
BBC Morning Live's Helen Skelton seen 'cosying up' to Gethin Jones on breakfast date
Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones have been the subject of romance rumours after they were spotted looking very cosy on a motorbike ride through Manchester city centre
TV personalities Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones have been spotted showcasing their growing bond, seemingly unconcerned about who might see them. Helen, 41, was seen with her arms wrapped around her Morning Live co-host as he took them for a spin on his motorbike.
The pair seemed to be heading for a breakfast in Manchester city centre, with Helen appearing quite comfortable on the back of the bike. She was seen donning a brown leather jacket and blue jeans, holding onto Gethin, who was dressed in a navy jumper and dark blue jeans.
Helen was earlier seen smiling before her co-host picked her up for their breakfast trip. She seemed to have enjoyed the ride as they arrived at their destination, both adjusting their hair after removing their helmets.
The photos, obtained by Mail Online, showed the duo looking rather close during their outing. Their friendship is rumoured to be "blossoming into a deeper connection" recently.
The stars, who are close friends thanks to their time together on the BBC show, have both experienced heartbreak recently. While Gethin's engagement to Katherine Jenkins ended in 2011 after five years together, Helen split from ex-husband Richie Myler back in 2022, reports the Mirror.
Their latest outing follows time spent together at the BAFTAs, where they were seen laughing together at the event before leaving together.
Reports suggest that they are growing closer and there are hints that romance may be blossoming between them.
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A source recently spilled the beans to MailOnline, saying: "Helen and Gethin have an extremely close working relationship and there's a feeling in recent months their friendship has blossomed into a deeper connection.
"They're both keen to keep a lid on it to avoid public scrutiny but there's no denying their closeness both on and off screen."
This development follows Helen's split from Leeds Rhinos rugby ace Myler shortly after the couple celebrated the birth of their third child, Elsie. Just four months following her arrival, they called time on their marriage.
Helen surprised her fans when she announced the split on Instagram, stating: "Very sad to say that Richie and I are no longer a couple. He has left the family home. We will be doing our best to co-parent our small children."
While Helen appears to be finding new happiness, Richie isn't far behind; the 34-year-old sportsman is now with Stephanie Thirkill, daughter of Leeds Rhinos president Andrew Thirkill.
Richie and Stephanie have since made their own addition to the family, welcoming a baby after going public with their romance last year.

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Graziadaily
8 minutes ago
- Graziadaily
Is New BBC Drama 'What It Feels Like For A Girl' Worth Watching? Reviews Are In
New to the BBC, What It Feels Like For A Girl is the new drama taking audiences on a deep dive back to the noughties – millennials stand up! The coming-of-age show, based on the memoir of Paris Lees, explores themes of class, gender, self-discovery and identity. Paris is a journalist, presenter, author and campaigner, described by ID Magazine as 'a voice of a generation' becoming Vogue's first transgender columnist in 2018. Released in 2021, Paris' memoir pulls readers into her world, growing up in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, uncovering her British trans experiencing growing up in living a life she didn't want to, as a boy called Byron (the fictional name she uses to talk about her pre-transition self). Now, her story has been brought to screen. With Paris as executive producer the 8 part series, What It Feels Like For A Girl follows 15 year old Byron, aged 15, caught between the homes of his mum, dad and gran, finding 'freedom' in Nottingham's underground club scene. The series doesn't shy away from the harsh reality of navigating the world that shaper her, telling a raw story that is love overdue, and already it's pulling in amazing reviews from critics. Ellis Howard plays Byron in the show, a teenager at school who is pulled between different homes while struggling with his own identity. The role was inspired by the life of Paris Lees, the author and campaigner who was the first trans woman to present shows on BBC Radio 1 and Channel 4. Speaking about the role, Howard said: 'Byron is at school, without much of a support system, bouncing between their mum's, dad's and Mommar Joe's homes with a desperate internal desire to escape,' continuing 'It's the story of someone who has grown up in a small town with people who aren't like them, dreaming of a life bigger and bolder.' Howard has had roles in the TV series Red Rose (2022) and the film Romeo & Juliet (2021). Laquarn Lewis takes on the role of Lady Die, a podium dancer in the nightclubs of Nottingham. 'Lady Die is eye-catching, fashionable and super stylish,' Lewis says of her character. 'She's over-caring, loving, fun, wild and crazy. I could relate to her, as she has a loving nature. She's someone everyone would want as a friend, and that's what I love about her.' Lewis previously played Elliott in the television series Jamie Johnson. Laura Haddock plays Lisa, Byron's mum who is struggling with her relationship with her son. 'Lisa is Byron's mother, and [with] Byron secretly struggling with their sexuality and gender identity, [their] relationship isn't what it was,' says Haddock. 'She also feels like she's done the hard bit bringing them up and she deserves to have a life now. Their relationship is really strained; she is struggling to understand Byron and accept who they want to be.' You might recognise Haddock from her starring roles in films such as Guardians of the Galaxy, The Laureate and Downton Abbey: A New Era. She has also had starring roles in Da Vinci's Demons, White Lines and The Recruit. Bryon's father Steve is played by Michael Socha, a working class man known locally as 'Hucknall's most feared man.' 'He struggles to accept Byron's femininity and is determined to toughen them up, which can come across as aggressive and even violent at times,' said Socha speaking about his character. 'His frustration stems from Byron not fitting the traditional idea of masculinity, and this manifests in harsh demands for Byron to "man up."' Jake Dunn plays Liam, a 'bad-boy' figure who Byron is drawn in by. 'Liam's a complicated, intense character,' says Dunn. 'While we share some similarities, like being from Nottingham and being in our early twenties, he's completely different from me. He's a gangster who is involved in some dark stuff.' Jake has also had roles in Renegade Nell and Get Even. Hannah Jones plays trans girl Sasha, who is part of the Fallen Divas who take Byron in. Speaking about her role, Hannah explained Sasha is a 'proud scouse' who is 'volatile and aggressive' at times. 'I just think she's a great person, as much as she is a terrible person. There's so much underlying love and misunderstanding of her personality, and she goes through so much trauma and strife in her life,' Jones said. Alex Thomas-Smith plays Sticky Nikki, who is a slightly older member of the Fallen Divas. 'Sticky Nikki is a passionate and headstrong woman who deeply values her friends, relationships and life' says Thomas-Smith when speaking about her role. 'She's a little older than the other girls, which allows her to look at their more-outrageous behaviour with a sense of understanding. Her role is about supporting the others, encouraging them to have fun, but also imparting some of the lessons she's learnt along the way.' You might recognise Alex from her roles in Dixi and The Revenge Files of Alistair Fury. Ali plays Dirty Damian, a 'party instigator' who is always there for the Fallen Divas. 'The girls are protective of each other, and I feel like Damian and Sticky Nikki are the good ones. They are a bit more behaved and sensible. They've got work in the morning when the party is coming to an end,' Ali said. 'They know it's time to go home, and the other three are more party-oriented. The Fallen Divas are also a very tight-knit family, and they're there for each other when things get hard.' Ali is best known as Kai Shariff in Waterloo Road. Despite only being out for two days, the show has gone down a storm with critics. The Guardian gave the show four stars, writing that the show is a 'memorably complex psychological portrait will be your reward.' The Telegraph gave the show four stars, describing the show as 'snappy, addictive, often shocking.' The Independent also settled on four stars for the show. Critic Nick Hilton wrote 'at a time when the trans community are being forced to suffer almost daily indignities at the hands of Britain's political and media establishment, the presence of What It Feels Like for a Girl feels urgent,' adding 'in a world where it is easy to feel pessimistic about the course of progress, What It Feels Like for a Girl presents an engaging – and rational – case for optimism.' Meanwhile, the show is getting rave reviews on social media. One user wrote on X 'Watched the first episode of What It Feels Like For A Girl last night and if it were any closer to my own experiences it would be autobiographical. Incredible, crucial television.' Another simply penned 'Finished watching the Paris Lees' What It Feels Like For a Girl series. It was beautiful, start to end.' A third praised the show's nostalgic element, writing 'I loved the first 2 episodes of the new #LGBTQ series #WhatItFeelsLikeForAGirl and I can't wait to see how the story develops. I also loved the 00s soundtrack and those Bacardi Breezers because that was my drink of choice back then.' The good news is that What It Feels Like For A Girl is available to watch on iPlayer right now! It landed on the platform on Tuesday 3 June, with all eight episodes available. The show will also air weekly double bills starting at 9pm on Tuesday, June 3 on BBC Three.


The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
'Two pints for a fiver' - How Wetherspoons reinvented the pub
The Counting House, Glasgow (Image: Colin Mearns) The Counting House, Glasgow (Image: Colin Mearns) The Counting House, Glasgow (Image: The Counting House, Glasgow) 'It's not the most salubrious bar, but it's where we like to drink,' Donald Munro tells me. He and his partner of more than two decades, Christine Watt, have managed to snag a table outside, but it's in the shade. The Counting House is their favourite place to get a drink when they come into the city centre from East Kilbride. Today's trip was to get a few bits for their upcoming holiday in Benidorm. 'Two pints for less than a fiver,' Christine says, waving at the glasses of half-drunk cider on the table. 'You just can't beat the price, and we like the atmosphere.' And the people watching is good. But it's the price more than anything else, Christine emphasises. A table in the sun becomes free, and they're off. Marion Duffy (Image: The Counting House, Glasgow) The Counting House, Glasgow (Image: Colin Mearns) Sisters Marion and Tracey Duffy are catching up over £4.42 mini bottles of Teresa Rizzi Sparkling Rosé at a table nearby. 'Everyone comes to Wetherspoons!' Marion says, letting out a burst of laughter. The bubbly 42-year-old florist says she has been coming to the Counting House for years, though she can't nail down just how many. It's their favourite location. 'Every year,' she says. 'Maybe four or five.' 'They've got cheap food and it's quite fast,' says Tracey, 43. Though she prefers somewhere a bit nicer for breakfast. For Marion, Wetherspoons has the best variety of people (specifically this one). It's the main reason she is so loyal to the establishments. 'People just chat normally, rather than having to push a conversation,' she says. 'People are really chatty when you go to the bar. When you're out here and you're in amongst it, it's just really lovely.' Last weekend, she met a couple from Australia at the Counting House. 'Only me,' she says, giggling. They have been keeping in touch on WhatsApp, messaging back and forth. A flicker of seriousness crosses her face. 'I don't know if you get this, but see when you meet people and you have a connection and you know that you'll always keep in touch,' her voice trails off. 'It's crazy'. They're in Ireland just now, but they are coming back in a couple of days, 'and they'll probably be back in here'. READ MORE MARISSA MACWHIRTER The beer garden is dissected by one long table. A group of more than a dozen students from Glasgow Caledonian University's podiatry department are celebrating their last exam. I ask them why they have picked Wetherspoons, what's the draw? Gary Mitchell (Image: Colin Mearns) 'Cheap bevvy,' says Gary Mitchell. Quickly and with a smirk. They find it easier to get a seat here than in other places, 'which are expensive'. 'The drilling just adds to it, that's Glasgow, man,' he adds, gesturing at Prince Albert in his white sling. Another student at the table motions to the building behind us. Someone has put a sign in the window that reads 'Trump is a jobby'. Everyone at the table agrees that Wetherspoons just is what it is. 'It attracts a multitude of people, no one is in the same age group or doing the same thing.' A pair of 19-year-old students from City of Glasgow College are sitting in the shade against the side of the building. Behind oversized sunglasses, they watch the sunny tables like hawks, waiting for one to free up. Anna, from Hamilton, and Sophie, from Uddingston, are not too sentimental about being at Wetherspoons. 'It wouldn't be my first choice, but it's cheap and close,' says Anna. It's just an easy option after attending lectures on campus. And the beer garden gets sunshine. No sooner has she said it than a table opens up. They pick up their pitcher of red cocktail and move along. Sophie and Anna (Image: Colin Mearns) The Counting House is just as busy inside as out. JD Wetherspoon reported that the recent good weather had buoyed sales as of late. Despite warnings from owner Tim Martin that pint prices would soon be hiked by 20p to offset elements of the latest budget, like-for-like sales are up 5.6% in the 13 weeks to April 27 across the chain's 795 UK pubs. It's a Tuesday afternoon, and a tour around the Merchant City proves that business is not so booming elsewhere. Punters are dotted around the outdoor tables of independents and smaller chain outlets, but nowhere is enjoying the same success as the Counting House. The latest edition of Wetherspoons News (more than 100 pages of pro-Spoons' copy) boasts that the pub is number three on Google Maps' list of best-loved pubs, making it number one in Glasgow. It also has a special article titled 'Killing Off An Urban Myth', in which the idea that the pub chain buys beer close to its sell-by date to keep the prices low is dubbed a 'ludicrous fairytale'. It is, perhaps, a symptom of the times that price takes precedence over all when it comes to choosing one's watering hole. Getting out and socialising is important no matter how tight one's belt is, and Wetherspoons appears to have dominated the cash-conscious market, though well-heeled punters are always about. The irony is not lost on me as I climb the marble steps leading inside the Counting House, a former bank. It's breathtaking inside. (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns) The Counting House, Glasgow (Image: Colin Mearns) The Italian Renaissance-style former Bank of Scotland head office, designed between 1867 and 1870 by JT Rochead, became a JD Wetherspoon in 1996. Scotland's flagship Spoons. The walls are decorated with paintings, drawings, photographs, and quotes about money. Beautiful caryatids adorned with symbolic objects, like scales, watch over punters as they fiddle with the Wetherspoons App, trying to order a pint of Stella. When they are not hunched over their smartphones, patrons are gazing up at the magnificent glass dome ceiling. Earlier in the morning, I had visited two other Glasgow Wetherspoons: The Society Room on West George Street and Hengler's Circus on Sauchiehall Street. The silence inside the pubs during the breakfast hours was unbearable. Neither venue is as impressive as The Counting House, but both embodied the same accessible Wetherspoon spirit. I watched as £5.75 plates of Scottish breakfast were ferried off to tables scattered around each venue's different seating areas, the scent of fried oil wafting through the air. All around, people were clutching white porcelain mugs. Coffee is just £1.71, and the refills are free. Morning, regular John McDonald is poring over a crossword while having his coffee. He tells me he likes that it's so quiet. He comes in once or twice a week because it's open early (7.30am), unlike the coffee shops near his Dennistoun home. 'Nowhere else really provides the same thing,' he says, before joking that the prices keep going up. Love it or hate it, Wetherspoon's provides a crucial meeting place for many people in Scotland. The prices are accessible to many, the quality is consistent, and the staff are friendly. They allow people from every corner of society to brush elbows, often in beautiful buildings. The growing need for such cut-price provisions says more about where we are as a society than anything. And one thing is for certain, everyone in Wetherspoons is happy with the price. Marissa MacWhirter is a columnist and feature writer at The Herald, and the editor of The Glasgow Wrap. The newsletter is curated between 5-7am each morning, bringing the best of local news to your inbox each morning without ads, clickbait, or hyperbole. Oh, and it's free. She can be found on X @marissaamayy1


BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Concerns as park left 'churned up' after BBC Radio 1 event
Part of a city park has been left damaged, with grass and paths "churned up by vehicles" after a music event was held there, a local councillor has Park in Liverpool hosted the three-day BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend over the May Bank Holiday days on from the event, local people have been sharing photographs online of the damage to grass and City Council said "the damage was not extensive" but the BBC was responsible for any repairs. BBC Radio 1 has been contacted for comment. Opposition councillor Liberal Democrat Richard Kemp said he was concerned about the scale of the damage."I'm concerned about the grass and any gouging effects and trees pushed back or damaged during the installation of security fencing," he said. Mr Kemp, a councillor for nearby Penny Lane, added he had requested a report from the council to look at the impact to the local area and the environment.A city council representative said site walks had already taken place and a plan was "currently being pulled together which will provide a timescale for the repairs". "The damage is not extensive and the reinstatement work will be carried out by Liverpool Street Scene Ltd," it added. In 2024 the city became the world's first Accelerator City for climate action, under UN Climate Change's Entertainment and Culture for Climate Action city council representative said the authority had worked with external specialists to monitor the impact of the Big Weekend event, which included the "impact on the environment and sustainability" and would share those finding once a report has been written "in the coming months". Regular Sefton Park user Adam said he thought he damage was "minimal" and said it was "no worse than on a campsite where tents have been".A local resident, who did not want to be named, said she thought the grass had been protected "really well" and the event had been well organised."There was hardly any traffic disruption and not much noise," she said."The streets were fairly clean after, much cleaner than after a lot of other events. I thought it was really good for the city." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.