My surgeon’s kind face gave nothing away as I sat down to hear how my operation had gone. He knew, as I did, that what he was about to tell me would shape the rest of my life.

Finally, he smiled. ‘The pathology report is clear,’ he said. ‘All the cancer cells have been killed. It’s the best possible result.’

My partner, Richard, was hugging me before the words had fully sunk in.

The previous eight months had been the hardest of my life, as I’d endured gruelling treatment for an aggressive form of breast cancer.

Before my operation, I’d undergone 14 rounds of chemotherapy alongside immunotherapy – one of the newest cancer treatments available, which harnesses the immune system to hunt down and destroy cancer cells.

It had worked. But as the fear of dying finally began to lift, I knew my extraordinary news had come at a price.

The immunotherapy had turned my immune system against my own body, leaving me with life-threatening – and potentially long-lasting – side effects.

Because, as I discovered, a super-charged immune system doesn’t have an off-switch. And even though my last dose of immunotherapy was 17 months ago, I am still living with the side effects today. And now research shows that I’m far from alone.

Immunotherapy has, with good reason, been hailed as revolutionary. Introduced less than two decades ago, it has transformed the outlook for cancers that were once considered almost impossible to treat.

The most dramatic example is advanced melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Until little more than a decade ago, fewer than 5 per cent of patients were alive ten years after their diagnosis. Today, thanks to immunotherapy, more than half survive that long, and some are considered cured – an astonishing turnaround that many cancer specialists once thought impossible.

Similar breakthroughs have followed in some forms of lung and kidney cancer. Researchers are also seeing encouraging results in pancreatic cancer and other notoriously difficult tumours, raising hopes that immunotherapy’s success story is only just beginning.

But, as I discovered first-hand, this extraordinary treatment can come at a cost. Patients often develop side effects caused by their immune system attacking healthy tissue. Some, like me, are left with health problems that persist long after treatment has ended.

The most frightening part is that it’s impossible to predict who will develop these complications, or which organ the immune system will attack.

I was the fittest I’d ever been when I was diagnosed with cancer. Aged 56, I ran three times a week, had been a vegetarian since my teens, didn’t smoke and drank in moderation. I’d even written books about health.

I found the lump in my right armpit in November 2024 during my regular breast self-check. I reassured myself: it’s not in my breast so it’s probably nothing.

It wasn’t nothing.

A month later, after scans and a biopsy, I heard the words we all dread: ‘You have cancer.’

Not just any breast cancer, but triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) – a rarer, more aggressive form that is harder to treat because it lacks the receptors that are targeted by many of the most effective drugs.

The lump in my lymph node had grown to the size of a brussels sprout. It was an irony that wasn’t lost on me: I received my diagnosis just before Christmas. Stranger still, doctors couldn’t find the original tumour in my breast.

The treatment was almost as frightening as the diagnosis. I faced six months of chemotherapy, followed by surgery and radiotherapy. Even then, there were no guarantees.

In clinical trials, around one in four women like me who received standard treatment alone saw their cancer return within three years.

But there was one reason to hope. Just two years before my diagnosis, the NHS had approved pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy drug, for patients like me. It belongs to a new generation of treatments that work by taking the brakes off the immune system, allowing it to recognise and attack cancer cells that would otherwise slip under the radar.

My oncologist was candid about the risks. By unleashing the immune system against the cancer, the drug could also cause it to attack healthy organs. My thyroid was one possibility. My lungs, liver, bowel, skin or heart could also be affected. I could say no.

But knowing the poor prognosis women with TNBC face, I wanted to throw everything at the tumour. Besides, I was already signing chemotherapy consent forms listing scores of nasty complications. A few more seemed the least of my worries. I said yes.

Treatment started the day before Christmas Eve. It wasn’t pleasant, but side effects such as nausea were mostly controlled by the party bag of medications I received after my weekly infusions.

I wore an icy ‘cold cap’ to try to save some of my hair, and tried to keep walking the dog and working.

But overnight in early March everything changed. I developed acute diarrhoea, up to 14 times a day. As I got weaker, my consultant diagnosed colitis – inflammation of my large intestine.

My immune system was attacking my digestive system. Colitis can be life-threatening, so I spent every day in the emergency department receiving high-dose steroid infusions, along with other specialist medications.

I’d undergone 14 rounds of chemotherapy alongside immunotherapy – one of the newest cancer treatments available, which harnesses the immune system

After decades of healthy eating, I had to ditch my five-a-day for what is known as a low-residue diet – low in fibre to reduce the amount of work my damaged bowel had to do – consisting of white bread, jacket potatoes and the occasional banana.

The cancer treatment had to stop completely while the oncology team tried to calm down my fiery immune system.

It took a month for the treatment to kick in and ease my symptoms, and the steroids left me so wired I couldn’t sleep.

When insomnia struck, I’d lie awake researching the condition for the blog I’d started after my diagnosis. I wanted to understand what had happened to me. The answer lay in something known as immunotherapy toxicity.

By revving up the immune system to attack cancer, immunotherapy can also cause it to attack healthy parts of the body – as I’d been warned. But what I hadn’t fully grasped was that unlike chemo, where side effects are unpleasant but usually short-lived, immunotherapy toxicity can flare up years after treatment.

Professor Richard Simcock, chief medical officer at Macmillan Cancer Support, explains: ‘One of the hardest aspects of immunotherapy toxicity is its unpredictability. We don’t yet have a way of understanding who will be affected, what side effects they may get and, crucially, how long problems may last.

‘All of this massively contributes to the uncertainty.’

I had to stop pembrolizumab after just three doses instead of the planned 17 but I was able to restart chemotherapy. By June, I could no longer climb the stairs without stopping to catch my breath, and I’d developed a relentless dry cough.

One night, after a blood transfusion, my temperature soared and I struggled to breathe. We called 999 and, within minutes, I was in an ambulance, blue lights flashing as we raced to A&E. I was given an oxygen mask as doctors tried to work out what was wrong. Antibiotics made no difference – I was getting sicker by the hour.

My chest felt as though it were being crushed in a metal vice.

Too frightened to sleep, and convinced I was dying, I searched my symptoms online. The most likely culprit? Pneumonitis. My super-charged immune system was now attacking my lungs.

Finally, after 48 terrifying hours, a specialist toxicity team started me on huge doses of IV steroids. Within hours my breathing improved. By day two I could manage without oxygen.

My surgery was delayed while my lungs recovered, but by the end of July I had the best news of my life: there was no sign of cancer. It’s impossible to know which of the five medications killed off my tumour but I toasted the team, the chemo and the pembrolizumab that night.

Except my immune system hadn’t quite finished with me.

As soon as I came off steroids, my colitis returned with a vengeance, scuppering plans for an August enjoying my recovery.

The saving grace was the fantastic immunotherapy toxicity team here in Sussex, where expert nurses delivered more steroid infusions and kept my morale high. My colitis improved enough for me to have radiotherapy.

But I also had severe joint pains, probably caused by the steroids weakening my muscles. I started doing gentle physio and drinking all the protein smoothies I could stomach. But by January this year I felt 96, not 56, as the pains spread to my hips, knees, wrists, elbows, even my heels.

Could my immune system have found a new target? Sure enough, when I restarted steroids, the pain started improving overnight, confirming a diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis.

But steroids are not a long-term solution. I can live with the swollen moon-face they cause, but the reduced immunity they cause means I catch every bug going.

Doctors want to find an alternative but some of the newer treatments are not available on the NHS. For now I’m trying another drug that leaves me nauseous and dog-tired three days out of seven. If that fails, I may get compassionate funding for the more expensive meds.

At first I assumed I was just unlucky. But now we know that wasn’t it. The biggest study in Europe followed 545 patients who had the same treatment as me, in 34 UK hospitals. Two-thirds suffered an immune-related side effect, nearly half needed unplanned stays in hospital, and four patients died, including three whose lungs were attacked by pneumonitis.

The team that treated me was set up by Professor Anna Olsson-Brown, chief executive of the Immuno-Oncology Clinical Network (IOCN) and chair of the UK Society for Medical Oncology.

She says: ‘Severe or life-threatening toxicity affects somewhere between one in five and one in two patients, depending on the treatment, with many left with long-term, life-altering, symptoms.

‘With 25,000 patients treated with immunotherapies last year in England alone, these toxicities are not a rare complication. They are a routine part of the treatment.’

The effects go beyond individual patients. The list price of a full course of pembrolizumab is nearly £90,000, though the NHS does get a discount. But emergency admissions, specialist drugs and years of follow-up add to the burden on struggling cancer units.

I was lucky to have access to a specialist team, but these services are few and far between.

Doctors talk about a golden age of cancer care thanks to treatments such as immunotherapy. But I’ve learned we need to choose what is right for us. Always ask to have the effects explained more than once, or to see the research.

I’ve also learned that you have to be your own champion. Non-specialist medics don’t always understand immunotherapy side effects, but it’s your body and you have the right to be taken seriously.

During sleepless nights, when the cocktail of pills or joint pains keep me awake, I relive those terrifying times in A&E. Did I make the wrong decision in agreeing to immunotherapy? Deep down, I know I’d still say yes.

It’s very likely it helped get rid of my cancer, just as it has for tens of thousands of people. I just hope that medics also discover new ways to treat the sting in the tail.

Kate’s blog, My Big Cancer Plot Twist, includes advice and links for anyone affected by cancer.

Nicola Sturgeon was speaking with broadcaster Iain Dale at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has ruled out joining the Scottish Greens as she proclaimed herself “SNP to my core”.

The comments come after the ex-party leader criticised the SNP campaign in a new foreword of her memoir released last week, claiming it lacked “vision” and “big-picture thinking”, while praising the Scottish Greens.

But speaking to broadcaster Iain Dale during a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Ms Sturgeon said she would not be jumping ship.

“No,” she said when asked about a party switch.

“I am SNP to my core… I joined the SNP at 16, I will die in the SNP.”

She added: “I am not joining any other party. I will never be a member of any other party – ever.”

Some of her former colleagues in government pushed back on her criticism this week, with Education Secretary Mairi McAllan – who served as special adviser under Ms Sturgeon – saying accusations the SNP ran a bad campaign were “nonsense”.

First Minister John Swinney said the party’s push for a fifth term in office was “strong”.

On Saturday, the ex-first minister – who appointed Mr Swinney as her deputy – praised him.

“The SNP’s just won an election, overwhelmingly, deservedly so,” she said.

“John Swinney is one of my favourite people on the face of the planet.

“We’ve been close colleagues, friends, for many, many years.

“I think he is doing an outstanding job as First Minister and it makes me really proud to see how well he’s doing.”

But she added that, with the rise in Reform support, parties could face a shift to the right as the political climate moves, warning the SNP to resist such a move.

“If I make a point at all, that is relevant to my own party as much as it is to anybody else, it’s stand up for what you believe in,” she said.

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Kelvin Fletcher and Sue Cleaver were there to support their former co-stars

Adam and Ryan Thomas were dealt a “cruel” twist of fate during their Deal or No Deal appearance as they settled for the banker’s final offer after instantly losing out on the jackpot.

Stephen Mulhern fronts a new edition of the classic format where one celebrity player has to bravely decide to keep what’s in their mystery box or go with a deal from the banker.

However, on Saturday (August 8), it was Thomas brothers Adam and Ryan who joined forces, hoping to win a whopping amount of cash for their chosen charity, Arthritis UK, after Adam’s diagnosis.

Their first pick proved to be a bad choice as they instantly lost £100,000 – the largest amount available to them – with Stephen branding it the “worst” first move yet.

It wasn’t until their fourth try that they finally managed to remove a box from the lower blue side. They then turned down the banker’s offer of £4312 in the hope that they could get even more from the floor. Things started picking up for the brothers after a rocky start as they chose multiple blue boxes in a row.

However, as the 25,000, 50,000 and 75,000 also left the game, things weren’t looking great for Adam and Ryan. After a tricky game, they decided to accept the banker’s offer of £2,010 instead of risking losing £5,000 on the final stretch.

During the celebrity specials, the stars are surrounded by their loved ones and for the Thomas brothers it was filled with former soap stars.

Corrie’s Sue Cleaver was there to support Ryan as she played his on-screen mum, Eileen Grimshaw. When Sue decided to leave Corrie last year, Ryan returned himself to bid her farewell on the cobbles.

Eileen was feeling overwhelmed as George Shuttleworth who has been feeling neglected by Eileen over recent weeks, decided it would be the perfect time to propose.

She was saved from giving a response, however, as Jason strolled in with his suitcase and announced: “The rover returns” as he was greeted by surprised faces.

For Adam’s days on Emmerdale, former co-star Kelvin Fletcher who played Andy Sugden arrived in the studio as well as Sheree Murphy who played Tricia Dingle.

Also in the studio was third Thomas brother Scott Thomas, Strictly professional dancer Luba Mushtuk, and Ryan’s partner Lucy Mecklenburgh, and Adam’s wife Caroline.

On X (formerly known as Twitter), fans felt sorry for the brothers “bad luck” throughout the game. @engteachervng wrote: “They could donate more than that themselves! They’re decent lads, what bad luck.”

@2001_joemendy added: “What the……This is a disaster” as @jeffnewton1 said: “For a charity game this is cruel as the 10 grand goes. Only 5k left along with 1p £10 £100 and £500. At least they’re still laughing.”

This is the moment armed police found a stalker hiding under a bed after he mowed down three people while speeding through the streets.

Joseph Wicks, 27, of Colchester, mounted the pavement and hit pedestrians in a Fiat 500 on Queen Street on November 30 last year.

He fled the scene before police later found him hiding beneath a bed frame.

Footage shows officers telling Wicks ‘the game’s up’ as they shine a torch into his hiding place before arresting him.

During the driving incident, Wicks narrowly missed other members of the public as he drove the wrong way down one-way streets, sped along narrow roads and ignored red traffic lights.

He eventually abandoned the car in Wivenhoe Quay, where police discovered his fingerprints inside the vehicle, identifying him as the driver.

While Essex Police were investigating the incident, Wicks went on to commit further offences six months later.

A campaign of stalking and harassment against a woman culminated in an incident on May 8 this year, when Wicks was reported to have attended the victim’s address.

He shouted, swore and acted aggressively, banging on the front door and demanding to be let inside.

After Wicks returned to his van, a man approached and opened the passenger door to confront him about his behaviour.

Joseph Wicks fled the scene before police later found him hiding beneath a bed frame

While Essex Police were investigating the incident, Wicks (pictured) went on to commit further offences six months later

The man reported seeing a metal baseball bat and what appeared to be a handgun inside.

Wicks left the area but continued to bombard the woman with threatening phone calls and messages.

Following the report of a potential firearm, armed officers began searching for Wicks.

The following day, on May 9, officers located his van and discovered the baseball bat, but no firearm.

On May 11, officers arrived at another address, where several people claimed they had not seen Wicks.

However, police searched the property and found him hiding underneath a bed.

Wicks was arrested and charged with a string of offences, including dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, failing to stop for police, three counts of assault by beating, three counts of attempting to cause actual bodily harm, stalking, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, sending threatening communications and criminal damage.

While Wicks admitted to many of the charges, he denied having an imitation firearm.

Appearing for sentence at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday, July 31, Wicks was jailed for four years and six months. He was also disqualified from driving for two years and six months.

Inspector Tom Stokes, of our Force Support Unit, said: ‘Our officers are trained to deal with some of the most challenging and high-risk situations policing can present.

‘Every deployment requires calm judgement, clear decision-making and the ability to assess rapidly changing circumstances while keeping the public, colleagues and themselves safe.

‘In this case, officers were tasked with locating and arresting a man linked to a series of serious offences, including dangerous driving which put members of the public at risk and a report involving what was believed to be a firearm. 

‘When information suggests there may be a weapon involved, we must plan carefully and act decisively.

‘The professionalism shown by the officers involved meant they were able to safely enter the address, carry out a thorough search and locate Wicks despite efforts to conceal himself. 

‘Their actions ensured a high-harm offender was brought before the courts and held accountable for his actions.

‘Much of the work carried out by armed officers happens out of the public eye, but it is built on extensive training, teamwork and a commitment to protecting communities across Essex. We will continue to target those who pose the greatest risk and ensure they are brought to justice.’

By TOM LAWRENCE, NEWS REPORTER

Published: 20:46 BST, 8 August 2026 | Updated: 21:16 BST, 8 August 2026

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed there is no further update following the incident in Spinning Meadows, Halliwell, on Friday afternoon (August 7).

Officers were called to the quiet cul-de-sac at around 2.25pm following reports of a man with injuries “consistent with a knife wound”.

A large number of police officers attended the scene, while an air ambulance also landed at the grounds of nearby Bolton Rugby Club.

The man was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Several police vehicles were at the scene, with a section of the road taped off between two houses.

Ambulance crews were also in attendance, with some arriving by helicopter.

GMP officers at the scene (Image: Phil Taylor)

Eyewitnesses reported that a “machete” had been involved in the attack, although this has not been confirmed by police.

Other witnesses said they had heard people at the scene suggesting the incident may have been connected to “bikes”.

However, this remains unconfirmed and is based solely on reports from people at the scene.

An emergency crew member was seen carrying a bleed kit, which is used to treat serious wounds.

One person who was seen speaking to police at the scene also appeared to have blood on them (Image: Phil Taylor)

As of 4.30pm on Saturday (August 8), no arrests have been made, and GMP said there is no further update at this moment.

The investigation remains ongoing, and the situation could change as police enquiries continue.

We will provide further updates from GMP as they become available.

President Donald Trump’s social media staff took a jab at Taylor Swift after she supposedly had her song august removed from his campaign’s TikTok account.

Trump’s TikTok team posted another video using Swift’s song Red from her 2012 album of the same name.

It was accompanied by a mock-up photo of the album cover but instead of a close-up portrait of Swift wearing her signature red lipstick was a picture of Trump wearing his signature red MAGA cap and a faux ‘Red (Donald Trump‘s Version)’ playlist.

‘Did you know Taylor Swift wrote a whole album about the color of the Republican Party,’ read the needling message.

By Saturday midday, the Red audio track had also been removed from Team Trump’s TikTok by either Swift, 36, or someone in her camp. A pop-up note said: ‘This sound isn’t available.’

The latest musical tug-of-war comes after Swift, whose new husband was slammed for his ‘dad bod,’ allegedly disabled a Team Trump video on TikTok featuring her song august.

The trolling post included a mock-up of Swift’s Red album cover but instead of a close-up portrait of the singer wearing her signature red lipstick was a picture of Trump wearing his signature red MAGA cap and a faux ‘Red (Donald Trump’s Version)’ playlist

The trolling White House clip that was posted four days ago showed the backs of Trump, 80, who said he ‘hates’ Swift, and First Lady Melania Trump, 56, as they watched fireworks light up the night sky.

The text appearing on the image read: ‘Mood because it’s August and Donald Trump is your president.’

Swift’s song august initially played on the soundtrack, and at the bottom of the post was a message from Team Trump saying: ‘I’m sure @Taylor Swift is going to be super excited we used her song!’ along with the hashtags #taylorswift #maga #august.

By Friday night, the audio was gone and replaced with a message that said: ‘The copyright owner hasn’t made this sound available in your country,’ and which just shouted Swift, whose ‘fairytale’ wedding left some guests ‘weirded out.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to a representative for Swift and the White House for comment but has not yet received a response.

The song august is from the singer–songwriter’s 2020 Folklore album. It’s a bittersweet track about a delicate and fleeting summer romance told from the perspective of a fictional teenage girl named Augustine. 

Swift’s fans rejoiced in the comments with one writing: ‘TAYLOR REMOVING THE AUDIO QUEEEEEEN.’ Another echoed: ‘TAYLOR QUEEN SWIFT.’

A third applauded the singer’s actions by saying: ‘TAYLOR REMOVED THE SOUND HAHAHA,’ and a fourth chimed in: ‘She removed it, clocked you guys.’

The latest musical tug-of-war comes after Swift allegedly removed her song august from a Team Trump TikTok video that showed the POTUS and First Lady Melania Trump watching fireworks

Swift, 36, now owns the copyright of all her songs and recordings including august and Red

Team Trump TikTok followers were quick to comment about the president’s ‘obsession’ with Swift after the latest stunt; the singer is pictured in 2024

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And yet another Swiftie couldn’t resist teasing: ‘Hahahahaha you messed with the wrong successful woman,’ followed by the taunting words of another fan: ‘I hope taylor swift sues you and wins.’

Swift now owns the copyright of all her songs and recordings, including august and Red. 

She officially regained ownership of her original master recordings in May 2025 after a six-year battle.

This isn’t the first time Team Trump has borrowed a Swift track for its TikTok account. In November of last year, a video included the singer’s song Father Figure, which was also removed.

But another clip added in November plugging the president still includes Swift’s The Fate of Ophelia on its audio track. 

Friction between Trump and Swift began in October 2018 when the pop star endorsed Democratic candidates in Tennessee, prompting Trump to remark he liked her music ’25 percent less.’

But their hostile feud really erupted in September 2024 after Swift publicly endorsed Kamala Harris for president. 

‘I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them,’ she wrote on Instagram.

Trump said, ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!’ after she publicly endorsed Kamala Harris for president in 2024; the president is pictured on Friday

The POTUS took a softer stance when responding to news of Swift’s engagement to Travis Kelce, stating that he wished them ‘a lot of luck’ and calling Kelce a ‘great player’ and Swift a ‘terrific person,’ despite their ongoing political discord; Swift and Kelce are pictured in 2024

Trump swiftly retaliated on his Truth Social account, posting: ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!’

The POTUS took a softer stance when responding to news of Swift’s engagement to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in August 2025. 

He stated that he wished them ‘a lot of luck,’ calling Kelce a ‘great player’ and Swift a ‘terrific person,’ despite their ongoing political discord.

But last month, minutes after Madison Square Garden’s billboard lit up with ‘JUST&T MARRIED,’ announcing Swift and Kelce had tied the knot, the official White House social media accounts on X and Instagram shared an AI-generated image with ‘TRUMP IS YOUR PRESIDENT’ alongside the caption: ‘IT’S HAPPENED!!!’

The defence secretary has faced calls for a public inquiry after four young women told the BBC they had suffered sexual abuse and harassment while attending the Army Foundation College (AFC) in Harrogate.

On a visit to Rosyth, Scotland, on Friday (August 7), Mr Streeting told reporters he would be “looking in detail” at the allegations and a broader programme of “cultural change” across the military.

He said: “I’m absolutely sickened by the reports that we’ve seen, and my heart goes out to this courageous woman who’s spoken up, having been so badly failed.”

“We have a duty to uphold the very highest standards in uniform and to treat every woman with the dignity and respect she deserves,” he added.

“I gather that there have been some improvements since this case came to light, but I need to assure myself that we’re doing everything we can to deliver the culture change that’s needed so that everyone in the uniform upholds the standards that we would expect.”

AFC Harrogate provides training for under-19s, including the Army’s junior soldier training for those aged 16 and 17.

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On Thursday, the BBC reported four women had come forward making allegations of sexual abuse during their time at the college over the past five years.

A woman whom the BBC called Tilly told the broadcaster she had been raped aged 17 at the college by fellow soldiers.

She said the attack lasted for hours and took place after she was casually invited into a soldier’s room.

Another woman whom the BBC called Monica said she was sexually assaulted by a fellow soldier who trapped her in a room before kissing and touching her without her consent.

A third woman, whose story was shared with the BBC by her mother, was allegedly sexually assaulted and subjected to sexual harassment during her training and would sleep across the door to her room to stop male soldiers from entering.

Instructors were also accused of inappropriate behaviour including marking girls’ looks out of 10 and walking into the girls’ dorms without knocking while cadets were undressed, according to the BBC.

The Army has described the reports as “extremely distressing” and “unacceptable” and called for victims and witnesses of criminal behaviour at the college to come forward.

North Yorkshire Police has confirmed that investigations are ongoing into “three cases”.

James and Ola Jordan have broken their silence after ending their 22-year marriage. 

It was announced on Friday that Strictly‘s longest-standing couple had split for good after a trial separation ‘some time ago’ with James moving out of their Kent family home.  

James, 48, shared a joint statement 24 hours later on his Instagram and spoke about his struggles with his mental health and their ‘incredibly painful and emotional decision’ to part ways. 

It said: ‘After 26 years together, this is something we never imagined we would be sharing.

‘Following recent reports in the press about our relationship and after receiving messages asking if everything is okay, we feel it’s important to speak directly rather than let speculation or hearsay tell our story.

‘We have always tried to be open and honest with the people who have supported us over the years and we feel it’s only right that this update comes from us. 

‘At the moment we’re taking some time apart as we work through very difficult personal challenges. (James) moved out of the family home some time ago. This has been an incredibly painful and emotional journey for us both and it certainly wasn’t an easy decision.’

They went to say their ‘absolute priority is their daughter, Ella, six.

They said: ‘Our absolute priority, now and always, is our beautiful daughter Ella. She’s at the centre of everything we do. We are committed to co-parenting her with all the love, care and stability she deserves.

‘Speaking personally (James) my mental health hasn’t been in a good place for quite some time. I’ve been struggling more than I’ve let people see and I’m taking the time I need to focus on getting myself into a healthier place, both for myself and for Ella.

‘Neither of us is in a good place right now. We’re both doing our best to navigate one of the hardest chapters of our lives and we ask that people remember there are real people and real emotions behind every headline, every comment and every post. 

‘We don’t know exactly what the future holds. For now, we’re taking things one day at a time, doing what we both believe is best for ourselves, our family and most importantly….. Ella.

‘We’re incredibly grateful for the love, kindness and concern so many of you have shown us over the years. You’ve been part of our journey for a long time and wanted to honour that with an honest update. Right now, more than anything we ask for kindness, empathy and a little privacy as we work through this as a family. Thank you for understanding.’

It was announced on Friday that Strictly’s longest-standing couple had split for good after a trial separation ‘some time ago’

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 ‘After 26 years together, this is something we never imagined we would be sharing. After receiving messages asking if everything is okay, we feel it’s important to speak directly’

The former couple said they are working through ‘difficult personal challenges’ with James moving out ‘some time ago’ but they remain committed to co-parenting their daughter 

‘Neither of us is in a good place right now. We’re both doing our best to navigate one of the hardest chapters of our lives’, they said

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James also shared the statement in his Instagram caption 

The pair were the show’s longest-standing couple after they started dating in 1999 and married in 2003 (pictured) 

James has previously spoken about how he battled with crippling anxiety following the death of his beloved father, Alan in 2021. 

He said at the time how his grief made him feel extremely weak, he woke up panicked thinking someone had broken into his house, and he experienced severe anxiety.

Citing his daughter as a Godsend, James said his family, specifically his wife and dance partner Ola, had pulled him out of the emotional and dark time.

The couple started dating in 1999 and married in 2003. 

They welcomed their daughter Ella in February 2020 via IVF following a three-year fertility battle.

The couple have long been open about the ups and downs in their decades-long romance, often opening up to fans about everything from disagreements to their sex life.

Back in 2017, when they’d been together for 18 years at the time, James said ‘life isn’t all smooth sailing’ as he admitted to troubles in the relationship.

During an appearance on Lorraine, he said life with Ola has not always been easy as he revealed: ‘Life isn’t all smooth sailing – we have had ups and downs.’

The couple spoke in the past about their love woes, with Ola saying: ‘It’s not all beautiful and sometimes you can look at people’s posts on Instagram and Facebook and you think, oh they’ve got perfect lives, but it’s not like that…

‘Marriage is not like that, no one’s got a perfect marriage. It’s a work in progress and I think if two people want to be together, they’ll make it happen.

‘Sometimes you have dark times and you need your other half’s support, and it’s not all pretty and perfect that people seem to think.’

Meanwhile, in July 2023, the pair revealed that their sex life was back on track after previously confessing sex is ‘definitely not better with mum and dad bods’.

The former Strictly Come Dancing professionals admitted that their bedroom activities had hit an all-time low after the couple became ‘obese’.

Ola said their ‘bellies got in their way’ of their romance the previous year before they shredded the pounds with their own fitness plan, Dance Shred.

She cheekily gushed that her partner’s slimmed down figure has boosted the appearance of what he’s packing in his underwear.

She told The Sun: ‘Well, let’s face it. It’s much more pleasant nowadays, isn’t it? The bellies don’t jiggle as much as they used to.’

The split comes just three years after they revealed their plans to renew their vows at Elvis chapel during their 20th anniversary trip to Las Vegas.

Speaking to The Sun in 2023, the pair enthused over their upcoming getaway to mark the special occasion and admitted that they just might end up getting hitched again.

James said, ‘You never know where you’re gonna end up after a few drinks. We used to go there loads before Ella was born and we like letting our hair down every now and again.

‘We might end up somewhere saying, “I do”,’ he confessed while Ola chimed in, ‘At the Elvis chapel!’

James and Polish-born beauty Ola first met at a dance competition in Blackpool in 1999 and married four years later.

They were initially dance partners before their professional relationship developed into romance, James proposed two years later and the couple tied the knot in October 2003.

The pair shot to fame as professionals on BBC One celebrity competition Strictly Come Dancing, which they both joined in series four back in 2006.

James bowed out of the show after season 11 in 2013, while Ola left at the end of series 13 in 2015.

If you are struggling, you can contact the Samirtans on  116 123 or jo@samaritans.org. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement took issue Saturday with reporting by The Associated Press on a policy to publicly release body-worn camera footage only when the agency determines it is in its “best interests.”

David J. Venturella said ICE policy “clarifies that it’s not appropriate to release footage when doing so could compromise investigations or privacy. This approach mirrors other federal law enforcement agencies’ policies and is fully consistent with the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act.”

ICE policy calls for the release of footage in the immediate aftermath of a serious injury or death in custody, ideally within 72 hours, if in the “best interests of the agency.” It was adopted in February 2025, after President Donald Trump took office.

“If there are specific and compelling circumstances justifying an objection to public release that cannot be resolved by redaction or other means, when determined by the ICE Director or his or her designee, ICE may withhold or indefinitely delay the release,” the policy states.

Venturella said in a statement that ICE was “committed to transparency and accountability” and was “on track to equip every officer and agent in the field with body-worn cameras by the end of August.” He said the AP conflated “the expedited release of footage following a serious bodily injury or death in custody with ICE’s broader authority to release body-worn camera footage.”

The AP quoted Christopher Schneider, a sociology professor at Brandon University in Canada, who said that selective releases are routine in some law enforcement agencies but usually not so clearly contemplated in policy. “In some ways, ICE is saying the quiet part out loud,” he said.

The AP said policies vary among other law enforcement agencies and cited examples of major police departments that routinely release footage.

The story noted that ICE’s sister agency, Customs and Border Protection, has not released footage of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis in January. CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott told lawmakers that it was part of an investigation and would be made public “when it’s appropriate.”

ICE has been under heightened scrutiny since the fatal shooting in July of a 25-year-old motorist in Maine by an ICE officer with a history of violent behavior. Days earlier, another ICE officer shot and killed a Houston homebuilder driving to work. Neither shooting was recorded with body cameras.