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CNN anchor Anderson Cooper was hit in the face with debris while reporting outdoors on Hurricane Milton in Florida as the massive storm made landfall.

The hurricane arrived in the state as a Category 3 storm early Wednesday night near Sarasota County’s Siesta Key, bringing destructive tornadoes, 28ft waves, strong winds, heavy rainfall and storm surge across multiple areas.

The National Weather Service generated 111 tornado warnings as the storm thrashed the state’s Gulf side, breaking a 2017 record.

Facing wind speeds of more than 150mph, Cooper in Bradenton, Florida, Wednesday night to report on unfolding carnage.

“The water now is really starting to pour over,” said an already drenched Cooper while speaking to the camera on a walkway beside the Manatee River.

Things didn’t get much better for the 57-year-old news veteran as seconds later, the elements propelled a white object right into his face, momentarily dazing him.

“Well, that wasn’t good,” he said. “We’ll probably go inside shortly.”

Things weren’t much better for Cooper’s colleague Bill Weir in St Petersburg, who was literally swept off of the screen during his report.

Although sending reporters out into dangerous storms isn’t uncommon, viewers still couldn’t help but be concerned for Cooper.

On X/Twitter, one person wrote: “What does putting Anderson Cooper on a pier in the middle of the ocean at the height of a hurricane in its centre achieve in informing viewers? It’s like 120mph winds. Get my sweet porcelain glass anchor inside.”

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Another said: “‘It’s important for everyone to stay inside’ the FEMA rep tells CNN while Anderson Cooper is fighting for his life in Florida in the split screen.”

A third added: “You know it’s serious when they send Anderson Cooper into the eye of the storm I thought he must have a clause in his contract that he doesn’t do this anymore.”

A fourth joked: “I like how CNN sees no problem with putting Anderson Cooper smack dab in the center of Hurricane Milton but somehow draw the line at letting him drink on New Year’s Eve.”

The CNN host wasn’t the only reporter putting themselves in harm’s way on Wednesday night.

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Fox Weather correspondent Robert Ray felt the full force of Hurricane Milton shortly before the storm made landfall. “We just had this entire tree snap and fall right on our vehicles,” Ray said on Fox Weather.

The reporter had just finished a live report showing the Manatee River before he walked into his vehicle and looked at his phone.

“And then, all of a sudden, boom!” Ray recalled. “The whole tree just comes down and partially goes into the vehicle where [cameraman] Lloyd is.”

“For sure a hurricane wind gust to take down a tree like that,” he added.

After the tree fell, Ray said there was a “bit of a chaotic moment” when he asked if everyone was alright and he “couldn’t hear a darn thing” because of the roaring winds.

MARRIED At First Sight is heating up with a wife swap looming, a newlywed couple on the rocks and more dinner party bust-ups.

Three new couples prepare to join the other couples tonight but it looks like it’s all about to kick off, with one bride storming out.

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One couple has already called it a day and left the experiment, and other couples barely holding on by a thread.

MAFS icon and straight-talking star Laura Vaughan, 34, is here to give brutally honest opinion on the couples so far – and reveals which couples won’t make it to the final vow.

If you are as obsessed as Married At First Sight as I am, you need to keep reading, as I’ve got some thoughts...

It’s toxic – they’ve got to go!

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I’m just catching up with the last few episodes, where we’ve had in-laws week and there are some couples I just need to talk about.

We saw Adam and Polly’s in-law week, I’m not going to lie guys…I don’t get it, I’m not feeling it.

I’m not sure why Adam’s still there, it’s giving JJ [Slater] vibes from my season, but maybe slightly less kind.

He’s already sleeping with her, which is just providing really mixed messages. You either fancy her or you don’t.

I feel like he’s sleeping with her and then saying ‘well, I’ve done that now, so you can’t moan anymore about me not liking you’.

“I feel like it’s quite TOXIC!”

Hannah’s reached out to me

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Hannah and Stephen’s honeymoon, oh my gosh!

What really interested me is they’re talking about things and referencing cameras and they’re saying ‘you told me you’re going to say this on camera’.

We we told during last season that we weren’t allowed to reference cameras whatsoever.

So that makes me think that the argument they had was so so explosive, that the production couldn’t edit around it.

I’m going to be really honest with you, Hannah has reached out to me separately and she seems like a really nice girl.

But what I witnessed last night in the explosive honeymoon exchange, was that I think she’s dealing with some self-esteem issues.

The fact that Stephen keeps wanting time away from her, is playing into her fear or rejection and that’s why she’s entering every single conversation like she’s going into the boxing ring.

She in her own words to me, says that she feels like she goes on a journey, so I’m excited to see what it’s like, because at the moment she’s coming across as a very fiery girl and I’m not sure Stephen can handle it.

We love a strong direct queen – but she’s giving me a run for my money

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Richelle and Orson’s argument, I feel it just came out of the blue.

She’s found out that he’s an actor and she’s unhappy because she feels he’s acting throughout this entire process.

She’s the one causing the scene.

You have just blown up at this poor guy out of nowhere. We love a direct queen, don’t get me wrong, we love a strong direct queen, but she’s giving me a run for my money.

I actually don’t think we’re getting the full story here. I think there is something going on behind-the-scenes that we don’t know about, which might explain why she’s so angry at him.

Laura’s daily verdict –

In summary, Caspar and Emma and Polly and Adam need to write LEAVE at the next commitment ceremony…because quite frankly neither of you seem to fancy your wives or get on as people at all.

And protect Shannan and Ryan at all costs!

EASTENDERS has revealed two characters are making a shock comeback together – but fans have been left reeling.

The long-running BBC One soap will welcome back two members of the Carter family this Christmas.

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However, as our exclusive snaps from earlier this week show, they’re returning to Walford in devastating circumstances.

With filming for the highly-anticipated festive episodes now in full swing, Danny Hatchard and Maddy Hill have been pictured on location for EastEnders.

The pair – who play on-screen siblings Lee and Nancy Carter – are reprising their roles for a shock funeral.

It’s not exactly clear whose service it is, though fans have been left fearing Kellie Bright’s character as Linda Carter is being killed off.

She’s nowhere to be seen on set, with her nearest and dearest all gathered for the sad occasion.

Danny, 33, returns to EastEnders three years on from his final appearance, having made a brief comeback in 2020.

Maddy Hill originally portrayed Nancy Carter from 2014 until 2016, before returning to Walford in 2021 for a year-long stint.

Fans flooded social media following the news, as they brace for the emotional episodes.

One said: “The fact that Nancy and Lee are back for the funeral tells me it’s someone important, so I think either Mick’s remains have been found or Linda dies.”

A second blasted: “Both Nancy and Lee back for a funeral, Nancy wearing flamingo earrings and no Linda in sight… if she gets killed off I’ll be FUMING. First you take Mick away, say Shirley is only leaving for a while and it’s been nearly 2 years and now THIS?”

“Lee, Johnny and Nancy all back for a funeral.. they better not be killing off Linda,” said a third.

While a fourth commented: “Lee and Nancy?! Nancy wearing flamingo earrings? Someone get me a picture of Kellie Bright on set immediately because I am stressed.”

Kellie Bright’s disappearance on set could be a clever move by Beeb bosses who have previously used red herring tactics to hide the actual plots of storylines.

Keanu Taylor was last Christmas’ murder victim during ‘The Six’ storyline as Linda plunged a carving fork into his back.

But Beeb bosses launched a ploy to divert attention from the death by having Danny Walters snapped at an airport and on set for another funeral scene – not his own.

It led fans to speculate he wasn’t the victim of the explosive storyline, preventing the highly anticipated episode from being spoiled.

Linda Carter’s biggest EastEnders storylines

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Linda arrived on the Square on Boxing Day in 2013, along with her husband Mick (Danny Dyer) and has been a hit with soap fans ever since.

Her first storylines revolved around the fact that she struggled to come to terms that her son Johnny is gay

In a storyline that had long-lasting repercussions, she was then raped by Mick’s brother Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo).

She fell pregnant shortly after and then was left devastated emotionally when she gave birth to a premature baby after falling down the stairs.

Things soon got worse for Linda after she discovered that her husband Mick kissed their daughter-in-law Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty), who was married to their veteran son Lee (Danny Hatchard).

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One of her more memorable storylines was when she was accused of perverting the course of justice. This was after Stuart Highway (Ricky Champ) is shot and she was falsely accused of attempted murder.

Over the years she has suffered from a variety of illnesses and disorders which include bulimia, alcoholism, and a secret battle with cervical cancer. After she gave birth to her youngest son Ollie (Harry Farr), she also had to deal with his autism diagnosis.

Although she and Mick seemed to be the perfect couple, the pair split up for a short time after she had an affair with Max Branning (Jake Wood). This lead to another pregnancy.

However, the pair finally got divorced after Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) set her eyes on Mick. She wanted the landlord all to herself and she lured Linda rival back into alcoholism to drive a wedge between them.

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After this led to Mick’s apparent death at sea, she struggled to adjust to life without her ex-husband and the true love of her life. This was just after the pair decided to have another go at their relationship.

Recently, Linda was the person who was at the very centre during ‘The Six’ storyline. She tried to save her best friend Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) when she was being strangled by Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters). When she killed him with a meat thermometer, the group framed her rapist Dead Wicks after he returned to the square. Since then, she has struggled to cope.

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Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith has explained why she doesn’t watch the show.

It comes shortly after the star admitted that she had almost tried to quit after the recording schedule meant she was never seeing her family.

The restaurateur, 84, has been a part of the much-loved baking programme since its move from the BBC to Channel 4 in 2017, replacing the expert role formerly held by Mary Berry.

“I mostly don’t watch. I’m too vain,” she told The Times, admitting that she cannot bear to watch more than a couple of episodes at most.

“I just think, ‘Oh my God, why do they always have me eating?’ Which is a very ugly thing to be doing. And never Paul [Hollywood, her fellow judge].

“Paul gets the sort of good stare, and he looks fantastic. But you don’t see Paul putting much food in his mouth.”

She said that she felt the filming and angles portrayed her in an unflattering light.

“I may be imagining this. I think, ‘Oh my God, I wish the cameraman wasn’t going round the back and taking photographs of my fat places. And my profile is awful.

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“And why don’t I keep my chin up, and then my double chin wouldn’t show?’ It’s ridiculous, because I am what I am. And everybody knows what I am. They seem to not mind. So why do I mind? But I do. So I don’t watch it much. But I force myself to watch a couple, because I think I ought to.”

It comes shortly after Sandra Toksvig divided the internet after she admitted that she doesn’t watch the show, and doesn’t stay in touch with any of her co-stars other than Leith.

“It’s not for me. I walked away from the biggest paycheque of my life, but that’s fine. I’d never watched it. I still haven’t watched it. I didn’t understand it,” said Toksvig.

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Going even further, she said: “Cakes are readily available in the shops. I didn’t enjoy the process. You stand at the end of a long table for hours when Prue and Paul taste everything and we literally didn’t speak or taste anything.”

Pointless presenter and author Richard Osman hit out at Toksvig as he commented on a post about the article, saying: “I honestly don’t think you should present shows you wouldn’t watch.”

ITV star Lucy Meacock has tied the knot with her longtime partner Jonathan in a beautiful ceremony.

The former ITV News presenter looked stunning in a glittering white gown with delicate bead detailing and long sleeves.

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The couple exchanged vows in an intimate celebration in Eccleston, Lancashire, surrounded by close family and friends.

Lucy and Jonathan have been together for several years, keeping their relationship private despite her public career.

She posted about the special touches she included on the day, telling her followers on Instagram: “A very special bridal bouquet … white roses as groom is from Yorkshire.

“And one secret flower that was my Dad’s favourite so he was there when I walked up the aisle.”

She added: “Later, in a quiet moment I left it where I scattered my parents’ ashes many years ago.”

Friends and colleagues flooded social media with well-wishes, as one said: “Aw how lovely. Simple elegance. Brought a tear to my eyes the bouquet xx.”

Another shared: “Aw how lovely. Simple elegance. Brought a tear to my eyes the bouquet xx”

Lucy has been a familiar face on ITV for over three decades, joining Granada Reports in 1988.

Known for her warm yet professional presenting style, she’s become a staple in British news broadcasting.

She now works as an event host, a media trainer and she is a chancellor at Salford University.

The host of ITV’s flagship news programme quietly bowed out after almost four decades at the channel in April.

The host of ITV’s flagship news programme said: “This has been one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made. 

“But the time is right to move on now. For me it has always been the best job in the world, with the best people in the world, in the best region in the world!

“I am very grateful that I was given this job so many years ago.

“I have always tried my hardest to make a positive contribution and I hope I will be remembered with some fondness in the years ahead.”

She added: “It has been a complete honour and privilege to serve the people of this region and I will always have the interests of the North West at heart.

“A big thank you to all the people who have appeared on the programme over the years, sometimes when they have been facing some very tough challenges.”

Lucy began her broadcasting career at Tyne Tees TV with the Miners strike in 1984. 

Since then she has become a hugely respected presenter and journalist in the North West since 1988. 

Joining back in the days of Granada Television Lucy worked on a remarkable variety of programmes, including UpFront, The Late Debate, The Main Ingredient, Origin Unknown, Hearts and Minds and This Morning from Liverpool. 

Lucy added: “I’d also like to say a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful people who I have worked with in more than 40 years in TV and thank you to our viewers who have been kind enough to invite us into their homes.”

She ended her goodbye, saying: “It’s been the best gig for 36 years and as I move on I will be the first to congratulate my successor and wish them, Gamal and the Granada Reports team all the very best for the future. Good night and thank you for watching.” 

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