BBC star Gethin Jones has piqued fans’ interest due to his personal life

Gethin Jones is one of the most beloved figures on British television. His personal and romantic life has also intrigued fans over the years.

The 48-year-old former Blue Peter star now presents Morning Live on the BBC alongside Michelle Ackerley and Helen Skelton, with whom Jones has been romantically linked.

The Cardiff-born star is a former Rugby player. He has also dipped his toe into charity work over the years with Rugby Aid and a 24-hour ‘Skate-a-thon’ for Comic Relief.

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Stints on Strictly Come Dancing and his past engagement to an opera star have also seen his star rise. Wales Online takes a closer look at Jones, his private life and what he’s said on romance in recent times.

Split from famous fiancee

While competing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2007, Jones ended up meeting opera superstar Katherine Jenkins, who was a guest on the show. A romance quickly blossomed, and four years later, the pair were engaged.

However, they split up at the end of 2011. The pair admitted that, during their social media announcements, the decision left them both heartbroken.

During her tours, Jenkins admitted the break-up left her “in pieces” and feeling like a “total mess”. In an interview on the Mirror’s ‘Outdoor Minds’ podcast, Jones also conceded the split took its toll.

“I remember doing BBC Radio 5Live and going into the toilet at 5.30am, going, ‘All right. Come on. Just focus for the next three hours, and then you can go back to being sad again.’ I definitely had a bad bout of depression during that time,” he said. Jenkins later married American director Andrew Levitas and had two children.

Helen Skelton rumours

The much-loved TV and radio personality was romantically linked with Jones in 2024, with the pair reportedly enjoying dates in a luxury spa.

Skelton, 42, split from rugby player Richie Myler in 2022, who is the father of her children. Rumours were rife about a potential romance after the duo were pictured together at the Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards in 2024, leaning into one another on the red carpet.

However, Skelton, who recently moved back to her native Cumbria to live on her parents’ dairy farm, claimed there was no budding romance with Jones.

“We just work together, we are not together. No, no, no. We are just work friends,” she said. “They printed pictures of us at work and that we’re together because we are at work together.”

The pair have been friends for years and colleagues for just as long. Last year, they took part in Gethin and Helen’s Wheely Big Challenge – a 24-hour roller-skating challenge in aid of Comic Relief. Jones opened up on their deep friendship, saying: “What’s different this time is that we have each other. We’re best friends. We’re very honest with one another.”

Jones has publicly commented on his and Helen’s reported romance. The presenter was interviewing Christine McGuinness about her Situationships podcast.

When author Sophie Gravia and McGuiness discussed their own relationships and romances, one remarked about being single for a long time, with Gethin quickly stepping in to say “join the club”, seemingly confirming his single status.

Game will shut down its final three stores in April, marking the end of the business’s three-decade high-street presence.

The video-game retailer confirmed it would close its last three stores in Dudley, Lancaster, and Sutton in April 2026, following its entry into administration earlier this year.

Game once operated more than 300 stores across the UK but closed its stores over the last few years.

Game to leave the UK high street in the coming weeks

Although Game will be closing its last three stores, the business’s online presence will continue to operate.

Plus, it will have some physical presence, remaining in more than 200 Sports Direct and House of Fraser stores across the UK.

Over the last several years, Game closed sites as leases expired and closed its headquarters in Basingstoke in 2025.

Its move to shut its final three stores follows the appointment of administrators in January.

Although Game is moving away from standalone stores, bosses previously insisted that selling physical games remains central to the business.

Managing director Nick Arran has described gaming as the chain’s “core business” and argued that there is still a market for boxed titles, particularly collectors’ editions and gifts that people want to wrap rather than send as a download code.

Game will close its last stores soon. (Image: Getty Images)

In 2023, he claimed that the chain was a defender of physical media in an increasingly online market, saying: “Gaming is our core business, and we will be the last man standing selling physical video games.”

Following the announcement of the closure of its stores, GAME has said: “Gift cards and eVouchers are valid for two years after their purchase. Any remaining balance will be cancelled on the expiration date of the card.

“Gift cards and eVouchers cannot be used by customers outside of the United Kingdom.”

The exact date of the final closures has not yet been confirmed by Game.

The BBC has shut down reports it’s also cut the hosts of Strictly Come Dancing spin-off series It Takes Two after axing a string of professional dancers.

Earlier this month it was reported the fates of several stars of the long-running dancing series were up in the air.

Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, and Michelle Tsiakkas were the first reported to have been axed from the show, with Nadiya Bychkova then added to the pile.

Meanwhile Neil Jones and Nancy Xu were also said to have been benched and would not be assigned a celebrity partner for the upcoming series.

Then, this weekend, Karen Hauer – the longest-serving female pro – confirmed she’d quit.

However overnight it was reported that show bosses also wanted to give It Takes Two a refresh.

‘Viewers will be shocked that this bloodbath has continued but bosses want a completely new look and fresh start for the show,’ a source told The Sun when claiming hosts Janette Manrara and Fleur East had been shown the door.

‘Nobody feels safe at the moment, but execs are determined to have a complete refresh after all the drama in recent years and create a new era.

‘Just because Fleur and Janette aren’t on It Takes Two that’s not to say they won’t be repurposed elsewhere. Everyone at the BBC is keen to start with a clean slate come September, distancing themselves from damaging incidents from the past.’

Former professional dancer Janette, 42, started hosting It Takes Two in 2021 after eight years on the main show. She is also married to fellow professional dancer Aljaz Skorjanec, 36.

Meanwhile former X Factor star Fleur, 38, was a finalist on Strictly when she competed in 2022 before joining It Takes Two the following the year.

But following the reports of the two hosts also being cut, a BBC spokesperson told Metro: ‘It is factually incorrect to claim that either has been “axed”. Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course.’

However, Metro understands no decisions on the hosting of the show into the future have been made yet.

The BBC is also yet to confirm who will be hosting the main show after the exit of Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly last year.

In December the duo announced they were leaving the show together after two decades, explaining it ‘felt like the right time’.

Speculation has been rife for months about who will step into their shoes, with some names in the mix including Alex Jones, Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark, Alison Hammond, Angela Scanlon, Emma Willis, and even Fleur too.

After initially appearing on a shortlist to take over, Holly Willoughby, Amanda Holden, and Alan Carr have already ruled themselves out.

On Saturday Karen announced she would not be back for the 2026 season. In a video shared on social media, she praised the programme for ‘changing [her] life’ and giving her ‘the privilege of meeting so many incredible people and brilliant celebrity partners who have become close friends’.

She started her video: ‘Hey everyone, I’ve got something to tell you. It’s a tough one, but here we go.

‘After 14 years on Strictly Come Dancing, I’ve decided this is the right time for me to close this chapter and take on new projects in other areas that I’m passionate about.’

Insiders have previously said executives want a ‘shake-up’ and a ‘fresh start’ after numerous scandals and negative press surrounding bullying investigations, drug use probes, and more.

‘There are major changes taking place, with dancers having meetings about their contracts over the next few weeks,’ a source has previously said.

‘Bosses want a fresh start and to bring in new faces after all the drama in recent years and create a new era.’

Metro has contacted representatives for Janette Manrara and Fleur East for comment.

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Expert Benedict Vanheems says April is the ‘most important sowing month’ that will set gardeners up with the plants they need over the warmer months

Gardeners are being urged to plant five types of seed in April in order to “set themselves up for success”. Expert Benedict Vanheems, known as Grow Veg, says April is the “most important sowing month” for gardeners.

He believes it is important not to miss that “all important sowing window” as the warmer weather approaches. And Benedict admits he “can’t wait” to get those first harvests as his crops begin to grow.

Firstly Benedict recommends that gardeners should plant any “overwintered carrots”. He opts for the stump-rooted variety because it is “so much more carroty” than the vegetables he finds in his local supermarket.

In a video , he said: “They may be cheap to buy but this is why you grow carrots, for that insanely deep carroty taste. Carrots are happiest when sown directly into the soil and left well alone.”

He went on to explain that they don’t enjoy being “transplanted” and while they might survive, they might grow in “unusual” shapes. He recommends shorter stump-rooted varieties in heavier and stony soil or maybe even making carrot planters.

Benedict however warns that slugs “love” carrot seedlings, meaning gardeners will have to keep an eye out for the pests. Elsewhere he suggests sowing courgette now, describing it as the “plant that keeps on giving”.

He says courgettes grow from seed to plant in the “blink of an eye” and says he likes to “harvest them young” as they are at the “densest and nuttiest”. He recommends sowing them between three and four weeks before the last frost.

Benedict suggests putting them into a pot and planting into a larger container before it’s time to move them outside. In a similar manner to courgettes, Benedict is sowing his cucumbers now because they will “germinate really quickly in the warmth”.

He says the key to growing a cucumber is “regular feeding and regular watering”. Noting that “inconsistent moisture” leads to a bitter-tasting fruit.

Elsewhere Benedict enjoys planting chard in his garden for “reliability and productivity”. He added: “Chard can be colourful, incredibly productive, and is far more tolerable to heat and cold than many other greens.”

He warns that planting the seeds too early could mean they flower prematurely. Once in the soil, they need to be well watered to keep the leaves growing.

While celery has a “reputation for being a little bit difficult,” Benedict likes to grow the tiny “dust-like” seeds in his garden. He scatters them over the surface of his pot before misting them.

He then puts clear plastic over the pot to give them a “snug environment”. This is removed ahead of planting them in the garden.

And while Benedict enjoys planting vegetables in his garden, his final tip is to plant vegetable-friendly flowers in your garden. He suggests marigolds, zinnias, and allysums.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned of missile shortage as he says Putin will benefit from a “long war” in Iran.

Appearing on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he said the US produces around 60 to 65 Patriot missiles a month, which equates to roughly 600 to 700 a year. In the first day of the Middle East war, 103 missiles were used, he warned.

He said there will be “definitely” be a deficit and the question is now “when will all the stockpiles in the Middle East be exhausted”.

“For Putin, a long war in Iran is a plus,” as resources deplete, added.

“So it is beneficial for Putin that the resources do not go to Ukraine, against whom he has directed his army, and he’s fighting with he needs to weaken us. And this is a long process. The Middle East is one of the ways to do that.”

His comments come after at least four people were killed in Russian drone attacks on Saturday, while strikes on energy infrastructure knocked out power to most of the northern Ukrainian region of Chernihiv.

A drone attack in Zaporizhzhia struck and left a man and woman dead, while six people, including two children, were injured, regional head Ivan Fedorov said.

Officials said another two people died in attacks in the Dnipropetrovsk region, and five people were injured.

In Russia, two women were killed and another wounded by Ukrainian shelling of the Belgorod border region.

Zelensky warns of missile shortage

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned of missile shortage as he says Putin will benefit from a “long war” in Iran.

“For Putin, a long war in Iran is a plus,” as resources deplete, he told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

”In addition to energy prices, it means the depletion of US reserves and the depletion of air defence manufacturers. So we have a depletion of resources.

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“So it is beneficial for Putin that the resources do not go to Ukraine, against whom he has directed his army, and he’s fighting with he needs to weaken us. And this is a long process. The Middle East is one of the ways to do that.”

He said the US produces around 60 to 65 Patriot missiles a month, which equates to roughly 600 to 700 a year. In the first day of the Middle East war, 103 missiles were used, he warned.

He said there will be “definitely” be a deficit and the question is now “when will all the stockpiles in the Middle East be exhausted”.

Amy-Clare Martin22 March 2026 10:35

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Trilateral talks ‘constantly postponed’ due to Iran war, Zelensky says

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said trilateral talks over the war in Ukraine are “constantly postponed” due to the war in Iran.

Appearing on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he said: “I have a very bad feeling about the impact of this war on the situation in Ukraine, and the focus on America is more on the Middle East than on Ukraine.

“Unfortunately, therefore, you see that our diplomatic meetings, trilateral meetings are constantly postponed. There is one reason, war in Iran.”

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Amy-Clare Martin22 March 2026 10:17

Village captured in Ukraine’s Sumy region, reports claim

Russia has captured a village in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, according to unverified reports.

Russian forces have taken control of the village Potapivka, state-run RIA news agency claimed on Sunday, citing the Russian Defence Ministry.

Reuters news agency said they could not independently verify the battlefield report.

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Amy-Clare Martin22 March 2026 09:32

Russia says it thwarted drone attack near Bashkortostan refineries

Russian air defences thwarted a Ukrainian drone attack on the city of Ufa in Bashkortostan region, regional governor Radiy Khabirov said.

Ukrainian drones were shot down near the city’s oil refineries, Khabirov said, without naming the facilities.

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Debris triggered a brief fire at a building under construction in one of the city’s districts.

Bashkortostan, located in the Ural Mountains, has been repeatedly targeted by Ukraine. Its capital, Ufa, lies about 1,400km (870 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border.

Amy-Clare Martin22 March 2026 08:48

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The media has unmasked Banksy, again. Art experts reveal what happens next

Reuters pieced together that a David Jones travelled to Ukraine with a well-known associate of Banksy’s in late 2022 — just before the artist’s work began appearing on buildings that had been bombed by Russia.

Banksy later confirmed that he’d created seven murals in the war zone, including one of a child flipping over a grown man who is wearing a black belt.

Rituparna Chatterjee22 March 2026 08:10

How Ukraine’s front line became a laboratory for drone innovation

In recent years, Ukraine’s domestic drone interceptor market has burgeoned, producing some key players who tout their products at international arms shows.

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But it’s on the front line where small teams have become laboratories of rapid military innovation – grassroots technology born of battlefield necessity that now draw international interest.

Rituparna Chatterjee22 March 2026 06:30

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller, who investigated Russia-Trump campaign ties, dies

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar22 March 2026 06:00

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Russian drone attack on village in Donetsk Oblast kills 63-year-old resident

A Russian drone attack on a village in the Donetsk Oblast killed one person and injured four others, including a 15-year-old boy, the Donetsk Oblast prosecutor’s office said.

A Russian Lancet drone struck a residential area of the Maidan village, killing a 63-year-old resident, while simultaneously damaging 35 nearby homes and vehicles, according to the Kyiv Independent.

Four other civilians, including a 30-year-old man, two women aged 52 and 65, and a 15-year-old boy, also suffered injuries, officials said.

Rituparna Chatterjee22 March 2026 05:39

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Power and water supplies cut in parts of Kyiv

Power and water supplies were cut to parts of the capital Kyiv after what officials described as an incident on the power grid.

Russia has conducted a bombardment campaign against Ukrainian energy facilities throughout the war, causing regular, hours-long blackouts across the country.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar22 March 2026 05:00

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Russian attack kills four in Zaporizhzhia

Russian attacks killed four people in southeastern Ukraine and left much of the northern region of Chernihiv without power, officials said.

Zaporizhzhia governor Ivan Fedorov said a morning strike on the city killed a man and a woman and injured six others, including two children.

In the adjacent Dnipropetrovsk region, officials said two people died in an area southeast of the regional centre, Dnipro.

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Five others were injured in attacks at multiple locations. President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his nightly video address, noted Russian strikes in several regions across eastern and southern Ukraine.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar22 March 2026 04:30

Some flights to and from the Middle East have been cancelled

Flights across the globe continue to be disrupted following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, with a number of flights also cancelled between the region and Manchester Airport today, March 22. Aviation is not as disrupted as it was at the start of the war, as some airline have began resuming some services which were initially impacted by the war.

Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways, which are the Middle East’s three biggest carriers, are operating a limited number of commercial flights from their respective bases in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, which each serve as major travel hubs for passengers flying between Europe and the Far East and Australia.

Between Manchester Airport and the Middle East, Emirates, Etihad and Qatar are currently operating a limited number of flights. However, Gulf Air has continued to cancel flights to and from Bahrain due to continued airspace closures.

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A statement on its website reads: “Due to the closure of airspace in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the region, Gulf Air flight operations remain temporarily suspended. The airline will resume services once the Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs confirms the safe reopening of the affected airspace.”

Gulf Air flight GF5 which was scheduled to arrive at Manchester this morning at 6.35am has been cancelled. A Gulf Air flight to Bahrain from Manchester, which was scheduled for 10:15am, has also been cancelled.

Below are the latest cancelled flights to and from Manchester Airport today, March 21. If you are due to fly then check with your airline before you travel.

Departures

10:15am Gulf Air flight GF4 to Bahrain

Arrivals

6:35am Gulf Air flight GF5 from Bahrain

The streaming giant has added the divisive action movie to its library

In a weekend update, Netflix has discreetly added a ‘chaotic’ action adventure film based on what some fans claim is ‘one of the best video games series of all time’.

Despite the title being one of the most contentious when it premiered in cinemas back in 2024, others declared that it is an ‘absolute thrill ride’. Available to stream as of today (March 22), the streaming service now includes the film Borderlands as part of its extensive catalogue.

It’s a big screen live action adaptation of the hugely popular video game franchise of the same name. These games are first person shooters, known for their extravagant weapons, sometimes crude humour and colourful characters, with the latest title Borderlands 4, launching on PC and consoles last year.

The film version attempts to bring some of these characters to life with the main story centring on Lilith, portrayed by Cate Blanchett. She’s a notorious bounty hunter with a mysterious past, who reluctantly returns to her home planet of Pandora, the most chaotic planet in the galaxy.

Her mission is to locate the missing daughter of Atlas. Along the way, she forms an unexpected alliance with a motley crew of misfits – Roland (Kevin Hart), a seasoned mercenary on a mission; Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt), a feral pre-teen demolitionist; Krieg (Florian Munteanu), Tina’s musclebound protector; Tannis (Jamie Lee Curtis), the eccentric scientist who’s seen it all; and Claptrap (voiced by Jack Black), a wisecracking robot, reports the Mirror.

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Together, these unlikely heroes must fight an alien species and dangerous bandits to discover one of Pandora’s most explosive secrets. Eli Roth, known for creating the Hostel horror films as well as Cabin Fever, wrote and directed the picture.

According to the film’s credits it was written in partnership with Joe Crombie but it has been reported that person may not even exist. Some fans believe whoever the writer really was, wanted their name removed from the project but that remains an unconfirmed rumour.

The studio apparently brought in Tim Miller who helmed Deadpool to oversee reshoots for the production. It lost $100 million at the box office against its budget and scored just 10% on Rotten Tomatoes.

However, since its release it has still managed to find a fanbase, making it one of the most divisive blockbusters around. One viewer posting their thoughts online acknowledged its shortcomings but still considered it an enjoyable watch.

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They said: “Look, this film isn’t a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but if you want an entertaining popcorn flick, this is it. Sure it played around with the lore, but it was satisfying and whilst the writing was predictable and the final boss fight very quick, it felt like the actors had fun doing it, got into character and had a few laughs.”

Meanwhile, another person described it as “an absolute thrill ride from start to finish, perfectly capturing the chaotic charm of the beloved video game series.” They go on to say: “As someone who has played all the games multiple times, I was blown away by how faithfully the movie brought the world of Pandora to life. The humour, the action, and the larger-than-life characters are all here, just as fans would hope.”

They continue: “The movie doesn’t just cater to hardcore fans; it’s a fantastic entry point for newcomers too, offering a wild, entertaining experience that doesn’t require prior knowledge of the games. The visual effects are stunning, and the action sequences are both intense and hilarious, just like the chaotic gunfights the franchise is known for. “Borderlands: The Movie” delivers everything I hoped for and more, making it a must-see for any fan of the series or anyone looking for a fun, action-packed movie experience. I can’t wait to see it again.”

Nevertheless, not everyone shares this view, with one let-down viewer claiming: “What a disappointment. This world has so much potential, and they just wasted it to produce a no-heart, by-the-numbers adaptation. With amazing adaptations like The Last of Us, Fallout, Mario Bros, Sonic etc coming out in recent years, I thought Hollywood finally knew better. Boy was I wrong.”

Borderlands is streaming on Netflix.

Beau Greaves’ record 114-match winning streak in the PDC Women’s Series came to an end as she lost to 4-1 to Fallon Sherrock in Wigan on Saturday.

Three-time women’s world champion Greaves, the first woman to hit a nine-dart finish on the PDC ProTour, had not been beaten since April 2025 and had won 17 women’s events in a row.

Sherrock, who averaged 102.12 to the 100.28 produced by Greaves, went on to lose 5-3 to Lisa Ashton in the final of the fifth event of the PDC Women’s Series.

Greaves bounced back to win the sixth round, which took place on Saturday night, beating Gemma Hayter 5-0 in the final to secure her fifth title of the year.

Not sure what’s happened here, but we’re actually feeling sorry for Kim Tate (Claire King) in Emmerdale.

Kim is our favourite Emmerdale tyrant and we’re feeling a bit protective of her in her new vulnerable state. If Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) thinks he’s taking her crown, he can do one.

Although he’s not the one who’s hurt our little Kim, it’s Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough), who is messing with our heads as much as Kim’s. One minute we’re rooting for him as mister nice guy, helping ailing Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) with his farming predicaments, the next he’s trying to break up Rhona Goskirk’s (Zoe Henry) marriage and manipulating Kim into bed.

His arrival back in the Dales threw Kim into a spin, given that she thought he’d been dead for six years. Ever since he returned, he’s been plotting to discredit Kim in Joe’s eyes, encouraging him to break ties with the Home Farm matriarch.

Kim has been fighting her feelings for her ex, putting on a frosty front while admitting to Lydia Dingle (Karen Blick) that there is regrettably something still there. When Graham gave Rhona an ultimatum that she seemingly refused (only because her child got sick, who knows what would have happened if Rhona had met Graham on that bridge?!), he took his battered ego and lured Kim into bed.

The next day he brushed her off, leaving her in a bad head space. Humiliated, she admitted to Lydia she’d never again let him get close – and yet he continues to live in her house.

Scorned Kim is now thinking up new ways to protect herself and forms an unusual alliance – she hires Ross Barton (Mike Parr) to take on the very important role of her Director of Operations, aka a glorified bodyguard.

Slowly, Kim plans to build an army against Graham.

Graham reacts badly to this news, just as Kim hopes he would. He knows Ross and Dawn have a history, so the first thing he does is go in heavy and warns Ross off.

Ross is not one to be intimidated and finds Graham’s attempt laughable, instead lauding it over him that he’s now Kim’s ‘extra muscle’. Has Graham met his match?

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