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Prince Andrew and his family have spent many a Christmas at Sandringham, but the Duke of York has found the ‘perfect excuse’ not to attend this year, according to a royal expert.

King Charles is set to open the doors of Sandringham house for another year, continuing a tradition that has seen the Royal family spend Christmas at the Norfolk home for over 160 years. The festive gathering is no small affair, with the wider family, including Prince Andrew, his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and their daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, usually in attendance.

However, this Christmas day, Andrew has the ‘perfect excuse’ not to attend, according to former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond. With both Eugenie and Beatrice now married and mothers themselves, Jennie has suggested to OK! the house could be too full.

“As families expand, life gets more complicated. And the Yorks now have two sons-in-law and four grandchildren to consider. So it is beginning to become untenable to have the whole extended royal family under one roof at Sandringham…especially with Camilla’s family to consider as well,” she explained.

Christmas at Sandringham has been a long-standing royal tradition, with Prince Andrew (pictured there in 2000) a staple on the guest list ( 
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Getty Images)

Princess Beatrice and Eugenie are both doting mothers now, making Christmas busier ( 
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Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Eugenie is mum to two sons, August and Ernest, with her husband Jack Brooksbank, whom she wed in 2018. Meanwhile, Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are expecting their second child together. They already share a daughter, Sienna, born in 2021, and Edoardo has an eight year old son, Christopher Woolf, from a previous relationship.

Jennie confirmed that Andrew will definitely receive an invite, as usual. She said: “However, it seems that Andrew remains keen on the traditional royal Christmas and, even after all the controversy over Royal Lodge, he and Sarah will almost certainly be invited to share the King and Queen’s celebrations. They don’t, however, usually stay in the main house but at Wood Farm nearby, where they can do their own family thing if they want. Charles is not a vindictive man…far from it…and whatever has gone on between the brothers, I think he will always extend an invitation for Andrew and his family to share big family occasions.”

Jennie also speculated that things would be easier if Andrew and Sarah do their own celebrations. “But Andrew’s own growing family will give him and Sarah the perfect reason to avoid Sandringham and surround themselves with their daughters and little one. Beatrice and Eugenie are very protective of both their parents”.

Christmas at Sandringham sees the royals head to church on Christmas day ( 
Image:
Getty Images)“And you can’t help but think that life would be easier all round if the Yorks began to stage their own festivities at Christmas.”

Christmas at Sandringham is a tradition embedded into Royal life, with Royal expert Duncan Larcombe recently sharing: “Christmas at Sandringham has been absolutely central to the family for years, and that legacy looks certain to continue with Charles.

“The estate has more of a country house feel than other royal residences, and it reflects the family’s love of the great outdoors.” Queen Victoria bought the 20,000-acre estate for £22,000 in 1862. When the pandemic struck in 2020 it prevented Queen Elizabeth II hosting Christmas there for the first time in 32 years.

“Sandringham had a very special place in the Queen’s heart,” Duncan adds. “It was where her father George VI passed away in 1952, which always gave it extra meaning for her.”

US President-elect Donald Trump gave the Prince of Wales a pat on the shoulder before the two shook hands and spoke for a few seconds at the Notre Dame ceremony

Prince William shook hands with US President-elect Donald Trump as the two greeted one another at the Notre Dame ceremony in Paris.

Mr Trump gave William a pat on the shoulder before the two shook hands and spoke for a few seconds on Saturday evening. The world-famous Notre Dame cathedral burned in a devastating fire in 2019, causing its spire to topple. In a ceremony to mark the re-opening of the landmark in central Paris, William and Trump were seen chatting ahead of a scheduled meeting the two are due to attend later this evening.

The Prince of Wales had been expected to meet Trump and outgoing first lady Dr Jill Biden ahead of the event, but Kensington Palace later said the pair would meet after the ceremony in another location in Paris.

US President-elect Donald Trump gestures as he talks with Prince William
Around 50 heads of state and government will be in the French capital to celebrate the rebuilding of the Gothic masterpiece following a restoration project that costed hundreds of millions of euros. Among those attending are billionaire Elon Musk and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

French President Macron will deliver a speech at around 7pm ahead of a commemorative service hosted by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris. From around 8:15pm, choirs of the Maîtrise Notre-Dame de Paris will sing during the service, while a televised concert is due to be broadcast from 21:15pm.

Trump was seen patting Prince William on the shoulder ( 
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Getty Images for Notre-Dame de P)

French President Emmanuel Macron, Prince William and Brigitte Macron ( 
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Blondet Eliot/ABACA/REX/Shutterstock)
Later this evening, William and Trump will meet to discuss the importance of the US and UK’s “special relationship”. Kensington Palace announced yesterday that the Prince of Wales would be attending the event marking the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral on Saturday.

A palace spokesman said: “The Prince of Wales will travel to Paris tomorrow to attend the ceremony marking the reopening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral. His Royal Highness is travelling at the request of His Majesty’s Government on behalf of the United Kingdom.”

Former glamour model Katie Price is starring in Cinderella for Northwich’s Pantomime and the star has shown off her youthful looks after undergoing a facelift

Katie Price has shown off the results of her £10,000 facelift and fans have been left in disbelief over her new look.

During the summer, the former glamour model, 46, jetted off to Turkey for another facelift which set her back 10k. Despite already having undergone a facelift in the past, the mum-of-five – who previously admitted that she’s addicted to surgery – went under the knife again in a bid to achieve her dream look.

Taking to her Instagram stories on Friday, Katie showed off her latest look as she posed backstage during rehearsals before showing off her acting skills this weekend as part of a Pantomime alongside celebrity friend, Kerry Katona.

Katie has bagged a leading role in Cinderella at Northwich Memorial Court in Northwich, Cheshire, and she’s performing for the next number of weeks before Christmas. Sharing a glimpse of her costume as the wicked step sister. In her latest social media offering, Katie shared a sneak peak at her Panto costume as she delivered her best model poses for her fans.

Katie Price has shown off her latest look ( 
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Instagram/katieprice)

Katie and Kerry are starring in the Panto as the wicked step sisters

Dressed in a bright yellow dress embellished with red polka-dots, the former glamour model looked ten years younger as she debuted the results of her latest cosmetic surgery. Her skin looked tighter than ever as she slicked her hair back into a tight ponytail.

Alongside the snap, Katie simply wrote: “Dress rehearsal.” It comes after she was given a warning just one day into rehearsals with the cast and crew of the Christmas production.

Katie was reportedly caught vaping inside the venue as rehearsals got underway – and panto bosses were not happy with her behaviour. Katie, who was also recently pictured vaping on a public transport, made a vow to herself to quit it earlier this year. However, it now appears to be impacting her work.

Lifting the lid on the situation, an insider claimed: “Katie has been caught vaping inside the venue on a number of occasions already. She has been told not to, but doesn’t seem to be listening.”

Fans claimed that Katie had ‘ruined’ her natural beauty with her face lift ( 
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@katieprice/Instagram)

Katie is no stranger to surgery ( 
Image:
Instagram)Meanwhile, the source said that Kerry is also an avid vaper but she has been making sure to smoke outside – unlike Katie. “Kerry also vapes so they keep popping for breaks when they can – but Katie can’t resist a few cheeky puffs inside,” the source added.

Earlier this month, former glamour model Katie was caught brazenly vaping on a train in front of un impressed passengers. She was pictured puffing on the fruity vape as she stood on the Southern train before it arrived at Haywards Heath station in West Sussex.

Wearing a black hoodie, the mum-of-five appeared to have no qualms about pulling out her vape and inhaling while the train was still travelling – and while it was full of passengers. “I was on the train and recognised Katie immediately with her distinctive voice and look. But I was shocked to see her vaping, considering it is banned. The rules are there for a reason,” one passenger shared.

“It is common courtesy for the other passengers, which she clearly did not worry about. What made it worse is that she was speaking to someone about how she had already been caught doing it before,” they told The Sun.

Tulisa won’t appear on the finale of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here after she arrived back home in England on the eve of the show

Tulisa Contostavlos has returned to the UK after exiting the I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here jungle.

The N-Dubz star, 36, made the surprise dash home to Blighty instead of staying to appear on the finale of the hit ITV series. The former X Factor judge has now arrived back home in Manchester, using a private terminal in an airport to avoid being pictured.

Tulisa was voted off on Monday night’s ITV show and has been the centre of attention ever since. A spokesperson for Tulisa informed the Mirror about her early UK return while the other evictees get ready for this weekend’s finale, citing “welfare reasons” for the move

There were whispers of a major clash between Tulisa and her close mate Michelle McKenna, which the statement put to rest. Tulisa herself countered these claims asserting she had “no issue” with Michelle or Daniel Johnson, who came down under to support her.

Tulisa was evicted from I’m A Celebrity earlier this week ( 
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Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)

Tulisa Contostavlos and pal Michelle ( 
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James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Her spokesperson clarified on Thursday: “There has been absolutely no fall out between Tulisa and her best friend Michelle. They haven’t argued once since Tulisa left the jungle. Michelle in fact travelled back to London with Tulisa.” They continued, denouncing the tale as a complete fabrication that wasn’t even vetted by Tulisa’s team before hitting press. This story has been completely fabricated and wasn’t even sent to Tulisa’s team for a chance to comment prior to publication. The decision for Tulisa to return home to the UK was agreed to by the production for welfare reasons.”

It was previously reported that all campmates typically attend the crowning of the King or Queen of the Jungle. However, a source stated that there is no ill will towards Tulisa for not being present. This comes after Tulisa shared a video message explaining that she felt “a little bit overwhelmed” following her departure from the show. In the video, she addressed removing I’m A Celebrity posts from her Instagram page, which had been managed by Michelle while she was away.

Tulisa said: “Hey guys. I’m just doing a little video to clear a few things up. When I first came out of the jungle, I felt fine first of all and then that evening, my friends went to bed and I was on my Instagram, just trying to have a casual scroll at some funny stuff.”
“I was getting a lot of attention, a lot of bombarding – in all the most positive way, but because it’s been a bit of a while for me, I can get overwhelmed quite easily and I just started to feel a little bit overwhelmed. And I was like, do you know what? I need to just take a little bit of time for me and just chill. This is all just feeling a bit much at the moment.”

The star candidly shared on social media: “I’m just going to archive all my stuff to do with the jungle and then, when the time is right and I’ve had time to process, I’m going to make my own reels of my best bits that I really like. Because remember, I haven’t been doing my Instagrams. The way it’s being posted and all the random stuff is not how I would do my Insta – I would have one or two really good reels relating to the jungle and bringing my time together there.”

She continued to explain her feelings, saying, “But I just really wanted to clear up the reasons why that I did that and just be honest – it’s OK to feel a little bit overwhelmed. I’ve been out of the spotlight for a long time and I’m still trying to overcome those things, I’ve got my demons. It doesn’t mean I’m going to hide behind a rock for another ten years it just means I need a little bit of time to process it and get right with my thoughts. Thank you to ITV and I’m A Celeb for being really understanding. Mental health is really important and I am super grateful for the love and support that I’ve had.”

She added, “I’ve just felt overwhelmed. I’m an introvert, guys – I’ve been in the jungle with people I’d only just met for two and a half weeks straight and then I’ve come out and I’ve received loads and loads of attention and I’m like, ‘whoa – this is a lot! ‘ and I just need a bit of time.”

Strictly Come Dancing’s Jowita Przystal, has been accused of faking her affections for Pete Wicks as the couple get ready to take to the dance floor for the semi-final

Strictly Come Dancing’s Jowita Przystal showers Pete Wicks with affection in a new video amid backlash from fans.

The couple are limbering up to take to the dance floor for the semi-final this evening, with Jowita looking very loved up in a clip on Instagram ahead of the live show.

In the video, the professional dancer cuddles and kisses Pete, 36, who she asks: “How are you feeling?” “Tired, very tired”, moans the TOWIE star as the Polish performer pulls him in for a snuggle. Jowita, 30, also gives her partner a friendship bracelet, gushing: “This is my gift for you.”

Revealing more about the show tonight, the pair confirmed their two dances were both “sexy and cute” As they discussed their gruelling rehearsals, Pete looked defeated, admitting: “I’m tired, very tired. Two dances, half the time, two completely different dances. We described one is cute and one is sexy.” Jowita then muses: “Which one do you like better? I think you’re cute.” Pete replies: “I mean, I don’t think I strike anyone as a cute person.”

Strictly Come Dancing’s Jowita Przystal, has been accused of faking her affections for Pete Wicks ( 
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Instagram)

The pair have made it to the semi-final ( 
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Instagram)

He then added: “To be honest, I’m far from sexy, but I mean, to be fair, they are very different, but we are enjoying both of them.” He also revealed he’s excited to perform the Argentine Tango, which had been a dance he wanted to do from the start of his journey on Strictly. He explained: “I didn’t think I’d ever get a chance to do it. “I’m so pleased I have because I thought I’d like it, and I think it’s my favourite dance so far.”

Looking fondly at her partner, Jowita concluded: “I think you’re doing amazing. And I’m really, really looking forward to Saturday night.”

The curious clip received mixed reaction on social media, with some fans accusing the couple of faking their feelings for another ahead of tonight’s show. Commenting on Instagram, one viewer wrote: “”Pete and Jowita really want to stay on the show.” Another said: “I love them, but I’m worried they are trying too hard to get the public vote.”

However, others loved the display of affection, with one saying: “Pete trying so hard to hate it, but secretly loving it” while another added: “Hahah never thought we’d see Pete making friendship bracelets!”

Pete and Jowita have faced a big backlash from Strictly viewers, who are perplexed as to why they’re still in the show despite being bottom of the leaderboard last week.

Fans were fuming on social media, accusing the BBC of forging a strategy to keep Pete on show, week on week. One person pointed out that Pete was given a waltz in Saturday’s show, which is less complex than other dance styles. They said: “I thought this week it was very obvious. He is yet to do a jive, Charleston or Argentine tango, all of which are incredibly complex and fast paced compared to the waltz.”

Meanwhile, another lamented the loss of Montell Douglas, who was given the boot last week, saying: “The judges (except from Craig) critiquing Montell to no end, but when it’s Pete’s turn literally saying they are going to ignore the mistakes he made. Seriously, these double standards and favouring needs to stop.”

I’m A Celebrity star Barry McGuigan paid moving tribute his daughter Danika who passed away in 2019, saying she was with him in the jungle

Boxing legend Barry McGuigan has told how his beloved daughter was by his side in the I’m A Celebrity jungle – and he wouldn’t have got so far without her.

The star said he took great comfort from thinking of Danika, who passed away aged just 33 – five weeks after being diagnosed with bowel cancer, in 2019.

Viewers had watched him break down talking about her to campmates in the most emotional scenes of the show to date. And speaking to the Mirror after becoming the latest celeb to become evicted from the Jungle, he opened up about how Danika inspired him throughout his jungle stint.

“My daughter died in 2019 which has broken our hearts,” he says. “It’s taken a long time but I don’t think you can ever recover from that, but I know she loved the show, and she would have loved to have seen me on the show. She would have been so proud of me. I know that.”

Opening Up: Barry talks about his I’m a Celeb journey ( 
Image:
Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)

Reflecting on how hard it’s been for him and his wife Sandra, he adds: “I can’t explain to you how sad it’s been for us for the last five years… but I knew she was with me in there, and I probably wouldn’t have got as far as I did without her being with me.

“I know that she travels everywhere with me, and I believe that 100% and we’ll see each other again sometime.”

In the jungle, Barry began talking about Danika after Jane spotted a tattoo of her on his arm, and asked who it was. He laughs now as he shows off his tattoo as it’s covered in bites. “It’s all those bloody cockroaches, she would have laughed about that,” he says.

He says that he thinks about his daughter “all the time.” He remembers watching Jill Scott winning the show in 2022, when he first thought of doing the show.
“I just remember thinking ‘my daughter would love me doing that’, as we all watched the show,” he says. “She was only a young girl and started as an actress.”

Barry McGuigan and Danika ( 
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PA)

Barry McGuigan back at the hotel ( 
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Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
Barry, who also has three sons, Shane, Jake, and Blain, said that he was “madly in love” with wife Sandra, who he will be married to for 43 years next week. And he jokes how after losing 15 and a half pounds on the rice and beans diet, Sandra liked his new svelte figure.

“She said: ‘God you look great, you need to do that more often,’” he laughed. “Well, I’ll tell you from a diet perspective, it is very tough. I haven’t dieted since my last preparation for my last fight, to the same extent.”

Barry said the experience was “one of the best things I’ve ever done” although the torrential rain was tough at times. He says: “Living in the west of Ireland, we have a lot of wind and rain. Good God Almighty, I’ve never seen anything like it. The worst we’ve ever had in 20 odd years…just lashing down.”

At one point Alan Halsall had to divert a river which had formed. “I said to him ‘you should be a bloody engineer,’” he says.

The former world heavyweight boxer described the experience as a “massive psychological test”.
“I missed my salt, my pepper – all my condiments, and your spirit is down and your energy is down, when it rains incessantly like that,” he says. “There’s no doubt it makes you a little bit more depressed.”

Barry said the conditions were so grim that he had to have a pep talk with his campmates so they didn’t all take it out on each other. He reveals: “I said to the camp at the beginning – every single one of them – that we can go one way or we can go the other. We can get crabby with each other when we are lacking in food and get nasty with each other. Or we can be nice and respectful. I said, ‘I know what one I want to be…I want to be respectful to everybody, and I want you to be respectful to me.’ And they were all great.”

Fighting talk: Barry on life under the stars ( 
Image:
Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)

Barry McGuigan and wife Sandra ( 
Image:
PA)He also said that he was well aware that ITV were paying him “very well for it” and this drove him on to take everything on the chin. “You understand the rules and you must do as they say, that’s the deal, and we understand that,” he says. It’s why he refused to get involved with “teabag-gate” which saw Dean McCullough smuggle the item into camp. “Everybody will try and cheat here and there, but it’s only a bit of fun. But I’m telling you, you eat rice and beans for three weeks and tell me how you feel,” he says.

He said there was genuinely a togetherness in the camp unlike some previous series that he had watched.
“There’s been years where there’s been spitefulness and people falling out, but not this year,” he says.
One of his favourite friendships was with McFly star Danny Jones, who he says reminded him of his late singer dad Pat, who finished fourth in Eurovision.

“He’s so like my father, he’s such a talented boy. And my God, he was so great with the guitar and the sing alongs. I hope Danny wins, because Danny’s just such a great fellow.”
Barry says he wishes he could have stayed till the final. But he says the competition is too close to call.

“Al’s very good, Oti as well. I don’t think enough people know Grace. So I think it’s between the others and maybe Reverend Richard. Oh, he’s a dark horse. He’s hilarious, and I just loved just my time with him. I could have talked to him all day, every day.”

Most of all Barry liked the peace and quiet afforded by being in the jungle. And he said it was much more stunning than he ever imagined. He adds: “It’s an incredible place. And you look at it on TV and you think it can’t be that beautiful, but then you turn up there yourself, and it’s beyond beautiful.”

The latest campmate to be voted out of the I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here jungle has been announced, with the final line-up ahead of tomorrow’s last show confirmed

Oti Mabuse has become the latest person to be voted out of the I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here jungle.

The Dancing On Ice star misses out on the final set to take place tomorrow night, with Coleen Rooney, Danny Jones and Rev. Richard Coles making up the final three. Oti, who lasted 22 days in the jungle, told Coleen to “do it for the girls” as she said her goodbyes in camp this evening.

“I expected to be nervous the whole time but when you’re in there… my goal became to focus and get the job done,” Oti told Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly as she discussed Bushtucker Trials in her eviction interview. “You tell yourself ‘calm down, it’s not about – you feed the children’!”

Asked what she enjoyed most about the experience and simply said “everything” as she reflected on getting to know her co-stars. “Everything. The conversations, getting to know knew people. Opening up. And all of that. You just come out as a stronger, different person. There was quite a lot of [crying]. I didn’t know I was a crier, well know I know! I will never get to do this experience again, it’s so unique and beautiful.”

Speaking about what she will take away from her time in the jungle, the 34-year-old added: “I think I’ve learned to be happy with who I am, and that group kind of let me be all different versions – loud, crazy, calm, frustrated. They allowed me to be who I am, and I’ve just felt mentally and spiritually stronger.” Oti tipped Danny to be crowned King of the Jungle as her interview with Ant and Dec drew to a close on ITV this evening.

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James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Oti’s exit leaves the final three stars to battle it out to become King of Queen of the Jungle tomorrow night. The decision left fans fuming online, with some on Twitter/X calling out the decision of the public vote. “I demand a recount Oti was robbed of the final. #ImACeleb,” one fan fumed online as hosts Ant and Dec revealed Oti was the ninth person to be voted off. “The british public failed oti, gk, maura & tulisa this season #ImACeleb,” another fumed, as a third added: “Oti was ROBBED. She is my queen of the jungle!! #ImACeleb.”

The decision comes after the final four had took on the iconic Celebrity Cyclone. Donning their best superhero capes, Oti Mabuse and Danny Jones strutted their stuff as Oti shouted: “Break the internet Danny Jones, let’s go!” as he wore tiny purple pants. Speaking of his new look, he said: “I feel weirdly powerful in purple, and I know the boys at home, the McFly boys will be laughing their heads off. Hot pants in a cape, rock and roll!” The stars mocked each other and gave them all a superhero nickname before taking on the challenge. Putting their hands in the middle prior to the star, they cheered loudly and said: “All for one, and one for all!”Yesterday saw a shock double eviction for the second time in a row. Coronation Street star Alan Halsall and YouTuber GK Barry left the camp just before the Cyclone trial. Alan admitted his time was nothing like he expected, as he gushed over meeting 11 amazing people when speaking to Geordie duo Ant and Dec. He said bonding in camp with different people was a “pleasant surprise” and said he was surprised he was able to make new friends at 41 years old.

He also admitted he had struggled with boredom in camp at time, before saying things at times were “very intense” in the jungle. Fifth placed GK, whose real name is Grace, screeched “I’m free” as she admitted to feeling “really good” at being out of camp. During her exit interview, she said: “I can’t believe I’ve looked that way on national television,” before admitting she didn’t know how much she swore.

James Martin left Loose Women star Charlene White looking sheepish as she admitted she “couldn’t believe” he brought up one work aspect she struggles with.

Charlene White was gobsmacked when celebrated cook James Martin probed her about her latest literary venture, No Place Like Home, on a fresh instalment of James Martin’s Saturday Morning.

The episode saw Charlene, 44, famed for her role on Loose Women, engage in lively banter with host and chef James, 52, while he whipped up some scrumptious dishes.

But the tables turned when Charlene had to chide the esteemed chef after he poked fun at her for not sticking to deadlines with her new book.

James remarked: “You’re used to so many deadlines in journalism, a little bird told me because I know the publishers quite well, that you struggle with the deadlines?”

Charlene White appeared alongside James Martin ( 
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(Image: ITV))

Caught off guard, Charlene replied: “I can’t believe you’ve brought that up!” She then confessed: “Erm… I missed three deadlines, yes, they said: ‘Can you tell Charlene we need the book in ten days or we’re cancelling the contract!’”

Ever the joker, James quipped: “It’s amazing how that suddenly works, isn’t it?” This led Charlene to concede: “Yeah, it’s amazing that when you say you’re going to do something, people expect you to produce it!”

She disclosed that thanks to her “journalism brain” she thrives under the pressure of an imminent deadline, which indeed fueled her writing sprint, reports the Express.

This comes as Charlene took to Instagram before her television slot on Saturday, posting a slew of behind-the-scenes pictures. In her caption, she wrote: “Kicking off Christmas with @jamesmartinchef tomorrow morning from 9.30am on @ itv!

“Much fun was had with the utterly brilliant @chef_chantelle @lennybugleinntwyford and @stephenterrychef. Plus platefuls of gorgeous food to ease us into the festive season, a spoonful of bants, and a dollop of chat about my book No Place Like Home… the perfect recipe for a Saturday morning. Join us! Dress is @oliviarubin.”

Charlene White was taken aback ( 
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(Image: ITV ))
Known for her forthrightness on Loose Women, Charlene has now taken a deeper plunge into personal revelations with her new memoir, No Place Like Home. In it, she contemplates on the idea of ‘home’.

Charlene, born in London with roots tracing back to Jamaica, spoke about having a connection to both places, explaining: “I was raised in a Jamaican household in London. So, although I’ve never lived in Jamaica, I’ve been going back and forth my entire life, so that also feels like home to me. There’s space in my heart for both.”

Through her book, No Place Like Home, Charlene delves into her narrative as a Jamaican Londoner, bringing to life the scents, recollections, and voices that color her childhood memories.

Singer and television presenter Coleen Nolan has opened up about splitting from her partner Michael Jones, who she had dated for three years and shared the sad reason why they parted ways

Coleen Nolan has split with her partner of three years – as she embraces single life on her new farm.

The Loose Women favourite recently parted ways with Michael Jones, citing her busy lifestyle as the reason as she juggles work with settling into her new home. Mum-of-three Coleen, 59, says breaking up was “sad” – but insists it ended on good terms. “We’ve decided that we would rather just stay friends, take it as a friendship,” says Coleen, who started dating the supermarket logistics worker in 2021.

“It’s nothing to do with anyone else, it’s nobody’s fault. But I’m really busy and when I’m not really busy with work I’m busy on the farm and I feel personally that I can’t give time to everything. We still get along great and hopefully we can continue to be friends, who knows?”

It wouldn’t be the first time Coleen says pals with an ex – she counts her two former husbands, actor Shane Richie and musician Ray Fensome, among her best friends. “I think that comes from age and experience,” she tells our sister title OK! magazine. “With it being my 60th next year I think, ‘I haven’t got time, life’s too short.’ I mean, I hope I have lots of time but I’m not 20 any more, I don’t want to wait for two years and see what happens.

Coleen has just bought a gorgeous farmhouse ( 
Image:
OK! Magazine / David Cummings)

Coleen and her daughter inside her stunning home ( 
Image:
OK! Magazine /David Cummings)

“I’m not going to say it wasn’t sad, because of course it was. But I really hope that once that sadness goes away we can continue to be friends. I don’t regret any of it, it was fabulous. Michael came along at just the right time for me and I think over the last three-and-a-half years we’ve helped each other grow.

“I always choose to focus on the times that were great, not the sad ending. The last two years of both my marriages were probably horrendous, but equally, the 10 years before were fantastic, so I’d rather focus on that.” Another focus of Coleen’s is her new six-acre house in Staffordshire and realising “her dream” of owning a real farm, which she shares with daughter Ciara and her fiancé Max.

Coleen outside her stunning farmhouse ( 
Image:
OK! Magazine / David Cummings)
She even wants to turn her life on the farm into a reality show. “Even when I was little and I was with my sisters, Dad would say to me, ‘You just need to be on a farm, you need to be with animals.’ I can still hear him saying it,” says Coleen, who was a member of the pop group The Nolans with her sisters.

Her life on the farm spends three to four hours a day mucking out and feeding the animals – and she says there’s huge freedom in that. “It’s just a wonderful feeling, it really is my happy place,” she beams. “The best thing about it is, the animals don’t care whether I’ve got make-up on, or what I’m wearing. As long as I’m giving them food, letting them out or taking them for a walk, they don’t care about anything else.

Coleen is throwing herself into family life with daughter Ciara living very close to her farm house ( 
Image:
OK! Magazine / David Cummings)

“Because I’m in an industry that is fabulous, but also means you’re judged by everything you do, being on the farm where nothing matters and no one is judging me is a wonderful feeling.” With three horses, five dogs, six cats, five ducks, two cockerels, four hens and five pygmy goats – life is busy. Ciara, 23, lives in what used to be a separate Airbnb home on the plot with Max.

“If I had to have neighbours, they’d be the ones I’d want,” she says. “Although I think they think I’m the local Tesco Express because Ciara will come up and leave with a Tesco bag of whatever she’s found in my fridge. But then she’s like my local restaurant because I’ll go up there for my dinner and then come home again. So, I can’t really complain when she comes and steals the ingredients.” Ciara – whose dad is Ray – is also loving their new dynamic.

“I’m absolutely loving living here,” she says. “It went from a house to a home within a couple of days. We’re actually living my dream life, too, and I’m so grateful. I couldn’t be more proud of her. I look out my window in the morning and can see the horses and it’s the best feeling.” Coleen has two older children, Jake and Shane, who she shares with her first husband, EastEnders actor Shane.

The singer and actress is preparing for her 60th birthday ( 
Image:
OK! Magazine /David Cummings)

Ciara often visits her mums home and leaves with a bag full of shopping from the fridge ( 
Image:
OK! Magazine / David Cummings)
As well as turning 60 in March, next year officially marks 25 years of Coleen’s time on Loose Women, having joined the show in its very first year on air. Looking back over her time on the ITV panel show, Coleen said: “My whole life has changed since then, I’ve lived my life on Loose Women and equally I’ve learnt a lot and I’ve grown a lot. When I think back to my opinions on certain things 24 years ago compared to my opinions now, they’re so different. I look back sometimes and think, ‘Why would I have ever thought that?’ But I was in my early thirties when I started, and now I’m nearly 60. I’ve had kids who’ve taught me so much, life has changed and the world has changed. I’m so much more confident now in who I am.”

Coleen with her daughter, Clara, at home ( 
Image:
OK! Magazine / David Cummings)
While she wouldn’t change anything about her time on the panel, the only thing Coleen doesn’t enjoy so much now is how “restricted” the panellists are. “Back then, you could say what you wanted, and while people might not have agreed with you, it didn’t mean you were ‘cancelled’ or never going to work again. Now we have to be really careful, and edit ourselves. That’s the only slightly negative change. I’ve still loved every minute of it.”

Supporting her Loose Women pal Ruth Langsford after her split from husband Eamonn Holmes, Coleen says she’s in “awe” of how she’s handled the situation. “She’s such a dignified lady and she looks the best she’s ever looked, in my opinion. She’s a trooper, and I’ll always be there for her.”

Ruling out following friend Jane Moore into the I’m A Celebrity jungle, Coleen does have a new TV project in mind. “I’m in awe of them all, I’d have made Dean [McCullough] look good. You think he can scream? You should hear me. No, I’d much rather do a reality show about life on the farm. That’s the next big dream.” Read Coleen’s full interview in OK! magazine, out Tuesday.

Loose Women’s Coleen Nolan is living the dream on her new farm – and her daughter Ciara is also living on the property in a separate home with her new fiancé Max

Coleen Nolan and her daughter Ciara Fensome have their hands full at their new family farm in Staffordshire. Coleen, 60, and 23-year-old Ciara got the keys to their dream property in June and have since transformed the six-acre farm so they can live close – but not too close.

Ciara, whose dad is musician Ray Fensome, lives in a separate house which was used by the previous owner’s as an Airbnb with her new fiancé Max, Coleen tells OK! during an exclusive chat and house tour. The couple got engaged in Vietnam in March, when Max popped the question during a boat trip in Ha Long Bay, and now help Coleen manage her 30 animal-farm.

The farm is set in six-acres of countryside ( 
Image:
OK! Magazine / David Cummings)

Ciara, who is animal-mad like her famous mum, says she couldn’t be more proud seeing Coleen finally achieve her dream. “She’s worked her entire life and to see a nearly 60-year-old woman with all this to herself is so inspiring,” she shared.

“I’m absolutely loving living here. It went from a house to a home within a couple of days. We’re actually living my dream life, too, and I’m so grateful. I couldn’t be more proud of her. I look out my window in the morning and can see the horses and it’s the best feeling.”

Ciara and Max’s house is already looking very festive

Ciara’s home – which Coleen admits she treats like the “local restaurant” because Ciara’s such a good cook – sits apart from Coleen’s bigger farmhouse, and Coleen is keen to make it clear that they can’t see into each other’s houses!

“If I had to have neighbours, they’d be the ones I’d want. Although I think they think I’m the local Tesco Express because Ciara will come up and leave with a Tesco bag of whatever she’s found in my fridge. But then she’s like my local restaurant because I’ll go up there for my dinner and then come home again. So, I can’t really complain when she comes and steals the ingredients.”

On an exclusive tour of Ciara’s annexe house, Coleen says her daughter has a “good eye” for design and has it made very homely and cosy.

Ciara and Max’s house has a lovely homely feel

Ciara loves all the natural textures that fit well in a cottage“It’s a gorgeous place for her and Max to live. She’s made it all Christmassy,” she said. “She has the same library and Bookcase that I’ve got. In my other house they were put together and went down the whole wall, when we came here, because we both love books and bookcases, we were able to chop it in half so she got one, and I got one.

“She’s been traveling for six months so she’s got a lot of things up here from her travels. Just homely.. sitting here reading a book, it’s perfect. It just feels so homely, she’s got a good eye for it. And they tell me they’re very happy here and that’s all I care about.”