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I’m A Celebrity’s late arrival Maura Higgins stuns in red mini-dress on final night out before flying to Australia

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I'm A Celebrity's late arrival Maura Higgins stuns in red mini-dress on final night out before flying to Australia


MAURA Higgins oozed elegance in a glam red mini-dress as she partied with her pals before heading into the I’m A Celebrity jungle.

The Love Island alum is a late arrival into the 2024 line-up – and is clearly making the most of her final hours of freedom before being cooped up in camp.

Maura Higgins oozed elegance in a flared mini-dress as she stepped out in London

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Maura Higgins oozed elegance in a flared mini-dress as she stepped out in LondonCredit: Splash
The Love Island alum flashed a big smile as she left The Corinthia Hotel in London with a pal/

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The Love Island alum flashed a big smile as she left The Corinthia Hotel in London with a pal/Credit: Splash
She was in high spirits as she giggled in her car home

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She was in high spirits as she giggled in her car homeCredit: Splash

Maura, 33, pulled on her skintight frock with a flared hemline and bow detail on the back.

She accessorised with black point toe heels and a matching clutch bag.

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The Glow Up Ireland host pulled her glossy brunette locks up into a high ponytail, styling the ends into neat waves.

She accessorised with gold hoop earrings and kept her make-up fresh, adding a dramatic slick of black mascara.

She was joined by a female pal, in an equally striking red lace bodysuit, as they exited a The Corinthia Hotel in London.

Maura appeared in high spirits, flashing a smile as she walked down a huge staircase in her heels before being captured enjoying a giggle in her taxi home.

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Recently, she was seen stocking up on vapes before the big trip Down Under.

Maura also lapped up luxuries at Claridge’s hotel prior to her new reality show stint.

She even managed to catch up with love interest Pete Wicks as they stepped out together for a cute date in London.

Fears Maura Higgins will be first to pull out of I’m A Celebrity jungle as former show star claims ‘she’s doing it for the money’

JUNGE GIRL

Maura will be a late arrival into the I’m A Celeb camp, along with the Reverend Richard Coles.

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The duo will join the likes of Coleen RooneyBarry McGuigan and Danny Jones in Ant and Dec’s jungle camp a week into this year’s star-spangled series. 

She swiped an I’m A Celeb spot after Tommy Fury pulled out.

Yet The Sun exclusively revealed former 2009 campmate Kim Woodburn’s fear Maura will be first to pull out.

I’m A Celebrity 2024

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As the hit ITV show enters into its 24th series, a brand new batch of famous faces look set to enter the Aussie jungle once again to face terrifying Bushtucker Trials and living amongst the critters in camp in order to come out on top and be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle. The Sun’s Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars heading Down Under this year…

  • Coleen Rooney – Arguably the most famous name heading into the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney, will be making a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to head into the camp this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever.
  • Tulisa – The popstar and former X Factor judge looks set to be making a triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year’s I’m A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal.
  • Alan Halsall – The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he will be hoping to become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities when he gets into camp.
  • Melvin Odoom – The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. He has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet – the Aussie jungle.
  • GK Barry – The UK’s biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brand such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers.
  • Dean McCullough – A rising star amongst this year’s bunch of celebs, Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live.
  • Oti Mabuse – The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She origianlly found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
  • Danny Jones – The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle, after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he’s now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice, along with bandmate Tom. A jungle insider said: “As well as bringing some of the star appeal of the group with him, he’ll be supplying some serious guy candy for the campmates and viewers at home.”
  • Maura Higgins – The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard. Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year.
  • Jane Moore – The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist will be braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge – having recently split from her husband. It will be Jane’s first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past.
  • Barry McGuigan – Former pro boxer Barry will become the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to breast cancer. He told The Late Late Show in 2021: “She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache.”
  • Rev. Richard Coles – Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is set for I’m A Celebrity — and is ready to let rip at his old employer. The former Communards and Strictly star, 62, said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year.An insider said: “Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth.”
  • Kim, 82, also thinks that like many stars who compete on the popular ITV show, Maura’s motivation for entering the jungle is for monetary reasons.

    In an interview hosted by WhichBingo.co.uk, she told The Sun: “Maura Higgins is a very beautiful girl.

    “I’ve never met the young lady. She’s entertaining. She’s very beautiful. You don’t know anything about her.

    “I’d like to think she’ll do trials. She looks delicate. We can never tell you know, you can never tell, good luck to her.”

    “And if she’s she’s been paid a lump sum to go in. They all go in for the money, but they deny it,” she added to The Sun.

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    She added: “But you see the trouble with that is, many of them go in for the money.

    “Take the money. She’s dainty and tiny and fragile. Let us see her doing the trials, marvellous. Good luck to her.”

    One person who perhaps won’t be voting for her to be jungle queen is her ex Curtis Pritchard.

    He raged how his Love Island ex “can’t keep my name out of her mouth” after she addressed their reality show romance on a recent podcast.

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    She finished off her glam look with black point toe heels and a clutch bag

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    She finished off her glam look with black point toe heels and a clutch bagCredit: Splash
    She enjoyed a dinner date with Pete Wicks before heading Down Under

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    She enjoyed a dinner date with Pete Wicks before heading Down UnderCredit: Splash
    Maura will be a late entry into the I'm A Celeb camp

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    Maura will be a late entry into the I’m A Celeb campCredit: PA



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    MAFS’ hottest groom returns to his very normal job after finding fame on the show and secretly splitting from wife

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    MAFS’ hottest groom returns to his very normal job after finding fame on the show and secretly splitting from wife


    A MAFS UK groom has revealed he’s already returned to his very normal job after finding fame on the show.

    Tonight will see the Married At First Sight UK gang come together for the final time in a second reunion episode.

    The MAFS UK cast will reunite for the final time tonight

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    The MAFS UK cast will reunite for the final time tonightCredit: E4
    Nathan has revealed he's already back at his normal job

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    Nathan has revealed he’s already back at his normal jobCredit: Instagram
    The Sun revealed this week he and Lacey have split

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    The Sun revealed this week he and Lacey have splitCredit: E4

    And Nathan Campbell has wasted no time in getting back to reality working as an engineer.

    He took to Instagram to give followers a tour of his workplace at Watson Gym Equipment, where he’s worked for two years.

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    Nathan revealed how he uses his “ADHD and passion for fitness from a young age” to help when manufacturing gym equipment at work.

    He was part of the strongest couple on this year’s MAFS UK, with it looking likely his marriage to Lacey Martin would work in the real world.

    More on Married At First Sight

    But The Sun told this week how they’d split off-camera.

    A source said: “Nathan and Lacey really tried to make their relationship work in the real world but it just fizzled after a while.

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    “The final vows were filmed in February and they were still going strong in April when the reunion was shot, but since then they have called in quits.

    “They were both sad it didn’t work out, but sadly it wasn’t meant to be.

    “It’s also a big blow for fans who were really invested in their relationship.

    “They were widely viewed as the strongest couple of the series so the news that they are no longer an item is such a shame.”

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    The shock split comes after it was revealed Lacey was rushed to hospital on the E4 show – in scenes that did not make it to air.

    She recently took part in a Q&A on Instagram and asked what the most “shocking” thing that happened on set.

    Lacey confessed: “Not much shocking things really, but regarding myself, I fainted on set!! “But all the crew/production looked after me!”



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    Whoopi Goldberg causes Sara Haines to walk off The View with outrageous joke

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    Whoopi Goldberg causes Sara Haines to walk off The View with outrageous joke


    The View co-host Sara Haines walked off the show after her colleague Whoopi Goldberg made a particularly raunchy joke.

    The incident occurred during Wednesday’s (November 13) episode of the program, as Golberg was doing a segment to promote her favorite products. One of those things included a wheel of cheese, with Goldberg’s face on it, and Haines was quite impressed.

    “I’ve always wanted my face on cheese,” Haines said. The Sister Act star responded to her co-host with a risqué gag, saying: “Yeah, I like to be eaten from time to time.”

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    A flabbergasted Haines then walked off the set as the audience laughed and applauded before returning back to hug her co-host.

    Goldberg opened her mouth in mock surprise before pointing at the cheese and smiling.

    “Never mind,” she added, before describing the wheel of authentic Parmigiano Reggiano from Italy.

    Sara Haines walks off the air after Whoopi Goldbgerg’s joke
    Sara Haines walks off the air after Whoopi Goldbgerg’s joke (Youtube / The View)

    “So if you’d like the chance to win a wheel just like this one,” Goldberg started to tell viewers, before Haines interrupted her and quipped: “And eat Whoopi Goldberg.”

    However, Goldberg then clarified to fans that they could “eat” faces of themselves on a wheel of cheese if they entered Parmigiano Reggiano USA’s challenge to win a wheel of cheese.

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    Earlier this week, The Color Purple star made headlines when she said that she can’t afford to stop working on The View, which she’s been hosting since 2007. During Tuesday’s (November 12) episode of The View, the hosts discussed how New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez asked her Instagram followers about their voting tactics. From there, host Haines shared that while she voted for Kamala Harris in this year’s election, she was open to hearing why people voted for Donald Trump and why those Americans think he could help the working class.

    Goldberg then stepped in to show her support for families experiencing financial hardships, before confessing that if she had more money, she wouldn’t be on the talk show. “I appreciate that people are having a hard time. Me, too. I work for a living,” she said. “If I had all the money in the world, I would not be here, okay? So, I’m a working person, you know?”

    She continued:  “My kid has to feed her family. My great-granddaughter has to be fed by her family. I know it’s hard out there,” she added. “I love what she [Ocasio-Cortez] did. Yay. We talk to people all the time who say, ‘This is what’s bothering me.’ But the thing that’s bothering everybody should not be the thing that puts 85 percent of other people in danger. I think that’s what we’re saying.”





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    First look at BBC’s star-studded new period drama with A-list cast including Line of Duty star

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    First look at BBC’s star-studded new period drama with A-list cast including Line of Duty star


    THE BBC has given viewers a peek behind the scenes of its new period drama Miss Austen, which features an all-star cast – not least a Line of Duty star.

    Keeley Hawes stars as Cassandra Austen in the film – hot off the heels of Scoop.

    Henry Hobday (Max Irons) in the new period drama Miss Austen

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    Henry Hobday (Max Irons) in the new period drama Miss AustenCredit: BBC
    First look at Miss Potter pictured Isabella Fowle (Rose Leslie), Cassandra Austen (Keeley Hawes), Dinah (Mirren Mack), Mary Austen (Jessica Hynes).

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    First look at Miss Potter pictured Isabella Fowle (Rose Leslie), Cassandra Austen (Keeley Hawes), Dinah (Mirren Mack), Mary Austen (Jessica Hynes).Credit: BBC
    Spooks and The Durrells actress Keeley stars in the drama adaptation.

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    Spooks and The Durrells actress Keeley stars in the drama adaptation.Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk

    The star-studded BBC adaptation of Gill Hornby’s much-loved novel is expected to air next year on the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth.

    The new pictures show the star-studded cast for the first time and reveal an insight into what will come for excited fans.

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    Meanwhile, other talents include Rose Leslie from Game of Thrones as Isabella Fowle, Phyllis Logan from Downtown Abbey, Calam Lynch from Bridgerton, and Alfred Enoch from Harry Potter.

    Also pictured are Synnøve Karlsen (Last Night in Soho, Clique), Patsy Ferran (Living, Hot Milk), Max Irons (Condor, The Wife), and Liv Hill (The Serpent Queen, Elizabeth Is Missing). 

    Viewers can also see Jessica Hynes (Life After Life, Years and Years), Mirren Mack (The Witcher: Blood Origin, The Nest) and Kevin McNally (The Crown, Ten Percent).

    The four-part drama reimagines the literary mystery of Catherine Austen notoriously burning her famous sister Jane’s letters.

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    BAFTA-winning writer Andrea Gibb has adapted the story for the screen.

    The story starts in 1830, sometime after Jane’s death, while Cassandra (Keeley Hawes) rushes to see her friend Isabella (Rose Leslie), who is about to lose her home following her father’s death.

    Although Cassandra is seemingly there to help her friend.

    But her real motive is to locate a stash of private letters that could destroy Jane’s reputation if in the wrong hands.

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    First look at Line of Duty and Game of Thrones stars as they transform for new BBC drama Miss Austen

    However, Cassandra is overwhelmed as she remembers her youth upon finding them.

    Flashbacks introduce viewers to Young Cassy and Jane (Patsy Ferran) while Cassandra’s reminiscing helps her realise her blindness to the real cause of Isabella’s heartache.

    Bonnie Productions also produce Miss Austen for Masterpiece in the US.

    The series is directed by BAFTA award-winning filmmaker Aisling Walsh (Maudie, Elizabeth is Missing) and produced by Stella Merz (Gentleman Jack, Renegade Nell).

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    BBC crime dramas

    The BBC is reopening case files on an all-star line-up of crime dramas this summer.

    Here’s a refresher on the popular programmes which span six decades.

    • Campion: Aired from 1989 to 1990, this detective drama series was adapted from novels by Margery Allingham and stars Peter Davison.
    • Dalziel And Pascoe: A gritty detective drama series about a mismatched pair of policemen, based on the award-winning books by Reginald Hill. Aired from 1996 to 2007.
    • Death In Paradise: A misanthropic detective inspector is assigned to a Caribbean island against his will. Premiered in 2011 and is still on air to this day.
    • Happy Valley: Created by Sally Wainwright, this northern noir follows Sarah Lancashire as Sgt Catherine Cawood – tough, defiant and facing her traumatic past.
    • Hinterland: Welsh drama starring Richard Harrington. Brooding DCI Tom Mathias uncovers secrets – and links to his troubled past amid mountainous terrain and close-knit villages. Aired from 2013 to 2016.
    • Inspector Lynley Mysteries: Based on the novels of Elizabeth George, this drama series is about upper-crust DI Thomas Lynley and working class DS Barbara Havers. Aired from 2001 to 2007.
    • Jonathan Creek: Starring comedian Alan Davies, this comedy-drama series follows a inventor of magic tricks who is often called in to solve puzzling murders. Aired from 1997 to 2016.
    • Law & Order: Originally broadcast in 1978, this four-part drama series is about the British judicial system. Stars include Peter Dean and Derek Martin.
    • Life On Mars: Beguiling science-fiction police drama following a Manchester policeman who travels back to 1973 following a car accident. Stars John Simm and Philip Glenister. Aired from 2006 to 2007.
    • Luther: Crime drama series starring Idris Elba as DCI John Luther. Aired from 2010 to 2019, with a follow-up film released in 2023.
    • Shetland: Detective drama starring Douglas Henshall, Ashley Jensen and Alison O’Donnell, showcasing the dark side of one of the most beautiful places on earth. Premiered in 2013 and is still on air to this day.
    • The Cops: Set in the fictional northern town of Stanton, this acclaimed, provocative police drama stars Katy Cavanagh, Rob Dixon and John Henshaw. Aired from 1998 to 2001.
    • Waking The Dead: With a cast including Trevor Eve, Sue Johnston and Wil Johnson, this series follows a cold case team who unearths sleeping secrets, but sometimes the past is best left buried. Aired from 2000 to 2011.
    • Wallander: Starring Sir Kenneth Branagh, Kurt Wallander is unable to unsee the dark crimes he’s tasked to investigate while Wallander’s job comes at a cost to his family and relationships. Aired from 2008 to 2016.



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    Hoda Kotb’s Today show replacement named nearly two months after host of 17 years stepped down

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    Hoda Kotb left Today show after NBC proposed pay cut to $20m salary


    Hoda Kotb’s Today show replacement has been announced as Craig Melvin nearly two months after the host of 17 years announced her exit.

    The news was revealed on Thursday’s edition of the long-running NBC morning show.

    “Craig Melvin is the new anchor of the Today show!” co-host Savannah Guthrie gushed, calling this “one of the most popular decisions NBC News has ever made.”

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    Melvin became a news anchor for Today in 2018 and co-host of Third Hour of Today the following year. He will co-anchor alongside Guthrie for the 7 and 8am hours beginning January 13, NBC said.

    “You were made for this job. … You have all the things that this job needs. You’re the right person for it,” Kotb told her successor.

    Melvin said it was “the latest in a long line of blessings.”

    “I am beyond excited and grateful… I talked to mom and dad yesterday and I’m thankful they’re still young enough and healthy enough to be able to see this.”

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    Craig Melvin will co-anchor the ‘Today’ show with Savannah Guthrie
    Craig Melvin will co-anchor the ‘Today’ show with Savannah Guthrie (Getty Images for Opportunity Net)

    The replacement comes after Kotb announced she was leaving the network after 26 years on September 26.

    “I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60, and to try something new,” the host said at the time.

    The broadcast journalist, who turned 60 in August, explained that spending time with her young daughters, Haley, seven, and Hope, five, was also an important part of her decision.

    “Obviously I had my kiddos late in life, and I was thinking that they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie that I have,” she said. “I feel like we only have a finite amount of time.

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    “And so, with all that being said, this is the hardest thing in the world,” Kotb said.

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    She clarified that she will continue hosting the Today show alongside co-anchor Savannah Guthrie through January 1, 2025.

    Kotb has been an integral part of NBC News for nearly three decades, having first joined the network in 1998 as a correspondent on its weekly nighttime show Dateline.

    In 2008, she moved on to co-host the fourth hour of the Today show with Kathie Lee Gifford and then Jenna Bush Hager in 2019.

    After NBC fired Today show host Matt Lauer in 2017 following accusations of sexual misconduct, Kotb stepped in alongside Guthrie as a temporary replacement. Her role became permanent weeks later as viewers responded well to the pairing.

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    Speaking to TheNew York Times, Guthrie commended Kotb’s decision: “It takes such guts to leave a place where you’re so comfortable, so beloved. There’s nothing rash about this.”

    Kotb also wrote a letter to the Today staff outlining her plans to “remain a part of the NBC family.”

    “Happily and gratefully, I plan to remain a part of the NBC family, the longest work relationship I’ve been lucky enough to hold close to my heart. I’ll be around. How could I not? Family is family and you all will always be a part of mine.”



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    Heartbreaking moment MAFS’ Kristina breaks down in hysterical tears after shock twist from experts on marriage to Kieran

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    Heartbreaking moment MAFS’ Kristina breaks down in hysterical tears after shock twist from experts on marriage to Kieran


    MAFS star Kristina was left heartbroken and broke down in hysterical tears after a shock twist from experts on her marriage to Kieran.

    Kristina came face-to-face with her ex-husband as the couples were brought back together for a special dinner party in the E4 show.

    MAFS star Kristina was left heartbroken and broke down in hysterical tears after a shock twist from experts on her marriage to Kieran

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    MAFS star Kristina was left heartbroken and broke down in hysterical tears after a shock twist from experts on her marriage to KieranCredit: Channel 4
    Kristina fought back tears

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    Kristina fought back tearsCredit: Channel 4
    Mafs expert Paul questioned why they weren't together

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    Mafs expert Paul questioned why they weren’t togetherCredit: Channel 4

    And it certainly made for an emotional reunion, with dog walker Kristina’s emotions getting the better of her on Wednesday night.

    But in a teaser clip ahead of the second part of the reunion, Kristina is seen breaking down in hysterical tears as she and Kieran sit in front of experts Paul, Charlene and Mel.

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    Kristina says: “How much did it mean to Kieran, because it meant the absolute f****** world to me.”

    Kieran and Kristina both cry as they sit beside each other on the sofa.

    But then emotions are heightened even more as Paul leans forward and questions: “Why are you not together?”

    Kieran looks up at Paul while Kristina can be seen in tears, and holds her hand over her face.

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    The episode then drew to a close, with MAFS viewers set to find out what is going on between the pair on Thursday night.

    The episode before saw Kristina tell her ex husband: “I have really struggled. I feel like now I’m still just trying to adjust.

    “I still pinch myself where I think, I was married. Do you know what I mean?”

    Kieran told Kristina: “I think I’m quite numb.”

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    Laura Vaughn’s MAFS diary: Adam and Polly are childish and Luke’s hiding something – this series has been unhealthy

    She then asked if he was “ever 100 per cent in it”, adding: “I feel it hasn’t really left an impact on you.”

    Kieran told his ex wife: “Just because I don’t get as emotional as you, doesn’t mean that I’m not feeling anything. It’s sad for me.”

    Kristina started to cry as she said: “I feel like I put my life on the line for you but nothing stands out for you.”

    Mafs couples that have stood the test of time

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    Loved-up Tayah Victoria and Adam Aveling of series six fame had the first Mafs baby.

    The pair couldn’t keep their hands off each other on the programme and quickly found their feet in the outside world, moving into Adam’s Doncaster home.

    Just 18 months after meeting, the couple welcomed their daughter Beau.

    Season five couple Michelle Walder and Owen Jenkins also managed to make their marriage work away from the cameras and had their first child in December.

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    Teacher Michelle, 29, has no regrets about taking part in the experiment. She told us: “I just feel very lucky and thankful that it has worked out – and excited for everything to come.”

    Michelle and Owen were both sick of dating apps when they applied in 2019.

    Owen recalled: “I had been out for some drinks with a friend after work.

    “While he was out for a cigarette I was scrolling on Instagram waiting for him to come back in.

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    “The MAFS advert was the last thing I saw, and I joked, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if I signed up?’

    “A few beers later when I was back at home I sent in the application, and the rest is history.”

    Another couple to make Mafs UK history is Zoe Clifton and Jenna Robinson.

    Despite a slight rocky start, where they clashed over Jenna’s vegan lifestyle, the show’s first same sex pairing are still going strong.

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    They even have a successful podcast together called Life With a Pod.

    Jenna shed light on being involved in the show earlier this year when she told us: “We’re not legally married, and I never felt like we were. I definitely feel the process makes you take the relationship a lot more seriously and having the help of the experts… if you can survive that process it sets a firm foundation for a long-lasting relationship.”

    She then stormed out of the room, closely followed by her girl pals.

    Sitting out the back, Kristina told Emma, Sacha and Lacey: “I don’t want to cry.

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    “He’s so f***ing forgetful. What did this journey mean to you? Because it meant the f***ing world to me.”

    Kieran was shown looking concerned before admitting: “I’ve got to watch how I tread. I hate seeing her upset, I hate it.

    “I just feel bad for her, really f***ing bad.”

    Once Kristina had calmed down, Kieran appeared and they sat down together for a chat.

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    He then tried to reassure his ex wife that he cares about her before apologising for upsetting her.

    “If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t be here,” Kieran told her.

    “I don’t want to see you upset. I just…I’m sorry you feel the way you feel.

    “I’ve not given you the time you need or the attention you need and I’m sorry for that.”

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    Kristina and Kieran quickly became fan favourites when the 2024 series of MAFS UK kicked off.

    However, Kristina soon starting struggling with the lack of intimacy in their relationship.

    Kieran later made the heartbreaking confession that “the spark had gone” and they split during a commitment ceremony.

    Kristina burst out crying at the end of the teaser

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    Kristina burst out crying at the end of the teaserCredit: Channel 4



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    Kelly Cates on the Match of the Day job, working with Gary Neville and following her TV idols

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    Kelly Cates on the Match of the Day job, working with Gary Neville and following her TV idols


    Her odds to succeed Gary Lineker as the next Match of the Day host have shortened dramatically, but Kelly Cates seems happy enough with her lot in life right now.

    “Do you know, and you never want to say this, but at the moment I’ve got a really lovely mix of everything,” the Sky Sports presenter tells The Independent from her home in London.

    “I’ve got TV, live matches, radio, and when it gets towards the end of the season I do live Champions League games too. I could be at an Olympics or a World Cup during the summer so the balance of everything feels really nice. But I’m not tempting fate.”

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    Cates has earned huge acclaim for her presenting on Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage, including its flagship Super Sunday programme, working alongside pundits such as Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane, Jamie Redknapp and Micah Richards.

    She also hosts on BBC Radio 5 Live and recently started her own podcast, Not Just Football, with Hayley McQueen and Christine Lampard.

    Cates’ easy-going style has gained her a reputation as one of the UK’s leading sports presenters. She is behind Mark Chapman and Alex Scott in the early running to succeed Lineker on Match of the Day, but ahead of Kelly Sommers and her close friend Gabby Logan at the time of writing.

    Speaking last week before news officially broke of Lineker’s exit at the end of the season, the daughter of Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish was diplomatic when asked about her chances.

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    Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates are in the frame to replace Gary Lineker

    Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates are in the frame to replace Gary Lineker (PA)

    “Gary is still very much in the job and I know him,” said Cates. “Chappers and Gabby, who are also being mentioned as frontrunners, are really good mates of mine.

    “I’m certainly not going to put myself in the frame for a job that still has somebody in it and where the people being linked with it are my friends. And I love doing live football. I’m happy where I am.

    “When I cover Liverpool games at Anfield, I get to catch up with my mum and dad, even if it’s just five minutes because they’re always the last ones out of the building. I usually head straight back to London if it’s a Sunday game, but I always pop up and say hello.

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    “I do some work at Premier League Productions out of Stockley Park on a Monday morning show with Ian Wright. We pick out the big stories of the weekend, so I get to do all kinds of really interesting things and I’m really busy.

    “Moreover, I do them all in different places so people don’t get sick of me! I’m not angling or looking to do something different because I’m genuinely happy with what I’m doing.”

    Whether or not that will change should Cates’ BBC bosses table a tantalising offer to host the greatest sporting institution in British television history remains to be seen.

    Cates first joined Sky Sports in 1998

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    Cates first joined Sky Sports in 1998 (Getty Images)

    Cates grew up in a football-dominated household and has always been around the game.

    In her early twenties, she quit her maths degree at university in Glasgow to take up a role at the newly created Sky Sports News channel in 1998 and has never looked back.

    The 49-year-old remembers: “Suddenly Sky took on a load of kids, basically, who came straight in and they said, ‘We’ll let you go and make telly’.

    “There wasn’t a massive budget but Sky just wanted young, enthusiastic people and they didn’t want to take too much of a risk by putting their best people on it. It was a huge decision to leave university, but I thought, ‘This isn’t an opportunity I’m going to get again’.”

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    Cates grew up watching Des Lynam presenting Match of the Day and cites him and Logan as her inspirations.

    “Des was the gold standard,” says Cates with a huge smile. “He had that sense of being engaged with fans and got every single aspect of it right – I loved that tone. It’s the kind of tone that I like watching and listening to. It kind of makes sense that I would aim for, but not quite reach, that.

    “I worked for ESPN years ago and they had a mantra of ‘Take the sport seriously but don’t take yourself seriously’. For me, that’s the best approach to take.”

    At 51, the more experienced Logan is someone Cates has long admired.

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    “I always looked at Gabby’s career progress and watched her journey,” she explained. “It was brilliant to see and, even though she’s not much older than me, it felt like she was always the next step.”

    Women such as Cates, Logan and Laura Woods have enjoyed hugely successful broadcasting careers but the industry remains largely male-dominated.

    “Obviously you see a lot more women on screen, but I’d like to see that backed up in the same numbers behind the cameras as well,” she says. “Now I’m older, I feel much more protective of younger women coming into the industry.”

    Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville had led Sky Sports’ football analysis for over a decade

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    Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville had led Sky Sports’ football analysis for over a decade (Getty Images)

    How does she enjoy working with Neville and Carragher?

    “I don’t know how Gary has time for everything he does – he just can’t stop,” laughs Cates. “He just needs to be on the go all the time, his mind works that quickly. It is great working with him, but sometimes the producer will need to rein him in a little bit, saying, ‘We can’t do all of that and we certainly can’t do it with five minutes’ notice, we might need to put a bit of planning into this.’

    “But I’m lucky in that I work with some of the most respected voices in football. If you have any questions you want to ask, these guys are the best people to ask. It’s really nice to work with people when you’re always interested in what they have to say. Sometimes I have an idea of where they’re going to go with an answer, but I always care about what they’re going to say and that’s great.”

    Cates’ relationship with them is largely professional, though, with little socialising away from work.

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    “We wouldn’t phone each up and go for a coffee outside of work,” she admits. “But I get on with them and they’re in that bit between mates and colleagues. I’m not saying I wouldn’t go out for a coffee with them! But everyone is always so busy so it never really works out.”

    Cates helming a live Sky Sports broadcast

    Cates helming a live Sky Sports broadcast (Getty Images)

    Cates split from her husband Tom Cates in 2021 but their relationship is amicable, which helps her juggle a hectic work schedule and bringing up their two teenage daughters.

    “The girls are with their dad at weekends,” she says. “Although we’re not together, we get on fine and he’s really flexible with the girls, so we manage it mostly between us. The girls are getting a bit older now and they think they don’t need as much; that’s what they tell us but they do!”

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