IN an optimistic bid to add TV’s Glitterball to his trophy collection, Paul Merson is approaching Strictly like football – and he isn’t ready for an early bath.

The former England, Arsenal and Aston Villa star says he is getting match-fit for the gruelling routines on the BBC One dance contest, and has already shed almost 2st.

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And though Paul, 56, is regularly at the bottom of the show’s scoreboard, he insists he is fighting back as if he were playing for a team that was ­dangerously low in the league.

He said: “I’m 100 per cent in a ­relegation battle because the ­standards on this year’s show are through the roof. Some of the other dancers are just amazing.

“And now Toyah Willcox has gone, it will be hard for me and I am up against it. But I don’t look that far ahead. I live in the moment.

“I’m used to just putting my boots on and getting the job done. I won’t be big-headed but that was my job — I was good at football.”

Three-times-married Paul, who has eight children, faced Toyah in the dance-off — and got all four judges to vote to keep him in.

He said: “It was heads or tails, but in the end I won quite ­easily. I did — I won four-nil!”

Even so, he is realistic about his slim chances of winning, particularly since his odds are ­currently 100/1, compared to the favourite, comic Chris McCausland, at 4/6.

Really proud

But simply discovering he can dance was a revelation in itself, and he said: “That ­surprised me immensely. Honestly, I wasn’t exaggerating when I said I’d danced three times — once at each of my three weddings.

“I’ve improved a hundredfold. But that’s the whole idea of the show — people come on who have got two left feet and they try to get better and better.

“Also, my aim was to get well under 14st before I went out of Strictly, and I’m 14st right now — I haven’t been that light for 20 years.

“So when I was in the dance-off I was like, ‘I’m 14st 3lb — I need to stay!’ So it’s not about staying in to win, I just want to lose more weight.

“If I work hard this week I should get under 14st.”

Inevitably there has been lots of chatter among footballing peers about him taking part in the show.

Paul said: “Everybody I’ve talked to has gone, ‘Fair play to you’. [Strictly 2022 contestant] Tony Adams said, ‘Don’t do it’, but he loves it really.

“Jermain Defoe was asking me about it and I said, ‘If I was you, do it’. I wouldn’t tell anybody not to do this. It has been an amazing experience so far.”

And continuing the football references, he said of his Strictly pro partner Karen Hauer: “She’s amazing. I call her [Man City manager] Pep Guardiola. She gets me. The dances I do are sensible for my body.

“If she puts something in the ­choreography and I can’t get it, we just move on and do something else.

I’m used to just putting my boots on and getting the job done. I won’t be big-headed but that was my job — I was good at football

“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, it’s been great. I turn up for training smiling, I leave smiling. It’s been an amazing experience.”

 Karen added: “It’s already massive, what he’s doing — putting himself out there like this and being a complete novice in everything. The past couple of weeks have been awesome.”

For Paul, there is a serious reason for wanting to be on Strictly that extends beyond bagging another ­trophy or getting fit again.

Once one of the highest earners in football, he is a well-known former gambler who splurged £7million and racked up huge debts through his addiction before eventually cleaning up his act.

He said: “One of the big bonuses of doing Strictly is that for all those people out there struggling with addiction, I am showing them that you can do it and that there is a life beyond the struggles.

“That’s what I’ve done. Because addiction withdraws you from everybody. It wants you on your own.

“It wants to destroy you. What I’m doing now just shows you how well I am in myself.”

There is no understating how much Paul, a Sky Sports pundit, has turned his life around.

 At his lowest point in the Nineties, he even considered breaking his own fingers to stop himself ringing his bookie to bet.

His habit was accompanied by huge amounts of booze and drugs, and in 1994, at the height of his career, he publicly revealed his addictions.

In 2003, when he was 35, the desperate star cashed in his £800,000 pension pot to go on a gambling frenzy.

My aim was to get well under 14st before I went out of Strictly, and I’m 14st right now — I haven’t been that light for 20 years

He blamed substance abuse for fuelling his gambling, which was often on horse and dog racing.

Different life

But it sometimes saw him place bizarre bets, including £10,000 on the Eurovision Song ­Contest and £5,000 on a televised bowls match.

When his first wife Lorraine, with whom he had three sons, discovered he had blown £10,000 betting on a snooker match, she divorced him.

 His second marriage, to Louise Bache, produced twin girls but in 2013 it also failed, amid his gambling addiction.

Now Paul is happily wed to third wife Kate, with whom he has had three more children.

So for many people struggling with addiction, he is a huge role model — and he knows that responsibility is even greater now he is on Strictly.

The sequins and the glitter, that’s the bit I find really hard — but I can only blame myself for looking like a bit of a fool

Paul said: “I meet people who are struggling. They go, ‘How are you doing it?’ and I say, ‘By ­getting well’.

“When people see me better and doing something like Strictly, it has a knock-on effect. There’s light at the end of the tunnel for people like me.

“I struggled to get up on that dance floor. But we’re ill people who need to get well. We’re not bad people who need to get good.”

Paul revealed Kate is concerned about what the next chapter in their life holds, post-Strictly.

He said: “Our life has completely changed. She said it’s different at home now because all the kids have started school.

“She’s a bit worried about when I leave this competition because it’s a different life now and I’m not used to it. I like to keep on doing stuff, I don’t like sitting around. But, you know, this isn’t community service.

“I don’t have to do this, I want to do it. It’s my choice, so enjoy it. My experience has been great.

“I don’t worry about things that are out of my hands. It was a bit like when we were in the dance-off. I just said to Karen, ‘What do we do now?’

“But what will be, will be. I’ll just go out there and enjoy myself.

“The sequins and the glitter, that’s the bit I find really hard — but I can only blame myself for looking like a bit of a fool.”

•  Strictly is on BBC One today at 6.25pm.

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Disney has been delivered a crushing blow in its lawsuit battle with former The Mandalorian star Gina Carano.

The actor, 41, is suing the studio, alongside Lucasfilm, for discrimination and wrongful termination after the former MMA fighter was dropped from the Star Wars spin-off in February 2021 for sharing a social media post in which she appeared to compare the Republican experience in the US to that of Jewish people during the Holocaust.

Carano filed a complaint in California federal court, with help from X/Twitter owner Elon Musk, accusing the entertainment companies of damaging her reputation and discriminating her based on her gender. As part of the lawsuit, Carano questioned why the studios did not give similar treatment to her former co-star Pedro Pascal over posts he shared on topical subjects.

While Disney attempted to have the lawsuit thrown out, stating that Carano’s decision “to publicly trivialise the Holocaust by comparing criticism of political conservatives to the annihilation of millions of Jewish people was the final straw”, a judge has denied the studio’s appeal, and the trial will move ahead in September 2025.

US District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett said:“Having considered the parties’ submissions, the relevant law, and the record in this case, the Court DENIES the Motion.”

Carano said in response to the decision: “I am obviously very pleased with the opportunity to keep moving forward with the judicial process and into discovery. While I wish this was not necessary as it is not my desire to be in this battle in court, I will not shrink away from it because it is hard or uncomfortable.”

The Independent has contacted Disney for additional comment.

In a section of the lawsuit titled “Social Media Posts from Carano’s Co-Stars”, Carano questioned Disney and Lucasfilm’s lack of response to posts shared on X/Twitter by her former co-star Pascal, with whom she previously claimed to reach an agreement with over their opposing beliefs.

The lawsuit reads: “Carano respects the rights of her co-stars to express their views on social media, even if they differ from her own, and she remains personally fond of each of them. However, Defendants’ treatment of Carano stands in stark contrast to Defendants’ embrace of her male co- stars and other male employees, so the following examples are provided to demonstrate the discriminatory treatment Carano endured at the hands of Defendants.”

Carano’s lawyers then cited posts in which Pascal supported Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ rights, stating: “On June 27, 2020, Pascal posted two Disney-owned Muppet characters, Bert and Ernie, as activists waving a transgender and LGBTQ+ pride flag and promoting ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘Defund the Police’.”

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Another post shared in the lawsuit shows Pascal comparing Donald Trump to Hitler.

It reads: “Upon information and belief, Pascal was not disciplined, required to review documentaries on any of these topics or speak to individuals with contrary points of view, or pressured to apologise for any of his posts. His employment was not terminated, and Defendants made no public statements about his social media posts, much less refer to them as ‘abhorrent’.”

Carano is seeking a court order that would force Lucasfilm to recast her and at least $75,000 (£57,500), plus punitive damages.

WILD rumours are circulating about a fix in the Big Brother house concerning an on-screen romance – with some saying it was all plotted before they even entered the house.

Big Brother fans are convinced that Nathan and Baked Potato (AKA Rosie) knew each other before.

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One fan took to X, formerly Twitter, to say: “I’ve just heard a conspiracy theory that Baked Potato and Nathan knew each other before Big Brother…. her reaction to seeing him on launch night and the whole “they know about us”…

Another fan said “This is the weirdest romance in the history of Big Brother,” to which another fan replied: “…Nathan’s playing a game that involves a four year plan.

Someone else said: “I’m actually so confused by his romance, literally the most unlikely romance in Big Brother history.”

Nathan King, 24, is a pork salesman who in another life used to serve in the Royal household, as the reigning monarch’s butler.

Meanwhile, Rosie Williams is a dental assistant who has promised to donate her winnings to help fund her friend’s IVF treatment.

Housemates have been told they must call Rosie Baked Potato for the foreseable future after a dare in the first week.

Fans were surprised when the pair revealed saucy feelings for one another during Thursday night’s show.

Nathan confessed he felt attracted to Rosie just minutes before she walked into the Big Brother house.

But another contestant, Lily, leapt in with a surprise kiss.

The romance blossomed between Nathan and Rosie after a fire alarm evacuation where cameras recorded a secret chat.

The pair discussed dating each other when they get out, with Nathan asking Rosie if she’d like to visit a winery together when they emerge from the house.

But viewers have been speculating that it is all little too pre-planned and organised – and there must be more than meets the eye.

Big Brother is presented by Will Best and AK Odudu and is on its second series on ITV and ITVX, formerly being shown on Channel 4 and presented by Davina McCall.

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The Strictly competition is heating up as contestants enter the fifth week of the contest.

There are 12 couples remaining after Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk’s exit on Sunday night, making them the third pair to be eliminated from this year’s competition.

This Saturday night’s show does not have a theme so viewers can expect a wide but eclectic variety of dances, including Paul Merson dancing a Samba to Rose Royce’s “Car Wash” and Pete Wicks dancing a Rumba to Oasis’s “Don’t Look Back in Anger”.

This week’s dances include two Sambas and two Quicksteps, plus a couple’s choice routine for Montell Douglas and her pro partner Johannes Radebe.

Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell will dance a Waltz to “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Gerry and the Pacemakers, while Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola will dance a Samba to “Do It Do It Again” by Rafaella Carrà.

Last week’s show saw Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri top the leaderboard with pro partner Aljaž Škorjanec, dancing the Charleston in a performance that earned 39 points from the judges. EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick and opera singer Wynne Evans also scored well, amassing a total of 34 points each.

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Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell also floored both judges and viewers with an intricate salsa, which scored 30 points.

Find the full list of songs and dances for week five below:

Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe will dance a Couple’s Choice to “Skeleton Move” by KG and Zanda Zakuza

Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez will dance a Viennese Waltz to “She’s Always A Woman To Me” by Billy Joel

Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin will dance a Quickstep to “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield

Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola will dance a Samba to “Do It Do It Again” by Rafaella Carrà

Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec will dance a Tango to “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence + The Machine

Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell will dance a Waltz to “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Gerry and the Pacemakers

Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas will dance a Pasodoble to “Malagueña” by Ernesto Lecuona

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JB Gill and Amy Dowden will dance a Jive to “Hey Ya!” by Outkast

Paul Merson and Karen Hauer will dance a Samba to “Car Wash” by Rose Royce

Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał will dance a Rumba to “Don’t Look Back In Anger” by Oasis

Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu will dance an American Smooth to “Get Here” by Sam Smith

Wynne Evans and Katya Jones will dance a Quickstep to “Mr Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra

Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC One on Saturday at 6.25pm.

GRAND Designs host Kevin McCloud was left choking back tears during an emotional moment on the hit Channel 4 show.

The TV programme featured some candid emotion amongst the property renovations after being hit by a devastating cancer twist.

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In the episode, Kevin was left floored by the news that one of the owners of a gruelling renovation had been diagnosed with the disease.

Tony and Ara were hoping to create a perfect space for them to relax and find peace in a leafy part of Henley-on-Thames.

The couple spent four years demolishing the original dwelling and building something that was perfect for them which came with many hurdles along the way.

However, it was Ara’s admission that she was battling cancer amid the renovations and eventual completion of the house that left Kevin truly moved.

Ahead of arriving for a final sit-down with the pair after the completion of the property, it was clear that Kevin was already thinking about what was to come.

He said: “I’m approaching Tony and Ara’s house with a little trepidation.

“On top of the emotional, psychological, physical load this project has brought comes this latest news of Ara’s cancer, which is so sad.”

Later, Kevin sat down for an honest conversation with the couple where Ara opened up about how important having a home around her which she loved amid her illness meant to her.

Speaking to Kevin, she said: “Nobody could have predicted what was going to happen to me.

“Now the path is to do peace, contentment and gratitude. I have so much to be grateful for, I live in a little piece of heaven.

“It’s heaven round here.”

Kevin was clearly emotional as his eyes began to water before he choked back tears.

Almost stumbling for words, he said back to her: “It’s my turn to get a bit tearful now.

“I’m… in awe of the pair of you.

“Very tough and very wonderful of you to have got this far, I think it’s just a great thing.”

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The reviews for The Office Australia are in – and they are brutal.

Many have argued that the Amazon Prime remake is “unnecessary”, given the brilliance of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s 2001 original workplace classic, and the hugely popular US follow-up, which ran from 2005.

Aussie comedian Felicity Ward leads the cast of the Australian version, starring as Hannah Howard, the equivalent of Gervais’s tragic middle-manager David Brent.

In a two-star review for The Telegraph, Benji Wilson called the show “a heinously misguided undertaking” that “hasn’t paid enough attention to its source material”. He asked: “What is this for?”

The Guardian’s one-star review, meanwhile, headlined “An edgeless reboot doomed for the shredder”, saw Luke Buckmaster write: “Given The Office has already been remade a dozen times – including a brilliant long-running US version that (apologies to my British colleagues) surpassed the original – the key challenge for the Australian reboot was to bring something new to the table. The amazing thing is that the creators don’t seem to have even tried.”

Commenting on the performances, he added: “The cast do their best but look a bit dazed and glassy-eyed, like fish nearing their last breath.”

The Evening Standard was slightly more generous, awarding the show three stars and complimenting Ward’s “eccentric and needy” portrayal of Howard. Critic William Mata wrote that, while “or the first five minutes”, the show “feels a genuinely fresh and updated retelling of the story”, it soon resorts to “familiar ground”.

Pat Stacey, writing for The Irish Independent, didn’t like it at all. He wrote: “There’s not a spark of originality in this pointless and toothless dud.” The critic, who called the show “lazy”, asked: “Why did anyone think this series was necessary?”

In an interview with The Independent this week, Ward told Helen Coffey she knew that covering similar ground to two established and beloved shows clearly comes with its challenges. “I know that people are going to have very strong opinions about this regardless,” she said, but added: “When people ask, ‘Did you feel the pressure?’ I’m like, ‘No, not at all.’ This is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me.”