PASSIONATE Strictly Come Dancing viewers insisted Lauren Oakley receive her own partner next year.

Professional dancer Lauren, 33, first joined the BBC show back in 2022.

4

Advertisement

4

4

This year, however, she was one of the few professionals left without a celebrity to train.

Following Amy Dowden‘s health concerns, Lauren stepped in to dance with JLS singer JB Gill.

Taking to the stage for the inaugural Icons Week, the pair blew the judges away.

JB and Lauren received an incredible 39 points – just one away from a perfect score.

On social media, viewers praised Lauren’s talent – and called for her not to be “benched” next series.

One wrote on X: “NEVER and I mean NEVER not give Lauren a partner again! Love her.”

Another commented: “Dear strictly. never bench lauren oakley again. thank you.”

A third chimed in: “Lauren Oakley is SO SO good.

“Its an absolute crime she was never given a partner this year.”

A fourth remarked: “lauren better get a partner next year i will start a riot if not #strictly.”

While yet another said: “Strictly, Please let Lauren have a partner next year! #Strictly.”

Last year, Lauren partnered newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murthy, with the pair placing 8th overall.

Meanwhile, after their Couple’s Choice dance, JB and Lauren reunited with Amy in the “Clauditorium”.

Lauren said: “Just wanted to make Amy proud and I hope we did.

Strictly 2024 pairings

Here’s who is matched with who this series…

“We had fun out there, I hope you had fun watching us.

She added: “We did it for you, we did it for you.”

Amy replied by telling Lauren that she was “so grateful” before showering praise on her and JB.

Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One and is available to watch on iPlayer.

4

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Miranda actor Sarah Hadland and her professional dancer Vito Coppola wowed the judges this week with their Cha Cha to the tune of “Like a Prayer” by Madonna on this week’s Strictly Come Dancing.

The pairing got awarded a perfect 10 by judge Anton Du Beke, with the other three judges giving them all nines but it was Coppola’s trousers which got many people talking.

The Italian dancer opted to wear a pair of PVC trousers for the performance of the Madonna classic which, let’s just say left little to the imagination, at least for primetime viewers on BBC One.

Thankfully for Vito, his revealing trousers managed to hold themselves together but it goes without saying, that the audience at home was delighted with what they were seeing.

“Strictly costume and makeup department really know their audience dressing Vito every week,” said one person.

“Vito Coppola, the man that you are!” added another.

The trousers left viewers very confused, with a third writing: “I have no idea if that was technically good or no because Vito in those trousers.”

A fourth viewer pointed out how distracting the finish must have been, writing: “It’s a testament to Sarah’s energy and acting ability that she isn’t remotely upstaged, even when Vito effortlessly launches into a scissor kick bordering on the splits at the end, let alone that bodysuit and trousers combo.”

Another person noted: “Vito’s bodysuit hanging on for dear life.”

“I cannot believe I am part of Strictly!” Hadland said before entering Strictly. “I feel particularly excited to be part of such an iconic show in its 20th year.”

Hadland is best known for being one of the original cast members of the CBBC sketch show Horrible Histories and for her role as joke shop manager Stevie Sutton on the BBC sitcom Miranda, which she starred in alongside the series’ lead Miranda Hart, as well as Tom Ellis and Patricia Hodge.

GORKA Marquez and Gemma Atkinson have updated fans on their reality show – after two series on air.

They met on Strictly in 2017, but weren’t paired together on the BBC show.

4

Advertisement

4

4

Beginning in 2023, the pair have fronted reality show Gemma and Gorka: Life Behind the Lens – focusing on both their personal and professional lives.

A second series launched in May and showed the adjustment to becoming a family of four.

Speaking to Express.co.uk at the Pride of Britain Awards, ex-Emmerdale star Gemma shared the couple’s stance on a potential third series.

Asked about the show returning, she answered, “Potentially, yeah.”

Gemma added: “We’re currently in talks to do it but we keep thinking why do people want to keep watching us doing nothing.”

“But it did really well, it was like the biggest show on their channel so possibly”, the star continued.

Gemma and Gorka: Life Behind the Lens airs on W and UKTV Play.

Logistics are also a challenge – with Gorka judging on Strictly’s Spanish counterpart, Bailando Con Las Estrellas.

He told the Express: “I still love dancing and I want to carry that on but judging is also fun.”

It comes as fitness influencer Gemma defended herself from cruel trolls.

Internet users body shamed the star following her red carpet appearance at the Pride of Britain Awards.

Writing on her social media, she said: “A dude told me that I look like a dude, I told him if he lifted like me, he could look like one too.”

Gorka showed support for his fiancee by sharing a message of defiance to one vile troll.

The person wrote: “When the woman has the frame of a man and vice versa, he looks like a mouse next to him.”

To which the Spanish dancer replied: “I look like a little mouse, that cracks me up.”

Four years after meeting, Gemma, 39, and Gorka, 34, got engaged back in 2021.

They welcomed their first child, daughter Mia, in July 2019 and their second, son Thiago, in 2023.

Gorka’s most recent Strictly stint ended last month – with his celebrity partner being eliminated.

Morning Live medical expert Dr Punam Krishan left the ballroom after losing a dance-off to Shayne Ward.

4

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Netflix is going to add what could well be the most divisive film of the year in November.

The streaming service has another busy month ahead. Alongside the sad removals of key titles, there will be the release of high-profile films and TV shows, ranging from animated movie Spellbound, the next batch of Outer Banks episodes – not to mention more Cobra Kai, the acclaimed Karate Kid spin-off.

But it’s Emilia Pérez that is soon to be on everyone’s lips. The film is a crime musical drama from French filmmaker Jacques Audiard starring Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez and Karla Sofía Gascón.

The plot of the film needs to be seen to be believed – and for that reason, we’ll abstain from revealing details here. But the Mexico-set film follows a lawyer Rita who receives an unexpected offer from a fearsome cartel boss.

After its premiere in Cannes, the film received a rapturous nine-minute standing ovation – but the critics were not as certain about the end result as audience members were; Emilia Pérez has received both five-star reviews as well as one-star reviews.

Many critics agreed that, while the film’s audacious mash-up of genres should make it “a complete mess”, Audiard somehow pulls it off. However, some others, including The Film Stage, have branded it the “worst film” of the year. Find the full list of everything being added to Netflix in November below.

NB: The Independent puts this list together with help from What’s on Netflix.

ORIGINALS

Movies

1 November

Let Go

6 November

Meet Me Next Christmas

Pedro Páramo

open image in gallery

Advertisement

7 November

10 Days of a Curious Man

8 November

Umjolo: The Gone Girl

Vijay 69

13 November

Emilia Pérez

Hot Frosty

20 November

GT Max

The Merry Gentlemen

21 November

Maybe Baby 2

22 November

Joy (2024)

The Piano Lesson

Spellbound (2024)

TRANSMITZVAH

27 November

Our Little Secret

29 November

The Snow Sister

open image in gallery

Television

5 November

Love Village season two

6 November

Love Is Blind: Argentina season one

7 November

Born for the Spotlight season one

Outer Banks season four, part two

8 November

Bank Under Siege season one

Mr Plankton season one

The Cage season one

9 November

Arcane season two, act one

12 November

Rhythm + Flow: Brazil season one (new episode Tuesdays)

open image in gallery

Advertisement

13 November

The Mother of Penguins season one

Sister’s Feud season one

14 November

Beyond Goodbye season one

15 November

Cobra Kai season six, part two

16 November

Arcane season two, act two

19 November

Zombieverse: New Blood

20 November

Adoration season one

Rhythm + Flow season two

21 November

Tokyo Override

22 November

The Empress season two

The Helicopter Heist season one

Pokemon Horizons: The Series part four

Tex Mex Masters season two

When the Phone Rings season one

open image in gallery

23 November

Arcane season two, act three

27 November

Chef’s Table volume seven

28 November

ASAF season one

Is it Cake? Holiday season one

The Madness season one

29 November

Love Never Lies: South Africa season one

Senna season one

Documentary

1 November

It’s All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Football

7 November

Countdown: Paul vs Tyson

8 November

Investigation Alien

13 November

Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley

Sprint season two

open image in gallery

14 November

The Lost Children

20 November

Our Oceans season one

22 November

900 Days Without Annabel

25 November

Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey

Comedy

12 November

Adrienne Iapalucci: The Dark Queen

19 November

Adam Ray Presents: Dr Phil UNPLUGGED

26 November

Anthony Jeselnik: Bones and All

Sport

15 November

Paul vs Tyson –LIVE

Kids

1 November

Barbie Mysteries season one

18 November

Wonderoos season two

LICENCED

Movies

1 November

Fall Into Winter

Free State of Jones

Goosebumps

Hunter X Hunter: The Last Mission

Hunter X Hunter: Phantom Rouge

The Infiltrator

Just Go With It

Maid in Manhattan

Mr Peabody & Sherman

Oblivion

A Paris Waltz

Pompeii

The Scorpion King

Sixteen Candles

Superbad

The Whale

Whiplash

7 November

Si Juku: The Movie: Harta Pulau Moyet

8 November

A Holiday Engagement

Jurnal Risa by Risa Saraswati

My Dad’s Christmas Date

9 November

The Lost City

10 November

Focus

My Boo

12 November

The Fast and the Furious

2 Fast 2 Furious

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

Fast & Furious

Fast Five

Fast & Furious 6

open image in gallery

16 November

Close To You

Widow Clicquot

20 November

Father Figures

Television

Love in the Wild season two

One Piece season 22

5 November

Dirty Jobs season one and two

Love is Poison season one (new episode Tuesdays)

7 November

Face Off season six and eight

15 November

AP Bio season one to four

20 November

Shahs of Sunset season three and four

22 November

Gold Rush season one and two

Documentary

1 November

Katie

Whitney

10 November

Cien anos con Juan Rulfo

20 November

Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy

Kids

1 November

Masha and the Bear: The Legend of the 12 Months

8 November

Transformers: EarthSpark season one

14 November

The Fairly OddParents!: A New Wish season one

EMILY Atack has heaped praise on her partner Alistair Garner for finally making her “feel safe”.

The 34-year-old welcomed her first child – son Barney – with Alistair in June.

6

Advertisement

6

6

The couple were first pictured together in September 2023, but have known each other for years after Alistair’s father was married to Emily’s aunt.

Now in a new interview, Emily – who recently returned to screens in raunchy Disney+ series Rivals – has opened up about the peace she has found in her relationship and as a new mum.

She said: “I feel like my whole life had been building up to that moment, not just getting a part in that show but also my personal life. It feels like the stars have aligned. That is genuinely how it feels.”

Emily added to The Times: “I used to pray to God that I would end up with somebody who made me feel safe, and I’m safe with Al now.”

Emily’s happiness comes after years of dating turmoil, and she admitted: “For such a long time I had found dating hard and lonely.”

The star first found fame on The Inbetweeners, where her character Charlotte was nicknamed “Big Jugs”, but the role often lead to unwanted attention from men or misconceptions about who she really was.

Thankfully, Alistair had known Emily long before she became famous, and so when they reconnected as adults after not seeing each other for 12 years, love blossomed naturally.

During the interview, she recalled how she had just finished filming Rivals when she rushed to support Alistair as his father died.

Emily said: “We were together at the deathbed and then afterwards we left the room and hugged. We held each other for about 20 minutes and we just knew. This was love, this was real.”

However their lives couldn’t be more different, as Alistair is a nuclear physicist with a PhD.

Despite having dated famous people in the past, Emily said: “It was never going to be a pop star or a film star. It was never going to be that. I’ve done all that.

“I needed security, a solid, stoical person. And I just love how safe I feel. I am completely at peace. I don’t think I ever experienced proper love before because this is it.”

She concluded: “I know Al will look after me and Barney. I know he will be the best father and the best husband eventually.

“I am happier than I ever thought I could be.”

6

6

6

Emily’s full interview is available in The Times. Rivals is available on Disney+

A TOP BBC show judge has quit their series in a shock move – and been replaced by a Celebrity Big Brother star instead.

The line-up shake-up was revealed in the trailer for the new season – and fans have claimed they are “already obsessed.”

6

Advertisement

6

6

The change will now see RuPaul, 63, give up their presenting role on Drag Race Down Under, with reality TV favourite Michelle Visage, 56, stepping up.

Former Strictly star Michelle has starred on the show franchise, aired in the UK on the BBC, since the US series in 2011, yet has only hosted an episode solo once.

A show trailer for the fourth Aussie series starts with the narrator stating: “The new host of Drag Race Down Under, Michelle Visage.”

Dressed in a sparkling body-con dress, Michelle then addressed the camera and said: “Start your engines, and may the best drag queen win.”

The camera then panned to a teaser of the series and saw Michelle say: “We’re back!

“And you’re in Michelle’s house now.”

In a statement, RuPaul – who will continue to act as executive producer for the series – addressed the switch up.

They said: “It has been my great honour to bring Drag Race to Australasia.

“I can’t wait to see the franchise continue to flourish under the leadership of the incredible Michelle Visage.”

Much-loved Michelle, who hosted a Drag Race season 4 episode in the UK, said: “Thank you, RuPaul, for entrusting me with one of your beloved shows.

“The colour, humour, and outrageousness of Down Under drag holds a special place in my heart.

“I’m ready to do everything in my power to encourage these beautiful queens to believe in themselves and let their inner light shine through.”

Fans have been quick to react to the news of the 2015 Celebrity Big Brother star’s instalment, with one taking to YouTube to write: “I’M OBSESSED ALREADY.”

A second put: “I get a good feeling about this Season!” as a third commented: “Wait! So we get Michelle, Rhys, Sasha, Kween AND all of these fabulous queens?

“I am so locked in. Slay, babies.”

Another gushed: “I’m here for Mother Michelle.”

One then cheered: “Yesss Michelle we love you.”

6

Advertisement

6

6