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SADNESS: John Torode’s HEARTBREAKING ADMISSION about being ‘away’ from Lisa Faulkner

John Torode was ‘away’ from his wife Lisa Faulkner (Image: ITV)

John Torode made a heartbreaking admission about spending time away from his ITV co-star wife Lisa Faulkner in his latest email newsletter. John’s Subtack newsletter, A View from the Fridge, allows fans a glimpse into his life after being axed from BBC MasterChef after allegedly making a racist remark – which he denies any knowledge of.

In his address to subscribers on November 30th, John reflected on jetting off to Qatar without his wife Lisa in tow, as he travelled 10,000 kilometres away from home. John stayed at a luxury camping resort in the desert, The Outpost Al Barari, and attended the F1 Grand Prix at the weekend.

 

But for John, the time away from home allowed him time to contemplate his life changes. He wrote: “The first time I have sat in my grief. Being away from Lisa has meant facing my grief alone and it has been cathartic but at times really tough.

“This week I can proudly say that I have allowed the true hurt and sadness to flow through me without resistance.”

John also confirmed that he is in therapy after the “unexpected and brutal” change in his life that came with his BBC axe.

John is in therapy after being axed from MasterChef (Image: Getty)

John was sacked alongside his MasterChef co-star Gregg Wallace, against whom 45 out of 83 miscondut allegations were upheld.

Responding to racism claims in a short statement, John said: “For the sake of transparency, I confirm that I am the individual who is alleged to have used racial language on one occasion. The allegation is that I did so some time in 2018 or 2019 in a social situation and that the person I was speaking with did not believe that it was intended in a malicious way and that I apologised immediately afterwards.

“I have absolutely no recollection of any of this and I do not believe that it happened. However, I want to be clear that I’ve always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment.”

EMERGENCY:  BBC Breakfast program PAUSED as presenter Luxmy Gopal made an URGENT NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT that caused public alarm.

Roger Johnson and Luxmy Gopal delivered shocking breaking news on BBC Breakfast (Image: BBC)

Roger Johnson and Luxmy Gopal brought viewers alarming breaking news on the most recent instalment of BBC Breakfast.

The presenting duo returned to the iconic red sofa on Sunday morning (December 14) to update the nation with the day’s top stories from around the world.

During the live programme, they revealed that New South Wales Police in Australia are advising people to stay clear of Bondi Beach in Sydney owing to an “developing incident”.

Luxmy told audiences: “We can bring you some breaking news from Australia.

“There are reports of a developing incident at Sydney’s Bondi Beach with local media reporting that gunshots have been fired.

The presenting duo returned to the iconic red sofa on (Image: BBC)

Roger continued: “Police are warning the public to stay away from Bondi Beach, which is one of the city’s busiest beaches and is a major destination in the city.”

Luxmy added: “The statement from New South Wales Police reads ‘we are still asking people in the area to take shelter until we can determine what is happening’.

“Police say two people are in custody and we’ll bring you more on this developing story as we get it on the BBC News Channel and of course on the website.”

New South Wales Police in Australia are advising people to stay clear of Bondi Beach in Sydney owing to an “developing incident” (Image: UK)

 

Roger interjected: “Sorry to interrupt. It is, of course, particular concern for many people at the time of year, because there are lots of people from the UK backpacking in Australia so we will continue to follow that story throughout the day.”

Luxmy concluded: “Bondi Beach is always very busy so we will keep you updated.”

Earlier in the programme, Roger and Luxmy linked up with Laura Kuenssberg to preview what viewers could expect from her final broadcast of the year.

Laura revealed: “We have the Christmas tree up. It is the last show of 2025. We will be looking back through the wild ride that has been the last 12 months of our politics here at home and abroad.

“We will get out of the crystal ball and look ahead to next year. We have a Christmas treat from Kate Winslet and friends talking about their new movie. We will be on BBC One ay nine o’clock.”

Roger responded: “Thank you. it seems like every year these days is a wld year in politics.”

BREAKING NEWS: Kelvin Fletcher and his wife Liz made a DIFFICULT DECISION in an ITV program UPDATE that left fans HEARTBROKEN

Kelvin and Liz Fletcher have shared some exciting news with their children (Image: ITV)

Kelvin and Liz Fletcher have delivered thrilling news to their children.

The married duo are mum and dad to Marnie, Milo, Maximus and Mateusz, and the clan faced a tricky choice during Sunday’s (December 14) instalment of Fletchers’ Family Farm.

After a gorgeous bull calf made its debut on the farm, the youngsters were keen to christen him with a moniker.

Milo and Mateusz both favoured Wolf King, whilst Marnie plumped for Oliver, Maximus went with Spin, and Liz settled on Barry.

Having heard their suggestions, Kelvin disclosed that all newborn calves must be formally registered, and with this particular breed, the Lincoln Red Cattle society recommends which letter names should start with annually, reports the Mirror.

Ezra is settling into life on the farm (Image: ITV)

Upon discovering that 2025 marks the year of the letter E, Liz proposed they christen him Ezra after Kelvin confessed the sole name that resonated with him was “Emmerdale”, the ITV drama where he portrayed Andy Sugden for twenty years.

Kelvin and Liz subsequently delivered the wonderful update to their offspring that the calf would officially be known as Ezra, a decision that delighted the group, with Marnie spearheading a family sing-along of pop sensation George Ezra’s smash hit Green Green Grass.

This follows reports that the family have secured another fresh programme called Fletchers’ Country Workshop.

The couple had a big decision to make (Image: ITV)

The reveal came via Daisybeck Studios, the production house behind the ITV series Fletchers’ Family Farm, through their official Instagram page. Accompanied by a glowing photograph of Liz, the announcement declared: “Big news! We’re super excited to show you something new that’s coming next week.

“With an ever-growing passion for interiors and upcycling, Liz and the rest of the Fletcher family have been working hard to craft, make, and create something special on the farm this Christmas. And of course, we’ve been there every step of the way. Keep your eyes peeled, and all will be revealed very soon.”

In a subsequent post, the production company disclosed the major surprise, announcing: “NEW EPISODE REVEAL. Introducing FLETCHERS’ COUNTRY WORKSHOP – a festive special that follows Liz and the family as they roll up their sleeves and dive into designing, making, crafting, and full-on DIY.”

 

The description went on: “This episode joins Liz on her mission to transform their old stable block into a fabulous festive venue, fit for a Christmas party for friends and family. With a huge space to fill and even bigger ideas, it’s all hands-on deck to help Liz create the perfect party space.

“Catch the magic on Sunday 14th December – an hour of creativity, Christmas spirit and heart-warming family teamwork!”.

The name Ezra went down well with the kids (Image: ITV)

Liz and Kelvin have been delighting followers with sneak peeks of their forthcoming show by sharing previews from their newest project.

The entire Fletcher family will feature in the ITV Christmas special, with Liz’s father also making a cameo appearance.

Fletcher’s Family Farm can be viewed on ITVX and Fletcher’s Country Workshop is set to air on Sunday, December 14 at 4pm

CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENT: Eight bombshell words Rylan Clark uttered after This Morning immigration speech

Rylan Clark uttered eight words after his anti-immigration speech (Image: ITV)

Rylan Clark uttered eight simple words when This Morning cut to an ad break after his explosive anti-immigration speech. The X Factor star was on the ITV show on August 27, alongside Josie Gibson, Camilla Tominey and Tim Campbell, and noted that while healthcare professionals from “other countries” saved his mum Linda’s life, he didn’t agree with how they are crossing the Channel.

He said at the time: “I find it absolutely insane that all these people are risking their lives coming across the Channel. And when they get here, it does seem, and I think this is why a lot of Labour voters as well are saying there’s something wrong, it feels like, ‘Welcome, come on in’. That’s the narrative we’re being fed.”

Now Camilla has exposed the eight words Rylan said after the segment. Speaking on former BBC presenter Andrew Gold’s Heretics podcast, she was asked: “Did the Rylan moment feel as big as it turned out to be, in the moment, for you?”

 

Camilla said: “I kind of thought, ‘Oh, he’s putting his neck out’. And then we had a break in between and he goes, ‘I’m going to get absolutely pilloried for this’.”

Gold replied: “He’s probably sitting there going, ‘F***ing hell’.” But Tominey was desperate to disprove that theory, telling him: “No, I don’t think so. I think he actually… I think Rylan is very misunderstood. I think he’s actually a really bright guy.

“I think he’s very well read and I think he has a persona – he said this himself – he is Rylan, and then he is himself. And he’s a very capable broadcaster both on TV and radio. He’s been around the block a bit. He knows what he thinks. He isn’t afraid to express it.

The segment was hit with hundreds of Ofcom complaints (Image: Getty)

“I think it was more in the vein of ‘I’m going to get pilloried’ as in, ‘This is what life is like these days’ than a fearful, ‘Oh my God’.”

Gold commented: “But I don’t know if he’s been allowed on since.”

Tominey explained: “Well, they’ve kind of reconstituted the show a bit, because it’s now Cat and Ben doing the main stuff, Dermot and Alison doing the Fridays. I think they’d be absolutely ludicrous to not let him back on because he’s one of the best guest presenters they have.”

Gold echoed: “Well I’ve heard from Rob Rinder as well, that apparently Rylan is very smart.”

Rylan Clark uttered eight words after his anti-immigration speech (Image: ITV)

Rylan Clark uttered eight simple words when This Morning cut to an ad break after his explosive anti-immigration speech. The X Factor star was on the ITV show on August 27, alongside Josie Gibson, Camilla Tominey and Tim Campbell, and noted that while healthcare professionals from “other countries” saved his mum Linda’s life, he didn’t agree with how they are crossing the Channel.

He said at the time: “I find it absolutely insane that all these people are risking their lives coming across the Channel. And when they get here, it does seem, and I think this is why a lot of Labour voters as well are saying there’s something wrong, it feels like, ‘Welcome, come on in’. That’s the narrative we’re being fed.”

Now Camilla has exposed the eight words Rylan said after the segment. Speaking on former BBC presenter Andrew Gold’s Heretics podcast, she was asked: “Did the Rylan moment feel as big as it turned out to be, in the moment, for you?”

Read more: Crime drama fans finally find show ‘miles better than Line of Duty’

Read more: Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg interrupted seconds in with tragic announcement

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Camilla said: “I kind of thought, ‘Oh, he’s putting his neck out’. And then we had a break in between and he goes, ‘I’m going to get absolutely pilloried for this’.”

Gold replied: “He’s probably sitting there going, ‘F***ing hell’.” But Tominey was desperate to disprove that theory, telling him: “No, I don’t think so. I think he actually… I think Rylan is very misunderstood. I think he’s actually a really bright guy.

“I think he’s very well read and I think he has a persona – he said this himself – he is Rylan, and then he is himself. And he’s a very capable broadcaster both on TV and radio. He’s been around the block a bit. He knows what he thinks. He isn’t afraid to express it.

The segment was hit with hundreds of Ofcom complaints (Image: Getty)

“I think it was more in the vein of ‘I’m going to get pilloried’ as in, ‘This is what life is like these days’ than a fearful, ‘Oh my God’.”

Gold commented: “But I don’t know if he’s been allowed on since.”

Tominey explained: “Well, they’ve kind of reconstituted the show a bit, because it’s now Cat and Ben doing the main stuff, Dermot and Alison doing the Fridays. I think they’d be absolutely ludicrous to not let him back on because he’s one of the best guest presenters they have.”

Gold echoed: “Well I’ve heard from Rob Rinder as well, that apparently Rylan is very smart.”

EXCLUSIVE: Strictly star Amber Davies pays tribute to West End star boyfriend Ben Joyce after ‘difficult’ week

Proud boyfriend Ben and Amber’s mum were cheering her on from the audienceCredit: BBC

Amber admitted to facing a tough week after trolls targeted her onlineCredit: BBC

Amber performed a Hollywood inspired ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ routine for her couple’s choiceCredit: PA

The star got emotional as Nikita urged fans to “be kind”Credit: BBC

Strictly’s Nikita hits back at online trolls for attacking Amber Davies as he breaks down in tearsCredit: BBC
Since then, she has called Ben her “rock” – and on tonight’s episode of Strictly, he was seen proudly sitting besides Amber mum to support her in the semi-finals.

After her second dance with pro partner Nikita Kuzmin – a Couple’s Choice to Fly Me to the Moon that paid homage to the golden era of Hollywood – Amber got emotional speaking out him with Claudia.

Choking back tears before she even reached the “Clauditorium”, Amber spoke about how important the dance was to her, before praising those who have been an emotional support for her during a tough week.

“After doing the dance off last week, I thought, Oh no, we might not get to do our couple’s choice,” she said.

 

“So the fact that we’ve done it just means the world to me. ”

“My mum has been by my side from since day one, and she’s turned into my best friend, and I couldn’t live a single day without her,” she added.

“She’s just amazing. And my boyfriend, Ben, thank you for everything as well.”

Amber has suffered a particularly brutal week this week, after she faced the dance-off last week and won – meaning fan favourites Lewis Cope and Katya Jones were knocked out of the competition.

 

Enraged fans took to social media to troll Amber, whose career as a musical theatre star has left fans critical of her being on the show.

She has since been named by bookies as favourite to leave this week, just one week before the grand finale.

 

Contestants have hit back in defence of Amber, with George Clarke commenting on the brutal lashing she was facing online as a result of her position on the show.

“I think just to send people hate for absolutely no reason is just insane,” he said on his Useless Hotline podcast.

“Amber produced an unbelievable dance. Ended up having to do it again in a dance off. Produced it, if anything better, and is then getting hate, I think it’s just unnecessary.”

Tonight, her pro partner Nikita Kuzmin took a moment on the show to also speak out in her defence, hitting back at those watching who have gone after Amber.

“You have had so much hate from every single day, from the moment you joined, you had so much hate this week, and yet you came every single day into the training room with a big smile, ignoring everybody and just giving me love,” he told her. Giving me a little ginger shot as well!

“But you came with so much love. You always were kind. You’re so caring. You care more about me, when I’m supposed to care about you. You care about me every single day.”

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As Amber broke down in tears, he continued: “You are such a lovely, positive person. And I think sometimes, and I speak to the audience at home, just guys, just please, please be kind, because it costs nothing, and you don’t deserve none of that.

“Without you, if you wouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t be here as well, and neither the show will be as good as it is, because you bring so much joy, that’s the only thing you bring, and you deserve all the love in the world.

Strictly’s Nikita hits back at online trolls for attacking Amber Davies as he breaks down in tearsCredit: BBC

Amber praised her boyfriend and mum for their support during a tough weekCredit: BBC

Amber praised her mum as her ‘best friend’ before also acknowledging boyfriend BenCredit: PA

UNACCEPTABLE: Fans of the show Strictly Come Dancing demand a refund of licensing fees and file the SAME COMPLAINT

Viewers issued the same complaint over the latest episode of Strictly Come Dancing (Image: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing returned to screens on Saturday December 13 for the glitzy semi-final as the four remaining couples dance twice in the hopes of making it to the grand final on December 20. However, viewers were fuming just minutes into the show as they felt the BBC show was missing one key element – Lewis Cope and his pro partner Katya Jones, who were eliminated in the most recent dance off.

Taking to X they raged about the former Emmerdale star’s absence. “I’ve got #Strictly on but sorry to say it has lost part of its sparkle for me without Lewis & Katya,” one fumed. “For me losing Lewis & Katya stings a lot more than Danny & Oti not winning…at least team Doti completed their journey!Mmissing out on Lewis & Katya Argentine Tango & American
Smooth seems criminal & i cant help but wonder what their showdance would have been like,” another added.

 

A third chimed in: “Can we bring Lewis & Katya back to do their Argentine Tango now ….otherwise I’ll be a demanding a full refund of my licence fee if we don’t ever get to see it!”

A fourth vented: “I’m so angry Lewis and Katya have gone. I want to see dancing. Not some half a**** attempt at it.”

A fifth shared: “I’m still p***** that Lewis isn’t in the Semis. He was the first one to get 40 this series and very early on, too.”

Meanwhile a sixth penned: “Honestly, Strictly just isn’t the same without Lewis ,it feels boring. The energy’s gone. Amber is the only one who brings any spark, but the public don’t seem to like her, so she might go. And let’s be real, George will probably win because of his popularity and fans. Missing Lewis and Katya”

Lewis Cope and Katya Jones Strictly Come Dancing journey came to an end (Image: BBC)

Lewis and Katya became the 12th couple to be eliminated after finding themselves in the dreaded dance-off against Amber Davies and Nikita Kuizman on Sunday, December 7.

This was despite the fact the two couples scored highly with Amber and Nikita attaining a perfect 40 for their Charleston to Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat from the beloved musical, Guys and Dolls. Meanwhile, Lewis and Katya earned a respectable 35 points for their Salsa to the track Dance At The Gym from the musical West Side Story.

In a nail-biting dance-off both couples performed again as they fought for their place in the semi-finals.

However, the judges unanimously voted to save Amber and Nikita, and Lewis and Katya were tearfully eliminated from the competition.

SH0CKING: Karen Carney banned from the show and fined for ‘insulting’ text messages before joining the cast of Strictly.

Former England footballer Karen Carney has had a successful career both on and off the pitch and is now aiming to make her mark in national TV history as she advances to the semi-finals of Strictly Come Dancing. The former Birmingham City Women’s star and football pundit has won over fans on the popular dance competition, impressing judges alongside her dance partner Carlos Gu. She hopes to replicate her footballing triumphs and add another feather to her cap this Saturday night.

Despite making it to the final four, the 38-year-olds’ 60s-inspired psychedelic samba earned them 34 points, placing them at the bottom of the most recent leaderboard. However, it was enough to secure their spot in the esteemed semi-finals. Carney boasts an impressive record, having competed in four World Cups, four European Championships, and the London Olympics. This led her to become England’s third-most capped player with 144 appearances, earning her an OBE in 2024.

Despite her recent success and acclaimed footballing skills, there was a time when her sporting career was tainted by controversy. She received a one-match ban and fine for telling an opponent to “f*** off back to Spain”

This incident occurred during a Women’s Super League match in July 2014 between Birmingham City and Bristol Academy, where Carney and Natalia Pablos Sanchon were involved in a series of heated exchanges towards the end of the game.

The Football Association’s investigation found Carney guilty of misconduct for using abusive and/or insulting words towards an opposing player. She was also fined £450 and ordered to complete an education programme.

However, Carney has not allowed this incident to tarnish her legacy and has since gone on to become a key advocate for the sport she dedicated herself to, chairing the government’s review into the future of women’s football in 2022, pushing for better pay, facilities and overall standards.

Working as a pundit, she has received unprecedented amounts of abuse, most notably in December 2020, when her comments about Leeds United resulted in thousands of abusive and sexist messages being sent. An event which led to the deletion of her Twitter account, and she later admitted to having suicidal thoughts during this time.

Carney has not let the wave of online abuse deter her whatsoever as she continues to display the resilience and determination she showed on the pitch to keep working within football and combating online abuse whilst excelling all the way to the Strictly final four.

‘I FELT JUDGED THE WHOLE TIME’ — Strictly Come Dancing Star Amber Davies Makes a Raw, EMOTIONAL ADMISSION That Leaves Fans Rethinking What She Really Went Through Behind the Glitter

Amber Davies became emotional in a clip featured on Strictly Come Dancing (Image: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing star Amber Davies tearfully admitted she “felt judged” in a clip shown before her second dance in the semi-final of the BBC show on Saturday December 13. The 29-year-old West End star appeared on the Love Island show in 2017 just four years after she had moved to London to pursue her dreams. However, in a video about her journey recorded for Strictly, she revealed the aftermath wasn’t what she expected.

“At 16, I moved to London. I was auditioning so much, and I just was not landing a job. I always remember thinking, Oh, I’m just not good enough,” she said. “I was 20 years old, an opportunity came up for me, and that, of course, was Love Island.” Her mother then chimed in to explain the fallout. “That year, it absolutely blew up. She’d gone in a young girl from Denby, and she’d come out this famous person experiencing negativity.”

 

“It was really, really hard. Every move I made, I felt like I was being judged by the whole world,” Amber said.

After her mother said she had “really lost her way” and had to “Sit down and t hink about what we can do” Amber revealed she made a huge decision.

“(I decided to) live life for me and not live life for other people. Because I felt like that’s what I was doing.”

Revealing her reasons for doing Strictly despite her previous negative experience on a reality show she said it is a “dream” to do the show.

Amber Davies and pro partner Nikita Kuzmin are hoping to make the Strictly Come Dancing final (Image: BBC)

“I have been a Strictly fan since I was a young girl so to be on the show it’s just literally a dream come true.

“I want to do this dance for any young girl who is ambitious and has a dream. Go for it. Reach for the stars. You can do anything if you put your mind to it,” she said.

Amber narrowly made the semi final having survived a dreaded dance off against former Emmerdale star Lewis Cope on Sunday December 7. Despite scoring a perfect 40 she found herself in the bottom two but the judges voted unanimously to save her and pro partner Nikita Kuzmin.

They are hoping to make the final of the show following their latest dances – a romantic Couple’s Choice to Fly Me to the Moon by Raye and a dramatic Tango to Higher by Michael Bublé.

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly presented the Strictly Come Dancing semi-final (Image: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing fans have been left outraged after the results of this week’s show were leaked online nearly 24 hours before they are broadcast on BBC One on Sunday December 14. Express.co.uk has chosen not to share the spoiler. The remaining four contestants and their pro dancers performed twice on the live show on Saturday December 13, all hoping to earn a place in the grand final on Saturday December 20.

At the end of the live show Karen Carney and Carlos Gu topped the leaderboard, with scores of 39 for their first dance and 39 for their second – totalling 78. West End star Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin were sitting in second place, with 37 and 40, fora total of 77. George Clarke and Alexis Warr scored 35 and 37, giving them 72 and placing them third. However, despite huge praise from the judges EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon scored 35 and 35, with a grand total of 70, which placed her bottom of the leaderboard.

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Less than two hours after the live show ended the spoiler was posted on X and fans were not happy with the result.

“The Strictly Spoiler I DIDN’T WANT all series happening at the very end. SAD, AWFUL, CRUEL,” one lamented.

“OMFG I SAW TOMORROW’S SPOILER, SO F****** LIVID,” another fumed.

A third chimed in: “Nothing I didn’t expect there… do I think it’s right; f****** NO.”

Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke judged the Strictly semi-final (Image: BBC)

A fourth simply penned: “I’m heartbroken.” A fifth seemed to have resigned themself to the result writing: “The Strictly spoiler is disappointing but I was expecting it unfortunately#Strictly.”

Meanwhile not everyone took it badly with one cheering: “The Strictly spoiler omg omg. I’m honestly over the d*** moon.”

Of the remaining four celebrities Balvinder has endured the most dance offs after surviving a record five.

Amber Davies found herself in her first dance off against Lewis Cope on Sunday December 7 and the judges voted unanimously to save her. Neither George or Karen have faced the dace off to date.