Loose Women panellist Kaye Adams has opened up on why she decided to get a tattoo dedicated to her mum after turning 60, and how she had a ‘wobble’ the night before getting the ink

Loose Women star Kaye Adams had vowed never to get a tattoo until a favourite saying of her late mum’s whenever she was asked her age – Over Twenty One – seemed the perfect way to celebrate turning 60.

But the TV and radio presenter admits her mother would have been horrified – if also just a wee bit chuffed – at the inking in her honour.

Kaye explains: “Although I’ve done it for her, the irony is she’d have absolutely killed me and told me to act my age!

“She is not going to be looking down and smiling, she’ll be shaking her fist, but I think it would be fake outrage and deep down she’d be proud too.”

The former Strictly Come Dancing star caused a stir on Instagram when she posted a photo of the tattoo.

Kaye Adams with her partner Ian, their daughters and her parents, Duncan and Cathie ( 
Image:
ITV)
Speaking about her decision, she says: “Every year, until I was 59, I said never, ever would I get a tattoo. I’m not a fan and I wouldn’t get a random one just for the hell of it – a bumble bee, a dolphin.

“But Over Twenty One suddenly popped into my head.”

Kaye was close to her parents, dad Duncan, who died in 2017, and mum Cathie, who passed away in 2018.

She says: “I’ve got one of my mum’s rings and it’s lovely, but it’s just not me. I sometimes look at it and feel quite guilty and almost disloyal and wish that I felt more of a connection with it.

“So, I guess the tattoo is a jewellery substitute – it’s very much a real reminder of Mum and makes me smile.”

Kaye showing off her new tattoo ( 
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DAILY MIRROR)

The Loose Women star turned 60 in December ( 
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Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Kaye had the tattoo done on her left forearm in her home town ­Glasgow, four weeks after turning the big 6-0 on December 28.

“I wanted it to look like a nice squiggle from a distance,” she explains. “I looked for a card from my mum to copy her handwriting. I couldn’t find anything right, but it’s still my mum’s joined-up handwriting style.

“The woman who did it couldn’t have been better, because it was so unlike a tattoo studio. This place had a piano in the waiting room and lovely prints.”

Even so, Kaye almost backed out the night before. She says: “I had a real wobble. I woke up in the night and thought, ‘Oh my God, what am I doing, this is ludicrous!’

“But then I thought that it’s good to do different things. I don’t want get stuck as I get older, I want to be able to change.”

Kaye, who is Loose Women’s longest presenter, began her own podcast How to be 60 last year. In it, she chats to famous names, from Robson Green and Denise Welch to Ken Bruce and Linda Robson, about how they dealt with the milestone birthday.

She says: “I set it up in anticipation, but it still works, because OK, I am now officially 60, but turning 60 is a journey in how you approach this stage of your life, it’s an ongoing conversation.”

Kaye also took part on Strictly last year, but was the first celebrity to be voted off the BBC One show alongside her dance partner Kai Widdrington.

Kaye on Strictly ( 
Image:
PA)“I knew I’d struggle,” she reflects. “Ironically, I probably didn’t struggle as much as if I’d done it when I was 40, because then I’d have felt more of a pressure to be sexy, whereas doing it at the age I did, nobody would have that expectation.

“But it did knock my confidence for a while and I’m never going to put myself in that position again.

“[BBC One reality game] The Traitors is fantastic and I thought if they did a celebrity version, I’d love to do it, but I now realise I absolutely wouldn’t. It’s not natural to put ­yourself out for judgment by people who don’t know you.”

Kaye is filming a documentary for 100 Years of the BBC, but it is ITV ’s Loose Women for which she is best known.

Kaye early in her career, interviewing Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher ( 
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collect)
“I really enjoy it and while it might give me up, I can’t imagine giving it up,” she smiles. “The show is about talking and sharing experiences and opinions. That’s never going to go out of fashion, so I don’t see any reason why Loose Women wouldn’t be there in 2050.”

There are rumours of backstage rows between presenters, but Kaye insists they are hugely exaggerated.

“We are constantly being asked – have we fallen out, who won’t work with who?” she says. “It’s tedious and keeps us in this mindset that women can’t get on, women are bitchy. It’s a harmful ­narrative and it’s not true.”

Her media career began at Central Television in the 1980s when she bagged an interview with then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Kaye with her Loose Women co-stars ( 
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Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
She was only 26 when she landed a role on ­Scotland Today. Although a regular on our screens, she admits her younger self would have been ­disappointed she didn’t go on to even greater success.

“I was very ambitious and wanted to conquer the world and be the biggest thing ever,” she says. “Something like Newsnight would have been a real aspiration and ­something like Oprah Winfrey’s show.

“But what you see at 25 as being the pinnacle isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It’s not about specifics anymore, it’s about doing projects I find exciting and working with people that I enjoy working with.”

Having reached 60, one of Kaye’s ambitions is to carve out more time for herself, but she says it is not easy.

Kaye Adam’s late mum Cathie ( 
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kayeadamsofficial / Instagram)
“I lost the clear distinction between work and time away from work years ago,” she says. “Mum and Dad never had it either – they ran their own haulage business – so the prospect of working less is hugely daunting.”

Kaye, who lives with her partner, tennis coach Ian Campbell, and their daughters Charly, 20, and Bonnie, 16, also wonders what impact it would have. “I think that will be huge for my ­relationship with Ian, although I don’t think it will be huge for Ian, because he’s got a lovely life,” she reflects.

“If I suddenly become more available, that’s not going to be fair on him. I’m usually in London a couple of days a week. He’s been wonderful about that, but he’s created his own life.

“We do thankfully still enjoy each other’s company, so we’re not like ­flatmates, but he’s not sitting waiting for me to come home. He’s got lots of things going on.”

Studying Spanish is one ambition as is learning the piano, having bought a baby grand when she was 24. “I said at the time, ‘In my retirement I’m going to learn to play the piano’,” she laughs.

Until this year Kaye obsessively hid her age, even lying about it to her own daughter. She believes she inherited her age phobia from her mum, but is glad to have finally come clean.

Kaye says she’s less of a prisoner ‘of my own insecurities’ ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

“I feel less of a prisoner of my own insecurities, so that feels like quite a positive thing,” she says.

“And because I’m not so obsessed with the number, it does make me focus more on getting the most out of day-to-day life.

“Like the tattoo, I really hope there will be other things that I do that are out of character or unpredictable.”

Kaye Adams: How to be 60 is ­available on all podcast providers.

Loose Women star Denise Welch has sparked fury amongst viewers of the show over comments she made about Nicola Bulley during the ITV programme

Loose Women star Denise Welch has sparked fury amongst fans of the ITV show over comments she made about Nicola Bulley.

The search for the 45-year-old missing mum has entered its 14th day and there is still no clear proof of what happened to her. She vanished while on a dog walk on January 27 after dropping off her two young children at school in St Michaels on Wyre, Lancashire.

Her phone was found on a bench overlooking the river and Willow had been left wandering nearby. Investigators are keeping an open mind about what might of happened, with speculation growing day by day on social media.

Denise Welch sparked fury with her comments ( 
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Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Police have urged people not to take the laws in their own hands or speculate on social media after her disappearance, but during a chat on Loose Women, panellist Denise sparked fury with her comments, as fans questioned why.

Speaking about the case, she said: “This is the problem, we’ve created globally all of these armchair detectives. And I am partly responsible because I’ve made no bones of the fact that in my mind I’m the ‘Crime Minister’.

“You know I’m obsessed with true life crime. When I was young and you had the news at 6pm and a couple of newspapers, all of these things went on and you didn’t know very much about it. But now we see it played out in real life and Lincoln and I are responsible for it because we know now, well we think we know, a lot about forensics.”

Nicola Bulley hasn’t been seen since January 27 ( 
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PA)
Denise admits she was guilty of doing the same the other day, and speculated herself.

“I was guilty of the other day, screaming at the television: ‘Why are people walking along that area? That should still be a crime scene. That should still be evidence.’ Then I thought hang on a minute, there’s obviously a reason why they haven’t kept that,” she added.

“But you think that you know because you watch so many crime shows.”

Frustrated viewers took to social media to fume over the comments.

Talk on Loose Women turned to the missing Nicola Bulley ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
“So ‘don’t speculate about this case’ has been what ITV has said ALL Morning all throughout their programmes, while they sit there doing exactly that – speculating,” one wrote, as another added: “Why are Loose Women allowed to talk about it and we’re not?”
Another wrote: ” “Also there has to be some speculation; how is Nicola going to be found if theories are being ruled out because they make people uncomfortable to consider #LooseWomen.”

Lead investigator Superintendent Sally Riley previously urged people not to “take the law into their own hands” or “do anything that would thwart” the investigation as wild speculation has grown on social media on what might have happened to Nicola.

Urging people not to speculate, Supt Riley added: “Nor is it helpful if people, particularly if they come from outside the area, take it upon themselves to take the law into their own hands by trying to, for example, break into empty property.”

Saira Khan was a Loose Women pannelist on the ITV chat show from 2015 until 2021 – when she shocked fans as she announced she was quitting the daytime programme

Saira Khan was a fan favourite on the Loose Women panel as she appeared on the ITV daytime chat show with her strong opinions and eloquent ways of debating tricky topics.

Viewers of the show were left surprised when Saira, 52, announced her decision to quit the ITV daytime show in 2021.

At the time, Saira claimed she made the difficult decision after the coronavirus pandemic sparked her to reassess her priorities.

In her column with the Mirror, Saira explained the pandemic “certainly made me assess my priorities, values and how I want to move forward with my life”.

However, since leaving Saira has continued to spill on her time on the show and her reasons for leaving.

Saira is set to join GB News with Eamonn Holmes ( 
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Instagram)

Saira has been honest about her reasons for quitting Loose Women ( 
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Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Saira is preparing to join Eamonn Holmes on his GB News Breakfast show and will co-host the programme every Monday and Tuesday with former This Morning star Eamonn, 63.

Eamonn announced the news as he posted a photo of the pair smiling widely and wrote: ” Your Mon/Tues line up on GB Breakfast.

“Looking forward to hooking up with one of my best friends Saira Khan.

“We will be your presenting duo. Expect the unexpected 6 – 9.30 am,” he teased.

As Saira gears up for her new role, we take a look at the reasons why she left Loose Women…

‘Life changing’ decision

After claiming the pandemic spurred her to throw in the towel in her column with the Mirror, Saira said her time on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins also sparked her to make the “life changing” decision.

Saira’s time on Celeb: SAS Who Dares Wins sparked her ‘life changing’ decision ( 
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Channel 4)
Explaining her reason for leaving the show, Saira said SAS: Who Dares Wins taught her to “depend upon herself”.

She told The Sun : “I did take big drastic steps. I left Loose Women and, interestingly, Andrea McLean left Loose Women after doing SAS. It changes your life. You realise you’ve got to cut through the s**t and start living.

“When you’re stripped of everything as a naked woman all you have to depend upon is yourself.

“That’s very telling, very strong and most people will never experience that.”

‘Toxic’ row and OnlyFans claims

In October last year, Saira claimed she quit the show after bosses tried to make her join OnlyFans, which is a subscription site where people share adult content to their paid followers.

Saira said the “shocking” request from bosses was the final straw in what she alleges was a string of desperate bids to get publicity for the ITV programme as ratings slipped.

Saira claimed she got a ‘shocking’ request from the show’s staff

She claimed how she was also asked to have a mould made of her vagina for a Body Stories campaign.

The TV star told the Mirror: Saira said: “The straw that broke the camel’s back was when one of the young producers was sent running after me to ask whether I would be prepared to open an OnlyFans account”

“To say I was shocked was an understatement,” Saira added. “I could see she herself was mortified to ask me. I replied, ‘You’re asking an Asian woman who has a husband and kids and comes from a Muslim family to open an OnlyFans account?’

“She said, ‘It’s just on your social media you’ve been posting images in your underwear and we thought if you could go undercover to see the kind of response you get from men, it would make a great story’.

Saira said she felt ‘humiliated’ by the request
“There and then, I knew my time was up on the show. I felt humiliated, angry, disappointed and like fodder.”

However, a spokesperson for Loose Women denied the claims. They said: “We strongly refute all of these claims. Duty of care is of paramount importance for all of our panellists. Saira left the panel almost two years ago and we wish her well.”

A source added: “Loose Women Investigates is a strand which has seen reports into a range of topics. Sites such as OnlyFans could always potentially be the subject of an investigation. The Body Stories campaign tackled the taboo of vagina dysmorphia back in 2017. Saira was not involved in this campaign.

“We were told Saira was leaving to focus on her ‘businesses and online’ and that ‘she has nothing but good things to say about the show’.

“We are therefore surprised to hear these claims.”

Tensions between the Loose Women

After leaving the show, Saira revealed the panellists aren’t as friendly as they appear on screen.

When asked who out of the Loose Women panel she’d stay friends with, Saira said: “You make friends with some people, you tolerate some people, and some people you just have to do the job with.”

Saira has hinted at a feud with some fellow co-stars ( 
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ITV)

The TV star hasn’t spilled on whom she doesn’t get along with ( 
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Getty Images Europe)
But, she deflected when grilled on names, replying: “I’m not going to go into the nitty gritty there now. There are some friends, people I will be close to because we get each other.

“And there are some I really don’t miss at all, who I was just like, ‘I just have to tolerate you to do the job.’”

Saira went on: “You have to be professional about it. You can’t pretend that everyone is going to be your best friend. Especially on a show with different opinions, you’re not going to tolerate everybody’s opinion.

“That’s fine. That’s not a problem, just do it with respect and you have to be open minded.”

Saira doesn’t follow Nadia Sawalha on social media ( 
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Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
She added: “Sometimes I’d go in with an opinion and someone would say something different to me and I’d think “Do you know what I never saw it from that point of view!’”

Following her comments, it was revealed Saira didn’t follow Nadia Sawalha or Kaye Adams.

She also added in a chat: “It was a mixture of things. Firstly, I’d outgrown the programme. There were some women that I just thought, “I’ve got to just tolerate you to do the job and in real life you wouldn’t be my friend.”

“They’d say the same about me. Plus, I shared a lot about myself on that show – my abuse, adoption, arranged marriage and a lot of relationship stuff. You don’t get a lot of thanks for that. My family hasn’t asked to be related to someone famous but I felt like I was putting them into a precarious situation.”

Online trolling

Saira also revealed how the trolling on social media was a motivation for leaving the programme.

Saira was subjected to cruel trolling while on Loose Women ( 
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ITV)
The former panelist previously said: “You’re on there discussing a subject with your friends in a very innocent way, but the amount of trolling you get online is horrendous.

“It just becomes toxic for women. It’s a show for women but I don’t feel like it empowered me.”

After walking away Saira revealed she was subjected to much less trolling as she said: “Yes, 100%. I feel much more confident. I feel like on my social media platforms they know me, they get me.

“I’m glowing because I’ve removed myself from the situation that I didn’t want to be in. If you can’t do that by the age of 50, then that’s nobody else’s fault but your own.

“Those women on the telly, they’re happy and that’s perfect for them, but it became too toxic for me and I had to remove myself.”

Denise Welch shared her concern for the NHS during Tuesday’s edition of Loose Women, amid the ongoing GP crisis hitting millions of Britons, but things turned awkward when Coleen Nolan called her co-star a conspiracy theorist

Denise Welch was forced to deny that she’s a conspiracy theorist during today’s edition of Loose Women thanks to an awkward exchange with co-star Coleen Nolan.

The former Coronation Street actress, 64, was discussing her fears for the future of the NHS amid the news millions across the country are struggling to get a GP appointment.

After Denise stressed how much pressure the state-funded service is under, and admitted she’s been forced to use a private GP, it was time for Coleen to add her thoughts to the debate – but not before branding her co-star ‘a conspiracy theorist’.

The latest Loose Women debate comes as it’s revealed the GP system is on the brink of collapse after hundreds of doctors confessed they are ­cutting hours because they can’t afford to heat their surgery.

Denise Welch had a lot to say about the NHS crisis during the Loose Women debate ( 
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ITV)

More than one in 10 self-employed GPs – called partners – have been forced to reduce the time they see patients due to soaring energy bills, which may be one of the reasons people are struggling to nab an appointment at their local surgery.

Speaking about the crisis on Loose Women today, Denise delivered a passionate argument for funding the NHS alongside admitting the online booking system for her local GP isn’t suited to her.

The Waterloo Road star stressed how she is tech-savvy but finds booking an appointment online impossible and admitted she’s been forced to see a private GP due to the changes.

The majority of the panel agreed with Denise’s points ( 
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ITV)
Denise went on to show her support for doctors and nurses under pressure and implied the crisis is due to the current government’s refusal to adequately fund the NHS.

After Denise finished her plea, it was time for Coleen to offer her thoughts – starting off saying: “Unlike Denise, I’m not a conspiracy theorist.”

As her fellow panelist made the cheeky jibe, Denise looked unimpressed and declared: “I’m not a conspiracy theorist.”

Coleen couldn’t resist a cheeky dig ( 
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ITV)
“Just watching Loose Women. Why does Colleen Nolan feel it ok to call @RealDeniseWelch a conspiracy theorist? Thank goodness there are people on tv who take time to actually research both sides. I wear my tin hat too Denise,” one viewer wrote on Twitter as the awkward moment aired.

Since 2020 Denise has won fans – and gained critics – for her strong opinions about the government’s handling of the ongoing pandemic that she often shares on social media and when appearing on Loose Women.

When asked by the Mirror last year if she sometimes ever regrets being outspoken, she confessed she does “almost every single day” due to how people “spin things”.

Denise seemingly appreciate her co-star’s comment ( 
Image:
ITV)But she maintains she was always well-informed prior to ever opening her mouth on-air – silencing critics who sarcastically mocked her knowledge and insight into all things Covid over recent years.

“I was incredibly informed and was always backed up by data,” Denise recalls. “I was never a conspiracy theorist and I spoke to some of the most clever, intelligent people in the world.

“Before I said one thing on Loose Women – I wasn’t going to name those people – but I would always show my producers the text conversations we had.

“So they knew that when people were on Twitter saying ‘Oh lets listen to Professor Welch who says she’s talking to an epidemiologist’ I actually was.

“It was when I couldn’t go in an ambulance with my dad but people could go to a football match, that’s when… Not having it again. Not going through it again.”

Coleen Nolan was in a savage mood during today’s edition of Loose Women, as she branded Denise Welch a conspiracy theorist and poked fun at Ruth Langsford’s fashion sense

Coleen Nolan couldn’t resist making a cheeky dig at one of her Loose Women co-stars during today’s edition of the ITV show.

Ruth Langsford was leading the panel during today’s discussion, which saw Coleen brand Denise Welch ‘a conspiracy theorist’ during a passionate chat about the GP crisis facing the NHS.

Not content with taking a swipe at Denise, Coleen also found the time to make Ruth the butt of one of her jokes as the show aired – with Ruth brushing the jibe off and telling the audience not to encourage her.

The awkward exchanges during today’s edition of Loose Women come as it’s rumoured many of the panellists don’t get along when the cameras stop rolling – with Denise breaking her silence on the drama earlier this month.

Coleen Nolan was clearly in a cheeky mood during today’s edition of Loose Women ( 
Image:
ITV)

During today’s offering from the panel, Ruth revealed a little off-camera jibe from Coleen.

“Sorry but do you know what she just said to me?” Ruth began telling viewers.

“Glad you could make it in from EasyJet today,” she went on to reveal – looking down at her bright orange shirt as she shared the joke.

“Don’t encourage her,” Ruth pleaded with the audience as they burst into laughter.

Ruth’s bright orange top was noted by her co-star ( 
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Giggling, Coleen declared: “You look lovely!”

Denise denied a feud between herself and her Loose Women co-stars earlier this month, but revealed she’s not afraid to be passionate during fiery debates.

The ITV daytime show often sees the regular commentators clash over wide ranging topics, and reports of infighting between the stars have surfaced through the years.

However, Denise is keen to put the rumours to bed. It comes after she hit out at reports of a feud between herself co-star Charlene White over her time with Matt Hancock in the jungle.

Denise hit back at reports of a feud ( 
Image:
ITV)In November, Denise appeared to hint on Twitter that she wasn’t too happy at seeing Charlene get on with the former health secretary, but she then clarified that she knows “how tricky it is to be that environment”.

“I’m not afraid to be passionate and committed about something, we all have different views, we’re great friends,” she told The Sun.

“I do get upset that people are trying to make out that we’re always in some backstage feud.”

The former Dancing on Ice star added: “I haven’t fallen out with any of them in 20 years – but we have very feisty debates.”

*Loose Women airs weekdays from 12.30pm on ITV

Loose Women host Kaye Adams was joined by Kelle Bryan, Jane Moore and Linda Robson in the ITV studio as the lunchtime show discussed the Nicola Bulley case

The Loose Women panel turned heated on Thursday morning as the presenters discussed the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of missing mother Nicola Bulley

The 45-year-old went missing last month during a riverside dog walk in St Michael’s on Wyre and Lancashire Police yesterday announced the mother-of-two had ‘significant issues’ with alcohol brought on by her ongoing struggles with menopause.

Loose Women host Kaye Adams was joined by Kelle Bryan, Jane Moore and Linda Robson in the ITV studio as the lunchtime show discussed the decision to release the fresh information.

The police have been criticised by some for disclosing such personal details about Nicola, but former Hollyoaks star Kelle stressed the importance of the public holding the police to account.

Kelle raised the low trust in the police, in the wake of several high profile cases of failings, most recently with convicted rapist Metropolitan police officer David Carrick.

Kelle raised the low trust in the police ( 
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ITV)
She said: “People have every right to ask those questions. I’m not talking about keyboard warriors, I’m talking about those people who come from an informed place.”

She added: “As a member of the public, we are entitled to ask those questions,” to which Kaye then cut in to ask whether it was helpful during the ongoing investigation.

Kelle maintained it was, given the police force’s track record, adding: “Some of it’s positive and some it hasn’t been so positive.

“We can look at the Stephen Lawrence case, with a plethora of failings by the police. That family was right to ask those questions. Asking questions is what helps to solve cases.

“I’m not saying it’s right to put things on social media, turn up at the scene or attack the partner, but I do think we have a right to ask those questions.

The 45-year-old went missing last month during a riverside dog walk ( 
Image:
Lancashire Constabulary / SWNS.C)
“If we look at David Carrick of Wayne Couzens – there are so many cases where the police have had catastrophic failings.”

However, fellow panellist Jane pushed back and noted there are hundreds of thousands of police officers in the country, as she started to add: “To besmirch them all–” before Kelle cut in saying: “I didn’t besmirch them all.”

Jane hit back saying: “You can’t take two cases,” but Kelle cut in: “I didn’t take two, I took three.”

Jane took the conversation back to Nicola Bulley as she praised the work of officers on the ground, concluding: “I think we have to trust them.”

Kelle insisted: “I’ve not in any way said anything about this case in terms of how they are handling it. What I am saying is we have a right to ask questions.”

Jane praised the work of officers on the ground in the Nicola Bulley case ( 
Image:
ITV)Host Kaye then cut in to take back the reins on the conversation, saying: “I suppose what I might question is whether or not that is useful when it’s a live case, when an investigation is ongoing and everything is critical. I’m not convinced that everybody weighing in –”

Yet Kelle again cut in, apologising to Kaye as she said: “I’m sorry, Kaye, but if Doreen Lawrence hadn’t asked the questions she asked at that time, there’s no way that would –”

Jane again jumped back into the fray as she pointed out Doreen Lawrence was ‘perfectly entitled’ to do so as a member of the family affected by the case.

Jane added: “It’s not Mrs Norrings in Newcastle asking, when she has no involvement in the case whatsoever,” as Kaye agreed: “The family absolutely have every right to question an investigation but the whole world and its wife are weighing in on this one. That’s when I wonder how useful it is.”

Trinidad and Tobago is planning to redesign its coat of arms to put distance between its history of colonialism – this also includes removing a depiction of three ships used by Christopher Columbus

The late Queen visiting Trinidad and Tobago in 2009 (
Image: Tim Rooke / Rex Features)

Trinidad and Tobago’s redesign of its coat of arms could see Her Majesty the Queen removed amid a plan to scrap the symbol of colonialism.

The Caribbean nation has already said it wants to take away a depiction of three ships used by Christopher Columbus. Many islanders feel the explorer’s expeditions to the area paved the way for centuries of European colonial rule and enslavement in the region.

The plan is to replace ships – the Pinta, the Niña and the Santa María – with the steelpan, the famous percussion instrument that originated in the Caribbean nation. The government has asked residents of the twin islands whether they support removing statues, signs, and monuments with colonial ties.

Trinidad and Tobago’s coat of arms ( 
Image:
AP)
At a meeting late Wednesday, people of African, European, and Indigenous descent stepped up to the microphone one by one to voice their thoughts. Some thought the government needed to go further than just Columbus.

“What the hell is the queen still doing on top of the coat of arms? Please let us put her to rest,” said Eric Lewis, a member of the First Peoples.

Her late Majesty is represented on the nation’s coat of arms above the shield. A golden helmet facing the front represents Queen Elizabeth II, the colony’s ruler at the time of its design.

Trinidad and Tobago was first colonised by the Spanish, who ruled it for nearly 300 years before ceding it to the British, who governed it for more than 160 years until the islands’ independence in 1962.

The colonial imprint remains throughout streets and plazas, with a statue of Columbus dominating a square of the same name in the capital of Port-of-Spain.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spent 72 hours in Nigeria over the weekend to promote the Invictus Games and one royal expert has said Meghan thinks they did a great job

Meghan Markle seemed very relaxed in Nigeria (
Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Meghan Markle smiled throughout her trip to Nigeria earlier this year with Prince Harry, with one expert suggesting she enjoyed being treated like a part-time member of the Royal Family.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex travelled to Nigeria over the weekend as they worked to promote the Invictus Games. Their trip was successful, as they participated in fundraising events and met with key figures. Some experts have branded the Nigerian visit a “mini royal trip” and royal author Tom Quinn thinks Meghan was pleased with “being treated as a great figure”. Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, he said: “Meghan sees her visit to Nigeria as a huge success and proof that she was right all along – she and Harry should have been allowed to be part-time royals, because they are really good at it.”

Meghan Markle seemed very happy on the Nigeria trip ( 
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
While Meghan seemed happy and confident on the trip, Tom believes Harry was a bit more unsure of himself. He explained: “Meghan’s face during the Nigeria tour said it all. Her pleasure in being treated as a great figure was unmistakable. Harry on the other hand often looked unsure of himself; he had that unconfident, slightly sad-little-boy look – the look of someone asked to do something he was never quite sure of by his more confident partner. Swept up by his wife’s confidence it may never have occurred to Harry that playing at being on an official Royal tour to Nigeria just makes his brother and his father King Charles even more furious with him and even more determined to push him away.”

Prince Harry joined his wife on the tour ( 
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
Tom previously told The Mirror King Charles and Prince William have been left “absolutely furious” over Harry and Meghan’s tour. He claimed: “William is absolutely furious and determined to find a way to stop this happening in future. Charles is said to be angrier than anyone has ever seen him. What’s really upset the applecart is the fact that that the Nigerians treated Meghan and Harry as if they too thought this was an official tour – all the signs were there as the couple were greeted with dances, receptions, visits to schools and charities.”

However, a source close to the Sussexes has insisted their trip to Nigeria had nothing to do with the Royal Family. Speaking to People magazine, the source said the Nigeria tour was “not an attempt to highlight any perceived gaps in the Royal Family’s workload, which is currently affected not only by Harry and Meghan’s absence but also King Charles’ and Kate Middleton’s cancer treatments.”

Meghan’s Step Mom Finally Breaks Silence: Exposed Rotten Heartless Meghan’s True Face On Air

Greetings royal fans and drama lovers! It’s your favorite neighborhood critic back with yet another steaming hot take on the ongoing saga of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and her family. Buckle up because we’re diving deep into the murky waters of Markle’s family drama and let me tell you – this latest chapter is juicier than a ripe peach on a summer day.

 

Now I know you’re probably thinking “haven’t we heard enough about Meghan’s family issues already?” But just when we thought we’d heard all the gossip, a new player has entered the stage: Meghan’s stepmother Roslyn Markle. And boy does she have some piping hot tea to spill! Let’s set the scene – Prince Harry is on the radio talking about how the royals have become Meghan’s new family, implying her birth family wasn’t enough. Big mistake, Harry! That set off the whole Markle clan like nothing else.

Meghan’s half-brother Thomas Jr. wasted no time slamming Harry’s claims, insisting Meghan had a “really good family” who gave her everything. Ouch, that’s gotta sting. It paints Meghan as some ungrateful princess who ditched her loving family for titles and status. Not a great look, Meg! But then Roslyn enters with an unexpected twist – she’s not here to bash Meghan at all. According to Roslyn, it’s distance, not tension, that’s kept Meghan from her family over the years.

Now let’s unpack this – Roslyn is telling us Meghan’s acting career and busy schedule meant the family simply drifted apart over time and distance. No drama, just life getting in the way. But my BS detector is blaring – are we really supposed to believe Meghan couldn’t find time to call or video chat with her family when she was able to maintain a long-distance romance with Harry? Something isn’t adding up here.

And it gets juicier! Roslyn then mentions Meghan doesn’t talk much to her estranged half-sister Samantha. Big mistake – Samantha wasted no time blowing up Roslyn’s claims on Twitter! She dismissed Roslyn as having no real relation to Meghan and accused her of being “crazy” to comment at all. Samantha flung dates around insisting Roslyn wasn’t in the picture since the 70s. It’s like watching a family feud unfold before our eyes – and it ain’t pretty.

But here’s the kicker – Samantha says Roslyn only knows about Meghan from what she’s read online. How rich, the pot calling the kettle black! Because let’s be real – how well does Samantha actually know Meghan these days? It’s not like they’re BFFs slumber partying and braiding each other’s hair. When you take a step back, it’s clear everyone in this family drama has their own agenda and version of events. But none of the stories add up completely.

Through it all, one person has stayed conspicuously silent – Meghan herself. Is she watching this circus unfold from her California mansion, sipping fancy tea while her family tears itself apart in public? It’s beyond frustrating. Meghan has a huge platform and voice – if she wanted to set the record straight or repair bridges, she could. But instead she lets the drama play out like some twisted reality show.

It’s almost like she’s benefiting from the constant headlines and attention each new family scandal brings. Every time a relative speaks out, Meghan is front and center in the news cycle again. Even the latest supposed bombshell – that Meghan now regrets her royal life and misses Hollywood – just keeps her name in lights. And what a slap in the face to Harry, claiming he’s now “wasting his life” after all he gave up for her. Talk about lacking gratitude!

Through it all, real people are getting hurt. Relationships and trust are being destroyed, perhaps irreparably. And for what? Headlines? Attention? It’s sad to see, because somewhere under the manipulations and drama is likely a real person who’s lost their way. But it’s not too late – Meghan still has time to take the high road, reach out to mend fences, and use her platform to unite and inspire. However, based on her actions so far, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting.

So in conclusion, the never-ending saga of Meghan Markle and her family’s public feuds just keeps gaining new chapters. It’s a sad tale of missed opportunities and damage caused by wasted words. But what do you think, loyal readers – victim or puppet master? Reality check or manipulation? Share your thoughts below! Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more piping hot royal tea. This is your friendly neighborhoo critic signing off until next time, when yet another plot twist is sure to unfold. Keep it real, and remember – ink is thicker than blood in the royal world! Stay sassy, friends

BREAKING NEWS : Palace Confirmed! Prince William and Princess Catherine to Welcome Twins!

The palace has just confirmed what many royal fans have been eagerly speculating: Prince William and Kate Middleton are expecting twins! This joyous news has sent waves of excitement across the globe, marking a monumental moment not just for the British royal family but for royal enthusiasts everywhere.

A Historic Moment for the Royal Family

This announcement is not only a heartwarming addition to the already beloved family of five but also carries historical significance. Prince William, the future King of England, and his wife, Catherine, are no strangers to public fascination. Their every move, from their wedding to the birth of their three children, has captivated people worldwide. The news of them expecting twins is bound to continue that tradition of widespread interest.

This is especially exciting because the royal family hasn’t had twins in recent history, making this a unique event. The last known royal twins were born over 500 years ago, which adds to the excitement surrounding the news. As the couple prepares for the new additions to their family, royal watchers are buzzing with anticipation about how these two new heirs could shape the future of the monarchy.

Public Reaction to the Announcement

Royal fans and media outlets are already ablaze with excitement. Social media is flooded with well-wishes and speculations about the potential names and gender of the babies. The royal couple is known for choosing meaningful and traditional names for their children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—so there’s bound to be significant interest in their choice of names for the twins.

Many royal followers are also intrigued by how the couple will handle the addition of two new children into their already busy family life. Kate, often praised for her calm, nurturing demeanor, has been a hands-on mother despite her royal obligations. She has spoken in the past about the joys and challenges of motherhood, and the arrival of twins will no doubt bring new experiences.

The Joy of the Cambridge Family

With three young children already—Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6—Prince William and Kate are seasoned parents. The couple has always shown immense love and dedication to raising their children in as normal an environment as possible, given their royal status. Prince William has often emphasized the importance of maintaining a sense of stability and routine for his family, despite the public attention they receive.

It’s easy to imagine that George, Charlotte, and Louis will be thrilled by the idea of becoming big brothers and sister to two new siblings. The royal children are often seen at public events, charming onlookers with their playful and well-behaved manner, and the addition of two babies will surely make for an even more heartwarming dynamic.

What’s Next for William and Kate?

While the excitement surrounding the royal couple is high, the road ahead is likely filled with preparation and planning. Raising twins is a new experience for both William and Kate, and the challenges of caring for newborns—along with fulfilling their royal duties—will likely test their stamina. However, the support system around the royal family is extensive, and they will undoubtedly have the best care and help available.

As they prepare for the new arrivals, it’s expected that Kate will take some time away from her public engagements to focus on her health and well-being. Her previous pregnancies have been marked by hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness, which could influence how much she is seen in the coming months.

The Future of the Monarchy

The arrival of the twins will undoubtedly play a significant role in the future of the British royal family. With Prince George already in line to inherit the throne, the twins will join their siblings in growing up as part of a new generation of royals. Their upbringing will be closely watched, and many are eager to see how they fit into the royal family’s evolving role in a modern world.

As Prince William and Kate continue to be the face of a more modern, approachable monarchy, the arrival of twins will likely further solidify their position as the beloved faces of the future royal family. The excitement around this news is a testament to the public’s affection for the couple and their growing family.

In the months to come, the world will be watching closely as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge prepare to welcome their newest additions, eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this modern royal fairytale.

Royal snub: Will Kate Middleton and Prince William snub the Sussex couple’s big event?