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

Lorraine Kelly had to halt her ITV show on Monday morning to announce the death of one of her co-stars.

The TV host told fans after an ad break that Heather Sawyer, a member of her Change and Check Choir, had died from secondary breast canceraged 50.

The choir was formed on the ITV programme to mark the fifth year of the show’s breast-checking campaign, with singer Joss Stone fronting the choir to help with their first song “Golden” in 2023.

Sawyer was diagnosed with terminal Stage 4 cancer and her death was announced by her husband via social media on 5 October.

Kelly told viewers: “I’m very sorry to have to share some sad news this morning. One of our amazing singers, Heather Sawyer, has died from secondary breast cancer. Heather was only 50 years old, an astonishing woman.”

She added: “She was such a huge part of the choir, so passionate about everything. Amazing.”

Dr Hilary, appearing alongside the TV host, added: “Wonderful lady. She sang at the Palladium with the choir, to celebrate the Change & Check campaign.”

“What she would want right now is for us to celebrate her life but also remind women to check themselves, do the self-examination, if anything has changed go and see your GP and get it checked out as soon as possible,” he continued, before the screen showed a set of instructions showing women how to check their breasts.

open image in gallery

Sawyer’s husband Lee wrote online: “Shortly before 1am this morning 5th October Heather lost her fight to cancer and took her last breaths and passed away peacefully. We know just how many people have followed Heather’s journey and how many lives she has touched from the sheer volume of messages, voice notes, the flood of the #hevupsocials hashtag…

“We as a family want to firstly thank each and every one of you beautiful people who have visited, sent well wishes and thought of Heather during this time. It has not gone unnoticed and we will be forever grateful to each and every one of you as you all made her know just how loved she was in her final days.”

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Advertisement

Try for free

Sawyer had been receiving hospice care before her death. She is survived by 11 grandchildren.

The Change and Check campaign was founded in 2019 with the aim of raising awareness of breast cancer. The campaign’s posters have been displayed in fitting rooms across major retailers including John Lewis and Partners, ASDA, Warehouse, and David Lloyd Gyms, encouraging customers to perform routine breast self-examinations.

WHO Wants To Be A Millionaire viewers were left shocked after a contestant missed out on the chance to win £875,000 after making a series of silly mistakes. 

One question in particular tripped her up – but did you know the right answer?

6

Advertisement

6

6

During Sunday’s episode (October 6), host Jeremy Clarkson welcomed a new group of contestants who hoped to bag their shot at becoming a millionaire. 

Jackie Lynch from Bayswater was first to step up to challenge – but ITV viewers were quick to criticise her performance. 

She initially sailed through the competition, although she used up her lifelines in the first few rounds. 

But as her confidence increased, it seemed like Jackie would do well as she continued to climb the money ladder.

By the time she reached £125,000 unscathed, Jackie decided to use her safety net, meaning that prize money was in the bag. 

But she was tripped up by the next question, with no lifelines left. 

Jeremy asked: “Dubbed the ‘Fight of the Century,’ Floyd Mayweather’s 2015 boxing match against which opponent was the highest-grossing in history?”

He then read out the multiple choice answers which were: “A: Oscar De La Hoya, B: Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, C: Manny Pacquiao or D: Conor McGregor.”

As Jackie realised this would have been a good question for her friend who she already phoned, she admitted she can’t go any further. 

Before revealing that she would have guessed De La Hoya, Jackie firmly said that she was not going to guess and will take the money instead.

The correct answer was Manny Pacquiao.

Jackie’s decision to take the money and quit the competition meant she missed out on her chance to bag a further £875,000. 

And viewers thought she could have done this if she hadn’t used up her lifelines on the earlier questions. 

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, to voice their fury over the episode, one fan raged that Jackie “made an expensive mistake” using her lifelines too early in the show. 

“She could have gone all the way if she used the lifelines smarter,” said another.

While a third fumed: “And this is why you shouldn’t waste your lifelines on easy questions.”

“3 lifelines wasted,” agreed another, while a fifth ITV viewer moaned: “Well, that was a very expensive lesson.”

Viewers were particularly annoyed that Jackie chose to ask the audience for help on a pop culture question, which they felt she should have easily been able to answer. 

6

“Which singer was played by Austin Butler in a 2022 film?” Jeremy asked for £8,000. 

Jackie visibly groaned as the TV host read the question and gave her the answers: “A: Elvis Presley, B: Bruce Springsteen, C: Kurt Cobain, D: Axl Rose.”

“I saw the film. I just couldn’t be sure who played him,” she admitted, before thanking the audience for their help. 

The audience’s participation helped Jackie advance much further into the competition before she stumbled on the boxing question – but did you know the answer?

6

6

Advertisement

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

Big Brother viewers have taken issue with the crop of housemates selected for this year’s instalment of the reality show.

During the live launch on 6 October, the show’s hosts Will Best and AJ Odudu introduced a new group of 16 housemates in front of a studio audience.

However, fans were quick to complain that the housemates seemed like they had been auditioned from a “university dorm” since the majority of the cast are in their twenties.

One viewer joked online that ITV accidentally “approved a list of Love Island applicants as Big Brother contestants”, referring to the channel’s popular reality dating show that features contestants between 20 and 30.

Another person asked: “Where are the older housemates?! Where are the people of different classes?”

The oldest housemate is 53-year-old aesthetics business owner Emma, who is the only person on the series over the age of 40. The second oldest housemate is 38-year-old forensic psychologist Ali, followed by Dean, a 35-year-old barber.

Another person added: “This cast are giving All Bar One on a Saturday night.”

Last year’s contestant Henry Southan wrote on X/Twitter. “More oldies please,” as another added, “Only ONE housemate over the age of 40.”

open image in gallery

Another said: “It needs more older people. Like Farida and Kerry from last year. It needs more diversity too and age gaps.”

Last year’s cast included 50-year-old makeup artist Farida, 40-year-old NHS manager Kerry, 39-year-old DJ Dylan.

One viewer added: “Launch night is always hard to make a judgement call but the lack of ages does make me think this series will pale compared to last year. There’s only four above the age of 30.”

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

Advertisement

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

Aside from 53-year-old Emma, other contestants include a 24-year-old climate activist, a 23-year-old sales manager and a 26-year-old NHS administrator.

The youngest housemate is 20-year-old Lily, a Chinese takeaway server from Warrington. Lily said that if she wins, she wants to spend the prize money on “a party holiday to Ibiza with a private jet”. She said: “I just want to rinse it all because I wouldn’t have it anyway.”

open image in gallery

Advertisement

Joining Lily is 23-year-old Nathan who is a pork salesman from Dumfries, and he used to be Prince (and now King) Charles’s butler. Read more about this year’s housemates here.

The 2024 cast will be hoping to replicate the success of Jordan, the 26-year-old lawyer who walked away with the £100,000 cash prize in 2023.

Jordan, from Scunthorpe, was popular with fans for his deadpan humour and sarcastic comments. When he won, he simply declared: “I need a drink.”

The show initially made a comeback to screens for a reboot in 2023, having previously been cancelled by Channel 4 in 2010 and Channel 5 in 2018.