videos to his Instagram Stories in which he argued those making claims against him were “a handful of middle class women of a certain age” but he later apologised for the remark.

    Meanwhile, Celebrity MasterChef Christmas specials have been dropped from TV schedules. The BBC has confirmed that it will not air the previously recorded specials, Radio Times reports.

    Two episodes, titled Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off and MasterChef Meets Strictly Festive Extravaganza, were due to air over the Christmas period, but have since been pulled after the BBC faced mounting pressure.

    Loose Women airs weekdays from 12.30pm on ITV and ITVX

  • Denise Welch’s Emmerdale role revealed as she becomes first star to appear in all four soaps

    Denise Welch’s Emmerdale role revealed as she becomes first star to appear in all four soaps

    Loose Women’s Denise Welch has confirmed she will be popping up in Emmerdale this month – making her the first actress to have appeared in all four of the big UK soaps

    Loose Women star Denise Welch has confirmed she has landed a role in Emmerdale.

    The 66-year-old actress is shown in first look images released by the iconic ITV soap that is set in the Yorkshire Dales. Her character Heidi will be linked to soap villain Tom King as he finally appears in court over his domestic abuse of wife Belle Dingle. But will he be sent down or will he get away with it?

    Viewers will have to tune in to find out, but giving fans a few spoilers ahead of her upcoming role, Denise excitedly told the audience and her fellow Loose Women panellists: “I’m going to be in Emmerdale!”

    She said: “It’s a one-off one hour special and it’s the first time Emmerdale have ever done it. And for those of you who are fans of Emmerdale, there is a very powerful year-long story of domestic abuse. Which of course, appealed to me when I knew I’d be part of it because of our Facing It Together campaign, and this is a culmination of that story.”

    Denise Welch in Emmerdale
    Denise as character Heidi, who has a huge role in villain Tom King’s storyline 
    Image:
    ITV/Mark Bruce)

    Denise continued: “The episode takes place exclusively between the court and the jury and I am one of the head’s of the jury called Heidi. Obviously, I can’t say what the outcome is, but it’s a very, very powerful episode and some of the lines are taken from true cases. Refuge have seen it and they’re thrilled with how it’s been depicted so it was incredible to be a part of it, and that’s on I think December 19.”

    Landing the role is a career milestone for Denise – who has already appeared in Coronation Street, EastEnders and Hollyoaks. Her role in Emmerdale apparently makes her a ‘CHEE’. She gushed: “So I’ve now been in all four soaps.” which earned a round of cheers from the audience.

    Explaining what it means, Denise added: “‘I saw on social media that I’m now a CHEE and that’s because it’s quite something in America to be an EGOT, which is the winner of an Emmy, a Grammy, and Oscar and a Tony. So not quite that level, but Corrie, Hollyoaks, EastEnders, and Emmerdale.”

    Denise Welch as Natalie in Emmerdale
    Denise in her first soap role as Natalie Barnes in Coronation Street in the 90s 
    Image:
    Granada TV)

    Denise Welch is joining Eastenders to play transgender character Kyle's mum, Alison Slater
    She later appeared in EastEnders as transgender character Kyle’s mum, Alison Slater 
    Image:
    BBC)
    Though there are some stars who have appeared in multiple British soaps, Denise is thought to be the first star to have appeared in all four of the current big ones. An actress from the age of 12, Denise got her big break on ITV series Soldier, Soldier in 1993, but it was her role as Rovers barmaid Natalie Barnes that made her a household name.

    She played Natalie from 1997 to 2000. Her time in Corrie saw her have an affair with Kevin Webster while he was married to Sally, marry Des Barnes and later become the landlady of the Rovers Return. Her exit saw her flee Wetherfield pregnant with Rovers potman Vinny Sorrel’s baby. But Vinny was having an affair with her sister Debs and they ran off together to start a new life. In 2001, it was revealed Natalie had given birth to a daughter called Laura and was living in the Cotswolds with her cousin Helen.

    In real life, Denise was pregnant with her son Louis, who is also an actor. She is also mum to Matty Healy, frontman of rock band The 1975. Denise later went on to star as transgender character Kyle’s mum, Alison Slater, in BBC’s EastEnders in 2016. And she played Trish Minniver in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks from 2021 to 2022.

  • I’m A Celebrity’s Barry McGuigan has famous best friend who urged fans to vote for him

    I’m A Celebrity’s Barry McGuigan has famous best friend who urged fans to vote for him

    Barry McGuigan was a huge hit with I’m A Celebrity fans in the jungle and it turns out the former boxer has a famous best friend who was urging fans to vote for him

    Former boxer Barry McGuigan was a big hit with I’m A Celeb viewers during his stint in the Aussie jungle this year, before his exit on Thursday. But many viewers didn’t know he boasted a famous fan back home – none other than telly host Eamonn Holmes. Eamonn took to Instagram to root for Barry, posting a snap of the ex-boxer captioned ‘Vote Barry.’ He wrote: “We’ve known each other for 45 years and are best friends. Hope you can help keep my pal Barry in the Jungle.”

    This show of camaraderie from Eamonn comes hot on the heels of his ex-spouse Ruth Langsford’s visit to the I’m A Celeb campsite to support her Loose Women colleagues GK Barry and Jane Moore, with the latter being the first to get the boot. Ruth was also there to feature on the spin-off programme, I’m A Celeb Unpacked, joining Joel Dommett, Sam Thompson, and Kemi Rodgers.

    Eamonn Holmes
    Eamonn Holmes has revealed that Barry McGuigan is his best friend 
    Image:
    PA)

    During his jungle jaunt, featherweight champ Barry, aged 63, has won over both viewers and fellow campmates with his heartfelt stories and charm. On Tuesday 4 December, the campmates were treated to a night at the Jungle Arms pub, complete with nibbles, drinks, and a karaoke session where Barry’s performance of Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl left everyone in awe.

    One admirer exclaimed on X: “One thing about the jungle arms it always makes you realise the least obvious one can sing, Barry I love you man” while another chimed in with “who knew Barry McGuigan could sing so well #imaceleb.”

    McFly’s Danny Jones also stunned the crowd with a rendition of Bon Jovi, sparking calls from fans for a potential duet down the line. “When they leave the jungle Barry and Danny need to release a single together,” one viewer penned. Echoing this sentiment, another fan chimed in: “Can Danny and Barry release a song please? Thanks. #ImACeleb”.

    Barry and Danny
    Fans are hoping Barry and Danny release a single

    Earlier in the series, Barry shared a poignant story about losing his cherished daughter Danika to cancer. She tragically passed away five weeks after being diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2019.

    Speaking to his fellow campmates, Barry revealed: “She had leukaemia, when I was making [The Boxer] with Daniel Day Lewis, three weeks from the end I had to leave because she’d been diagnosed with leukaemia, they thought she wasn’t going to get better but she fought back and she won it. She had two years of chemo.”

    After overcoming her initial illness and pursuing a career in acting, Nika was sadly diagnosed with cancer again in her early thirties. Barry confided in Jane Moore about Nika’s second cancer diagnosis, revealing that she had been experiencing “pains in her tummy but she was making the movie, she put it off and went to the doctor, called us all in. Stage 4 bowel cancer, 5 weeks, 5 weeks she died.”

  • ITV Loose Women gatecrashed by Chris Martin and Jamie Oliver in show ‘first’

    ITV Loose Women gatecrashed by Chris Martin and Jamie Oliver in show ‘first’

    Daytime show Loose Women launched a 25-hour Talkathon which came to an end on Friday, December 6 and during the event the panel was joined by a host of big names

    The set of ITV’s Loose Women was gatecrashed by some famous names, including one of the most famous musicians on the planet, during a show ‘first’.

    Coldplay frontman Chris Martin joined the panel for its first-ever 25-hour Talkathon to urge the nation to ‘get talking’ about mental health issues. The event, which started on Thursday, December 5 and concluded during the usual show on Friday, December 6, was part of Loose Women’s 25th birthday celebrations and in support of ITV and STV’s Britain Get Talking campaign, which has sparked over 200 million conversations so far.

    Ruth Langsford brought the Talkathon to an end on Friday by thanking everyone who had supported the event which was broadcast on ITVX between the launch show and the finale. There had been a rolling list of presenters and guests including Chris Martin.

    Chris Martin and Jamie Oliver gatecrash ITV's Loose Women
    Chris Martin and Jamie Oliver gatecrash ITV’s Loose Women 
    Image:
    ITV)
    On Thursday evening the panel was joined by Charlene White, who announced she had some surprise guests – before returning with Chris Martin and chef Jamie Oliver. Both also shared their own advice on what they do to look after their own mental health.

    Earlier in the show, Olivia Attwood Dack joined Christine Lampard, Kelle Bryan and Katie Piper to share the wise saying her nan and mum passed on and explains how the meaning of love has changed for her over the years: “Never date the wrong person because you can fall in love with anyone.”

    First thing on Friday morning, Loose Woman panellist Coleen Nolan swapped studios to join fellow ITV Daytime show Good Morning Britain, as hosts Kate Garraway and Rob Rinder shared their support for the Loose Women.

    Coleen struggled to stay awake during the Talkathon
    Coleen struggled to stay awake during the Talkathon 
    Image:
    ITV)
    Speaking to them live, Coleen shared how she is finding the epic challenge so far. Responding to Kate asking “You must be shattered?” Coleen joked: “I actually don’t know where I am. I am so tired but I am so happy to see fresh faces!”

    Coleen also revealed how the Talkathon has allowed her to get to know her fellow Loose Women even better, she said: “Because there has been no real restrictions over the 25-hour period, and we’re after the watershed, we’ve been able to have longer on topics and we’ve really opened up a lot about ourselves. Janet was really surprising. She really opened up and normally she is quite guarded with it, but she let the guard down.”

    Coleen continued: “Men do find it hard to talk and we’ve discussed every topic possible over the last 20 odd hours and already the reaction has been really good.”

    Discussing the unexpected visit and support from Chris Martin and Jamie Oliver, Coleen said of Chris: “He writes things he has been worried about or things he may be angry about and he writes them all down and gets it all out of his system and then he can carry on his day or go to sleep at night because he doesn’t keep it all here [in his head], he writes it all down. He’s actually amazing.”