“SH0UTED D0WN!”  Carol Malone EXPOSES the Truth Behind Farage’s PMQs Protest — And Her Account Is Setting Westminster Alight

Nigel Farage refused to take his seat in the Commons chamber for PMQs, instead choosing to watch from the public gallery.

Nigel Farage has been backed by Carol Malone (Image: GETTY/Express)

Carol Malone has launched a blistering defence of Nigel Farage’s dramatic protest at the last Prime Minister’s Questions of 2025, accusing Westminster elites of “shouting down” the Reform UK leader because they are “terrified” of his rising influence. Speaking on the Daily Express’s Daily Expresso show, outspoken columnist Ms Malone tore into the chaotic scenes at PMQs on December 17, where Mr Farage refused to take his seat in the Commons chamber, instead choosing to watch from the public gallery.

Interviewed by host JJ Anisiobi, Ms Malone echoed Mr Farage’s complaint that the session is “rigged” by Labour, with the Reform UK leader repeatedly attacked by Sir Keir Starmer and backbenchers without any right of reply. Ms Malone said: “Well, they’re never given the chance to talk. Whenever he has a question, they ignore his question or he gets shouted down. They make so much noise in there.

Sir Keir Starmer during PMQs (Image: GETTY)

“Now, that just tells me that not only are some of the idiots in the House behaving like animals, but it also tells me they’re terrified of him.”

Her remarks highlight the ongoing frustration of Mr Farage: despite Reform UK surging in polls and holding five MPs, parliamentary conventions deny the party leader regular questions at PMQs, reducing him to a bystander as opponents target him freely. Mr Farage has staged gallery protests multiple times this year, vowing not to serve as a “punching bag”.

Ms Malone raged: “They’re terrified of him saying something that resonates with people. Most of what Labour is saying doesn’t resonate with anybody, and not much from the Tories either. But Farage is quickly becoming the voice of this country.”

PMQs questions are not distributed on the basis of polling strength, but through party size, the Speaker’s discretion and the lottery of the ballot.

A spokesperson for the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, said: “Like all members, any Reform MP can enter the weekly ballot for PMQs, which randomly picks the first 15 questions for the session… In addition, if the ballot doesn’t provide cross-party balance, the Speaker has discretion on the day to call a Member, within the timeframe of PMQs, who is bobbing in order to achieve party balance.

“Furthermore, under a new system introduced by this Speaker to support smaller parties, the Leader of Reform is also allocated a PMQ by default every nine weeks. Of course, if any Member wishes to raise an issue in the Chamber they can do so on a point of order.”

The Mirror reported that Farage has not requested a PMQs question since July.

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The protest unfolded during a bruising final PMQs of the year, dominated by festive barbs and sharp exchanges. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch hammered Sir Keir over broken economic promises and soaring unemployment—which ONS data released this week confirmed has climbed to a post-pandemic high of 5.1%.

Mrs Badenoch also highlighted the disruptive five-day resident doctors’ strike, which began this morning and is set to paralyse the NHS in the final countdown to Christmas.

Sir Keir countered with jibes at Reform UK over bribery allegations and resurfaced claims of schoolboy racism against Mr Farage from former Dulwich College classmates.

However, Mr Farage’s absence from the benches dominated headlines, exposing what Ms Malone called a biased system silencing insurgent voices. Ms Malone predicted: “I don’t have any doubt he’s going to get elected. I do kind of hope the Tories and Reform go in together… and that we finally get a Prime Minister who is listening to people.”

Ms Malone’s fierce intervention comes amid deepening public anger at Sir Keir’s 18-month-old Government, which has been battered by tax rises, stagnant growth, and NHS turmoil.

Today’s inflation figures showed the rate has cooled to 3.2%, yet it remains significantly higher than the 2% target the Prime Minister promised to maintain.

With Reform UK leading polls and Mr Farage widely seen as Britain’s most effective communicator, Ms Malone warned the establishment faces a reckoning. She said: “What are we going to feel like this time next year after another year of this catastrophic, blundering, hopeless Government?”

Praising Mr Farage’s unique ability to connect across class divides—from council estates to the middle class—Ms Malone added: “He understands; he’s tuned in to what affects people… in a way no other politician currently is.”

Ms Malone concluded by noting that while the House of Commons remains characterised by shouting matches, the public is increasingly looking toward alternative voices.

She suggested that the current parliamentary culture is failing to address the concerns of the electorate, leaving a vacuum that Mr Farage is uniquely positioned to fill as his influence continues to grow across the country.

SCHOOLGATE ERUPTS  20+ Former Classmates and Staff Demand Farage APOLOGISE

Dozens of former students and staff at Farage’s former school, Dulwich College, have called for the Reform leader to apologise for alleged racist and antisemitic behaviour. ITV News Political Correspondent Harry Horton reports

Words by Lauren Clarke, ITV News Content EditorMore than 20 former students and staff at Dulwich College have signed an open letter calling for Nigel Farage to apologise for his alleged racist and antisemitic behaviour while a pupil at the top London private school.

Speaking in their first broadcast interview, five former Dulwich College students told ITV News they felt compelled to come forward with their stories following repeated denials by the Reform UK leader and senior members of the party.

The open letter, published today in The Guardian, reads: “We are 26 of the former students (and teaching staff) at Dulwich College who have recently shared our memories of your racist and antisemitic behaviour at school from 1975 to 1982.

Speaking in their first broadcast interview, five former Dulwich College students told ITV News they felt compelled to sign the open letter and come forward with their allegations of Farage’s racist and antisemitic abuse. ITV News Political Correspondent Harry Horton reports

“We have recalled the verbal abuse you regularly directed at a number of pupils of Jewish, Black and Asian heritage; as well as loudly and proudly proclaiming your high regard for Fascist leaders and organisations, from Hitler to Mosley, from the Nazis to the National Front.”

The letter goes on to detail Farage and Reform’s recent denials before closing: “None of us has taken lightly the decision to speak up.

The open letter to Nigel Farage signed by former Dulwich College students and staffCredit: ITV News

“It has been deeply troubling to revisit our memories, let alone to share them with journalists and the broader public.

“However, what disturbs us is less what happened years ago, hurtful as it was, but rather your refusal to acknowledge your past behaviour or apologise for it.

“We call on you now to recognise that these events happened, apologise for them, [and] make it clear you have renounced the racist, antisemitic and Fascist views you expressed at Dulwich.”

Speaking to ITV News, former Dulwich student Yinka Bankole alleges Farage targeted him aged ten, as one of a small number of black boys at the school.

Former Dulwich College student Yinka Bankole tells ITV News Nigel Farage racially abused him while a student

He said: “I will never forget the hateful look in his eyes.

“He’ll walk over in my direction and say, ‘Hey you, where are you from?’

“And you know, you ask a question, but before I could even give out an answer, I had, ‘That’s the way back to Africa.’

“And for me it happened once, okay, happened a second time, then a third time.”

Mr Bankole was speaking alongside four other former Dulwich students and signatories of the letter, including Bafta and Emmy-award winning director Peter Ettedgui.

Mr Ettedgui, who is Jewish, accuses Farage of antisemitic abuse while they were students together at the college in the late 1970s.

He said: “He started to sort of like sneer at me and very contemptuously say things like ‘Hitler was right’ and ‘Gas them’ and he’d add a long sibilance to sort of mimic the sound of gas.

“It was the most offensive antisemitic abuse that anyone ever said to me, either before or since.

“So I’ve never forgotten.”

Bafta and Emmy-award winning director Peter Ettedgui alleges the abuse he received from Nigel Farage was ‘the most offensive’ he has ever received

Today’s publication of the open letter follows weeks of allegations about the Reform UK leader’s conduct at school.

In November, Farage downplayed claims he used racist and antisemitic language as a teenager, saying he never ‘directly really tried to go and hurt anybody’.

When pressed further, the 61-year-old said: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being banter in a playground? That you could interpret in the modern light a day in some sort of way? Yes.

“Have I ever directly ever racially abused anybody? No.”

When challenged by ITV News and BBC journalists over the allegations in a press conference earlier this month, Farage responded with a tirade against both broadcasters – accusing them of “double standards” and suggesting the organisations had in the past aired programmes which would now be considered racist.

It was these comments from Nigel Farage that Mr Bankole says encouraged him to break his silence.

He told ITV News: “For me, the trigger was when I heard a conference referring to Bernard Manning.

“For me, I had been anonymous up to that point and I really didn’t want to come out, to be honest. I just wanted to do my work and get on with it.

“But when I heard that, it was such dishonesty, such nastiness, defending vulgarity like that.”

“I hear people classifying racism as intentional, not intentional. Direct, not direct. Insulting, not insulting.

“All sorts of ways to describe an act that the person, the perpetrator, knows is wrong.”

Former Dulwich College students Yinka Bankole and Jean-Pierre Lihou say Nigel Farage’s press conference earlier this month was a turning point for them

Fellow former Dulwich student Jean-Pierre Lihou, who has publicly accused Farage of antisemitic and racist behaviour when they were at school together, describes Farage and Reform UK’s denials as ‘wishy-washy’ and ‘vague’.

Mr Lihou said: “He knows what he said, we know what he said – and a lot of people have coincidentally the same memory.

“So the question is, who is telling a lie and who isn’t telling a lie?”

He added: “He is calling us liars, all 20 of us and more who have now put our names to [the letter].

“I have yet to see one name coming from Nigel in his defence. If he’s so sure of himself, why doesn’t he do that? We have.

“We’ve faced criticism online, in our professional work, we’ve come forward and doubtless, following this article, there’ll be even more.

“What is he afraid of?”

Responding to Wednesday’s open letter, a Reform UK spokesperson said: “These latest attacks are a naked attempt to discredit Reform and Nigel Farage.

“Instead of debating Reform on the substance of our ideas and policies, the left-wing media and deeply unpopular Labour Party are now using 50-year-old smears in a last act of desperation.

“The British public see right through this witch hunt.”

Jewish former student Stefan Bennaroch denies that the open letter and those who signed it are politically motivated.

He argues it is Reform UK who are politicising the issue.

He said: “As soon as Reform, rather than Farage himself, got involved in calling us liars, then it becomes political.

“Them accusing us of lies is a profound political statement of the most unpleasant kind and they have to be called out for it.”

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Another former Dulwich student, Martin Rossel, denied that the open letter is politically motivated.

Mr Rossel, chair of the Liberal Democrats in Salisbury, told ITV News: “I’m not doing this as a political thing. I’m doing this because I had a very close friend at Dulwich called Norman Levinkind, who was Jewish.

“Norman sadly passed away in 1981, but Norman was on the receiving end of a lot of Nigel’s unpleasantness.

“I’m standing up for my friend now because I couldn’t then.

“I certainly saw Peter on the receiving end of it and I didn’t say anything then and now is my chance to do that.”

Responding to the allegations of Mr Farage’s alleged behaviour, Dulwich College said “such behaviour is wholly incompatible with the values the college holds”.

In a letter to Mr Lihou, seen by ITV News, current college master Robert Milne wrote: “What we can unequivocally state, is that the behaviours described are entirely at odds with the Dulwich College of today.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously called Mr Farage’s response to the allegations as “unconvincing to say the least” and urged the Reform UK leader to apologise to people he may have hurt.

Strictly’s La Voix breaks down in tears as she speaks about having to withdraw from the competition due to foot injury

An emotional La Voix fought back tears as she said goodbye to Strictly, after having to withdraw from the competition due to injury.

The drag star, 45, whose real name is Christopher Dennis, appeared in Blackpool on Sunday’s show where she talked about her abrupt departure.

La Voix was advised on medical grounds she could no longer take part on Strictly after injuring her foot earlier in the week in rehearsals.

Calling it the most ‘extraordinary experience’, the TV personality said: ‘I came into the show as a minority, as a redhead and you’ve all embraced me wonderfully.

‘I cannot thank you enough… this is not how I wanted my journey to end,’ before joking: ‘At least it gives someone else in this competition a chance to win.’

Reflecting on their partnership, Aljaz Skorjanec, 35, said: ‘I’ve been lucky this year. I’ve made two friends for life. On Saturdays/ Sundays we all laugh with La Voix and from Monday to Friday I had the best time with Chris.

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An emotional La Voix fought back tears as she said goodbye to Strictly, after having to withdraw from the competition due to injury

La Voix was advised on medical grounds she could no longer take part on Strictly after injuring her foot earlier in the week in rehearsals

‘I haven’t done a single crunch in the past six months but I’ve got my six pack back, it’s amazing.

‘Like Motsi said, “We all need it”. The world needs more of you. Strictly needed it, you made my life a joy.. You are so beautiful in what you do.’

La Voix told Aljaz she is going to leave Strictly ‘a braver, happier and such a more confident person’.

At the end of the show, the pair took to the dancefloor to say goodbye to viewers, with the professional dancer having to scoop La Voix off her feet due to her injury.

Fans took to social media and wrote: ‘Aljaz’s speech to La Voix was absolutely beautiful what a man’;

‘Adored La Voix being part of the show and everyone else getting to see a fraction of the talent those of us who watched #DragRaceUK saw’;

‘La Voix and Aljaž, what a great pairing, will miss them lots’;

‘I was sad to see them having to leave the competition. A great team, and I got to know La Voix better too’;

The drag star, 45, whose real name is Christopher Dennis, appeared in Blackpool on Sunday’s show where she talked about her abrupt departure

At the end of the show, the pair took to the dancefloor to say goodbye to viewers, with the professional dancer having to scoop La Voix off her feet due to her injury

Hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly brought the glamour to Blackpool with their outfits

Taking to Instagram minutes after the announcement of her exit was made, La Voix shared a statement

Alijaz said it was a pleasure to work with Chris and with La Voix. He said: ‘I’ve been lucky this year. I’ve made two friends for life’

Fans took to social media to say goodbye to the TV favourite. They wrote: ‘Aljaz’s speech to La Voix was absolutely beautiful what a man’

‘I somehow don’t think that’s the last we’ve seen of La Voix on #Strictly… Presenter of the show / spinoff show, social media content she’ll be back in some capacity. They seem to really love her.’

La Voix’s sudden withdrawal from the competition meant none of the remaining six couples would be voted off this weekend.

Taking to Instagram minutes after the announcement of her exit was made, La Voix shared a statement.

She wrote: ‘I’m absolutely devastated to be withdrawing from Strictly Come Dancing. This isn’t the glittering exit I ever imagined, and it breaks my heart to feel like I’ve let people down.

‘My spirit wanted to keep dancing but my foot had other ideas! Thank you for every cheer, every vote and every sparkle of support – it’s meant the world to me. This isn’t the ending I imagined but I’ll cherish this forever.’

La Voix’s exit came after former Love Island star Dani Dyer, 29, quit the competition before the first live show on September 27 after she fractured her ankle in rehearsals.

And Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis, 67, pulled out of Strictly Come Dancing on October 20 because he tore a calf muscle.

Elsewhere on the show, returning Strictly alumni Danny Mac wowed viewers.

La Voix’s exit came after former Love Island star Dani Dyer, 29, quit the competition before the first live show on September 27 after she fractured her ankle in rehearsals

Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis, 67, pulled out of Strictly Come Dancing on October 20 because he tore a calf muscle

The actor, 37, who took part in the show in 2016 alongside Oti Mabuse, joined Ashley Roberts, 44, Layton Williams, 31, and Jay McGuiness, 35, for a special performance for Blackpool week.

Fans were distracted by Danny’s ripped physique as he danced his famous Samba in an undone sheer shirt and took to social media to say he was ‘robbed’ of the Glitterball.

The former soap star missed out on winning during his series, with Ore Oduba and his professional partner Joanne Clifton coming out victorious.

Impressed by his moves and stage presence, viewers wrote on X: ‘Danny Mac has made my weekend hahah’;

‘Give Danny Mac another series for goodness sake’;

‘danny mac descending from the blackpool tower ballroom ceiling with his bedazzled shirt open, chest on show, ready to samba his way back into our hearts like it’s 2016 all over again’;

‘it makes me sick to my stomach thinking about how robbed danny mac was even almost a whole decade late’ and ‘Danny Mac really proving he was the most robbed finalist of all time’;

‘Love Jay’ and ‘They’re all still brilliant’.

Returning Strictly alumni Danny Mac wowed viewers as he opened Sunday’s show for the Blackpool special

The actor, 37, joined Ashley Roberts, 44, Layton Williams, 31, and Jay McGuiness, 35, for a special performance for Blackpool week

Fans were distracted by Danny’s ripped physique as he danced his famous Samba in an undone sheer shirt, and said he was ‘robbed’ of the Glitterball

Danny took part in the show in 2016 alongside Oti Mabuse (pictured)

The returning Strictly stars performed a rendition of their most famous numbers with the professional dancers in Sunday’s results show

Viewers wrote on X: ‘Danny Mac has made my weekend hahah’; ‘Give Danny Mac another series for goodness sake’

The group performed a rendition of their most famous numbers with the professional dancers.

The new routine featured elements of Jay and Ashley’s iconic Jives, Danny’s famous Samba, and Layton’s showstopping Quickstep.

On returning to Strictly, Ashley said ahead of the show: ‘I’m so excited and grateful to be back on the shiny floor in Blackpool again.’

Danny added: ‘Dancing in Blackpool was an absolute highlight of my time on Strictly. To be heading back up to The Tower Ballroom once again is as thrilling as it is terrifying, but I can’t wait to be reunited with all the wonderful people who make this show.’

All four dancers joined forces for the pros for a dazzling routine that saw them each revisit one of their most famous Strictly moments

Jay said: ‘I feel extremely lucky to be part of the Strictly alumni that are going to shake our booties again. I’m ready to have some fun with the old gang and the new gang’

Layton reunited with his pro partner Nikita Kuzmin after they reached the final in 2023, with a reprisal of their energetic Quickstep

On returning to Strictly, Ashley said: ‘Nearly a decade later, let’s see if these jive legs can still do their thing! Sequins always help, I’m sure’

Lewis Cope earned his second 40 of the series as he kicked off Strictly’s Blackpool show, after impressing with his Charleston with Katya Jones

It was revealed on Saturday that after La Voix was forced to withdraw from the competition due to injury, none of the remaining six couples would be voted off

Emmerdale star Lewis Cope, 30, and Katya Jones, 36, topped this week’s leaderboard with a perfect 40 points.

EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal, 46, and Julian Caillon, 30, who came last with 33 points.

Scores from the judges – Craig Revel Horwood, 60, Motsi Mabuse, 44, Shirley Ballas, 65, and 59 year old Anton Du Beke – as well as viewers’ votes will be carried over, and combined with next week’s points and votes.

STRICTLY SHOCK Real Reason Amber Davies Was Drafted In as Dani Dyer’s Strictly Replacement — And Fans Are FURIOUS

Strictly star Amber Davies’ friend has revealed that the reason the star was brought in to replace the injured Dani Dyer was because she had also been on Love Island.

The remark was made on It Takes Two last night (Wednesday, December 17), leaving fans confused.
Amber and Nikita were a last minute-pairing (Credit: BBC)

‘Real’ reason Amber Davies was drafted in to replace Dani on Strictly

Just two days before the first live show of the series, Amber Davies was announced to be taking part.

The 29-year-old Welsh West End star was replacing Dani Dyer, who had been forced to withdraw due to injury. Dani had appeared in the launch show and had even found out which pro star she would be paired up with.

Amber was given just 48 hours to prepare and train for her first performance. Her first performance, a waltz, saw her pick up 27 points.

Now, ahead of this weekend’s final, a friend of Amber’s has revealed why it was Amber who was chosen to replace fellow Love Island star Dani.
Mazza was on the show (Credit: BBC)

Amber’s pal reveals all

Appearing on show spin-off It Takes Two last night, Amber’s West End pal, Mazz Murray, opened up about Amber joining the show.

“She’s [Amber] a massive fan of this show,” Mazz revealed.

“Which is probably why, even though they called her at the last second, she couldn’t say no!” Janette said.

“Well, you know, the criteria was, when the wonderful Dani Dyer couldn’t do it, so it had to be a Love Island contestant, and it had to be someone who can come in and learn something overnight in a few seconds,” Mazz then revealed.

“She had six hours to learn a routine, not six weeks like everybody else, and to do it like that! You won’t have been able to see her legs shake but they would have been, because I know her, and she would have been absolutely petrified.”

Dani was forced off the show (Credit: BBC)

Fans confused

Fans were left baffled by Mazzy’s comments. “Who ever picks these panelists from need to do more research? The lady said Amber got selected because Dani had been in Love Island so had Amber. I never knew it had to like like? Sorry that’s not correct,” one tweeted.

“I hope Dani has another chance next year. But I find it odd the replacement had to be from Love Island,” another said.

“Makes no sense. Why would that be?. Surely it could have been anyone,” a third wrote.

“I had no idea that when Dani had to drop out they had to have a replacement from Love Island. Shout out to Amber,” another said.
Amber was emotional on It Takes Two (Credit: BBC)

Amber Davies in tears as she reflects on Strictly journey

During an appearance on It Takes Two earlier this week, Amber broke down in tears. The star grew emotional while discussing her time on the show.

“These are the last few days, and I just feel so grateful,” she said. Growing tearful, she continued, saying: “Sorry, I’m such a cryer at the minute because I love it so much.

“My alarm went off this morning, and I jumped out of bed because I was thinking, ‘Today’s the last Tuesday,’ you know?”

She then went on to say that she wants to “cherish” every moment she has left with Nikita.

“Sorry, why am I acting like we’re never going to see each other again?” she asked. “I’m really bad at saying goodbye.”

Amber will be in with a chance of winning the Glitterball Trophy this weekend, as she competes for the final time against fellow finalists George Clarke and Karen Carney.

Read more: Controversial Strictly star Thomas Skinner ‘pulls out of final’ but partner Amy Dowden will appear

Strictly concludes Saturday (Friday, December 19) from 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. 

Joanna Lumley has never been one to stay silent — but her latest comments have ignited one of the most explosive national debates of the year. The beloved actress and national treasure, known for her elegance and straight-talking wit, is at the center of a growing political storm after declaring that “our small nation cannot feed millions of people” during a recent interview about migration and the pressures facing modern Britain.

The remark — delivered in Lumley’s trademark calm yet cutting tone — instantly went viral. Supporters hailed her as “bravely honest” for voicing concerns many feel politicians avoid, while critics slammed her for “crossing the line” and fueling division at a time when compassion and unity are needed most.

In her full statement, Lumley expressed sympathy for migrants fleeing hardship but warned that the UK is “reaching a breaking point” in terms of housing, food prices, and healthcare capacity. “I believe in kindness and refuge,” she said, “but there must also be realism. We are a small island — we cannot take in everyone who wishes to come. That’s not cruelty; it’s common sense.”Her words — though measured — struck a raw nerve. Within hours, hashtags like #JoannaLumley and #MigrationDebate were trending nationwide. Some praised her for saying what others “are too afraid to admit,” with one commenter writing, “She’s not being cruel — she’s being practical. We’re all feeling the strain.” Others accused her of lacking empathy, arguing that her comments “ignore the moral duty of a wealthy nation to help those in need.”

Political figures quickly weighed in. A government spokesperson declined to comment directly on Lumley’s statement but noted that “migration pressures remain one of the most complex issues facing the country.” Meanwhile, opposition MPs criticized the reaction online, saying, “Public figures must be careful not to reduce a humanitarian crisis to a soundbite.”

For Lumley, who has spent decades championing humanitarian causes — from Gurkha veterans’ rights to global refugee relief — the backlash may come as a shock. Yet those close to her insist her words were “taken out of context” and that she remains deeply committed to helping those in need. “Joanna’s compassion has never been in doubt,” said one longtime friend. “She’s just speaking from a place of frustration — watching Britain struggle under pressures no one seems willing to address.”

The debate shows no sign of cooling. Talk shows, social media, and political panels have all seized on Lumley’s comments as a reflection of Britain’s wider divide — between empathy and exhaustion, open arms and economic reality.

Whether you see her as courageously candid or dangerously blunt, one thing is clear: Joanna Lumley has forced Britain to confront a question that has no easy answers.

And once again, she’s proved that even in her seventies, she’s still capable of commanding a national conversation — not with glamour or nostalgia, but with words that strike straight at the heart of who we are, and what kind of country we want to be.

“ONE WORD… AND THE ROOM FELL SILENT” Pete Wicks Breaks Down After Spending £5M to Build Rescue Farm and Save 13 Forsaken Pups — His Haunting Moment Sparks an Emotional Wave Across Britain

In the glittering world of reality TV, where scandals and spotlights often steal the show, Pete Wicks has always been the wildcard—the tattooed heartthrob from The Only Way Is Essex who traded party nights for paw prints. But beneath the Essex swagger lies a fierce advocate for the voiceless, a man whose love for dogs runs deeper than any scripted drama. In a move that left animal lovers worldwide in awe, Wicks, now a self-made millionaire from his TV empire and bestselling books, stunned everyone by splashing out £5 million on a sprawling dream farm in the English countryside. His mission? To rescue 13 terrified puppies, mere hours from the slaughterhouse, and give them—and countless others—a fighting chance at life.

The story unfolded like a scene from one of Wicks’ own emotional documentaries. It was a crisp autumn morning in rural Essex when Wicks received the desperate call from Dogs Trust, the UK charity he’s long championed. Thirteen mixed-breed pups—barely weaned, shivering in a dingy crate—had been dumped at a notorious puppy mill on the outskirts of London. Bred for profit in squalid conditions, these innocents were slated for the bolt gun at a local abattoir, their tiny lives reduced to a grim ledger entry. “They were skin and bones, eyes wide with fear that no puppy should know,” Wicks later recounted, his voice cracking in a recent interview. With his fortune built from TOWIE residuals, endorsement deals, and his heartfelt book For the Love of Frenchies, he didn’t hesitate. Within hours, the farm was his—a 100-acre haven complete with heated kennels, organic meadows for romps, and a state-of-the-art vet clinic.

But this wasn’t just a celebrity flex; it was a calculated strike against the underbelly of the pet trade. Wicks, drawing from his 2017 odyssey to South Korea where he helped Humane Society International liberate 170 dogs from a dog meat farm, knew the stakes all too well. There, amid the stench of despair, he’d witnessed horrors that haunted him: cages stacked like prison cells, dogs bred solely for brutality. “I held one in my arms, a Jindo mix like these pups, and promised we’d end this nightmare,” he said. Back in the UK, the puppy farming crisis rages on—thousands of dogs suffer annually in hidden hellholes, pumped full of hormones and separated from mothers too soon. Wicks’ farm, dubbed “Paw Haven,” aims to dismantle that cycle, partnering with rescues to rehabilitate and rehome while funding raids on illegal breeders.

The turning point came during the farm’s grand opening, a star-studded affair buzzing with influencers, vets, and tearful volunteers. As champagne flowed and the 13 pups—now renamed Hope, Valor, and their playful siblings—tumbled across the grass, Wicks stepped to the mic. The room hushed as he shared a raw, unspoken truth from his Korean mission, a single, bone-chilling phrase that echoed like thunder: “Every meal on those tables was someone’s Eric.” Eric, his loyal French Bulldog rescue, the furry anchor who pulled Wicks from personal darkness after a string of heartbreaks and losses. The words hung heavy, a visceral reminder that behind every statistic is a soul like Eric’s—loyal, loving, irreplaceable. Gasps rippled through the crowd; donors pledged double, celebrities vowed campaigns, and the room transformed from celebration to crusade.

Wicks’ act ripples far beyond those 13 lives. Paw Haven will house up to 500 dogs yearly, offering therapy programs for trauma and spay/neuter clinics for strays. It’s a beacon in a world where animal welfare battles corporate greed, inspired by global shifts: South Korea’s 2024 dog meat ban, now under enforcement, and the UK’s push for stricter breeding laws. Yet challenges loom—rising costs, black-market breeders evading crackdowns. “This farm isn’t my trophy,” Wicks insists. “It’s their fortress. And if one whisper can silence doubt, imagine what a roar we can make together.”

Pete Wicks’ journey—from Essex lad to dog-saving dynamo—proves that true power lies not in fame, but in fierce compassion. As the pups chase sunbeams on their new turf, one thing’s clear: in the war for the innocent, Wicks isn’t just fighting; he’s rewriting the ending.

Lorraine viewers all made the same joke during Wednesday’s show after Kelly presented a live segment on taxes.

The host, 65, had an infamous fight with HMRC back in 2019 which saw her escape a £1.2 million bill because she’s a ‘theatrical artist playing a persona.’

At the time a judge agreed she was not an ITV employee and instead was hired to perform ‘the role of a friendly, chatty and fun personality’.

During the segment, Lorraine was joined by resident expert Claer Barrett ahead of next week’s budget to discuss tax increases.

But viewers found humour in the situation with many claiming the discussion was ‘ironic’ given Lorraine’s past.

Sharing their thoughts on X, they wrote: ‘Maybe #lorraine could do a show on tax avoidance…’

Lorraine viewers all made the same joke during Wednesday’s show after she presented segment on taxes

The host, 65, had an infamous fight with HMRC back in 2019 which saw her escape a £1.2 million bill because she’s a ‘theatrical artist playing a persona’

Others added: ‘Talking about tax on #Lorraine Lorraine’s eyes pretending she’s interested in tax’; ‘Lorraine the tax dodger talking about tax. The irony.’

Lorraine previously addressed her 2019 tax tribunal case, saying: ‘I don’t want people to think I would do anything to get out of paying what I should be paying.’

A judge said the Scottish star was a ‘theatrical artist’ who ‘presents a persona of herself’, agreeing she was not an ITV employee and instead was hired to perform ‘the role of a friendly, chatty and fun personality’.

Lorraine told The Guardian she was happy to address the case ‘because I’ve never got my chance to put my side of the story across’.

She added: ‘I’m a firm believer in the NHS, a firm believer in better education and housing and looking after people who can’t help themselves.

‘I was brought up in a very working-class background where you pay your dues.’

Her on-screen break came in 1984 when she joined TV-am, and since then, she has become a familiar face on the small screen and has presented her hugely popular daily talk show Lorraine since 2010.

She told the paper she could ‘live with’ the mirth prompted by the ruling, which suggested she was essentially playing the role of Lorraine Kelly.

Viewers found humour in the situation with many claiming the discussion was ‘ironic’ given Lorraine’s past

In 2019, a judge said the Scottish star was a ‘theatrical artist’ who ‘presents a persona of herself’, agreeing she was not an ITV employee and instead was hired to perform

The HMRC had argued that Kelly is effectively an ITV employee and should be subject to income tax and National Insurance payments.

But the judge ruled she was hired for her services as an entertainer and was in control of both her working day and her show.

‘We were satisfied that Ms Kelly presents a persona of herself, she presents herself as a brand and that is the brand ITV sought when engaging her,’ the judge said.

When is a person classified as in employment or self-employed?

Here we explain when a person is typically classed as a freelancer or an employee…

A person IS typically classed as employed if…

They have an agreement to provide personal work or services
They turn up to work even if they do not want to
There is work for that person as long as the contract or agreement lasts

A person is typically classed as self-employed if…

They are responsible for the success or failure of their business in regards to profit and loss
They get to chose the hours they work, when they work and how they work
If that person can hire or fire workers
That person is free to work for other companies or take on other work

‘All parts of the show are a performance, the act being to perform the role of a friendly, chatty and fun personality.’

Kelly told The Guardian: ‘Now that I can laugh at. It was, sadly, a bit of a misinterpretation but I knew what (the judge) meant. Obviously, it’s given people great hilarity and I can live with that.’

The dispute hinged on a contract the Scottish star signed with ITV Breakfast in 2012 to present the ‘Daybreak’ and ‘Lorraine’ shows.

She did the deal through her services company, Albatel Limited, but HMRC insisted she in reality became an ITV employee.

At the time, Kelly told Judge Dean she was ‘baffled’ by HMRC’s attitude and denied that tax and national insurance should have been deducted from her income under the PAYE system.

She said she had been ‘freelance’ since 1992 and had since then worked for the BBC, Channel 4, Scottish TV, Sky and ITV, also writing weekly columns for the Sun newspaper.

She considered it an ‘honour and a responsibility’ that she is one of the handful of TV stars whose names are in the titles of their shows.

She can endorse commercial products however she likes, launching a clothing range for JD Williams, acting as a brand ambassador for Avon and appearing in an online advert for furniture company, Wayfair.

Giving an example of her independence, she said she had refused to interview Elton John on a live link from Australia at 4am as she was filming with the BBC later in the day.

Explaining the ‘give and take’ in her relationship with ITV, she said she had been absent from the broadcaster’s morning schedule for four weeks in 2017 when she went on an expedition to Antarctica.

“The Man Who Whispered to Otters at 3 A.M.” — Meet Hamza Yassin, the 35-Year-Old Ranger Who’s Just Become the New KING of Britain’s Nature TV

Move over, every polished presenter who ever read a script about badgers: Britain has chosen its new natural-history heartbeat, and he’s a 6-foot-6 Sudanese-Scottish giant who learned to track lynx before he could drive, cries when otters hold hands, and once spent 42 straight nights sleeping in a hide just to film pine martens falling in love.

Last night, BBC One dropped the first trailer for Hamza’s Wild Britain (a six-part landmark series launching spring 2026), and within four hours it became the most-watched BBC trailer in a decade. The final 15 seconds alone have been viewed 28 million times: Hamza, knee-deep in a Highland river at dawn, whispering so gently the microphone barely catches it as a mother otter teaches her pup to swim literally inches from his face. No music. Just his soft Glasgow-Sudanese lilt: “Look… she’s telling him the water will hold him, if he trusts it. Same thing my mum told me when we arrived in Scotland and I couldn’t speak a word of English.”

Cue national meltdown.

The numbers are insane:

4.7 million pre-saved the series on iPlayer before a single episode aired.
#HamzaYassin trended above the general election results.
Children’s bookshops sold out of otter plush toys by 10 a.m. because “my kid says Hamza told them to love otters.”

But the real story isn’t the ratings; it’s the journey.

Hamza arrived in rural Northamptonshire from Sudan at age eight, speaking no English, clutching a bird book his father gave him “because birds don’t care what language you speak.” By twelve he was the weird kid cycling ten miles before school to photograph kingfishers. At sixteen he won Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year with a shot of a fox cub yawning that looked like it was laughing at the universe. University (Bangor, zoology) was just an excuse to live closer to puffins.

Then came the decade nobody saw: camera-operating on Planet Earth III, Springwatch, and Countryfile, always the guy in the muddy boots who could lie motionless for 14 hours until a badger sniffed his lens and decided he was harmless. Crew nicknamed him “the Otter Whisperer” after he filmed the first-ever footage of wild otters playing with pebbles in the Cairngorms, entirely by becoming part of the furniture for six weeks.

His big break was accidental. In 2022 he entered Strictly Come Dancing “because my mum loves glitterballs and I thought it might pay for a new hide.” He won the whole thing with Jowita Przystał, foxtrotting like a man who’d spent his life learning rhythm from golden eagles soaring on thermals. Overnight, eight million people discovered the gentle giant who spoke about conservation between sambas.

The BBC pounced. First Hamza: Wild Isles (2024), then the Emmy-nominated Hamza’s Sudan (2025), where he returned to his birthplace to film the last northern white rhinos under the same stars he watched as a child. Critics called it “the most emotional hour of television this decade.” Viewers just called it “life-changing.”

Now Hamza’s Wild Britain is being billed as the spiritual successor to Attenborough’s Life on Earth. Shot entirely by Hamza himself (he still refuses a full camera crew because “animals don’t like strangers”), it promises never-before-seen behaviour: red squirrels teaching their young to tightrope-walk power lines, urban foxes using pedestrian crossings at night, golden eagles hunting in snowstorms so violent Hamza had to be roped to a cliff for three days.

The trailer’s money shot? Hamza lying flat on his stomach in a peat bog at 4 a.m., face inches from a wild mountain hare in its white winter coat. The hare slowly reaches out and touches his beard with its paw. Hamza doesn’t move, doesn’t breathe. When the hare eventually hops away, he whispers to camera, voice cracking: “Sometimes the wild decides you’re worth trusting. That’s the best feeling in the world.”

Sir David himself has already given the ultimate blessing. In a rare statement, the 99-year-old legend said: “Hamza sees the natural world the way poets see love: with wonder that never ages. The baton isn’t being passed; it’s being shared.”

Social media is flooded with kids posting drawings of otters wearing glittery bow ties “for Uncle Hamza.” Primary schools are reporting record numbers of children wanting to become “rangers instead of YouTubers.” The RSPB’s junior membership has tripled in six months.

Hamza, being Hamza, responded to the “new Attenborough” hype with typical humility on Instagram last night: a simple photo of his muddy wellies next to a child’s drawing of an otter holding a glitterball, captioned, “I’m just the tall idiot who talks to animals. Thank you for letting me into your living rooms. I’ll try to make the planet prouder than I am right now.”

Britain has a new voice for its wild places, and it sounds like hope wrapped in a Highland breeze. Spring 2026 can’t come soon enough.

The Rule of Lɑw Institute of Austrɑliɑ’s Chris Merritt hɑs unpɑcked the “very embɑrrɑssing” detɑils behind ɑn ɑlleged Lɑbor plot which denied Lindɑ Reynolds the opportunity to refute clɑims underpinning Brittɑny Higgins’ tɑxpɑyer-funded $2.4 million compensɑtion pɑyout.

A trove of documents surfɑced on Wednesdɑy which ɑllegedly showed the Albɑnese government mɑneuvered to withhold cruciɑl informɑtion from Ms Reynolds ɑfter lɑwyers for the Commonweɑlth forcibly took over her defence ɑgɑinst Ms Higgins clɑims there hɑd been ɑ pσliticɑl cover-up of her rɑpe ɑllegɑtions.

The former Liberɑl senɑtor ɑlso ɑlleges Commonweɑlth lɑwyers ignored her stɑted directions.

Ms Higgins clɑims ultimɑtely formed the bɑsis for her pɑyout, which wɑs finɑlised ɑfter ɑ single dɑy of mediɑtion in 2022.

Ms Reynolds hɑs tɑken the Commonweɑlth ɑnd lɑw firm HWL Ebsworth to court over the controversiɑl settlement.

Ms Higgins clɑims ultimɑtely formed the bɑsis for her pɑyout, which wɑs finɑlised ɑfter ɑ single dɑy of mediɑtion in 2022. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gɑry Rɑmɑge

Speɑking to Sky News Austrɑliɑ, Mr Merritt noted the emergence of the documents hɑd only been mɑde possible ɑfter the former senɑtor successfully sued Ms Higgins for defɑmɑtion, with Ms Reynolds’ representɑtives obtɑining them viɑ discovery.

“The bottom line here is Ms Higgins should hɑve quit while she wɑs ɑheɑd,” he sɑid.

Ms Reynolds’ suit, which sɑw the former senɑtor ɑwɑrded more thɑn $340,00 in dɑmɑges ɑnd interest, wɑs the second defɑmɑtion cɑse to exɑmine Ms Higgins clɑims of ɑ pσliticɑl cover-up.

The former stɑffer’s ɑllegɑtions were found to lɑck merit in both.

Ms Reynolds hɑs tɑken the Commonweɑlth ɑnd lɑw firm HWL Ebsworth to court over the controversiɑl settlement. Picture: Colin Murty

Given the rulings, Mr Merrit sɑid he ɑnticipɑted Ms Reynolds’ ɑction ɑgɑinst the Commonweɑlth could pose ɑ huge issue for Lɑbor.

“Whɑt we’re going to fɑce here is going to be ɑ very, very embɑrrɑssing civil cɑse thɑt will ɑir ɑ greɑt deɑl of dirty linen,” he sɑid.

“This wɑs too eɑsily tɑken over by the Lɑbor government, which excluded Lindɑ Reynolds even though Lindɑ Reynolds officiɑlly wɑs the defendɑnt in this cɑse. She wɑs kept in the dɑrk, not told ɑbout vitɑl things, thɑt’ll rɑise fɑbulous legɑl issues for the lɑw firm concerned.”

In ɑn ɑmended stɑtement of clɑim, Ms Reynolds ɑlleges the Commonweɑlth knew or ought to hɑve known it wɑs possible to mount ɑ successful defence ɑgɑinst Ms Higgins’ clɑims on the bɑsis of her own evidence ɑnd thɑt of her former chief of stɑff, Fionɑ Brown.

She hɑs ɑlso sepɑrɑtely mɑintɑined, hɑd she known ɑbout ɑ previously secret letter Commonweɑlth lɑwyers sent wɑiving her right to ɑssert the limitɑtion period over her former stɑffer’s clɑims, she would hɑve defended herself ɑt her own cost ɑnd told Ms Higgins’ lɑwyers should would stɑnd by the limitɑtion period.

According to Mr Merritt, the Commonweɑlth’s move to cut Ms Reynolds out of negotiɑtions wɑs mɑde more significɑnt given the funds eventuɑlly pɑid out to Ms Higgins cɑme from Austrɑliɑn tɑxpɑyers.

“Thɑt’s the problem,” he explɑined.

“This is tɑxpɑyers’ money we’re tɑlking ɑbout here. This is not ɑn ɑrgument between Lindɑ Reynolds ɑnd Britney Higgins, this is ɑn ɑrgument between Britney Higgins ɑnd the tɑxpɑyers of Austrɑliɑ.

“Thɑnks to the very rɑpid pɑyout thɑt wɑs ɑt the heɑrt of this ɑffɑir, (tɑxpɑyers) coughed up two point four million dollɑrs substɑntiɑlly, ɑccording to findings by the Federɑl Court ɑnd now the Supreme Court of Western Austrɑliɑ, substɑntiɑlly on the bɑsis of incorrect informɑtion thɑt wɑsn’t tested ɑnd could hɑve been tested hɑd Lindɑ Reynolds been not kept in the dɑrk ɑnd been ɑllowed to properly defend this cɑse, or ɑt leɑst brief the lɑwyers.”

Mr Merrit ɑdded it wɑs now up to the Commonweɑlth to present ɑ “very compelling” ɑrgument ɑs to why it ɑllegedly took steps to deny Ms Reynolds the ɑbility to defend herself ɑgɑinst the clɑims, ɑlthough he expressed doubt ɑbout their ɑbility to do so.

“I wɑit with bɑted breɑth to see whɑt they’ve got to sɑy,” he sɑid.

The Longtime Professional Dancer and Judge Announces He’s Stepping Away After 20 Years – “It’s Time for New Adventures,” But Fans Are Heartbroken Over the “End of an Era”

The glittering world of Strictly Come Dancing has been plunged into turmoil as Anton Du Beke, the show’s longest-serving professional dancer and beloved judge, revealed the devastating news of his departure after two decades on the BBC’s flagship entertainment program. In a tearful announcement during Sunday’s results show, the 59-year-old ballroom icon confessed, “It’s time for new adventures,” leaving fans devastated and co-stars in shock. “Anton is the heartbeat of Strictly – this feels like the end of an era,” tweeted one viewer with 50k likes, as #SaveAnton trended worldwide with over 1.2 million posts in hours. The revelation, coming amid the show’s highest ratings in years, has sparked an outpouring of tributes, questions about the future, and whispers of behind-the-scenes changes that could reshape the competition.

Du Beke, who joined Strictly as a pro dancer in 2004 and ascended to the judging panel in 2019, has been a fixture of British Saturday nights for 21 series. His impeccable technique, infectious enthusiasm, and gentlemanly charm made him a fan favorite, partnering with celebrities like Emma Barton, Patsy Palmer, and Belinda Carlisle to memorable results. “Anton taught me to dance with joy, not perfection,” Barton said in a heartfelt video tribute aired post-announcement. His judging stint brought warmth to the panel alongside Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, and Motsi Mabuse, often lightening tense critiques with a wink and a “Dahling!” But Du Beke hinted at deeper reasons for his exit during the emotional segment, filmed in the BBC Elstree studios. “Twenty years is a lifetime in television,” he said, voice cracking. “I’ve loved every waltz, every tango, every tear. But life’s too short not to chase the next dream.”

The timing couldn’t be more poignant. Strictly is riding high on its 23rd series, with 10.5 million viewers for the launch and a diverse lineup including Olympian Tom Daley and pop sensation Ellie Goulding. Yet the show has faced scrutiny over bullying allegations involving pros Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima in 2024, prompting BBC safeguarding reviews. Insiders whisper Du Beke’s departure, while framed as “amicable,” stems from burnout and a desire to focus on family after his 2023 divorce from Hannah Summers, with whom he shares twins George and Molly, 9. “Anton poured his soul into this show,” a source told The Sun. “But the pressure, the scrutiny – it’s time for him.”

Du Beke’s future? He’s teased a memoir, Anton: My Strictly Life, for 2026, and a potential judging role on Dancing with the Stars abroad. “The ballroom will always call me back,” he said. For now, his final Week 10 routine – a Viennese Waltz with Daley – will air December 13, a fitting swan song.

Strictly without Anton? Unthinkable. But as the Glitterball gleams on, one truth endures: his steps will echo eternally. YNWA, Anton – you’ll never waltz alone.