The Strictly Come Dancing duo will appear on Celebrity Gogglebox on Friday (June 26) night.

TV presenter Lorraine Kelly shared some exciting news live on air.

The host confirmed that Amy Dowden and Carlos Gu will be making a return to our TV screens as they’re set to appear on Celebrity Gogglebox on Friday (June 26) night.

During Thursday’s (June 25) episode of Lorraine’s ITV chat show, she was joined by entertainment reporter Ross King, who was on hand to deliver his usual showbiz updates.

Diving straight into the segment, Lorraine went on to say: “Some news for Strictly fans. A couple of Strictly characters are going to be in something else.”

Ross replied: “I’m thrilled for this. Our pal Amy Dowden along with Carlos, who of course won with Karen in that last season.

“He was just phenomenal and Karen was phenomenal. And we’ve spoken so much about Amy and she’s absolutely inspirational.”

Ross announced: “The good news is they’re going to be in Gogglebox on Friday. They’re going to be together as a little couple and weirdly enough they absolutely love watching TV together.”

The show then cut to a clip of Amy and Carlos as they explained why they love watching TV together.

Amy explained: “I love watching TV (with Carlos) because of his honesty.” Carlos jumped in: “We can comment on everything and be brutally honest with each other.”

Amy added: “But also just spending time together and sometimes he brings good snacks, but not always.”

The Strictly Come Dancing duo will take to the sofa for the first time as they join this week’s line-up. They will be swapping the ballroom for a night in front of the telly to share their take on the week’s biggest and best TV moments.

Armed with a table of mini pretzels, sweet & salty popcorn and an array of varying melons, the dancing duo are excited and eager to spend time together, where they get to ‘‘be brutally honest’’ and ‘‘comment on everything’’.

Upon discussing their specific pretzel snack selection, Amy asked Carlos ‘‘Have you tried the chocolate ones?’’ to which Carlos responded ‘‘Too much sugar, it ages you, you don’t want to be aged by sugar!!’’

The brutally honest pair who “love watching a good drama” are “so excited” to take to the sofa and share their honest take on the week’s standout TV.

Ahead of her appearance, Amy said:“Celebrity Gogglebox was fab-u-lous! I’m so used to being on my feet performing, it was such a treat to sit back, laugh, and react to all those brilliant shows. Of course, I loved being able to share those genuine, feel-good moments with Carlos and everyone watching at home.”

Meanwhile Carlos Gu added: “I had the best time – honestly, it was so much fun! I’m very expressive anyway, so you can imagine, I don’t hold back when I’m watching TV! Celebrity Gogglebox is all about emotion, humour and just enjoying yourself, and that’s exactly what I love. It felt like me and Amy were having our own little party on the sofa!”

Lorraine airs weekdays from 9.30am on ITV1 and ITVX and Celebrity Gogglebox airs this Friday at 9pm on Channel 4

North Yorkshire Police added that a man who was initially arrested in connection with the incident on the day that it happened has now been released without charge.

RECOMMENDED READING:

“We can confirm that a second man, in his 30s, has been arrested in connection with this incident and has been released on conditional police bail while further enquiries are carried out,” said a spokesperson for the force.

The incident is reported to have happened in Bar Lane, off Micklegate, at around 10pm last Tuesday (June 17) and the scene was cordoned off to the public whilst a forensic investigation took place.

The cordoned-off area was approximately 60 metres long and on the Bar Walls side of the road.

A police van next to Micklegate Bar on Wednesday morning (June 17) (Image: Dylan Connell)

The force says the alleged victim is a woman who is receiving specialist support while the investigation continues.

Officers added that she is continuing to receive specialist support and care.

If you have any further information, please call North Yorkshire Police on 101 or if you prefer to remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or make an online report.

Please quote reference number 12260111552 when providing details.

The applicant said that a care home would likely see “far less levels of comings and goings” than a hotel

A Cambridgeshire city hotel could be converted into a care home to meet an “identified community need”. Applicants Mr Peerbocus and Mr Khan have proposed to change the use of the former Lodge Hotel on Lincoln Road in Peterborough to become a supported living and care home for adults.

The existing use, as a hotel with 11 bedrooms, would be converted to offer six bedrooms for the care home. The applicant said: “The proposal is to provide facility for adults from the age of 18 years+.

“The residents who will reside at the property will require some form of care/help and support but will mainly be independent. It is not proposed to accommodate ‘very high need adults’ or ‘secure accommodation’.”

The application states that the proposals would be “entirely aimed at meeting the housing needs of the most vulnerable”. The number of staff required at the site would include three day staff (one manager and two careers) and two staff overnight.

The site would accommodate a maximum of four on-site parking spaces. Shift patterns would be managed and staggered so there is no need for on-street parking.

According to the proposals, staff would be recruited from Peterborough and as such “it is likely that some member[s] of staff will be able to cycle to the site”. The proposal would provide a total of 10 cycle spaces.

If the plans were approved, the property, near the city centre, would provide suitable accommodation for the residents as well as staff. This includes bedrooms, living area, kitchen, bathroom facilities, and outdoor space.

The applicant added: “Taking the above into account, it is considered that the proposal would meet an identified community need, provide suitable living conditions and be located within reasonable proximity to local services and facilities.”

A planning statement says that whilst the use would differ in character from a hotel, the existing use would “generate significant high level of comings and goings which would give rise to undue noise and disturbance in a residential area, compared to the proposed use”.

It added that the proposals are considered to have “far less levels of comings and goings”.

Manchester United have been warned by a football finance expert that their new 100,000-seater stadium could cost in excess of £2billion, with the club’s finances also coming under scrutiny

Football finance expert Stefan Borson has warned Manchester United that their proposed 100,000-seater stadium could set them back well in excess of £2billion, warning that now is ‘not the right environment’ for such an ambitious project.

Soaring interest rates mean the landmark move away from Old Trafford will come at a considerable cost. CityAM has also reported growing doubts over the finances, with the club allegedly approaching the government for assistance in funding the infrastructure surrounding the stadium, while being left to source private funding for the ground development itself.

United secured their return to European football’s top table after finishing third in the Premier League last season. Champions League qualification has bolstered their finances by nearly £100million, though much of that investment is likely to be swallowed up by wage increases following their top-four finish, as well as transfer expenditure this summer, with Michael Carrick’s squad widely expected to be active in the market.

Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now!

It has been suggested that United are exploring a range of funding options for the stadium project, whether through private investment or ownership contributions, having already engaged with “several” potential investors.

However, it remains to be seen whether the Glazer family or minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe plan to foot the bill themselves, with the club having recently restructured £410million of their debts — which exceed £1billion in total — at interest rates of 5.36 percent.

“Of course, if the owners stick £2bn in and build the stadium themselves, then there’s no issue. But that’s not what’s been touted at the moment,” Borson told City AM.

“The environment is not right to build a stadium. We have very high interest rates that don’t look like coming down and it doesn’t look like the owners will underwrite it.

“Man United, even with a 100,000-seater stadium, a football club able to deal with £3.5bn-£4bn of total debt? I say no it can’t.”

FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE! Latest United news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

He added: “Their starting point is a heavy existing debt profile.

“You have the senior debt, the secured loan and you have the revolving credit facility – effectively the overdraft – and a substantial amount owed to other clubs for historic transfers.

“Presumably because United have made the senior facility a little bigger at $550m (£415m), they won’t need to rely on the overdraft quite as much. But they’re still in an investment phase in the first team, so you would think they’re going to need cash for that.

“The top and bottom of it is: the existing debt isn’t coming down anytime soon. They’re not going to be in a position where they’re throwing off loads of excess cash to start repaying debt.”

Advertisement

This week marked a significant milestone in United’s ambitions to build a Wembley Stadium-style venue, with formal plans unveiled. The move would place the club alongside rivals Manchester City, Everton, and Liverpool in boasting a multi-purpose venue capable of generating additional income from music concerts, amongst other events.

Former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham recently vacated his position after securing victory in the local election to become the member of parliament for the Makerfield constituency. Burnham, who was a strong supporter of the proposals and heavily linked to them, is considered one of the frontrunners to succeed Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, though his change of role would have no bearing on the plans.

Earlier this year, Burnham firmly ruled out using public money to fund the stadium’s construction. A United spokesperson said: “Our proposed new stadium will be financed privately, and we continue to have positive conversations with potential investors and all stakeholders.”

Thousands of fans upgraded their Premier League matchday last season. This is how they did it.

Advertisement

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Various Prices

Seat Unique

Buy official packages at Seat Unique

Official premium experiences available now for the 26/27 Premier League season. Make it easier than ever to turn a regular fixture into something genuinely unforgettable.

The South Korea captain spoke out following their shock World Cup defeat to South Africa in Group A

South Korea star Son Heung-min has issued an apology to his team-mates after a shock defeat to South Africa left their World Cup 2026 hopes clinging by a thread. The former Tottenham forward was surprisingly omitted from the starting XI by head coach Hong Myung-bo for the Group A decider, with Oh Hyeon-gyu and Hwang Hee-chan partnering Lee Kang-in up front.

The Asian nation only needed a draw to secure their place in the Round of 32, having beaten Czechia 2-1 in their opener before losing 1-0 to Mexico. However, they slumped to a disappointing defeat against South Africa, who progressed at their expense thanks to Thapelo Maseko’s 63rd-minute strike.

It was the first time that Son started a World Cup match on the bench on Wednesday since his international debut 16 years ago. That gamble from Hong appeared to backfire as he sent on the 33-year-old for the second half with the score still goalless.

However, the LAFC star was ineffectual in his 45-minute cameo, and Bafana Bafana went on to claim a famous victory. Following the game, Son issued a heartfelt apology to his teammates, admitting he felt like he let them down.

“It’s so frustrating that the match didn’t go the way we wanted it to, and we as players are obviously very disappointed,” Son said. “I feel sorry to my teammates that I didn’t give them much help on the pitch.”

While many expected Korea to obtain the one point required to progress even without Son, leaving him out proved to be a costly blunder. The experienced winger is his nation’s all-time top goalscorer with 56 goals in 147 caps and had netted three times in his previous three World Cup tournament appearances.

Despite Son’s sincere apology, his manager appeared to absolve him of any responsibility by footing the blame for the defeat. Speaking after the game, Hong conceded he would’ve made different choices with his starting XI with hindsight.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football’s Facebook page

“In terms of the process and preparing for this game, and how we would play on the field, that is something I put much thought into,” the ex-South Korea captain said. “Of course, if we knew what the result was going to be, I probably would have made different choices.

“But I had a strategy in mind. Whenever such a bad result happens, everyone has their own opinion. The result is really the responsibility of the head coach. Ultimately, it comes down to my hands, I guess I made the wrong decisions and that was the reason we had a bad result. Nothing more, nothing less.”

England’s 2026 World Cup kits

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Various Prices

Kitbag

Advertisement

Buy Now on Kitbag

England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code DEAL.

As reported by The Korea Times, Son issued a blunt response when discussing Hong’s decision to leave him out of the starting lineup: “I don’t really have anything to add to that,” he said, confirming his manager had informed him ahead of the game he would be left out.

Korea now face a nervous wait to discover their fate in the World Cup. With all three matches played in Group A, the Tigers’ hopes are pinned on other teams doing a favour for them to ensure they finish in the top eight slots of the best third-placed teams.

They are currently fourth with three points, albeit having played more games than several teams below them, including Belgium, Ecuador and Paraguay. The goal difference is the first tiebreaker in this table, followed by goals scored.

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

The pair targeted vehicles across several counties including Cambridgeshire

Two men stole 25 vehicles worth more than £600,000 across several counties, including Cambridgeshire. Aurimas Sarkis, aged 29, and Ignas Kisskiss, aged 36, stole 25 vehicles which were all Audis, BMWs or Mercedes, between October and December 2025.

The thieves target vehicles across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire. The men were arrested following a long-running investigation into organised thefts of high-value vehicles, using specialist equipment to bypass keyless vehicle security systems. Police estimate the total value of the cars taken to be more than £600,000, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Sarkis, of Swallow Drive, Raunds, Northamptonshire and Kisskiss, of Sisley Road, Barking, both appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Wednesday, June 24, after pleading guilty to multiple counts of conspiracy to steal motor vehicles. Sarkis was jailed for four years and one month and Kisskiss was jailed for four years and 10 months.

Aamir Barrett from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “The impact of the organised crime committed by Sarkis and Kisskiss extended well beyond financial loss. Many victims had to find alternative means of transport, were forced to replace essential items like children’s buggies and, in one case, had to repurchase specialist equipment and medication for a disabled family member.

“Our case was supported by evidence including automatic number plate recognition and phone data, as well as GPS data from a tag worn by Sarkis, which clearly linked both defendants to the offences. Faced with this evidence, they admitted their crimes.”

The countdown to the new season starts here for Swansea City.

Vitor Matos and the Jack Army are set to discover who they’ll face on the opening day of the new Championship season, and indeed their schedule for the rest of the campaign.

The return of the South Wales derby is likely to be a fixture many will be looking out for, while fellow Welsh rivals Wrexham are another potential draw. JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Follow Wales Online’s Swansea City FB page for more news and analysis

Former Premier League sides Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United are in the mix, while a clash with Burnley is could also carry the intriguing narrative of Craig Bellamy’s return to south Wales.

Bellamy is currently on the brink of taking the reins at Turf Moor.

The fixtures are set to drop at 12pm, and you can follow live updates with our blog below.

—

*Follow all of our social channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Swans news. Sign up to our daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here. Our Swansea City correspondent Tom Coleman is also on social media. He can be found on his X account here, on Instagram, on TikTok and on Facebook.

The first event will take place on Thursday, June 25, from 1 pm to 3.30 pm at the club, with refreshments available and all residents welcome to attend.

Organisers say the club will provide an opportunity for people to make new friends, catch up with familiar faces and enjoy regular social activities.

Cllr Samantha Connor, of Bromley Cross and Egerton, said: “It is a great way to meet people you already know, and new people.

“We did not want it to be the same as the previous over-60s club, so it is a social club.”

Egerton Cricket Club. (Image: Samantha Connor)

The initiative grew out of a community meeting held in the area, where residents discussed ways to strengthen local connections.

The club’s secretary had previously run an over-60s group before the pandemic and wanted to see a similar community activity return.

The venue is being provided free of charge, while organisers will offer tea, coffee and sandwiches to help create a welcoming atmosphere.

Cllr Connor said: “We are going to provide tea and coffee and sandwiches to make people feel welcome and greet everybody.

“Most people are saying they want to come.”

Organisers hope the monthly gatherings will expand in the future, potentially including festive outings and trips.

Cllr Connor added: “We found that in the pandemic, it had a huge benefit.

“There are elderly people in this ward- is vital for their mental health.”

He faced an uncertain future after being evicted from his home by the local council. 

But Caesar, the 4ft fibreglass gorilla, has found a new place to stay after becoming a viral sensation.

The primate has been adopted by long-haul travel specialists Flight Centre and is now taking pride of place at their store on South Molton Street in London.

It’s a long way from the house in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, where he had been proudly displayed on a platform by owner Adele Teale for the last 12 months. 

The 59-year-old loves gorillas and Caesar had previously spent 15 years at her home in Leeds without causing any issues. 

But earlier this year Wakefield Council told her someone had complained and she had to remove him as she hadn’t got planning permission.

Caesar had never visited London before and took a scenic route to his new residence, posing at Big Ben, dropping in on Downing Street, and cruising through Piccadilly Circus.

Joe Beevis, general manager of Flight Centre, said: ‘We send nature lovers to see wildlife in Africa every year, so when we heard Caesar needed a new home, it felt like the natural fit. Caesar is a reminder that the best wildlife encounters are live ones. 

‘Booking with companies who take sustainable tourism seriously, such as our travel partner Intrepid Travel, means the animals, their habitats and local communities that make those moments possible can continue to thrive.’

‘We took Caesar’s welfare extremely seriously on the journey down from Wakefield, and, on arrival in London we felt it was only right to show him the sights of our great city.

‘He’s now installed at our South Molton Street store and is adjusting to Mayfair life very well. We’ve had no complaints, though he has developed strong opinions about the air conditioning.’

Adele, Caesar’s owner, added: ‘Caesar has been part of my life for more than 20 years and I wasn’t going to give up on him without a fight, but I’m really glad this is how it’s ended up. 

‘“’He’s not gone forever; he’s just heading to London for a bit, which feels very him.

‘I was glad to be there to hand him over in person and I know he’s going to be properly looked after by Flight Centre, who care as much about animal welfare as I do.’

Caesar’s fans can see him in person at Flight Centre’s store on South Molton Street, Mayfair. 

To celebrate Caesar’s arrival, Flight Centre is offering 10% off selected Africa Tours with Intrepid Travel for a limited time.

Visit the website for more details.

MORE: UK heatwave latest: Hosepipe ban put into effect immediately for nearly 1,000,000 people

MORE: Extreme heat cancels extreme heat conference in London

MORE: The best lesser-known Spanish destinations tourists often miss

Shaun Malone has revealed he had undergone brain surgery as he shared a photo from his hospital bed

Gogglebox star Shaun Malone has revealed he had undergone brain surgery as he shared a photo from his hospital bed.

The 31-year-old came to fame alongside his family, from Manchester, as they made their debut on the iconic Channel 4 show in 2014. He has been open about his health battles in that time, having been diagnosed with a brain condition in 2010 after initially getting sinusitis.

Now, Shaun has offered an update on his health, revealing that he went under the knife for another operation – and was struggling with his recovery due to the record-breaking temperatures sweeping across the country, reports the Mirror.

Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter

“Heatwave is a terrible time to be stuck in hospital until Friday,” he penned beside a close-up photo of his post-surgery scar, which he shared to his Instagram Story. “Brain surgery is deffo not the highlight of my year [sic].”

Shaun joined Gogglebox in the fourth season, more than a decade ago, and delighted viewers with his TV quips beside his dad, Tom, mum Julie, and siblings Tom Jr and Vanessa

Shaun was in and out of the hospital when he was a teenager, after contracting a life-threatening infection while battling sinusitis. He previously spoke about his illness during an appearance on the Coaching From The Sofa podcast, explaining that doctors gave him less than 10% chance of surviving.

“In 2010 I got sinusitis and in some way, the infection found its way back to my brain. My brain started swelling and my skull started crushing it so my mum took me to A&E saying, ‘Look he’s poorly!’ and they said it was sinusitis,” he said at the time.

“And then I collapsed one day at home and I ended up going into a coma and they said to my mum and dad that I had a less than 10 per cent chance of living. I was in a coma for a few weeks – and they said to my mum and dad, ‘Shaun’s got brain damage, we don’t know what the brain damage is or how it’ll affect him or if it’s going to be really bad.

“And when I woke up my brain damage affected me in some ways, like my memory but mostly the way it affected me was with my left side. I essentially had a stroke, I couldn’t move my left arm, my left leg, even the left side of my face.”