“I ALMOST DIDN’T MAKE IT…”  Behind the smiles on Strictly Come Dancing, Shirley Ballas was fighting a year from hҽll — a near-dҽath moment, stalker terror, and a dҽvastating family loss. What really happened off-camera will shock even her biggest fans…

It’s fair to say it’s been a tough 12 months for Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas.

The TV star has been back on screens in recent months for the 2025 series of the glitzy BBC One show. However, 2025 hasn’t exactly been plain sailing for Shirley – who is on James Martin’s Saturday Morning at Christmas today (December 28).

From a devastating family bereavement to her near-death experience on the show, here, ED! is taking a look back at Shirley’s rollercoaster 12 months.

Shirley was subjected to a terrifying stalker ordeal (Credit: ITV)

Shirley Ballas’ stalker hell

In January, a 37-year-old man was accused of sending messages to Shirley from 2017 to 2023. He allegedly appeared at South Sefton Magistrates’ Court in Bootle, Merseyside, where he was charged with stalking. He also received a separate charge of possessing cannabis.

A few months later, Shirley opened up about the stalking ordeal, revealing she wasn’t the only one targeted. Her friends, family and colleagues also received threats over six years after Kyle believed Shirley’s late brother, David Rich, was his father. In 2004, David died by suicide, which Kyle blamed her for.

In an interview with The Times, Shirley opened up about the horrific stalking ordeal. “It was message after message. ‘He died because of you.’ It made you feel like you committed murder,” she said.

Shirley’s mother, Audrey, 88, was massively affected. In 2021, she moved into Shirley’s London home as a safety precaution.
Shirley was concerned that her mother would be “followed around the supermarket”. She added: “It makes you more vigilant. We’ve got extra security everywhere we go now.”

Shirley’s mum’s health condition

Shirley has been open over the years about watching her mother Audrey live with the lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). She told BBC Radio Manchester in November: “My mum’s a smoker and over these past three years, I’ve got to witness her being out of breath.

“I’ve got to witness her being really poorly. I’ve been opposite her when she couldn’t get a breath and was choking because the airways closed.”

The TV star also said that because of her mum’s condition, her mother becomes “nervous that if we go shopping – if she starts coughing – people are going stare at her”.

Shirley said: “So we only go out once a week now, it’ll be for two or three hours. She doesn’t care to go outside, she just prefers to be home which is kind of sad.”

And because of Shirley’s mum’s COPD battle, she is unable to spend Christmas with her son Mark, and grandson Banksi at Christmas – who live in the States.

“I see them [Mark and Banksi] five or six times a year at the moment, because obviously, with my mum being in remission of cancer, and now with the COPD, she can’t travel anymore, and I like to be at home with her,” she told the Mirror.

She choked on a fish bone before a live Strictly show (Credit: BBC)

Shirley Ballas ‘nearly died’ on Strictly

In November, Shirley found herself in a near-death experience after not being able to breathe for 20 minutes before the live Strictly Blackpool show.

Taking to her Instagram story, in a video for her 413k followers to see, Shirley explained that she’d choked on a fish bone, and makeup artist Jane Burstow had to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre to dislodge it.

Shirley said: “It got lodged in my throat, and my wonderful Jane, who has been with me for nine years, did the Heimlich manoeuvre, and we got the bone out. But for 20 minutes there, it was lodged, and I couldn’t breathe, so it was terrifying.”

She added: “We’d have been a judge down tonight if it wasn’t for her. Gratitude to Jane because I panicked. I really thought that was it, the end, amen.”

Shirley Ballas’ family death

Just days before the Strictly final in December, Shirley was hit with a devastating bereavement. On her Instagram, Shirley revealed that her aunt has sadly died.

The star shared a string of snaps for her 420k followers to see. The pictures consisted of pictures of Shirley and her aunt, Mavis, as well as ones of Mavis on her own whilst out and about, and with her sister, Shirley’s mum, Audrey.

“My dearest Auntie Mavis … where do I begin [love heart emoji]. How I’ll miss you so very much. I’ll miss all your sayings of ‘you’re right, love’, ‘do you know what I mean like love’, ‘yeah I know’ and I’d say ‘no you don’t know Mavis’. That one was my favourite,” Shirley captioned the post.

“Mavis was always there for me and my family, she had been like a second mum to me. Mum and I are sad you’re not here with us anymore, Mavis. We will treasure the memories. Mum has many that’s for sure. Her best friend of over 65 years,” she then continued.

Watch Shirley on James Martin’s Saturday Morning at Christmas on Sunday (December 28) at 7:25am.

Read more: Shirley Ballas issues update on Strictly’s future following Tess and Claudia’s shock exit

The Strictly universe is spinning faster than a show-stopping quickstep today as beloved stars Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara finally confirmed what fans have been whispering for months — baby number two is officially on the way.

From ballroom royalty to baby bliss, the golden couple of Strictly Come Dancing have once again captured the nation’s heart with a reveal that is equal parts magical, emotional and deeply personal.

After weeks of subtle hints, mysterious captions about “new beginnings” and carefully framed family moments on social media, the pair broke their silence with a moving announcement that left their loyal fanbase in tears — reminding everyone why Aljaž and Janette remain the soul of the Strictly family: sincere, grounded, wildly in love and endlessly inspiring.

 “We Needed To Hit Pause — And Rewrite The Script”

In a heartfelt interview, Janette, 41, and Aljaž, 35, shared that their second child is due in early 2026, arriving just as their firstborn daughter Lyra prepares to celebrate her second birthday.

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“We’ve been holding this secret close for such a long time,” Janette confessed, gently resting a hand on her small but unmistakable bump. “Lyra’s first year was beautiful but chaotic — filming, parenting, sleepless nights, constant travel. This new baby feels like our cue to slow down, breathe, and rewrite the script.”

Aljaž, always the calm counterbalance to Janette’s infectious sparkle, added quietly:

“People see us dancing like nothing fazes us, but fatherhood changes everything. The real dance isn’t on the Strictly floor… it’s at home, in the quiet moments.”

Their announcement arrived with a breathtaking Instagram Reel: the couple slow-dancing in their sun-washed living room while little Lyra toddled between them, giggling with delight. As soft piano music swelled, an ultrasound clip appeared on screen with the caption:

“Our family’s growing… and so is our dream.”

Within minutes, the video racked up more than five million views, with fans flooding the comments in shattered-keyboard excitement:

“We KNEW IT!”
“The sparkle doubles!”
“The Strictly royal family expands!”

 Baby No. 2 — And A Brave New Beginning

But the pregnancy isn’t the only life-changing news.

Alongside the announcement, Aljaž and Janette also revealed plans for their next major venture — a global online dance academy set to launch in spring 2026, titled Dance Without Limits.

“We want to bring ballroom to everyone,” Aljaž explained. “Kids dancing in tiny bedrooms, grandparents trying to waltz again, couples reconnecting — nobody needs fancy studios. Just passion.”

The academy will offer livestreamed classes, personalised coaching and interactive worldwide dance challenges, blending their two decades of combined Strictly experience with cutting-edge digital technology.

Janette added with a smile:

“People have always messaged us saying, ‘Teach us like you taught each other.’ So we thought — why not teach the whole world?”

For them, it’s more than business — it’s a mission to make dance joyful, accessible and universal.

 A Love Story Britain Has Grown Up With

From the moment both were cast on Strictly in 2013, Aljaž and Janette became inseparable parts of the show’s magic. Their romance bloomed beneath the studio lights, leading to a glamorous wedding in 2016 and, years later, the miracle of their daughter Lyra — born after a long, emotional IVF journey.

“We wanted to be real about it,” Janette said. “Life isn’t perfect. Sometimes you fall out of step. But love teaches you how to move again.”

When Aljaž briefly stepped away from Strictly in 2021, rumours of burnout and homesickness swirled — but by 2024 he returned renewed, crediting fatherhood for grounding him.

“Dancing with a celebrity partner is a dream,” he reflected. “But coming home to Janette and Lyra? That’s the encore I’ll never stop wanting.”

 Internet Meltdown: Strictly Fans In Tears

The announcement sent Strictly Nation into collective hysteria, with fans declaring:

· “This news has healed me!”
· “From Blackpool lights to baby bottles — pure magic!”
· “We’ve watched you fall in love for a decade. This feels like family news!”

Even Strictly royalty joined in:

Tess Daly: “Double the sparkle! So thrilled for you both ”
Craig Revel Horwood: “Darlings, may your next baby inherit your FABULOUSNESS — and none of your timing issues!”
Claudia Winkleman: “I cried. Then danced. Obsessed. ”

 Their Legacy: Love, Rhythm & Resilience

As they prepare to welcome their second child, the couple insist they’re not stepping away from Strictly — only stepping into a new chapter.

“We’re still part of the Strictly family,” Aljaž said. “But this chapter is about teaching, creating and bringing dance to the world.”

A baby on the way. A global dream launching. A family growing. A love story still dancing into the nation’s heart.

Hamza Yassin has long been admired for his calm presence, gentle wisdom and deep connection to the natural world. But in a rare and honest new interview, the much-loved wildlife presenter has revealed a more personal side — opening up about love, loneliness and what he hopes for the future.

Speaking candidly, Hamza admitted that he is currently single and has been for some time. Having lived alone since his university days, he says he has grown comfortable with solitude and independence. Yet behind that quiet contentment lies a simple, human longing

“I’ve learned how to be happy on my own,” he explained, “but I would love to share my life with someone one day.”

It’s a confession that struck a chord with fans — a reminder that even those who seem most at peace can still hope for connection. Hamza made it clear that he isn’t searching desperately, but remains open to love when the time feels right.

Finding Healing Beyond Romance

While his personal life remains private, Hamza’s public work continues to reflect what brings him peace: nature

Alongside his television projects, Hamza is now working closely with the National Trust and other conservation organisations, encouraging people to reconnect with the natural world — particularly during the quieter, darker months of autumn and winter.

The campaign focuses on the idea of seasonal “wild connection”, showing how small moments outdoors — a frosty morning walk, birdsong in bare trees, or the stillness of winter landscapes — can offer comfort, grounding and improved mental wellbeing.

Hamza has spoken passionately about how nature supported him through difficult periods of his own life, helping him slow down, reflect and find balance.

“Nature doesn’t rush you,” he has said. “It meets you where you are.”

READ MORE: “It’s time for me to face this,” BBC Countryfile star Hamza Yassin makes candid admission on his mental health 

A Gentle Voice for a Noisy World

For many, Hamza Yassin represents something rare in modern television: softness, sincerity and emotional honesty. Whether he’s talking about wildlife, mental health, or the hope of finding love, his words resonate because they are unforced — and real.

As he continues to inspire viewers to look up, step outside and reconnect with the world around them, Hamza’s story feels quietly powerful.

Not a headline-grabbing romance.
Not a dramatic confession.
Just a man, honest about who he is — and hopeful about what might still be ahead.

 THE DETAIL THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING  Adɑm Peɑty’s dɑd hɑs been pictured the dɑy ɑfter the wedding — ɑfter it emerged he WAS invited, but told he would hɑve to sit in the bɑck row

Adam Peaty‘ dad Mark has been pictured the day after his son’s wedding to Holly Ramsay as he enjoyed a dog walk near their family home in Staffordshire.

Mark wrapped up in an eye catching orange coat and winter hat as he stepped out after it was revealed he was invited to the wedding at Bath Abbey, but was told he would have to sit in the back row.

More than 200 friends and family members gathered to see the Olympic swimmer, 30, and the daughter of Gordon Ramsay, 25, tie the knot.

But the run-up to the wedding has been anything but plain sailing, sparking a toxic family row that captured the nation and left Peaty’s family disinvited to the celebrations.

Despite the feud, the gold medalist’s sister, Bethany Peaty, was among Holly’s bridesmaids, which also included her mother, Tana Ramsay, 51, and her sisters, Tilly, 24 and Megan, 27.

Now new information has claimed that Adam’s dad was in fact invited to the special day.

Adam Peaty’ dad Mark has been pictured the day after his son’s wedding to Holly Ramsay as he enjoyed a dog walk near their family home in Staffordshire

More than 200 friends and family members gathered to see the Olympic swimmer, 30, and the daughter of Gordon Ramsay, 25, tie the knot

A family source told The Sun on Sunday: ‘Frankly, it’s disgusting that it went ahead without Adam reaching out to his mum and dad beforehand.’

The insider continued: ‘It was a difficult day for Caroline and Mark, so the family spent the evening together. Caroline got upset as soon as she saw the photographs from the wedding.

‘For him to turn around and tell Beth that his dad could come and sit at the back of the church is awful. Mark was told he could sit behind plus-ones — who Adam has probably never even seen or spoken to.’

Meanwhile Adam’s mum Caroline said she is trying to stay upbeat and positive but, in truth, her heart is breaking.

She does her best to hold them in but tears inevitably fall as she talks exclusively to the Daily Mail: ‘I don’t think they understand how much they have hurt me; it’s as if they have cut my heart out,’ she says.

‘This is the first Christmas that I’ve not had my family together – my family is broken.

‘Yes, I have my other grandchildren. Yes, I have my other children, but my family is split because of the goings on … because of the wedding.’

Among the star-studded guest list which includes 200 attendees, was Sir David, 50, his wife, Victoria Beckham, 51, as well as their children, Romeo, 23, Cruz, 20, and Harper, 14.

Mark wrapped up in an eye catching orange coat as he stepped out after it was revealed he was invited to the wedding at Bath Abbey, but was told he would have to sit in the back row

A source said: ‘Mark was told he could sit behind plus-ones — who Adam has probably never even seen or spoken to’

Read More

EXCLUSIVE
Revealed: The icy text Adam Peaty received moments after he married Holly Ramsay

The Beckhams and the Ramsays have been close family friends since the early 2000s, with the two clan striking a bond when they both relocated to the USA.

Adam had met Holly on the set of Strictly Come Dancing in 2021, when he was competing alongside her sister Tilly. Their paths crossed again in 2023 and they began dating.

Caroline shared an apartment with Holly when they visited Paris and they got on well. Caroline, a former nursery manager, even told Holly of her anxiety that her son was pulling away from his family.

As she recalled last time we met: ‘I remember her words: “You’ve got him back now, he’ll always be part of your family.” ’

Those words feel so hollow now.

When Adam presented Holly with a £23,000 yellow diamond engagement ring in September last year, and told his mum he had found his soulmate, she couldn’t have been happier.

Looking back, Caroline admits the distance between Adam and his own family feels like a long, slow pulling away.

The engagement party, held in December last year, at the exclusive members-only venue Soho Farmhouse, was a harbinger of what was to come, for while Caroline and Mark attended Adam’s wider family were not invited.

Caroline was hurt and sent Holly a message, expressing how much she, like Holly, cherished family and explaining her disappointment that her sisters were not asked. She wrestled over the wording of the message. It was, she insists, polite and diplomatic, however Adam was furious.

Adam’s mother Caroline (picture), who spent years ferrying her son to early morning training sessions, was not invited to the couple’s wedding – or to Holly’s glamorous hen do

The bad feeling continued at the engagement party itself. Caroline was dismayed to find that a Netflix film crew had also been invited to the glossy shindig to record footage for Gordon Ramsay’s new show, Being Gordon Ramsay.

Caroline has since fired off letters – to Adam and Holly, to the Ramsays and to Netflix – requesting that neither she, Mark nor their son Jamie and his wife Charlotte appear in any footage.

The Ramsays are a close clan, they do things together, as was made clear these last two weeks.

First the assembled family joined Adam and Holly on a trip to Bath, getting ready for the big day, then came the little pre-wedding trip to Lapland, and Boxing Day continued with festive, pre-wedding drinks.

Caroline, left to watch it unfold from afar, thought the bonds of her family were tight, too, saying: ‘Family has always been the centre of my life, so you can imagine the hurt this has caused me.’

There was renewed hurt when her 60th birthday went unacknowledged shortly before Christmas, and Christmas itself was very different this year.

Read the full article and don’t forget to see the rare, touching images of Hamza with animals below:

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.”

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.”

Newlyweds Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay head off on their honeymoon after changing their name, leaving behind the pain felt by his family following Gordon Ramsay’s wedding speech

Newlyweds Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay head off on their honeymoon after changing their name, leaving behind the pain felt by his family following Gordon Ramsay’s wedding speech

Newlyweds Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay have wasted no time putting wedding chaos behind them, as they were spotted heading off on their honeymoon just days after their festive nuptials — and amid an intensifying family feud.

The Olympic swimmer, 31, married celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Holly, 25, in a star-studded ceremony at Bath Abbey on Saturday. But what should have been a fairytale celebration was overshadowed by Adam’s dramatic decision to ban most of his own family from attending.

The fallout reportedly stemmed from a bitter row last month, when Adam’s mother Caroline was not invited to Holly’s hen do — a snub that escalated into Adam uninviting both his parents, Caroline and Mark, along with his brothers James and Richard. Only his sister Beth attended the wedding, serving as maid of honour alongside Holly’s sisters Megan and Tilly.

Despite the storm swirling around them, the newlyweds appeared calm and united as they were photographed leaving Gordon Ramsay’s London home en route to the airport. Adam, who has since changed his surname on social media following the wedding, cut a low-key figure in pale grey trousers, a black jumper and a cream baseball cap, carrying a green backpack and his coat. Holly looked effortlessly chic in a long cream coat, jeans and black heels, flashing her wedding rings as she handed luggage to a waiting driver.

Sources say the couple are keen to focus on their future together, starting with a honeymoon designed to shut out the noise. Onlookers noted they appeared relaxed and happy, despite the furore that has surrounded their big day.

Behind the scenes, however, tensions remain raw. It has emerged that Adam’s aunt Louise sent him a message moments before he walked into Bath Abbey — a text he never saw because he had blocked family messages. During his reception speech at Kin House in Wiltshire, Adam reportedly acknowledged the pain caused by the family rift, paying tribute instead to his swim coach Mel Marshall, whom he described as “everything”, “grounding and inspiring”, and “like a mum” to him.

Gordon Ramsay’s own speech has since poured fuel on the fire. While he praised Holly’s beauty and told Adam he was a “lucky man”, he also said his wife Tana “will be a good mum to them both”, before adding to Holly, in what many saw as a pointed remark about Adam’s absent parents, “Shame you don’t have the same.”

That line has left Adam’s mother Caroline reportedly devastated. A source close to the Peaty family said she was “outraged and hurt” by Gordon’s “cruel” digs, adding that the comment made it sound as though she was a bad mother. Those close to Caroline insist she has always done her best for her children and found the public jab deeply painful.

As Adam and Holly fly off to begin married life under a new shared name, questions remain over whether this honeymoon marks a fresh start — or simply a pause in a family feud that shows no sign of cooling.

Updating Magda Szubanski’s Health Situation After 180 Days Of Intense Chemotherapy

A Confession That Shook a Nation On November 30, 2025, the world saw a side of Magda Szubanski that the beloved “Sharon Strzelecki” could never have prepared them for. Pale, bedbound, and bald from treatment, the 64-year-old icon offered a raw transmission from her hospital room that reduced Australia to a collective sob. “I thought I’d die alone,” she admitted, her voice trembling in a video that amassed 2.5 million views in mere hours. It wasn’t just a medical update; it was a profound revelation of human vulnerability, acknowledging that the wall of isolation she feared had been torn down by a global wave of affection.

The Accidental Discovery of a Killer The nightmare began not with a symptom, but a routine. In May 2025, a standard breast screening incidentally flagged swollen lymph nodes, leading to a devastating verdict: Stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma. This rare, predatory blood cancer strikes only 1 in 100,000 Australians. Before the drugs could dictate her appearance, Magda seized control, shaving her head in a defiant preemptive strike. She was immediately plunged into the “Nordic Protocol”—a brutal medical gauntlet of high-dose chemo and immunotherapy that has left her physically shattered but spiritually unbowed.

From “Sharon” to a Beacon of Resilience Six months into the fray, the toll on her body is undeniable, yet her wit remains razor-sharp. The woman who defined Australian comedy found herself “ugly-crying” not from pain, but from a 10-year-old fan who dressed as her iconic netball-loving character for Book Week. This grassroots solidarity has been echoed by industry titans; from co-stars Gina Riley and Jane Turner to international drag icons, the message is unanimous: Magda is not fighting this in a vacuum.

A Legacy Redefined by Survival The #MagdaStrong movement has transcended social media trends, manifesting in over $250,000 raised for the Leukaemia Foundation. While the statistics for Stage 4 survivors are sobering—with five-year survival rates hovering at 50%—Magda’s resolve suggests she intends to be on the right side of those odds. “Cancer picked the wrong funny woman to mess with,” she declared, turning her individual agony into a public masterclass on courage.

Her mission now is simple yet monumental: to keep showing up, bald and broken-hearted but alive. As she faces a precarious Christmas, Magda’s journey serves as a reminder that while medicine treats the body, communal love is the only thing that can heal the soul.

“Hello, Grandad…” — Bradley Walsh’s World Turns Upside Down As Son Barney Prepares For Fatherhood

For years, Bradley Walsh has been the man who never fails to raise a laugh — the quick-witted star who can turn chaos into comedy in seconds. But this week, the 63-year-old entertainer is said to have been left in tears, not on set, but in his own living room.

The reason? His son Barney has quietly shared life-changing news: his girlfriend, former Miss World Stephanie Del Valle Diaz, is expecting their first baby

Bradley is about to become a grandfather — and friends say the moment the words were spoken, he simply couldn’t hold it together.

“Bradley was completely overwhelmed,” one family friend revealed.
“He’s always been incredibly proud of Barney, but this took him to another emotional level. He hasn’t stopped smiling since.”

Sources say Barney, 27, and Stephanie, 29, discovered the pregnancy earlier this month but chose to keep it private until doctors confirmed everything was progressing well.

When they finally broke the news to family over the weekend, they described it as:

“The best news of our lives.”

Despite their public profiles, the couple have always kept their relationship fiercely guarded — rarely sharing details online. But those closest to them say this moment has deepened their bond in a way nothing else could.

“Barney has gone straight into protective-partner mode,” another insider said.
“He’s treating Stephanie like absolute royalty.”

From Beauty Crown To Baby Cradle

Stephanie, who was crowned Miss World in 2016, once spoke openly about wanting children “when the time felt right”. Now, friends say she is glowing with happiness, quietly preparing for motherhood while keeping the spotlight firmly away from her growing bump.

“She’s calm, excited, and completely focused on the future,” a source said.
“This is the chapter she always dreamed of — just on her own terms.”

“Grandad Brad” Is Already Dreaming Big

For Bradley, the news feels like the ultimate full circle.

Viewers watched him and Barney forge an unbreakable bond on Breaking Dad — now that story is evolving into something far more profound.

“He’s already jokingly calling himself ‘Grandad Brad’,” a friend laughed.
“He’s talking about baby names, prams, even planning little adventures for the baby.”

Those who know him best say this moment has unlocked a whole new side of the TV legend.

“Bradley always said being a dad was the proudest role of his life,” the insider added.
“Now he’s about to step into a role that’s even more special — and he’s absolutely bursting with love.”

SECRET PAIN FINALLY REVEALED: Hamza Yassin has made a stunning admission about a time he was homeless — and the lie he kept from his parents for almost a year

Strictly champion Hamza Yassin – who is on Countryfile this evening (Sunday, January 4) – once opened up about being homeless for almost a year.

The star, 35, revealed once that he lived in the back of his car for nine months after moving to a village in Scotland during his 20s.

Hamza lived in his car for a while in his 20s (Credit: CoverImages.com)

Hamza Yassin on living in the back of his car for nine months

Speaking to The Guardian back in 2024, Hamza admitted that during the early days of his career, he lived in the back of his car.

The star was based in the Highlands of Scotland, where he lied to his parents, telling them he was living in a cottage.

“When I was 21, I went on holiday with a friend to the Highlands. Two weeks later, I was back there for good. I told my parents I was living in this beautiful, quaint cottage. ‘There’s no signal,’ I would tell them, ‘so don’t bother ringing me. I’ll call you!’ The truth was I was living in my car, just trying to make ends meet.

“I parked at the local ferry terminal and blocked the sign that said ‘No overnight parking’. I lived there happily for nine months, doing odd jobs – cutting grass, chopping logs, and moving furniture. I calculated I needed £50 a month to survive and, as I was an ex-rugby player, I had the strength to do all sorts of manual work. During that time, I was cutting my teeth as a wildlife cameraman whenever I could – I was determined that I wouldn’t go back to Northampton with my tail between my legs and say to my parents: ‘I’ve been defeated, the dream is over.’”

Hamza lied to his parents about his living arrangements (Credit: BBC)

Hamza on living in his car to ‘make ends meet’

It all worked out in the end for the star.

“Luckily, it paid off. As well as doing housekeeping, I was also taking photos of otters, eagles, pine martens, dolphins, whales and red deer. That experience taught me everything I needed to know about the profession,” he said.

In an interview with The Times in November 2025, Hamza admitted the hardest part about living in his car was trying not to be spotted by the locals.

“Not being spotted sleeping in the back by the locals. I was waking up at 8am, pretending I was going on the ferry. It turned out that they knew, they just never quizzed me. I didn’t have a fridge. I had showers at a local campsite. I’m sometimes asked if I find it tough being a black man in the countryside.

I feel like I’ve conquered the world’

“I usually say that the wildlife doesn’t care. People were curious, not suspicious. They’d say, ‘What are you doing here?’.”

The star was then asked whether it feels like a luxury having his own home now.

“The sea is about 20 metres in front of the house. I see dolphins, orcas, eagles, red deer, otters. I felt like I’d conquered the world. I put in a wood-burning stove and had double-glazed windows. But I’d survived the west coast winters with double hoodies and duvets. It’s what we do as wildlife camera operators — go to remote places where there isn’t a Four Seasons hotel,” he said.

Read more: Hamza Yassin’s heartfelt confession about finding love after ‘living alone since uni’

Catch Hamza on Countryfile tonight (Sunday, January 4) from 6pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. 

 INSIDE 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT  A Strictly Come Dancing co-star has shared the first glimpse inside Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay’s “unforgettable” wedding at Bath Abbey

Adam Peaty‘s Strictly Come Dancing co-star Dan Walker has shared the first glimpse inside the Olympian’s ‘unforgettable’ wedding to Holly Ramsay.

Olympic swimmer Adam tied the knot with Gordon Ramsay‘s daughter Holly, who stunned in a lace gown, on Saturday at Bath Abbey.

Now TV presenter Dan, 48, who competed on Strictly with Adam in 2021, has taken to Instagram to share a photo of the couple’s order of service and gushed over the ‘wonderful’ day.

Dan, who attended the ceremony with his wife Sarah, wrote: ‘We had a lovely time celebrating with @adam_peaty & @hollyramsayy yesterday.

‘Great wedding, top people, wonderful service, unforgettable reception, brilliant speeches and we got to sing some bangers in the church too’.

As well as showing off the illustrated cover of the order of service, Dan included a picture from inside, showing the words to the hymn Be Thou My Vision, which also soundtracked his Instagram post.

Adam Peaty’s Strictly Come Dancing co-star Dan Walker has shared the first glimpse inside ‘unforgettable’ wedding to Holly Ramsay

Olympic swimmer Adam tied the knot with Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Holly, who stunned in a lace gown, on Saturday at Bath Abbey

Meanwhile Adam’s Strictly co-star Sara Davies shared a series of selfies from the ‘special day’ and said the reception meal was ‘hands down the best wedding food I’ve ever had’.

She wrote: ‘Yesterday I had the privilege of being at this amazing man’s wedding – and it also gave me a moment to reflect on how lucky I’ve been to have him in my life over the past four years.

‘From the first day we met on Strictly, we’ve been firm friends, and it was a real honour to sit in Bath Abbey and watch him get emotional as the love of his life walked down the aisle.

‘It was such a special day. Simon and I had the best time, the service was beautiful – and I’m sure you’ll not be surprised to hear me say, it was hands down the best wedding food I’ve ever had.

‘Wishing my wonderful friend and his gorgeous bride a lifetime of happiness together.’

On Sunday, Cruz Beckham also shared a selfie with brother Romeo during the bash.

Holly Ramsay swept into her wedding in Bath Abbey on the arm of her celebrity chef father, but keeping her lace gown concealed beneath a billowing hooded ivory cloak.

If the influencer appeared nervous as she made her way through a chaotic crowd of onlookers before she headed down the aisle to exchange vows with Adam, she had good reason.

Now TV presenter Dan, 48, who competed in Strictly with Adam in 2021, has taken to Instagram to share a photo of the couple’s order of service

He wrote: ‘We had a lovely time celebrating with @adam_peaty & @hollyramsayy yesterday. Great wedding, top people, wonderful service, unforgettable reception’

Dan attended the ceremony with his wife Sarah

Read More

EXCLUSIVE
The VERY humble origins of Adam Peaty’s father-in-law to be, Gordon Ramsay

`For behind the couple’s lavish nuptials lay an ugly family drama which resulted in the groom’s mother – and nearly every member of his family – excluded from the dazzling ceremony amid claims of snobbery and classism.

Sitting at home more than 130 miles away in Staffordshire, Adam’s broken–hearted mother Caroline was said to be ‘beside herself’ with grief at missing what should have been one of the happiest days of her life.

Speaking from the council house where Adam grew up, the 59–year–old told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I’m not going to be hurt like this again’.

She had told Daily Mail that she felt as if Holly and Adam ‘have cut my heart out’.

This newspaper can also reveal that, moments before he walked into the abbey clutching the hand of his five–year–old son George, Adam Peaty was sent a devastating text message by his aunt Louise, who was also not invited to the wedding.

In it, she wrote: ‘I hope you never suffer the depth of pain you have put your mother through and despite it all she loves you still. Shame on you both. Shame.

‘Remember on this, your happiest day, and on each anniversary of your happiest day, that you hurt your mum so deeply her soul screams.’

The roots of this terrible family conflict go back to September 2024, when Adam and Holly snubbed wider members of the Peaty family by not inviting them to their engagement party.

‘Remember on this, your happiest day, and on each anniversary of your happiest day, that you hurt your mum so deeply her soul screams.’

Meanwhile Adam’s Strictly co-star Sara Davies shared a series of selfies from the ‘special day’ and said the reception meal was ‘hands down the best wedding food I’ve ever had’

She wrote: ‘Yesterday I had the privilege of being at this amazing man’s wedding and it gave me a moment to reflect on how lucky I’ve been to have him in my life over the past four years’

‘It was a real honour to sit in Bath Abbey and watch him get emotional as the love of his life walked down the aisle. It was such a special day’, she said

Sama beamed with pal Dan inside Bath Abbey

On Sunday, Cruz Beckham also shared a selfie with brother Romeo during the bash

Sara stunned in a black and blue patterned gownwhich she cinched in at the waist with a belt

Sara and Adam met on the 2021 series of Strictly Come Dancing

Caroline, who spent years ferrying her son to early–morning training sessions, was also not invited to Holly’s glamorous hen do at Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds last month, even though the bride’s mother, Tana Ramsay, and friends including Victoria Beckham, were at the extravagant bash.

Despite everything Caroline sent a card and gift to her newlywed son for his 31st birthday today.

Meanwhile, Adam’s 73–year–old great–aunt Janet, who was also left out of yesterday’s wedding, told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I just feel so sorry for Caroline.

‘I can’t believe he’s done this to his mother who’s done so much for him from an early age. To be treated like this is not kind.’

Despite being shunned, devastated Caroline had threatened to turn up at the wedding anyway – and, if barred from entering the abbey, stand outside and watch from the street.

She said yesterday that she changed her mind after her husband Mark convinced her it would be ‘too upsetting’ to go along.

Had she defied her son’s ban, she would have found herself face–to–face with five security guards, placed in front of the abbey’s ancient and elaborately carved wooden doors, which were framed by decorative columns of white roses and hydrangeas.

The Ramsay family splashed out thousands on the venue, where weddings normally cost around £2,500, block–booking it for the day to ensure the service took place in absolute secrecy.

Having found fame and fortune for his foul–mouthed antics in the kitchen, Gordon Ramsay was on his best behaviour as he helped his 25–year–old daughter from a black Rolls–Royce which drew up outside the Gothic abbey at about 12.30pm.

He was seen whispering in her ear before kissing her cheek while an attendant straightened her crumpled outfit.

Buffeted by an icy wind, the pair were mobbed by well–wishers shouting ‘Merry Christmas’ as they passed.

Waiting inside for a first glimpse of the bride was a celebrity–studded congregation, including Sir David and Victoria Beckham, who are no strangers to family feuds themselves.

Adam’s mother Caroline (picture), who spent years ferrying her son to early–morning training sessions, was not invited to the couple’s wedding – or to Holly’s glamorous hen do last month

Read More

Happily married! Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay leave Bath Abbey after getting wed in front of Beckhams

Their sons Romeo and Cruz and daughter Harper, who are close friends of the Ramsays, were also there – but not estranged son Brooklyn.

Marcus Wareing from Masterchef: The Professionals and his wife Jane were also there.

The ensuing ceremony, one guest later told The Mail on Sunday, was ‘beautiful and very emotional’.

Like Adam, who is a devout Christian, Holly was determined that they would exchange vows in a religious service. Peaty’s son George, from a previous relationship, was said to have played a pivotal role in the ceremony.

The three bridesmaids were Holly’s older sister Megan, 27, younger sister Tilly, 24, and Adam’s sister Bethany – the only member of his family to be invited to the event, as well as to the hen party.

Other relatives said Bethany had been included as one of the bride’s attendants because she ‘fits in’ with the Ramsays’ glamorous world.

In what was seen by some as a display of defiance against her family, Bethany linked arms with Holly’s eldest sister as they entered the abbey carrying white arum lilies.

The bridesmaids wore red flowing dresses designed by Victoria Beckham. The former Spice Girl also wore one of her own frocks, a £1,290 teal number, and the dark green silk dress worn by the bride’s mother, 51–year–old Tana,was also from Lady Beckham’s label. Peaty, meanwhile, slicked back his hair and wore the same dinner suit as his new father–in–law.

There was no word, however, on the designer behind Holly’s romantic floral–patterned lace dress which was kept under wraps until the influencer was inside the abbey, away from prying cameras.

Other than the glaring absence of Peaty’s family, the bride and groom were declared man and wife without any drama. The newlyweds left church at around 1.30pm to a joyful peal from the abbey bells and were driven away to their reception at Kin House, a Georgian manor house 17 miles away, near Chippenham.

There, guests were served a wedding banquet which featured prawn cocktail, beef Wellington and pan–roasted halibut followed by a tarte tatin. A tradition wedding cake was served at 8pm.

A source said: ‘Holly and Adam have been meticulous in their planning and it’s come together perfectly. They couldn’t wait to share everything with their guests.’

While the ceremony and reception were conducted in the utmost secrecy, it’s likely they will feature in an upcoming Netflix documentary series about life in the Ramsay family.

Its airing – expected early next year – may well be the first proper glimpse Caroline Peaty will get of her own son’s wedding.

For the time being, mother and son remain tragically at loggerheads, unable to mend their differences and patch up their formerly close relationship. This is one story in search of a happy ending.